COTE Reaction: Cage of the Puppeteer | COTE x Xianxia

Well, welcome to this little side project. Of course, my main fic on which this reaction will be based will be my priority, but this will be running alongside the main fic. Note that I may edit some things later down the road, as this is CANON for my fic. In my main fic this scene, or rather, the reactions, will be filler, but they will happen over there; they will just be skipped. And these skipped scenes later down the road will be this fic.Timeline: After the events of Y2V11. The students are in the last week before the spring break begins, but the events that took place in Y2V12 didn't happen here, as the End-of-the-year Special Exam didn't even happen.So I hope you will enjoy this fic and I hope not too many clichés will be part of this lmao.***A few weeks have passed since Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was pronounced dead.For most students, life had resumed its ordinary rhythm. Assignments were turned in, and lessons droned on as if nothing had changed.But for those whose lives had been intertwined with his—friends, rivals, and even those who harbored unspoken affections—his absence lingered like a specter. In their hearts and minds, the shadow of Ayanokōji loomed, an enigma even in death.Far above the island housing Advanced Nurturing High School, the sky twisted faintly, a subtle ripple heralding the arrival of a figure. He floated soundlessly, a man in his early twenties—or so his appearance suggested. His long silver hair cascaded down his back, glinting faintly in the dim light. His golden eyes, luminous and piercing, betrayed a wisdom so profound it seemed as if he had unraveled the secrets of existence itself.The man wore flowing white robes that shimmered faintly with an otherworldly glow, blending seamlessly with his ethereal presence. His aura was overwhelming, a tangible force that seemed to ripple through the air, bending the world around him in reverence.If anyone from the school below were to witness him, they would be struck speechless. His face, though more mature and refined, bore an undeniable resemblance to Ayanokōji Kiyotaka—the very same student whose death had been mourned just weeks ago. Yet, everything else about him was transformed. His once-muted presence was now impossibly radiant, his demeanor that of someone who stood beyond mortal comprehension.Hovering above the school gates, he glanced toward the bus stop where he had once disembarked for the first time. His lips curled into the faintest of smiles, one tinged with nostalgia."Here," he murmured, "Horikita stopped me, questioning why I looked at her..."His voice, though barely above a whisper, seemed to command the air itself, causing it to ripple faintly as though bowing to his will.Descending gracefully to the ground, the figure walked toward the school gates. His steps were deliberate, though no sound followed them. He moved like a ghost, unimpeded by barriers or the physical limitations of the world.Passing through the gate, he entered the school building, his golden eyes scanning the familiar corridors. As he approached Classroom 1-D, memories stirred within him. It was here where he had spent his first year, calculating, observing, and subtly orchestrating events from the shadows.Without hesitation, he stepped through the closed door, his form phasing through as if the barrier didn't exist. Inside, the teacher was holding a lecture about a mathematical problem, the students were barely able to listen.His old seat was now occupied by Hōsen Kazuomi, who lounged in it with a look of boredom, ignoring the lecture entirely."My old seat," he murmured to himself, his voice carrying no weight in the room. His golden eyes traced the small, almost imperceptible hole in the desk. "Still here... the mark from when Horikita tried to stab me with her compass."He extended his hand slightly, a faint, invisible force lifting Hōsen from the chair and depositing him unceremoniously on the floor. The thud disrupted the class, drawing startled laughter from the students as Hōsen scrambled to his feet, his expression a mix of confusion and fury."Oi! What the hell—" he growled, his voice trailing off as he noticed the growing laughter around him. His anger intensified, but the laughter only deepened, further igniting his frustration.Ayanokōji, unfazed by the commotion, eased himself into his old seat. His gaze drifted toward the window, taking in the view he had once seen every day—a serene backdrop of swaying trees and distant buildings. For a moment, he allowed himself to linger in the familiarity of it, as if time had rewound to a simpler chapter of his life.Meanwhile, Hōsen's confusion turned into unbridled rage. "Who's laughing? Shut up before I beat the crap out of you!" he roared, his eyes darting around the room. The students fell silent, their amusement giving way to unease."Hōsen, enough!" the teacher interjected sternly. "Sit down. You're disrupting the class, and your behavior will cost you points."Hōsen