Cage of the Puppeteer | COTE x Xianxia

Timeline: After Y2V11 (No Knowledge needed)
Following the events of the training camp, I have returned to my routine: wake up, train, shower, and attend classes. It was a sequence I had perfected—simple, almost mechanical. For most people, such predictability would be tiring. For me, it was freedom, or at least the closest I could yet grasp.
Not much has changed in the two years I have spent here at the Advanced Nurturing High School, or ANHS.
Despite the friendships I had formed and the relationships I had nurtured—like my connection with Kei—there was still an emptiness, a void that still lingered within me. After I left the White Room, I thought that perhaps this school would provide me with the answer, the elusive 'something' that would grant my existence meaning aside from being the "Masterpiece" and the pawn of my father. Yet time marched forward, and my soul remained unfulfilled.
Would I ever find it? Or was I simply destined to drift through life in the same indifferent manner as always?
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
I awoke at precisely 5:30 AM, as always. No alarm was needed. My internal clock was as reliable as any alarm. I sat up in my accustomed dorm bed, the fair hum of the air conditioning sounding in the background.
I dressed quickly, slipping into my gym clothes. A light jog would start my day, followed by strength training in the gym, located at the Keyaki Mall.
This was not for show—I have neglected my training ever since arriving at this school, and it had consequences. Compared to my previous state under the White Room's harsh, rigorous regimen, my current state weakened drastically, and I had no intention of letting myself grow even weaker.
The campus was quiet in the early hours. I passed a few senior students tiredly trudging toward the school building, preparing for entrance exams for their dream universities.
Inside the gym, I found Sudo, my classmate, already working out.
I paused at the doorway, watching him push through a set of bench presses with determination.
"Ayanokoji? What are you doing here this early?" Sudo asked, glancing over at me. His tone carried a hint of surprise.
I walked closer, setting my bag down near the wall. "I'm always here at this time. It's less crowded in the mornings." I paused, meeting his gaze. "Rather, what are you doing here? Don't you normally show up later?"
Sudo chuckled, though it came out slightly strained from exertion. "Yeah, yeah, normally, sure. But, you know... with the year-end Special Exam coming up, I figured I'd better step up my game."
He gestured toward the weights. "If it turns out to be something physical, I want to be in peak condition. Gotta make sure I'm ready to help Suzune and the rest of the class. This might be my chance to really make a difference, y'know?"
I tilted my head slightly, studying him. Sudo's blunt honesty had always been one of his defining traits, though not always positive. There was no pretense or strategy behind his words—just a raw desire to improve himself.
I didn't reply immediately, instead beginning my warm-up routine. "It's admirable," I said finally. "You've come a long way from the guy who used to skip class for basketball."
Sudo grinned, wiping the sweat off his forehead with a towel. "Yeah, I guess, feels like forever ago now. Back then, I was all about basketball and didn't care about much else. I'd never have guessed I'd be busting my ass in a gym for something other than dunking on someone."
He laughed, but there was a faint edge of nostalgia in his tone.
His words hung in the air for a moment before he stood, clapping his hands together. "Anyway, I'm gonna hit the showers and grab some breakfast. Don't work too hard, man."
I watched him leave, his figure disappearing through the gym doors. Sudo had grown in many ways over the past two years.
I returned to my routine, the sound of clinking weights filling the empty gym once more.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
By the time I returned to the dorm to shower and change, the campus was coming to life. Students crowded the halls, their voices a dull roar.
As I walked toward my classroom, I noted familiar faces. Among them were members of Class B, my class, once the lowest-ranked Class D. Soon the year would end, and with that my time in this class.
They didn't need me anymore. Not really. With Horikita Suzune as their capable leader and figures like Hirata, Kushida, Karuizawa, and even the ever-reckless Sudo. With that lineup, they will be able to hold their own against the other classes even without my interference.
Who knows, maybe with Koenji as their Wildcard, things could get even more interesting.
