—
"AKIYAMA-SAN!" A worried Koro-sensei flew over to where the said girl was situated, Riku was trying to quiet the cries that were stuck in her throat.
"Koro-sensei -- ah --" Riku let out another pained groan, clutching her sore area, but careful not to put too much force with the action. "I'm -- I think I'm good. I'm good --"
"DO NOT SAY THAT YOU ARE OKAY WHEN IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU ARE MOST CERTAINLY NOT!" Koro-sensei cried out kneeling beside the girl as his yellow tentacles flailing around as panic seeped into his shrill voice.
Shit, her ribs hurt like hell, mom isn't going to like this.
Riku felt Koro-sensei's tentacles go over her ribcage, the teacher making sure to be cautious and also making sure that he wouldn't be touching places where he shouldn't.
Riku heard her teacher release a sigh of relief. "No need to worry, nothing is fractured. Just, a very very bad uhm --"
"Bruise?" Riku let out a chuckle, grateful that no bones were broken, and seeing everyone that surrounded her, seeing their shoulders' sagging in ease, she knew they felt the same. LMFAO, they didn't even bother asking how Koro-sensei figured it out.
"As your father, I am very relieved to know that you weren't hurt, dear." Everyone looked at Takaoka like he was some sort of maniac, but then again..he might as well be one. "Think of it as a punishment, I have to be strict after all."
Takaoka grinned that bone-chilling grin. "Simply think of it as me educating you all."
Riku looked at the chubby man incredulously, her violet-blue eyes wide with disgust and a hint of fear. What she sees in Takaoka, was something evil and greedy, even.
Class 3-E had Koro-sensei as their homeroom teacher. A super-being who was experimented on, an octopus-like creature that destroyed the moon and can move at the speed of Mach 20. Which was almost as fast as a rocket, mind you.
But seeing Takaoka right that moment, Riku couldn't help but see what a true monster looked like.
Takaoka Akira was nothing but the devil.
Koro-sensei was still shaking in anger. But Riku could see that their teacher was madder at himself, for not being able to see the chubby man's intentions sooner. For not being able to protect his students sooner.
Riku could see it in his eyes. As if she could hear his thoughts.
I failed them.
And he could do nothing but watch as Takaoka puts the End Class through hell.
—
Riku gritted her teeth as she continued to do squats alongside her classmates for what seemed like the thousandth time. Her chest, her thighs, damn it -- her whole body felt like it was on fire.
Despite Koro-sensei, Karasuma, Irina, and the rest of the class' protests, Takaoka made sure to use his authority to make Riku join the first day of his training,
The lavender-haired girl wanted nothing more than to sit down and rest. Her body was screaming in pain and if this goes on, she knows very well that she'll collapse.
From her side, Nagisa eyed her warily, concerned for his female friend who was doing the exercise at a much slower pace than the rest of the class for...obvious reasons.
"Don't mind me." Nagisa snapped out of his reverie, his blue eyes widening the slightest at Riku's exhausted form. The girl smiled, albeit weakly. "I'll be fine. So, just continue at your own pace so that Takaoka-san can't punish you."
Looking back to the front, Riku couldn't help but grimace at the smug expression Takaoka was wearing. His gaze directed to no other than Karasuma, who sat on the stairs with Koro-sensei, arms on his knees as he looked down with a conflicted expression.
It looked like Takaoka was looking down at his supposed-to-be comrade.
"This is no joke."
"300 squats? We'll die!"
Kurahashi seemed to be at her limit, stopping mid-way as she whimpered, "Karasuma-sensei..."
Fear etched into the ginger-haired girl's face as the shadow of Takaoka swallowed her dainty figure. "Oi." Takaoka's voice came out like a snarl, popping his knuckles he said, "Karasuma-sensei is not a part of our family. You should be punished."
Riku's body couldn't move as she watched Takaoka raise his arm, ready to deliver a blow on the frightened girl. "You're a stupid kid who doesn't understand that she should just rely on her dad..."
But Takaoka was stopped by a firm grip wrapped around his forearm.