hesitated, his clenched fists trembling with suppressed fury. He finally clicked his tongue in annoyance, muttering curses under his breath as he sank back into the chair.Ayanokōji rose soundlessly from the seat. His form ascended through the ceiling, moving seamlessly to the second-floor classroom where Class 2-B was in session.The atmosphere here was starkly different. The energy that once defined the class was gone, replaced by a subdued tension. Chabashira-sensei stood at the front, delivering her lecture with mechanical precision. The students sat quietly, their focus fractured.Horikita Suzune sat in her usual seat, her expression composed, but her eyes betrayed an inner turmoil. Nearby, Karuizawa Kei's normally vibrant demeanor was muted, her gaze distant. Sudo slumped in his chair, uncharacteristically subdued. Even the usually cheerful Hirata Yosuke seemed weighed down by an invisible burden. The absence of, Ayanokōji, had left a void that none of them could fill.The rest of the class was affected by the atmosphere as well, especially considering their class leader Horikita Suzune's vulnerable state. Things didn't help that Karuizawa and Hirata both figures of great importance within the class, were also in a depressive state.Luckily for them, the End-of-year Special Exam for the second year was delayed to take place early in the third year due to Ayanokoji's passing affecting the second year.Ayanokōji moved to stand beside Chabashira, his golden eyes scanning the room. She was oblivious to his presence, her tone steady but lacking its usual sharpness. His gaze lingered on his former peers, noting the subtle changes in their demeanor.This world was no longer his to influence. The threads of his time here had been severed, and his place in it was now a memory.Turning away, he exited the classroom and made his way toward the dormitories. Walls and obstacles posed no hindrance as he moved, his form slipping through them effortlessly. In moments, he stood inside his old dorm room.The room was stark, stripped of the personal touches that had accumulated over his time there. It was as it had been when he first arrived—bare and unremarkable, devoid of any trace of the life he—or rather Karuizawa—had built within it.Ayanokōji stood in silence, his golden eyes scanning the familiar yet unfamiliar space. This was the shell of a life he had left behind, a chapter closed. With a final glance, he turned and vanished, the air in the room settling as if he had never been there at all.Deciding it was time to address the matters at hand, he vanished from his old dorm room, reappearing in the vast, empty movie theater of Keyaki Mall. With a simple flick of his fingers, the room began to transform, reality bending and reshaping itself at his command.The once modest space expanded outward, walls dissolving into ethereal mist before solidifying again, now capable of holding the entire population of the school without any sense of overcrowding. Rows of seats materialized in perfect symmetry, meticulously arranged into three distinct sections, each corresponding to a school year. Within these sections, the seats were further divided into four smaller groups, clearly designated for Classes A through D.From the perspective of the screen, the arrangement was flawless: the seats for first-years were on the left, second-years occupied the center, and third-years were on the right. Within each year's section, Classes A through D flowed from front to back. Inscribed on every seat was a subtle but clear marking of its assigned year and class, an elegant detail added with the same effortlessness as the rest of the transformation.At the back of the theater, a smaller set of exclusive seats emerged, reserved for staff members and two notable former students, who were part of the student council.Despite the expansive nature of the space, the sight lines were impeccable. Each seat offered an unobstructed, ideal view of the massive screen at the front, as though the laws of physics themselves had adjusted to his will. It was an architectural impossibility made reality, a testament to the power he wielded.The figure responsible for this reconfiguration hovered silently in the air, his golden eyes scanning the now-ready room. The transformation done."It's time," he murmured, his voice low and resonant, echoing faintly in the vast chamber. "Let's see if this will bring me closer to a glimpse of the Fifth Step. My clones are already overseeing the Boundless Horizon Starry Sky, gathering their own insights."With another flick of his fingers, reality shifted again. Every student, every significant staff member, and even the two former student council members appeared in the theater simultaneously. Their transitions were seamless, as though they had simply been plucked from their respective locations and placed gently in their designated seats.The figure watched them from above, his presence concealed from their perception. Despite the vast audience now seated below him, their murmurs of confusion