COTE: The Game of Elites

Author's Note

This chapter was created just for fun and might give you a glimpse into the future setting I'm planning. Some might consider it a spoiler, but hey, this is a fanfic—does the term spoiler even apply here?

To address a frequently asked question: no, this is not a harem story.

Anyway, this is a lighthearted, comedic chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Also, Happy New Year, everyone! 🎉

Make sure to do something productive on the first day of the year—it might set the tone for a productive year ahead!

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The lunch bell rang, signaling a much-needed break from the grueling classes. Aiden Takahashi stretched lazily in his seat, his chair tilted back precariously on two legs as he mulled over his options.

"Rooftop? Canteen? Decisions, decisions," he murmured to himself, his electric-blue eyes scanning the classroom.

Before he could make a choice, he was startled by a sudden double appearance—Kushida Kikyo and Kei Karuizawa. Both girls seemed to materialize out of thin air, leaning toward him with bright smiles.

"Lunch with us, Takahashi-kun?" Kushida asked, her voice sweet as honey.

Kei grinned mischievously. "You're coming to the canteen, right? It's way better than the rooftop."

Caught off guard, Aiden shifted his weight slightly, and the chair's delicate balance tipped. "Whoa—"

Before he could hit the floor, Kushida and Kei each grabbed a side of the chair, steadying him in perfect synchronization.

Aiden looked up, genuinely impressed. "I didn't know you two moonlighted as superheroes."

Kushida laughed. "We're just looking out for you."

Kei rolled her eyes, but there was a trace of a smile. "If we let you fall, who'd buy us lunch?"

"Ah, so it's about food. Noted," Aiden teased as he stood, brushing off imaginary dust. "Fine, fine, I'll join you. But—"

His gaze shifted to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who was seated nearby, quietly eating his lunch. "Oi, Kiyotaka, join us?"

Ayanokouji's expression didn't change, but his sharp instincts flared as he caught the unmistakable feeling of being stared down by two very intense individuals. He glanced at Kushida, then at Kei. Their smiles didn't falter, but their eyes practically dared him to say yes. Even someone with zero emotional awareness could recognize the warning signs.

"I… have plans," Ayanokouji replied flatly, turning his attention back to his lunch as if he hadn't been invited.

Aiden smirked, his teasing instincts kicking in. "Oh, plans, huh? Let me guess—with your ex-girlfriend? Or is it your girlfriend? Or maybe both?"

The room froze for a second. Ayanokouji's chopsticks paused mid-air. Horikita Suzune, who had just walked in and overheard, stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes narrowed, and before anyone could blink, a long, thin rod appeared in her hand.

The class collectively gasped. "Where does she keep pulling those from?"

Aiden, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair nonchalantly. "Whoa, whoa, Horikita, why so aggressive? I wasn't talking about you! It's Kiyotaka who told me all this in the dorms."

Ayanokouji finally spoke, his tone exasperated. "I said no such thing."

Aiden put on a mock hurt expression, his hand dramatically clutching his chest. "You wound me, Kiyotaka. Are you saying I'm a liar?"

Kei and Kushida watched the exchange with barely concealed glee. Kushida even added fuel to the fire. "Ayanokouji-kun, you shouldn't deny it so much. It makes it seem like you're guilty."

Horikita's grip on the rod tightened. "I don't care what you were talking about, but you—" she jabbed the rod in Aiden's direction, "—better stop spreading lies."

"Lies?" Aiden repeated, wide-eyed. "Ike! Yamauchi! Back me up here!"

Ike and Yamauchi, sensing an opportunity to mess with Ayanokouji, immediately chimed in.

"Yeah, he said it!" Ike exclaimed, pointing at Ayanokouji. "He was going on about exes and stuff just last week."

"Totally," Yamauchi agreed, nodding vigorously. "He even said something about… uh… confessing to Arisu on the rooftop?"

Ayanokouji's blank expression didn't waver, but a slight twitch in his brow betrayed his annoyance. "I don't even talk to you two."

