Feeling the burn of exertion in his chest, Nagisa kept up the pace across the rooftops. It was very hard, with months of not really exercising, which had caused his endurance to go down. Still, the urgency of the situation won out on any urge to stop to catch his breath. They only had one shot at this. As they raced towards the school, Nagisa remembered to keep his body low, veiled in the darkness of night. They didn't want to attract any reinforcements.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Isogai came to a stop, turning to address them all. "Our last mission: get everyone to school safely!"
And thus came the handover of power. "Okay," Karma said, taking Isogai's place. "You all know the plan. Advance."
Nodding amongst everyone else, Nagisa stuck with Karma, as their group split off. They'd discussed this on their group chat- they'd break into small teams to target each bunch of guards. Karma was good at recognising everyone's individual strengths, and using them to his advantage. He'd split everyone into groups that worked together. All they had to do was approach from behind, before they'd be seen coming.
Nagisa could hear the commotion through his ear piece, as he and Karma came across their first few guards. They gave each other a quick nod, before Nagisa leapt out from the bush, startling one of them even before he made use of his stun clap. Once he had, though, Karma administered a punch to the back of his head, knocking him fully to the floor.
Immediately, Nagisa dropped down, tying the man up in restraint. Meanwhile, Karma fought a second guard, overpowering him without exerting too much effort. The third guy, focusing only on Karma, begun to back away. Nagisa saw his shot, swinging out a leg so that he tripped, falling forwards flat on his face.
Karma grinned like wildfire, pulling what looked like a wasabi tube out of his pocket. "Part of the plan," he explained.
Nagisa wasn't about to question that kind of thing, when it came to Karma. As long as it worked, Nagisa couldn't complain. Still, they didn't have that much time. There was only about three hours left until Korosensei's deadline, and the most important thing was seeing him. Karma acknowledged that, it seemed, straight up shoving the tube up the first guy's nose.
"This squad's taken care of, Karma," Chiba's voice came through the ear piece, as the man began to scream.
"Okay," Karma said.
There was a small amount of static, before Chiba's voice returned. "How's things by you?"
"Hmm? Right now…" Karma looked critically at his torture.
"Ow!" The man cried out. "It burns!"
"Sorry 'bout that!" Karma 'apologised'." But you're all such pros. How else am I going to get you to scream?"
Nagisa was a bystander, at least for this part. They had different styles, he didn't enjoy 'playing with his food' as much. Still, Karma had a point. Plainly, Nagisa could see what he was doing. Better to lure the rest of the guards to them, rather than aimlessly chase them around the mountain.
"Your screams'll be the bait to lure even more reinforcements," Karma explained, and then turned to Nagisa. "I'd like to take care of two or three more while I'm here. That's doable, right, Ritsu?"
Nagisa saw her appear on Karma's phone screen. "Yes. About three more are approaching over the ridge. And there's a fixed machine gun on the high ground, with all the fir trees."
"Roger. So if we go from the crimson-glory-vine thicket through the stand of stone oaks?"
"Yep. That should get you there."
Karma nodded, satisfied. "Okay, Terasaka, go that way, take down their guys, and advance to the lone pine."
"Got it!" Terasaka's voice came over, clearly already on the move.
Somehow, Karma didn't even need to say anything. On some instinctual level, Nagisa knew what their next move was. They took off again together, speeding closer towards their class building. With just the glint of his eye, Nagisa understood his next command, dive rolling low into a bush, as Karma swiftly scaled the tree. With all the commotion, all the guards had come right into this area, right where they wanted them.
"Okajima, I'm there," Karma said, having taken his vantage position. "Another fifty meters."
From his position, Nagisa could see Terasaka, Muramatsu, and Yoshida all break out into a sprint together. His eyes followed them, seeing they were gunning towards a far taller than average man. Something about him screamed that he was some kind of leader. He knocked them all back, as if it was effortless.
"Still some of you jokers left, eh?" He stood next to a low hanging tree, his form ominous and looming. Though, he was looking out, not behind him. Nagisa realised he could keep low, sweep around the foliage, and if he was extra careful, climb it without being noticed. "It's true: we did let our guard down," he said. "Looks like you kids are far better at this place than we are."
At that moment, from somewhere undetectable, both Chiba and Hayami fired their shots. Of course, they were a perfect hit, right in the centre of his chest. Nagisa couldn't thank their timing enough, given him the distraction he needed to continue his movements towards the tree. The guy pulled the stun darts out, as if they'd done nothing but pinched.
"Stun darts, eh? But if you know what you're up against… It's no problem at all."
Nagisa could sense the end of Karma's patience. Like a good leader, when his troops fell, he jumped into the fray himself. By the looks of it, he did manage to take the guy by surprise, but the punch he threw did nothing. Even Karma couldn't instantly overpower someone with such a physical advantage to him, and he was knocked back.
"You punks…" He growled, very annoyed by then. "If you'd only behave, this'd all be over. What in blazes are you objecting to this late in the game?!"
"This is something we have to resolve ourselves!" Kanzaki ran at him, though didn't make much of an impact.
