Chapter 1

"… Something's weird, Homura-chan".

"What do you mean, Madoka?"

"I can't really explain it well… but-"

"Doesn't it feel like nothing's changing, Homura-chan?"

"No, it doesn't. Besides, even if it was that isn't a bad thing, is it? It's safe; nobody has to die, nobody has to sacrifice themselves. Isn't that good?"

"It… is… but somehow, everything feels… lifeless. Like there's no color in the world."

"…I see."

A velvet hand caressed Madoka's cheeks, much as how a mother would touch her child. Yet, for some reason Madoka could not describe, it left an indeterminate chill on her skin.

"Don't worry, Madoka. I'm here to make you happy, after all."

March 2015: Kunugigaoka Junior High School, Classroom 3-E

Kunugigaoka Junior High was an impressive school. Boasting an array of modern facilities to enhance the experience of its students, it spared no expense at improving and enriching its students to bring out their potential. Coupled with the impressive track record of its students - of whom an overwhelmingly large number would go on to enroll in prestigious high schools - and it came of no surprise that Kunugigaoka was the premier choice for parents, guaranteed to give your child a smooth path through life. However, for those who needed further encouragement, there was always class 3-E. Those deemed to require additional help were placed in 3-E and given their very own campus a full 30 minutes away from the main campus up the mountain, to provide them with the reflective environment that they required to help them learn; or so the parents were told.

In the run-down, wooden classroom used by 3-E, it seemed to be a day like any other. Students bent over their desks, diligently revising while waiting for their teacher. There was no chatter, no jovial laughter; the very picture of studiousness. Or so it would be, had the air not been filled with unease and anxiety. A chime tinkled from the senile clock: almost as if orchestrated, the class stiffened up as one. A few seconds crept past, and then the old door rattled open for their teacher.

"Now then, let's begin homeroom! Class Monitor, on your command!"

"S-Stand!"

Instantly, the guns were up. 26 pistols and rifles held by 26 students, aimed squarely at their teacher. 26 clicks echoed in unison as their safeties were unlocked. 26 guns –

- And one spear.

Noticing the lone student besides him, the teacher turned to look at her.

"I'm surprised, Sakura-san, that you would try to kill me with a spear." Glancing at the makeshift shield she wore on her arm to guard against her classmates' bullets, he nodded approvingly.

In response, the red-haired girl gnashed her teeth. "… Shut up, damn octopus."

"Mmm. Well then, please continue, Shiota-kun."

"A-Attention! …Bow!"

A hail of pellets stormed out from tiny barrels. Tiny, round pink foam pellets. Pellets that would not hurt a human.

…Then again, the teacher before them wasn't human.

Paint cracked, chalk snapped, walls shook, glass broke; but nothing splattered, nothing tore. Not blood, nor skin, nor tentacle. Though in all fairness, it was hard to hit a creature moving at speeds exceeding sound.

"Good morning." The teacher's cheery voice rang out over the din. "I'll be taking attendance, so please fire all you like." Calmly, he began to recite names, following the order of the class roster without error.

"-Sakura-san?" Finding no response, he glanced down again at the girl besides him relentlessly stabbing at his afterimages. Raising his voice slightly, he repeated himself. "Sakura-san?"

"What's your problem! I'm right here, right! Can't your tiny eyes see that!?"

"Yes, I can see you very clearly, Sakura-san. However, I am your teacher after all, and I would be so happy if you showed at least a little respect to me - the very least would be to acknowledge when I call your name." The grin on his yellow face widened as he gazed upon her futile attempts to stab him.

"Argh, fine! Here!"

And with that last name, rollcall, along with the deafening hail of pink pellets, ended.

"Arghhhh! Why the hell can't we kill that damn octopus! Even though the whole class was firing away!" Angrily running her hands though her red hair, Sakura chomped upon an unfortunate Pocky stick vehemently. Besides her, the blue haired boy could only sigh.

"…Well, that's to be expected. No way we can kill something that moves at Mach 20; even the military failed."

Sakura Kyouko and Shiota Nagisa. Two students who, despite bad grades, were largely unremarkable.

Yet for some reason the two, along with 25 others, had been entrusted with saving their world from a monster; namely, their teacher.

A large, yellow octopus that jiggled as it moved. A monster that had blown up 70% of the moon, and had threatened to do the same to the Earth if he was not killed in one year.

Glancing around the room, Nagisa took in the faces of his fellow classmates. Over the moans, groans, sighs and slumps, a single question pervaded the room, hanging over the heads of everyone present.

"… Why us?"

It was not just because they were only 14, at best 15 this year. It was not just because they were, for the most part, ordinary students whose only responsibility up to now had been to study. Rather, the most important reason of all was that they were class 3-E. The failures. The rejects. The weak.

… Yet for some reason, the monster had insisted on becoming a teacher of this very class.

