"Sorry, Okuda-san", Kayano said. "I paired up with Hayami-san".
"I'm sorry as well, Okuda-san", Kanzaki said. "Fuwa-san asked me to join her".
Manami couldn't believe her Group 4 girls would abandon her in sparring practice. She isn't the best in the subject, but at least she wants to practice with someone who could help her. She looks at the other girls. Nakamura is nice but she's good at sparring and she doesn't want to be a hindrance to her. Kurahashi is also nice but she was talking to Karasuma-sensei about improving her abilities.
"Okuda-chan", Hara said. "Want to be partners?"
She remembered the basketball match they had. Hara and Manami were playing in the same position in the two half. They supported one another. "Yes, I-I want to be Hara-san's partner".
They walked to a spot to practice. Hara ready her knife. "How much can you hold your knife?"
Manami swings her knife at her. "T-This much?"
Hara dodged. "Cool. So we're about the same".
Hara swings her knife at Manami. Manami dodged. They went back and forth for a while. They heard some knife work in the direction of Karasuma-sensei. He has gathered the best students to spar him.
"I'm jealous of them", Hara said. She swished her knife at Manami. "Must be nice to swing a knife at Karasuma-sensei who is like a hunk".
Manami dodged. She swings her knife at her. "Y-Yes, they get to have pointers from Karasuma-sensei himself".
A red hair flashed among the field. He swings his knife relentlessly at the trainer. "Okuda-san, focus", Hara said. She twisted Manami's arms. Manami took a fall.
"S-Sorry", Manami said. "K-Karma-kun swished his knife multiple times at Karasuma-sensei. But Karasuma-sensei dodges all of them. I-I wonder if I could dodge like that too".
Hara helped Manami up. She chuckled. "Usually, people wish they could be more like Karma-kun than Karasuma-sensei". She looked at Manami. "But are you sure you want to do it? You just fell over".
"I-It's okay", Manami said. "Come a-at me, Hara-san".
"Well, if you say so", Hara swings her knife at Manami. She dodged. A fast one appeared. She dodged again. She dodged as she counted her steps. "Wow, look at you, Okuda-chan. You might one-up Karasuma-sensei".
Manami dodged Hara's attack again. "T-Thank you". They both heard the girls' team grunts.
"Wow, look at Kataoka-san and Okano-chan go", Hara said. "I wish I could move that fast".
"H-Hara-san. Focus", Manami said. She twisted Hara's arm. Hara took a fall.
"What?" Hara said. "How did you do that Okuda-chan?"
Manami blushed. "I-I don't know", she said. She helped pull Hara up. "I'm sorry".
"No need to apologise. I did that to you first", Hara chuckled. She shakes her head. "First Karasuma-sensei's dodge. Then my arm thing. Okuda-chan, you might have a talent for this".
"R-Really?" Manami beamed. "I'm really happy. B-But Hara-san we didn't get to explore your talent yet".
"We did. Mine was the arm twist thing", Hara said. "That was sort of the first time I tried on a person. I watch somebody do it on the internet and practiced on some weighted dolls. I'm glad it worked out well".
A loud thud was heard from Karasuma-sensei's area. Hara and Manami turned around. They looked at the blue haired boy wincing in pain. "I'm sorry", Karasuma-sensei said. "I put too much force into that throw. Are you all right?" The boy brushed it off. Kayano and Sugino walked up to him.
Sugino chuckled. "You should have kept an eye on Karasuma-sensei". Nagisa sighed.
=itl=
The bell rang for the end of class. The class gathers around. Karasuma-sensei walked off.
"Man, I can't even land a hit on him", Kimura said.
"Yeah, he has like zero openings", Okajima said.
Kurahashi walked up to him. "Karasuma-sensei, would you like to have some snacks with us?"
"No, I appreciate the invitation but I have some work to do", Karasuma-sensei said.
"He even has zero openings in his private life", Mimura exclaimed.
"It's like he's putting a distance between us", Okano said.
"He takes good care of us but is it because he has to?" Kurahashi frowned.
A man carrying lots of bags greeted Karasuma-sensei by the stairs. "Yo, Karasuma", the man smiled.
"Takaoka", Karasuma-sensei gasped.
Manami and Hara exchanged looks. "A new teacher?"
