Work Text:
Suzune Horikita Pov
The final year exam concluded with an unexpected win for our class, at least that was our classmates thought, no one expected that Ayanokouji-kun completely defeated Ichinose-san and her social abilities in this particular exam, there was a commotion in the class when he decided to expel Maezono-san however Hirata-kun managed to control the situation without much effort, I for one, was happy to have finally ascended to the desired class A, it was a part of my long desired dream since I entered this school and there was nothing else on my mind... except for one little thing...
After my crushing defeat against Ichinose, I felt incredibly down, I even thought for a moment that I didn't deserve to be the class leader, it was then that I cross with Ayanokouji-kun who after a few words took me in his arms and embraced me warmly and gently, I tried to weakly get away but he didn't let me go, his warmth and the comforting words he gave me, awoken something in me, my heart was beating rapidly and I heard his beating the same way, I felt... safe, for a brief moment. Then he gave me a few small pats on my head which felt nostalgic somehow, after a moment that seemed very short to me, he separated from me, and started to walk where Ichinose was waiting. When I saw Ayanokouji-kun's back I knew he would emerge victorious with no doubt.
The atmosphere was a bit tense in the classroom due to Maezono's expulsion, but some of our classmates decided to celebrate our long-awaited promotion to Class A. I was happy, although a bit tired, so I decided not to join them, and also because I couldn't look Ayanokouji-kun in the face for some reason without feeling my face burning.
Later that day, I heard a bombshell from Kushida-san; Ayanokouji-kun and Karuizawa-san had broken up, her friends comforted Karuizawa-san, and Ayanokouji-kun decided to leave that place without saying a word. Many of our classmates were grateful to him for leading us to victory, but others looked at him with distrust, due to Maezono-san's expulsion and now for his cold breakup with Karuizawa-san, I was fearing for the unity of the class and the reputation of Ayanokoji-kun, but I know he always do things with logic behind.
He already had an argument with her before, and I advised him to fix things with her in favor of class unity, however this time I don't think that will be possible. And a part of me don't want them to fix things up.
That evening, I couldn't stop thinking about him, I remember all we went through since we met in this school and how our relationship has been improved recently, at the beginning he annoyed me too much with his selfless attitude and his manipulation behavior that I distanced myself from him after certain events, but he always helped me on his own way, and little by little our relationship healed, then he started dating Karuizawa-san, I never let him know but I felt a little sad because I could no longer spend the same time with him like before, and it made me regret being cold and for having treated him badly sometimes, but a few weeks ago I saw a side of him that I'm sure only I have seen, it was something small, a little smile that that adorned his face for a brief period of time, but it suited him wonderfully...
Lately I feel closer to him than anyone else, these feelings scare me a little because he is my friend and he is already in a relationship... or well he was, but for some time now, I've been feeling the same warmth every time I see him and his actions today filled me with a nostalgia that I cannot get off my mind. How I Suzune Horikita, feel embarrassed and shy for a simple hug and small head pats... that doesn't make any sense! Yet I have this warmth in my chest that I cannot get rid of, I have the feeling that I have already felt this before... I felt asleep with that thought in mind, and that night I had a dream or rather I could say a long-forgotten memory.
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I was traveling with my parents, we went to New York for some kinds of business-related matters, we had attended a meeting in which there were many people, and I remember being separated from them. I was only 7 years old and I was wandering alone among a sea of unknown people, I remember being distressed and sad holding my favorite stuffed animal while calling my parents, but no one seemed to pay attention to me, suddenly my mood changed when I heard the sound of a piano, it played a beautiful melody, I didn't waste time and I slipped through the crowd to see the person who played so masterfully. My surprise was evident when I realized that it was a boy of my age, who played the piano with the skill of a true master. I remember that I kept watching him even after the song was over, he simply bowed and walked off the stage where he had demonstrated his incredible talent, after that a scary looking man took the microphone, I ignored him and went after the boy. When I reached him, I stopped him and asked for his name, he turned to look at me with a blank look on his face and said his name in a monotonous voice, — "Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."
I approached him just out of curiosity, but we had nothing to talk about, however, he continued — "And yours?"
— "Huh?" — "I mean your name" — "Ahh, my name is Horikita Suzune," — "What can I do for you Horikita?" he said to me with his disinterested face
— "No honorifics? How rude..." I thought.
