THIS is the FOURTH chapter!
Author's Note: (10,710 words).
I made my way to my room, setting my bag down and stretching.
I quickly changed into comfortable clothes, feeling the softness of the fabric against my skin. After tossing my uniform into the dryer, I brushed my teeth, taking my time to unwind from the day's events. The quiet of the house made everything feel calm and still.
Once I was done, I headed to bed, pulling the covers over myself and sinking into the warmth. The soft glow of the moon filtered through my window, casting a peaceful light into the room. I closed my eyes, letting the day's thoughts fade away, and allowing myself to drift off into the restful sleep.
It had been another day in Class 3-E-, my usual routine of getting up, texting Gakushū, and heading off to class. The morning was uneventful, but the afternoon took a turn when Mr. Karasuma stayed true to his word. He was officially our new P.E. teacher, replacing Koro-Sensei.
Now, all of us were outside (in the back) drilling knife motions. On the count of one through eight, everyone swung their anti-sensei knives in perfect rhythm before resetting to repeat the sequence. Well, everyone except me.
I leaned back against a tree, arms crossed, observing. This was the only class I would refuse to participate in. I was already an assassin-, sure, sharpening my skills wouldn't hurt, but this was child's play. Watching them tire themselves out with those repetitive motions was far more entertaining.
"One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight!" the voices of my classmates rang out, synchronized.
Mr. Karasuma stood firm, hands on his hips like a drill sergeant. "Make those knives sing! Treat every move like a legit kill strike." his voice was sharp, cutting through the sound of their panting breaths.
"One! Two! Three! Four! Five-"
Koro-Sensei, however, looked entirely out of place, a yellow dandelion twirling idly in one of his tentacles. "Ah, the sounds of a choreographed exercise regimen echoing across the fields on a golden afternoon." his tone was wistful, his bulbous head tilted slightly to the side. "So peaceful. So militant."
"-Six! Seven! Eight! One-"
Mr. Karasuma shot Koro-Sensei a glare. "You're in the way here, Pal. What are you doing, wearing a gym uniform... Phys Ed is my department now."
Koro-Sensei's expression fell, his tentacles drooping. "But... But I'm lonely."
Mr. Karasuma was unmoved. "Find something else to do then. Like, I don't know..." he suddenly jabbed a thumb toward the sandbox at the edge of the field. "There's a sandbox. Have a field day."
Before anyone could blink, Koro-Sensei zipped over to the sandbox, his overdramatic tears streaming as he muttered. "You don't have to be so insensitive... The kids liked it better when I was their gym coach anyhow."
Sugaya paused mid-swing, resting his anti-sensei knife on his shoulder with a sigh. "Yeah, not so much, Koro-Sensei... No offense or anything, it's just, your physical ability is far too different from ours. When it comes to exercise, you..."
Sugino picked up where Sugaya left off. "...Set the bar kinda high."
They all seemed to collectively wince, a shared memory flashing through their minds.
In a vivid mental replay, Koro-Sensei, back when he was their gym coach, demonstrated side-to-side maneuvers. Except, instead of actually showing them how to do it, he zipped back and forth at his ridiculous speed, creating an intricate cat's cradle with his tentacles. It was more a display of his skills than a lesson.
Nakamura folded her arms, her face exasperated. "Like we could keep up with that."
Sugino shook his head. "We're human beings, you know. I, for one, think our coach should be, too."
Koro-Sensei gasped in horror, his face displaying offense. Tears brimming in his eyes once more, he shuffled a little, sulking as he stacked small rocks in a pitiful tower.
I stifled a laugh, shaking my head. This class was anything but ordinary.
"Right. We finally succeeded in driving the target away. Back to work, people," Mr. Karasuma ordered.
Before the students could continue their knife drills, Maehara raised his hand hesitantly. "Uh, can I ask an obvious question, sir? If there's an actual point to this training, shouldn't we, I don't know, not be practicing right in front of our target?"
Mr. Karasuma, his hands still firmly planted on his hips, responded without missing a beat. "Whether killing or studying, it's the same principle-, drill the basics, and they'll serve you well." He paused, eyes narrowing. "Isogai, Maehara, step up."
The two boys exchanged wary glances but followed his instructions, stepping forward.
Mr. Karasuma let his hands drop from his hips. "I want you two to try to tag me with those knives."
"Wait," Isogai said cautiously, "like... as a team?"
Maehara raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Mr. Karasuma waved off their concerns. "The blades are harmless-, they're designed not to injure human beings. Tell you what: if you manage to hit me, you can go home for the day." as he spoke, he loosened his black tie with deliberate precision.
My jaw dropped beneath my mask. "Are you serious I want to go home-, that's so easy! Man, I should've just participated in training..."
Isogai and Maehara glanced at each other, nervous but determined.
"Uh... okay," Isogai said, gripping his anti-sensei knife tighter. "Well, in that case-, here goes nothin'."
Isogai lunged first, but Mr. Karasuma sidestepped effortlessly.
"Come on," Mr. Karasuma said, his tone dripping with challenge.
"Hai-ya!" Maehara huffed and followed, swinging his knife, but Mr. Karasuma grabbed his arm mid-strike and shoved him back with precision. Undeterred, the two boys launched a coordinated attack, their knives slicing through the air, but Mr. Karasuma dodged every strike with ease.
From my spot leaning against a tree, I couldn't help but think, "They have no technique, jeez..."
"See that, kids?" Mr. Karasuma said, voice carrying over the field. "Even with the bare minimum know-how, I can practically dodge their attacks in my sleep. They've got no technique."
Isogai and Maehara launched at him one final time, but Mr. Karasuma grabbed them both by the arms and flipped them into their backs, leaving them sprawled on the ground.
"If you can't land a hit against a guy like me," Mr. Karasuma said, standing over them, "you haven't got a prayer against a target whose top speed is Mach twenty." He gestured toward Koro-Sensei, who was still in the sandbox. "See? We've been sparring for half a minute, and look-, he's had time to change clothes, perform a tea ceremony, and build a model of Osaka castle."
Maehara groaned, "That is so irritating!"
Mr. Karasuma helped both boys back to their feet. "That's why we drill. When the whole class can hit me, you'll have a shot." He tightened his loosened tie. "Do what I tell you, as often as I tell you to do it, and you'll become assassins." His sharp gaze swept across the rest of the class, lingering on me for a moment. "This isn't recess, kids. From now on, gym class will be about the basics-, stabbing, proper use of firearms, everything you need to succeed."
Sugino scratched his head. "Wow. Okay..."
Mr. Karasuma exhaled, his tone softening slightly. "All right, that oughta do it for today."
The class bowed slightly, voices unified. "Thank you, sir!"
As students huddled into smaller groups, conversations bubbled up.
"This is so intense!" Yada whispered to Kurahashi and Hayami. "He's terrifying but cool at the same time!"
Kurahashi smiled. "He wants you to hurt him, but he'll pat you on the head if you do it right."
Hayami nodded thoughtfully. "He's a good coach."
