HITMAN: Codename Echo

By Chia and Izzy Raimi

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fan fiction. It is based on the works of Assassination Classroom created by Yusei Matsui, and the video game franchise Hitman created by IO Interactive, and bear no meaning on their respective canons. Characters, settings, and organizations from Hitman and Assassination Classroom are owned by IO Interactive, Yusei Matsui, Shueisha, Shonen Jump, Fuji TV and Funimation. Please support the official releases.

Note: The following starts three years after Assassination Classroom in 2018, shortly before the events of the World of Assassination Trilogy in Hitman. The story also takes place in an alternate universe that is different from the canon of Assassination Classroom.

Koro-Sensei's abilities have been downplayed to the point where he's a bit more realistically feasible. The moon is intact and is not a permanent crescent, and the extraordinary monster abilities he possessed are now akin to peak genetic engineering. The same goes for the more fantastical elements. There are less tentacles and are more in tune with the world of Hitman. The rest of the events of Assassination Classroom otherwise play out normally.

THE STORY SO FAR...

The Assassination Classroom.

That was the name of Class 3-E, the class that consisted of the worst performing students of Kunugigaoka Junior High. What would become their bottomless pit of unsuccessful misfortune would be the happening of an eventful year.

A mysterious and genetically engineered former assassin going by the name of Koro-sensei took to becoming the teacher of E-Class, on one condition. They had until the end of the school year to assassinate him, or he would bomb various places in the entire world, starting with Tokyo. Throughout the year, many attempts were made to kill Koro-sensei with the assistance of other teachers to help them.

Agent Tadaomi Karasuma of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, former assassin Irina Jelivic and her handler Lovro Brofski.

As the year progressed, many other assassins had tried to kill Koro-sensei, even going so far as to try to kill the students of E-Class. But through the many lessons from the art of assassination, they all functioned as a cohesive unit, besting the assassins that would dare challenge E-Class and Koro-sensei.

In the end, however, Koro-sensei died by the hand of E-Class, just as was promised by the agreement.

E-Class had graduated, and the class became close through the teachings of Koro-sensei. But, there was one other interested party that lurked in the shadows.

The International Contract Agency, an assassination firm that had ties all around the world and the intelligence community, had their eyes carefully trained on E-Class as their assassination skills were sharpened. Three years after graduation, the ICA contacted the class regarding an interest in employment, and an opportunity to become professional assassins. Of the twenty-eight students contacted, only two accepted the offer

Nagisa Shiota and Karma Akabane.

This is where the story of the assassins known as Echo Team begins...

Chapter 1: Evaluation

The last several days had been intense.

Never would they have imagined something much tougher than school. From all of the teachings of assassinations back in Class 3-E, nothing like this could compare to what the two boys experienced from before.

Nagisa thought his entrance exams were stressful, but it was only the tip of the iceberg that was the ICA evaluation for every initiate hired. It was several days worth of written and physical tests, all of which were exhausting. Of course, Nagisa and Karma had trained for months in preparation for these tests, but even then, a single test was enough to leave them passed out by the end of the day.

The simulation mission, which took place a few days ago, was all the more taxing, being held in one of ICA's undisclosed locations, a snowy, mountainous region that had been owned by the Agency for decades. Both of the former E Class students had their work cut out for them, performing an assassination that was unlike the exercises they performed in the past. Unsurprisingly, considering their caliber, they both got through it.

Karma was oozing with confidence. Having a naturally high IQ and charisma made him quite a popular subject among the administers. He was more than confident he passed no problem. He did admit, he got a huge thrill torturing his target with wasabi. It may have cost him points, but to him, it was worth it. Nagisa, on the other hand, was feeling the exact opposite. He had let some very personal details slip during his psyche evaluation and not to mention his blood lust was on full display during his simulated mission. Certainly they wouldn't want someone that dangerous and unstable among their ranks, would they?