— "I just wanted to know, where did you learn to play like that?" — "At my father's school" — "Your father?" I saw as he raised his hand and pointed at the terrifying looking man who was speaking on stage. I unintentionally grimaced — "It seems that your father is... strict."
Before I realized it, he had already started to walk away from me, — "H-hey! Leaving a lady talking to herself is not very gentlemanly of you!" — "I thought you just wanted to ask me about my piano skills." — "Well, yes, but... I also want to find my parents." — "I see." Then, without saying anything else, he grabbed my hand and took me with him. His grip was strong, almost like Dad's, however, it was also gentle.
We wandered around looking for my parents for a while, however, we didn't find them... When I started to cry, he simply patted me on the head and told me to calm down, eventually we would find them. I simply nodded and stared at him. How can someone my age be so trustworthy? After a while, I saw my parents who were talking to some unknown people and when I saw them, I ran towards them. — "Mother, Father!" but her reaction was not what I expected... — "Don't interrupt us Suzune, we're having an important conversation" I saw that there was a dark-haired boy with those people who seemed smaller than me — "Don't worry Horikita-dono, it's a good time to introduce them, don't you think?" They began to talk about the boy in front of me, but I didn't hear anything they said, I was just looking at my parents who didn't seem to care that I had gotten lost, and I was desperately looking for them.
— "Suzune, did you understand? He is going to be..."
— "I DON'T CARE!" I ran out of there with tears in my eyes, I ended up in a corner of that huge place, I crouched down and began to cry on my stuffed animal, that was until I heard a monotonous and boring voice next to me — "Did you get lost again?" — "Shut up, I didn't get lost" — "Then why are you crying?" — "I'm not crying..." — "And I don't know how to play the piano..." — "That's a lie... you're unbearable, you know?" — "If you didn't get lost, why are you crying?" — "I don't have to tell you..." After telling him that, he crouched down next to me and then started patting my head again — "What are you doing? Stop it" — "I had seen a classmate at my school doing this with a girl who tends to cry a lot, and it seems to work."
For some reason his pats made me cry again, I buried my face in my stuffed animal again and leaned on his shoulder. — "Maybe it doesn't work with you, or I'm just doing it wrong" he said and then removed his hand which was stopped by me. — "No... continue" I didn't want him to stop, his touch was reassuring and comforting. After a while I had stopped crying and found myself leaning on his shoulder 'now that I take a closer look, he is really handsome, but that empty look ruins it, he should smile more' I thought.
— "Hey, do you want to try the food? It looks delicious" He said while pointing to a table full of food that looked very appetizing — "Hmm" I nodded shyly since in this whole time he hadn't stopped patting me on the head while I was leaning on his shoulder and now he had grabbed my hand again and took me with him, he wasn't rough at all, but firm, I felt as if he could take me anywhere and I would still be safe. In this sadness that invaded me, for a brief moment I felt happiness.
When we got to the food table we were impressed with the variety there was, we decided to try a little bit of everything and we were amazed with the taste — "Wow, this is delicious" — "You say that as if you have never eaten tempura" — "This is the first time I tried it" — "Are you serious?" — "My father is very strict with my diet, so I only eat low-fat and carb-free food" — "I have no idea what you are talking about, but it sounds boring..." — "I wouldn't mind eating this for the rest of my life" — "You really seem to like it" I think it was at that moment that I decided to learn how to cook.
Before I knew it, we had our fingers intertwined which made me blush a lot, but still I didn't let him go, nor he me... After trying more food and eventually finishing eating, we started talking about various things, he was incredibly knowledgeable about many things and knew some incredibly difficult stuff, although apparently, he didn't know basic things like ice cream or yogurt which was a bit odd.
