Taste Test

The streets of Kunugioka were full of people who all had their own thoughts and errands to take care of. Some of their minds were occupied with their works, some of them wondered what they would do with their loved ones and some of their thoughts focused on their free time.

And then there were those people who were worrying about an approaching destruction of the world.

"Hurry up!" a black haired boy shouted to his friend over his shoulder while running forward. "We have to get to the shop before that game is sold out!"

"Slow down a little!" a brown haired boy answered as he followed his friend.

Isogai stopped for a moment and glanced at the boys who had just ran past him. A faint smile rose on his face after hearing the reason behind their urgency in passing.

"Those kids seems so carefree that I'm a little bit jealous," Isogai thought to himself before he continued walking. "They know nothing about that the world may be destroyed next year. Or that the creature who's going to do it is my class' homeroom teacher."

It had been a week since Korosensei had started as the homeroom teacher of Kunugioka Junior High School Class 3-E. And during that time Class E students had tried to assassinate the octopus-like teacher. Unsuccessfully, of course.

Isogai sighed. "I still can't understand why the Government decided to put junior high school kids in charge of killing the super fast and super dangerous creature. I mean, of course Mr. Karasuma explained why, but still! Shouldn't this belong to professional adults? We Class E students have our own problems."

But then again, Isogai was also interested in that promised 10 billion yen bounty…

As he reached the cafe Kunugi-Kaze, Isogai forced all those thoughts about school and assassination elsewere. It was time to get to work again.


That day there were less customers than usually, so in addition of customer service Isogai also took care of the cafe's tidiness and other small works that his coworkers didn't have time for.

Isogai enjoyed working in the cafe. Of course the work had its bad moments but his employer and coworkers were nice and, most importantly, it helped Isogai's family financially.

As long as none of teachers or main campus students would visit the cafe, Isogai could work without worry.

The door opened and Isogai turned to greet a new customer with smile: "Welco...me…"

His smile froze as he saw a tall man entering the cafe. Or actually the word 'man' was incorrect. He had a wig, fake nose and gloves that made him look more humanlike but he was still wearing the same clothes he used at school, not to mention his wide, teeth revealing grin.

"Good afternoon," Korosensei said politely.

"Hi…" Isogai squeaked nervously.

The disguised teacher walked calmly further and sat down at the empty table.

For a second Isogai was too stunned to do anything but after remembering that he was at work, he forced himself to walk to his homeroom teacher's table. When he stopped next to the table, Isogai tried to sound kind as he pulled a notepad and ballpoint pen out of his pocket and asked the usual question: "So… What would you like to have?"

"I would like to have an explanation, Isogai," Korosensei answered with serious tone. "I'm sure you're aware that the school forbids students from having a part-time job."

Isogai's grip on the notepad tightened. "Yes, I know the rules," the boy answered. However, he didn't break the eye contact with his teacher. "But my family is poor and my mother can't always work due to her health issues. I have to help somehow."

"It's very admirable, Isogai. I've already noticed that you're responsible and trustworthy boy," Korosensei noted in a tone that actually sounded understanding. But then he added: "However, as your teacher I have to make sure that my students follow the school's regulation. Otherwise I'll be fired and I have to leave the school. And then the opportunities to kill me will decrease while the risk of the world getting destroyed will increase. Not to mention that you'll lose your opportunity for that hefty bounty the Government has promised for killing me."

Isogai's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Can you really be fired even if it might put the world in danger?" he asked quietly.

Korosensei nodded and Isogai lowered his gaze melancholically.

"It didn't occur to me that Korosensei could lose his job. I thought that he would be kept in the school at any cost," he thought discouragedly and sighed. "I don't have choice then. I have to accept my punishment…"

"My, my, my. What should I do?" Korosensei started suddenly bemoaning.

Isogai rose his gaze and stared at his homeroom teacher questioningly.

Korosensei rested his chin against his crossed hand-like tentacles and stared at the table thoughtfully. "This is very difficult choice," he continued his monologue. "Which one should I be? Stern or merciful teacher? Or could there be an another option? Oh, how I wish that I've something sweet to help me make a decision. Something so good that I would forget unpleasant things like this."

Isogai didn't know what to say. Was Korosensei hinting something or was he just kidding? You could never be sure about him.

Korosensei glanced at his student. "Did you know, Isogai, that sugar directly affects the pleasure center in the brain? That's why I'm so often in a good and forgiving mood," Korosensei told, emphasizing the word 'forgiving'.

Okay. That was obvious.

"Would you like a slice of cheesecake? It's today's specialty," Isogai asked with more confident tone as he clicked the tip of the ballpoint pen out.

"Is it good enough that I would forget my unpleasant duty?"

"Our menu is full of great options that would surely please you. If you still want to think about your order, I can return later."

"No thank you. Surprise me."

Isogai blinked, surprised by this request. "Excuse me?" he finally managed to ask.

Korosensei leaned a little closer his student. "You're one of the assassins targeting me, Isogai," the octopus-like creature reminded with so quiet voice that Isogai barely heard him. "If you want to succeed, you have to know how to use the information you and your classmates have gathered about me."

"Oh… Of course," Isogai answered before he clicked the tip of the ballpoint pen back inside the pen and put it into the pocket of his vest. "Hold on a moment, please. I'll return soon with your order." After a quick bow, he headed for the cafe's counter.


