Assassination Classroom

I still recall that day vividly. I remember when those strange new days began—days completely detached from logic and reality. I remember our meeting with the honorable teacher who changed the course of our lives, and the vibrant intensity of every moment we shared. I... no, all of us, will certainly never forget.

「...You are as devoted as ever.」

I offer flowers to our old school building. Just three stalks of deep crimson spider lilies.

「He looks so happy laughing like that: Nurufufufu.」

「...Spider lilies? You seem quite fond of these flowers.」

「It's true. He smiles every time "Nozaki" visits.」

「Well, I don't dislike them. They were the first flowers whose meaning I ever looked up.」

「...You two are truly annoying!」

「I looked up the meaning myself when I saw you leave them here before. As I recall, the impression wasn't exactly positive. They seemed more like an omen of death or something tied to grim urban legends.」

「What do they actually mean?」

「The language of flowers is nothing more than interpretation.」

「Meanings change with the colors, but the interpretation for these is...」

What feelings did I entrust to this flower? I will leave that to whoever sees them, to interpret as they wish.

「I was told, "I look forward to seeing you again." That was seven years ago.」

I still remember... no, I am certain I will never forget the day I met him, nor the time we spent together, no matter how much time passes. I will carry those memories until I die.

「...Yes. Let's all look forward to that day.」

Seven years have passed since then. On this seventh spring anniversary—specifically, the day we killed Koro-sensei—I took a deep breath and exhaled, feeling as though I were renewing my spirit with every molecule of air leaving my lungs. Yet, the emotional sting of grief never truly fades; I have never grown used to it.

「But don't come to us too early... Keiichi.」

「Keiichi. It's time, isn't it? It would be disrespectful to be late for a meeting with your esteemed teacher.」

「Has it really been that long?」

「Practical cooperation with the Ministry of Defense... I never imagined our middle school ties would bring us back together like this. Shall we call this the "bond between teacher and student"?」

「You aren't far off yourself. All those people who now call me "President," "Commander," or "Reaper"—weren't they all originally enemies? In fact, you were their leader.」

「Heh... that is undeniably true. If I had told my younger self that I would be defeated by middle schoolers and then follow them for seven consecutive years, I never would have believed it.」

The moon, once our symbol—which lost seventy percent of its mass and became a permanent crescent—no longer hangs in the sky I gaze at now. There is nothing left but the shattered remains of a moon that crumbled under its own weight. I cannot deny feeling a certain loneliness.

「Let's go; the time has come. I don't want to be seen as someone who disregards appointments while running a company. That would be unacceptable.」

「You have mastered the role of secretary perfectly, sir.」

「I am secretary and bodyguard at once. By the way, I recently placed first in the secretarial proficiency exam and the accounting certification. Learning what benefits the business is truly enjoyable.」

「Right, right... you've clearly put in a massive effort, man.」

Sometimes, I see it in my dreams. I see the day we met Sensei, the days we spent with everyone, meeting my other self, and even the day we killed him.

I looked away from the moon in the sky.

Until a few years ago, Koro-sensei's memory was a painful burden, but I am now able to move forward, using those memories as fuel. In fact, I must move forward.

So that I may look forward to meeting him again one day.

「By the way, what was your first meeting with him like? Despite everything, I've never actually heard the story from you, have I?」

「Oh, are you actually interested?」

「The roots of the strength of the man I've dedicated myself to... no one in our department—I mean, our company—wouldn't want to know that.」

「I see. Then, on our way to the Ministry of Defense, let's entertain ourselves by revisiting the past.」

So, today I will tell the story of those days.

My meeting with the teacher who changed me, my interactions with my comrades, the day I received life advice from the masters of living, leading up to the days of their farewell. I will tell what happened on that day I turned fifteen.

「Do your best, Nozaki.」

「...On that day────」

「One day, let me praise you once more.」

●○●○●

「Nice to meet you. I am the culprit who blew up the moon, and I plan to blow up the Earth next year. I have become your homeroom teacher, so I hope we get along.」

Suddenly, a completely unidentifiable creature appeared before us—the outcasts of Class 3-E. He had an octopus-like yellow body, a wide mouth shaped like a crescent, and small, round eyes. If someone had told us an alien had landed on Earth, we would have believed it without hesitation.

「I am Karasuma from the Ministry of Defense. First, I want you to understand that everything said here is a state secret.」

Then, a well-built man with stern features appeared, claiming to belong to the Ministry of Defense, accompanied by several subordinates.

On the day they arrived, our monotonous daily lives shifted into an extraordinary reality thick with the intent to kill, all because of a single sentence Mr. Karasuma uttered:

「I'll get straight to the point. I want you to kill this monster!」

It was a sudden request for murder. A one-way ticket to an unfamiliar world, issued by someone working for the Ministry of Defense—an entity supposed to suppress violence and homicide, not incite it.

Who could have expected this? The moon explodes, seventy percent of its mass evaporates, the perpetrator becomes our teacher, and the Ministry of Defense asks us to assassinate him?

「...Excuse me, what on earth is this? Is it an invading alien or something?」

「How rude! I was born and raised on Planet Earth, just like you!」

「(Liar...)」

「I apologize that I cannot disclose the details, but everything this creature said is true. He destroyed the moon, and he will destroy the Earth next March.」

「Are you joking?」

「Only world leaders know of this. We are working hard to kill him secretly before the world descends into panic. In other words—this is an assassination.」

With those final words, Mr. Karasuma drew a knife from his suit with blinding speed and lunged at the supernatural being. However, the attack was effortlessly evaded; the monster remained standing, as energetic as ever. Mr. Karasuma continued his relentless sequence of attacks, but every one failed as the opponent dodged them all.

How many times did he thrust that knife in a single second? After Mr. Karasuma's initial movement, my eyes could no longer keep up. I only realized the attack had been dodged when I saw him move for the next strike.

Before our eyes, a fight beyond human capability was unfolding. A strong, stern man, undoubtedly trained far beyond amateurs like us, was being toyed with like an infant. In the tiny window of time between dodging and preparing the next strike, the monster had actually groomed Mr. Karasuma's eyebrows!

As I watched them, a question came to mind: Can a creature like this really be killed?

「This thing is too fast! Instead of dying, he dodges my attacks even when I lunge like this, and I end up with perfectly groomed eyebrows!」

Veins pulsed in Mr. Karasuma's forehead from rage, while the monster increased his speed and focus on the grooming as if mocking him.

I began to doubt whether what I was seeing was real.

「This creature, who possesses the power to turn a full moon into a crescent, has a top speed of Mach 20! This means if he seriously tries to run, we won't even be able to touch him until the moment the Earth is destroyed!」

It sounded like the plot of a cheap monster movie, but seeing the afterimages and shadows he left behind while constantly evading Mr. Karasuma, I realized his words were neither hyperbole nor exaggeration.

At the same time, it seemed strange to me. Why did he bother coming to this place—a dumping ground for outcasts—to work as a teacher?

「Excuse me, why does a monster like this insist on teaching us specifically? I don't understand why the Earth will be destroyed next year, but assuming he's gathering his strength to do it, wouldn't it be better for him to run? His speed is Mach 20, right? What's the point of staying here?」

「Nurufufufu, a very good question.」

The question I asked by reflexively raising my hand was met with a strange laugh and words of praise.

As if he had been waiting for this very question, he scanned the students of Class 3-E, packed away the grooming tools he was using on Mr. Karasuma, and answered:

「Constantly running at Mach 20 is quite boring. So, I made a proposal to the government: I don't want to be killed so easily, but I have no objection to being the homeroom teacher for Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High School.」

The creature placed his hand—or rather, his "tentacle"—rudely on Mr. Karasuma's shoulder, providing an answer that only sparked more questions. I'm certain the rest of my classmates screamed "Why?!" in their heads simultaneously.

Furthermore, how did the government agree to such a proposal? I glanced at the people claiming to be from the Ministry of Defense, and our eyes met.

「We don't understand what this thing is after. However, the government was forced to agree to this proposal for two reasons: First, as long as he is a teacher, we can confine his movements to this school and monitor him. More importantly, the second reason: it gives nearly thirty people the chance to kill him from a very close distance.」

He seemed to realize what I wanted to say and explained the situation with unexpected detail.

