Oh, my. That looks like fun.

Karma watched, inwardly thrumming with anticipation, as his classmates drilled what appeared to be basic knife work. He vaguely recognized the knives they were working with as the same model currently concealed in his sleeve. They hadn't noticed him yet, so he was content to merely observe how the class functioned until they did. Karma wasn't familiar with any of them, but he didn't particularly mind that fact. He had never been familiar with his classmates in Class A, either. There, he focused only on surpassing Gakushuu. Here, while he still focused on beating Gakushuu, he had another goal: to kill his monstrous teacher.

Subconsciously, Karma's eyes flitted over to analyze the giant, yellow octopus. Tall, Karma mused. Even just sitting down, you can tell he's far larger than any normal person. Those tentacles are strange, too. What can they be used for - weapons, defense, or just movement? If you ignore the height, he doesn't look particularly intimidating, either. Is that intentional? Is he trying to lower our guard by appearing innocuous? Though, Karma thought, the expression on his face twisting with amusement, that smile doesn't look as genial as it does disturbing. It's effective for concealing his thoughts - is that intentional? Karma hummed in contemplation as he sipped from his juice box. Probably, he decided. That big head of his must be brimming with secrets.

Karma's eyes lit up with manic glee at the thought of carving the knowledge from that monster's brain.

As a far corner of his mind systematically attempted to dissect the octopus's very being, Karma flexed the hand inside his pocket in trepidation. Will this work? They said he was capable of Mach 20 speed, and he's evaded all their surprise attacks. The hand clenched into a white-knuckled fist, the malleable rubber fastened to his palm adapting to the sudden curve. It doesn't matter if this kills him or not. My first try always fails, anyway. I just have to keep chipping away. His reputation, his psyche, his serenity - I'll destroy it all. Then, and only then, I'll kill him. Karma's lips twisted into a wry, bitter smile. She'd love me if I saved the planet, right?

Right?

They noticed him eventually.

P.E. had ended, and the students were gradually migrating back to the classroom. Karma's eyes darted from student to student, scrutinizing their uniforms, posture, expressions, and attitude. They don't seem very concerned. You'd think they'd be more apprehensive - they're in the company of the super-creature who destroyed the moon, after all.

Oh, well, Karma inwardly sighed. Everyone knows Class E is full of oddballs.

You'll fit in perfectly, then, won't you?

Shut up.

Karma knew when he had finally been spotted. There, at the bottom of the hill, stood two boys. Karma focused on the first. The boy (if he was a boy. Karma wasn't completely sure) had blue hair - something Karma would've thought strange if not for his own oddly-colored hair. Azure eyes stared up at him in confusion as Karma's thoughts whirred. Small, he thought absently. Feminine, if he's not a girl. Weak. Karma hummed in satisfaction. Not a threat, he decided. Though his eyes do have an unusual glint in them. Karma turned his focus on the other one.

The second boy was startling only in the fact that he was so different from the boy next to him. Dark hair, blue eyes, average build - yes, that's how Karma would describe him. Average. His eyes held no malice or suspicion, and Karma knew instantly he and that boy were complete opposites. The only thing we share, Karma thought in amusement, is our height. This boy doesn't have a wicked bone in his body. Not a threat, he decided once again with an inward sigh. How boring.

Now they were studying him, and Karma felt a twinge of annoyance. He knew he stood out. Bright red hair and peculiar mercury eyes - how could he not? He was also aware that he appeared decently attractive, though no one had ever told him so directly. The girls in his previous class had whispered about him behind his back, and his looks had been frequently discussed in hushed tones. Cute, intelligent, psychotic - those were the adjectives they used most often. Of course, those girls had never actually spoken to him. Apparently, psychotic cancelled out cute and intelligent. Not that Karma particularly cared what they thought, though. Those girls annoyed him, just as being studied like a bug under a microscope annoyed him.

Karma looked past the two boys and saw the octopus making his way towards them. Show time, Karma thought gleefully as he pasted an awe-struck look on his face. He quickly descended from the top of the mountain, attention now focused wholly on the giant monster.

"Whoa, that's the Korosensei I've heard about?" he asked rhetorically, breezing past the two boys without so much as a sideways glance. "Amazing. He really does look like an octopus."

"You would be . . . Akabane Karma, right? I'd heard your suspension ended today." At that, the octopus's yellow face darkened in warning as he crossed his tentacles. "You really shouldn't be late on your first day," the monster scolded.

He came to a halt before the octopus, heart thumping rapidly at the thought of his next move. A mixture of fear and thrill kick started the adrenaline he relied so heavily upon, and Karma fought to keep his composure. Just have to wait for the perfect time. Smile. Smile! Don't let your mask crack. Don't give anything away.

Karma faked a sheepish, guileless smile as he pretended to laugh nervously. "I've gotta get back into the rhythm of school life."

Almost there.

"It'll be more relaxed if you use my first name," Karma said as he stretched out his right hand with a soft, easygoing grin. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you, sensei."

Wait for it . . .

"Same here," the octopus replied, face frozen into that ever present cheerful look as he reciprocated Karma's offer of a handshake. "Let's have a fun and interesting year."