Koro-Sensei let out an exaggerated shriek of jealousy, chewing on his white handkerchief.
"I know what this is!" he cried, glaring at Mr. Karasuma. "You're trying to take my place as their favorite teacher!"
Mr. Karasuma, his back turned, replied nonchalantly, "Really? I'm here by assignment. Like it or not, as per your contract, and I quote: 'All new hires regarding E-Class are solely the prerogative of Kunugigaoka Academy'."
He turned swiftly, throwing an anti-sensei knife at Koro-Sensei, who caught it effortlessly with his handkerchief.
Mr. Karasuma didn't pause. "And, either way, this is not a popularity contest. It's my job. I'm here to help them kill you, Pal."
Koro-Sensei pouted with seriousness. "Could you not call me that, please? It isn't 'Pal' or 'You'. I actually prefer the name my students gave me. So, that's Koro-Sensei to you."
The bell rang sharply, signaling the transition to the next period. We all began making our way back to the classroom building, my classmates' steps heavy from the intensity of gym class.
Sugino let out an exasperated sigh. "We've got a quiz in sixth period."
Shiota groaned in agreement. "Right? They should just let us go home after gym."
As we approached the stairs, the group abruptly stopped. Standing at the top was a familiar figure-, a boy with bright red hair, casually sipping from a strawberry milk box, probably from the vending machine at the main building.
He smirked softly, locking eyes with Shiota. "Nagisa... Sup. It's been a while."
Shiota froze in surprise. "Karma... You're back?"
"Karma Akabane is finally here," I mused silently, watching with amusement. "This should be interesting."
Akabane's smirk widened into a closed-eye smile. "Hm."
After a brief pause, Akabane's attention shifted to Koro-Sensei, who stood a short distance away. "Oh, hey," he said nonchalantly as he descended the stairs, brushing past us to stand before the yellow creature. "So, that must be the notorious Koro-Sensei. Wow, he really does look like an octopus. Freaky~"
Koro-Sensei lifted a tentacle in greeting. "Ah, Mr. Akabane, correct? I understand your suspension ends today. Welcome back. That said, tardiness is a no-no." His face darkened to an ominous purple hue, a large X forming across it.
Akabane laughed softly, though to me, it sounded more forced than genuine. "It's kinda tricky getting back into the swing of things. Oh, feel free to call me by my first name-, I'll be more relaxed." He extended a hand toward Koro-sensei for a handshake. "Anyway, I've heard some good things, Teach. Nice to meet 'cha."
"The pleasure's all mine," Koro-Sensei replied warmly, taking Akabane's hand. "Should be a fun and educational year-"
Before he could finish, Koro-Sensei's tentacle burst with yellow goo, and he let out a startled gasp. Akabane didn't hesitate-, he threw his strawberry milk box and pulled an anti-sensei knife from his sleeve, swinging it in one fluid motion.
Koro-Sensei, quick as ever, dodged the blade with a burst of speed.
"Ah, you are fast, aren't 'cha?" Akabane remarked with a laugh, inspecting his knife. "And who'd have thought these knives actually work?" He turned his hand over, revealing straps of anti-sensei material taped onto it. "I just cut one up into strips and tacked 'em on. Pretty elementary stuff, Chief. I'm disappointed that's all it took to catch you by surprise-, to be deceived by such a simple trick..."
He held up his hand for Koro-Sensei to see. "But hey, good jump-, if you don't mind coming off like a 'fraidy cat."
Akabane began to stroll toward Koro-Sensei with deliberate slowness. "What, are you scared of me? Look at you-, all the way over there. Bwak bwak bwak..."
Koro-Sensei regenerated his tentacle with ease, though his nervous hums betrayed him.
"I heard they call you Koro-Sensei 'cause you're supposed to be unkillable," Akabane continued, his tone teasing as he stopped just inches away from Koro-Sensei. "But-"
Akabane leaned forward, his face inches from Koro-Sensei's, who was now trembling slightly. "-what's thiiis? Oh, come on," Akabane whispered, his voice dripping with mockery. "No way you can be this big of a pushover-, could it be that you're actually an easy mark?"
Koro-Sensei let out an angry, guttural noise, his head and face turning a vivid red; irk marks appearing in the air around him. You could just sense it.
Meanwhile, Kayano approached Shiota with a curious expression. "Hey, Nagisa, it hasn't been that long since I joined Class-E, so I don't know him. What kind of person is this Karma guy?"
Shiota hesitated for a moment, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Uh, he and I were in the same class our first and second year, but when we were second years, he was... violent. So violent, he was suspended for committing one act of violence after another. They finally expelled him and shipped him here. E-Class is also where they send you when they don't know what else to do with you. Thing is, under the circumstances, he may end up a star/honor student."
Kayano tilted her head in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Before Shiota could explain, my attention shifted back to Akabane, who was now walking away from Koro-Sensei. His movements were fluid and confident as he spun and twirled the anti-sensei knife in his hand with precision before slipping it smoothly into his pant pocket.
Shiota sighed, glancing toward Akabane. "Weapons and blood are his passion. Trust me, if anyone can kill our teacher, it's Karma."
Akabane stopped a short distance away, his head hung low, a mischievous smirk creeping across his face. With his hands casually tucked into his pockets, he spoke with an unsettling calmness.
"Stick around next time, Koro-Sensei," he said, his voice laced with confidence. "I'll show you what it's like to be assassinated. You won't want to miss it."
Then, in sixth period, the seat next to me-, the one that had been empty ever since I transferred-, was suddenly occupied by none other than Akabane. Figures. I didn't pay him much mind, finishing my quiz quickly and leaning back in my seat, only to notice Koro-Sensei sulking. He was over by the wall, punching it with his two tentacle fingers, though it didn't do any damage. Instead, it made an annoying squishing sound every three seconds.
The repetitive noise filled the room, and several of my classmates sighed, their focus on the quiz slipping.
Mimura leaned toward Yada and whispered, "Um, what is he doing? He started doing that a little while ago, but..."
Yada squinted at Koro-sensei, confused. "I dunno. I think... he's punching the wall?"
"Who knows..." whispered a sweat dropping Kurahashi.
Isogai shook his head. "No, you're right. Karma smack-talked and made fun of him earlier, so he's irritated... it must've really touched a nerve."
Maehara leaned over his desk to get a better view, raising an eyebrow. "But what's the point of punching a wall when your tentacles are too soft to do any damage? That's just dumb."
Koro-Sensei's weakness #4: Weak punches.
The squishing noise continued, grating on everyone's nerves, until Fuwa finally snapped. Slamming her hands on her desk, she shouted, "Okay, the wall surrenders, Koro-Sensei! Could you maybe stop it?! We're trying to take a quiz here!"
Koro-Sensei flinched, his entire body wiggling. "What? Oh! S-Sorry! Yes, a-absolutely!" he stammered before retreating to his desk in embarrassment.