Karma, who was stood up properly again, caught Nagisa's eye from the branch he'd managed to scale. Giving him all the permission he needed in one glance, Nagisa lay his body out, getting ready. When the moment was exactly right, he threw down his knife, the quick blur of motion distracting the solider enough. Not wasting a moment, he dangled down from the tree by his legs, clapping hard.
He flipped down, keeping a hold of his head. "Karma!"
Karma was already there, launching into an impressive axe kick. Immediately, the man's form crumpled onto the ground, boneless. Nagisa landed, just about keeping up on his own feet. Together, they'd managed to do it.
"Nagisa?" Karma said.
Nagisa panted, slowly adjusting to what had just happened. Unable to help himself, he rushed forward, meeting Karma in a high five. Instead of pulling away, though, Karma's hand clasped around his own, tugging him in. His other arm came around Nagisa's back, making it a real hug. Feeling a sense of elation, Nagisa followed suit, feeling overwhelmed yet happy in Karma's arms.
"Hey! He's still moving!" Kayano yanked them out of the moment, pointing to the still squirming soldier.
Quickly, the others moved in with their tasers. "You damn brats!"
"Finish him off first, you dumbasses!" Terasaka yelled. "You can keep your show off high fives!"
Nagisa dropped out of Karma's hold immediately. God, that was embarrassing. Karma had just… distracted him. What if their classmates hadn't been there? Barely able to handle the shame, Nagisa turned his back. They could have got themselves into real danger. Damn Karma, for making him that way.
Once he was out, though, there were more important matters. They were facing right up against the barrier. Isogai was the first to take a step forwards, extending his palm first as a safety measure. He got through, though, and the rest of them quickly followed.
Korosensei was waiting for them. "I could tell by the sound."
"Sensei…" Nagisa let out. It felt good, to see him again, after the fear that they maybe wouldn't.
"You've come so far, class."
"Korosensei!" A communal cheer broke out, and everyone rushed towards him.
For a moment, the seriousness of the situation evaporated. Seeing Korosensei welcome them all so easily, like they were just going to school like normal… It put Nagisa at ease. Everything had been worth it, just to feel this again. The others also engaged in light conversation, expressing their joy at seeing Korosensei. Though he too was happy, however, Nagisa saw just the slightest fragment of sadness, even without his face shifting.
"I see," Korosensei eventually turned towards the sky. "So they'll be firing the killing laser just before midnight. That much power would even shut down my Absolute Defence Form."
"No!" Kataoka exclaimed.
Kurahashi came forwards. "Korosensei, let's find a way out of here! We'll be your hostages, or whatever it takes!"
"There's no stopping that laser now," he said, peacefully, "not when people know I'm out there."
"Did you know all along that it would come to this?" Hayami asked, her head down."
"Even if I don't explode," Korosensei said, "you can't expect all these nations to not be afraid of a creature like me. Sooner or later, they'll want to snuff me out. It's only reasonable."
Fuwa exhaled sharply. "There might have been away if only we'd acted sooner… Like breaking the barrier projectors, or making the rounds online or on TV to plead our case!"
"That would have gotten you labelled even more dangerous, and you might have been placed under even stricter surveillance. Besides, the projectors have impregnable defences. There are anti-aircraft weapons in place if I so much as hunk a rock at them. With your current capabilities and equipment, you'd likely get caught along the way. That is how perfect this plan was. They spared nothing, pouring in tech and time and people. This assassination, this crystallisation of the world's wisdom and efforts, surpasses my own abilities, for which I offer my respect and am honoured to have been its target."
As much as Nagisa absolutely hated that reality, he knew Korosensei was entirely right. Nothing they could have done would have stopped this from happening. They were just small parts of a massive scheme, out of their depths. But they shouldn't be bitter about it, Nagisa realised. Even getting here, though it hadn't necessarily caused much, was enough to be proud of.
"But…" Yada trailed. "Then all our hard work getting here – that was all wasted?"
"Is anything ever really wasted, Yada san?" Korosensei reached out, touching her forehead with a tentacle. "The process, your hearts, that's what's important. You used every last bit of what you learned to come see me. As a teacher, there can be no greater happiness."
"So what if time's up!" Terasaka protested. "Why won't the government and the rest of them hear us out, when we're the ones who've been closest to you? This octopus…" he thought for a moment. "Okay, he's a perv, but he's not dangerous!"
Hazama sighed. "'We won't listen to what those kids have to say. We'll just pity them instead.' It's insulting."
"Like we can just shut up and take this…" Muramatsu said.
"Next time I see those goons, I'm gonna-" Yoshida begun.
Korosensei grabbed hold of them. "Terasaka kun, all of you… Let me give you some advice. As you go through life, the mighty current of society is bound to get in your way, and there will certainly be times things didn't go as you'd hoped. When this happens, do not look to society for a cause. Do not renounce society. Frankly, you'd be wasting your time. Instead, just say, 'that's life!' and muddle your way through with frustration. Once you're past it, consider: If society's swift current is tossing you around, how should you be swimming there in its midst? You should have learned how, here in the E Class, in this assassination classroom. You don't always have to stand and face it head on. You can run, and you can hide. If it's not against the rules, you can try a sneak attack. You can use unconventional weapons. Stay determined – not impatient nor discouraged – and with repeated trial and error, you're bound to reach a wonderful outcome eventually. That's because each and every one of you is a top tier assassin who can do just that."