As soon as they were notified that their test results were done being evaluated, there were to meet with Diana Burnwood personally at ICA HQ in Copenhagen, Denmark to discuss their results. Sensitive information such as this absolutely could not be discussed over the phone. This news excited Karma. Meeting Diana Burnwood was quite the feat! Did that mean that her Agent, the Hitman, would be there as well? Karma had heard stories of the Silent Assassin, and couldn't contain the wide smile on his face. Very few met the deadliest killer the underworld could ever know about, and lived to tell about it.

Nagisa was nothing but silent on the entire trip from the hotel to ICA HQ. The two of them took extra time to look well kept through their entire examination and today was no exception. They didn't want to stand out among the many well dressed professionals here. They were in casual wear, but still spiffy enough for both of them. Nagisa wore a blue button-up shirt with brown pants and boots, with a khaki short brimmed hat nestled on top of his short cut blue hair. He was ecstatic that he was now free from the longer hair and pigtails, and felt himself again. Doubly so being examined to become an assassin for a prestigious contract killing agency like the ICA.

Karma, being roughly a foot taller than Nagisa in the three years since they graduated from Junior High, parted his hair with his bangs sweeping over the right side of his face, with a leather jacket over a red, long sleeved shirt, blue pants and sneakers. Should they be welcomed in as contract killers, Karma promised Nagisa to get some professional clothes for the both of them. Nagisa had to admit, getting something specifically tailored was new to him since most clothes came no where close to fitting his very petite frame.

Noticing his nervous friend shaking with anxiety in the long elevator ride up to the undisclosed conference room, Karma casually reached out to give him a comforting side hug. "Relax, man. You got this!" He said, reassuring Nagisa. "I'm sure you passed, too. I mean, yeah, you probably didn't score as high as yours truly, but the ICA would be insane not to hire you as well!" His tone sounded too cheerful, considering their future field of work. Nagisa smiled weakly, but didn't respond. His mind was racing too much from everything that was happening. He was still incredibly unsure of even going through with this profession...

Karma leaned into his ear, grinning devilishly. "Who knows? Today we might even meet the Hitman..."

Nagisa blinked, glancing to the side. "The what now?"

The taller of the two laughed. "That's right. You never heard of him!" He said, patting him on the back. "The Hitman is the top assassin in the entire world. Even better than the ones that taught us to assassinate Koro-sensei."

Nagisa tilted his head. "He's that good?"

"Without question. No one had ever seen his face, and if someone did, it would be the last thing they ever saw before he killed them. He's an urban legend to many, like the boogeyman."

"Wow..." Nagisa was enamored. How could someone like him measure up to a legend like the Hitman? After the scores he obtained in his exam, there were whispers about how they hadn't seen anything like Nagisa's skills in such a long time. They couldn't be comparing him to the Hitman, could they...?

"Is he better than even the Reaper?"

Karma was about to elaborate more as they had just arrived at their floor. "I'll tell you more about it later." He whispered. Silently, they checked in with the receptionist up front and were taken inside a sound proof conference room. They sat down, waiting for further instruction.

Gathering up her files, photographs, and a thumb drive of the footage from the exams, evaluations and simulation mission, Diana stuffed them in a manila envelope as she strode out of her office to meet the new initiates of the ICA. After she oversaw the evaluation of their tests, Diana did a further deep dive on Nagisa Shiota and Karma Akabane.

From what she gathered, they were part of a very unusual year in Junior High in Japan, not only being victims of student abuse and neglect, but also endured training to become assassins to kill their teacher, whom was dubbed Koro-sensei by both of them. Some further research of Koro-sensei lead to background checks on an assassin known as "the Reaper", surprisingly not in relation to Agent 47. Not much was known of the Reaper after some experiments were performed on him, but it was assumed that the Reaper became Koro-sensei and somehow got multiple professional assassins involved in training Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Junior High into becoming trained killers themselves.