"Yo, class. I'm Takaoka Akira. I'll be assisting Karasuma from today", Takaoka-sensei said. "Nice to meet you, Class E"
The new teacher walks down the stairs. He pulled out a blue mat from one of his shopping bags. Granted by magic, the mat is filled with all sorts of dessert. Kayano and a few others come out front. "Cake".
"Wow, it's from the brand Le Herms", Fuwa said.
"Wow, they must have cost a lot", Isogai fumbled. "Can we really eat it?"
"Dig in. I've emptied up my pockets just for you guys", Takaoka-sensei said.
"You know your sweets, sir" Yada mused.
"Yes, after all. Sweets and I are", Takaoka-sensei said. Hearts filled his eyes. "Love".
"He looks so cute for such a big guy", Sugaya said.
Nagisa popped out from behind him. "Will you be taking over the class from Karasuma-sensei tomorrow?"
"Yeah, orders from headquarters. Gotta help Karasuma with his workload", Takaoka-sensei hasn't finished his explanation. The pink tentacle teacher drools on Nakamura's cake. Nakamura keeps her cake close to her. "Ah, the famous Koro-sensei. Come here and eat with us". Despite the jovial invite, that didn't stop Koro-sensei from looking at Nakamura's cake.
"But, still, we will have to kill you", he winked at Koro-sensei. He puts on an innocent face as he chuckled.
"Wow, Takaoka-sensei and Karasuma-sensei are colleagues but you guys are like night and day", Kimura mused.
Hara nods. "Yeah, you're like a neighbourhood dad".
"A dad. I like it", Takaoka-sensei said. He hugged both Mimura and Nakamura. "We're one big family, aren't we? So let's get along well from now on". He laughed once more.
Manami looked on from behind Sugino and Nagisa. Kanzaki seems to hold one of the cake slices. "I picked some because he asked us to, but I'm torn. My family doesn't support frivolity. I don't know if I want to eat the sweets but it would also be a waste to throw it away".
"H-How about we share?" Manami said. "I don't eat sweets that much either. S-So I don't mind eating just a little".
"Really? Thank you, Okuda-san", Kanzaki said. She gives Manami half a piece of sweets.
"Nagisa-kun. Sugino-kun", Manami said. "I-If I remember, Karma-kun also likes sweets. D-Did he have one yet?"
Nagisa shakes his head. "I think he said he wants to get his drink from class". He looks at his watch. "But I'm not sure if that's the case".
"Yeah, hope he doesn't go out to pick fights with anyone", Sugino said. "This delinquent season. I hope it passes".
Little did they know that Karma was right. The sweets they held in their hands was the start of a never-ending toothache.
=itl=
"You can't do this, sir", Maehara said. Takaoka-sensei gives them their training schedule the following day. From dawn to dusk, the time table is full. "We also need time for studying and breaks. We can't just train all day. We would fail class".
Takaoka-sensei smiled. He grabbed the orange-haired boy by his hair and knee-kicks him. Maehara falls to the ground. Isogai and Okano run up to him.
"It's not can't. It's will", Takaoka-sensei said. His expressions grew dark. "Like I said, we're a family; you are the children and I am the dad. Show me a family that doesn't listen to the dad".
He smiles. "You could walk out of this classroom as you please. I could use my authority to send in new students. But I don't want to do that. I prefer that we stick together from the start".
He walked over to Kanzaki and Mimura, and he hugged them. They both gasped. "Kids, let's save the world together". Sugino looks at Takaoka in fright. Kanzaki is still in the teacher's grasp. "Well, what do you think? You would still follow your dad, right?"
He loosened his grip on Kanzaki. "Yes, well", Kanzaki stands up. She looks at him. Her hands clasped together. "I don't want to. I want to stick with Karasuma-sensei's class".
Takaoka-sensei doesn't seem pleased with that answer. He slaps her. Kanzaki flew across the field. Sugino moves fast on his feet. "Kanzaki-san", Nagisa and Kayano follow him.
"Looks like you haven't understood. The only answer is yes", Takaoka-sensei readied his fists. "If not, we could handle this in another way".