After a few minutes of talking, we saw how some adults started dancing with a soft melody for the ear — "Do you want to try it?" — "Huh..?!, no thanks it's embarrassing" I do wanted to dance with him, but I was too embarrassed to admit it, besides there was much people around us — "I see, follow me then" — "W-wait" As if he had read my mind he took me with him and for some reason he wouldn't let go of my hand, and I didn't want to let go of him either, he took me to a balcony outside the big room we were in and we started dancing a little, or at least we tried since we were both bad at it, but I still felt very happy. I tried to make him smile but I couldn't, his poker face didn't change at all, then I tried to form a smile on his face with my hands but when I realized that I was touching his face I let go immediately, embarrassed by what I had done, but he didn't seem to care, 'someday I will make him smile' I promised myself. I remember smiling and laughing with him, it was a beautiful memory that was unfortunately overshadowed by the scolding my parents gave me that night for running away from what they considered "a good investment"
— "Do you have any idea what you ruined! You don't know how much it cost me to get that engagement!" — "I can't believe it, and to think that you would act so childishly just then, only to meet with that person's son, you disappoint me Suzune" — "I'm sorry father, mother" — "Seriously... you couldn't even do that right, I guess our hopes now lie in Manabu..." Nii-san... — "I-I, I can do things right too, just like Nii-san!" I said while holding my tears— "Then prove it..."
After that, I forgot everything else, and I only focused on catching up with my brother who slowly started to distance himself from me as I began to imitate him in almost everything, while I focused on that I forgot about that boy who one day came and despite his monotonous voice and cold gaze, he made me feel happy and safe... I learned to cook delicious food, but I forgot why or for whom I did it, I also learn how to play the piano, my brother seemed happy that I had chosen a different instrument than him, when he asked me why I chose it, I couldn't tell him why, but I felt somehow nostalgia from it.
When I woke up, I had tears in my eyes, remembering him after all those years feels like a dream. 'Ayanokouji-kun...' I whispered his name. Remembering the smile, he gave me a few weeks ago in the cafeteria I couldn't help it but smile "I knew you would look much better smiling" I told to myself. With a nostalgic feeling and a warmth in my chest I made another promise to myself "I'll make you smile again and won't let that smile fade away, Ayanokouji-kun..."
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The same day I had that dream, he asked me to meet him, as he had something important to tell me. Once arriving at the 'Latte Cafe' we started to talk about the latest exam and different things, my mood were high, and seeing his face still made me blush slightly, even more so after that dream, but he seemed a little sad for some reason, it seemed like it was difficult for him to talk about the reason that brought me here, so I told him about my dream. It was a little embarrassing, considering that he influenced many things in my life, and when I least expected it, I saw it again, his smile. Then I heard a really weird question coming out of his mouth. — "I'm important to you, Horikita?" I don't know why he asked me that, I'm certain that he knew how important he is for the class and by extension to me, but I think that's not what he meant by that question.
He seemed to be struggling with something, since he looked very indecisive and nervous, for many people he might seem the same as always, but for me who have been with him for a long time, noticed it right away. I had never seen him like this, something in me told me that this was not the time to be vague with my answer, so I was honest with him.
— "After my brother graduated, you became the most important person for me in this school, Ayanokouji-kun..."
When those words leaved my mouth his face lit up — "Are you being serious Horikita?" — "Why would I lie about something like this, don't make me say it again, it's embarrassing..."
What happen next leaved me astonished, if I wouldn't saw it, I would never believed it... Ayanokouji-kun in front of me shed a tear. — "A-Ayankouji-kun!?" — "Huh?" — "What is this?" He said as he felt the tear on his cheek — "Are you okay?" — "Yes, it's nothing, I just..." I arched an eyebrow in confusion — "I just thought that you don't really care about me..."
His words made me a little upset — "HUH? What make you think that? You don't know how much worried I was about the thought of disappointing you if I didn't get into the student council when you asked me to join!? Do you think I would feel that way if I don't care about you!? You don't know how worried I was when I saw a knife in your hand!?, It took everything in me to keep from crying at that sight, at that moment I completely forgot about the special exam, I just wanted you to treat your injured hand, it was only because of your calm demeanor that I managed to calm down, do you think I would feel that way if I don't care about you!? IF I HAD NEVER CARED ABOUT YOU, I'D NEVER FOUGHT AGAINST AMASAWA-SAN ON THE ISLAND, WHEN I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE EXPELLED!!!
I didn't realize it, but I had raised my voice more than I thought, I began to feel tears forming in my eyes and my hands shaking, I simply stood up and walked out of there without caring about the looks of the other students and staff, I didn't understand it, but his words hurt me much more than I thought. I began to walk away from there, then after a few seconds, I heard the idiot I had left behind calling my name — "Horikita, wait" — "Horikita!" I didn't want to see him so I hastened my pace; I felt how the little itch in my eyes had now turned into tears that were falling down my face.