Further down the path, I noticed Ryuen Kakeru, the delinquent leader of Class C, who strode down the path with his usual confidence, Ishizaki and Albert flanking him like guards.
And then there were the remaining contenders: Class A and D.
Class A, led by Sakayanagi Arisu, Class A's brain and princess, and Class D, led by Ichinose Honami, a beacon of optimism whose charisma kept her class united.
Would I transfer to Class A or Class D? I didn't care for the answer.
The only certainty was this: the stage had been set for the year-end Special Exam, the culmination of everything these two years had built toward. The following third year will have a fierce battle between all four classes, and I intend to witness the final result.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
Classroom 2-B was already buzzing with activity when I arrived.
"Good morning, Kiyotaka!" Yosuke called, waving cheerfully from his seat. His gentle disposition remained unchanged.
I nodded in greeting and made my way to my seat near the back of the room.
The morning passed uneventfully. Classes proceeded as usual, though my mind wandered more than I cared to admit. I found myself staring out the window at the clear blue sky, feeling an unfamiliar weight settle in my chest.
Two years.
Two years of lying to myself, playing the role of a mediocre student, while quietly shaping events behind the scenes. Two years of avoiding attention, hiding my true capabilities, and manipulating my peers like pieces on a chessboard.
I clenched my pen slightly, my thoughts drifting back to the White Room. For years, I have been trained to be perfect—a flawless tool designed to win at any cost. Emotions had no place in that place, nor did freedom.
The Advanced Nurturing High School had promised something different, but in the end, it was just another cage. A bigger one, perhaps, with looser bars, but a cage nonetheless.
What was I looking for?
What was I hoping to find?
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
Lunch arrived, and I found myself in the cafeteria with Kei. She chatted animatedly about a new store that had opened nearby, though I only half-listened. My attention was drawn to the far corner of the room, where Ryuen and his group were gathered.
Their laughter carried across the cafeteria, loud and unrestrained. Ryuen's gaze briefly met mine, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. A silent challenge.
Kei noticed my distraction and followed my gaze. "Ugh. Ryuen again? That guy's insufferable."
"He's consistent," I replied.
She gave me a puzzled look but shrugged it off. "Whatever. Just ignore him. Let's talk about something more interesting—like what you're going to do after the year-end exam."
"I haven't decided yet."
Kei pouted. "Mou, you're hopeless, you know that? At least pretend to have a plan."
I didn't answer. In truth, I did have a plan—several, in fact. But something told me that none of it would matter soon. A strange feeling had been growing inside me all day, an inexplicable sense of unease that I couldn't shake.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
By the time classes ended, the feeling had only grown stronger. I lingered in the empty classroom, staring at the chalkboard as though it held answers to questions I couldn't articulate.
Something's not right.
The hallway outside was quiet now, most students having left for their clubs or dorms. I finally stood and gathered my things, heading for the door.
As I stepped into the corridor, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me.
What is this...?
I stumbled, one hand gripping the wall for support. My vision blurred, and the faint hum of fluorescent lights above me grew louder, distorting into an unbearable ringing.
And then—
Time stopped.
The moment was instantaneous, incomprehensible. My body faltered, a sudden weight pulling at me as though my very soul had been ripped from its core. My vision blurred; the world around me melted into an unfathomable void. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I was drowning in a sea of darkness.
From above, my own body crumpled to the floor, lifeless and still. I watched, disembodied, as though I were a mere spectator to my own demise.
And then the pull came—an overwhelming surge that sent my soul soaring upward with incomprehensible speed.
The island that housed the Advanced Nurturing High School vanished below me. Tokyo, Japan, and then the entirety of the Earth shrank into insignificance in the blink of an eye.
Beyond the confines of the planet, the vastness of space unfurled before me, an endless expanse of stars and cosmic wonders. The sight was breathtaking, yet incomprehensible, as though my soul had transcended human understanding.