"Is everything alright, Isogai? Was the customer difficult?" Setsuna Yashikawa, a chubby woman whose brown hairs were tied in small bun, asked after the boy had walked behind the counter.

"More or less. But I'll take care of that," Isogai assured to his coworker. "But about his order… He wished that we would decide what to serve him."

Yashikawa rose her eyebrows. "This is first time I hear a request like that from a customer. Did he say anything about his preferences or allergies?" she asked. When the boy shook his head as an answer, Yashikawa glanced at Korosensei's direction. "Well… What do you think could please him?"

Isogai began thinking. When Korosensei was eating lunch with his students, Isogai had noticed that supercreature's lunch consisted almost exclusively a large pile of sweets. But Korosensei also went out of the school occasionally to eat some local specialties.

"Let's choose something sweet," Isogai decided. "But nothing ordinary, like cake or pie."

"What do you say about chocolate cupcakes? Some customers have praised them," Yashikawa suggested.

"Otherwise a good idea but they're quite small on their own."

"Alright. I hope you aren't planning to serve him a honey toast."

"Huh? What's wrong with it?"

"It's so big that customers can't finish it and then we have to dispose the rest of it. One of customers have even complained that it's too sweet."

Their conversation was interrupted when a young couple stepped into the cafe. Yashikawa went to greet them while Isogai was left there to ponder.

"Too big and too sweet…" the boy thought to himself.


A moment later Isogai carried the honey toast and a cup of tea towards his teacher's table.

"Thank you for your patience," Isogai said with his customer service smile as he stopped at Korosensei's table and placed the honey toast and tea in front of him. "I hope you enjoy this."

"Hmmm… It does look good at least," Korosensei noted as he grabbed a fork and knife.

Isogai left Korosensei to eat while he himself went to do other works.

If the honey toast would please Korosensei, then everything would be fine given the situation. If not, then there was probably going to be one student – and an amateur assassin – less in Class E.


Minutes passed. Although Isogai had his hands full with his work, he couldn't help but glance occasionally at the direction of his homeroom teacher. Korosensei ate the honey toast peacefully and sipped his tea but Isogai wasn't sure if the octopus-like creature was pleased or not. That well Korosensei was upholding his skin-colored mask.

"Isogai. Would you take out the trash, please?" Yashikawa asked as she passed the boy while carrying empty dishes.

"Of course," Isogai answered dutifully. He glanced once more at his teacher before he left to carry out the chore.


The last trash bag flew inside a dumpster and Isogai closed its lid. But instead of returning back inside the cafe, Isogai stood still and stared the view in front of him.

A setting sun dyed the streets of Kunugioka a reddish orange hue, making clear to everybody that the evening made its arrival inevitably. This however didn't seem to rush people much. Three teenager boys talked to each other while walking down the street, a mother walked with her two children towards the home, a young woman was walking a dog and a middle-aged man pushed an elderly woman in a wheelchair. All of them had something to do before this day would end.

And the continuation of their days would depend on whether Korosensei would be killed before March.

As he watched the mother and her children going, Isogai began to think of his mother and younger siblings. If Korosensei would destroy the world, they wouldn't have any chance to survive.

"Mitsuru and Hachie*… They're so young and they've a whole life ahead of them. And mom… No… I can't even think of it. I don't want lose them too," Isogai thought grimly to himself. "If I would continue in Class E, then I could at least try to do something in order to rescue them and the whole world. But only if Korosensei decides not to tell about my part-time job…"

"A rather pleasant urban view."

Isogai almost jumped in fright before he quickly turned to face Korosensei who was standing behind him. "Can you please not appear behind the backs of people without warning, Korosensei?" he asked, sounding a little annoyed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I was going to leave but before that I wanted to talk with you," the supercreature told with calm grin.

Isogai tensed. The moment of truth had arrived.

"The honey toast you served was delicious," Korosensei said. "I noticed that you had taken into account my eating habit and preference when chosing the dish. The tea you had chosen didn't quite fit but I let it slip."

Class representative's eyes widened. "Do you mean that you won't tell the school about my work?"

Korosensei nodded. "I keep my word. You can also think your working as some kind of exercise. Assassins have to take risks and know how to hide their doing from their opponent."

"Yes!" Isogai shouted in joy as he threw his arms in the air. This earned confused looks from bypassers but the boy didn't notice them. He smiled at his homeroom teacher. "Thank you, Korosensei. I swear I'll do my best at school," Isogai promised.

It seemed like Korosensei's grin had widened. "I'll be waiting with interest to see what kind of ways you and your classmates are using to kill me," the octopus-like teacher said. This time he didn't use his protective coloring but let the green stripes on his face show.

"We'll kill you. I promise," Isogai answered confidently.

"This is going to be fun," Korosensei chuckled before the green stripes disappeared. "But now I've to go to prepare for tomorrow's school day. See you tomorrow, Isogai. Be sure to have a good night's sleep."

"Yes, Korosensei. See you tomorrow!" Isogai answered with smile.

Korosensei disappeared immediately and Isogai began walking towards the staff door. It felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders and it was reflected in his steps. Of course Isogai knew that he wasn't completely safe but right now he didn't bother to worry about it.

There was still hope in the world.

The End


*Author's note: Since Matsui didn't give names for Isogai's siblings, I thought they could be Mitsuru and Hachie.