A/N: Hello there! This is my very first fanfic for AssClass, and for this pair. Please note that this takes place after Kayano Kaede reveals herself Akari Yukimura. Also be informed that I DO NOT OWN MY OWN PERSONAL COMPUTER. I typed this on an internet cafe, and really it's a hard work (not that I mind, I've been doing this for years by now). I don't have much time (and money) to spend on writing some dramatic, elegantly written fanfic since I'm busy with work and my OTP stuffs but still, Gakushuu and Karma just won't fucking leave me alone, thus I ended up working on this. Enjoy, and reviews and suggestion are much appreciated!
CHAPTER 1
Principal Gakuhou Asano stood looming in front of them.
They so wanted to talk about what they were just told because it just wouldn't make sense right away, but they couldn't even bring themselves to raise a voice of inquisition and disrupt the principal as he explained in details. The air inside the room was intense, putting the Class 3-E and 3-A's top five students in a single, closed space was awkward enough; having the principal personally brief them was twice suffocating.
At first the Class E students presumed it must be a scheme to get back at them for dominating the exam, but one look at the lost and seemingly unbelieving look of the principal's only son and the second place of the test, Gakushuu Asano, told them that the Class A didn't know what this was all about either.
"After the grueling and impressive exhibition of your academic skills," Chairman Asano's voice didn't sound anything like impressed at all, "we will now see your capabilities, wits, and creativity in an entirely different field, away from test papers and forms of cheating. Unlike exams that require each student's will and ability to pass, this will test your adaptiveness, leadership, teamwork and cleverness towards working as a group, and cooperating with your contenders. This special exhibition play will serve as your clearance for your graduation: Non-cooperation will ensure the result of the final exam null and void."
Oh, damn. Class A be aware or not, clearly this was revenge against Class E. Better yet, this was a way to sabotage and embarrass them in front of the entire campus (which was something the entire campus did on a regular basis) at the last moment before graduation to sully the tiny, good reputation they had built thus far.
Non-cooperation ascertained no graduation: great, they simply had no choice.
Knowing Class A and all, they would surely take the lead on the play and get the main characters for themselves, having the Class E do the minor roles and back-stage preparations. Meaning, they would be ordered around and be abased. Class A claiming the credits and the spot light, while the Class E ending up as the crews to make them shine. Sad and debasing, but there was nothing new about it really.
They were subconsciously getting ready to be told about exactly what 'roles' they have to play when the principal pulled out a cylindrical container under the desk. It dawned to them right away: it wasn't as one-sided as they expected it to be.
"To be fair with the both class, the protagonist and antagonist roles would be determined through raffle. Akabane-kun, Asano-kun, please step forward."
Upon being called, the rivals simultaneously stood up from their seats. Seated at the back, Karma languidly walked towards the father and son, with his hands on his pants pockets.
"In this container are two papers bearing the two main characters' roles, namely the Knight and the Princess," everyone's eyes widened when the word 'Princess' was told. There weren't much changes on Karma's and Gakushuu's miens. "Should any of you get the knight's role, the class he represents will take on the protagonist roles. If the princess', they will get the antagonists'."
Isogai, not quite liking where this was going, raised a hand.
"Yes, Isogai-kun?"
The Class E president stood up. "Sir, are you telling us that one of them is supposed to cross-dress and portray as the opposite sex? Wouldn't—wouldn't that be pretty bad for their image... or something... " He whispered the last two words, remembering that Karma's image was bad to begin with. Still, he couldn't get the gist of what really was the principal's motive here.
"As I said earlier, this is a test of adaptiveness and teamwork. Regardless of their gender, both of them would have to handle something out of their leagues and beyond their limits. Whoever gets the princess's role doesn't only have to face the audience in a dress: he would be expressing his versatility and willingness to stand up and go on no matter how uncomfortable he is. Whoever gets the knight's role would not only have to keep his character in tact: as the main star, all eyes are on him, and depending on how he acts will keep the audience entertained and anticipate more."
Careful not to touch the man's nerves, Isogai settled down to his seat and looked around. Most of his fellow students had stoic expressions— save for Rio who looked pretty excited, hardly hiding the smile that was creeping on the corner of her lips.
To top it all, Karma looked devoid of the usual naughtiness and slyness that featured his face. Isogai knew better: there was a predatory glint in those mercury eyes. Those were not the eyes of someone dreadful to be forced into doing something he didn't like: they gleamed in intense interest, stirring excitement even. That had calmed Isogai a little: if Karma felt like that while facing such a challenge then he figured they could pull this one off just fine.