The entire premise was a mess, considering the fact 47 assassinated the principal responsible for the mistreatment of 3-E after his subsequent termination. She pondered what sort of acquisition these two young men would be? Reports stated how mentally unwell the two were, and yet, they were tops in their evaluations, even scoring high in torture, stealth, execution, and performed splendidly in the simulation mission.

Approaching the conference room, Diana pushed the doors open, and smiled warmly at the initiates. "Nagisa Shiota. Karma Akabane." She began as she walked to the table and shook their hands. "I'm Diana Burnwood. Welcome to the International Contract Agency."

Nagisa's heart nearly stopped at the sound of Diana entering the room. Both boys immediately stood up, bowing respectfully before gratefully shaking her hand in a proper business fashion before taking a seat once more.

"It's truly an honor to meet you in person, Miss Burnwood.", Karma greeted in his typical charismatic way. While he normally would test authority figures, he knew very well what people he shouldn't cross and Miss Burnwood was one of them. She was a Handler for the world's most infamous assassin for a reason.

"Likewise, Karma." Diana said, nodding.

"So, when do we get to meet the Hitman?" Karma asked bluntly, not even missing a beat. Nagisa nudged him, absolutely flustered he would even ask such a question.

"Karma..."

"What? I know he works here. What's bad about meeting him?"

"Don't embarrass us, alright?" Nagisa said as his head hung low, already feeling sheepish. "It's not a good look."

Diana raised an eyebrow before smiling coyly. In time, she'd teach him about ICA's top assassin, but they had pressing matters first. "He's halfway across the world on assignment." She said, taking a seat.

Karma slumped back into he chair, huffing. "Aw, man. That's a drag."

Diana's smile persisted. "After we're done discussing your ranks and how ICA will handle you, we can talk about him further." She then tapped the manila envelope on the table. "The main reason you're here is to discuss your recent evaluation. I've went over all of the results of the tests and the simulation, and I'm proud to say you both passed with flying colors.

Nagisa's face lit up at the news. It wasn't surprising Karma had passed but he was so happy he made the cut too. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his chest. Karma grinned at him, proud of his friend. They would definitely have to go celebrate after they were done here. Diana, however, continued.

"However..." She leaned forward, her eyes piercing the both of them. "Many details about you two are... concerning."

The boys nodded. Nagisa, as did Karma, knew there would come a time to where they'd have to address anything the ICA wanted to know about them.

"I understand, Miss Burnwood." Nagisa acknowledged, making sure to contain his excitement and remain professional. "I know mine and Karma's cases are very...unique, to say the least. We'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have about us."

Karma leaned back, his arm hung over the back of the chair. "We have nothing to hide." He said with a confident grin. "Not like we can, even if we tried. This is the ICA, after all. If your intel team couldn't pull up our entire backgrounds, then I would be questioning this organization's abilities."

"Luckily for you, we have only the best." Diana quipped as she grabbed the envelope. "Perhaps you can shed a bit of light for us on the details our intel teams couldn't procure." Slipping out a few papers, Diana looked them over, before eyeing Nagisa and Karma.

"While it's no secret the examiners spoke highly of you, the psyche tests have produced some equally clashing results. You both displayed incredible prowess in assassination, improvisation and adaptation. In a moment, we'll go over how you both did in the sims, but that leads from how you both were evaluated psychologically." She leafed through a few pages before setting her papers down. "The psychologists here at ICA have deemed you both to be neuroatypical. A diagnosis not too uncommon with our assassins, but you two almost frightened a few of our mediators."

She then glanced toward the golden eyed young man.

"Karma, it's been stated you are sociopathic, sadistic and incredibly manipulative. Our experts were nearly swayed by you, and that's a legitimate concern for us here. How can we be certain you won't manipulate ICA for your own agenda?

Karma expected the results of his psyche evaluation to be brought up. He had definitely seen his fair share of therapists in his life time to know that his diagnoses were anything but normal. Karma had a long history of violent and sadistic behavior, often deemed out of control from his teachers.