Terasaka crossed his arms, turning his gaze toward Akabane. "You sure you know what you're getting yourself into, Karma? The jellyfish is sincerely pissed off at you. Don't come crying to us when you get to witness that monster angry~"
Yoshida glanced over his shoulder, his voice low. "Terasaka knows all about making him mad. You can't pay me enough to be in your shoes."
Muramatsu twirled his pencil nervously. "If I was you, I'd stay at home with my head under a pillow. Honestly, it would've been better for you to stay secluded at home again..."
Akabane, completely unbothered, smirked. "'Course he's pissed. Who wouldn't be if someone made an attempt on their life?" He shot a look at Terasaka. "'Less the would-be assassin screwed up and pissed himself in the process."
Terasaka irked, slamming his desk with a fist. "WH-! I didn't piss myself! Bastard, you looking for a fight?! That attitude's seriously gonna get your ass kicked-"
Koro-Sensei now stood at the front of the room, visibly irked, his tentacle pointing at the students. "-Tsk tsk... Quiet, please! Don't make such a ruckus during a quiz!"
Chiba mumbled under his breath, "Tell that to your tentacles..."
Koro-Sensei didn't catch the comment, continuing sternly, "If you continue to talk, I will assume that you're cheating!"
Akabane, however, was entirely unaffected. "Sorry, Koro-Sensei, my bad. No worries, though-, I've already finished." He reached into his bag and casually pulled out a pink-colored treat, most likely gelato. "I'm just gonna eat my gelato if that's okay."
Koro-Sensei's eyes narrowed. "Not so fast! No eating in class! Honestly, where did you buy tha..." he froze for a moment, realizing something. His voice went shrill with accusation. "HEY! THA-! THAT'S THE GELATO I BROUGHT BACK FROM ITALY YESTERDAY!"
The entire class deadpanned in unison. "Uh-oh..."
Akabane had already taken a lick, unfazed. "Huh? Ah, sooorry," he smiled with a faux innocence, closing his eyes. "I just saw it refrigerating in the faculty lounge, my bad..."
Koro-Sensei was livid, his tentacles trembling as he placed them on his hips. "THIS CANNOT BE SETTLED WITH AN APOLOGY, YOUNG MAN! AND AFTER I WENT THROUGH SO MUCH TROUBLE-, I FLEW THROUGH THE COLDEST LAYER OF THE STRATOSPHERE TO KEEP THAT DELICIOUS TREAT FROM MELTING!"
Akabane only seemed more amused, licking the gelato again. "Yeah? So, what will you do? Squishy-Punch me?"
Koro-Sensei's head turned bright red, a sure sign of his growing frustration. "'SQUISHY-PUNCH'?! NO. I'LL SIMPLY HAVE IT BACK AND FINISH WHAT'S LEFT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH-"
Suddenly, one of Koro-Sensei's tentacle feet exploded. He gasped, his yellow complexion paling as he noticed the pink anti-sensei BBs scattered on the floor. "Anti-me BBs?!"
Akabane used the distraction to his advantage, quickly grabbing his anti-sensei gun and firing several shots. "Ahaha~ I fooled you again." Koro-Sensei managed to dodge, but the expression on his face was rattled.
"Wow, that's twice in one day, Teach," Akabane laughed, holding the gun with an air of mockery.
Koro-Sensei glanced nervously at his gooey, damaged foot, realizing Akabane was playing a more dangerous game than expected.
Akabane slowly got up from his seat, walking toward Koro-Sensei with his arm outstretched, the gun still in his hand. "I'm gonna keep pullin' the same old tricks however many times it takes. I don't care that class'll get interrupted, or that our grades'll slip." He stopped just in front of Koro-Sensei, raising the gun to press it against his chest. "Let's be straight-up, though."
Then, in a sudden motion, he lowered the gun and let it dangle at his side. With his free hand, he took the gelato and twisted it into Koro-Sensei's outfit, pushing it against him as if it were a weapon. "If you want this to stop, you can just kill me as well as my parents-, or anyone else in this class, for that matter."
He let the gelato drop onto Koro-Sensei's remaining foot, the sticky treat oozing as it hit the ground. Akabane's smirk faded into a cold, calculating glare. "But from that moment on, no one will view you as a teacher anymore-, you'll just be a murderous monster... so, just let go and give us a taste of your ugly side." his voice darkened, dripping with deadly intent. "Or, you can make peace with all this. Accept that I'll be the one to kill you and your existence as a teacher."
With that, Akabane turned and walked away, pulling his finished quiz from his pocket and tossing it at Koro-Sensei's tentacle. "Here's my quiz. Easy peasy. The answers are probably all correct."
Sliding the classroom door open, he glanced back over his shoulder with a smirk. "Peace out for now, Teach. Whaddya say we play again tomorrow, too?"
And just like that, he walked out of the room, leaving an uneasy silence in his wake.
After class ended, we all handed in our quizzes, and I started walking out of the classroom building. Pulling my phone from my bag, I unlocked it to text Gakushū.
Before I could start typing, someone called out behind me.
"S/F/L/N! That's your name, right?" Shiota waved.
I turned slightly, giving him a nod. I wondered what he wanted.
Shiota grinned and jogged a little to catch up. "Heading to Kunugigaoka Station? I'll come with you!"
I sweat-dropped. I didn't even go to the station to get home, but I figured I'd indulge him. I gave a small nod, not saying anything.
He took that as a yes and quickly walked beside me, smiling. Just as we reached the school gate, another voice called out.
"Hey, wait for me, Nagisa!"
I glanced back to see Sugino rushing toward us, frantically shoving his school materials into his bag.
Shiota turned to me, tilting his head. "You don't mind if he tags along, do you?"
I shook my head, signaling it was fine. Maybe if I spent time around these kids, I could get some insight into how they thought.
Sugino finally caught up to us, panting slightly. "Thanks, man." He paused for a moment to catch his breath but then stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes scanned me up and down, confusion spreading across his face.
Without warning, he grabbed Shiota by the arm and dragged him a few steps away, whispering furiously but not nearly as quietly as he thought.
"Dude, are you serious? You're talking to her?! She hasn't spoken a single word since she got here! What's going on between you two?"
Shiota blinked in surprise, trying to calm him down. "Hey, relax! I'm just trying to be friendly, that's all. Besides, she hasn't said anything to me either. It's not like I'm hiding her or something!"
I watched the two of them argue, my face deadpan as I thought to myself, "They're so loud..."
Eventually, Shiota shook Sugino off and gestured back toward me with a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that! He gets excited easily."
I gave a small shrug and started walking again, letting them trail after me. Soon enough, they walked back fully, Shiota ending up on my right side and Sugino on Shiota's right.
Shiota glanced at me and smiled, clearly trying to spark a conversation. "So, uh, how are you liking Class 3-E so far? Pretty wild place, huh?"
I didn't answer, keeping my gaze ahead while looking at them occasionally through the mask covering my face. I wasn't ready to talk yet, and Shiota seemed to pick up on it, though he kept trying.
"Do you live around here? I could show you some shortcuts if you want," he continued.