「We made him promise, as a condition for teaching, that he would not harm any of you students. Should any emergency threaten your safety, we will never let it happen.」

「Well, if the Earth disappears, there's no point talking about safety and security anyway.」

「...Don't say such unsettling things. For now, I want you to believe that this thing will not harm you. You may not trust us, but the state will do everything in its power to ensure your safety.」

It was a suspicious, bizarre development—a story that had become detached from reality, or rather, completely severed from it.

I wanted to ask how the state would protect us from a Mach 20 monster, but Mr. Karasuma spoke with such intensity and sincerity, trying to make eye contact with each of us.

Even though he just looked us in the eye and spoke, his words somehow felt more genuine than those of my father or any other teacher at this school, making me feel that I could trust him.

「And this is an assassination request. Since we are asking you to do this as a job, there will naturally be a reward. The success fee is ten billion yen! That is the amount that will be paid to whoever manages to kill this creature.」

「Ten... ten billion...?!」

「It is a reasonable amount. Killing him means saving the Earth; this is no joke.」

Gasps of shock erupted at the mention of the figure, but everyone was convinced after hearing Mr. Karasuma's explanation. Indeed, if this monster were to destroy the Earth next year, killing him wouldn't just mean saving eight billion humans, but every living thing and the planet itself.

Saving the world... a phrase I thought I'd only hear in manga, anime, or games had become a reality.

Yet, if I thought about it, wasn't ten billion yen a bit low? If we only considered humans, a ten-billion-yen reward means roughly "one yen" per person.

Was my thinking like this simply because I was a frustrated, cynical person?

「Fortunately, this creature completely underestimates you. Look—when those green horizontal stripes appear on his face, it means he's mocking you.」

「What kind of skin is that?!」

Several green horizontal stripes appeared on the yellow octopus's face, and his features took on a very clear, mocking grin. Yes, there was no need to look at his face color; it was blatantly obvious he was looking down on us.

「That's only natural, isn't it? If the state is incapable of killing me, it's impossible for you to succeed. Last time the latest fighter jets attacked me... I waxed their airframes in mid-air!」

「Why do you insist on performing maintenance...?!」

He was a supernatural being of endless wonders. But wait—waxing a high-speed fighter jet? Wouldn't dust and debris stick to the wax before it dried, making it dirtier than before?

「As you can see, this creature underestimates you to the extreme. We hope you will exploit any opening he might show. We will provide you with knives, air guns, and special plastic pellets. They are harmless to humans but effective and lethal specifically against this creature.」

As soon as he finished speaking, his subordinates pushed forward wheeled carts.

The carts carried knives with green handles and containers filled with pink plastic pellets and air guns.

「This is an absolute secret; sharing it with friends or family is strictly forbidden. All information given here is a state secret. Regardless, we have no time. If you don't kill him before next year, the Earth will vanish. If that happens, there will be nowhere to run. Even fleeing to space will be futile.」

Sweat appeared on Mr. Karasuma's forehead. Everything he said was clearly true. I could sense the anxiety and confusion in his tone.

「That is the situation. So, ladies and gentlemen, let's make the remaining year productive!」

Before this supernatural monster who declared his challenge loudly and provocatively, all the students of the class stood stunned, comparing the knives and air guns they had received. Their minds were not yet able to process the situation.

But time waits for no one. Ultimately, without understanding anything or knowing left from right, we took the equipment distributed that day. And so, we, the students of Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High School... became assassins.

[Patreon]

The students are assassins; the target is their teacher.

This twisted relationship began only a few days ago. Since then, several students had attempted direct strikes in the name of assassination, yet none had managed to inflict even the slightest scratch on this supernatural being.

I, too, had challenged him several times, only to find myself utterly powerless. Although he claimed a top speed of Mach 20, he had yet to display such overwhelming velocity.

Simply put, we lacked the necessary skill. I knew this, yet the realization left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Beyond that, was it even possible to kill this octopus? During morning roll call, the entire class had unleashed a relentless barrage of gunfire to create a wall of bullets, but he evaded them all with ease. In a more primitive attempt, the boys tried to swarm and restrain him, failing miserably.

My classmates had seemingly exhausted every trick and tactic, yet there were no signs of success.

Even in this very moment...



"Miss Nakamura. I believe I told you that assassinations must not interfere with your studies! As punishment, you will stand at the back of the room for the rest of the lesson!"





"Ahaha... my apologies. No need to get so red in the face."



The teacher shouted in anger while Nakamura moved to the back of the class without a hint of remorse. The creature had stopped her bullet with a piece of chalk, showing not a flicker of agitation.

It was breathtaking mastery. Without exaggeration, I could not envision a single scenario where we succeeded in killing him.

Despite this, those intent on the kill did not surrender. They hid knives inside their desks, gripped the handles of their pistols ready to fire at a moment's notice, and propped rifles within reach, vigilantly watching for the slightest opening.

Honestly, I respected their enthusiasm.

While I was lost in thought, observing their struggles as if they were someone else's problem, the bell rang.



"Oh, it's lunchtime. I'm heading to China for some Mapo Tofu. If anyone wishes to attempt an assassination, feel free to call my mobile."



With the same casualness one might use to visit a convenience store, the creature announced his trip to China. He gathered the short quizzes we had just finished and took flight through the window at a speed the eye could not track.



"Well, since he moves at Mach 20... how long does it take to reach Sichuan, the home of Mapo Tofu? About ten minutes?"





"Certainly. A missile couldn't even bring a thing like that down."





"What's worse is that he corrects our tests while flying at supersonic speeds. Last time, he praised me by drawing a little octopus inside two circles for a perfect score."





"Don't you find it baffling how good he is at teaching?"





"Oh, I completely agree. When I went to assassinate him after school, he explained a math problem to me, and my grades actually improved on the next test."



Everyone seemed stunned by their teacher's extraordinary capabilities.



"But no matter what happens... even though we are government-sanctioned assassins... in the end, we are just the 'End Class' outcasts."





"Effort is pointless for people like us."



The cheerful expressions of my classmates turned dark. The phrase "Class E outcasts," spoken with such self-loathing, was the derogatory label everyone branded us with.

Class 3-E was the "Special Remedial Class" where Kunugigaoka Junior High sent its problem students. It was a class of isolation, designed to segregate those whose grades had slipped or whose behavior had soured.

Our school was a prestigious institution that funneled students into elite high schools. Class E was the dark underbelly of that prestige.

Have you heard of the "Worker Ant" law? It suggests that twenty percent work hard, sixty percent are average, and the remaining twenty percent are lazy. This school's hierarchy operated on that very principle; classes were divided from A to E based on academic rank. Class A were the hard workers, and Class E were the "sluggards."

The outcasts of Class E faced blatant, harsh discrimination. Our old school building sat on a mountaintop a full kilometer away from the main campus. During school-wide assemblies, we were forced to arrive before the other classes to line up or face punishment. We were denied the hand-outs and newsletters others received, and the teachers endorsed this treatment.

To avoid this fate, most students at the school studied desperately. They didn't want to become like us, and they didn't want to be treated this way. Because of that effort, those who fell to Class E were mocked by those who maintained their grades, under the pretext that they had simply been lazy.

Most who fell here lost their self-esteem, devastated because they had failed despite their attempts. The reality of being judged as inferior to their peers, coupled with the shame of being in Class E, made their spirits fragile. It forced them to accept the discrimination from the main building students.

The existence of "salvage measures" only sharpened this sense of inferiority. A system existed that allowed a student to leave Class E and return to the main building if they placed within the top fifty of their grade level—provided their original homeroom teacher approved the return.

To those suffering under discrimination, this system looked like a thin spider's silk lowered to save them. In reality, their inability to grasp that thread only made the bitterness of failure more acute.

While some were thrown here because their behavior had caused their grades to tank, staying in this class meant their rank remained insufficient, or their former teacher refused to take them back even if they hit the top fifty.

Once you fall here, your school life is effectively over. The facilities are terrible, and trekking to school in the heat of summer is torture. The school's treatment of us is the absolute lowest; we live in a constant hell of discrimination and mockery from teachers and students alike. This is Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Junior High.

It was no wonder they spoke of themselves with such contempt.

By the way, I was a "defective product" in every sense of the word. I ended up in Class E due to a double blow of misconduct and failing grades.