"Geez. A lesson, really? Now?" Terasaka scoffed.
Korosensei let out his signature laugh. "Now's the time for this lesson. An educator never misses an opportunity to teach. But you know, for you to try so whole heartedly to save me…" His tentacles came down on each of them. "I'm so happy, I've been holding back tears this whole time. I mean it."
Once the tentacles were removed from his skin, Nagisa touched his forehead. How was Korosensei so calm? Of course, his philosophies were fair enough, good, even, and Nagisa had to accept that there was no way to stop this assassination now it had begun… But what about before? If Korosensei hadn't given up his one year to become their teacher, if he hadn't been so dedicated and faithful, he might have lived. It was almost as if they were his greatest weakness.
"By the way, Nakamura san," Korosensei continued on, "your footsteps were awfully gentle, even during that pitched battle. And… Do I smell something sweet?"
"Sharp ears and a sharp nose… It's been exactly one year since the day the moon exploded, right?" Nakamura grinned, pulling a cake box out of her bag. "As I recall, Yukimura Sensei made today your birthday. Feel free to praise my skill in getting it here in one p- Hey, I'm talking!"
Korosensei leant over the cake, bright pink in colour. "But… It's just… It's my first sweet anything in a week!"
"Ew! You're drooling!" Nakamura complained, before giving up. "Come on guys, let's get singing!"
With the rest of the class, Nagisa gathered round as the candle was lit. An odd sense of serenity washed over him. Forget about the moon, the laser, or any of the looming threat. This was just what it was, plain and simple, just a birthday party. Nagisa joined in singing with the others, the English 'Happy Birthday' song ringing somewhat tunefully from them all.
"C'mon, blow it out, Korosensei!" Maehara said, as the rest of them cheered.
Korosensei leant over the cake, puffing up his chest, he prepared to blow. Before he could, however, a dark mass came out of the shadows. Almost… tentacle like in form, it was like a black whip, smashing into the cake at a speed Nagisa's own eyes could barely even comprehend. He turned, instantly meeting the two figures.
"Happy birthday," Shiro, the man who had caused them so many issues in the past, snarled.
"Shi-no, Yanagisawa…" Terasaka trailed off. He was right, Yanagisawa was unmasked, now. Somehow, he looked less intimidating, less evil, with his face covered.
He stood there, facing them, still like a marble statue."The time is ripe. Let me give you the gift of the world's cruellest death."
Ignoring him, the eye naturally fell to the demonic mass stood right beside him, looming over the conversation. Nagisa wasn't exactly about to break out into a scream, the creature's form wasn't that kind of scary. No, it was more the type that made Nagisa's bones freeze, limbs turning into piles of lead to keep him in place.
"Sensei…" It groaned, voice just as unsettling. "You know who I am, don't you?"
"Why don't I introduce hi – to your students, too." Yanagisawa announced. "He's the man who stole the name 'the Reaper' from that octopus. And…" the white robes fell from his body"…as of today, he's the new Korosensei."
It let out another moan, like it was seriously in pain, and launched up into the sky, landing on the roof of the class building.
"That's… Is that thing…?" Yoshida begun.
"Reaper 2.0…" Nagisa's brain caught up, throat dry. "The one who'd attacked us!"
Muramatsu recoiled. "Before it was just his face! Now his whole body is a monster!"
"He's just had the same modifications as that octopus. The only difference is that he begged for them. Completely unlike that botched Itona or my little sister over there. Can you even imagine? A man who overpowered you singlehandedly even as a human now has both incomparable tentacles and hatred. The destructive power!" Yanagisawa continued on, like a mad scientist proud of his creation.
"Die!" 2.0 launched clean into the air.
Nagisa didn't have much time to think about what was going to happen next, before his body was launched upwards and back. Like a shockwave, he couldn't hold back his natural reaction to scream as he was launched. Everyone else, it seemed, had also been caught up in it. Less than a second later, Nagisa was back on the grass, though he'd hit it hard.
"A sonic boom," Yanagisawa explained. "His tentacles have an initial velocity of Mach 2. And they can reach a top speed… of Mach 40."
In the distance, 2.0 and Korosensei began to fight each other. Or, at least, what looked like it. It was far to fast, for Nagisa to really comprehend.
"M-mach 40?!" Okajima exclaimed.
"In short, his basic performance is doubled," Yanagisawa explained. "2.0's superhuman kinetic vision and intuition are amplified via his tentacles making him readily adaptable to a supersonic world. Unlike some amateur children, he took to his tentacles readily- just like version 1.0 over there. But the greatest difference is that unlike you and that octopus, those tentacles were designed with continuous operation in mind. You see, he needs no upkeep. He's disposable. In exchange for only three months to live, I've made it so that he can tap into this tremendous energy. And there's not even any danger of him exploding at death." He let out a manic laugh. "A safe and flawless weapon, is it not?"