"He's a superhuman being capable of destroying the Moon and capable of Mach 20 speeds; if he had wanted to get away from us, we would have no chance to kill him."

"However, this monster made us an offer. The government will refrain from attempts on his life; in return, he would become a teacher for Kunugigaoka Junior High's Class 3-E. In short, the 27 of you are the only ones who can kill him and save the world."

Several days had passed since that first, fateful meeting. However, no one was any more the wiser why they had been entrusted with such a vital task.

Nearby, Sugaya Sousuke and Okajima Taiga, two fellow classmates of 3-E, were slumped over their desks. "Haah… I really want that 10-billion-yen bounty on his head…"

"So do I; but then again, it's not like trying our best will get us anywhere."

"That's true; after all, we are 3-E. The End Class."

"Stupid octopus… Does he think that just because we can't touch him he can do whatever he wants!? Wait and see; I'll make sure I kill him!" The gently warm rays of the setting sun stroked Kyouko's face as she stormed down the path from the classroom.

Their repeated failures at killing him wasn't what was grating at her; it was the way he was so nonchalant about the whole thing. The way he went about his life as if he wasn't in any danger absolutely pissed her off.

"Dammit, we're just like toys, dancing around on his damn strings. Why can't we kill him? At this rate, he's just going to do what he wants and destroy the world. Can I really do nothing?"

"… Kyouko-chan!"

Startled, Kyouko jerked her head up, finding that she had already reached the bottom of the path. A short distance ahead, two girls were waving enthusiastically at her. The sight of them immediately lightened the dark cloud hanging over her.

"Hey, you two. "Grinning, she clapped each on their backs. Just then, she noticed them peering at her worriedly. "What's wrong?"

"That's what we should be asking you, you know." Sayaka cocked her head curiously. "You've been looking upset lately; did something happen?"

"Huh? Not at all, you're just imagining things." It wasn't as if she could tell them the full story; her teacher's existence was a state secret, after all.

"Really? If you've got any problems, we don't mind helping you with them. We're friends, aren't we?"

"Like I said, it's really nothing." Kyouko blushed embarrassingly as she turned away from Madoka's worried gaze. "Well nevermind that, let's go get something to eat; my stomach's rumbling."

"Erm…Aren't we missing someone?" At this, both Sayaka and Kyouko looked at each other curiously.

"…Who?"

"Er… well…"

"…If you're talking about Mami-senpai, she already graduated, remember? Or is there someone else?"

"… Maybe not, I guess."

"Hmm. Well whatever, let's go get some grub."

"Madoka… Damn!"

Her hands smashed against the barrier in front of her. Ripples spread out over its surface momentarily, mocking the futility of her attempt. The image of Madoka laughing happily, having forgotten of her existence tore at her; forcing the tears out from her eyes.

A wisp of darkness seeped down into her prison; cold and mocking, it caressed her face, a foul caricature of the very way she had once stroked Madoka's cheek. Clenching her fist, she smashed away the invasive tendril.

"Watch and see; I will find a way out of here. I will take back the power you stole from me and I will destroy you."

She had relieved countless time-loops for her. She had sacrificed herself for her. She had even become God for her. All for her sake.

She would not let it end here.

Kyouko crunched down upon her chocolate bar, snapping it in half. Watching the unkempt grass swaying in the wind, she sighed as she laid down on the grass.

"What a nice day…"

"Am I interrupting your rest, Sakura-san?"

Startled, Kyouko spun around to find her teacher- whom the class had decided to call 'Korosensei'- standing behind her, with his trademark wide, toothy grin.

"Damn octopus, what are you doing here?"

"Well, it was such an excellent day, I thought it would be a waste to spend it indoors during lunch break. Besides -" He walked over, sitting down beside Kyouko. "-I thought that since I'm free, it would be a good time to talk with you."

"I don't have anything to talk to you about, octopus."

"That may be true. However, I do have something to talk to you about, as your teacher." Korosensei smiled amicably as he watched Kyouko chomping away on her chocolate. "I've noticed that unlike the rest, your grades don't seem to be improving, and you don't spend much time studying. Are you having some kind of problem?"

"…Shut up. Besides, there's no point in studying."

"Why?"

"Isn't it obvious? If I kill you, I'm rich; If I don't the Earth's getting destroyed anyway so it doesn't matter. Either way, I don't need to study."

"… I see. So that's how you feel, eh?"

Realizing something was off with his tone, Kyouko turned to look at Korosensei. He was frowning. His ever-present grin had vanished, replaced by a dark grimace. Kyouko blinked as she stared confusedly at his face.

"It seems I have been too lax with your studies, Sakura-san. But I shall correct this mistake of mine. Until you improve your grades to a satisfactory level, you are forbidden from making any attempts on my life!"

"Huh?! How can you decide something like that?!"