"Come on, let's start planning the assassination, shall we? Nagisa-kun."



I heard a sickeningly fawning voice and turned to see Nagisa Shiota, the class mascot and the boy ranked number one on the list of "boys it's okay to hug." He was being pestered by a large, hulking boy who resembled a giant.

Since they were talking about an assassination plan, it was obvious they were plotting something. Looking at Terasaka and his cronies, Yoshida and Muramatsu, and their wicked smiles, it was clear who the instigators were. Nagisa, with his quiet nature and easy-going personality, looked like he had been dragged into this against his will.

Good luck, Nagisa.

As I watched Nagisa being led out of the classroom, I pressed my palms together in a silent prayer for him, then began eating a sandwich I'd bought at the store.



"Let us try writing a Tanka poem based on a specific theme. The final seven syllables must end with the phrase: 'it is a wicked tentacle.'"



He had come to us with a bizarre and exhausting request. What did "it is a wicked tentacle" even mean? What exactly did this man want from us?



"Here is an example: 'The wind in the garden, scatters blossoms like snow, yet what grows strongly there, is but a wicked tentacle'... Anyone who finishes may bring it to me. I will check your grammar and the beauty of your tentacle imagery. Those who pass may go home for the day!"





"Life that stands out and grows strongly isn't just cherry blossom petals fluttering in a garden, but a tentacle... what kind of situation is that, for heaven's sake?"



I completely agreed with Isogai. What kind of setting was that? The idea of tentacles growing in a garden sounded like a horror movie. And really, who would find beauty in tentacles besides people with very strange tastes?



"A question, Teacher!"





"...Yes? Is something wrong, Miss Kayano?"





"I'm late in asking, but what is your name? It's hard to distinguish you from other teachers without knowing your name."





"My name? I don't have a name worth introducing to you again. It's fine; you can all invent a name for me. But for now, focus on the task at hand."





"Understood."



Regardless of the fact that I had never written a Tanka or even a Haiku before, this strange request made the difficulty level skyrocket. Did this octopus really intend to let us go home?

I didn't even know the correct way to write this thing...!

Flowers bloom with pride, and flutter through the old school halls, but the one holding the chalk, is but a wicked tentacle.

—Nozaki Keiichi

I didn't know why, but despite working seriously, I started to feel embarrassed. ...Fine, at least it was finished. I'd go show it to this octopus quickly.

Maybe I could go home immediately.

Just as I finished the lines that came to mind and stood up, Nagisa stood up at the same time. When I looked at him to see if he had finished too, I saw a knife hidden in his hand.

Are you kidding me? Was he going to attack him from the front in broad daylight?



"...Oh, are you two finished already? Nagisa-kun, Nozaki-kun."





"Well, imagining the beauty of tentacles is difficult, so the poem came out a bit lackluster. I just wanted to submit it to see if I captured the required meaning."





"Yes, yes. Initiative and trying things out are very important. So, which of you will go first?"





"Nagisa, you're closer to him. Go ahead."





"Okay, thank you."



The teacher smiled, his face turning a light pink. I stepped aside to let Nagisa, who clearly intended to assassinate him, step forward. Just in case, I rested my hand on my weapon so I could back him up if an opening appeared.

Nagisa thanked me and walked toward the teacher, while I stood behind him, waiting my turn and watching for an opportunity.



"Now then, Nagisa-kun, show me what you wrote."





"...!"



In response to the teacher's request, the knife flashed. The blade, lunged without hesitation, was caught by a tentacle, and Nagisa's entire arm was pinned.



"...Nagisa-kun. Didn't I tell you? Assassinations during a time that interferes with your studies────!?"



Since the outcome was expected, I drew my weapon to support him, but in that moment, my movements stopped completely because of Nagisa's unexpected action.

Nagisa, with a light, fluid movement that suggested no weight at all and without emitting any killing intent, wrapped his arms around the teacher's neck and hugged him quietly.

The movement was so natural it cast a spell on my eyes. My hand stopped mid-support, and my mind failed to process what was happening. My thoughts went completely blank.



"──!"



I heard a sharp intake of breath, as if someone had made a fateful decision.

I didn't know the source, and I didn't think to look. Immediately after that moment, an explosive crack, incomparable to human breath, shattered my eardrums, followed by a powerful flash that assaulted me from the front.

Had Nagisa done something? He certainly wouldn't have hugged that supernatural being without a plan. Was he conspiring with the person who held their breath?

I remembered those who had led Nagisa away during lunch, those who claimed to be planning an assassination.

So, it had to be Terasaka, Muramatsu, or Yoshida who orchestrated this.

As those thoughts crossed my mind, the flash and the explosion swallowed me; I was standing directly behind Nagisa.



"Nagisa! Keiichi!?"



The explosion sent a massive quantity of plastic pellets flying with terrifying force.

Where Nagisa and Keiichi had stood, the smell of burning lingered, and a thick white smoke from the gunpowder rose into the air.



"Yesssssssssss──!!!"



While everyone else was paralyzed by shock, one man who understood the situation perfectly let out a thunderous roar of victory, jumping for joy.



"Terasaka!"





"Wait! What did you give Nagisa to carry!!?"



Though they didn't fully grasp the details, everyone in the class realized this person was responsible for the situation.

He, however, ignored the accusatory glares and answered the girl's question without a shred of guilt:



"It was a grenade, just a toy. But I increased its power with gunpowder so the plastic pellets would fly with massive force. An explosion at that range makes evasion impossible."





"You! Did you really use something like that?! Nagisa and Keiichi were caught in the blast! It won't end with just simple burns!!?"





"Shut up. I'll handle it. The bomb wasn't strong enough to kill humans anyway. And I'll pay for Nagisa and Keiichi's medical bills out of the ten billion yen I'm going to get."



With a swaggering gait, Terasaka ignored the looks of disgust and protests, approaching the site of the explosion.

With every step, the smoke dissipated to reveal a charred mass. Terasaka couldn't suppress the victorious grin on his face. He pretended to be calm while internally boiling with the desire to inspect the monster's corpse.



"...What is this?"



However, that grin and overwhelming joy vanished the moment the smoke cleared completely.

At the site of the blast was a charred husk, and beside it, Nagisa and Keiichi were covered by a thin, transparent membrane. They were lying on the ground inside that membrane without a single injury.



"No wounds...?"



Terasaka lifted the charred remains of the creature in shock, wondering how this was possible. Even if the explosion wasn't lethal, the force of 300 plastic pellets propelled by gunpowder should have caused severe injuries to any human. The husk in his hand was completely scorched.

In that moment, Terasaka noticed the husk was connected to the membrane covering the two boys.

As questions raced through Terasaka's mind, he heard a voice from above. It was a calm voice, yet──.



"Actually, the teacher sheds his skin once a month."



The voice carried an extraordinary tone of anger.



"The skin I shed possesses incredible shock resistance, and I used it to cover the bomb and absorb its force. It is my trump card, which I can only use once a month."





"Ow... are you okay, Nagisa?"





"Yeah... what about you, Keiichi?"





"I'm fine... but things look bad for the others."



Keiichi pushed the shed skin off them as if he were moving a heavy duvet. He stood up slowly and looked at the supernatural being clinging to the ceiling, a wry smile on his face.

Nagisa also looked up, seeing a face far removed from the usual yellow. It was stained a deep, pitch black, with bulging veins and sharp eyes staring at the instigators with terrifying intensity.

── He was furious.

Everyone realized it without even needing to see his face.

Terasaka, exposed to a rage that nearly warped the surrounding atmosphere, collapsed to the floor, his limbs trembling violently.



"Terasaka, Yoshida, Muramatsu. You three are the instigators, aren't you?"





"N-no... Nagisa did it on his own!"





"No, honestly, that excuse won't work now."



The furious teacher, the three terrified boys, and Keiichi, who watched the scene with boredom. As soon as Keiichi finished speaking, the creature vanished. With a massive burst of air pressure, he flew out of the old building and immediately returned to the classroom, which was still ringing from the pressure he left behind. In his arms, he carried a large number of nameplates taken from the doors of houses.

Three of the plates fell to the floor. Whether by chance or design, the three plates bore the names of Terasaka, Yoshida, and Muramatsu.