"I have to say, Miss Burnwood, I am quite surprised." Karma replied smoothly. "I would have thought my case wouldn't be so unique as to scare your staff. Though, I've often been told I am high maintenance." He let out a small chuckle at that. "Don't worry. I'm not interested in manipulating the Agency for a hostile takeover. On top of that, I have no desire to harm anyone other than who I'm contracted to kill. It's not my style to go after innocent people. It's counter intuitive and a huge waste of time. The only thing on my agenda is to take down true cancers of society."

Diana watched the young man closely. Karma was incredibly smooth and charismatic, but that wouldn't deter her from being steadfast against the initiate. "All the same," She started. "While your skills are more than welcome, it's apparent how effective you can be at persuasion and instilling fear. How you may feel about your future targets is your prerogative, but don't go on thinking that ICA is some idealistic company that thinks itself as high and mighty. We're nothing more than a neutral firm with ties all over the world, and we task our agents to assassinate those that are otherwise bad people in their own right."

Leaning back, Diana continued. "That being said, you can still be prone to getting carried away with yourself, despite your excellence in such things as torture, which you so clearly displayed during the simulation. You're now in ICA's employ, so I would suggest you keep yourself professional when out on the field. It's not worth jeopardizing a mission or invalidating a contract to sate your wanton need for suffering." She then offered a smirk. "...Unless it is stated within the contract to do so."

Karma smirked impishly. "Of course, Miss Burnwood." He said. "Going against ICA's policies isn't something I would dream of doing. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It would be foolish to throw that all of way just because of my own selfish desires." Karma propped his head up with a fist, resting on it as he was relishing the idea of being a fully fledged assassin. "You're absolutely right, however. The client's wishes in the contract will first and foremost be honored. Once an assignment starts, our morals no longer matter. After all, we have the right to accept or deny a contract, do we not?"

Nagisa had been awfully quiet as the two were talking. The blue haired initiate was shuffling in his chair with an anxious feeling brewing in his chest. He was watching this back and forth with Diana with a bit of uneasiness, knowing that his mental record was far from clean as well. It was only a matter of time before it was his turn.

Diana licked her lips, choosing her words carefully. While a lot of what the Agency did was unethical, and in some ways, morally bankrupt, he didn't want Karma to have an inflated ego and approach each contract with a hammer.

"That may be true. You're free to refuse a contract, and you can complete it any way you so desire if you choose to accept it, so long as the agreement is fulfilled. But it's important you maintain a professional air about you. You're not a barbarian, Karma. You're an Agent. Do your best to remember that."

Diana's tone was curt and to the point, nipping that subject in the bud before Karma could try to convince her to be as ruthless as possible on his missions. Maybe it had been her history with working alongside Agent 47, but she expected other Agents to be as professional as he would be, though even she was aware people would get carried away by violent desires.

Her attention was then diverted over to Nagisa, who had been displaying signs of nervousness as the pair spoke to each other. Leaning forward, her tone changed. "While Karma is a cause for concern on his end, this leads me to you, Nagisa." She said, before she tapped her thumbs together as she cast her gaze down. Nagisa was a difficult case. One could say a bit more than Karma would be. His history and his own psyche was... complicated. "I want to reiterate that what you said to the psychologists was recorded, and I may end up playing the recording back in order to get a clear idea of why you are they way you are. If you so desire, do you wish to have Karma leave so we can talk alone?"

Karma was more than prepared to leave Nagisa alone temporarily to discuss matters between the two. He got up from his chair, about to head for the door, with a smile to his friend. However, Nagisa swiftly grabbed his friend's arm, giving him a pleading gaze to stay before turning his attention back over to Diana.

"I trust Karma more than anyone else in the world." Nagisa said. "He's not just a co-worker, or even an old classmate. He's a good friend. I would actually prefer that he stay. He knows about my past and he has my consent to hear our conversation."

Karma smiled, sitting back down. "Aw, Nagisa! I had no idea you had feelings towards me! Alright, if you want me to, I'll stay. I can even hold your hand if that will make you feel better!" Karma teased. Nagisa released the taller red head, suddenly embarrassed by his choice of words.