"Why not? Your grades take priority over assassination; as your teacher, I have the responsibility to ensure that your grades are at a satisfactory standard!"

"What kind of reasoning is that! Besides, what gives you the right to force a rule like that on me in the first place?! I'll do what I want to, and you can't stop me!" Tossing aside the wrapper of her chocolate bar, Kyouko stormed off. Korosensei watched her leave, his tentacles picking up the abandoned wrapper thoughtfully.

"It seems that Sakura-san has yet to accept me as a teacher; I will have to work harder to prove myself to her."

"…Well, where do I go now?"

Standing in front of the school gates, Kyouko watched the sun's scarlet rays bathing the campus. She wanted to let out her frustration from the afternoon talk, to find an outlet to release some steam. However, both Sayaka and Madoka were having a study session today, and Kyouko didn't want to cut into their studies, lest they ended up in 3-E with her.

"Guess I'll kill some time at the arcade then…"

However, thoughts of her afternoon talk with Korosensei kept clouding her mind; before she realized it, she had overshot the arcade. Looking around to get her bearings, Kyouko realized she was outside a particular high school; namely, the one that Mami had entered after graduating from Kunugigaoka. Absentmindedly rubbing the screen of her phone, Kyouko hesitated about calling Mami out to chat. Just as she had decided to give up on the notion, the phone in her hand rang abruptly.

"Hello? Who is it?"

"It's me, Sakura-san."

"M-Mami?! Why are you calling me all of a sudden?"

"Well, I saw you outside the school. You looked like you needed to talk."

"Oh… Yeah. Are you free now?"

The two met up in a small cafe across the road. With its cream-colored walls, comfy sofas and soft lighting, the cafe exuded a cozy atmosphere. Coupled with its delicious selection of treats, the cafe had been a popular hangout for the four of them back then. When Mami had graduated their meetings - then a weekly affair - had steadily become more and more sporadic. Yet, Kyouko had not thought much of it then; it was only until she had been separated from Sayaka and Madoka after being transferred to 3-E did she realize how much their little tea sessions - and the companionship it brought - had meant to her.

Mami hadn't changed much since she graduated. Her golden hair was still worn in two long, curly drills on either side of her head, and she still possessed an air of elegance about her. Along with her excellent grades, she had been looked up to by the other three, both as a senior and as a role model. Perhaps that was the very reason why Mami was the only one whom Kyouko could let her guard down around.

"…I see you've been having a hard time, Sakura-san. But I can't help but wonder why is it that you don't wish to study. I don't wish to lecture you, but what your teacher says is true, you know; grades can get you into a good school and get you ahead."

"I know, but… I don't like how the school treats 3-E like trash simply because they can't study. Grades are just a piece of paper anyway; why the hell are people being judged solely on that?"

Kyouko thought back to the day before her transfer to 3-E. Back then, she had still been in the same class with Sayaka and Madoka. She had been lagging behind in her studies, but with help from the two of them she had managed to avoid getting transferred to 3-E. However, one of her classmates hadn't been so lucky. Kyouko still remembered the look Nagisa had when he had left the teacher's room; hopelessness and despair seemed to swallow him as he staggered out. It was painful to look at.

Yet, not only had their classmates not consoled him, they even went out of their way to mock him. Kyouko wasn't on close terms with Nagisa, but she knew that he certainly didn't deserve being abused by the rest simply because he got sent to 3-E. And so, before the entire class she had stood up for him, even getting into a fight with the two who had been the most vocal in abusing him. For her breach of conduct (for a 3-E student, no less) her teacher had thrown her into 3-E along with Nagisa.

At first, she had laughed it off in front of her concerned friends. "Don't worry about it, it'll all work out in the end." she had confidently predicted. "I'll show them how wrong they are!"

What Kyouko hadn't expected, however, was the sheer amount of discrimination that 3-E was forced to endure. Callous remarks from former classmates and teachers became trivial when she realized that the school itself treated them as trash, giving them incredibly run-down facilities and banning them from the main campus except on special occasions. Helplessness gave way to frustration and then rage when she realized that the school itself was suppressing students simply for having bad grades.

And yet, she had been helpless to change anything. Her own effort meant for little when even her 3-E classmates had given up hope and embraced their image as failures. Silently she endured through her days in 3-E, frustration and despair slowly building up as the days passed.

Then Korosensei came. At long last, a chance to change things had come. All they had to do was kill him, and then they could prove that even the 'worthless' 3-E could succeed, she thought. But as their failed attempts on his life piled up, the despair that had receded with his arrival began to rear its head again.

"At first, I thought it was as simple as going into 3-E, pulling something remarkable off and then proving everyone wrong; but now… it's just starting to feel like no matter what I do it doesn't matter. In the end, things just don't work out. And now I don't even know if anything I do has a point anymore."