"To add more excitement," Chairman Asano continued. "I will provide the story draft, and it will be your job to brainstorm its script, as well as the characters. It will be limited to ten characters, the knight and princess included. Five representatives from Class A and Class E, and those other four characters are to be chosen by Akabane-kun and Asano-kun."
The principal paused, presumably waiting for further questions. When none raised a hand, he gave a small grin.
"Let's now proceed to the draw, starting with Akabane-kun since he's got the first place," the man shot his son an odd look that suggested that he was purposely addressing the Class E delinquent by his place, like he was rubbing his own child's face of the special privileges he should have having if only he were the first place. Gakushuu's face briefly slipped into an irritated and pissed state before instantly putting his calm and composed mask back.
Karma stepped forward and inserted a hand inside the container. He pulled out a small folded piece of paper then backed away. Gakushuu didn't wait for his father's cue and warily slipped his hand and reached for the remaining sheet. Neither opened their draws, waiting to be told to do so.
"Unfold your paper and read, then show to your classmates the results."
Time froze upon the unraveling of the results. Gakushuu's and Karma's expressions simultaneously shifted into momentary surprise, then Gakushuu's eyes narrowed in discreet relief, while Karma's wore a blank stare.
Almost all of the Class E students present felt their heart sank when Karma revealed his pick's content. It was upside-down, written in English alphabet, yet they could all clearly read it:
'PRINCESS'
Koyama and Seo of the Five Virtuosos didn't bother to hide their snickers. Araki and Sakakibara had their eyes gleamed in triumph when Asano revealed his paper bearing the word 'KNIGHT' on it.
Isogai felt Rio's finger poking him from behind. He minimally turned his head to gesture her that he was listening.
"This is gonna be fun," she murmured.
"Thank you. You may now go back to your seats," Chairman motioned the two.
Karma pocketed the paper into a fist; Gakushuu returned it to its folded form before slipping in his blazer's pocket.
"Now, for the story draft," the principal then removed the cover of the projector lens sitting on his desk, his fingers tapped on the laptop next to it.
Everyone's faces broke into different versions of disbelieving expressions: as their eyes reached the farthest part of the presented PowerPoint slide, most of the Virtuosos had horrified looks, Gakushuu's the most priceless. Class E had muffled mixture of shock confusion, and interest (nonetheless), with a hint of excitement even, while Karma's as plaid as ever.
'Ohhhh dear. Nagisa's going to be happy about this. It's not every day he'll get to tease Karma with something,' Rio sneered on her mind as she re-read the last part of the draft:
'The Dark Wizard, defeated and on the verge of death, will cast a curse towards him, but the Princess will block it with herself and save his Knight. She will fall unconscious, pale and not breathing.
With the Wizard dead, the Knight will be clueless of how to revive the Princess. He will bring the lifeless Princess back to the castle, but before her funeral, the Knight will bestow her a farewell, one true love's kiss that will shortly restore her to life.'
"How cliché," Karma finally showed some reaction (why the hell did he look so bored!?), his head leaning on one hand.
"True love's kiss. Classic," Gakushuu put in. "Principal, could we suggest some other story? I'm sure we can come—"
"Cliché or classic, it doesn't matter. Most professional stage play performers enact stories which are old, classic one and even parts of history. It's your job to give it your own rendition and make it interesting despite being trite."
'He's forcing his own son into kissing another boy; he really indeed is nuts in his own way,' Takebayashi mentally grumbled.
"I'll give everyone a copy of this Presentation, and I want you to submit the list of the chosen casts and their roles, along with the manuscript within this week. The play will be on the last Friday of the month, on the school auditorium. And ah," Chairman Asano leaned forward with his hand pushing against the desk. "There will be no participation from any of your teachers. Be informed that all of your Sensei will be watching as well, I'll hand them the invitations personally. So I expect you to do your best. That's all for today."
"Nurufufufufu," there were beads of tears on the circles of Koro-Sensei's tiny eyes. "I have to admit to everyone: one of my biggest frustrations in life is to star on a stage play."
They were reminded of that one time on their school trip to Kyoto when Koro-Sensei shamelessly gatecrashed a street play and stole an actor's samurai role just because he dreamed to be one, so this confession didn't come surprising anymore. Moreover—
"HAHAHAHA!" Terasaka repeatedly slammed his hand over his desk as he barked in laughter, clutching onto his stomach, his eyes rimmed with tears of joy. "Not only we're going to see Akabane on a gown— he'll even have a fucking kissing scene with that Big Head Asano!"