Beside him, Kayano shivered. "You always do this… Always hurting others- from your safe spot away from it all!"
Nagisa took his eyes off the fight in the distance, examining Kayano. He hadn't considered how muddled her feelings must be. According to Korosensei, this was the man who had abused and tormented her sister. He couldn't pretend to understand the full story, but he could see it written all over Kayano's face. If he assumed correctly, she probably felt like she owed it to her sister, to stand up against Yanagisawa.
"Is that what you think?" He sneered, and pulled something out of his pocket. Too late, Nagisa realised that it was some kind of syringe, which he didn't hesitate in injecting into his own neck. "I'm not prepared to die? Is that what you think?"
"Hey, that's-" Sugaya begun.
"It can't be…" Okuda gasped.
Yanagisawa ripped off the plain cloak he was wearing. "I don't give a damn about my life anymore." Now that his chest and back were exposed, Nagisa could see that he was transforming. The tentacles weren't dramatic, but Nagisa got the sense that was the point. "Not if I can kill you, who stole everything from me... Joints, muscle fibres, spinal cord, nerves: it may not be my entire body, but if I can gradually implant tentacles in these key places, I can become superhuman while retaining my human faculties… Die a pathetic death, guinea pig…" a bright, violet light burst from his covered eye "…so your beloved students will be scarred for life!"
In the distance, Korosensei was thrown back, flat onto the ground.
"Class…" He still managed to address them. "There's something I forgot to mention in my earlier lesson: Even an assassin who's cleverly avoided all head to head battles is sure to have a number of times in life when he or she must fight with every last ounce of strength. In my case… That would be now!"
With a frightening roar sound from 2.0, they launched at each other once more. Nagisa couldn't really get much of a sense of what he was seeing. The fight was all so fast, far above any kind of human level. With every attack coming from 2.0, there was a sonic boom. This was the kind of battle that was beyond them, not even the same dimension. By his wildest guess, Korosensei was losing ground. In fact, he was slammed down hard into it.
"Korosensei!" Nagisa called out, almost on instinct. Automatically, he reached for his gun, drawing and aiming it. But then, Nagisa realised with shaky hands, he wasn't even aiming at anything. The battle was mismatched between Korosensei and 2.0, but also between them. All the Special Forces training in the world couldn't have put them on the same stage. Nagisa hopelessly dropped the gun, collapsing onto the grass. You would think all their hard work was completely meaningless, a hindrance, even. They couldn't do anything to help, and they couldn't run away.
"Is he… starting to dodge?" Takebayashi said, bewildered.
Nagisa's phone vibrated with Ritsu's excitement. "Evading attacks with the minimum amount of strength, using soil to block the light… He's closing in and 'killing' their power. Seeing him improvise a way to close their battle power gap… That's our Korosensei, through and through."
The two super beings exploded back from each other, and the battle came to a stall.
"Yanagisawa," Korosensei panted, "leave us. This is a place for students to learn and grow. You are not entitled to be here!"
Unfortunately, Yanagisawa didn't seem swayed by that in the slightest. "Still fancy yourself a teacher, eh, guinea pig? Then let's put you to the test. Don't you see why we chose this moment to make our move?" He clicked, which caused 2.0 to start groaning even louder, flashing in bright red colours. "You'll protect them, right? Isn't that what a teacher does?"
A white beam from 2.0's tentacles shot out, seemingly right towards Nagisa's face. He had to close his eyes under the intensity, hearing only an explosion. When he opened them again, Korosensei was stood right in their path. There was no explanation other than that he'd taken all of that power, square in his chest.
"Korosensei!" Nagisa cried out in alarm.
"You're the very model of an educator, guinea pig!" Yanagisawa practically cheered, like this was all just a game. "You can escape these harsh blows on your own, yet you take them head on to protect your students! Alright, 2.0. Next!"
Red lightning danced around 2.0's towering form, but once again, Korosensei jumped in front of them, blocking any impact. No matter how many attacks there came, Korosensei stopped them from every single angle. Even for him, this wasn't good. Korosensei even paused for a moment, doubling over to vomit.
"Put the target with his students and this was bound to happen," Yanagisawa sneered. "Wrong answer, kids. Deciding to show up here tonight was a bad move."
"Stop, Yanagisawa!" The all too familiar commanding voice of Karasuma rung out. Nagisa turned his head sharply, and sure enough, he along with Bitch Sensei had made their way up the mountain. He pointed the gun at his head. "Don't drag those students in any deeper!"
It was too late to warn him of Yanagisawa's transformation. Using his new found super speed, he sped up, plainly slapping Karasuma hard enough that he immediately crumpled, knocked hard onto his side.
"Karasuma!" Bitch Sensei called out, rushing to his side.
"Shut up and watch, government lapdogs. You don't stand a chance against me now."
Nagisa shook, where he stood. This entire fight, what it came down to, it was their fault. Deep down, he realised, he'd known all along. They all had. Every fight, every moment… It rushed before his eyes. They'd seen this moment, how it would all end, and they'd looked away.
