Season 3 : Chapter 1
Sakura picked up the broken pieces of her glasses and looked at them with an empty expression before coming to a realisation that she was in the presence of two other people.
"I-I'm extremely sorry for my outburst!!!"
She frantically bowed at them to which Kiyotaka looked towards Horikita, asking her to take the initiative to calm the poor girl.
The black haired maiden just looked at the pink haired girl in sympathy before walking towards her.
"Sakura-san, you don't have to bow so much. We understand your situation, so don't worry."
"After such an incident, there's no doubt that you are feeling pent up rage. Feel free to let it all out and don't mind us."
"N-no...I'm okay for now....There's no need for anger and rage...All they bring in the end is pain and destruction...I-I need to calm myself down first."
'That's a good way of thinking. However it's unrealistic, no matter how one tries to change themselves, there will always be pain, destruction and suffering.
That's the way the world works. It moves in a cycle. War and destruction never stops no matter how much one tries to attain peace.'
Horikita took out her water bottle and gave it to Sakura, who was inhaling and exhaling oxygen, following some breathing technique trying to calm herself down.
"Here drink the water first. Your throat must be sore from all the yelling."
"T-thanks."
She started gulping the water down as Kiyotaka's eyes went towards her phone, which was on the ground, and a specific picture of her's was now out in the open.
'Is this the reason that guy was calling her Shizuku over and over, threatening her that he will expose her secret? I think I now understand the reason she didn't want to come out as the witness. Who knows what kind of photos she has in her camera.'
Kiyotaka took her phone in his hands and walked towards both of the girls, before showing the picture to the both of them.
"This is you, isn't it Sakura?"
"Huh?!"
Immediately her eyes widened in shock as she snatched her phone from his hands, while Horikita looked at it in surprise.
"Uhmm I'm sorry for snatching it like that. It's just-"
"Don't worry about it Sakura-san, we understand your hesitation. However if you wouldn't mind, would you share with us about your situation, so we can help you?"
As she gave a small nod filled with apprehension, Horikita smiled at her, trying to relieve her worries as Kiyotaka suddenly took out his phone, as he received a text from a certain someone.
『 Miss Chabashira : Ayanokouji, are you free right now? I was wishing to have a conversation with you. 』
Kiyotaka looked up from his device and addressed both the girls.
"This is not a good place to talk. Horikita... Take her to your room and try to make her as comfortable as possible ."
He finished his words by whispering into her ear, as the black haired maiden huffed in response.
"Like I didn't already know that. However the way you are saying your words, it's like you are not joining us."
Her words led to Sakura look at Kiyotaka curiously as the boy just decided to show her the text he received from their Homeroom Teacher.
"I see... I guess it's an important matter since Chabashira-sensei herself is calling you after school hours."
"Yeah. I might join you guys later,okay? So prepare some tea as a means of hospitality."
He received a playful punch from Horikita as a response to his words as Sakura chuckled at him.
"Very well...See you then, Ayanokouji-kun. "
"Yes. Bye Bye Ayanokouji-kun. Also t-thanks for saving me. Both of you."
Kiyotaka just gave her a small pat on the head, making her blush in embarrassment.
"Don't worry about it. As your classmate, it's our job to look out for you. So don't think too much about it. Goodbye then both of you."
Both the girls waved at him as he walked away from them before responding to the text of his Homeroom Teacher.
『 Ayanokouji :
Sorry for the late response. I was busy with a small matter. However it seems that I'm free now.
Miss Chabashira : Good then meet me at the school rooftop. Also don't forget to bring an umbrella for yourself, since it looks like it's about to rain. I don't want my favourite student to get ill after all.
Ayanokouji :
How considerate of you. Very well, wait for about 5 minutes. I will be there by then. 』
Kiyotaka put his mobile in his pocket before making his way towards the closest departmental store, planning to buy a cheap umbrella.
'I mean I could just go to my dorm to get the umbrella, however it would take way too long and the umbrellas are pretty cheap. So private points....Sayonara.'