"Since I have a promise with the government, the teacher will never harm you. However, if you attempt an assassination in the same manner again... I cannot say what I will do to those around you. Your families, your friends... I might even blow up the entire Earth and everyone on it, except for you."



It was a clear and direct threat. Anyone who saw that wicked black face realized there was no escape, even if they fled to the other side of the world.



"W-what is wrong with you, you damn monster! You're just a nuisance...! You show up out of nowhere, threaten to blow up the Earth, and tell us to assassinate you! What's wrong with using an annoying method to kill an annoying person like you!?"





"What's wrong is forcing Nagisa into a suicide attack."





"You too! Shut up, you've been blathering for a while! Don't you realize our families are being threatened!?"





"...No, but before that, don't you feel how hideous it is to strap a bomb to Nagisa and force him into a human suicide mission? Even if you say you'll pay medical bills from the ten billion, there's no guarantee of a full recovery; he could have permanent scars. This octopus is angry for that exact reason. Besides, he said 'if you try in the same manner again,' didn't he? That means he won't do anything if you don't repeat this idiocy."



Keiichi looked down at the collapsed Terasaka as he finished speaking, then turned his gaze toward the creature as if seeking confirmation. The creature nodded firmly.



"What Nozaki-kun said is absolutely correct. You, Terasaka-kun, did not care about Nagisa-kun, and Nagisa-kun did not care about himself. A student like that is not fit to be an assassin."



Nagisa bowed his head in sad agreement, but his face soon lit up with joy.



"However, the idea from Terasaka-kun and his friends was brilliant in its own right. The teacher does not see your assassination attempts as a nuisance. In fact, I welcome them at any time, as long as they do not harm you or those around you. If you think of a new plan, come and try it."



The creature displayed a large red circle on his face, smiling gently, which drew all their eyes. They were captivated by those eyes that tried to face them with sincerity.



"And especially you, Nagisa-kun. Your fluid movement until you reached me was perfect and worth a hundred marks. You exploited my opening brilliantly."





"...Perhaps if you had approached like that and used the knife directly without the bomb, killing him would have been much easier."





"Nurufufufu, who knows? The teacher does not intend to be killed easily. Furthermore, Nozaki-kun, your Tanka poem is wonderful. Unlike Haiku, a seasonal word isn't mandatory in Tanka, but you placed 'cherry blossoms' with great skill. And I liked your use of 'bloom with pride' rather than just blooming. Even the extra syllables gave it a nice weight and weren't awkward. You did excellently in such a short time."





"...Are you kidding me?"



Keiichi stood stunned before his paper, which had been taken, graded with an octopus-shaped "Excellent" stamp, and returned to him without him even noticing.



"Students, let us conduct an assassination you can be proud of, with a smile. Every one of you has the power to be a great assassin. This is advice from your teacher, who is the target you wish to kill."



The teacher offered his advice while waving his tentacles. Everyone received it in different ways: Nagisa with shining eyes, Terasaka with a terrified face, and Keiichi with indifference.

As he watched them, the target asked his assassins:



"The teacher intends to enjoy life with you this year, then blow up the Earth and escape. And of course, I have no intention of ever being killed. Now, a question for you, Nagisa-kun: If you don't want that to happen, what will you do?"





"...Before that happens, I will kill you, Teacher."



Nagisa smiled clearly and answered with total confidence, making the creature nod in satisfaction. Green stripes then appeared on his face as he smiled in turn.



"Then try to kill me. Today, whoever succeeds in killing me can go home!"





"If it were that easy, we wouldn't be struggling."



All the students nodded in agreement with Keiichi's cynical comment, while Kayano raised her hand hesitantly as if she had remembered something.



"Excuse me, about the teacher's name... how about 'Koro-sensei'? Because he's the teacher who can't be killed (korosenai)."





"'Koro-sensei,' named after the unkillable teacher...? Yes, that's very nice; I like it. Thank you for this wonderful name, Miss Kayano. So, students, from today on, call me 'Koro-sensei'!"





"Right, Koro-sensei, I have a question."





"Straight to it? Go ahead, what is your question?"





"I've finished my Tanka; can I go home? You said whoever finished could leave, right? Since I finished the required task before you added the assassination condition for leaving, there should be no problem, correct?"





"Nyuaaaa!? Don't be so cold! Let's spend some time together! This is an opportunity to deepen the bonds with your classmates!"





"Right, I'm leaving. See you tomorrow, Koro-sensei."



Keiichi finished speaking, quickly gathered his things, and left the classroom.



"... Students, does Nozaki-kun hate me?"





"Don't let it bother you, Koro-sensei. He's always been like that."



Isogai answered with a strained smile to Koro-sensei's question. Koro-sensei was pointing at himself with a trembling tentacle, his face dripping with a cold sweat.



"Can that octopus really be killed?"



Keiichi muttered as he walked the path home, moving away from the school building.

In that classroom, bound by a strange atmosphere between killer and victim, the starting bell would surely ring again tomorrow. The boy exhaled a long, deep sigh.

[Patreon]

Part of my morning routine involves trekking up the mountain path toward the old school building, pausing to pet the stray cats that cross my path.

Today, however, an anomaly broke that routine. Upon reaching the school, I encountered that destructive, octopus-like supernatural being—Koro-sensei—arriving for work. He held a tropical juice in one tentacle and an English-language newspaper in the other.

Honestly, I didn't know where to begin criticizing him. Should I ask why he treats a trip to Hawaii like a quick run to the corner store on his way to work? Even the thought of chiding him felt exhausting, so I refrained.

Wasting my energy so early in the morning would only drain my physical stamina. I had no desire to burn useless calories and suffer hunger pangs before the lunch break.



"Good morning, Nozaki-kun."



"Good morning, Koro-sensei."



"..."



"..."



Technically, a student should initiate the greeting, but since he beat me to it, I returned the gesture sincerely.

The conversation, however, stalled right there. It was somewhat expected; Koro-sensei hadn't quite figured out how to handle his students or what their interests were, so he couldn't find a topic. As for me, I had nothing to say to him and even less desire to open my mouth. It was only natural for the dialogue to die.



"..."



"... Well, if you'll excuse me."

A few seconds of awkward silence passed. Since the atmosphere had grown heavy and annoying, I decided to leave.

I kept my words brief and turned to walk away, only for a yellow tentacle to coil around my right arm.



"Nozaki-kun, Nozaki-kun! How about a sip of this tropical juice? Why don't we act refined and enjoy a morning tea session with your teacher?"



"Don't bother. I've decided to drink only Ayataka green tea during my tea breaks."



"What?! Do young people these days even have tea breaks?!"



"No, they don't. I do it because I'm a loner and a shut-in."



"Don't admit something so sad so casually! Ah, I've got it! Why don't we have a tea session together from now on?!"



"I don't find joy in a tea session held out of pity—like when a teacher feels forced to partner with the one student who can't find a teammate for warm-ups in PE class. Besides, I'm not actually interested in tea sessions."





"That comparison is oddly specific and accurate...?! Is it based on personal experience?!"



His critiques are sharp—verging on a nuisance, Koro-sensei. Personally, I admire his dedication to connecting with his students, but shouldn't I tell him that some people hate excessive interference? Terasaka would certainly be at the top of that list.



"Why not try reading the English newspaper for once? You might find some unexpectedly interesting discoveries."





"I'll only find news about the moon you destroyed, anyway."





"(Gasp of confusion)! Could it be that you're an avid reader of English newspapers, Nozaki-kun?"





"No, but the moon's explosion was a massive event that shook the entire world. It's impossible for anyone to look at a shattered moon and say, 'Oh, the moon broke... whatever, I'm not interested.'"





"That is quite true."



Damn it. Every time I try to end the conversation, he finds a way to reply, and the talk drags on. It's a unique talent of his.

Even if I tried to cut him off and run, his persistence suggests he would chase me. And it is impossible to outrun a creature moving at Mach 20.



"...Nurufufufu."





"... Fine. I get it. I'll walk with you, so stop making that face that says, 'You've finally given in to me.'"





"Understood. My word, I have finally achieved my small goal of connecting with a student since the early morning."





"That's a very humble dream for a monster with a top speed of Mach 20."





"Mach 20 has nothing to do with the importance of communicating with my dear students."