Still, I said nothing, my silence filling the space between us.
Sugino scratched the back of his head, looking between us. "Man, Nagisa, she's really not giving you anything, huh?"
Shiota gave an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, but that's okay. No rush."
It was awkward at first, but soon enough, the two of them fell into their own conversation, chatting about classwork, assassination strategies, and random jokes. Their banter filled the silence, making it feel a little less tense.
By the time we reached the station, Sugino stopped and slung his bag over his shoulder. "Alright, I'm heading this way. See ya later, Nagisa. And, uh..." he turned to me, clearly unsure what to say.
Shiota stepped in smoothly, "S/f/l/n."
Sugino nodded, repeating my name. "S/f/l/n. Got it."
He waved as he walked away, and Shiota and I waved back in unison.
After a brief moment of silence, Shiota glanced at me again, his expression soft but curious. "You're really not much of a talker, are you?"
I shrugged my shoulders in response to Shiota's question. While I gave off the impression of being quiet, I really wasn't. Around the people I knew, like Gakushū, I could talk someone's ear off to the point they'd probably want to tape my mouth shut. But this situation was different. I didn't want to get close to anyone here. I had one mission: kill the yellow octopus and leave Class 3-E. Getting attached would only complicate things. Gakushū was my one and only; I didn't need anyone else.
Shiota hummed thoughtfully, his eyes scanning my mask as though trying to figure me out. Before he could say anything, voices from the direction of the main building cut through the moment.
"Are you kidding me? Is that actually Nagisa?" one of the boys, Takada, said, his voice full of disdain. "Look at the guy; all cozy with the E-Class dumbasses."
Another boy-, Tanaka-, joined in with a sneer. "Ew, gross. Gotta hand it to him, though. He's adapted to the crowd he's gonna spend the rest of his life with."
"How lame. There's really no coming back to our class like that," said Takada.
I glanced at Shiota. He looked down, his expression unreadable, but I could sense the tension in his posture. As someone who was part of the student council, I was well aware of how the main building kids spoke about Class 3-E behind their backs. It was always bad, sometimes cruel, but to see them talk like that directly to their faces was a whole new level of boldness.
Takada continued with a mocking laugh. "Hey, did you hear the news? Now that his suspension's over, they finally shoved that Akabane nut over to E-Class."
Tanaka joined in, laughing louder. "Ooh! Dude, no kidding? I'd rather be dead than stuck in a classroom with that freak!"
Before they could say another word, the sound of glass shattering cut through the air. A green-tinted bottle smashed against the cement beam they were leaning on, scattering shards across the ground. The boys jumped, letting out startled yelps as they covered their heads with their hands.
Akabane strolled into view, his usual smirk plastered across his face as he pointed the jagged bottle toward them. "Ehh~? Seriously? Because I can help you out with that. It'd be messy, but real quick."
Tanaka's face paled. "I'd rather live, thanks!" he stammered before grabbing his friend. "Run away!" they bolted, their panicked footsteps echoing as they disappeared.
Akabane laughed, letting the remains of the bottle drop to the ground with a dull clink. "Ha ha ha... they seriously thought I was going to kill them... But I have an even better toy, now, so, I'm not gonna risk another suspension with the once-in-a-lifetime deal they're giving me in E-Class."
He turned and began walking toward us, his smirk still in place. His focus was on Shiota.
Shiota shifted uncomfortably but managed a small wave. "Uh, hey..."
Akabane tilted his head, stopping in front of him. "Yeah, hey, Nagisa. Is it cool if I pick your brain for a sec?"
Akabane and Shiota walked ahead, scanning their school I.D.'s at the station gate. I hesitated, gripping my own I.D. tightly. If they saw mine, they'd realize I was the student council president, and that would raise questions I didn't want to answer.
Shiota glanced back, noticing my pause. "You okay, S/f/l/n?"
I sighed, nodding quickly. As casually as I could, I slipped my I.D. out and scanned it, making sure they didn't catch a glimpse. The gate opened, and I hurried to catch up with them.
As we walked through the station, Akabane turned to Shiota with a curious expression. "Word is you've been keepin' notes on the octopus."
Shiota rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed. "Um, well, yeah, I kinda have."
Akabane's grin widened. "Does he hate that nickname? Us callin' him 'octopus,' I mean?"
Shiota thought for a moment. "Now that you mention it, whenever he draws himself, it's always as an octopus. And that's the skin he picks for his characters in every video game. Plus, there's this thing he does in the sandbox called the 'Octopus Trap' as a one-line gag. It got an okay reception..." he sweat dropped. "So, no, I don't think he minds at all. In fact, I think he loves it-, it's like his personal avatar or whatever, y'know? He loves it."
Akabane's smile grew sharper as we reached the train platform. "Does he? That's good," he said, putting a hand to his chin, clearly deep in thought. "Oh, I've thought of something nasty."
Shiota gave him a wary glance. "I know that look. You're cooking up something really dark. What are you planning to do next?"
Akabane let his hand drop to his side, his grin turning mischievous. "I might be. It's fun, right?" He stopped walking and turned to face us, though his gaze lingered on Shiota. "You know, I am... really happy. Really happy. I mean, I was into this when I thought he was just a monster. But now that I know what his personality is like..."
A train rushed past, its loud blare filling the station as the wind whipped Akabane's hair and blazer. His grin twisted into something sinister. "...I finally get to kill an honest-to-goodness teacher with my own hands!" He laughed, the sound carrying over the fading noise of the train. "I've been dreaming of this ever since what happened with the last one..."
After Akabane left, it was just me and Shiota standing on the platform. He glanced at me, an apologetic look crossing his face. "Sorry about Karma. He's... well, he's just like that. He likes to push people's buttons, but he's not all bad once you get to know him."
I stayed silent, only watching him as he kept talking.
"He's got this way of making everything feel like a game, but deep down, I think he's just trying to figure things out-, like the rest of us. The sad thing is... he does that with everybody-, pushes them right to the edge... he doesn't trust anyone." Shiota continued, his tone softer now. "I guess what I'm trying to say is... don't take him too seriously, okay?"
I didn't respond, but my silence must have given something away because he smiled, scratching the back of his head. "I'll stop rambling now. Sorry, if I made things awkward."
When the train arrived, Shiota stepped on, turning to wave at me. "See you tomorrow, S/f/l/n!"
I lifted a hand in a small wave, watching as the train pulled away. Once it was gone, I turned and left the station, heading down the familiar path to my home.
The next day, as I made my way to class, I spotted Shiota standing at the start of the woods, glancing down toward the path. It looked like he was... waiting? I shrugged it off and kept walking, thinking it had nothing to do with me, but as I neared, he suddenly jogged toward me.
"Wait, S/f/l/n, I was waiting for you!" he called out.
I paused, tilting my head slightly in confusion. Why would he wait for me?
Shiota caught up, a bright smile on his face. "I figured we'd walk to class together. Y'know, since we're in the same class and all. Plus, it's kinda nice not walking alone, don't you think?"