He's no longer a teacher. He's Takaoka-san, a man who is from the Ministry. If Karma is here, he would ask the man to a one-on-one fight. He could win but he could also lose. Manami clenched her hands. No, whether Karma is here or not, this isn't right. He shouldn't be handling a student that rough. Manami willed her feet.
"Takaoka, stop it", Karasuma-sensei said. He runs up to Kanzaki. "Are you okay? Does your neck hurt?"
"I'm okay", Kanzaki said.
Manami takes out an ice pack. "H-here. Y-you need to let it cool down".
"Thank you, Okuda-san", Kanzaki said. Karasuma-sensei nods to the girls. He runs off to the other side.
"How about you, Maehara?" he said.
"Y-Yeah, okay there, teach", Maehara said. He's still clutching his stomach as Okano supports his shoulders and Isogai sits beside him.
"Let loose, Karasuma. I'm only going easy on them", Takaoka-san said. "They're family after all".
"No", a tentacle taps on his shoulders. "They are not your family. They are my students".
The class gasped. "Koro-sensei".
"What have you been up to the moment I turned my back?" Koro-sensei's face is red.
"Hm? Got a problem with that monster? P.E. is my class", Takaoka-san said. "And these punishments fall well under the education system". No, if it is still in the education system, it must be a pretty bad one. Such as the Class E system..
"I don't have much time to educate these students to shape. They only have less than a year to kill you", Takaoka-san said. "So what if I'm being tough? Just because my view on education is different, doesn't mean you can attack me".
Koro-sensei's veins popped more. He clenched his teeth. The man in front of him also had a tough look. He stared right back with as much rage. A dire situation arise.
=itl=
Kanzaki and Maehara said they are alright. Begrudgingly, the two injured students are allowed to join the hellish regime set out by a nonsensical man. On Manami's left, Maehara has repeatedly heaved in pain. She couldn't imagine how Kanzaki was doing.
A glare made its way to her. She might have been off count. Or he thought about the ice pack. Manami zero in on the ground. Whatever this man is planning to do, she will withstand it.
"Karasuma-sensei", a faint girly voice was heard from her left. The teacher turned towards her. Kurahashi. Please, let her be alright.
"This is what happens to children who don't listen to their dad", Takaoka-san raised his voice. No, stop.
"That's enough", Karasuma-sensei said. Fortunately, Karasuma-sensei held his arms back. "If you want to be violent, do it to me".
"Figured you would want to stick your nose around", Takaoka-san scoffed. "It's like I said. This isn't violence. This is education. I won't face you off myself. Rather, let's face it off with education".
He walked past Karasuma-sensei. "Get me one of the best students you have trained. They will fight me. And if their knife as so much touched me, I can assure you". He walks to his duffel bag. He crouched as he picked up an item. "I'll admit your education view is better than mine, and leave. But of course, we won't be doing it with these toys".
He threw the green knives that is used for practice and assassination. Picking out a real knife from his bag, he sliced the middle part to the ground. "We'll use these". A sharp twisted silver blade. "You'll be killing me. So might as well use the real thing".
Karasuma-sensei sighed. "Enough. They haven't been trained to kill a human".
"Relax. Making it real close to me counts as a win. Also, I'm barehanded. What other handicaps do you want?" Takaoka-san said. He licked his lips in delight. A sight so bizarre, it made Manami flinch. He has lost it.
"Well, Karasuma. It's time for you to pick", Takaoka-san picks out the knife. "It's either this or follow me completely". The knife pierced through the ground. The class flinched. Karasuma-sensei pulled out the knife.
He looks at each one of the students. Manami looked at the ground, knowing her name will not be called. The student to do it would have been the ones she saw practice with Karasuma-sensei. "Nagisa-kun".
He offered him the knife. "Will you do it?"
Not Karma. Not Terasaka. Not Sugino, Maehara or Isogai. Not Kataoka or Okano. Karasuma-sensei approached the blue boy he had apologised for throwing one day ago.
"Why Nagisa?" Sugino frowned.
Karasuma-sensei fixed his gaze. "As people who have been tasked to save Earth, I see all of you as professionals. For that, the least I can offer you is for you to have a normal middle school life", Karasuma-sensei said. "There is no need for you to take this knife. I will attempt to have Takaoka continue to provide you with that compensation".