"Now, now," Aiden said, holding up his hands. "No need to get defensive, Kiyotaka. We're all friends here. Or exes. Or maybe both?"

The class erupted into laughter as Horikita took a menacing step forward, her rod raised.

"Run," Kushida whispered conspiratorially to Aiden.

"Run," Kei echoed, biting back a laugh.

Aiden sighed dramatically as he stood. "Guess this is my cue."

He turned to Horikita, bowing mockingly. "Horikita-sama, I meant no harm. I'll leave Kiyotaka to explain himself."

"Shut up!" Horikita snapped, lunging.

"Yep, time to go." Aiden darted toward the door, Kushida and Kei following closely behind, laughing as Horikita chased after him.

The rest of the class roared with laughter, watching the chaos unfold. Even Ayanokouji allowed himself a faint smile before shaking his head and returning to his meal.

The hallway erupted into chaos as Aiden bolted from Class C, Horikita hot on his heels with her infamous rod clutched tightly in her hand. Her eyes were sharp, her pace relentless, but Aiden's mocking laughter echoed down the corridor as he dodged desks and ducked past startled students. Kushida and Kei, trailing behind at a safe distance, struggled to contain their laughter, both thoroughly entertained by the spectacle.

The commotion didn't go unnoticed. Ryuen Kakeru leaned lazily against the wall near Class D, his arms crossed as he observed the scene with an amused smirk. "Takahashi sure knows how to stir the pot. What's he done now to get Horikita that riled up?" His voice carried a casual disdain, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity.

Ibuki Mio, standing beside him with her ever-present scowl, snorted. "Probably said something stupid, as usual. That guy's got a death wish."

Hiyori Shiina peeked out from behind the corner of a nearby bookshelf, a book clutched close to her chest. She tilted her head, her expression a mixture of confusion and mild intrigue. "It's not every day you see Horikita chasing someone. Aiden-kun must've really pushed her buttons."

Further down the hall, Ichinose Honami stood near Class A, her radiant smile fading into an exasperated sigh as she recognized the source of the chaos. Kanzaki Rokusuke, ever the calm observer, adjusted his glasses as he followed her gaze. "Takahashi again?"

Ichinose nodded, a hint of fondness creeping into her exasperation. "Yep, that's my Aiden. Always finding new ways to create trouble." She giggled softly, watching him narrowly avoid a swing of Horikita's rod. "But at least he keeps things interesting."

Katsuragi Kohei, stationed stoically near Class B, frowned at the disturbance. "Takahashi's antics are disruptive, as always. Sakayanagi, shouldn't we put an end to this?"

Arisu Sakayanagi, perched elegantly on her cane with her ever-present aides Masumi Kamuro and Hashimoto Ryuu by her side, raised a delicate hand to silence him. Her lips curled into a faint smile, her pale eyes gleaming with amusement. "Why interfere, Katsuragi? This is far more entertaining than the usual monotony."

Masumi sighed, clearly unimpressed. "He's not even trying to be subtle anymore."

Hashimoto chuckled, his gaze flicking between Aiden and Horikita. "Can you blame him? It takes a certain kind of confidence—or insanity—to provoke Horikita like that."

Near Class D, Sudo Ken, oblivious to the finer dynamics of the situation, cracked his knuckles as he watched the chase unfold. "Man, Takahashi's got guts. I'd pay to see this every day."

Matsushita Chiaki, observing from the sidelines with a hand resting lightly on her hip, let out a soft laugh. "Guts? More like a death wish. Still, you've got to admire his… boldness."

Koenji Rokusuke, leaning against a pillar with his characteristic smug grin, ran a hand through his immaculate hair. "Takahashi is a man of flair and spectacle. It's no wonder he's the center of attention."

Back near Class C, Hirata Yosuke stepped into the hallway, his ever-calm demeanor slipping into mild concern. "Horikita-san, please! This isn't necessary!" His voice carried over the laughter and jeers, though it did little to slow her pursuit.