Suddenly, I felt his hand holding mine, — "Let me go" — "Wait, Horikita" — "Let me go!" Then he pulled me towards him and wrapped me into an embrace. — "I'm sorry" he said... I tried to pull it away from me, but another part of me just wanted to reciprocate the embrace "I'm sorry" He kept saying, but his voice no longer had that monotonous tone that was so characteristic of him — "How could you think that I never cared about you, imbecile..." I told him as I buried my face in his chest — "I'm sorry" — "Could you say something else?" — "I just want to apologize" — "What about you, Ayanokouji-kun?" — "Do you care about me at all?" I don't know where that question came from, but I needed to know, I had no idea what he could say but what he said... I never expected it.
— "You are the most important person in my life Horikita, not Kei, not Yosuke, no one but you." He left me speechless, and after a brief moment I replied — "Stop joking..." — "I'm being serious Horikita" — "You don't even call me by my name..." My voice came out as a whisper — "That's because you never wanted." — "Because you never asked me in the first place...!!!"
His next words still echo within me to this day
— "You're the most special person to me, Suzune..." When I heard him say my name, the warmth in my chest combined with his body heat reminded me of that feeling I had felt just a few hours ago — "Don't say it like that, I might misunderstand you..." — "I already told you, I'm serious" — "That's a lie, what about Karuizawa-san then?" — "I never felt this way with her" — "Are you serious?" He simply nodded at my question — "You're the worst..." — "I know..." He kept hugging me tightly but with every passing second, a question arose in me...
— "Since when?" — "Huh?" — "Since when have you felt this way about me?" — " To be honest, I felt something special towards you since the moment I saw you again... From that moment, what I feel has only grown." — "But I was horrible to you" — "I know, that didn't diminish this feeling in the slightest."— "Then why, you and Karuizawa-san?" — "Because I thought you'd never feel the same way about me, and I tried to forget these feelings by being with her, but I never could." — "...You're an idiot..." — "I know." — "You really are an idiot..." I embraced him tighter, feeling tears falling through my face again. — "But even so, I..." I looked towards him and pulled him to me by enrolling my arms around his neck.
I love you...
The kiss I gave him spoke those words, from the deepest part of my heart... the world around us disappeared, I don't know when I had fell for him, I don't know at what point I started to feel this way... but after feeling his lips on mine combined with his tight embrace, it only reassured my feelings towards him.
After we parted to catch our breath, I could see how his face, which almost always wore a blank expression, was now covered with a deep blush. He slowly opened his eyes, those uninterested eyes seemed to have a shine that had never been there before... which made him look irresistible.
— "Suzune..." The only thing I heard was my name before our lips met again, this time the kiss was more prolonged and passionate. I never would have thought that the person I would fall in love with would be the boy I met a long time ago, the one who sat next to me for over a year and whom I came to distrust, but little by little, I came to love.
As we parted our lips again to catch our breath, he rested his forehead in mine with his eyes closed, but when he opened his eyes, I found myself lost into them once more
— "Kiyotaka..."
— "Suzune..."
The time seemed to stop, there was no world around us, just me and him... Then we heard a loud noise
— "Kyaa!" — "My god... isn't that the student council president?" — "Good lord, at least do that in private!"
When we heard that we pulled away, we saw what had happened. — "Oh my God..." I was shocked... There were so many girls and boys around us, some with their phones in hand, I felt like dying.
— "Come with me." Kiyotaka grabbed my hand and led me away. I felt like something like this had happened before.
When he took my hand I once again felt that nostalgic sense of safety... After we arrived at the dorms, Kiyotaka spoke — "Suzune, I'm really bad at expressing what I feel." — "You don't say..." — "...I'm being serious." — "So am I..." he let out a sigh, I couldn't help but giggle a little — "What I mean is..." — " This feeling I've had for you for a while, I don't know how to describe it, but I do know that every time I see you, my world fills with color. Every time I hold you in my arms, my heart beats like it never has before. When I kissed you earlier, I felt a warmth inside of me that makes me feel alive. I think I... I'm in love with you, Suzune..." — "Please, stay by my side and be my girlfriend"
He almost let me speechless again... and I knew he might propose this to me, but I don't think this is the right time, also he just broke up with Karuizawa yesterday. This could hurt our reputation and rumors may spread, the class's unity might be broken, besides... besides...