"How does it feel?" Yanagisawa continued, as Korosensei stood back up, but was immediately captured in a hold by 2.0. "What's it like, seeing your despairing students being a hindrance to their dear, dear teacher? Now do you see it? Your greatest weak point?"
It was so clear. They were Korosensei's greatest weakness.
"That's preposterous!" Korosensei announced, though, before Nagisa could get too deep into it. "This isn't a question of right answer or wrong! They risked life and limb to try and save me, and overcame obstacles to meet me here! That process, those hearts- they're the greatest gift a teacher could receive! They're not a weak point, and they're not a hindrance! They're my students! And I'm proud of each and every one of them! What's more… protecting one's students is a teacher's natural duty!"
Yanagisawa didn't look particularly impressed. "Yes, yes, very good. But we'll deny you that duty of yours, too. Soon your strength will run out, and the students you've been protecting? I will slaughter them. This year you gained by destroying our lives…I'll make it have been all for naught! Then our revenge will finally be complete! Now, let's continue. Better protect those sweet students of yours."
He couldn't do anything else, however, because a gun shot was sounded, and Korosensei was dropped in the shock of it all.
"Idiot!" Karma called out, sharply.
Nagisa snapped his head, only to see that Kayano had jumped into the fray. "But- how?!"
Kayano calmly lowered her gun, and pulled her knife. "Run, Korosensei. I'll buy you time- just hide somewhere and recover!"
"Kayano san?!" Korosensei cried out in panic.
Right there and then, Nagisa didn't blame him. He wanted to rush in, to go pull her back, but it was far too late. He just had to trust that Kayano knew what she was doing, or at least what she was getting into. It still felt painful to witness, though. Even as Kayano was shoved by a tentacle, and somehow managed a clean slice.
"Oh, that's a former tentacle user, for you," Yanagisawa commented, scientifically. "Retained that kinetic vision, I see."
"Stop, Kayano san!" Korosensei begged.
She turned to him. "I'd regretted it all this time. That it was my fault the class learned the truth. That I snatched away the fun times we'd had together. So at least… let me protect you… as your student!"
"You were right! Thanks to your actions, the class got to learn what was truly important!" He tried to get up, but was immediately smacked back down again.
"2.0?" Yanagisawa called out, and then gave him the thumbs down.
Somehow, moments before it happened, Nagisa knew what was about to happen. But, Kayano had already launched herself into the air, preparing her attack. It was the quickest hit, but it probably wasn't the best path. She should have stayed low… This was the only way Nagisa could even begin to handle what he was witnessing, breaking it down, just a bystander. He could only stand still, and see the tentacle coming for her.
When it pierced her clean, straight through the chest, even despite his best attempts, Nagisa felt something within him snap. It was so quick, Kayano didn't have a chance to scream, before her heart was torn from her body. His own body shook, eyes dry with how wide they were. They have all been trained in assassination, but Nagisa had never actually seen death before. Not really, not right in front of his eyes.
His throat couldn't produce any sound, his breaths were coming up way too fast and short for that. Helplessly, all he could do was watch, as 2.0 removed his tentacles, displaying the gaping hole through her centre. Flimsily, her body collapsed onto the grass, giving off the slightest twitches, an after effect of death.
It was too far away to see up in detail, but Nagisa could tell her eyes were still open, open yet glassed over. Shuddering, he remembered clearly how often he'd found those eyes a comfort. It wasn't something he'd questioned. It was just a guarantee, every day, he'd just come into class, and at his side, Kayano would greet him. Warm smile, warm eyes. Even though she'd lied about her identity for most of the year, her friendship was still genuine, and that's what had really mattered. And now it was over.
Yanagisawa continued to laugh like a psychopath. "I get to have both sisters die right in front of me?! What a couple of trouble makers! Maybe I should have kept her as her sister's stand in! Too bad I'm not interested in some holey bitch."
Korosensei crawled over to her body, and his entire form combusted into crimson flames. It was so much more than the previous rage he'd exerted over the year, where he would turn a deathly black. Nagisa could hardly blame him, he'd probably look the exact same, if he had that ability. He was moments way from reaching for his own gun, to fire a bullet into the back of Yanagisawa's skull.
"There we go! When you're beside yourself, your emotions twisted, your whole body goes pitch black!" Yanagisawa exclaimed. "You couldn't be at full power otherwise. In other words, this is the destructive creature showing his true colours! You yourself have negated the whole year you spent wearing that ridiculous yellow hypocrite's face! Most satisfactory! And as for this full bore fury of yours… In showing his full power, 2.0 will negate that, too. Now for his final attack."
He injected something into 2.0's body, then, causing the creature to expel purple flames of its own. There was no use thinking of it as 'him', anymore. There was no human left in there. He charged at Korosensei again, who was forced to abandon Kayano's body. Just like that, the battle continued, though it seemed faster than before, if that was possible.
