All or Nothing

[PREVIEW] All or Nothing Volume 4

Leaving the school, they noticed the sun was already setting. It had recently just turned November, yet the early sunsets and subsequent darkness that followed was already making itself known. There were two benefits of this, one was the night breeze would start earlier, meaning they could keep cool during the treks between the school and their dorms.

"Um... Ayanokouji-kun?"

Kiyotaka turned around to see Ichinose's troubled expression again. Though her body language gave that impression, her fluorescent blue eyes told a different story. He probably had an inkling of what she was going to ask.

"I... I know you said you would tell me when you were ready. A-And I was ready to wait for you to tell me. B-But... I can't get it out of my mind. What was Kanzaki-kun talking about?"

It was as he predicted.

On the day of the voting for the Student Council President, before Kiyotaka got a chance to talk with Ichinose, Kanzaki confronted him about his true identity. Being the son of Ayatouji Yatei aka Ayanokouji Atsuomi, coming from the White Room and being a demon from such a place. Suffice to say that Ichinose, who was there, was confused and couldn't believe what she heard.

Even though Kiyotaka could have just said Kanzaki was lying or ignore the issue altogether, it wouldn't have done much, especially for Ichinose since she was already aware that he had something to do with the White Room. Being the one to have warned him about Acting Director Tsukishiro in the Uninhabited Island Exam, she also overheard the Acting Director mention the White Room. Luckily, at the time, they didn't delve any deeper than just mentioning it. But that meant there was now no way out of an explanation. He exhaled internally, preparing himself.

"Very well. But is it okay if I bring someone else too?"

Ichinose nodded, understanding she was asking for a lot. It was best to let Kiyotaka do what he needed. He brought out his smartphone and made a call to one of his contacts.

"Hey. I'm sorry, but could you meet me outside my room in 5 minutes or so? It's important. Thanks."

After finishing that call, he beckoned Ichinose to follow him and they both continued their journey back to the second year dorms.

Roughly 5 minutes later, the pair exited the elevator and walked towards Kiyotaka's room. As predicted, waiting outside his room was the extra person called. The boy had dirty blonde hair that was kept unkempt, and his smile was so good hearted it could have almost been confused for an Ichinose smile too. It was Hirata Yousuke.

"Hirata-kun?" Ichinose exclaimed her surprise.

"Ichinose-san? I didn't think Kiyotaka-kun would call you here."

Hirata was also the other person to have been present when Kanzaki had confronted Kiyotaka. Just like Ichinose, he too did not know anything that Kanzaki was talking about, and he too was most likely curious as to what it was all about.

"I was with Ichinose discussing the Student Council earlier. I owe you both an explanation, so I thought it would be best to have you both here so I could tell you."

Opening the door to his room, 401, Kiyotaka allowed his two guests to enter first. With a "pardon the intrusion", both guests entered and he followed behind them.

"Take a seat on the bed. I'll be with you two shortly, but do you want anything to drink? Tea or coffee?"

"Um... It's been a little cold out, but not enough for hot cocoa. I'll have a coffee. With some milk and sugar please."

"Same for me, Kiyotaka-kun. Thanks."

Nodding, he made his way into the kitchen, boiling the water with the kettle and grabbing three mugs for each of them. While he waited for the kettle to be done, Kiyotaka thought carefully about how to explain his past.

Ichinose would be a little easier to handle since she already knew the term, White Room. But she didn't know about his cruel past and darkness. Hirata, on the other hand, knew about Kiyotaka's darkness and cruelty, but not about his past and the White Room. The problem was that if he tried to tailor the explanations based on one person, the other would be left out and confused. In other words, there was no easy way to reveal what he wanted without starting from the beginning. And even that was a problem.

How much could he reveal? How much did he want to reveal? How much did they want to know? How would they both handle the truth? All these questions rose in his head as he thought through the best way to tell them.

[There is no easy solution. I guess I'll just reveal what I can, like I did with Kei and Haruka.] He thought.

Soon, he poured the cups and returned back to his companions, handing them their drinks before grabbing his own and sitting at his study desk chair. They were all silent as they sipped the hot liquids, replenishing their batteries and warming their bodies.

But Kiyotaka couldn't stay silent for long, now was time to break the ice.

"You both are wondering what Kanzaki was talking about back then, aren't you?"

The two nodded, rocking both serious and concerned expressions. Even if he wanted a final way out, Kiyotaka realised with those eyes on him that there was no longer any escape route. It was now or never.

"I'll be quite frank with you. The way you two are makes what I'm about to tell you sound even worse than it actually is. Are you still prepared to learn everything?"

Whether they were ready or not, he was going to tell them. But this question was just a means to test their growth. Kiyotaka had broken both of these leaders and rebuilt them with his own hands. If they truly were the people they were today, then they wouldn't hesitate even with his warning.

And pass the test they did. Without hesitating at all, the two of them nodded. There was still concern in those eyes, but they didn't hesitate. Hirata and Ichinose were determined to learn the truth.

A/N:

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first VERY EARLY PREVIEW for All or Nothing Volume 4. Like I did with Volume 3, these are just previews intended to give you guys teasers as to what you may see. These could change in time before Volume 4's release, but the ones I release on here will generally, most likely, be used with possible minor adjustments.

Anyway, progress on Volume 4 is going well. At the time you're seeing this preview, progress should be around 40%. As mentioned in my Volume 3 endnotes, I will try to release 3 more previews at 50%, 75% and 95% progression, and hopefully it won't be that long of a wait.

Other than that, take care and see you soon!

- G-String