The speed increased, the sensations blurring until I could no longer comprehend motion, distance, or even my own existence. I was hurtling toward something far beyond my grasp, beyond the reach of reason.
And then—darkness.
My consciousness faded, swallowed by the void, leaving behind only the faint memory of the stars.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
The bell signaling the end of the school day had rung minutes earlier, and students from all classes were heading toward their dorms or clubs. A few stragglers remained in the hallways, chatting or finishing their conversations as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
Horikita Suzune walked briskly down the hall, her sharp gaze fixed ahead. She'd meant to ask Ayanokoji about the recent developments regarding the upcoming special exam. He'd been evasive as usual, and she needed clarity.
Turning a corner, she saw a small gathering of students just outside Class 2-B's classroom. The air was different—hushed murmurs and concerned whispers filled the corridor, and she immediately noticed Karuizawa Kei standing amidst the group. Karuizawa's face was pale, her trembling hands pressed against her lips.
"What's going on here?" Horikita demanded as she approached the group, her voice cutting through the low chatter.
No one answered at first, but Hirata Yosuke, grim-looking, stepped forward. His usual warmth was absent, replaced by a tight expression. "It's Kiyotaka," he said quietly. "He... collapsed."
Horikita froze, her mind racing to make sense of the words. "Collapsed? Where is he now?"
"They've already taken him to the nurse's office," Hirata said, his voice steady but strained. "But Horikita-san, it's bad. He wasn't breathing when we found him."
Karuizawa let out a quiet sob, and Horikita's gaze snapped to her. Karuizawa looked utterly shattered. She clung to Hirata's sleeve for support, her knees threatening to buckle.
"Calm down," Horikita said, her voice firmer now. She wasn't sure if she was speaking to Karuizawa, the other students, or herself. "Are the paramedics on their way?"
"Yes," Hirata nodded. "They've been called, but... it doesn't look good."
The words hung heavy in the air. For a brief moment, Horikita's usual calm cracked, her thoughts spiraling into chaos. Ayanokoji, her neighbor in their first year, her first friend—always so composed, so untouchable—was now lying unresponsive in the nurse's office.
Before she could process the implications, Ryuen Kakeru appeared, his trademark smirk notably absent. He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, but his usual confidence seemed dulled.
"Heard about it," Ryuen said, his tone unreadable. "That guy finally reached his limit, huh? Didn't think Ayanaokoji was the type to keel over."
Horikita shot him a glare. "This isn't the time for your usual games, Ryuen."
Ryuen faltered slightly. "Relax, I'm not here to stir the pot. Just saying, it's weird, isn't it? Ayanokoji doesn't strike me as the type to have a weak heart or anything like that."
Horikita couldn't deny the truth in his words. Ayanokoji had always been an enigma, seemingly unshakable in every sense. For him to collapse like this... it didn't add up.
Karuizawa finally found her voice, though it was weak and trembling. "He was fine this morning. He didn't... he didn't say anything about feeling sick or..." Her words dissolved into another sob, and Hirata gently guided her to sit on a nearby bench.
The hallway grew quieter as reality settled over them. Even Ryuen, for all his antagonistic tendencies, stood silently, his expression contemplative.
Finally, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Chabashira-sensei approached, her usually stern face uncharacteristically somber.
"Sensei," Horikita said immediately, stepping forward. "What's his condition?"
Chabashira hesitated, a rare flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. "The paramedics have taken him to the hospital. The preliminary report..." She trailed off, her gaze lowering.
Hirata pressed her. "Please, what did they say?"
"They couldn't find a pulse," Chabashira admitted, her voice heavy. "They're working to resuscitate him, but..."
Kei's muffled cries filled the silence, and even Horikita struggled to maintain her composure. Chabashira turned away, unable to offer comfort to her students.