I stared at him, not responding, and he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Okay, maybe that sounded weird. I just thought... well, yesterday was kinda fun-, uh, I mean, not fun exactly, since Karma was being Karma-, but it wasn't bad walking with you. You're easy to be around."
I blinked at him, still silent. He seemed undeterred, continuing as we started walking together.
"Anyway, do you usually walk this way to school? I don't think I've ever noticed before, but then again, you're pretty quiet, so I guess it makes sense. I probably wouldn't have realized even if we did pass each other a hundred times," he said with a small laugh.
I tilted my head slightly again, and he chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, I'm rambling, aren't I? I tend to do that when I'm nervous. Not that you're making me nervous or anything!" he paused, rethinking his words. "Okay, maybe a little, but in a good way! Like, I'm just trying to get to know you better."
We walked in silence for a few moments-, well, I was silent. Shiota was still talking.
"You know, everyone in class has been curious about you since you transferred in. You don't talk much, so people are kinda guessing what you're like. I keep telling them not to judge you just because you're quiet. Everyone's got their own way of doing things, right?"
I glanced at him briefly, catching his earnest expression before looking away again.
"Not that it's any of my business, though. You don't have to explain anything to anyone, least of all me. I just... think you're interesting, that's all," he added, his tone softer. "It's like there's a lot more to you than what people see on the surface."
I let out a quiet sigh, not enough for him to hear, as we reached the bottom of the hill and started up the path to the classroom. Shiota kept the conversation going, talking about random things-, what he had for breakfast, how Koro-Sensei had given him advice about studying, and even wondering aloud where the octopus really slept at night.
By the time we reached the class, he smiled again. "Thanks for letting me walk with you, S/f/l/n. It was nice."
I gave him a small nod, my usual silent acknowledgment, and he headed inside, leaving me to follow at my own pace.
As we both walked into the classroom, the sight of a bright red, already dead octopus on the stand at the front of the room immediately caught our attention. It had a knife plunged straight through it, the blade still gleaming under the light. The classroom was filled with murmurs as the other students whispered to one another, trying to make sense of it.
Shiota and I exchanged a look, then our gazes shifted to Akabane, who was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, wearing a smug grin. There was no doubt in our minds who was responsible.
Shiota sighed, twirling a piece of his hair as he made his way to his seat. "Karma, really? Was this necessary?" he muttered, clearly exasperated but not surprised.
Akabane chuckled, tilting his chair back slightly. "What? Just trying to set the tone for the day," he replied, his voice dripping with amusement. "Thought it'd be a nice warm-up before Koro-Sensei gets here. Gotta keep him on his toes, right?"
Shiota shook his head as he sat down, muttering something under his breath. I didn't say a word, my expression remaining neutral as I walked past the front of the room and headed to the back, where my seat was beside Akabane.
As I sat down, Akabane glanced over at me, smirking. "What do you think? Too much? Or just enough to make a point?"
I didn't answer, simply pulling out my notebook and placing it on my desk. My lack of reaction didn't seem to bother him-, in fact, it seemed to amuse him even more.
"Man, you're a tough one to read," he said, leaning his head on his hand as he continued to grin. "But that's fine. Makes things more fun."
Ignoring him, I kept my focus on the front of the room, waiting for Koro-Sensei to arrive. I wasn't here to entertain Akabane, and I wasn't about to let myself get caught up in whatever game he was playing.
And soon enough, Koro-Sensei came sliding open the door, his massive yellow form hunched as he leaned to fit through the classroom entrance. "Good morning, boys and girls!" he greeted, his voice cheerful and sing-song as always.
The response from the class, however, was far less enthusiastic. A collective sigh rippled through the room, and all eyes turned toward the front of the room where the lifeless red octopus lay on the teacher's desk, stabbed clean through.
Koro-Sensei tilted his head, his round face betraying a hint of confusion. "Huh? Why the long faces? Has something-" his gaze followed theirs and landed on the scene. His usual jovial expression faltered for just a moment.
Akabane was quick to break the silence. "Oops, that's on me." His tone was casual, almost bored, as he stepped closer to the desk. "Yeah, totally thought it was you and ended up killing it-, innocent mistake." He leaned over to the side of his seat to inspect his handiwork, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "I stabbed it, so I s'ppose I should get rid of it?"
Koro-Sensei let out a deep sigh, picking up the limp octopus with his tentacles. "Yes, you should." He began walking toward Akabane, his movements slow and deliberate.
I noticed Akabane subtly shift, his hand gripping the anti-sensei knife behind his back, ready to strike as soon as Koro-Sensei got close enough.
But before Akabane could make his move, Koro-Sensei's tentacles transformed in an instant. Six of them morphed into spinning drills, whirring loudly as they filled the air with a mechanical hum. In the blink of an eye, Koro-Sensei was in front of Akabane, moving so fast that the sudden gust of wind made the class scream. Akabane let out a startled noise, his bravado shaken for a split second. "Wha...?!"
Koro-Sensei stood towering over him, the dead octopus still in one tentacle while the others held a bizarre collection of items: a missile, tempura batter, flour, sauce, and bonito flakes. "Observe, if you will, Karma m'boy," Koro-Sensei said, his tone oddly chipper as he began assembling the items. "The versatility of these tentacles, and the firepower of this missile I yoinked from the Self-Defense Force!"
In an absurd display of speed and precision, Koro-Sensei began preparing something with the ingredients. "If you think I'm gonna let the new kid get away with murder, think again-, I will never... let an assassin get away scot-free."
Before anyone could fully process what was happening, Koro-Sensei finished his creation and, with an unexpected flourish, shoved it into Akabane's mouth. Akabane sputtered, quickly spitting it out and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Aack..."
Koro-Sensei held up the tray of steaming Takoyaki, a victorious gleam in his eyes. "Don't you know breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Your complexion tells me you haven't eaten. So, please, help yourself to some of this delicious Takoyaki." He used one of his drill tentacles to skewer a piece, holding it dangerously close to Akabane's face. "I insist."
Akabane kept his hand firmly over his mouth, his irritation now apparent.
Koro-Sensei, undeterred, continued his monologue. "You see, I'm a giver. I take care of things: hungry students, would-be assassins, troubled teens." He opened his mouth wide, revealing rows of teeth and a full batch of Takoyaki inside. "Every attempt on my life is an opportunity for me to play my part. So, by all means, keep at it."
Akabane finally removed his hand, his face set in a scowl that didn't quite hide the hint of frustration bubbling underneath.
Koro-Sensei gestured with his tentacles as he delivered his parting words. "By the end of the day, if your body and mind aren't aglow with health and knowledge, I haven't done my job." with that, he zipped to the front of the classroom, his usual energy returning. "Now then! Let's begin today's lesson!"
Akabane (pointing to an octopus): "I'll take the freshest looking cephalopod."
Salesman (holding up two octopuses): "Sure thing."
That is the secret to harassment.)
