A Viper's Star
Recollection Time
DISCLAIMER: Oshi no Ko belongs to Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari, and Ansatsu Kyoushitsu belongs to Yusei Matsui. I do not take credit for any of their work.
Summary: In two opposite worlds, where one is showcased in the spotlight, and one is shrouded in the shadows, what if two distinct people were to meet each other as part of a twist of fate? This is a story about an assassin and an idol. Or rather, a viper and a star. [AU]
Nagisa Shiota.
A fledging teacher.
And a part-time assassin.
For Nagisa Shiota, the recent events in his life could be summed up as colorful.
After that fateful day, when the moon was broken by the being that he would come to call Class E's most memorable homeroom teacher in his life, Nagisa's life took a whole new turn.
It has been nearly nine years since that day.
Yes, ever since his new homeroom teacher, who is a yellow bipedal octopus standing at about three meters tall and possessing a large, bulbous head with a wide smile and small, beady eyes. He uses two feelers as arms, with two fingers each, and utilizes the rest of his tentacles for walking. According to him, his nostrils are so small, but when discovered, they seem to have four eyes.
This homeroom teacher introduces himself as Koro-sensei.
A bipedal octopus wore a black academic dress, a small black square academic cap with a yellow tassel, and a large black tie with a yellow crescent-shaped moon on it. It was a weird, yet interesting style of fashion, that's for sure.
And this person, no, creature was their new homeroom teacher.
More or less, this brought shocked, surprised, and confused looks from the entire class.
And the reason he was appointed as their homeroom teacher? Well, firstly, their former homeroom teacher had mysteriously disappeared, and there was a need for a replacement for that post.
Another reason is that Koro-sensei received a personal request from their former teacher, Yukimura Aguri, who had since passed away due to the incident, which they would only learn during the final months of their school year.
"Hello, how are you? So, I'm the one who blew up the moon, next year I intend to do the same thing to planet Earth, but never mind that now, I'm gonna be your new teacher. Isn't that exciting?!"
That was the kind of ridiculous greeting Koro-sensei delivered to Kunugigaoka Junior High's infamous E-class.
End Class.
Failure group.
Hopeless students.
Only a few of the harsh titles of ridicule they received during their stay at one of Tokyo's top schools from their resident students, those who belonged to Class D and above.
Yet, Koro-sensei didn't seem to mind teaching them. That was for sure. There was no expression of disgust or revulsion on his new teacher's face; assuming that they could even tell what kind of expression he had been showing during the first few months of the school year.
But they could certainly feel it. This new teacher of theirs, just like Yukimura Aguri, seemed eagerly honest to really guide and teach them properly.
Another reason was that "promise" had stated that he planned to destroy the Earth after "teaching" Class 3-E for a year. That was what he told to the select few individuals from each nation around the world. Of course, it was merely a disguise that hid his true objective.
"So long as I have time... I will use this as a teacher. The students you watch over, I will watch them myself. No matter what, these tentacles will not let them go."
Once again, it was truly unbelievable.
Teaching junior high students that were considered as the lowest of low in their school, not only to change them into outstanding students but also to be assassins assigned to assassinate their teacher who can go up to 20 mach in speed and has a needly impenetrable body.
It was a hell of a burden to put on junior high kids. However, what could the higher-ups even do? They had no choice. Instead, this would work out just fine at the time; they would somehow manage to create a countermeasure against this creature.
In Nagisa's eyes, this felt like a nightmare reenacted in reality.
Or so it seemed at first glance.
As bonds formed and strengthened, E-Class soon recognized him as their full-fledged teacher. If you think about it, this kind of setting resembles that of your typical shonen mangas or modern fantasy novels. What they are facing right now was far from fantasy but the cruel reality they were living in.
Koro-sensei possesses attributes that enable him to connect with each student individually; he is objective, empathetic, and observant. As a result, even though they know he will explode the Earth in a year, the students respect him. He takes care of each student's needs, often becoming interested in their current issues or hobbies and guiding them accordingly.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Koro-sensei was Nagisa's idol.