For the first time, Horikita felt a pang of something she hadn't expected—regret. It was a foreign sensation, unwelcome and unfamiliar, settling heavily in her chest as she stood in the quiet hallway in front of her classroom. She regretted not knowing him better, not understanding him beyond the cold, pragmatic exchanges they shared.

"I can't believe it," Ryuen muttered under his breath. "Of all people... that guy?"
No one answered him.
As the small crowd began to disperse, the weight of Ayanokoji's absence settled over them all like a suffocating blanket. Horikita clenched her fists, her mind racing. This wasn't over. It couldn't be. Someone like Ayanokoji didn't just... vanish.
But for now, there was nothing to do but wait—and hope.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
The news of Ayanokojis' sudden collapse spread through the school like wildfire, igniting speculation and concern among the students. Within hours, the school forum was abuzz with rumors and whispered fragments of information.
The night after Ayanokoji's collapse was a heavy one. The usual buzz of life in the dorms had dimmed into an unnatural silence. Conversations were muted, students whispering behind closed doors as if afraid their voices might shatter what little stability remained.
Horikita sat in her room, her desk lamp casting a pale glow over the textbooks she hadn't touched. Her mind churned restlessly, unable to focus on the material in front of her. She replayed the moment Hirata told her about Ayanokoji's condition, his words echoing like a cruel taunt.
"He wasn't breathing."
She clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay composed. "This doesn't make sense," she murmured to herself. Ayanokoji wasn't someone who would break under pressure. He wasn't weak. He wasn't... mortal, in the way the rest of them seemed to be.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, snapping her out of her thoughts. She reached for it, noting Karuizawa's name flashing on the screen.
Horikita hesitated. She wasn't sure whether she could deal with Karuizawa's emotional outbursts right now. But guilt nudged her hand, and she answered.
"Good evening, Karuizawa-san," she said flatly.
"Is there any news?" Karuizawa's voice was small, trembling.
"None," Horikita replied, her tone softer than she intended. "The hospital hasn't released any updates yet."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Do you think..." Karuizawa began, her voice breaking slightly. "Do you think he'll be okay?"
Horikita's chest tightened. She wanted to reassure Karuizawa, but she wasn't one for empty platitudes. "Ayanokoji is... strong. If anyone can come out of something like this, it's him."
Karuizawa let out a shaky breath, but it was clear she wasn't comforted. "I-I should have noticed something was wrong," she stammered. "This morning, when we talked, he was so normal. Maybe too normal. He never even hinted that..."
"It's not your fault," Horikita cut in firmly. "You couldn't have known."
"Then who could?" Karuizawa snapped, frustration and grief spilling out in equal measure. "He's always so damn secretive! Always hiding things, always acting like he's fine, like nothing can touch him!"
Horikita didn't respond. She understood Karuizawa's anger, even if it was misplaced. Ayanokojis's detached, enigmatic nature had always been a double-edged sword. It had kept him ahead of everyone else but also made him impossible to truly understand.
"Karuizawa-san," Horikita said after a moment, her voice quiet but steady. "He wouldn't want you to fall apart over this."
Karuizawa sniffled, the sound muffled. "I'm trying... but it's hard. I..."
"If there's any news, I'll let you know," Horikita said firmly. "For now, get some rest."
Karuizawa didn't reply, but the line went dead a moment later. Horikita set her phone down, staring at the screen for a long moment.
Horikita set her phone down gently, the faint click echoing in the quiet of her room. She stared at the blank screen, her reflection barely visible on its dark surface. The composed mask she wore earlier slipped away, leaving behind raw, unguarded emotion. Her hands, so steady moments before, now trembled slightly in her lap.
She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. The weight of the day pressed heavily on her chest, making it hard to breathe. Ayanokoji's face flashed in her mind—not the indifferent, calculating expression he usually wore, but the rare glimpses she'd seen of something more human. His quiet moments of patience, his dry wit, his maddening calmness in the face of chaos, and the slight smile he showed her when they were in the café.