Aiden glanced back at Hirata, flashing a grin as he dodged another swing of the rod. "Thanks for the concern, Hirata! I'll remember you fondly if she kills me!"

By now, the entire corridor had come alive with chatter and laughter, the students of Classes A, B, C, and D all bearing witness to the spectacle.

As the chase continued, Ichinose couldn't help but laugh despite herself. "He's definitely going to get an earful from me later." Kanzaki gave her a knowing look, but said nothing, choosing instead to enjoy the unfolding chaos.

In the midst of it all, Aiden's voice rang out once more, dripping with mockery. "Horikita, you're taking this way too seriously! It's just a joke! Can't we talk this out?"

"Stop running and take your punishment like a man!" Horikita shouted back, her voice as sharp as the rod in her hand.

A few moments after the spectacle of Aiden's nimble dodging and Horikita's relentless pursuit, the hallways of Advanced Nurturing High were once again graced by his presence—but this time, it was an entirely different scene.

Aiden trudged back, his shoulders slightly slumped, an exaggeratedly defeated expression plastered across his face. Clamped around his wrists were a pair of shiny handcuffs, glinting mockingly under the hallway lights.

"Where in the world did she even get those?" murmured Ike, leaning against a nearby wall.

"I don't even want to know," Yamauchi replied, trying to stifle his laughter.

Horikita, cold and composed, strode confidently behind Aiden, holding the chain of the cuffs like a stern policewoman escorting a captured criminal. Her usual aloof demeanor was now tinged with an air of authority, as if she'd finally tamed the beast that was Aiden Takahashi.

Aiden turned his head slightly toward his watching peers, his lips curling into a playful smirk. "Ah, the price of genius," he quipped, before yelping as Horikita gave the chain a sharp tug.

"Move," she ordered curtly, her eyes sharp as daggers.

The onlookers couldn't hold back their laughter any longer.

From Class A's hallway, Ichinose Honami, radiant as ever, froze mid-step when she spotted the scene. Her blue eyes widened in disbelief before her lips quirked into an affectionate smile.

"Oh no, what did you do this time, Aiden-kun?" she called out, her tone half-scolding, half-playful.

Aiden perked up at the sound of Honami's voice, his smirk returning in full force. "Hona-chan, they're treating me like a common criminal! I was framed!"

Ichinose giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "You're always getting yourself into these situations. Maybe this time, it's deserved?"

Kanzaki's lips twitched into a rare smile. "Given it's Horikita-san handling him, I'd say it's very deserved."

Horikita didn't slow her pace or loosen her grip on the cuffs but turned her gaze briefly toward Ichinose. "If you're so concerned, keep him out of trouble next time."

Ichinose tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh, Horikita-san, that's impossible. He's the king of mischief."

Ryuen leaned against a nearby wall, his grin as wide as ever. "I gotta hand it to Class C. They know how to keep things entertaining."

Ibuki rolled her eyes, though a smirk tugged at her lips. "More like they're insane. Who even walks around with handcuffs in school?"

Arisu's melodic laugh rang out as she observed the scene. "Well, well. It seems Takahashi-kun has met his match."

As Aiden was led past his classmates, he exaggeratedly sighed and muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, "Is this what my brilliance gets me? Oppression? I'm a victim of tyranny!"

Horikita rolled her eyes and gave the cuffs another sharp tug, effectively cutting off his theatrics.

Aiden glanced back at her with mock exasperation. "Come on, Horikita. I didn't know you were into roleplay."

A chorus of gasps, laughter, and shocked exclamations erupted from the nearby students. Horikita's composure faltered for the briefest of moments, her cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of pink before she quickly masked it with a deadly glare.

"Not. A. Word," she hissed, her tone icy enough to make even Ryuen snicker from his corner.

Aiden raised his cuffed hands in surrender. "As you wish, Officer."

Meanwhile, Ayanokouji, who had been watching the entire fiasco with his usual blank expression, sighed and muttered to himself, "I'm never sitting near him again."