What a hypocrite! Didn't you say you'd blow up the Earth next year? How can someone planning to erase us along with the planet dare to call his students "dear"?



"If we're truly dear to you, why not abandon the idea of blowing up the Earth? We'll die too."





"Oh? Does Nozaki-kun lack confidence in his ability to kill his teacher?"





"If we could kill you, we wouldn't need to worry. But regardless of whether we succeed, don't you see the contradiction? You call us 'dear,' yet you've issued us a death sentence. Declaring you'll destroy the Earth next year is essentially a death threat with a fixed execution date. Your words and actions are completely at odds."



I asked him the question no one else in the class had dared to voice yet. His words and deeds were contradictory, but everyone seemed so preoccupied with the sheer scale of the planet's impending doom that they hadn't noticed the inconsistency.

Or perhaps they had accepted the fact that "the world's end means their death too." No, even if they understood it theoretically, they hadn't grasped it emotionally; the proof was in how my classmates' assassination attempts seemed almost fun.

I couldn't understand it. Why did everyone assume this creature would keep his promise to the government?

Suppose one of us made him angry enough to beat them to death. This supernatural being wouldn't suffer any consequences even if he broke his word to the state. He is a Mach 20 monster that even cruise missiles can't hit. He could escape easily, no matter what happened.

How could anyone believe that a monster capable of wiping out humanity and outrunning world governments would actually honor a piece of paper promising not to harm the students of Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High?



"... That is a piercing question. You are the first to ask me that."





"Maybe the others haven't noticed because of the magnitude of everything else: the ten billion yen, the end of the world, global governments, and state secrets. These massive things have obscured the truth. Or perhaps someone realized it but stayed silent. Or maybe they've simply accepted that the Earth's end means death?"





"The first possibility is likely closest to reality. Or perhaps they noticed, but the reality feels so faded to them that they only think of it superficially. The most fitting answer is that no one else has thought about it as deeply as you."





"And then what? What is the truth in the end? I cannot believe you won't harm us throughout the year, and since you've declared you'll annihilate us with the Earth when the year ends, I simply don't trust you."





"... I never imagined I'd face such an interrogation only a few days after taking this post. You have exceeded your teacher's expectations."





"Thank you. Now, what is the answer?"



I hadn't intended to corner him, but since the opportunity arose, I interrogated him. I hadn't expected a casual conversation to take this turn.

Nevertheless, I felt a slight sense of superiority; I was now closer than anyone in Class E to this monster that intended to destroy the moon and wipe out the Earth.



"Hmm... I don't mind answering your question. However, I want you to promise me one thing. If you can keep that promise, I will answer your question... with full respect."





"Oh, don't worry. Whether you're an invading Martian, a former human turned monster by experiments, or even a creature from a planet of chess pieces, I have no intention of telling anyone. I don't easily give up the leverage I stumble upon."





"Is that so? Then I shall tell you."



The supernatural being spoke, revealing the catastrophe that would strike the Earth in a year and his true intent behind causing it.



"The teacher will die a natural death next year. When that happens, there is a chance the Earth will be dragged down with me. That is all."



It was an unexpectedly direct and simple answer.



"The way you phrased that suggests there's a chance the Earth won't be dragged down with you?"





"Yes, that possibility exists. However, the probability of it being dragged down is much higher. That is why the world's governments are working so hard to kill me. The plastic pellets designed for me melt the cells that form these tentacles and kill them. If my head or heart is shattered by these pellets, it will stop the growth of these cells and paralyze them."



It was a simple answer, but hadn't I just learned something I wasn't supposed to know?

If I had any desire to be alive in a year, I now understood the absolute necessity of killing this person.

I also realized that the knives and pellets we received were tools of importance beyond imagination.

Furthermore, Koro-sensei mentioned the word "cells" several times. Hearing that killing him would paralyze his cells gave me the impression that the cells composing him were the cause of the Earth's destruction, rather than Koro-sensei himself as a person.

But as soon as I understood this, new questions were born.

Who was this supernatural being Kayano named "Koro-sensei"?

How did the world governments know the Earth would end next year? Because Koro-sensei told them?

No, more importantly, how did they manage to develop effective weapons against Koro-sensei's cells? Did they get samples? And even if they did, how long did development take?

According to the explanation from Mr. Karasuma of the Ministry of Defense, Koro-sensei announced the Earth's destruction after blowing up the moon.

... No, wait. Did Koro-sensei really blow up the moon?

Maybe they discovered a creature of his species on the moon and researched it, and then that creature died. Upon its death, its cells or heart went out of control, causing the moon to take this shape?

It might sound like wild science fiction, but if this hypothesis were true, it would explain why the world governments fear the Earth's end and the speed at which specialized weapons and pellets were developed.



"..."





"... It seems you truly exceed your teacher's imagination. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in telling you."



My eyes met Koro-sensei's.

His color remained yellow, but it seemed to me his mouth was curved in a bitter smile.

I felt that he had realized how far my thoughts had traveled through that smile. So, to confirm the promise to myself first, I said:



"No. As I promised, I have no intention of telling anyone. Even if I spoke of this theory, people would treat it as nothing more than a work of fiction."





"I hope you do. If everyone knew the teacher would die on his own, they wouldn't try to kill me seriously, and then I would die of boredom."



He seemed to understand my intent and played along, joking with me.

Since the topic was far too heavy for early morning thoughts, I decided to accompany Koro-sensei on the rest of his daily routine for a change of pace.

●○●○●

When I first saw him, I couldn't believe my eyes.

He looked exactly like him—a spitting image.

Both in his silver hair and his facial features.

He looked just like that child I tried so hard not to see.



"So this is the English newspaper... well, I don't understand a word of it."



While sipping my juice, I glanced out of the corner of my eye at my student, who was reading the English newspaper beside me with a strained brow.

The phrasing wasn't overly complex, and there weren't many words he hadn't studied yet, but he tilted his head seriously, trying to read some words aloud, then suddenly clamped his mouth shut as if he'd bitten his tongue after failing the pronunciation.

I haven't fully grasped all my students yet, but I have reviewed their grades up to this year and identified their weaknesses.

However, among those I reviewed, one student had strange and distinct results: Nozaki Keiichi, who was currently wrestling with the English newspaper.

Until the first half of his first year, he had achieved the top grades in his level. But starting from the second half, his grades began to decline gradually until he finally hit the bottom of the list.

Suddenly, I recalled our conversation from moments ago.

Concerns anyone could have noticed; questions anyone could have asked. Yet no one wondered, and no one threw those questions at me as simply as my new student did.

Through that dialogue, I began to understand his personality to some extent. Based on his speech and the questions he raised, it was clear he wasn't stupid. On the contrary, based on his reactions in that brief discussion, I can say his powers of observation are remarkably high.

It isn't just him, either; the talents of the children in this class are unfathomable. Some might think them fools because they don't perform well in academics, but it is difficult to judge human potential through a single lens.



"Nurufufufu."





"... What's the matter? Why are you laughing to yourself?"





"Nothing. I just found myself smiling when I thought about how to face each of you and how to raise you."





"Huh...? Well, whatever makes you happy."



Nozaki-kun replied with a hint of suspicion at the laugh I let slip, then turned his gaze back to the English newspaper with indifference.

He no longer tilted his head or tried to pronounce words; instead, he stared at the text with such intensity it was as if he wanted to burn holes through the page. I realized then that he was completely immersed in deciphering the code with total focus.



"If you find words you don't know how to pronounce or what they mean, tell me anytime."





"..."



No reply came.



"Nozaki-kun?"



I tried calling him again to check, but he remained silent. It's natural for a human to respond subconsciously upon hearing their name, but his total lack of response indicated he wasn't ignoring me—he simply hadn't noticed I was calling.

I was truly stunned by his power of concentration. He possesses a focus far beyond the ordinary.



"I truly look forward to his future."



I nodded to myself while noticing Sugino-kun and Nagisa-kun in the shade of the trees.

Now, let's start our day with vigor.

The starting bell has rung today as well.


[Patreon]

While I was still wrestling with the English newspaper Koro-sensei had brought from Hawaii early that morning, two sharp gusts of wind nearly ripped the pages from my hands.

As the whistling wind died down, a crisp thwack reached my ears. I turned toward the sound to find Koro-sensei wearing a baseball glove on one of his tentacles. He had clearly just caught something.