and surprise filling the air, no one acknowledged the figure's silent gaze. His golden eyes gleamed as he observed them, unseen, calculating.The room was ready. The stage was set.The murmurs among the newly seated individuals grew louder, confusion rippling through the theater. Students glanced at each other, their expressions ranging from bewilderment to unease. Teachers exchanged worried whispers, their authority shaken by the inexplicable transportation.Katsuragi Kohei from Class 2-C straightened his posture, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. "What's going on here?" he muttered under his breath, his tone measured but tense.From the Class 2-B section, Horikita's sharp gaze darted across the room, her fingers gripping the armrests of her seat. She was visibly trying to piece together the situation. Nearby, Karuizawa sat frozen, her usual confident demeanor replaced by uncertainty. Sudo Ken, seated a few rows back, leaned forward, his face a mixture of fear and aggression."What the hell is this?!" Sudo growled, his voice cutting through the noise.Hirata, ever composed, placed a calming hand on Sudo's shoulder. "Let's not panic. It's clear something unusual is happening, but we need to stay level-headed."From the staff section, Chabashira-sensei's face was unusually pale. "How did we even get here?" she whispered to herself, her usual commanding aura faltering. Beside her, Principal Sakayanagi adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable.Meanwhile, the floating figure remained silent, watching the chaos below with an impassive expression. His golden eyes scanned the crowd, lingering briefly on certain individuals. It was clear he was observing, and analyzing their reactions.Raising his right hand slowly, he flicked his fingers again. The murmurs and noise instantly ceased, as though the sound had been snatched away by an unseen force. The sudden silence was deafening, every pair of eyes darting around in confusion."What just—" Horikita started, but even her voice failed to emerge."It's not that you can't speak," a calm, resonant voice echoed through the theater. "It's that I choose when you may."The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, reverberating with a power that silenced even the most defiant thoughts. Heads turned frantically, searching for the source, but the golden-eyed figure remained unseen to them, shrouded from their perception."As you may have guessed," the voice continued, "this is no ordinary gathering. You have been brought here because there is a purpose to fulfill. An understanding to be reached."The atmosphere in the theater was thick with tension. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, or rather, the ethereal figure bearing his essence, hovered in the air. However, his face was shrouded in an impenetrable blur, as though reality itself refused to reveal his visage. The students and staff stared in awe and confusion."You are free to move," his voice resonated, calm and measured, yet filled with an authority that demanded attention. "Fifteen minutes. Then, you will be seated again."With that, he turned, his blurred face glancing toward the screen for a fleeting moment before his form dissolved into a cascade of shimmering light. The golden glow faded, leaving the room steeped in an uneasy silence.▬▬ι═══════ﺤThe first-year students were the most visibly shaken. Many whispered nervously, their uncertainty growing with each passing moment. Their leader, a calm and composed individual, stepped forward."Everyone, settle down," they said firmly. "This situation isn't something we can change right now. Let's focus on keeping calm and figuring out what's expected of us."In stark contrast, Hōsen of Class 1-D leaned against his chair, a scowl plastered across his face. As the murmurs persisted, he growled, "Shut up before I make you all shut up!" His menacing tone quickly silenced the room, his reputation as a brute ensuring compliance.Meanwhile, Ichika Amasawa of Class 1-A stood off to the side, her gaze distant. She had no interest in class competition or the unfolding events, her thoughts consumed by a single figure—Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. She remained quiet, her expression unreadable.Among the second-year students, the reactions were more varied.Horikita of Class 2-B stood up, her presence commanding immediate attention from her classmates. "Speculating won't help us. Use these fifteen minutes to prepare yourselves," she said curtly, her no-nonsense tone quelling much of the tension.In Class 2-A, Sakayanagi Arisu tapped her cane lightly against the ground. "We must remain composed," she said, her delicate voice carrying authority. "Panicking would only disgrace us."In Class 2-C, Ryuen Kakeru leaned back in his chair, an amused smirk playing on his lips. "Hah. This looks interesting. If this is some sort of test, make sure you don't embarrass yourselves. Or do—I don't care."Katsuragi, now part of Ryuen's class, crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Ryuen, you