In first period math, Koro-Sensei stood at the blackboard, his cheerful voice filling the room as he taught us how to divide. (Not that I needed the lesson, but it's Koro-Sensei-, we were getting it whether we knew it or not).
"As you can see, whatever we do, this number remains," he explained, his tentacle holding the chalk with surprising precision. "Now, I know the concept of indivisibility is a beast. But, if its fangs frighten you, I have a surefire method for taming it. See if you can get the gist as I write it out on the board."
As Koro-Sensei continued his enthusiastic lesson, my eyes drifted across the classroom. That's when I saw Akabane, sitting casually at his desk, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
He reached into his pocket, pulling out his anti-sensei gun-, a sleek, specialized weapon designed to harm only Koro-Sensei. He aimed it at the unsuspecting teacher, ready to strike while Koro-Sensei was focused on his equations. "So, with this, everything wraps up nicely. And then... if you do, surprisingly..."
But before Akabane could even pull the trigger, Koro-Sensei vanished from his spot at the blackboard, a blur of yellow moving faster than our eyes could follow. In the next instant, he reappeared beside Akabane, holding the confiscated weapon in one of his tentacles.
"...and it turns into this. Ah, Karma," Koro-Sensei sighed, his tone amused as he examined the gun. "It takes an anti-me BB far too long to reach its mark."
Akabane blinked in stunned silence, his cocky demeanor briefly replaced with shock.
Koro-Sensei, as calm as ever, pulled out a set of nail care items from seemingly nowhere with his other tentacles. "I had time on my hands," he remarked casually, the hint of a smirk in his voice. "Hope you don't mind if I prettified yours."
Akabane glanced down at his hand, his face darkening as he took in his newly polished nails-, a flawless pedicure now gleaming under the classroom lights. His irritation was palpable as the rest of the class tried to stifle their laughter.
"Nice work, huh?" Koro-Sensei added with a chuckle, holding up the gun in one tentacle while admiring his handiwork on Akabane's nails. "A perfect blend of discipline and style. Now, let's get back to division!"
He zipped back to the blackboard, seamlessly resuming his lesson as though nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Akabane glared at his nails, clearly plotting his next move.
In fourth period, Home Economics, the classroom was a chaotic mix of clanging utensils, bubbling pots, and the murmur of conversation as everyone worked on their assigned dishes. Koro-Sensei had paired everyone up, but I had adamantly refused to work with anyone, shaking my head repeatedly until he gave up.
My soup was already finished and sitting neatly on my station as I leaned against the counter, watching the chaos unfold. Koro-Sensei, ever the enthusiastic teacher, glided over to Fuwa and Akabane's station with his usual cheerful energy.
"Let's see now," he said, leaning over Fuwa's pot, his tentacles moving with curiosity. "How'd the two of you do, Fuwa?"
Fuwa scratched the back of her head nervously. "I'm... not totally sure. It's got a bizarre tangy flavor to it for some reason."
Koro-Sensei grabbed a spoon, his face lighting up with curiosity. "Let's give it a taste," he offered, about to take a spoonful.
Before he could react, Akabane stepped in front of the pot with his trademark grin. "Probably easier if you just start over from scratch. Why not... toss it out-?"
Without warning, Akabane slammed his fist onto the table, sending the pot flying into the air. In one fluid motion, he pulled out his anti-sensei knife, using the airborne pot as a distraction to strike at Koro-Sensei.
But Koro-Sensei was unfazed. In the blink of an eye, the pot was back on the table, perfectly intact, as if it had never been disturbed. He dodged Akabane's attack effortlessly and, with a sly tone, quipped, "We wear an apron in Home Ec, Karma."
All eyes turned to Akabane, who was suddenly wearing a girly pink apron with frilly ruffles and a big heart in the middle, paired with an equally pink Home Ec hat perched on his head.
The classroom erupted into laughter and snickers.
"Oh, and don't worry," Koro-Sensei continued, holding the pot as though nothing had happened. "The soup is fine. I siphoned it out of thin air and put it back in the pot. I also added a dash of sugar."
He leaned down, holding out the pot so Fuwa could taste a spoonful.
Fuwa gasped in delight, her eyes lighting up. "That's exactly what it needed!" she exclaimed happily.
Across the room, Terasaka burst out laughing. "Nice look, Karma!"
Muramatsu joined in, pointing at Akabane. "Cute outfit!"
Akabane's face turned red with irritation as he yanked the pink Home Ec hat off his head, clearly embarrassed but doing his best to keep his composure.
I sighed, resting my chin on my hand as I watched Akabane attempt yet another attack on Koro-Sensei. Fifth period Japanese had barely started, and our octopus teacher was already in the middle of reading aloud from the textbook. His calm demeanor and unwavering focus only showed how futile Akabane's efforts were becoming.
As Koro-Sensei recited words from Shimaki Kensaku's "Red Frog" in a Japanese textbook, I noticed Akabane discreetly reaching into his sleeve, clearly planning another surprise attack.
But of course, before he could even reveal whatever anti-sensei weapon he had hidden, Koro-Sensei's tentacle snapped forward with lightning speed, pressing firmly against Akabane's forehead and hand, effectively halting him in his tracks. All of this while continuing to read aloud without skipping a beat.
"'Even as I was thinking this, the red frog, having failed again, was making its way back'," Koro-Sensei didn't even look at him. "'I was starting to get bored with it. I picked up a few stones from the road...'" he continued, his voice smooth and unbothered.
To make matters even more absurd, Koro-Sensei summoned additional tentacles to retrieve hair care supplies. With one tentacle spraying hair mist and another carefully combing his already pristine head, he maintained his composure, seamlessly balancing grooming and teaching.
Akabane froze, visibly stunned by how effortlessly Koro-Sensei had countered him yet again. His expression of irritation and disbelief was becoming a familiar sight in class.
I glanced out the window, trying to distract myself from the mounting tension. As I tapped my pen absentmindedly against the desk, I couldn't help but reflect on the situation.
Akabane's relentless attacks were clearly putting Koro-Sensei on high alert. Every subtle movement, every potential threat, Koro-Sensei was anticipating it. And with him in this heightened state of awareness, it was nearly impossible for anyone else in class to even think about attempting an assassination-, well, not that I had tried at all since transferring here.
Still, I couldn't help but compare Akabane's strategy to my own as an assassin. If someone had been this persistent in targeting me, I'd be on edge too, hyper-vigilant and ready to counter any attack. Akabane's determination, while admirable, was working against us as a class. His constant attempts were not only failing but also solidifying Koro-Sensei's position as untouchable.
I sighed again, shaking my head. Maybe this was why I preferred to observe from the sidelines.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Akabane looked frustrated as he walked out of the classroom without a word. I watched him go, noting the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands clenched into fists before shoving them into his pockets. He had been relentless all day, and yet, not a single attack had landed.
As I stood up from my seat, Shiota was suddenly there, his usual bright expression present but softened with something more thoughtful.
"Hey," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Wanna walk to the station together again today?" he paused for a second before adding, "We should get Karma along the way, too. I saw him head out the back. He probably needs some cheering up."