Especially, about the path Koro-sensei took in life, Nagisa would proudly say that even though his teacher's way of life before was nothing but dark and filled with cruelty and blood, he couldn't help but admire the change that Koro-sensei took, and his natural talents being applied to a rather different area compared from what it was supposed to be.
"So Nagisa-kun, to end this consultation session, what is the profession you aspire to be in the future, Nagisa-kun?"
"I..."
Hesitation first took over Nagisa's body. Was this choice that he was about to make the correct one? That question lingered in his mind for a few seconds before he took deep breaths to calm himself down. Koro-sensei merely observed, with his ever-present smile on his face, as he patiently waited for the bluenette's answer.
"I am going to be a teacher... and an assassin as well."
"..."
Koro-sensei was silent. He never showed any sign of approval or rejection. He was waiting instead, waiting for Nagisa to continue for he knows that there are still things that Nagisa has to say before he gives his final judgment.
"I might not be as fast as you. Be invincible like you. Nor can I be as smart as you," Nagisa calmly stated. In his voice was brimming determination which Koro-sensei surely recognized. "But I want to be a teacher and an assassin like you. These... professions I believe is where my talent, my blade, will shine the most."
"That's good, Nagisa-kun. While I haven't expected you to chase over two professions, which are definitely very familiar to mine, I can definitely say that it somehow suits you. The path that you will traverse would be filled with challenges and even blood, considering the nature of the second profession that you have chosen to follow, but I think you can handle it well, Nagisa-kun," his face then changed colors to orange now with a circle mark over his face showing his approval. "You children each have talent bestowed on you all equally that you will also lose equally someday: youth."
Youth.
A fleeting and precious moment in an individual's life could only experience once. It is one of the most eventful periods that an individual could experience. It is also where many crossroads of life happen. Youth is a worthwhile phase of one's life. The age where the age group is no longer a child but yet to turn out to be a grown-up is the youth age. It is an age recognized by traits of heroism, toughness, muscle, stimulation, curiosity, judgmental attitude, and even much more.
"Keep swimming forward now, without stopping, before this talent, your youth, escapes you," Koro-sensei then stretched out one of his tentacles and patted Nagisa's head. "Follow what your heart tells you to do. These are the moments where one's self could truly appreciate the value and essence of life."
After several years, Nagisa contemplated whether he had truly taken Koro-sensei's advice to him that day. However, looking at where he was at present, Nagisa could only give out a satisfied expression with a hint of sadness veiled underneath.
There's nothing left to regret, for Nagisa himself was happy from where he was standing right now. Koro-sensei would probably tell that everybody is doing well in life if he is right here now.
All that was left was his new goal—no, target would be a more appropriate term.
And that all led him here, at the principal's office of the school he was currently assigned as a teacher with a form of registration in hand.
Present
Paradise High School.
A school located in Tokyo is one of the famous (read: infamous) schools when it comes to the education quality of its students. While it pales in comparison compared to Kunugigaoka High School in terms of quality, it does have unique advantages that other renowned schools in Tokyo don't possess. That being having top-tier quality teachers in their rosters.
Smart, adaptable, and truly a master of their own fields. Those are only several of the known features of teachers that this school possess. With that said, it wasn't like the other schools don't have the same quality of teachers. No renowned school wouldn't have such kind of teachers that don't meet the criteria of truly deserving such praise. It's just the fact that the teachers that come to Paradise High School are just in a league of their own.
If someone were to ask if there is any secret behind that, then there would be probably one unanimous answer to all teachers that have gone to Paradise High School.
The students.
If one wants to learn more about this answer, then it would be better to see it for themselves personally and go to Paradise High School.
That was the place where Nagisa Shiota have been working as a teacher for nearly a year. Today, on the first day of March, Nagisa Shiota headed to one of the school's offices to accomplish the task he is supposed to finish for the day.
"H-Huh?! You're resigning?!" shouted a man with a bald head and tall figure.
His eyes were sharp and has a large physique. He has amber-toned skin and tattoos could be seen peeking at his arms beneath the uniform he was wearing. This man could be easily said as an intimidating and imposing type of individual based on his looks. Added to his tattoos and the way he stares at people, he could be described as a former yakuza or something. An imposing individual overall.
