Kayano was walking on the streets with Nagisa and Okano. They held onto their umbrellas as they looked at a guy who fell to the ground. A girl hugged the arms of another boy who carried an umbrella. They watched the boy beaten up by a group of bulk-sized students. They laughed at him.

"I know that Maehara is a jerk but he doesn't deserve this", Kayano said. She props her hands on the wooden table of the lab. "I mean, yeah, he messed around with the wrong girl, and she already goes out with Seo Tomoya of Class A".

"But they didn't have to be so mean to him", Okano pouted. She props her hand on the other side of the table. "It's the rainy season and they broke his umbrella. What happens if Maehara gets sick from this?"

"So, Okuda-san", Nagisa said. He sits beside Kayano. "Can we ask for help?"

The twin braided girl holds her two flasks. She nodded.

=itl=

The orange haired boy props his hand on the wooden table of the lab. Okano helped him get there. She went out of the lab to talk to Koro-sensei. He spots the twin braided girl tinkering with some resin.

"Seriously, I'm okay", Maehara chuckled. "I could follow the lesson. And I didn't get sick. Those guys were just too worried about me".

Manami hums. "Then, what's pH?"

Maehara frowns. "We were studying what?"

Manami shakes her head. "Koro-sensei spent 20 minutes explaining it on the board. And Okano-san told me your temperature was 38°C. She was glad when it dropped during break time".

Maehara chuckles. "That's interesting. Usually, you would stutter. But when it comes to Science, you don't".

Manami gripped her flask. "I-Is that weird?"

Maehara shakes his head. "Not really". He sighed. "But it got me thinking. At some point, I thought you were weaker than me. We're both classmates but we're different in strength. You're more of the book type while I'm more of the combatant".

He looked down. "If we were in a different class, would I have picked on you?" He scrunched his face. His eyes closed.

"Well, then, Maehara-kun", Manami said. He looked at her. "How about now?"

She lights the flask with a torch. Her glasses glint. Small mutters of laughter came from her smile. Maehara moved his seat. "No. I'm sorry for calling you weak".

She giggled. "I'm used to people calling me weak". She turns off her torch. "But I don't agree with picking on other people. I think, even if Maehara-kun and I were both book smart, there would still be some subjects you're better at than I do. That could make us want to put the other down".

She organises the flask. "But picking on and putting down other people is a waste of time. It doesn't produce Science discoveries, and without Science, modern society does not evolve. We would only be able to send letters once a month rather than texting for hours. Even worse, we would probably still be using the tin can phones we made when we were little".

She turns on the bunsen. "I believe that making a connection with people is better". She splits open the mould. The resin is ready. "And while words are great, poisons are better". Maehara gulped.

=itl=

The operation group rented a place at a two-story inn. Sugino looked through his telescope. Seo Tomoya almost tripped the old man. He and the girl laughed at the old couple. Luckily, the old man made his way into his seat with the old woman following him.

"Wow, that's Kayano and Nagisa?" he said. "If I didn't know any better, I would really think of them as an old couple. Way to go, Sugaya".

"I've been touching up on my disguise skills", Sugaya said. His hands holding another pair of telescopes. "I put them in a party mask and made some adjustments. Still, I couldn't fool Koro-sensei".

The octopus teacher made its way to the two boys. "Is everyone here?" They nod. The octopus nerufufu. "Let the operation begin".

Nagisa's phone vibrates. Sugino relayed Koro-sensei's command to start the operation. Nagisa looks at Kayano. They nodded; a grandpa and grandma telepathy.

"Dear, do you think there is a bathroom over here?" the grandma said. "I have been looking at the one in the convenience store 200 metres down the road".

"Nonsense. Use the bathroom here", the grandpa said. "They should let you since we're customers".

"Alright, dear. I will go inside", the grandma said. "I will be carrying the bag with me so you don't have to hold it".

"Alright, dear", the grandpa said. The elderly couple's food arrived. The grandpa thanked the waiter. Not for long, the bowl of food in grandpa's hands drops on the ground.

"Be careful", Seo Tomoya said. He stood up from his seat.

"Yeah, is that a way to treat your food?" the girl said. She stood up from her seat.

"I'm sorry. After my wife comes back, we will be on our way", the grandpa said. He picked up the bowl.

The couple sits back down. "Honestly, elderly people are the worst. They don't appreciate the food. What business do they have here?" Seo Tomoya said. He sips on his coffee.

"I'm sorry. Usually, only smart crowds hang around here", the girl said. She sips on her coffee.

"By the way, Kaho", Seo Tomoya said. "The coffee is exquisite".

"Definitely. The coffee grounds are imported from a year-round coffee bean specialist in the tropical regions", Kaho laughs as she sips her coffee.

"But, Kaho", Seo Tomoya holds his stomach. "Why do I have misbehaving butterflies in my stomach?"

Kaho gasped. "Preposterous. Did you just make fun of my favourite coffee place?"

"No, I-" Seo Tomoya let out a gas. He paled.

"Seo-kun, you-" Kaho also let out a gas. She grabs her bags, running out of the seat. "This is what I get for sitting near some old farts".

The grandpa smiled. The young couple walked out on him. He sipped on his coffee. "Tastes good to me".