"Good morning, Sugino-kun. Good morning, Nagisa-kun."



"... What?! Huh?!"



"Come now, you two—return the greeting with a clear voice!"



"G-Good morning, Koro-sensei."



Poor Sugino. He had poured his heart and soul into that pitch, yet it hadn't even touched the supernatural being.



"The idea of embedding my weakness—the specialized anti-sensei pellets—inside the ball was brilliant. That way, you avoid the muzzle flash and noise of an airgun. However, since I grew quite bored waiting for the ball to reach me, and since touching it directly would melt my cells... I took a quick trip to the equipment room to grab a glove before coming back."



I stood there, stunned, as Koro-sensei explained himself with such casual indifference.



Sugino, a former member of the baseball club with no small amount of confidence, looked utterly crushed. To be fair, throwing a baseball at a target moving at Mach 20 is an act of madness. I wouldn't have blamed him if he started crying right there; the situation warranted it.



By the way, I was standing right next to them, yet I hadn't perceived Koro-sensei's movement at all. All I felt were those two strong gusts of wind.



"I do hope you manage to kill me... before graduation."



"..."



Sugino sank into total despondency.



"Come along, you three. It's time for the morning homeroom."



Koro-sensei walked away, skillfully tossing the ball inside the glove as if nothing had happened.



Should I even keep this newspaper? I can't read it anyway.



Sugino remained devastated, while Nagisa offered words of encouragement, trying to lift his spirits. I walked behind them, following Nagisa's lead in attempting to cheer Sugino up, if only a little.



But Sugino didn't regain his spark for the rest of the day.



●○●○●



"Tell me, Nozaki, why were you with Koro-sensei this morning?"



"I just ran into him when I arrived at school. I greeted him and wanted to get to class quickly, but he stopped me and started rambling."

Nagisa asked me this as I was packing my things to go home after classes ended. Apparently, the sight of me with Koro-sensei in the morning was rare enough to pique his curiosity.



Since I had promised the teacher not to reveal our deeper conversation, I simply told him that I ended up trying to read an English newspaper with him.



"Ah, I see. I can easily picture that."



"Can't you?"



It seemed Nagisa also viewed Koro-sensei as a teacher who enjoyed pestering his students and meddling in their business. I nodded in agreement as he gave a wry smile.



"..."



"..."



Then, silence fell over us. For the second time today.

When a conversation ends between two people who share little in common, silence naturally follows once the final point is made.

"Well, I'm heading out."







"Eh? Oh, right. See ya."





I ended the dialogue to escape the awkwardness.



Unlike my encounter with Koro-sensei this morning, I succeeded this time. If he were here, he would have intruded annoyingly, saying, "Come now, interact more as classmates!" Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—he was currently in New York.



Just as Nagisa replied, I grabbed my bag and prepared to leave. At that moment, Isogai approached from the front, a smile playing on his face that sat somewhere between a sigh and a tease.





"Keiichi, you really need to break that habit—running away the moment a silence gets awkward."





His bluntness caught me off guard.





"It's not running away, nor is it a strategic retreat. We simply ran out of things to say, so I chose to end the conversation. It's a perfectly natural thing to do."







"It isn't natural. Not at all. If you wanted topics, Koro-sensei himself is a goldmine. Or you could have asked Nagisa about the next assassination plan. There are topics all around you."







"... Nagisa, the weather is nice today, isn't it?"







"Eh? Oh, yeah."







"The weather? Good grief... we aren't two nervous fiances at a matchmaking session. What's wrong with you? I feel like your social skills are deteriorating by the day."







"You think so?"







"I do. At least in your first year, you had plenty of friends. You were brighter; you'd even start conversations about all sorts of things."







"Well, most of those 'friends' you mentioned turned on me and started treating me with nothing but discrimination and bullying the moment I dropped into Class E."







"... That's true. I suppose it's no wonder you've become so cynical."





As I countered Isogai's attempts at positivity with my own aura of negativity, Nagisa watched us with a look of surprise. He either couldn't find a gap to join the conversation or simply preferred to observe.





"What is it, Nagisa? Why are you so quiet?"

I asked.





"Nothing, I'm just surprised. You two talk a lot. Are you and Isogai-kun close friends?"







"We aren't."







"There you go saying that again... You could call it a long-standing acquaintance. By his definition, we aren't 'close,' but we aren't on bad terms either."







"Is that right?"







"Yeah, that's the reality of it."







"Well, I'll take your word for it, then."







"Suit yourself."







"You two really are friends, after all."





I decided to ignore Nagisa's comment because the argument was becoming exhausting. The truth was, Isogai was the person I felt most comfortable talking to.





"Moving on, what's up with Sugino? He seems unusually drained."







"Impressive, Isogai. How did you notice?"







"Anyone watching him would notice. We're friends and classmates, after all."







"Is that how it works?"





Isogai is a good person. His belief that "classmates = comrades, comrades = friends" is truly commendable.



At the very least, those are values I don't possess.





"Actually, he failed an assassination attempt this morning. He's been depressed ever since."







"Even so, I think he's overreacting. If killing him were easy, they wouldn't have asked middle schoolers like us to do it. So far, none of us has managed to destroy even a single tentacle."







"Ah, I get it now. I remembered Sugino was in the baseball club. No doubt his failure made him lose confidence in his skill."





Isogai seemed to grasp the situation. Meanwhile, Sugino finished packing his things and left the classroom.



Even if he were still here, it was better to leave him alone. Being easily defeated in the one field you love and excel at can lead to a complete identity crisis.



As I stared blankly at the classroom exit where Sugino had vanished, a broad-shouldered man in a familiar black suit entered, followed by several assistants.





"Good afternoon, Mr. Karasuma."





Isogai, the class representative and top student, took the initiative to greet him. The man returned the gesture.



Honestly, Mr. Karasuma is an impressive man. He carries an aura of calm and strength that shows no weakness, even in his gait. Even though he's the one who tasked us with the assassination, he treats us middle schoolers with full respect and professionalism.





"How is it going? Have you found any lead on how to kill him?"







"It's impossible, Mr. Karasuma... he's just too fast."





Isogai voiced his grievance, with Nagisa nodding vigorously in agreement. That octopus really was unbelievably fast.



Thinking about it, Isogai and Nagisa are among the most enthusiastic about the assassination in this class. They likely grasp Koro-sensei's speed better than someone as uncommitted as I am.





"Mr. Karasuma, do you know his after-school schedule? He went to New York just to watch a ball game! How are we supposed to kill someone who flies at Mach 20?"





Maehara, one of the class's most handsome students and a rival to Isogai in looks, spoke with a tone of sheer exhaustion. He was also active in the assassination attempts.





"That is true. No army in the world can shoot him down. However, you... specifically the students of Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka, are the only ones with a chance. For some reason, this being insists on fulfilling his duty as your teacher."





He emphasized this while looking each of us in the eye. He was telling us the opportunity was in our hands.



Mr. Karasuma is very sincere. For those who lost their self-worth after falling into this class, his steady, honest gaze would surely spark motivation. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the girls had already fallen for him.





"If left alone, he will undoubtedly destroy the Earth next March. One look at the crescent moon is enough to know that not a single human will survive."





── Next March.



Linking Mr. Karasuma's words with what Koro-sensei told me, it was clear our target would die naturally in March. At that moment, the Earth might be dragged down with him and perish.





"He is too dangerous to be left alive! Right now, this classroom is the only place where he can be killed!"





Karasuma spoke with sweat beading on his forehead, emphasizing Koro-sensei's danger just as he had in our first meeting.



It's natural for him to panic; there's less than a year left before the world ends. To make matters worse, this monster is in Japan. The responsibility on a single nation's Ministry of Defense must be crushing.



Mr. Karasuma seems to be suffering quite a bit...



Failed students like us were given a chance to become heroes who save the world. Someone tried to seize that chance using the skill he loved, only to fail.



Thinking about it that way, I felt I could understand the depth of Sugino's frustration.



●○●○●



The following afternoon, while I was tending to the flower beds, I ran into Sugino. He still looked affected by yesterday's failed assassination.



He was sitting on the stone steps leading to the schoolyard, head bowed, sighing audibly—a truly pitiful sight.