With that, everyone's expressions betrayed themselves. So, yes, the entirety of Class E was admittedly looking forward to this because duh, it was Karma who was about to be teased and become the laughing subject of the entire school unlike the usual. He would be getting a taste of his own medicine—twice the dose— and he looked like he was clueless and anxious (no matter how he tried to mask it) of what was about to happen.
To Karma's relief, it was only Terasaka who was vocal about it.
"Uhm, Karma," Nagisa called out, "Isogai-kun said if we could talk with Class A, we can hopefully alter the kissing scene into something lighter like a kiss on the forehead or cheek."
"Or maybe a quick peck on the lips. Come on, that won't hurt," Rio supplied.
"Ohh," Fuwa chuckled. "Even a simple holding hands will kill those two out of awkwardness, you know."
"Hey, we don't know about that just yet" Kayano chimed in. "Who knows, maybe those two hide some acting potential in them. You know, they always fake and hide their real faces like that, and they love to try and defeat each other in almost everything. And acting, should be internalized and studied properly, is easy. And imagine this: it's the student council president AND the campus' number one delinquent playing as LOVERS on a play— this is going to be a blockbuster! It'll be a way for us to showcase them what more Class E has got!"
"Right," Maehara nodded. "We'll get to show our sets of skills; we might end up defeated at the end of the story but if we played the parts so well, the victory will still be ours."
"Let's give them a taste of how strong the Class E is, and they'll never try to trample and look down on us," Sugino raised a hand into a fist.
To all the sentiments, Karma remained uncharacteristically passive and quiet.
"... Asano was obviously reluctant about this, too. I hope he's doing something to prevent this insanity from happening," Chiba mumbled.
"Well, Karma-kun. There's just one question I want to ask," Koro-Sensei raised one yellow tentacle-finger. "Can you do it or not?"
Karma suddenly moved his eyes upward with his head hung low: an indication that Karma found his opponent challenging and that he was observing and calculating for his next moves.
"Of course I can," there was a collective sighs of relief from everyone. "Just that I can't think of the best way how to embarrass Asano-kun while keeping my pride intact in spite of the mortification I'm about to throw myself in."
"That's Karma-kun for you," Koro-Sensei's face color changed into orange with a circle on it. "Well, I'm certain Karma-kun can figure it out sooner or later so I guess we can leave that for the meantime and get back to the lesson for today. I might not be allowed to participate on the play but that doesn't mean I can't help in some other way. Oh, and does the Class A agree on a brainstorm and rehearsal?"
"No," Kanzaki sadly said. "They just told us they will be making a complete manuscript and give us a copy. They want to take control of the dialogues and characters because they believe they can do better than us. Rehearsal was disregarded either; they said they are busy with their other school activities and studies to rehearse with us, and that memorizing scripts is easy for them anyway so why bother?"
"If I know better, they might be practicing on their own and hiring the best script writers in town to write some convolutedly complex story line. Knowing them, they'll surely do something to make us look and sound like fools." Kataoka sighed.
"Can we guys counter the story they will make?" Muramatsu asked. "There's no rule about us following that Class A orders, right?"
"You guys pretty forget something don't you?" Kimura put in. "We've got here Kayano, the best actress I've ever known for putting such an act for a long, long time. And Hazama who has a thing for dark-themed story lines. It's not like the principal said we should stick to whatever script they'll make, just like what Muramatsu just said: this is actually an advantage to us, in a way. Once we have the manuscript copy, we can make the best scenarios out of it, like inserting an unexpected fight scenes here and there, create awesome effects, rephrase dull and short line, and nail the characters and astound the crowd speechless. It's still our win in the end."
"Alright, class. We will proceed shortly to discuss the play after the school hours so if you will, turn your textbooks to page 69," the students with their unsettled looks did what Koro-Sensei told, hoping that somehow they could figure things out and clear this another level of their battle against Kunugigaoka Junior High School.
Two days after, Isogai went to the main building and came back with a file on hand. It didn't surprise them that it was only one copy and that they didn't bother to give each one to the Class E top rankers, but Koro-Sensei was excited enough to voluntarily hand-write copies of the script to all students (they weren't given their own photocopy machine on their old school building but it didn't really matter since Koro-Sensei could pile tower-high book in a flash, and there was no contest between his Mach 20 speed against all high-tech photocopier machines of the world combined.)
The students took some odd ten or fifteen minutes in reading, Koro-Sensei had re-read it for about five times already as they did so. Once done, everybody waited for Koro-Sensei's reaction.