♤♡◇♧♧◇♡♤
Chabashira Sae, who was quietly smoking on the rooftop while enjoying the beautiful view of the whole campus, soon heard the noise of the door opening, where the brown haired boy she was waiting for entered the rooftop carrying a black umbrella in his hand.
She turned around and released one last smoke before throwing her used cigarette and stomping on it with her heels.
"You did quite a good job today, Ayanokouji. Sensei is quite happy with this outcome."
All she got in response was the tilting of his head, as if he had no idea what he just did, making her sigh to herself.
"Don't try to play ignorant with me. An hour ago, the news came that Class-C took back their complaints against Sudou, before the Trial even took place."
"I see. So the Sudou matter is already over, huh... Good to know."
"However this sudden situation made me feel a little curious and I already knew that you were the one behind the incident.
So, what better way than to know about the whole situation as well as trying to understand what's going on inside that head of yours. Two birds with one stone."
The boy however stuffed both of his hands in his pocket, and looked at her with Indifference.
"Curiosity kills the cat Sensei. Are you sure about trying to get in my head? You may regret it."
His words elicited a small laugh from her as she gave him an indifferent stare in return.
"Indeed curiosity kills the cat. However Curiosity is the fuel for discovery, inquiry and learning.
I already have enough regrets in my life. If involving myself in the matters of my student adds one more, then frankly it doesn't matter to me."
Her words were filled with sorrow as she let out a small smile, seeing which Kiyotaka couldn't help but sigh to himself.
"Very well then. The trap was rather simple,so be prepared for disappointment."
"Success is never a disappointment in my eyes. In my opinion I rather prefer a simple yet effective plan instead of an extremely complex one. So feel free to explain everything to me, Ayanokouji."
Kiyotaka then started explaining the whole situation and the way they convinced the Class-C boys to take back their complaint as Chabashira listened to his words with concentration while taking out another cigarette from his box.
After he was done with his explaining, she threw her half used cigarette before directing her eyes towards him.
"I see....It was rather simple yet very effective. I expected better from the Class-C boys. Who knew that they would be this simple-minded?
However I must say that I'm quite satisfied with the way you are indirectly developing a lot of students into better."
"I don't think I did anything worthy to deserve your praise."
"Deny it however you want, but that doesn't change the fact that it's because of your contribution that students like Horikita Suzune and Sudou Ken have developed this quickly.
Frankly I was quite shocked the first time when I saw Sudou deal with this whole complaint with a level head. It was impressive, not going to lie.
Never thought that I would say this, but I'm truly glad to have a student like you."
She ended her words with a rare smile as Kiyotaka suddenly felt a very small amount of pain in his heart, the reason for which he had no idea of.
"You don't have to praise me this much, Sensei. After all I'm doing this all for my own selfish needs....
For the betterment of my future, so that my future self faces no problem at all. I'm not that nice of a guy that you think I am.
.....Everything I do is for my own gain. Because as long as I win in the end.... That's all that matters."
There was a small veil of silence as both the teacher and the student surveyed one another with a neutral gaze.
Kiyotaka's eyes then went towards the scenery of the whole campus as he was mesmerised with how peaceful and free the whole view looked.
Seeing his usually dull eyes gleam like a curious child made Chabashira smirk to herself before her eyes went towards the direction he was looking at.
She walked towards his direction and soon leaned on the railing beside him.
"The view....it's quite nice, don't you think?"
"It is... I never saw something like this before.. Everything looks so....small from up here. It looks......free."
Both of them remained silent as they quietly enjoyed the view while small droplets of rain started falling from the sky.
However Chabashira's mind lingered to the words Ayanokouji said prior to this.
"Everything I do is for my own gain. Because as long as I win in the end.... That's all that matters..."
Even though her only ambition was to reach Class-A, she couldn't help but feel that his words were incredibly uncanny and unsettling.
So, despite her brain telling her not to indulge herself further in this matter, she couldn't help but blurt out her next words.
".......Ayanokouji, the words that you said before...Do you truly believe them?"
It didn't even took a second before Ayanokouji responded to her words as if he was on Autopilot.