Riku let relief wash over her body as Karasuma was able to put a stop to his colluege's violence.
She could see the sweat dripping down Takaoka's chin as he tried to pull himself away from Karasuma's death hold. The latter not even breaking a sweat.
"That's enough." Karasuma said lowly, his eyes narrowing down at the other man's figure. "Since you're itching to have a fight, fight me instead."
Despite his obvious struggle, Takaoka managed to snicker. "Karasuma, I figured it was about time for you to come and be nosy."
Riku choked back a cry when another dose of pain made its way to her lower chest area. She didn't even bother to pull herself together as she let herself fall to the ground once again. She hated it. She felt like some helpless child.
"Riku!!" Nagisa's voice was alarmed as he knelt beside the girl, the rest of the class looking at them with worry-filled glances.
"I'm okay." Riku tired to reassure. Keyword: tried. "I'm...less than okay."
"Didn't I tell you?" Takaoka ignored Riku's situation, shrugging his shoulders. "This is not violence, but education. I'm not interested to face you using violence."
"But if we do, it will be as teachers."
Coward. Riku blanched. You know it yourself that Karasuma is much more powerful than you. Stronger than you. You know it deep within your heart that if you two would fight, it wouldn't be such a match to begin with.
Takaoka knows he'll lose.
"Karasuma."
"Choose a favorite student from the ones you have trained." Riku's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as everyone watched Takaoka walk pass Karasuma, heading towards the small duffel bag on the ground. "Let them try and fight me."
"As long as they can stab with their knife, I'll admit that you have a far better teaching style and I'll leave this place." He started to ruffle through the bag, pulling out things that made Riku's eyes bulge out of their sockets. Is that a bomb?!
Then the man waved the familiar rubber knife that is effective towards Koro-sensei before throwing it away. "But we won't be using these."
Riku flinched back when Takaoka suddenly stabbed the rubber knife with a real one. It's metal glinting underneath the sun. The girl shivered at the sinister look in Takaoka's eyes, more than ready to beat them to a pulp. "You'll be killing the opponent. Hence, of course,"
"the knife should be a real one."
"Stop it!" Karasuma sneered. "They've never trained to kill humans and are not mentally prepared for it!"
Everyone gaped as Takaoka stood back up. "Don't you worry. Even if it's a just a little touch, I'll count it as a stab."
Even as he said it, Riku couldn't help but feel as if there were something more to his words. A hidden plan that only he knows, and that whatever it is...it's probably something not good.
"Also, I'm unarmed." Cocky, was the tone Takaka used as he said it. As if even when the shosen student has a knife, victory will be his regardless. "There's no better concession than this, is there?"
Riku bit her lip. Hell, she wasn't the one who was making the choice, but even she felt conflicted.
If only Karma were here...Riku suddenly thought, for sure her red-haired childhood friend wouldn't hesitate to beat the shit out of someone, more so a teacher. He did say he'd like to kill one...Takaoka counts, right?
"Come on, Karasunma. Choose one person!" Takaoka then threw the knife down at Karasuma's feet. "Otherwise, submit to me unconditionally."
Karasuma slowly picked up the knife that stuck to the ground, before turning around to face everyone who avoided his piercing gaze. Sure, they practiced and trained a lot, but can they really handle a real knife? Can they really handle the trauma of killing another human?
Riku, however, did not waver when her and Karasuma's eyes connected. Her gaze was almost daring, raising an eyebrow at him as her eyes narrowed. Although injured, Riku would love it if she was given the chance to kick Takaoka's fat ass.
But, unfortunately, she wasn't the one given the pleasure. Her eyes widened at the sight of Karasuma approaching the very booy who still knelt by her side. "Nagisa-kun, can you do it?"
"Nagisa?"
"Why him?"
Is it...Realization seeped in...Is it because of what happened yesterday?
"You've been given an assassination task to save the world." Karasuma said. "So, I look at all of you equally as professionals. Therefore, you deserve at least a basic reward of being guaranteed a normal life in junior high."