The boy looked long and hard at the teacher as he whispered some sentences. There is no strain to their communication. Karasuma-sensei didn't force Nagisa to take that decision on the spot. The blue haired boy took the knife. Everyone gasped, even Karasuma-sensei. His blue eyes are focused. "I'll do it".
Nagisa stretched his hands. He bites the blade as he stretch his right arm and pulls it with his left arm. His petite frame stands in front of Takaoka-san's enormous figure. "Karasuma, your eyes must be going bad", the man said.
"What is Karasuma thinking?" Bitch-sensei screamed. She stands beside Koro-sensei. The teachers have taken an interest to this peculiar affair.
"You'll see", Koro-sensei pats a seat.
Among the crowd, Sugaya whispered. "You think Nagisa's knife will hit that guy?"
"No way. I mean, c'mon. A real knife against a pro?" Kimura seethed. If Manami remembered correctly, Kimura's parents are both police officers. He heard about the tough time his parents had in training, and that has been the basis of his judgement.
Takaoka-san smiled. Both his hands are up, inviting Nagisa. "Bring it on".
Nagisa raised his knife. He is ready in position. No one moves. Takaoka-san smiled. He patiently waits for the petite boy to come at him with his bloodlust. It was as if he had calculated the possible risks in his head.
The boy lowers his knife. He walked casually, as if he was strolling around the sights in Kyoto, on a school trip. A man who asked for directions is in front of him. Giving him a smile, the boy showed the directions using his map.
However, the boy wasn't walking around Kyoto and the man isn't a tourist. Nagisa swings his knife at Takaoka-san. The man loses his balance. As quick as he swung his knife, Nagisa appeared behind Takaoka-san. He holds the man in place. His knife is close to the man's nape. "Gotcha". The class gasped.
"Oops", Nagisa gulped. "Was I not supposed to use the back of my knife?"
"That's enough, Nagisa-kun", Koro-sensei pulled away the knife. "That's the end of the match, Karasuma-sensei".
The silver blade that once existed was chomped bit by bit. "Honestly, how tactless do you need to be to give middle school children a knife? What if he had hurt himself?"
Manami looked at Kayano. She looks at Kanzaki who walks up to Nagisa. Slowly everyone made their way towards him. "Wow, I didn't know you could hold a knife". Isogai pats his back.
"No, I just did what Karasuma-sensei told me. Takaoka-sensei is a tough opponent", Nagisa said. Maehara steps up. He slapped him. "Ow, that hurts, Maehara. Why?".
"Sorry, just wanna make sure it's real", Maehara said. "But thanks. That assassination was awesome". He gives Nagisa a hug.
"Right? And that gotcha while stabbing the knife. That was cool", Nakamura snickered. Everyone gathered around Nagisa. Awesome, cool, amazing - They're words which fit best to describe Nagisa today.
Takaoka-san rises up from his unconsciousness. "You children know nothing about victory. You think you can be happy over beating your own father? Let's see about that when we go for another round. An eye for an eye", the monster set his gaze ablaze towards Nagisa.
The blue haired boy stands his ground. "If I take you on once again, it's simple to say that I will lose. But we know for sure, that Koro-sensei is our teacher and Karasuma-sensei is our P.E. instructor. Your forced familial bond type of teaching does not feel as warm as Karasuma-sensei's professionalism".
He unwavers before the enormous sized man. "We are grateful for your attempt in making us stronger. But with due respect, sir, we ask you to leave". Nagisa lowered his head. The whole class is witness to his courage.
"If Koro-sensei is your teacher and Karasuma-sensei is your P.E instructor, what am I?" Bitch-sensei comes from the back as she taps Takebayashi's shoulder.
"You're our bitch", Takebayashi holds his glasses.
"You're dead", Bitch-sensei seethed.
The monster malfunctioned. Not only does he not have the positions Koro-sensei and Karasuma-sensei hold, he also cannot have the position Bitch-sensei holds. He is no teacher of the assassination classroom. He zero in on Nagisa. The boy noticed his rage. Bam, the monster is knocked cold. He could never lay a hand on the blue haired boy.
"I'm sorry for the mess my colleague has caused. From here on out, I will negotiate with my superiors on continuing with my teaching position".
"Karasuma-sensei", the class said. Moving was the right word to describe this moment.