"I should have said something," she whispered, her voice breaking. The admission cut her deeper than she expected. She thought of all the times she'd gone to him—not as a friend, but as someone who needed something from him. Advice. A strategy. A way out. She had only used him as a convenience, to help her climb higher, not as someone who might need her in return.
She called him his friend, but did she ever treat him as a friend? Did they ever spend time as 'friends'?
Her fingers curled into fists as guilt surged within her. "I should have thanked him more. Listened more." She opened her eyes and looked at the textbooks sprawled across her desk, the neat notes she had written in her quest for perfection. For so long, she had told herself that her path to strength was one she had to walk alone. And yet, Ayanokoji has been beside her—sometimes guiding her, watching, but always there, teaching her.
He helped her transition from the stubborn, arrogant, isolated girl she was to a more open person, a person able to lead their class, becoming a person her brother acknowledged, something she desired dearly before arriving at this school.
Her throat tightened, and for the first time in a year, tears prickled at her eyes. She swiped at them angrily, but they fell faster than she could stop them. "I didn't even realize..." Her voice cracked, the words caught in her throat.
She loved him.
The realization hit her like a punch to the gut, leaving her breathless. It wasn't the kind of love Karuizawa professed—loud and possessive—but it was no less real. It was quiet, like him. A steady, unspoken admiration that had grown into something she couldn't define until now. She thought she had respected him, like her brother, but it was more than that. He had become the one constant in her life without even noticing.
And now, the thought of losing him forever left her feeling hollow in a way she couldn't bear.
Horikita leaned forward, burying her face in her hands as her composure shattered completely. In the silence of her room, she cried for the boy she unknowingly fell in love with—the boy she had thought was untouchable. She cried for the moments they would never share, for the words she had left unspoken.
And she cried because, for the first time, she realized just how much he had meant to her.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
The next morning began like no other at Advanced Nurturing High School. The usual hum of student chatter was eerily absent as the announcement spread across the campus. At exactly 8:00 AM, the electronic bulletin boards displayed the message that confirmed what many had feared.
"It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, a second-year student from Class 2-B. In his memory, a mourning ceremony will be held in the gymnasium at 10 AM. All Students and faculty are required to attend."
The words were simple, clinical even, but their weight was felt deeply. The air across the campus grew heavier with every passing moment. Groups of students whispered in hushed tones, their voices tinged with disbelief and confusion. Even those who had barely known the individual, named Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, felt the gravity of his loss—he had been a constant presence in their lives, a quiet yet undeniable force.
By the time the clock struck ten, the entire student body had gathered in the gymnasium. The seats were arranged in neat rows, dividing students by year and class. Faculty members stood at the edges of the room, their faces somber as they watched over the assembly.
At the front of the gym, a large screen displayed Ayanokoji's student ID photo. His face was as calm and neutral as it had always been, yet now it carried an unspoken finality. Below the photo were the words:
"In Memoriam: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka (10.20.1999 — 03.02.2017)"
Chairman Sakayanagi stood at the podium, his usually commanding presence subdued. He surveyed the room, his hands gripping the edges of the podium tightly as if grounding himself. Finally, he cleared his throat, his voice echoing through the silent hall.
"Today, we gather under the shadow of a great loss," he began, his tone measured but heavy. " Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was more than just a student of this school. He was a presence that many of you, whether you realized it or not, looked up to. He carried himself with quiet strength and unparalleled composure, and in his time here, he left an impact on us all."
The chairman paused, his gaze sweeping across the sea of faces. "In his memory, we will observe a moment of silence. Please bow your heads."
The gymnasium fell into profound stillness. Heads bowed as a collective sense of grief filled the room.
Horikita Suzune sat rigidly in her seat, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. She forced herself to keep her head down, but her thoughts raced. She felt the weight of her regret more keenly than ever. Ayanokoji had been the one constant in her life, always there with unwavering calm. She had taken his presence for granted, and now that he was gone, the emptiness was unbearable.