"..."





I could have left him alone, but we are classmates after all. I decided to at least listen to his grievance.





"... Do you mind if I sit?"







"Nozaki...? Sit wherever you like."





I placed the watering can at the base of the steps and sat beside Sugino.





"..."







"..."





We fell into a sudden bout of silence.



Strange. In manga, the person who wants to complain usually starts talking on their own as soon as you sit next to them, even without being asked.



Does this mean I have to take the lead? But how? What should I say? I'm not proud of it, but my communication skills are severely lacking.





"... Sigh."





Sugino let out another breath. Was it because of the awkward silence with me, or because of the failed assassination? Either way, I should say something, shouldn't I?



Yet, every time I tried to speak, the words wouldn't come.



Just as I decided to give up and stand to leave, a helping hand—or rather, a helping tentacle—extended toward us.





"I've polished the ball for you, Sugino-kun."





Koro-sensei held out the ball that had been embedded with pellets yesterday, now wrapped in a handkerchief, between Sugino and me.



While I was marvelling at his perfect timing, a sudden sound of cracking wood came from behind us!





"Koro-sensei, what are you eating now?"

asked Sugino, who had turned faster than I did.





"It's a coconut I bought when I went to Hawaii yesterday. Would you like some?"







"... You're supposed to drink the water, not eat the meat."







"He's right. I agree with Nozaki."





When I muttered that, Sugino immediately backed me up.



Wait, isn't this the first time Sugino and I have exchanged more than two sentences in a normal conversation?





"Yesterday's assassination attempt was a very good pitch."





Koro-sensei sat beside Sugino, leaving me on the outer edge.



The moment he sat down, he spoke words that might have sounded mocking to a depressed person whose lethal pitch had failed.





"You say that as if you didn't dodge it with ease. But thinking about it, it was impossible to hit a Mach 20 target with that ball's speed."







"Were you in the baseball club?"







"Formerly."







"Formerly?"





Ah, the conversation is flowing.



Was I worrying too much? Was my anxiety unnecessary? Perhaps it isn't necessary to be so guarded with him.



As I mused to myself, the dialogue between Sugino and the teacher continued. Since Sugino had started talking, I decided to play the listener and blend into the background.





"Class E is forbidden from participating in school activities. Since our grades are bad and we were dropped into this special remedial class, we were told to focus only on our studies."







"That is blatant discrimination."







"... But it's fine. Logically, the teachers are right. You saw it yesterday, didn't you? My pitch is slow."







"..."





Sugino's pitch, huh? Is it really slow? I can't judge because I didn't see it yesterday.





"Because it's slow, everyone was hitting it easily—opponents and teammates alike. That's why I was dropped from the regular lineup. I lost my motivation for school, too, and ended up here in Class E, the 'End Class.'"





Sugino said this with a bitter, self-deprecating smile.



As he began to sink back into his funk, my eyes met Koro-sensei's.





"Nozaki-kun."







"Yes?"







"After hearing Sugino-kun's story, did anything come to mind?"





You've asked the wrong person. I don't even know all my classmates' names. How could I perform a miracle like offering constructive advice based on someone else's life story?



Besides, I've never even seen Sugino play baseball. I have no desire to spout platitudes like "You can do it, don't give up," though I fully understand the feeling of losing the will to try after a failure.



However, what did come to mind after hearing his story was...





"Sugino, is your usual pitch a 'four-seam fastball'?"







"Eh? Yeah. There's a Major League player who made it to the big leagues thanks to his fastball, and I aim to be just like him."







"I see. Look, I'm no baseball expert and I don't care about the Major Leagues, but if your fastball is slow, why don't you use other types of pitches? There are curveballs or splitters, right? Unless there's a baseball rule that limits how many different pitches you're allowed to use in a game."







"No, there's no rule like that."







"Then there's no need to stick only to the fastball, is there? You love baseball, and because you love it, you aimed for the Major Leagues. If you started out just by imitating someone, that's one thing. But if you want to become strong because you love the game, it would be better to try various pitches. That's just what I thought while listening to you."





I explained my perspective to Sugino, who was looking at me in surprise, as if I were ignorant of the game's basics.



If Sugino had the kind of pride that made him say "I'll throw nothing but fastballs!", my words would have been hasty or flawed.





"Nurufufufu. An excellent perspective, Nozaki-kun."





Koro-sensei was smiling with satisfaction, his tentacles moving in a slimy, suspicious manner.





"Sugino-kun. Allow your teacher to give you some advice."







"... Eh?"





In the next moment, I was forced to witness a scene I wished I had seen with a girl instead.



●○●○●



While I was wandering through the school building looking for Koro-sensei to hand in my assignments, I saw a strange sight from the window.



Sugino and Koro-sensei were sitting on the stone steps leading to the yard. That sight wasn't strange in itself; I figured he was teasing him about yesterday's assassination. The strange part was the third person with them—the "problem child" of our class.



Nozaki Keiichi. The boy who openly and indifferently admits he dropped into Class E due to bad behavior and failing grades. He was the first student in our year to fall into this class, and it's said his test scores are always dead last.



His grades kept plummeting, and I don't know the real reason, but the straw that broke the camel's back and brought him here was his punching his former homeroom teacher—a famous story.



For that reason, almost everyone, boys and girls alike, avoids him, even if not explicitly.



Why was he with them?



Nozaki has no close friends. He seems to be on good terms with Isogai-kun, and they appear together sometimes, but he doesn't seem like the type to seek out others by choice.



Curiosity drove me to find out what Koro-sensei was doing with Sugino and why Nozaki was there. I changed my shoes and headed toward them, only to find the situation even weirder than it looked from the window.





"N-N-H-H-Ohhh—! H-H—!!"







"Nurufufufu..."







"I wish I were seeing this with girls."





Tentacles were raised high; Sugino was trapped by them, letting out incomprehensible cries under the force of their movement. And then there was Nozaki, showing a side of his strange tendencies that didn't fit his usual indifferent persona.





"What is this situation...?"





I muttered in shock, and Nozaki noticed me.





"... Even Nagisa isn't bad."







"What are you talking about!!?"





I felt a threat to my safety from Nozaki's gaze, so I ran past him toward Koro-sensei.





"What are you doing, Koro-sensei?! Aren't you forbidden from harming students?!"







"Harming? What a misunderstanding."







"No, even from my perspective—having watched this from the start—this looks like nothing but harm. We were listening to Sugino's past, and suddenly this tentacle display started. I'm quite confused."







"Nozaki-kun? It isn't good for a middle schooler to aim for such deviant practices; it leads to boredom in the future."







"No, moving past the boredom, I don't have a partner to begin with nor do I want one. Furthermore, I don't want to hear this from someone currently engaged in 'tentacle play'!"





Ah, Nozaki raised his voice to criticize the teacher.



That's a rare sight.





"Now, Sugino-kun, back to my advice. That unique form you showed in yesterday's pitch was an imitation of the Major League player Arita, wasn't it?"







"!!"





Sugino's eyes widened; he had been trying to bite the tentacles.



The teacher had hit the mark, and I felt Sugino's body relax after his attempts to resist.





"However, tentacles do not lie. Compared to that player's shoulder muscles, your muscle arrangement is poor. Even if you imitate him, you won't be able to throw fastballs like his."







"..."







"You're remarkably blunt and harsh, Teacher."







"Yes, because it's the truth."





Koro-sensei and Nozaki spoke coldly, while Sugino couldn't hide his shock after such a definitive statement.



I felt a surge of anger. Was it because my friend was hurt? Perhaps. but what angered me most were the teacher's words, which seemed to place limits on our abilities. I snapped at him instinctively.





"How can you be so sure, Teacher?! Is it because we're in Class E?!"







"..."





Sugino bowed his head at the mention of "Class E."



To us, the label "Class E" is a badge of shame, a symbol of failure, and proof of being low-tier. It is the title of the absolute weak in the world of Kunugigaoka Junior High.



Even though the teacher hadn't mentioned "Class E" in his words, I read between the lines unconsciously; I thought this teacher, too, saw us as nothing but failing trash.





"The reason I can be so sure... is as follows, Nagisa-kun."





Koro-sensei toyed with his tentacles inside his clothes boastfully, then pulled out his favorite English newspaper and displayed it before us.