"You think I will let you off like that?" Takaoka seethed. "You don't know what-"
"There is no need for negotiations", a chilly voice spoke. The Principal himself walked to the mess that is the abominable Takaoka-san.
"Sir", Karasuma looked at his other superior.
"I have been curious to know how our new teacher has come along", the Principal said. "To think I would come across this".
He grabbed Takaoka-san by his cheeks. "Takaoka-san, your lesson was a joke. Yes, instilling fear in a student is a must. Instilling fear only through violence can only bring limited results. A teaching staff who does that is the lowest". He showed Takaoka-san the white piece of paper. He shoved the paper into his mouth. A red stamped resignation sign is marked clearly. Takaoka-san groaned.
The Principal walked off. He wiped his hands clean with his handkerchief. "The Ministry of Defense does not have hiring rights on these grounds. I do. Never forget, Karasuma-sensei". He threw the napkin away.
Takaoka chomped on his walking papers. The words damn repeated three times from his mouth. He runs to his duffel bag. Before the Principal walked off, he outran him from the perimeter.
"Did Takaoka-sensei just get fired?" Kimura murmured.
"And Karasuma-sensei just got his job back?" Okajima murmured. The class cheered. Sugino and Maehara continued their amazement at Nagisa's skills. The two teachers seemed to be busy in their thoughts. Koro-sensei held some flowers in his mouth. A cute thing for an octopus to do.
"Karasuma-sensei?" Nakamura pulled the teacher out of his reverie. "Since we got your job back, shouldn't you be treating us to something?"
"Yeah, that's one nice thing Takaoka-sensei did", Kurahashi chimed.
Karasuma-sensei chuckled. "I don't know much about sweets". He pulled out his wallet. "But here, enjoy yourself to some-"
"Yes", Bitch-sensei shouts as she holds his wallet.
"Yay", the class shouted. Their fists pumped in the air. "Let's go all out today".
Karasuma-sensei didn't look too bothered as Bitch-sensei argues with some of the students on the chosen establishment.
"Hey, don't forget about me", Koro-sensei said. He fidgets in his tentacles.
Nakamura raised her eyebrows. "What did you do again?"
"We didn't see you meddling", Sugaya said.
"No, no, you got it all completely wrong", Koro-sensei said, moving his tentacles around. "I watched you in silence so Karasuma-sensei can learn to become a better teacher".
"Oh, don't mind him", Kurahashi piped up. "Let's go together, Karasuma-sensei". The teacher walked with Kurahashi and Nagisa by his side. Kayano and Hayami walked side by side. Fuwa talks with Kanzaki as she looks back at her. One by one, the class leave the field.
"Oh no. He's following us with his hands and knees on the ground", Okano shouted.
"How bad does he want this?" Nakamura shouted.
"Prettypleaseprettypleaseprettyplease", his wailings become louder and his stomps become faster. The two girls screamed. "Run for your lives".
The class run as the girls lead them from behind. Some were screaming along, others heaved out of exhaustion. Manami burst out laughing. Their middle school days are not normal. They just got chased by an octopus creature who got kicked by the school bitch and the reinstated square teacher, which happened after the class was threatened. "This is crazy".
Hara exclaimed as they both saw the scene unfold.
Starting next week, I'll be taking a one month leave. I will come back on 12th May 2022!
There was one scene that bothered me in the last chapter where Manami was trying to say friends and I had a breakdown because that's their whole journey Strangers to Friends. When I took some time to re-read, I realised that they're still not that close yet, particularly that Karma skips class and he hasn't affected the story as much. So I feel more at ease ^^
Also, on the 10th April it's Terasaka's birthday! I will probably upload a birthday post on my blog. Let's meet again in one month!
Character info (by Manami):
Takaoka Akira
A bulky man with an appearance of a normal PE teacher with tracksuits. Underneath his love for sweets, his desire for destruction and follower obedience is greater
Principal Asano
The principal of Kunugigaoka Middle School and Kunugigaoka High School. A man who holds control over the school.
Karasuma Tadaomi
A no-nonsense teacher who always goes by the book. Beneath his sturdy exterior is a man who trusts his students in a professional way
Shiota Nagisa
He saved us.. he saved the class from trouble..
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.