Riku preferred this though.
"Hence, you don't have to take this knife if you don't want to."
Nagisa looked down to his feet. "I'll try to persuade Takaoka to guarantee you the reward you deserve."
Riku sees Nagisa's blue orbs going back and forth between the knife in Karasuma's hand, then back to the ground, his eyes blank of any emotion as the smaller boy bit his lips. Honestly, to Riku, Nagisa looked like he was considering it.
So, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, their gazes connecting almost immediately as Riku sent him a small smile.
Everyone's eyes filled with wonder and surprise as Nagisa stood up from his spot beside Riku, and grabbing the knife from Karasuma, staring at his reflection for a while before biting down on the metal, and giving their PE teacher a firm nod.
"I'll do it."
Sugino and Kayano helped Riku up to her feet, the lavender-head thanking them before turning to Nagisa once again.
Avenge my game console , Nagisa. Make sure to leave that man begging for his life to be spared.
Her thirst for blood didn't go unnoticed. Sugino and Kayano shared a worried look at the shadows that danced within Riku's eyes.
Kill him.
Nagisa started to stretch, and it was then Takaoka thought it was a good time to barge in. "Karasuma~ Is there something wrong with your eyes? "
Sugaya bit his lip. "Do you think Nagisa can tough him with that knife?"
"It's impossible to attack an expert with a knife!" Kimura (Justice) exclaimed.
"If Nagisa can't do this..." Everyone turned to Riku who did nothing but stare ahead with that same look of murder in her eyes. "Then none of us can. Out of everyone, he has the biggest chance of ending that asshole's life."
Isogai stepped forward, "What do you mean --"
He was cut off when Takaoka dramatically threw his jacket into the air, the two opponents going into their fighting stances, indicating that the match has already begun.
Everyone held in their breathes as Nagisa started walk towards Takaoka, strolling casually towards him with a smile like he was simply a student heading to class.
That he was nothing murderous, dangerous.
Before Riku felt it.
Like a predator toying with its prey, Nagisa swpied the knife upwards, Takaoka barely missing it as he fell back as he lost his sense of balance.
As his center of gravity swung backwards, Takaoka couldn't hide the fear in his eyes as Nagisa pinned him to the ground.
And like a snake, the small boy smoothly made his way to Takaoka's back, the older man not knowing what was going on. Only that he felt paralyzed, as if a viper wrapped its body around him, trapping him as its fangs nearhed his thick neck.
Riku released the breath she had been holding at the sigh of Nagisa putting the knife gainst Takaoka's neck, his other hand used to cover the grown man's eyes as the older man trembled, saliva pouring out of his mouth.
And with a playful smile, Nagisa said, "I've got you." Like a game.
The skill of approaching an unsuspecting enemy, using the intention to kill to scare him and go through it with confidence...
As if he were a real assassin...
It was at this moment, Riku knew...
That Nagisa was someone to look out for.
Riku blinked and Nagisa's playful expression turned into a sheepish confused one. "Are...Does it count if I used the back of the knife?" He asked, pulling away the said weapon away from the still shaking Takaoka.
"That's enough." Koro-sensei grinned before eating the whole knife, chewing it as if it were some tasty snack. "The outcome is clear, Karasuma-sensei."
"Seriously, are you out of your mind letting a student use a real knife? What's going to happen if he gets hurt?'
Everyone laughed as they gathered around the bluenette who only laughed awakardly at all the attention he was getting. Riku told Sugino and Kayano to go ahead, and that she'll stay where she is, they did, alotugh with much reluctance.
The gamer watched her classmates with a smile, flinching a bit in surprise when Maehara suddenly slapped Nagisa in the face.
"Brat." Riku looked up to see Takaoka going full-on beast mode. The whites of his eyes turned red as his hair stuck out like it was electrecuted or something.
"You dare attack a father-figure with a knife and celebrate after a fluke win."
Riku rolled her eyes at that.
Damn, she just hated sore-losers.
"Let's do it again." Takaoka growled menacingly. "I'll totally destroy your body and soul."