"Yes. I believe it. That's how I was brought up. This is my philosophy in life."
His words made Chabashira shake her head in dismissal before she addressed him with a wry smile.
"Scratch that question. What I want to ask you is......do you want to believe it?"
"..............."
"................"
This caused both of them to fall silent , as Kiyotaka's mind contemplated her words...unknown to himself, the pain within his heart slowly started heavier and heavier.
Taking the deafening silence as her cue, The Homeroom Teacher of Class-D started explaining her thoughts more elaborately.
"The way I see it, that's the way you're brought up with this way of thinking...But do you really want to believe this from the deepest pits of your heart?
Ever since you joined this school, I always observed you much closer than everyone else.
I had the first hand experience of you looking like an emotionless husk on the first day, to the person you've become now... All in the span of around 3 months....
What you try to believe is that everything that happens in your life is because of yourself.
However, answer me this one question, Ayanokouji. If Horikita is in danger, but saving her will lead to your defeat....What would you do?"
Her words led to the boy sigh to himself.
"Isn't that obvious? If Horikita stands in my way of victory, I wouldn't hesitate to get ri-"
"I know that I may be weak and your problems may be way bigger than what I can comprehend, but please at least let me share that 1% of the burden, so that you can feel a little light."
Ayanokouji's words stopped in his throat as he, for some reason, couldn't bring himself to complete his own sentence.
This led to Chabashira smiling at the sight as she gently laid her left hand on the boy's shoulder.
"You see it now, don't you? Just like your presence made everyone around you change and improve....Their presence also had the same effect on you.
The Ayanokouji I see now is vastly different from the Ayanokouji who wanted to ask whether one could exchange points to kill someone."
She mirthfully laughed while remembering that incident before softly ruffling the brown boy's hair.
"It doesn't matter if you don't heed my advice or not. Just remember one thing, us humans, we always change as time goes. What we need to do is not fight the change but instead embrace it and accept it. That is what we call maturity, not this
'Winning is Everything' mindset of yours.....
It's a very dangerous way of thinking, which will later destroy you from inside and out."
With that she turned away from the boy and started walking towards the door, before she looked back for a second at his empty face, which looked to be in deep thought.
Chabashira ruffled through her pockets and took out the key she was looking for, before handing it to Kiyotaka, who looked at her confusingly.
"This key is only accessible for teachers only, however you can have it. Whenever you need some inner peace, just come over here."
"But what about you?"
"Did you forget? We can buy anything we want with points. Don't worry about me. It looks like it's about to rain soon. Go home, Ayanokouji."
Kiyotaka took one look at his key, before looking back towards the retreating figure of his teacher.
'Chabashira Sae....The Homeroom Teacher of my class.... Someone whom I always found to be obsessed with reaching Class-A.....
However today, I experienced a different side of her today...
She was the first person who ever challenged my ideals, and I am glad about it.
I'm glad that other think that my way of thinking is toxic because... I always wanted to change myself as well...'
The small droplets falling from the sky increased in intensity as it now starterd raining heavily.
Kiyotaka opened his umbrella trying to take shelter from it, not wanting to get ill.
'Whenever a challenge comes my way....I always forget that I'm not in the White Room, but instead in the real world. Here, just winning doesn't mean everything... There are a lot of other things one needs to take into consideration as well.
I'm glad we had that conversation, Chabashira-sensei. It was truly fruitful.'
End of Chapter 57
Words : 3394
The First Chapter of Season 3!!!!
And what better way to start it than having a nice one on one chat with Chabashira-sensei herself.
Unlike Canon, Kiyotaka's ideals and way of thinking is finally getting challenged early on, however he has no idea on what to do regarding the matter.
Also, as for Sakura, although she wouldn't be too important for Special Exams and sorts, I want to use her to make Ayanokouji develop into someone more human like. Kind of make her like his little sister while giving her a decent amount of development, so that she does not stay irrelevant like the canon.
Anyways, 22 Chapters in around 26 days!!!! I wonder when this motivation will end lmao. I'm writing way too much at the moment🤣🤣
Anyways...I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. See ya.
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