Nagisa forced himself to take a deep breath, and it was as if everything happened at once. No matter how much he wanted to, how much every muscle in his body screamed for him to move, Nagisa couldn't. It had just been proved to him that real death could happen, at any moment. Even if they all stormed at Yanagisawa at once, 2.0 had paramount power, they'd just be taken out. And going alone, that would be plain suicide.
Maybe if things had been different, Nagisa wouldn't have stopped himself from going despite the risks. But as he let out air he was holding, Nagisa knew he couldn't. It was stupid, regardless of the situation, but Nagisa had a lot to live for. Nothing, not even vengeance, would be worth giving all of that up. Besides, he'd promised his mother he'd be back by morning. He had a son to think about now.
So Nagisa removed himself from the situation. It was the only way he could force himself to get out of this. Constructing a wall between his emotions and his logic, Nagisa examined everything. Right then, he had a duty to fulfil. His comrade's corpse (it was the only way he could bear to think about it) had been left on the ground, and his main mission was to get to safety. Any good soldier would stop to collect the dead, though. He could allow himself that.
Whilst the rest of the class stood around in awe, Nagisa rushed over to the body. Up close, it was far more horrifying. The eyes were indeed wide open, struck in mid-death horror. Bending down, Nagisa closed them out of respect, before picking her up. He couldn't bear to look at the damage to her midsection, though there was no avoiding the glimpses of bone jutting out of her skin, ribs snapped clean off by the tentacle.
"Let's get away from here!" Nagisa called out to the others, standing properly. He wasn't sure if it was just the adrenaline coursing through him or not, but he managed to support her corpse without too much strain.
"Nagisa?" Hayami let out, tuning to him.
"Now," Nagisa urged, "while his attention is elsewhere! If we stay, we'll get tangled up in this for sure!"
Okuda looked around nervously. "B-but-"
"Running away is a perfectly sound battle tactic!" Karma cut in, eyes setting upon Nagisa's with understanding.
Perhaps it was the power Karma exuded, or just everyone's brains catching up, but nobody stuck around to argue. The rest of his classmates ran off, travelling to the bank of earth closer to the class building, more of a vantage position. Nagisa couldn't quite sprint, not with the body, but he moved as fast as he could, panting when he finally came to a stop, only when a massive bomb sounded out. And, then, white light.
"No… " Nagisa said to himself, "it's yellow."
"Nuh- uh, red!" Terasaka disagreed.
"Green!" Nakamura called out.
"Blue!" Kataoka added.
Nagisa's head perked up. "White!"
Somehow, that white was far more brilliant than the first, so bright he couldn't see much of what was happening, even if he'd tried. Yet another sonic boom sounded out, and then, after all the pandemonium, it went eerily silent. He could have sworn he saw Yanagisawa's body fly back, though, dissolving against the anti-sensei force field. 2.0 was nowhere to be seen, though sparkles of light flew throughout the sky. As Korosensei collapsed onto the grass, he could only assume the fight was over. Nobody shouted for joy.
Keeping his arms as level and steady as he could, Nagisa stepped forwards. "Korosensei? Kayano, she's-"
Before he could get it out, some of his classmates began to sob. Though he realised the danger was over now, Nagisa couldn't bring himself to break down the wall he'd created. It was easier, to hold his emotions back. So, somehow, he didn't produce any tears himself. What good would it do, at that point, anyway?
"Let's lay her down," Chiba suggested.
"No," Korosensei said, "don't, Nagisa kun. I don't want her to have too much contact with the germs in the soil." Koro
Nagisa trembled a little. Clearly, their teacher was so beside himself he hadn't accepted it. "Korosensei…"
"Class, the past you've lost will never come back. I myself have made so many mistakes… But we can learn from the past so we don't repeat it." Surrounding his main body, smaller, white coloured tentacles appeared. They were almost ethereal, like little strings of light. Looking closer, though, they were tinted with red.
"Huh? W-what's this?" Nagisa stammered, blinking rapidly.
Korosensei looked him in the eye calmly. "Kayano's blood and somatic cells. I gathered them up before she fell to the ground and stored them in a sterile membrane I made with compressed air."
"I-in the middle of battle?!" His heart rate began to pick up. Could that be… hope?
"I'd set aside the tentacles meant for protecting you." Korosensei reached over, taking Kayano from his arms. "Those were the only ones I didn't use for fighting. Now to string all these cells together, one by one. Faster, more accurately…" Her entire body began to glow. "I've been improving my skills all year long – so if the same thing happens again, it won't have the same tragic ending. Some cells can't be repaired, so instead I'll leave gaps and fill them with my mucus. Within a few days, her own cells should regenerate and replace it. I'm a tad low on blood. Type AB donors, please!"
Like obedient soldiers called to duty, Itona and Karma offered their arms. Korosensei didn't waste any time, of course, attaching tentacles to them. Clearly, Nagisa could see the blood slowly being pumped out of them, and in to Kayano's body.
"Nakamura san!" Korosensei commanded. "Gather up that birthday cake and put it my mouth!"
"Huh?" Nakamura said, somewhat taken aback. "But it's a smashed up pile of dirt covered garbage!"
"I need to replenish my energy! And I wanted to eat it that whole fight! I'm calling thirty minute rule!"
