Classroom of the elite: Rival

Volume 0 - Chapter 5

Kiryuin Fuzuki

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the house. It was Christmas Day—December 25th—and the clock had just struck 10 a.m.

I groggily pulled myself out of bed after a late night and trudged downstairs, the faint aroma of breakfast wafting through the air.

As I entered the dining room, I spotted Fuka and Chiaki already at the table, looking far too chipper for this ungodly hour.

"Merry Christmas," I mumbled, my voice sounding like I'd gargled with gravel.

"Well, well, look who decided to join the land of the living," Fuka quipped.

I slumped into a chair, reaching for a piece of toast like it was a life raft. Before I could take a bite, Fuka's gaze locked onto me with the intensity of a cat eyeing a wounded mouse.

"Alright, Sleeping Beauty," she began, leaning forward. "Time to spill the beans."

I blinked at her, pretending not to understand. "Where are the parents?" I asked instead, hoping to deflect her attention.

Chiaki jumped in to answer. "They went to meet some acquaintances today. They'll be busy until the afternoon."

I nodded absentmindedly, thankful for the distraction—or so I thought.

"Don't change the subject," Fuka said firmly, her piercing stare unwavering. "You're not getting off that easily."

Chiaki looked between us, her expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "What's going on? Is this some weird Christmas tradition I missed?"

"Oh yes," I deadpanned. "It's called 'Interrogate Your Brother Day.' Very popular in some cultures."

Fuka leaned back slightly but kept her eyes trained on me. "You knew Ayanokoji-kun before yesterday, didn't you?"

Ah, there it was—the question I had been expecting but dreading nonetheless. I sighed inwardly and decided to play along for now.

"Is that why you approached him yesterday?" I asked casually, though we both knew the answer.

"Well, yes." Fuka admitted without hesitation, "it's not every day you react so... strangely toward someone. Naturally, it caught my attention."

Yesterday's little performance came rushing back to me. When I spotted Ayanokoji while hanging out with Kanzaki, I had deliberately exaggerated my reaction—grinning far more than usual and showing visible excitement—to ensure Fuka noticed.

She had been watching us from afar; that much was certain. My plan had worked perfectly—she made contact with him first, paving the way for what I had in mind.

I'm pretty sure Ayanokoji figured out what I did by now.

Chiaki looked between us like she was watching a drama unfold on TV. "Wait... did you really know him before?" she asked hesitantly.

I let out a thoughtful hum before replying honestly. "Mhm. No point lying about it now. Yes, I knew him—but only indirectly."

"Indirectly?" Chiaki echoed, clearly more confused than ever.

"This wasn't the first time I'd seen Ayanokoji," I clarified with a smirk. "But it was the first time he met me."

Fuka raised an eyebrow at that cryptic statement but didn't interrupt immediately. Instead, she studied me carefully before speaking again.

"Just who is he exactly?" she asked after a moment of silence. "I get that he's smart—he's pretty good at chess too—but he was losing to you yesterday."