Seeing his expectant face, so focused on my response, I completely forgot what I was thinking. I got lost in his eyes again as if there was a force pulling me towards them. I had seen those eyes before, which seemed to hold an infinite darkness, but now that darkness was nowhere to be found. I simply saw a new light that had never been there before. I just looked at him, lost in his eyes, and responded — "Yes." After my reply, the smile he gave me illuminated me.
With a joy I've never seen before in him, he embraced me and lifted me off the ground doing a few spins, — "Wait, Kiyotaka!" it was the first time I saw him this happy, now that I think about it, It was the first time I saw him happy at all... and to think that he would act like this just for me, I couldn't help it but feel touched by his reaction. Before my feet hit the ground, I wrapped my arms around his neck again and kissed him again. — "Do you want to celebrate Kiyotaka?" — "That sounds good, what do you have in mind?" — "What about a handmade dinner courtesy of your girlfriend" I could see him hesitate for a moment, well I can't blame him... — "You won't ask me for anything in return?" — "Who knows?" he chuckled a little, God I love see him like this... — "You know, maybe I'll ask you something in return..." — "And what will that be?" — "Stay with me, always by my side..." He simply took my hand and gave me a tender kiss — "From this moment until forever, I'll be by your side, Suzune"
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We went to the elevator towards my room hand in hand, I felt really embarrassed, and even more so after running into Kushida who was surprised to see us. — "Oh, what do we have here? Horikita-san and Ayanokoji-kun, how are you..." After seeing us holding hands, she froze in place — "You kidding right...?" she said as her angel mask fade away, I just past beside her and said — "I tell you later" with my face down due to embarrassment
After a brief moment we reached my dorm, it had been a long time since he had come here, not since he started dating Karuizawa. I felt nervous because it was the first time he came over not as my friend, but as my boyfriend... I couldn't hide my flustered face, and he seemed to notice because once we were inside, he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me from behind... — "What are you doing Kiyotaka...?" — "I just wanted to hug you" he said with a caring voice, I felt happy although a little shy. We stayed in that position for a few moments until I turned around and hugged him back, I lifted my sight to looked at him into his eyes, those eyes that captivated me, and slowly I brought my face closer to him until I pressed my lips against him once again.
Our kisses started slowly and tenderly but as we got into it, they became more passionate. It seems like all the time and moments we stood away from each other took a toll on us, every kiss we share it seemed that we wanted to drown in each other.
His kisses were full of love and desire, only comparable to how I was savoring him
This is bad... I thought
After a few moments he stopped, my face... a mess, but I felt like levitating, I buried my face in his chest, I was dying of embarrassment but also feeling overjoyed in his arms, neither he or I dare to say a word, we just stood there feeling each other warmth, and after a few minutes he spoke — "I love you Suzune" — "I love you too Kiyotaka..." we were in our little world until the sound of our stomachs brought us back to reality, we just looked at each other and laugh a little — "Let's prepare our dinner" I told him, and with a simple nod and a little smile he agreed
That afternoon, we spent time in my dorm room, we talked about a lot of things, I asked him why he had invited me to the café earlier, but he told me that it was no longer important, I was a bit curious but decided to respect his decision and not push further.
Also, due to the most recent events regarding Kiyotaka and his recent breakup with Karuizawa-san we debated about hide our relationship for some time, but then we remembered Kushida, and thinking that she should had spreaded the word by now, hidden it could be futile, fact that was confirmed when my phone started ringing with messages from Sudo, Ibuki, Sato, and other classmates asking me for my relationship with Kiyotaka-kun.
That woman I swear...
At that time I called her to complain but her response was not what I expected...
[— "Hello?"]
[— "Kushida-san! why did you tell everyone about my relationship with Kiyotaka!!"]
[— "Uhhh??? It wasn't me you dumb bitch!"]
[— "How did you just called me!?"]
[— "Dumb bitch because that's what you are, take a look at the file I just sent you"]
[— "File? what is this about?"]