Her eye twitched. "Thirty second!"
Disregarding the hygiene aspects, Nakamura did as he said, and he rapidly ate the cake as he continued to work. Peering in closer, Nagisa could see the wound close before his eyes. The wall he'd built seemed to sway, the light that hope produced only growing brighter.
"Now, once her heart starts working, she'll come back to life," Korosensei explained. "It should go perfectly, according to my 'what to do for a gunshot student' manual! I can say this now, but if your bodies were ever torn to pieces, I was prepared to put them back together." He laid her on the grass, and his tentacles sparked with electricity. "As long as I'm around, that is. As long as the teacher is properly seeing his student."
Like a makeshift defibrillator, Korosensei sent the electricity right into her chest. Nagisa's breath caught, as her back arched. It was the longest second of Nagisa's entire life, before suddenly, Kayano let out a gasp. At that, everything in Nagisa crashed down at once.
"Did you save me… again?" She sat up, as if she hadn't just been dead.
"As many times as it takes," Korosensei said, and fixed her hair. "Your sister would have done the same."
Collectively, everybody let go. There were cheers, jumps of excitement, yet more tears… Finally, there was something worth celebrating. Nagisa couldn't hold back his wave of relief. For more than a few minutes there, he'd accepted there would be no out, no way to bring Kayano back. It was enough to make him forget everything else, flinging his arms around her shoulders in pure joy.
"Kayano… thank goodness you're alright!" He said, because what else could he say?
"Nagis-" She sneezed, and then looked down. "Hey! What's with this getup?!"
It took Nagisa a moment, to realise what her problem was. Though her skin had been completely healed, with no evidence that a gaping hole had been ripped into her, her actual clothes were still damaged. As it was, her chest was almost entirely exposed. With her life in the balance, it hadn't exactly been a priority, but Nagisa turned away in respect, cheeks tinting.
Not everyone showed the same concern, though. Okajima had to be physically restrained, and Itona was crouched down in front of her, staring critically.
"W-what?" Kayano questioned.
Itona held his gaze. "Pathetic."
"What is?!"
"Aw, c'mon." Maehara pulled his jacket off, and wrapped it over her arms so at least she wasn't as exposed. "Korosensei even fixed up your hair for you."
Kayano accepted the jacket, but turned her head. "Thanks, but I wish he'd fixed up my clothes first."
"Y'know, Korosensei's so generous with his care and all,"Okajima drawled, "you might've come out of that a little bustier than before!"
"Is that so, Korosensei?" Yada accused.
Their teacher didn't answer her question, though, instead collapsing straight onto his back. "Phew… I'm beat." Compared to his usual somewhat frantic nature, Korosensei seemed unusually satisfied. That, and kind of… frail. "Class? What kind of assassin would let a dying target escape? Don't you see? It's killing time. Fun times… are bound to end. That's what a classroom's all about."
A pit opened up in Nagisa's stomach. Looking up above their heads, the original threat hadn't disappeared. All of that had been a distraction. The light of the laser, shinning right down on them from above, told them it was right on schedule. There was no time to waste, or hesitate.
"Guys…" Isogai begun, facing them all. "We have to decide this ourselves. We could choose to stay out of this and leave it up to fate… Show of hands. Who doesn't want to kill Korosensei?" Everyone, including Nagisa, stuck their hands up without hesitation. "Okay, hands down. Who wants to kill him?"
Muscles trembling, Nagisa raised his hand once again, knowing there was no going back. He couldn't stand it, but it wouldn't be right, to leave Korosensei to the laser. This is what the entire year had been building up to, right from the moment Karasuma first appeared in their classroom, announcing their mission. So much had changed since then, and Nagisa had been through things he hadn't dreamed of, but something had remained constant. They were killers. Their target was their teacher. And, now, as painful as it was, they had to graduate with their bond still intact.
Though he'd been the first of their class to admit his desire to kill Korosensei, Nagisa was frozen in place, as everyone else gathered around Korosensei's body. It was one of the weaknesses he'd written down, not too long ago. Korosensei wouldn't be able to escape, if all his tentacles were pinned at once. The others got into position, holding a tentacle down each. Nagisa stilled, though, his fingers clasping around his knife.
"You can't move like this, right, Korosensei?" Nakamura asked.
Korosensei nodded. "Exactly so, Nakamura san. I am worried about your weak grip, though."
"Your heart is right under your tie. Who's going to-" Kataoka begun.
"You guys, please…" Nagisa stepped towards the others, his knife fully drawn. "Please, let me."
It was an urge he couldn't really explain. All the endless hours he'd spent looking up to Korosensei, studying his every move, taking in his lessons. Perhaps it was selfish, but, somehow, Nagisa would never be able to move on, if it wasn't his blade. He looked down at his knife, then. How many times had that exact blade missed the mark? Being the one to strike, it was a massive ask.
"We got no complaints." Terasaka almost grinned.
Karma looked him dead in the eye, his own pupils ablaze. "You're the head of this class, Nagisa."