Karuizawa Kei sat just a few seats away, tears streaming silently down her face. She kept her head low, her hands trembling in her lap. She thought of every moment she'd spent with Ayanokoji, every word he'd spoken to her. She had relied on him so much, and now she felt unmoored, adrift without the quiet strength he had always offered her.
Further back, Sudo Ken sat with his arms crossed, his head tilted forward as if shielding himself from the world. His jaw was clenched tight, his breathing shallow and uneven. He had never thought of himself as someone who'd be deeply affected by loss, but this was different.
Ayanokoji had been the one to push him, to believe in him when few others did. Though their relationship had often been distant, there was no denying the quiet respect Sudo held for him. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, his voice cracking. "Why'd it have to be him?"
Near his side, Kushida Kikyo sat unnervingly still, her usual radiant smile, she normally displayed in public, nowhere in sight. She stared straight ahead, her face pale, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her sleeve. Ayanokoji had known the worst parts of her—her hidden cruelty, her deceit. Yet he had accepted her true self without judgment on the class trip to Hokkaido and even protected her from Ryuen.
She had never understood him, not really. She even hated him as he knew her little secret, but since the Cultural Festival, she started to admire him—to see him in a different light. Perhaps she even loved him in her own twisted way. Now, the realization of that was a bitter pill to swallow.
Hirata Yosuke's usually gentle and happy expression was clouded with sadness. He once again lost a friend he held precious, he mourned the loss of someone he had deeply respected and helped him enormously through a difficult time.
Among the rows of second-year students, three figures sat together in the section for Class 2-B. They had once been part of a tight-knit group that had included Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Though time and circumstances had driven a wedge between them, the echoes of those days lingered—and now, those echoes weigh heavily on their hearts.
Haruka Hasebe stared blankly at the screen displaying Ayanokoji's photo, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She had always been the most expressive of their group, but now her face was unreadable, her normally vibrant personality dulled by the weight of the news.
He's really gone.
The thought replayed in her mind, over and over, refusing to settle. Her feelings were a tangled mess of anger, sadness, and regret. She hadn't talked much to Ayanokoji in months—not since the day everything had changed. When Sakura Airi had been expelled, it was Ayanokoji who had made the final decision, shattering their group and, in many ways, their trust.
"I hated him for that," Haruka whispered under her breath, her voice barely audible. But now, faced with the finality of his absence, she wasn't sure what she felt.
Her hand clenched into a fist, nails digging into her palm. Did he regret it? Did he ever think about us? The questions inside her were unanswered and now forever unanswerable.
Akito Miyaki sat beside her, his usually calm and collected demeanor cracking at the edges. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the floor. His jaw was fixed, and his hands clasped together so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
He wasn't the type to dwell on emotions—he preferred action and solutions. But there was no solution to this. No way to undo what had happened.
Kiyotaka had been an enigma to him, even back when they were friends. Akito had admired his quiet strength and his ability to stay calm under pressure. He'd thought Ayanokoji was someone who could handle anything. That belief had shattered the day Airi was expelled.
"I don't get it," Akito muttered, his voice strained. "How could someone like him just... die?"
Haruka turned to him, her voice sharp. "You're acting like he was invincible. He wasn't! None of us are!"
Akito didn't reply. He didn't have the words to explain the strange hollow feeling in his chest, the sense that something had been ripped away before he could fully understand it.
Teruhiko Yukimura, also rather referred to as Keisei Yukimura, stared straight ahead, his face a mask of neutrality, but his eyes betrayed him. They shimmered with unshed tears, reflecting the soft glow of the screen at the front of the gym.
Even though he felt betrayed when Ayanokoji didn't tell them anything—about the abilities he has—he came to the conclusion that he himself is a hypocrite and has no right to demand answers from his friend.