However, as many would say, outside looks are often deceiving.
This man, despite all the scary and exaggerated remarks given to him, would've snorted in return and would refute what they say. Inside, he was just your typical good and polite principal. He ain't no former yakuza or something, he just found tattoos cool and such. The reason for his giant physique was because of his genes and intensive workout which is one of his many hobbies besides gardening and so.
That's the gist of who this man was in a nutshell.
And that man, the principal of Paradise High School, was on the verge of desperation in front of Nagisa as he submitted his letter of resignation.
It was quite a sight to see.
"Haha...ha..." the bluenette laughed weakly as he scratched his head. "Sorry, principal. It's something personal, you see?"
Somewhat.
It wasn't a lie, however, it wasn't the entire truth.
Currently, he was in the office of the principal of Paradise High School with a letter of resignation in his hands. The place where Nagisa started working as a teacher after graduating from college.
Status: Single... that's if you don't count his somewhat shaky relationship with several women in his life that is. Koro-sensei would probably be madly jealous and disappointed. Or rather, proud at Nagisa...? The bipedal octopus himself boasted of having met and played with several women in his life as an assassin, or so he said which remains to be proven.
That's until he met Aguri-sensei and after he was betrayed by his first student and got captured and experimented like a guinea pig and turning him into an anti-matter lifeform as a result.
Maybe Nagisa hasn't met his destined one yet? Probably.
Anyway, that isn't the important thing right now.
"I-Is there any way to make you put down y-your resignation? Maybe a high raise? Promotion? Maybe lending you some c-cash or support because you said it is a p-personal matter, and it might be financially?" The principal offered in desperation, with a pleading look plastered on his face.
As much as Nagisa hated to see people suffer in such a pitiful state like this, once he made a decision, Nagisa would see it to the end. That meant he would never back down on what he chose to do.
However, Nagisa could feel the sincerity of the principal with each word he uttered. While that wouldn't dissuade Nagisa to change his decision, Nagisa could at least offer a small alternative as a form of thanks to this principal who welcomed him with open arms when Nagisa was struggling to find a school and class to teach.
That's all he could do at least. Nagisa should see his job as a teacher for this school year to the fullest, is what he would like to say but he couldn't. He knew after all that he wouldn't be able to fulfill it after all.
"I'm sorry principal, but I am not backing down on this decision of mine. However... " Nagisa paused as he reached out his hand to the principal who was rather in an unstable state.
The principal didn't even manage to notice Nagisa stretching his hand out to him.
"..."
Lines.
Yes, Nagisa with his eyes could see those lines. Lines that created wavelengths like that of an EKG show Nagisa a glimpse of the emotional state of an individual. It is not a supernatural ability, as one would presume if Nagisa told them about this trick. It is simply Nagisa's intuition in work given illustration in his head. It was one of the perks of his inner talent, just like Koro-sensei had said along with other people that he knows.
In the next second, Nagisa pressed his finger at the principal's neck with a light tap. What happened next is that the room fell into silence.
"Gotcha... It should be better." Nagisa softly whispered to himself as his eyes showed a look of satisfaction.
All of a sudden, the principal felt a sense of tranquility. His erratic emotions calmed down just like an empty lake.
'What just happened...?'
Swift and precise, Nagisa continued. "I could at least pay a visit occasionally and teach the next batch of kids when I have the time, be sure to have an open slot available when the time comes, as selfish as this request might be. Also, don't worry, the kids I taught this year are now individuals that could fit in society, is what I like to believe What about it?" he grinned proudly as he took a last check of his attendance sheet and passed it to the principal who could only silently accept it in response.
"Lastly, if there is another thing that you might be worrying about deeply, I will surely attend my student's graduation day to give them my final remarks on their last year in junior high."
"Ah..."
"Well, I'll be taking my leave now, principal."
In the end, the principal could only stare silently at the bluenette's back as he left the office.
Later that night.
Nagisa had a call with his former teacher.
"Karasuma-sense, good evening," Nagisa responded back. "Another mission perhaps?"
"Are you available?" the voice from the line inquired.