Mami's yellow eyes shone with worry at Kyouko's words, but she too could not find any words to encourage her. As an alumnus of Kunugigaoka, she was well aware of the problems 3-E faced. The silence grew heavier as the unspoken question hovered before the two; can we even do anything?

"Don't give up hope, Sakura-san!"

Suddenly, the blast of twin air horns tore through the silence between the two. Standing beside their table was a flesh-colored Korosensei, disguised in a respectable suit; two gloved 'hands' pressing enthusiastically onto the hooting air horns to declare his presence. The price tag from the black wig on his head energetically jumped up and down as he nodded his head encouragingly at the stunned girls.

"It's too early to give up! I will do everything in my power to help 3-E: that is my promise to you all as your teacher!"

"Where did you come from?! Don't tell me you were following me all this time!"

"…No, I just happened to pass by. Just so."

"You're obviously lying! That's your poker face!"

"Well, there's no need to worry so much about it, Sakura-san." He smiled sheepishly.

"Geez, you creep… So, what's your plan? It better be good."

"Of course it is! All we have to do make sure that everyone gets good grades in the upcoming midterms! I already have a plan to – "

"Like I said, what the hell is it with grades?!" The cups leapt fearfully as Kyouko slammed her hand down onto the table, a snarl streaked across her face. "Why the hell does everyone care so much about a bloody piece of paper! That paper can't judge our worth!"

Korosensei's squishy hand extended to rest reassuringly on her shoulder. "You're absolutely right, Sakura-san. It's true that there is more to a person than grades."

"However, grades too are not simply just a piece of paper. To get good grades you must study, and that takes diligence. And that will to work hard comes from your own belief in yourself; that you have the ability to succeed as long as you put in your effort. Looking at your classmates, do you think that they have that confidence in themselves, Sakura-san?"

"That's…."

"Right now, what 3-E needs is confidence. Confidence to stand up against the prejudice that has been pressing them down. If we can get everyone's grades up we can show them that, despite what everyone says about them, they can succeed if they put their mind to it. Only then will your classmates gain the confidence they need to stand on their feet."

Kyouko couldn't find any words. Korosensei had seen the heart of the matter: the hopelessness that plagued them. Sent into 3-E for failing to keep up, their continuous failure after failure, combined with the incessant humiliation, had stripped them of their hope and will. Defeated, she closed her eyes, sinking back into the leather sofa.

"…Do want you want; you're the teacher after all." A big grin stretched across Korosensei's face.

"Indeed I will; however, I must also insist that you too put in effort and take your studying seriously. How about this: if you can rank within the top 50 students in the upcoming midterms, I'll do you a favor as a reward!"

"H-Huh?! Top 50?! Are you kidding me! There's no way I can score that high!"

"No, you can." Korosensei waggled a finger admonishingly. "As long as you believe in yourself, you can succeed. Isn't that the message you wanted to spread?"

"Urgh…" He got her there.

"Well, there you have it. Now, I feel that I've intruded for too long upon your chat, so I'll be taking my leave. Remember, Sakura-san; top 50!" And with a sudden howl of wind buffeting them, he vanished. The two girls stared dumbfoundedly at the space where he had just been a second ago, blinking in disbelief.

"…You have a rather incredible teacher, Sakura-san." Mami chuckled as she adjusted her hair. "I must admit I'm rather jealous."

"…He's a showoff, has a creepy laugh, and is one huge pervert, but I guess he's not that bad after all."

The smile that had crept onto her face was momentarily replaced by a frown as a thought cropped up in her head. Why had someone like him destroyed the moon?

Author's Notes

And there you have it: the first part of my crossover involving four animes. Next chapter will probably see me introduce the main characters from Grisaia and Maplestory that will play a more prominent role here, as well as Homura starting to get more active in getting her own back. I'm sure there must be a ton of questions, so I'm going to preemptively talk about some of them:

What's with the -chan,-san etc.? : From my understanding, Japanese honorifics carry subtleties; for example, -san acts as a polite way of addressing another, suggesting either a professional relationship, or the speaker being polite. It felt inappropriate to replace it with Mr./Miss, and considering that the source material is for the most part anime, I decided to leave it in, even though it does look weird in a wall of otherwise English text
Why a crossover between this four? : Initially it was brought on by Chiba (the male sniper of Assassination Classroom) who reminded me of Kazami Yuuji from Grisaia, who is an actual adult game protagonist and a sniper too. Because I had recently played Friendstory (Maple in a school on our world), it occurred to me that it could actually fit into the crossover. Somewhere along the way PMMM jumped onto my thought train and refused to budge, so I ended up just rolling with it.
How far is this going to go? : Currently I have an idea on how to develop this crossover up to the Assassination Island arc (the part where 3-E faces off against the 3 assassins and that other guy); past that... well, we'll see

And that's about it, I guess. Any constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated, I certainly could use the help :)