He is a person who doesn't like to talk about himself or about his past; he has no right to judge those who are also unwilling to do so.
If he is true to himself, he became jealous the moment Ayanokoji scored 100% on the math exam at the beginning of the second year. He remembers how he tried to corner Ayanokoji to explain himself.
How pathetic I was...
Yukimura's hands tightened on the edge of his chair. He thought back to their group and to the quiet camaraderie they had once shared. Back then, Ayanokoji had been a part of something.
"He didn't even say goodbye," Yukimura muttered under his breath, the words bitter and hollow, his voice starting to break.
Haruka glanced at him, her expression softening. "He wouldn't have. That's just who he was."
Yukimura said nothing. He didn't trust himself to speak.
On the other side of the gym, Sakayanagi Arisu observed the room with her usual calm. Her hands rested on her cane, which she placed on her lap, though her hands holding her cane were shaking. Of all students, except Amasawa Ichika, she knew the most about Ayanokoji's origins—about the White Room and the inhuman training he had endured. But even she hadn't predicted this outcome.
"What an unexpected turn of events," she murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on the screen displaying Ayanokoji's photo.
A loss of this magnitude will undoubtedly ripple even beyond the school. What will Ayanokoji-sensei do now? But more importantly, Ayanokoji-kun were you able to experience human warmth? Did this institution help you find answers to your questions? I dearly hope so.
Beside her, Hashimoto Masayoshi fidgeted, his usual smirk absent. He glanced at Sakayanagi, gauging her reaction, but found little comfort in her composed demeanor.
In another section, Ichinose Honami sat with her best friend, Amikura Mako. Honami's usually vibrant face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen. She clutched her hands tightly in her lap, her nails digging into her skin as she tried to process the news.
"Ayanokoji..." she whispered, her voice trembling. She had loved him, though unfortunately for her, that love was unrequited. He had been a quiet, steady presence in her life, someone who had always been there to help her when she needed it most. Now, that presence was gone, and the world felt unbearably fragile.
Beside her, Amikura placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Honami..." she said softly, her teasing nature absent. She didn't know what to say—no words could ease the pain her friend was feeling.
Toward the back of the gym, Ryuen Kakeru leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. His lips formed into a thin line. "The monster's gone," he muttered, almost to himself. "Didn't think that'd ever happen."
But even Ryuen couldn't shake the unease settling in his chest. Ayanokoji had been more than a rival—he had been a force of nature, someone who had pushed Ryuen to his limits and beyond. Without him, the school felt... less dangerous. Boring. Less alive.
Hiyori Shiina sat beside him, clutching a book to her chest. She didn't cry, but her eyes were glassy, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her friendship with Ayanokoji had been quiet, built on shared silences and a mutual love of books. She thought of the moments they had spent together in the library, and her heart ached with the knowledge that those moments were now memories.
Some mourned openly, like Honami and Kei. Others grieved in their own Stoic way, like Suzune and Hiyori. And some, like Ryuen and Sakayanagi, paid respect to the individual named Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Life at Advanced Nurturing High School would go on, but it would never be the same. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was gone, and the void he left behind would be felt by everyone, whether they realized it yet or not.
A/N: Thank you for reading the first chapter of this fic. Please don't hesitate to offer criticism, as this is the first writing project I have ever done, and I must say it wasn't easy, and it will only get harder, but I will try to stay committed to this project. Writing itself isn't even difficult, but knowing what to write and especially writing dialogues is more difficult than I anticipated at the beginning. Even more so the characters sound/act in character and are not acting out of their character, but now that the COTE cast won't play a role for a while, I will have at least one problem less. I hope those dialogues sound natural to you and don't sound forced or similar.
Now that the ANHS part is done, I will need to plan a lot for the first volume (World, Characters, etc.). I have an idea in which direction I want to go, but for the deeper details, I will now create a plan so I don't get lost. Till then, thank you for reading, and see you next time.