"... Very well-written, indeed," he pulled out a piece of tissue and dabbed his teary, tiny eyes with it.
"I don't see anything bad in the storyline. The dialogues aren't redundant, the twists and turns are intense and interesting, but it's not overly complicated that you'll grow bored midway. It's a high-class plot specifically made for students: not too amateur, not too professional." Hazama complimented.
"Well, graduation is coming, and this is just some sort of extra school entertainment after the exam so I guess it's not a big production at all," Sugaya crossed his hands behind his head.
"... Or maybe they want us to think that way so we'll take it easy while they turn the school auditorium into a jungle with a battlefield in it," Karma tossed his script on his desk.
"Asano isn't the type who'll not give his all in defeating 3-E, especially Karma, definitely not after that loss on the final exams. He'll try and get back at us, one way or another," Rio agreed.
"And look," Terasaka beamed. "'The Knight will gently brush his lips against the lovely Princess' soft ones.' It's a lips-to-lips scene, after all."
"So," Nagisa, seemingly perusing the quoted line, narrowed his azure eyes. "Asano-kun has consented the scene and is ready to do the given task."
"'Brush,' huh?" Karma mumbled to himself. "If I'll get to punch his face and bleed his lips before and after it, I don't mind."
"So," Koro-Sensei looked at Karma. "Do you have any opinion or suggestion for the story?" He lingered his gaze amongst his students. "If anyone wants something to be changed, we should appeal to it immediately. We still have until tomorrow. And also, if there's anyone who wants to volunteer to portray a character, feel free to raise your hand."
With that, the room fell into deafening, eerie silence.
"A Hunter, a Witch, and the mastermind wicked Wizard," Rio cited the antagonist characters. "Chiba or Hayami can be the Hunter by default. As for the witch, Kayano can surely nail that, but I don't mind doing it too. However..." she poked a finger on her cheek. "I can't think of anyone perfect for the wicked Wizard role, though."
"Because the best actor for that ended up as the heroine instead. Should Karma be the wizard, he'll surely irk and piss the hell out of the Knight before getting lost," Itona was one by one folding his scripts into jet planes equipped with attached folded missiles on it.
"Or the Knight will end up defeated and the Wizard will reign supreme on the entire nation with his dark, evil magic," Okajima inputted.
"Damn, Nagisa!" Karma called. "Switch roles with me! You're a goddess in crossdressing anyway, you're definitely can do it!"
Karma expected Nagisa to pout at him, but the small boy wore a stern, cogitated expression.
"... Right," Nagisa looked ahead, towards Koro-Sensei's direction. "Let's switch roles, Karma. For a change."
"Eh?"
"Just for once," Nagisa slowly turned his head at the back and looked Karma in the eyes. "Be the damsel in distress, Karma. I'll be the dark, evil wizard," Nagisa's eyes were filled with determination and resolve, as if begging Karma to choose him for the role.
"But... the audience might make fun out of you, Nagisa-kun, since you don't look intimidating at all," Sumire doubted.
"No—that's a great idea," Karma raise a finger. "Let them assume that way, then let's shock them all once Nagisa takes the spotlight. After all, it's our strongest assassin we're talking about here."
"And I have a good idea," Hazama interjected. "And you'll love it, Karma."
"Now, now," Koro-Sensei pressed his twin finger-tentacles together. "My students sure are growing up and making plans without consulting their adviser. You make me so proud, really."
"Leave the lightning and sound effects to us," Itona with his group voices out. "We've got Ritsu here, there should be no problem."
"We'll do the props," Isogai suggested. "Okuda could surely concoct the best camouflage smoke effects ever."
"We'll work on costumes," Fuwa raised a hand. "Sumire-san here has a thing for clothes!"
"Leave the hairdressing to me!" Yada happily hopped. "With Kayano here, I'm sure we can make the best out of those crowns of glory! And I can finally get to do Nagisa-kun's hair!"
"Guys..." Karma was explicitly overwhelmed.
"Karma," Nagisa looked at him again, a smile crinkled his bright, blue eyes. "You've done your best and helped us all on the last exam. We are grateful, we really are. So let us help you back. We can do this!"
Now, everyone's eyes, Koro-Sensei's proud ones included, were on him.
"Know what," Karma chuckled lightly. "I couldn't have done that if it wasn't for you guys. Hell yeah, let's do this together," with confident smiles on their faces, Class 3-E nodded in agreement.
Karma tilted his head into his signature smirk.
"I'll give Gakushuu Asano a kiss he will never forget for the rest of his life."