"Th-that's not what I meant!" He said, exasperated as his face turned red. Karma laughed, satisfied with the smaller boy's reaction. Even after all this time, Karma had not stopped teasing Nagisa.

Diana couldn't help but smile at the two. They were no doubt inseparable. It was going to be difficult for them to be going solo on their career paths as agents.

The blue haired initiate sighed, calming himself before speaking up to the veteran Handler. "Okay, Miss Burnwood. What would you like to know?"

With a nod, Diana produced the thumb drive from the manila, as she plugged it into a computer that was hooked up to a giant screen behind them.

"I'd like to go over your... interesting ideas of disguises." She said as she grabbed a remote from the center of the table. Pressing a button, she replayed footage from Nagisa's portion of the simulation. In the footage, Nagisa wore what looked like a woman's haltertop, skirt and heels, with his normally forehead covering bangs hastily parted to one side to give off a pixie hairstyle.

"Here you are, just before you set to tail the target, procuring the clothes from one of our female actors." Diana pointed out. "Disguises aren't an uncommon thing, but to dress in drag is an entirely different matter on its own. The most impressive detail is how incredibly well you passed as a woman, even to the target."

Nagisa was reminded of the creative way he took down the target during the simulation. He took advantage of his androgynous appearance to fool the target actor, even seducing him to get them in an isolated area to take him out. Nagisa flushed with embarrassment, not even wanting to look at the screen. Karma couldn't help but chuckle. It never ceases to amuse him when Nagisa dresses in feminine clothes.

Diana paused the footage, before pressing another button, now showing Nagisa in the interrogation room in between his exams. "From your time with the psychologists, however, we seem to know why that's the case." She let the footage play, this time the sound was present.

"...And this all started with your mother?"

"Yeah. She told me so many times that she always wanted to have a daughter. Everything was just projected onto me to be her perfect little girl."

"But you don't see yourself as a woman?"

"No. I'm a boy. Always have been."

"And from what I understand, your hair was longer before? Did she make you keep it that way?"

"She did. Mom would never let me cut my hair, would never let me dress in my own clothes, or even let me do anything that wasn't what she wanted. Every time I defied her, she would go into a very dark place, and fly off the handle. She's the reason I read people so easily."

Diana paused the footage, before turning back to Nagisa. "The first time I heard that, I could barely believe it. I thought you were simply being ingenious, and you probably were during the simulation, but to hear something that far rooted into you is... inhumane."

Coming from the Handler of Agent 47, that said a lot. It took quite a bit to unsettle Diana, but considering how she cared for Victoria, and how her own parents raised her before their deaths, she couldn't imagine how someone's own family could nearly destroy someone. People were monsters, simple as that.

"Your mother abused you, that much is obvious. In what ways did her abuse affect you?" She asked.

Opening up about his abuse was a huge step for Nagisa. He was grateful that Diana was being sensitive toward his situation. "Mom and I are mending things together ever since I graduated from school, but the damage was already done." He answered truthfully. "I wouldn't wish what she did to me on my worst enemies. I still don't know if I have it in my heart to truly forgive her."

Diana nodded, understanding Nagisa perfectly. She could tell that his mother did a lot of reprehensible things, and while she only had an idea of what she did to the poor young man, the fact she shaped him into a deadly assassin was drawing a ton of parallels to another...

"One thing's for certain," He continued. "I know she had an effect on me, especially when it came for discovering my natural talent. Every time I went into bloodlust, it's like I know everything my opponent is about to do and I don't think I would have ever discovered that talent if it hadn't been for my mom."

"That was another thing I was about to bring up with you, Nagisa." Diana said. "This 'bloodlust' was touched on a lot during your psyche evaluation. Considering the way your own mother shaped you into someone so calculating, this is what concerned me and many others within the ICA." She pressed a few buttons on the remote before playing back the footage again.