Despite everything, the praise still got him. For just a second, Nagisa allowed himself to beam, before continuing his approach. Steeling himself, he lowered his body so that he was sitting on Korosensei's chest, poised for the kill. It felt wrong, though, to stroke so suddenly. At least, Nagisa felt like he should say something.
"Sensei…
"Nagisa kun," Korosensei looked him in the eye, "you can stab down through my tie. The very day I received this tie, I managed to put a hole in it. I left it like that. This, too, is an important connection. Ah, but first, I have to say my goodbyes to these teachers. Irina Sensei," he turned his head, "are you sure you don't want to join in? This is your chance at that bounty."
Bitch Sensei shot him a kind of sad smile. "I've gotten enough already. So many ties, so much experience- from you and the children both. This assassination… Is the bond between you and those kids."
"And, Karasuma Sensei- You, too, have made these students what they are today. Please continue to offer your guidance."
"You may have caused me no end of trouble," Karasuma said, "but this one year I'll never forget. Farewell, Korosensei."
"Yes." Korosensei seemed to glow. "Now then, class, it's about that time. Twenty four hours wouldn't be enough time for me to say my goodbyes to each of you in turn. We can't talk long… So instead, I'll take attendance, one last time. Please look me in the eye and answer in a loud voice. Once you've all responded, you can kill me. N-nobody left early, did they?! If someone didn't respond now, of all times, I'd kill myself!"
He was stalling, because of course he was. "Just do it already!" Some of the others shouted.
"Alright: Akabane Karma kun."
Nagisa's eyes darted over to Karma, who looked incredibly solemn. "Here."
It was maddening, waiting for his turn. They did attendance every day, they'd been through this routine countless times, but… Those times, they'd been the start, not the ending. There'd never been a 'last time', before. Nagisa didn't look, but he could hear sniffles, even full out crying from behind him. It made his own throat well up.
"Shiota Nagisa kun."
He forced the lump in his throat back down. "Here."
Somehow, it was worse, once his turn was over. Realisation dawned on him that it would be the last words he exchanged with Korosensei. There was so much he still wanted to say, wanted to ask, and the moment was already gone. With every passing name, Korosensei got closer to the end of the class, and the dread built. Finally, he got to Ritsu, who was in tears herself.
"It was a really… really fun year," Korosensei said, afterwards. "I'm so happy… to be killed by you all. From one traveller to another, a yell- for all of life!"
At the silence, Nagisa knew it had to be time. He gripped his knife, positioning it right above his target. At least, he attempted to. Through all his efforts, Nagisa couldn't hold the blade still. All their lessons on accuracy, and the most basic thing… The harder he tried, the more impossible it seemed to be. No clean hits, then. Nagisa would just have to come down hard, and hope for the best. This was it, the moment everything had been building up to, and it was like a crushing weight. There was so much Nagisa was feeling, right then, that he unleashed it all in a guttural scream, bringing the blade down.
Before it could hit, though, one spare tentacle pressed against his neck. "Don't kill me feeling like that. Calm yourself. Smile."
Nagisa swallowed painfully. But if he was going to end Korosensei's life, the least he could do was honour this final request. His eyes began to feel heavy and wet, though he didn't quite register tears. He took a very deep breath, taking in the air as if it was his entire life. Everything, even the most insignificant of memories, flashed before him. There would never be another person in his life quite like Korosensei, but he was right. If not for this moment, the finish line, none of that would have even happened. So, Nagisa exhaled, and brought a smile onto his face.
"Goodbye, Korosensei."
"Yes," Korosensei said, "goodbye."
That blade- the one he'd carried around, relied on all year- became a vessel for his emotions. Everything went into that blade. All his thoughts, his feelings, his soul itself… It flowed through him, and Nagisa gave everything, in that one motion. This was his final thank you to Korosensei, the one he deserved, for all he'd done for Nagisa. His arm came down, and he felt the pressure of the knife digging into Korosensei's chest.
From the wound, golden flecks of light began to spill out. It almost felt like a congratulations, for graduating. His hand still gripping the knife, Nagisa's eyes drew up, watching the lights swirl around the sky, like a million fireflies. Looking back down again, Korosensei's body was completely gone, deflated. All that was left was his tie, and the knife Nagisa held.
The sky was completely ablaze with the lights, but some of them were already floating away, out into the night sky. There would be nothing left of Korosensei. It was that moment, that realisation of what Nagisa had really just done, that everything broke away. Korosensei was gone, dead. Nagisa would never see him again.
Every inch of pain came tumbling out of him. Nagisa doubled over, clutching his chest, as if that would help at all to heal the hole he'd just stabbed through it. Nothing could have stopped his sobs, which sounded more like screams, filling the silence up. He didn't even care that he wasn't alone, that the others were all crying too. Nagisa just screamed and screamed, because there was nothing else left. It was the only thing his body could produce, in its desperation.
It was, without a doubt and despite everything else he'd been through, the worst pain he'd ever felt. This was a permanent pain, one without any kind of end in sight, and Nagisa was hopeless. He couldn't fix it, couldn't take it back, so he remained there, hunched over where Korosensei's body had been, and cried until he physically couldn't anymore.