However, Nagisa replied to him in a more civil manner. "I'll definitely lose if we did it again. But one thing is clear. Our class teacher is Koro-sensei. Our training instructor is Karasuma-sensei, and we won't have it any other way."
"Instead of having you force yourself upon us as our so-called dad," Nagisa smiled that smile of his. "we'd rather have the professional, Karasuma-sensei, who makes us feel warm inside."
"Thank you for your sincere desire to make us strong," Nagisa bowed. "But, I apologize. Please leave."
"What about me then?"
"You're our bitch."
"I'll kill you."
Nagisa's eyes widened with fear when Takaoka suddenly lunged at him. Jumping back when another figure stepped into the equation, flipping Takaoka back with a simple elbow to the face. "I'm sorry that my colleague gave everyone so much trouble." Everyone looked up to see Karasuma standing right in front of them. "Don't worry about what will happen after this."
The agent turned to them. "I'll persuade my superiors to let me continue training you."
"Karasuma-sensei!"
"Are you alright, Akiyama-san?" Riku lifted her head up to smile at a certain yellow-octopus.
"I'll get my injuries checked right after class. Hopefully mom won't freak out and still let me come to school tomorrow." Riku sighed before turning back to the sight of her classmates. "However,"
Koro-sesei jumped at the sudden harshness in Riku's tone.
"That man destroyed my game console that's worth more that your life. My life's work crushed by his very hands." Riku scowled. "I, am very much, pissed."
W-Worth more t-than my own l-life? Koro-sensei sweat-dropped. But it didn't look like Riku was joking.
Just then, an unexpected face appeared.
"Director."
A tense silence was ensued. "I was interested to see how our new teacher was doing." Director Asano said before kneeling down to Takaoka's level, taking out a neat white handkerchief, "So, I saw the whole incident."
"Takaoka-sensei. Your lessons were very dull." Was what the director said, pulling the said man towards him by the chin. "Fear is essential in education. Teachers that rely on violence to bring fear to their students are truly inferior."
Whatever the Director was doing, it certainly seemed to scare Takaoka.
Riku raised an eyebrow when Director Asano pushed a piece of paper down the military man's throat. "This is a letter of termination."
Before she knew it, the Director used his handkerchief to wipe off the saliva that tainted his hands, walking away from the scene, the aura of authority surrounding him was strong and overwhelming.
"Hiring teachers for this school is not within the rights of the Defense of Ministry." The man said, dropping the white cloth on the duffel bag. "I'm the one who has the authority. Please don't forget this."
Riku almost forgot.
She almost forgot that their director was the breathing form of fear.
"Damn it. Damn it. Damn it all!"
Takaoka stood up before racing ahead, not forgetting to grab his duffel bag before gettingout of there.
"Karasuma-sensei," The said teacher turned to face Riku who sauntered to him slowly. The girl crossed her arms before asking, "Do you perhaps know Takaoka-san's bank account?"
Everyone now had their focus on the duo, wondering why Riku wanted to know the man's bank account all of a sudden when it all dawned to Karasuma. "Ah," He nodded. "I'll be sure to inform my superiors about this. For your game console and injuries, am I correct?"
Riku smiled. "Thank goodness. Make sure he'll be able to pay 10 million yen into my family's bank account by sunset, then."
"10 MILLION YEN?!" Everyone couldn't believe their ears. Koro-sensei lost all of his color, his entire face now a ghastly shade of white, and Riku was pretty sure she heard Isogai faint in the background.
Riku turned to her classmates and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"How is that console of yours worth 10-10 m-million yen?!" Kayano almost shrieked into her ear.
Riku tilted her head, not catching up on everyone's thoughts. "I gambled for it, of course. And this console was worth 10 million yen."
"Why didn't you just buy one like a normal person, Akiyama-san?!" Now, Koro-sensei was shrieking alongside the greenette.
Riku looked at them.
"Now, where's the fun in that?"
hi hi hi hi
how is everyone ?
Xoxo
D🌙