Over at the inn, Sugino relayed the scene to the sniper duo. "Nice", he remarked.

Chiba smiled. "A direct elevator to the loo".

"That was easier than landing a hit on a Mach 20 target", Hayami said.

"Say, Okuda, what did you put in those bullets?" Sugaya said.

"Laxative. I laced them with other extracts of healthy fruits and vegetables to help with their digestive bowels", Manami giggled. Her glasses glinted. "I call it; The Smoke That Thunders, the name of the largest waterfall on Earth". Sugaya rubs the back of his neck. Sugino shuddered.

The couple demanded the toilet inside the café. The waiter asked them to keep it down and wait for the customers inside the toilet. Embarrassed, the couple walked out. They walked fast in hopes of finding the 200 metre convenience store that the grandma had wanted to go to.

On top of a tree branch, three hooded figures chuckled. "Looks like they're right on time", the hooded figure with orange hair peeking out looks at the two umbrellas. "They have a lot of pride, so they would never think to disturb the private houses. Right?"

The three of them nodded. They sliced the branches of the tree that covers a part of the street. Seo Tomoya and Kaho screamed. Wet, without an umbrella and with little sanity left to spare, they run to a house. The girl who had her hood on giggled.

"They don't have much time to think of a better option", Okano said.

"Yup", Maehara said. "A mad rush to their beloved private house toilet".

A woman in an apron stood by the porch of her house. "Thanks for cutting out those branches for me. You guys are so skillful".

"It's no big", Isogai said. He laughed. "We're used to doing special ambu- I mean, we're used to cutting wood".

They made their way back to class. Koro-sensei and the operations team gathered around. Maehara steps in. He rubs the back of his neck. "How should I put this? I mean, guys. Thank you for helping me". Okano giggled. Isogai smiled. Kayano and Nagisa looked at each other and smiled.

"I couldn't do this without you. At first, I thought some of you were weak", Maehara rubs his head. Sugino and Sugaya sighed. Manami smiled. Chiba looked at Hayami who shook her head. "But today, I was proven wrong. You guys, with each of your weapons that I don't possess, helped me pull off a successful operation. Once again, thank you". Maehara smiled. The four people chuckled.

"So Maehara-kun", Koro-sensei said. "Do you believe that you could pick on people who are weaker than you?"

"No", he shakes his head. "Even if I were in a different class than 3E, and even if the elderly we saw weren't Nagisa and Kayano, I don't plan on going through it".

Koro-sensei's head pops a full circle. "That's right. Strength isn't measured only through the eyes; it can be found in all things. Even a small dung beetle can carry a sizeable heap of dirt".

He smiled. "In this classroom where you study and assassinate, behind the oblivious veils of the school that discriminates, you will probably have a hard time looking down at other people".

Maehara nods. "Thank you, Koro-sensei". A phone vibrates. Maehara chuckled. "Seems like that would be my date. I'll be going".

Everyone heaved their breath. So much for Koro-sensei's life consultation.

=itl=

Karma pops up the window. A box is placed on the wooden table. He reached for its contents. "Okuda-san, what's this?"

"Don't eat it", she screamed. He puts the chocolate down. "That's a laxative for Koro-sensei's operation team. Unfortunately, that's not a poison that can be used on him".

"Fortunately, I know how we can use this", he snickered. He holds a coffee flask. "A certain bully had some trouble going to the loo".

"Let's do it", she said. Her fist pumps the air.

A male with spiky dyed hair stopped by the school entrance. He sneezed. Another male with dirt blonde hair nudged him. "'Sup, Terasaka?"

He shakes his head. "It's nothing".

"Probably cos of the cold, right?"

"It's nothing, Muramatsu", he elbowed his side as his friend drags him off. A coffee flask is in his right hand.

Character info (by Manami):

Maehara Hiroto

Was bullied by his ex-girlfriend Tsuchiya Kaho and Kaho's new boyfriend Seo Tomoya. Was ill for a few days. After the revenge prank, he is healthy and has a new date. Not sure if that is good or bad.

Okano Hinata

Helps Maehara with the revenge prank. Didn't like it when he bolted straight out of the class to meet with his new date.

Tsuchiya Kaho

Maehara's ex-girlfriend who bullied him. The neighbourhood lady said that she is still in the bathroom.

Seo Tomoya

Kaho's current boyfriend who bullied Maehara. The neighbourhood lady said that he is disturbing the other house to use their bathroom.

Terasaka Ryouma

The class bully. Karma said he has poor stomach ache so hopefully the remaining laxative will help him.

Muramatsu Takuya

Hangs around Terasaka a lot. Not much is known about him.

Karasuma-sensei

Although Karasuma-sensei was organising his teaching material, he heard the ruckus in class. He told us about the importance of not using our knowledge against the other students. We're sorry, Karasuma-sensei.

The Smoke that Thunders is a translation for the name Victoria Falls from the Lozi language

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Assassination Classroom. Assassination Classroom is a series written by Yusei Matsui. The anime is produced by Lerche. This is a fanfiction to provide a character spotlight on Okuda Manami. Themes and characterisation may differ from the original series. Also uploaded on lavender1112 blogspot and AO3.