"Because I went yesterday and confirmed it with the player himself."





(((Since you confirmed it with him personally, there's no room for argument!!)))



I think the hearts of all three of us—Sugino, Nozaki, and myself—aligned in that moment as never before.





"By the way, I got his autograph too..."





From behind the newspaper, a signed paper appeared, with shaky, unstable writing that read: 『Get away from me, you octopus!!!』.





"Did you ask him for an autograph while he was that angry?!"







"Of course he'd be angry!!?"





My anger toward the teacher vanished, replaced by bewilderment at his actions. I joined Nozaki in criticizing him on behalf of Sugino, who was too depressed to even comment.



It seems Nozaki isn't as bad as they say.





"I see. So talent really is different..."





Sugino muttered in despair, but the teacher's tentacle wrapped gently around his wrist.





"Yes, there is a gap and a difference between your talent and Arita's. However, every human has what suits them and what doesn't. Your shoulder muscles might be weaker than his, but the flexibility of your elbow and wrist far exceeds his. If you train, you will surpass him by leaps and bounds."







"... My elbow and wrist... better than his?"







"Talent isn't just one type. Each of you possesses a unique talent that differs from the others. It might be an aesthetic sense, muscular flexibility, muscle quality, sustained effort, exceptional focus, or a broad vision and keen observation. Find the assassination style that fits your talents."



Koro-sensei looked into the eyes of each of us, then gently patted Sugino's shoulder with a tentacle as if pushing him forward, and headed toward the classroom.



"My own talent..."



Sugino's face became incomparably brighter than it had been moments ago.



In contrast, Nozaki directed his words to Koro-sensei's departing back.



"Tell me, Koro-sensei. You told us to come kill you with the talents that suit us. But to you, who is the most talented assassin?"



Nozaki's question was interesting to us.



Wondering who the most talented assassin is isn't strange for us; the reward for the target in front of us is ten billion yen. The possibility of an elite assassin being hired is not zero.



Koro-sensei turned around, resting a tentacle on his chin as if thinking.



"Hmm, let's see. There are multiple answers to that. An assassin who understands their strengths well and hones a single field they excel in is very troublesome; their level in that field becomes so high no one can match it."



"You mean the person who mastered the 'assassination suited to their talent,' as you just told us."



"Exactly. However, the teacher also believes a great assassin is one who is a master of all arts."



"So the person who can do everything is the best in the end?"



"That is a tricky point. Attempting to master everything with half-effort might make one a 'Jack of all trades, master of none.' Compared to a specialist, they might be inferior in any single field. But the weapon of an all-around assassin lies in their abundance of options. Why do you think that is?"



I realized Koro-sensei's question wasn't just for Nozaki, but for all of us.



I tried to answer immediately, but the words failed me. Suddenly, Nozaki, the class rebel, answered.





"Because when they fail an assassination attempt, they have many cards left to play. An assassin who only knows how to kill with their bare hands, and one who knows various ways to kill—if both fail to strangle the target and the target is faster than them, the first one will inevitably lose their mark."



"Go on, I'm listening."




"But the assassin who has acquired broad skills has more choices they can make in the moment. And since those are real skills and not just superficial ones, their success rate will be high. If they have a gun, they'll shoot. If they find a stone, they'll throw it. If they have good communication skills, they might place comrades along the target's expected escape routes or control the movement of people around them."



I was stunned by Nozaki's answer. He rattled it off as if it were common sense, even though we had stumbled.



Koro-sensei nodded with satisfaction, his face turning red with a blush. Then, a "correct" mark appeared on his face, and he drew a large circle with his tentacles in an exaggerated fashion.



"Exactly! Keen insight, Nozaki-kun."



"I've thought about it a lot."


I thought he was being modest, as he had answered immediately without thinking. But Koro-sensei paid no mind to his modesty and continued.


"As a teacher, I hope you all aim for that realm. I want you to possess a 'Second Blade'—the weapon you use immediately when your primary one fails."





The teacher finished with,

"I look forward to your results,"

and then truly departed this time.



I left Nozaki and Sugino and caught up with him. I had things to say, and I had been looking for him to hand in my work anyway.



"Koro-sensei!"


I stopped him, and he turned slowly.



I saw his crescent-moon mouth and his yellow body. Until now, I didn't know what went on in his mind or what he was thinking.



But after hearing his advice to Sugino, I felt this person was completely different from the teachers in the main building. Hope began to grow in my chest.



"Did you go to New York just to give Sugino that advice?"




"Yes, of course. Because I am your teacher."



He answered as if it were a trivial matter not worth mentioning.


"Why do you do all this for us? Usually, no teacher does this much, let alone Koro-sensei, who is about to end the Earth's existence."


At my question, Koro-sensei looked away for a moment. After a short silence, he briefly revealed the reason he was a teacher.



"I became a teacher, Nagisa-kun, to fulfill a promise I made to someone."


Someone? That piqued my curiosity, but I realized he wouldn't answer now. I stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.



"It is true that I will destroy the Earth. But before that, I am your teacher. Facing my students with sincerity... is more important to me than the end of the world."



As soon as he finished speaking, I found the homework notebooks he had finished grading in a flash between his tentacles.



I took the notebook he held out and opened it to find a strange question had been added.



A drawing of an octopus or squid's tentacles emerging from what looked like the water's surface, with a decorative ribbon on one of them. The question was: 『Explain in English why these tentacles do not look attractive enough?』.



"Koro-sensei. I understand your desire to show off your grading speed, but could you stop adding weird questions?"



"Nyuaaaah?! I thought it would be a fun addition and make you happy...!"


"It's more like a punishment for me."


At my words, he was visibly dejected, but he soon regained his energy. He skillfully twirled a fountain pen with his tentacles, then put it in his mouth and began to bite it hard.



"(Cough). Anyway. I hope you enjoy being students and take the assassination seriously. Though... assassination is quite impossible for you."


He said it with a challenging smile as he chewed and crushed the pen.


As I looked at him, I felt that I didn't truly feel capable of killing this teacher who possessed supernatural speed and tentacles for every purpose.


I didn't feel I could kill him, but I felt this person was looking at us with sincerity, and that he was ready to accept even our desire to kill him with an open heart.


●○●○●


The day after witnessing the "tentacle display" between Koro-sensei and Sugino, I found myself invited by Sugino to play baseball. I stood in the schoolyard, gripping the bat.



"Take this, Nozaki!"



Sugino shouted enthusiastically from the pitcher's mound he'd traced in the dirt. Behind me, Nagisa sat with a glove, calling out,

"I'm ready anytime!"


"Here it comes!"


With a spirited cry, Sugino's arm moved powerfully, and the ball flew toward me in a straight line.


But the ball, which was heading straight, suddenly changed course and tried to pass under the bat I was holding.


However, I had seen its path. I swung the bat and sent the ball back with force.



"A-Amazing! They're both incredible...! Sugino's ball changed as if it disappeared, and Nozaki managed to hit it back brilliantly!"



"Haha! Even if the fastball is slow, mixing it with different pitches hides its true speed! I'm currently mastering pitches that rely on the elbow and wrist! Of course, for that octopus, it would be a yawn-worthy pitch. Since a human like you hit it back, I still have a long way to go."


Sugino laughed heartily.


"You're amazing. You were so depressed yesterday."


I said what was on my mind instinctively.


Only two days ago, he was unbearably downcast. Now, with a single piece of advice from the teacher, he had regained all this energy and passion. Really, what made him get over it so quickly?


"Well, I'm obsessed with baseball. And I figured that practicing to become better feels more like me than staying depressed!"


Sugino was laughing brightly as he threw the ball he'd caught in his glove. He looked so radiant to me—perhaps because I couldn't get over my own depression when I faced a similar failure.


"Thank you, Nozaki. You were trying to listen to my problems yesterday, weren't you?"



"Eh? Oh, yeah."


"You're a good guy, despite what they say. Practice with me again. Don't you know the rules of baseball? I'll teach you!"



It seemed my attempt to care for him yesterday had reached him. If that was the case, maybe there was some benefit in doing something so unlike myself.


"Koro-sensei! I want to kill you! Will you come over here?"


"Nurufufufufu. You never give up."


In that moment, I realized that something inside me had started to pin its hopes on Koro-sensei.

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