After opening the file I froze... it was a video about Kiyotaka and me kissing passionately... very passionately. Now that I remember... after being honest about our feelings, there were a lot of students surrounding us, many of them with their phones in hand. But I don't remember being this... this intense! I can't believe this is me in the video! My face was dark red according to Kiyotaka-kun.
All I could think about is the headache that it would be to enter the classroom on Monday, luckily, we had the whole weekend to think about it.
We decided to not let this outcome sour our mood, and we both turned off our smartphones... After talking for a few hours and having a good time reading in comfortable silence, the curfew hour arrived, and he decided to go back to his room. I felt sad but I couldn't find the courage to ask him to stay, it was way to early for that and more considering how we almost devour each other a few hours ago...
When he stood at my door, he face me again, without saying a word I understood what he wanted. I came close to him feeling my face burning, he then grabbed my hand and press his lips against mine, a really sweet kiss, I noticed how he was trying to be considered with me, so I pulled him to me and deepened the kiss. As if a fine line that kept us sane just broke, he embraced me again tightly and I felt how the heat started to rise... there is this feeling between us that we must keep under control or it could end badly really badly. Luckily for me, he was able to restrain himself, because I'm not sure if I would be able to do the same...
What happened next was chaos. The class was divided for a while because they thought Kiyotaka had cheated on Karuizawa with me, luckily, she cleared up the misunderstanding and denied those accusations. It took her some time, but she managed to get over it, and now she and Kiyotaka are good friends, I was surprised when she wanted to become my friend too, at first, I was hesitant because of ulterior motives, but I quickly realized that it wasn't the case...
Later, I found out that Kiyotaka had called me that day to let me know he was planning to transfer classes. When I heard this, I turned pale, but he told me he changed his mind when he heard my true feelings about him and thanked me for preventing him from making the worst mistake of his life as he called it. Just thinking about what could have happened if I hadn't been honest with him that day... it's better not to dwell on it.
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Life at the 'Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School' continued as usual. The exams that awaited us in our third year were by no means easy. Kiyotaka had to face a different set of challenges when some new students tried multiple times to expel him, but unfortunately for them, their opponent was none other than Kiyotaka-kun and this time he had me by his side.
Our relationship slowly became more intimate, to the point we... ahem... I understood why they called him king... He never ceased to amaze me. One night near the graduation, he told me about his past. At first, I thought it was all a bad joke, but the more I listened, the more I understood his former self. I grew to have a deep resentment towards his father and vowed to myself that I would never abandon him, a promise I was able to keep as graduation approached. I had asked my brother and chairman Sakayanagi for help in freeing Kiyotaka from the clutches of that man who definitely doesn't deserve to call himself his father.
The graduation day arrived and my brother was waiting for me at the school gates as we promised two years ago, my relationship with Kiyotaka was kept a secret from him and now we are going to let him now the truth.
Once we arrived at the gates, he was there with Tachibana-san and once he saw Kiyotaka holding my hand, he understood almost immediately...
— "See Manabu-kun? I told you, you raised a flag that day..." Said Tachibana-san
— "Really now? well I'm glad I did it..."— "I'm really glad that you two are finally together..."
His words made me blush a little, as if he knew it was just a matter of time for us to end up together.
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Fortunately, everything turned out well. We managed to graduate in Class A, Kiyotaka escaped from his father, later on we exposed that man's illegal projects, which were quickly shut down, and Atsuomi Ayanokoji was finally arrested.
What we've experienced over the last few years has been crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing. Thanks to the decisions we made, we're here now
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— "You are ready, Suzune-chan"
— "Thank you so much, Akane-san"
I said to my sister-in-law as she helped me with my hair for what would be the most important day of my life until now, the day Kiyotaka's life and mine would be united until death do us part. I was reminiscing about the past few years as I walked down the altar where my brother handed me over to my future life partner. — "I leave her under your care, Kiyotaka..." my brother said, — "I will protect her forever, Manabu" he said with a radiant smile that left me mesmerized. I can proudly say that I kept my promise, and I will never let that smile of yours fade away Kiyotaka. And to think what our destiny had prepared for us, and now that I think about it, it all was thanks to a beautiful dream...
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THE END