I nodded, and with that, we made our way out the back of the classroom building. The evening air was crisp, the sky tinged with the fading orange of the setting sun.
As we rounded the corner, we spotted Akabane perched on a long tree branch extending out from the edge of the mountain. He was idly nipping at his fingernails-, not out of anxiety, but out of sheer, focused frustration.
Shiota approached him first, keeping his tone light yet reassuring. "C'mon, man. I'm tellin' ya not to sweat it. We'll do it together as a group," he said, referencing their shared mission to assassinate Koro-Sensei. "You could have the sneakiest, most foolproof plan in the world ready to go, but if Koro-Sensei's got his eye on you, forget it. He's not like other teachers."
Akabane paused, his teeth lingering over his fingernail before he let his hand drop. His gaze shifted from the horizon to Shiota. "Other teachers, huh?" his voice was quieter than usual, almost thoughtful. Then he raised his head slightly, staring ahead with a strange intensity. "Hell no... You don't understand. I wanna do it on my own. I want to kill him myself. I don't want him dropping dead anywhere else." His fingers flexed against the bark of the tree branch. "Let me ask you-, would it tick you off to die in some random place?"
Before Shiota could answer, a familiar, high-pitched voice interrupted.
In a blur of yellow and tentacles, Koro-Sensei appeared, his wide grin unwavering. His face was marked with green stripes, a sign of amusement. "I feel like I've taken exceptionally good care of you today."
Akabane's expression soured as Koro-Sensei rubbed two of his tentacles together mischievously. "Keep trying to kill me if that tickles your fancy," he added, his voice teasing. "I certainly don't get tired of spiffing you up."
Akabane flashed a fake smile, the kind that didn't quite reach his eyes, before standing up on the tree branch. The wind tousled his red hair, but his stance was steady, perfectly balanced despite how dangerously close he was to the edge.
"Just so we're on the same page here," he started, tilting his head slightly. "You pretty much consider yourself a teacher above all else?"
Koro-Sensei nodded, his tentacles curling slightly. "That's right."
Akabane's smile didn't waver. "Cool. And you wouldn't think twice about putting yourself on the line to save a student?"
Koro-Sensei's answer came without hesitation. "What sort of teacher would I be if I did?"
Akabane's grin widened-, genuine this time, but not in the way that meant anything good. "That's awesome. Good to know..." he paused, reaching into his pocket.
"So," he continued, pulling out his anti-sensei gun, "I can kill you... knew there had to be a way."
Before anyone could react, he fell off the branch.
The gun in his hand gleamed in the fading sunlight as he let gravity pull him down, his body disappearing over the edge.
Shiota gasped, the sound sharp with shock. "Karma!"
Without hesitation, he ran to the edge of the mountain, hands gripping the dirt as he peered over-, but Akabane was already too far gone.
"Well," I thought, my mind catching up to what just happened. "I certainly wasn't expecting that-, a suicide assassination...?"
Standing up on the thick tree branch, I could feel the wind pressing against my back, urging me forward, whispering in my ear. The mountain stretched out beneath me, a long way down. But I wasn't afraid. If anything, I felt excited.
"Just so we're on the same page here," I said, tilting my head at the octopus. "You pretty much consider yourself a teacher above all else?"
Koro-Sensei nodded, unbothered. "That's right."
I hummed. "Cool. And you wouldn't think twice about putting yourself on the line to save a student?"
His answer was immediate. "What sort of teacher would I be if I did?"
That was all I needed to hear.
"That's awesome. Good to know..." I let the words hang in the air, letting him think the conversation was ending. Letting him relax.
My hand dipped into my pocket, fingers curling around the handle of my anti-sensei gun. I pulled it out, tightening my grip.
"So," I said, stepping back just a little, feeling the edge right beneath my heel, "I can kill you... knew there had to be a way."
And then I let myself fall.
The wind rushed past me, tugging at my hair, my clothes. I didn't flail. I didn't scream. I just stared straight up at the sky, gun aimed at the octopus above me.
"What's it gonna be, Teach?"
I grinned as I kept my gun trained upward, the wind tearing past me. The weightless feeling of falling was intoxicating. A rush like no other.
"You gonna swoop down to save me and get blasted in the process?" my voice was light, teasing, like I wasn't plummeting to my death. "Or are you gonna be the sort of teacher who lets one of your kids die?"
I laughed. The thrill of it all sent a shiver down my spine. "Ha, ha! Whoa! That crap they say about your life flashing before your eyes is true! It's like I can see an incredible kaleidoscope of images in my mind!"
I stood in front of a kid, hands in my pockets, smirking. He looked nervous.
"I think he's learned his lesson," I said, my voice calm. "Are you alright?"
The boy's eyes darted to the ground and mine followed, noticing his I.D. "3-E? You mean that class? The one out in the sticks? Dude, that sucks. Still, don't let anyone give you lip over it."
"This is certainly troublesome, for you to be picking a fight for someone like me..." he said.
"What? I'm not the bad guy here. All I did was put a bully in his place. Little jerk had it comin'. What's wrong with helping a Senpai (senior, upperclassmen, or mentor) who was being bullied?"
My teacher's face twisted in anger. "No! Damn it, Akabane! Any way you slice it; you're clearly in the wrong!"
The kid I had beaten up stood at his side, trembling, his arm in a sling. Pathetic.
My teacher crossed his arms, staring me down like I was some stray dog who had finally bitten too hard. "Are you out of your mind, or just stupid?! What possessed you to think attacking your class's star pupil like a mad dog was something I'd let slide?"
Eh? Hold on a second, Teach.
I opened my mouth, hesitating. "But... Sir, he was-"
"Talking badly about the dregs?" he scoffed. "Good for you, injuring someone on principle! This young man happens to have a future! If this interferes with his exams, it's on my head!"
You said you'd always be on my side... you told me you had my back...
Crap... he's dying. In my mind's eye, Sensei is dying.
He said he'd stand by me.
So much for that, I guess...
My teacher sighed, rubbing his temples. "I've been willing to turn a blind eye on account of your grades. But you've tried my patience once too often."
His eyes sharpened, cold and distant. "Throw a monkey wrench into my career, and all bets are off. I'm not saving you anymore-, you're damaging my reputation."
I clenched my fists, thinking, "This is it. This is how it's gonna go down."
"The good news is," he continued, his tone fake and patronizing, "I filed the paperwork for your transfer this afternoon. Best thing for all involved, really. But the bad news is you'll be commencing third year in E-Class. Congratulations, Akabane."
I barely heard the rest. The ringing in my ears drowned it all out. My blood boiled.
Before I knew it, I had snapped. My vision blurred with rage as I tore through the classroom, wrecking everything in my path.
Desks overturned. Papers scattered. My teacher fell back onto the floor, scrambling away from me, fear in his eyes.
I stood there, breathing heavily, hands clenched into fists.
For him to be dead even though he was still alive... at that moment, I understood. If I had lost all hope in him... to me, it was the same as if he were dead.