Now!

Karma crushed the tentacle in his grip, tossed the juice box aside, and flicked the knife from his sleeve in one motion. He lunged forward and lashed out with the knife, his easygoing smile morphed into a demented grin. The knife struck only air, though, and Karma's abrupt attack stuttered to a halt. The octopus stood several meters away, and the crowd around them seemed frozen in shock. Dammit, Karma hissed inwardly. That freak is too fast! Fast enough to dodge any point-blank attack, so why did he . . . ?

"Huh. You really are fast, and these knives really do work against you," Karma mused aloud as he studied the strips of green knife on his hand, demented grin fading to quiet amusement. "I tried cutting one into small pieces and sticking them to my hand, but . . ." He held his hand up to illustrate his point, palm held out towards the monster. "Y'know, sensei, to be deceived by such a simple trick. And on top of that, to jump back that far, aren't you a bit too frightened?"

Savage delight dominated Karma's face as he slowly stalked towards the octopus, knife replaced in his sleeve and hands rested comfortably in his pockets. "I've heard that you're called Korosensei because you're unkillable, but what's this?" He smirked and leaned in close to the monster, eyes alight with manic glee as he crooned mockingly, "sensei, could it be that you're actually an easy mark?"

Karma watched in fascination as the octopus's yellow complexion changed to a dark red. Ooh, he must be angry, Karma thought to himself. Is it because I hurt him, or because I trash-talked? Well, he only got angry once I teased him, so it must be the trash-talking. Fragile ego? That can be exploited. Does he not like being called weak? I'll have to figure out what irks him if I'm going to keep getting under his skin. Ah, this is so much fun!

He flashed one last psychotic smile at the monster before turning away, casually strolling past his gaping classmates. You saw me just then, didn't you? All your attention was focused solely on me. How wonderful! I'm so excited for this game - are you? Ah, I can't wait until the real fun begins. I'll kill you - just you wait. I won't fail at this.

I refuse to fail again. [1]

Karma wrinkled his nose at the rancid stench that permeated the air around the bag he carried. I did not think this one through, he groaned internally. That Shiota boy said the monster liked being called an octopus, so this will definitely get under his skin, but . . .

Why does it have to smell so bad?!

Karma sighed aloud, then, as he walked through the entrance of the Class E building. His footsteps had been hurried on his walk to school out of sheer desperation to be rid of the vile smell. He had left early to set up his prank, but, judging by the muffled sounds emanating from the classroom, he still wasn't the first to arrive. That fact vaguely irritated him, but it didn't really affect his plans. They better keep quiet about this, Karma thought to himself. I really don't want to hear them whine about the smell or the sight - not when I had to deal with it last night and all morning.

So Karma slid open the door of the classroom, a scowl fixed on his face, and entered the room holding a trash bag that contained a reeking, dead, ten-pound octopus.

He deliberately ignored the stares of his classmates as he stopped before the teacher's desk. As he set the trash bag on the desk, he caught hushed whispers behind his back, but he paid them no mind. Karma drew out the knife from his sleeve with a sharp flick of his wrist and slashed an opening at the top, disregarding his classmate's audible shock at the sight of an actual knife, rather than the flimsy anti-sensei knives. He dumped the deceased octopus out of the bag and onto the desk with a resounding plop! Karma gagged at the foul stench, whatever buffer the bag served as now eradicated. This better be worth it, Karma thought. This is the most disgusting prank I've ever done, so if he doesn't react I will-

"Er, Akabane?"

Karma glanced over his shoulder at the sound of his name being called in such a nervous manner. When he realized it was the male class representative, he turned with a sigh. "Yes?"

Isogai looked uncomfortable, and he peered around Karma's should to see the dead octopus. "Well, I was just wondering what you're planning on doing with . . ." He coughed awkwardly, "that."

Karma blinked at him, not an ounce of emotion showing on his stoic expression. "This," he said, then spun around and plunged the knife still in hand deep into the octopus's head.

He thought he heard a muffled whimper from someone [2], but he wasn't entirely sure. He turned back to face Isogai, head tilted and eyes alight with twisted amusement as he questioned mockingly, "that okay?"

Isogai maintained his composure admirably, even if his complexion did lighten a shade. "I guess," he said, his voice clearly illustrating his reluctance. "Is that for an assassination?"

Karma bared his teeth in a feral grin, eyes screaming leave me alone. "Maybe."

Thankfully, Isogai received the hint. He nodded curtly, then returned to his desk and pointedly avoided looking at the decomposing cephalopod. Karma inwardly smiled at the easy victory, then exchanged his menacing expression for one of indifferent boredom as he surveyed the half-empty classroom.

"Any other questions?" he deadpanned.

Numerous heads shook in denial, so he took that as a win. Karma allowed a flicker of mania to show in his eyes as he grinned.

"Excellent," he purred.

Karma moved to take his place in the back of the classroom, mind whirring as he reviewed his assassination plan. Come on, monster. I'm ready for you.

Let's play.