"Tell me more about this bloodlust."

"It's hard for me to describe. It's as if I go into a different state of mind, not thinking of anything else except killing the target. Things just become normal for me, like I'm walking to school, or going to the store to pick up the milk. I just smile, walk toward my target, and the last thing they realize, they're dead."

"...And when you slip into this bloodlust, nothing else comes to mind except killing your target?"

"Yeah. Nothing else."

"Now, what happens after your target is dead? What do you think about after your mission is completed?"

". . ."

"Nagisa?"

"...I think about when I get to kill another target. About when I get to kill again."

The video paused, and Diana turned to face the young assassin. "Needless to say, you stumped our experts in a big way. They thought you to be psychopathic, but unlike Karma, you're not egotistical, and you certainly don't manipulate others for your own means. On your own, you're a very nice, professional, and conversational person. But what they concluded what your bloodlust was is nothing more than what we call a very sharp killing intent. That level of focus is unlike anything we had seen before."

Nagisa nodded. The concern was understandable, seeing how unpredictable he was in that state. Even hearing it be played back to him made Nagisa feel uneasy. He remained silent, as his gaze was cast downward at his lap. Diana smirked, though, knowing full well Karma was going to like this detail.

"Not since our top assassin was initiated into the ICA." She said.

"Woah, excuse me!?" Karma asked as his eyes widened, knowing exactly who Diana was referring to. Nagisa's head perked up the moment his voice rose. "Hold on a sec!" He shouted. "Are you telling me Nagisa is second best to the Hitman?!"

Diana nodded.

Nagisa shook his head in disbelief. "What?! Miss Burnwood, I... That... Y-you can't really be serious!" He was exasperated, shaking his hands and trying to downplay himself. "Y-you must be mistaking me for someone else. I can't really be that special. I'm just a normal guy from Tokyo. This Hitman... Well... he's..." Nagisa couldn't find the right words to describe him. He didn't even really know who he was until Karma mentioned him briefly on the elevator ride up.

"No way!" Karma said. "That's the Hitman you're talking about, Miss Burnwood! No one, no onedoes it better than he does! Nagisa's good, but even he's not that good!" Even Nagisa could agree with Karma. He was still humble to accept that he had much to learn, especially with his bloodlust, but if the Hitman was like a phantom that no one ever knew about, Nagisa couldn't even hold a candle to someone like that...

"He is something special." Diana said as her smirk persisted. "I must say, we've never had anyone that would give him an equal."

Nagisa and Karma were stunned silent. They both could barely believe what they were hearing. Diana relished it, however. To tell someone they matched her star agent was the highest compliment to be given, and not to be taken lightly.

"When I watched the footage, you showed remarkable parallels." She said. "It was almost uncanny with how focused and pinpoint you could be, Nagisa. So when I say that you're that good..." Diana then slipped a photo out of the manilla, and handed it over to the initiates. "...You'd better believe that ICA sees you as a phenominal asset, just as this particular individual."

While Nagisa couldn't believe the immense praise he was getting for his talent in assassination. He was still trying the process that he was now a professional killer, let alone one of their top agents. When the photo was handed to the pair, Karma took it, and looked image over. He couldn't believe it! Was that the very same person he had heard so much about?

"Miss Burnwood..." Karma started, blinking and trying to process it. "Is that... the Hitman?"

Diana nodded, blinking slowly. "That is Agent 47. ICA's top assassin, and an urban legend the world over. As we have also discovered..." Her gaze fell on the shorter initiate. "...You match 47's finesse perfectly, Nagisa."

He looked over the photo with Karma. So, this was what the world's mysterious and deadliest assassin looks like. Nagisa looked at him in awe. Normally he could get an idea about what kind of person someone was just by their features alone, but this man... He was unreadable. That alone made someone the ideal person for this line of work.

There were very few people Nagisa couldn't read. He never saw the man work, and 47 was already perfect...