"Son of a bitch screwed me over. So that's it. He's dead to me now."
So, Koro-Sensei! You will die by my hand!
The ground was getting closer.
I smirked, feeling the thrill pulse through my veins.
"What are you waitin' for, Koro-Sensei?" I called; eyes locked on the yellow bastard above. "Let's do this. You either die for real, or I kill your reputation! Which 'death' will you choose?!"
I watched as Akabane plummeted, his figure getting smaller and smaller.
He was really going to do it.
Then-, just before impact-, something shot out. A blur of yellow tentacles, stretching beneath him like a spider's web.
The trap flexed under his weight, bouncing lightly as Akabane landed. His body jerked from the force, but he was caught. Safe.
Koro-Sensei materialized behind him, his voice as cheerful as ever. "Well done! A splendidly premeditated assassination attempt! Full marks!"
Akabane looked shocked. He tugged at his arms, then his legs-, nothing. The web was completely locked around him.
Koro-Sensei grinned, motioning to the sticky mass. "Neat, huh? I knew your body couldn't take being plucked out of freefall at the speed of sound, and had I moved any slower, you would've shot me."
Akabane kept struggling, but it was no use.
"What a tangled and sticky web we weave, eh?" Koro-Sensei chuckled, watching him with amusement.
Akabane gritted his teeth, still trying to move. "What the hell? Is there anything these tentacles aren't capable of?!" his voice was strained.
Koro-Sensei wiggled one of them playfully. "Can't shoot me now, can you?" he let out his signature laugh before his voice softened. "Oh, and for future reference: the option to abandon you doesn't exist-, students do not die on my watch. Ever."
Something in the air shifted. A quiet promise wrapped in his words.
"Take that to heart for the next time you jump... or just believe in me and jump whenever you like."
The sun had begun its slow descent, the sky bleeding into soft oranges and pinks.
Akabane stared at him before smirking. "I got nothin'." he let out a small, breathy laugh. "Un-friggin'-believable. He won't die. The teacher in him especially."
Koro-Sensei gently lifted Akabane from the web, setting him back on solid ground. I barely noticed my grip loosening on the tree branch.
Shiota blinked, still trying to process everything. "I don't get it. How were you so calm the whole time?"
Akabane dusted himself off. "Eh, no big. What really sucks is that was my best bet. Nothing else I can come up with even touches it."
Koro-Sensei gasped dramatically. "Aw! Run out of ideas already? But I have an entire beauty regimen lined up just for you!"
Before Akabane could protest, Koro-Sensei pulled out an absurd amount of beauty products-, and for some reason, a pair of cat ears with a bow.
Koro-Sensei tilted his head dramatically, mockingly repeating Akabane's words from earlier. "'C'mon. No way you can be this big of a pushover-, could it be that you're actually an easy mark?'"
Akabane raised an eyebrow while Shiota let out a quiet sigh, clearly sweat dropping at the exchange.
Instead of reacting, Akabane stood up, brushing himself off like none of this had phased him and sliced the air by his neck. "No worries, Teach. You're still dead meat. I'm going to kill you-, tomorrow, that is."
A red circle appeared on Koro-Sensei's face, practically glowing with pride. "That's the spirit! Never give up! Seems my tender loving care has paid off!"
Then, without warning, Akabane casually turned and started walking away, tossing a small pouch up and down in his hand. "Welp. Let's head back, guys. We can grab some food on the way."
Koro-Sensei blinked, his expression shifting as realization dawned. His entire body stiffened. "WAIT A-, EXCUSE ME!" he shrieked, whipping around in a panic. "THAT'S MY CHANGE PURSE!"
Akabane stopped mid-step, glancing over his shoulder with an infuriatingly calm smirk. "C'mon, Teach. You've gotta stop leaving stuff unattended and defenseless in the faculty lounge."
"GIVE IT BACK!" Koro-Sensei practically wailed, his tentacles flailing dramatically.
With an easygoing smile, Akabane tossed it in his direction. "Here you go~"
Koro-Sensei dove for it like his life depended on it. "Gimme, gimme, gimme...!" His tentacles scrambled to snatch it up, and the second it was in his grip, he flipped it open and shook it out-, only for nothing to fall out.
His eyes widened in horror. "Uh, hey, uh, this is, uh, empty!" he sounded like he was on the verge of withdrawal.
Akabane merely shrugged, not stopping as he walked. "There wasn't much there to begin with." He shot one last smirk over his shoulder. "Call it a donation."
Koro-Sensei let out the most dramatic, high-pitched wail imaginable, his tentacles on his face. "NYUUAA! A donation? A DONATION?! YOU DELINQUENT PHILANTHROPIST!"
Shiota chuckled beside me before running ahead, likely to calm him down before he had a full-on meltdown.
I watched them for a moment before shaking my head, unable to fight back a smile myself.
The train station was as busy as ever, the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoing through Kunugigaoka Station as people rushed to catch their trains. The warm glow of the setting sun filtered through the high windows, casting long shadows across the tiled floors.
Shiota, Akabane, and I stood near the entrance, waiting for the right time to board. The weight of today's events lingered in the air, but Akabane seemed as relaxed as ever, leaning casually against a pillar with his hands in his pockets. Shiota, on the other hand, was still a little tense, his eyes occasionally flickering toward me as if debating whether to speak.
Eventually, he turned fully toward me. "Hey, S/f/l/n," he started, his tone a mix of hopeful and uncertain.
I glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Shiota shifted on his feet. "So, uh... I was wondering." he rubbed the back of his head. "Do you just not like talking, or... is it just me?" he let out a nervous laugh. "Because if it's just me, I swear I'll stop trying to get a response out of you. Probably."
He hesitated, waiting for a response that didn't come. I could see the moment realization set in-, that same quiet rejection as before. His expression faltered slightly, but he quickly masked it with a small, almost awkward smile.
Akabane, who had been watching the exchange with mild curiosity, smirked. "Man, she really doesn't talk, huh?" He tilted his head slightly at me. "I gotta admit, I'm kind of impressed. It's like watching a one-sided conversation in real-time."
Shiota sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah. I'm getting used to it."
Akabane chuckled but said nothing more. Instead, he pushed off the pillar and stretched. "Alright, I'm heading out. Later, you two."
Shiota nodded, giving me one last glance before turning to leave alongside Akabane. I watched them go, their voices fading into the station's ambient noise as they disappeared into the crowd.
For a moment, I simply stood there, letting the world move around me. Then, without a word, I turned on my heel and made my own way home.
Once I got home, I let out a quiet sigh and headed straight for the shower. The hot water washed away the exhaustion of the day, the steam curling around me as I let myself relax for just a moment. Once I was done, I dried off, threw on my pajamas, and flopped onto my bed.
I stretched out on my bed, the soft, silky sheets wrapping around me like a cocoon.
I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of calm wash over me, and slowly drifted into sleep.
The soft hum of the night outside my window was the last thing I heard before I let myself completely relax, sinking into a peaceful, much-needed rest.
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