should take this seriously. We don't know the purpose of this gathering yet."Ichinose Honami of Class 2-D addressed her classmates with her usual warmth. "Let's stay calm, okay? There's no need to worry." Yet her usually radiant smile faltered slightly, betraying the weight of recent events. Though she tried to hide it, the loss of Ayanokoji still lingered heavily in her heart.The third-year students displayed a mix of discipline and a slight bewilderment. It would only be a week until now before they would graduate from this institution.Nagumo Miyabi, the former student council president, addressed his Class 3-A peers with a casual air of authority. "No need to overthink this," he said, his confident tone reassuring those around him. "Stay sharp, and we'll figure this out soon enough."Asahina Nazuna, a trusted ally of Nagumo's, nodded in agreement, her presence bolstering the class's morale.In Class 3-B, Kiriyama Ikuto maintained a Stoic expression, his role as Nagumo's subordinate keeping him quiet but alert.Kiryūin Fūka, on the other hand, leaned back lazily, her demeanor indifferent. "Whatever this is, it better be worth my time," she muttered, brushing a strand of hair from her face.▬▬ι═══════ﺤAmid the subdued chaos, Horikita Manabu who together with Tachibana Akane was at the back of the room, swept his gaze across the gathered students until it landed on his sister, Suzune, seated with her Class 2-B peers. He approached her with measured steps, his expression unreadable."Suzune," he said, his voice steady and firm. "What's going on?"Suzune looked up, surprised to see him. "Onii-san. You're here too?""I am," he replied, his brows furrowing slightly. "Do you know why this is happening?"She shook her head, her expression reflecting both confusion and awe. "No. We are just as clueless as you are. Never in my wildest imagination did I think something like this could exist... Gods." Her voice lingered on the word, as though testing its weight and significance.Her gaze drifted upward, as if searching the heavens for answers, but they offered none. The mere suggestion of divine beings left her grappling with a reality far removed from anything she had known. It was a concept at once overwhelming and humbling, reshaping the boundaries of what she believed possible.Manabu crossed his arms, his expression a mix of contemplation and wariness as he processed her words. "Indeed," he began, his voice measured and composed. "To assemble everyone in this room is no small feat, let alone with such precision. Tachibana and I were at the University of Tokyo, going about our usual routines, and then we were suddenly brought here without any warning."He cast a critical eye around the transformed cinema, his sharp gaze absorbing every detail. "This isn't the same cinema it used to be," he continued. "It's much larger, almost impossibly so. The seating is structured and divided by year and class, as if someone meticulously planned every detail to fit everyone here perfectly."His brow furrowed as his gaze swept over the room's perimeter. "And more notably," he added, his tone firm, "there are no doors. No visible exits or points of entry. We're effectively sealed in. Whoever or whatever is behind this has ensured complete control over this space.""Anyway, no need to dwell on that, we cannot change anything about this situation. What about Ayanokoji? Where is he? Have you seen him?"At his question, Suzune's gaze dropped briefly before she met his eyes again. "He's... not here," she said quietly, her voice tinged with an uncharacteristic softness.Manabu's expression remained composed, though a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. "Not here? Why?"Suzune hesitated, her fingers twitching slightly. Finally, she looked up, meeting her brother's gaze. "He's gone, Onii-san. A few weeks ago... He passed away."For the first time, a crack appeared in Manabu's Stoic demeanor. He closed his eyes briefly, his posture straightening as he processed the news. "I see," he said finally, his voice quieter than usual. "I wondered why his presence felt... absent. It all makes sense now."Suzune nodded, her gaze steady despite the heaviness of the conversation. "Yes. Even now, his absence is... palpable."Suzune remained silent, watching her brother as he regained his composure. When he spoke again, his tone carried a note of resolution. "He was an exceptional individual. But life must go on. Remember what you've learned, Suzune."She nodded, her resolve hardening. "I will."Manabu placed a hand on her shoulder briefly before stepping away, leaving her to reflect on his words.▬▬ι═══════ﺤAs the fifteen minutes drew to a close, the students and staff began to settle into their assigned seats. The initial confusion had given way to a mix of curiosity and apprehension as they awaited whatever was to come.Above them all, the mysterious figure observed silently, their presence blurred and inscrutable. The atmosphere grew heavy with anticipation as the countdown reached its end.