"I wasn't sure what I was expecting." Nagisa finally said about several minutes of silence. "But it certainly wasn't a bald man in a suit."

"A far cry from the overzealous, bloodthirsty killers you've come to know back in your old school, is he not?" Diana asked. ICA knew of Nagisa and Karma's history with past assassins teaching them along with Koro-sensei. Each of them were over the top as one could get, including the infamous Irina Jelavic of Serbia. Seeing 47 must have been something radically different for the both of them.

"I can't believe this is the Hitman..." Karma breathed, before laughing. "No one has ever seen this man, Nagisa! If we were his targets, we'd be dead without a word. They don't call him the Silent Assassin for nothing."

"That's precisely how he operates." Diana added. "47 is popular, and our most in demand assassin the ICA has on offer. He's focused, committed, and will complete whatever contract that has been assigned to him to the letter. Our clients often have to make absolutely certain they wish to hire 47."

Karma looked over to Nagisa. "And to think, you nearly match him..." He said. "Guess I can't compete with that, can I?"

"That's not to say you're a slouch either, Karma." Diana said. "You both are extremely skilled. Nagisa is just very special. We've never seen anyone like him since 47."

Getting a closer look at the assassin's features, he couldn't even determine a country of origin. He was the perfect mix of races, making him ideal to blend in no matter where he was currently located in the world. Nagisa wished he could know his story, but knew it was for the best to keep that a mystery.

Was it really true? Was he really an equal to the Silent Assassin himself? Maybe he really was meant for this line of work all along. It made him wonder what Koro-sensei would think of all of this...

"Regardless of skill, we are very grateful to have even made it this far." Nagisa said. "Just so you know, Miss Burnwood, Karma and I work best as a team. If you want to have us perform well, we'd have to become a package deal."

Diana pursed her lips as she thought a moment. E-Class's files indicated that every single student in that class functioned as a unit, and even saw each other as close friends, even family. Something Director Eric Soders would no doubt use as leverage should the pair become turncoat assassins. But there was something special about these two. Despite their mental issues and nuances, they were incredible professional killers. Nagisa, especially.

To match 47 is damn near inconceivable, but it seemed that it was possible.

Assassin teams within ICA weren't uncommon, but they were also rarely implemented. There could be a chance these two would certainly shine...

"Yes, I had a feeling you two would be." Diana said. "Were your whole class here, you lot would probably be the largest team of assassins the ICA had ever hired. But a duo of assassins is always welcome. After all, not everyone is 47."

"You got that right." Karma said. "But you're talking to two people taught by Koro-sensei. We may not be the Hitman, but we'll definitely get the job done. I don't think you or the big wigs will regret having us work for you."

The veteran Handler nodded. "Very well. I'll have a word with the board to see that you two are paired together on missions." She said. "As for your Handler, I think I have an idea of who to ask. I'll be hand selecting one for the both of you personally."

Karma tilted his head. "So, you won't be our handler, then?"

Diana shook her head. "I can't. 47 is already a handful for me."

Nagisa nodded. "I understand. Being a handler for someone like him is a lot of work."

With a smile, Diana stood up, unplugging the flash drive and replacing the photos back in the manila, slipping it under her arm. "You can certainly see I've got my work cut out for him." She quipped. "With that said, I think that's all to discuss regarding your results. If you like, I'll walk you out."

The duo stood up as they followed suit while Diana lead the way. "So, where do we go from here, then?"

"You disappear." She said, echoing what she said to 47 twenty years ago when he passed the final exam. "Stay on the move, and blend in with the world. When we need you, we'll contact you."

Karma chuckled. "Nagisa's pretty good at that." He said. "He's always been as sneaky as a snake, even back in E-Class."

Nagisa smiled as he ducked his head a bit, almost bashful from that compliment. While Diana smiled as she turned to them while they walked. "I trust you two will be quiet when on your downtime. Just try not to have too much fun out there."

"Of course, Miss Burnwood." Nagisa said, nodding. "We'll be good."