Failure, failure, failure! the voice sang mockingly. How amusing! How many times did you fail today? How many times did that monster outwit you? Even the dead octopus didn't phase him! Are you really that incompetent? Are you really that foolish? You're the one who made the rules of the game - now you can't even win it? How disappointing! Do you expect her to love you with that paltry amount of effort? Where's you conviction? Where's your resolve? You're nothing but a stupid child!

Shut up.

Karma frantically gnawed on his fingernail, his previous failures to kill the monster causing the thoughts in his head to take on a hysterical note. He was perched on the trunk of a tree that jutted out from the edge of a cliff, leg swinging precariously in the wind. He had escaped from the stares and whispers of his classmates as soon as lunch rolled around and found a decent hiding spot to contemplate his next move.

Why can't I kill him? Karma thought desperately. Why do I keep failing? First Gakushuu, now this! That stupid monster - pretending he's a teacher! Pretending he cares about us. Ha! I don't buy it. I know what happens when you trust a teacher. I'm not making that mistake again. The others can be fooled by that cheerful smile - I know better. They'll see eventually, though. Either I or somebody else will destroy his teacher facade, and then they'll know. All anyone cares about is themselves. He's no different. He's just like everybody else. Just like everybody . . .

"Now then, Karma," the octopus suddenly interrupted his introspection. Karma glanced over his shoulder and spotted the octopus standing several meters away, his yellow face striped with green. The monster's usual implacable smile had gained a taunting edge. "Today, sensei certainly provided you with lots of improvements. You can still come to kill me, you know? I will polish you until you shine even brighter."

Sensei?

Sensei, huh?

You're still playing that game?

I'm sick of it.

Karma rose shakily, a new plan gradually forming in his mind. A small, tranquil smile appeared on his face as he turned towards the monster. I can destroy it right now. Or, if you want to keep it that badly, I can destroy you.

"I'd just like to confirm it, but octopus, you're a teacher, right?"

Maybe she'll even love me for this.

The monster seemed slightly puzzled, but he answered, "yes."

Ah, I knew you'd answer that. It's fine. We'll see if your answer is the same in a few minutes.

"So would a teacher put his life on the line to protect his students?" Karma questioned, final details falling into place.

Maybe he'll see me for this.

"Of course," the octopus replied. "A teacher's a teacher, after all."

And a teacher is a self-centered liar, after all.

"I see," Karma murmured quietly as he drew his gun and aimed it at the monster.

Where's my resolve, you ask?

"That's good," he continued, voice moderately louder. "In that case, I can definitely-"

Karma pitched backwards, gravity taking over and plummeting him towards the earth far, far below. Mercury eyes glinted with deadly promise, and his smile grew as he finished, "-kill you."

If you come to save me, then I'll shoot and kill you during the rescue. If you let me die without helping, then your existence as a teacher will be destroyed!

The wind whipped at his clothes as Karma dropped down, down, down. His thoughts whirred frantically, pieces of memories and hopes and wishes coming together in a disjointed tangle.

Does this make me strong?

Does this make me worthy?

"You have nothing to prove to him, or your mother."

Karma laughed hysterically in midair.

Do you see me now?

Do you love me yet?

"That's nice, dear."

Will you look at me?

Will you miss me?

"I promise."

Will you even care?

"I'm teaching him to be strong."

I'd rather die than fail.

I win either way, right?

Nobody will care if I'm gone.

Nobody will care at all.

Monster, you will die by my hand! Now, which 'death' will you choose?!

Karma was forcibly jarred back to reality as his back hit something soft and squishy. His descent continued for only a brief second before he bounced up, and then he was perfectly still, suspended just above the treeline. He tried to move, to adjust his position, but he found that he was completely, inexplicably stuck. His arms and legs refused to budge an inch - all he could manage was to stare at the sky above.

"Karma, the deliberation you put into this assassination was magnificent."

No . . .

"If I had rescued you at the speed of sound, your body wouldn't have been able to withstand it."

Dammit.

"On the other hand, if I took my time saving you, I would be shot in the interim."

I failed . . .

"So, sensei tried using a bit of stickiness.

Dammit, why?!

"Like this, you can't shoot me," the monster tittered next to him.

Karma gritted his teeth as he prepared to snarl a response, but the octopus wasn't finished yet.

"Ah, by the way . . ."

What now? Another humiliation? Another defeat?

The monster carried on gently, "for me, the option to abandon you doesn't exist. Believe in me and jump whenever you like."

Karma stared at him in shock, mouth agape in pure astonishment. Doesn't . . . exist? He saved me, at the risk of his own life, and now he's telling me to do it whenever I want? Why? Ono-sensei wouldn't. No teacher would ever do something like that for me. I'm not even sure okaa-san would do something like that for me. So, why would he? What's he thinking? Does he . . . ?

Does he see me?

Karma chuckled quietly, allowing the squishy tentacles to support his head as he closed his eyes. This is no good. I'm not dead, and I couldn't kill him. Not even his existence as a teacher. [3]

The option doesn't exist, huh?

Thank you, Korosensei, for seeing me.

[1] This scene and its dialogue was taken directly from the manga.
[2] The someone was Hinano Kurahashi.
[3] This scene, some of Karma's thoughts, and its dialogue was taken directly from the manga. The only thing I edited out was Nagisa's presence.