Classroom of the Elite: Liquid Inspiration

Vol 0. Chapter 3.1 - Kiyotaka's First Christmas

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka

December 24, 2013— my first Christmas Eve outside the White Room.

It wasn't anything special to me as I didn't exactly associate Christmas with any meaning other than a religious celebration, as well as an opportune time for businesses to make profits.

Eiichiro, upon knowing my views about the holidays, made a vow.

"It's not just another Wednesday, you idiot! It's Christmas! You know what? I'll just show you why it's great," he said then.

I had no idea how he intended to do that, but I found myself anticipating how he'd make me see the holidays differently.

After all, in the two months since meeting him, Eiichiro had opened my eyes to many things I initially thought uninteresting.

For example. I never thought I'd find myself interested in playing football, but these days, I would play with Eiichiro at least once a week.

It was weird... seeing myself so comfortable with another person, but there was a reason for that.

Until a few weeks ago, I only saw Eiichiro as an agent employed for one task— helping me settle into a new environment. Although I appreciated his presence, I took his attempts to reach out simply as things done out of obligation, a well-crafted act not too different from the White Room's simulations.

The idea that his actions might be genuine never crossed my mind, especially after Matsuo explicitly stated his son's role was to help integrate me into the real world.

But Matsuo unexpectedly called me over one night and opened the conversation by asking if I saw my relationship with Eiichiro as a plan between himself and my father to provide me with a textbook as I was settling into my life outside the White Room.

As I affirmed his guess, he then proceeded to tell me the exact mission details given to him by my father.

I had been mistaken in my assumptions.

Matsuo had the freedom to select anyone for this role but still chose his son. In a subtle act of defiance, he had shared only minimal details with Eiichiro about my past—never having friends my age and being homeschooled.

Then, left the rest for Eiichiro himself to pick up on, which he did.

And so, I couldn't help but be impressed with Matsuo. He correctly anticipated what his son would do with the little information he gave him, and without actively pushing him towards it, Eiichiro was doing exactly what he wanted.

"And it took this long before you decided to inform me?"

I didn't feel any negative emotions at the revelation. Rather, I was genuinely curious at his choice of letting me think Eiichiro was simply an actor they hired to pretend to be my friend.

Matsuo responded to the question with a humorless smile.

"Kiyotaka-sama, in the White Room, everything was controlled, allowing you to predict outcomes. My goal was to subtly dismantle that reliance on patterns. Eiichiro was perfect for this because you perceived him as merely playing a role, which led you to engage with him more naturally."

He then fixed me with a steady gaze.

"Revealing that he was unaware of the broader plan would have made you suspicious, nullifying the effectiveness of this exercise. You needed to believe he was an actor, which paradoxically encouraged genuine interaction from you."

He was right on all accounts.

But a question still lingered in my mind.

"So what is the point of this conversation, then, Matsuo? While I appreciate the transparency, this revelation does nothing for me," I asked.