"We don't get to party?" Karma pouted. "That's lame."

"You should have thought of that before you joined." Diana deadpanned. "The life of an assassin has no room for debauchery."

"And yet the Hitman spoils himself with a nice bespoke suit?" Karma asked.

Diana paused before smirking. "Touche..."

As they reached the lift, they entered and descended to the first floor. On the short ride there, Diana couldn't help but sate her curiosity.

"I've actually wondered, boys." She began. "You two are obviously skilled in assassination after your days in E-Class. But... what was it like? Killing your teacher?"

Karma and Nagisa looked at each other before their gazes fell to the floor. A silence washed over as the two reminisced silently about Koro-sensei and the way he made every student in E-Class a much better person. Were it not for him, it'd be a wonder if they'd be where they even are in life currently, let alone being a part of the ICA.

Nagisa was the first to speak. "That was probably the hardest thing I ever had to do." He said. "We had to do it, but killing Koro-sensei took all my strength to go through with it. I cried for hours after I drove that knife into him."

Karma nodded. "First time I ever cried, too." He said. "We all cared deeply for Koro-sensei. Having to kill a target you love is the hardest thing anyone can do."

Nagisa looked at Diana sullenly. "I just hope the ICA doesn't task us to do anything like that again."

Diana thought for a moment. 'Killing someone you love'. Is that what it was like when 47 tried to kill her years ago? When Benjamin Travis took over the Agency, after Diana froze everyone's accounts and drained the ICA dry to keep Victoria away, she nearly paid for it with her life at 47's hands, yet the Hitman never pulled the trigger in the end.

It was still something 47 and Diana never talked about at great length. Both preferred to keep it that way.

Diana serenely smiled at the pair, shaking her head. "We won't." She said. "ICA will never make you undertake a contract that involves killing a loved one. Quite the contrary. Just as Karma said, you'll mostly be eliminating really bad people who are the worst. Dictators, corrupt politicians, to the typical scum that society has bred. We may deal in blood money, but we're not monsters."

Karma and Nagisa smiled at that. "Maybe we may just enjoy working here as assassins." Karma said with a beaming smile.

Diana nodded as the lift doors opened and were lead to the door. Before she held it open for them, she spoke once more.

"You should be able to hear from me in a day or two regarding your new Handler." She said. "By that time, we should also have your first mission ready to go. If I were you, I'd sharpen up your wardrobe before setting off. You never know when you might need to look professional."

Karma smiled as he wrapped an arm around Nagisa's shoulders. "Don't worry, Miss Burnwood. I've already promised Nagisa I'd get him some new clothes after this was over. Next time you see us, our new clothes are gonna put the Hitman to shame!"

"I'll be sure to let him know he has competition in fashion." Diana quipped. "I have a feeling you two are going to make quite the splash in the ICA."

"As a team of assassins, too!" Karma quipped. "Which, do you mind if we share a name I came up with?"

"Please do."

"How about you call us Echo Team?"

Nagisa looked up at Karma. "Echo Team?" He asked.

"Yeah, you know! Echo as in the NATO alphabet? Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo? Echo as in E? Like our time in E-Class?"

Nagisa thought for a bit, and his eyes lit up. "Hey, I actually like that, Karma!" He said, smiling wide. "I like our name being Echo Team! It's a great way to honor Koro-sensei!"

"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Karma said, before turning back to Diana. "What do you think, Miss Burnwood?"

Diana crossed her arms and smiled. "You boys are something else." She said. "So be it. I'll be sure to pass along to the board that you two will be designated as Echo Team from now on. I'll let your new Handler know about it as well." She then held the door open. "Just remember. Don't call us. We'll call you."

"Wouldn't think about calling you." Karma winked. "You guys aren't that great for small talk, anyway."

The two walked out as Diana waved at them. "Good luck out there, Echo Team." She called out before closing the door. As she walked away, she whispered to herself as the new initiates walked away from ICA HQ.

"You boys are going to make quite the killing..."