"Yes," Nagisa then paused before speaking again. "I think I would be going full-time assassin this time, Karasuma-sensei."
"Really?" He heard his former teacher respond with a tone of surprise. "Did something bad happen in work?"
Karasuma instantly caught on what his former student just said. Those words sinoly meant that Nagisa either resigned by his own will, or got himself fired for an unknown reason.
"No, no. There's nothing bad that happened, really," Nagisa denied with a chuckle. It seems that Karasuma-sensei still checks up on the affairs of Class 3-E's student's occasionally. Not to the point where he invades there privact, but that similar to a concerned guardian. "To be completely frank, I think I might've just had a change of heart... Yes. I think my skills will be more useful in this field."
"..."
A moment of silence ensued between the two for a minute or so. It didn't take long however for the former teacher to initiate the conversation once more.
"Nagisa, honestly, I didn't expect you to be the type of person to give up pursuing your dream of following his steps."
"Perhaps. After all, Koro-sensei and I are different individuals in the first place. He is his own person, and so am I. That's probably the reason why I made this decision. A diverging point."
Hearing that, Karasuma who was on the other side of the phone widened his eyes before giving out a reply.
"I see. Is that really all the reason behind your resignation?"
"Along several other reasons that I would rather disclose, that sums pretty much of it," Nagisa calmly replied looking above the night sky with a solemn look on his face. "Anyway, about any jobs..."
"Alright, I do have one for you. However, it's not really a mission, but more like a request, if you don't mind."
"Mm, that would be fine for me, can you give me a brief rundown for that request of yours, Karasuma-sensei?"
"Well then, first—"
On the other side of the phone, Nagisa continued to listen to the contents of his new mission. This brought a faint smile to the assassin's face. It's been a few months ever since Karasuma-sensei tried to contact him. The last time, Karasuma-sensei requested him to be an undercover escort for a special convoy that was supposed to have important guests that needed to be secured and safe from any threats.
Nagisa cooperated with his former teacher's missions. In fact, Nagisa has a dozen or so operations finished under his belt as a fledgling assassin.
And Nagisa aced all of them.
That didn't certainly mean that Nagisa all came out of those missions unscathed. Nagisa has a fair share of battle scars, or rather, honorable wounds, as veterens in an army would say, in his body.
It was then a certain memory then flashed through Nagisa's mind.
A memory where Nagisa and Koro-sensei faced each other back then on consultation day, where his teacher asked him what profession he wants to pursue in the future.
Teacher and Assassin.
Nagisa blurted those words naturally as if he was stating a fact after a moment of hesitation. To say that Koro-sensei's expression was shifting to shock and relief repetitively was no joke. It's like his face was a disco ball switching colors from time to time.
In the end, that led Nagisa to attempt to chase both professions at the same time.
Being a teacher out in the open, and an assassin in the shadows.
The memory made Nagisa laugh, though silently. It was one of his most decisive moments in life after all.
"Are there any problems with these arrangements?" Nagisa heard his former teacher
"No problem," Nagisa answered back as his eyes soon landed at an apartment dorm several meters away. "So, an undercover bodyguard this time huh? Hm, Karasuma-sensei, even though I have no problems of accepting this offer, I still haven't received any information regarding who I was supposed to protect."
Information in the world of shadows is a crucial thing. This factor could easily sway the fates of those involved in it in one way or another. An example of that is when an assassin lacks the awareness of the nature of the mission it just took due to the lack of information significantly affecting the success rate of completing the mission, or to put it more bluntly, this already increases his mortality rate by a lot. For an assassin, failure in missions usually spells death most of the time. If you are lucky enough, you would just get several injuries here and there not fatal enough to kill you in a few seconds, or if you are favored by the Gods of Luck, then you might get out unscathed.
"I would send you everything that you need to know once you settle in that apartment. I already did the necessary accommodations there through my men. I believe there would be no complications whatsoever unless something out of place occurs."
"That's... great, I suppose?" Nagisa merely tilted his head in wonder. This setting. It seemed like Karasuma-sensei was already preparing for something like this in the first place even if Nagisa had possibly rejected this request.
After all, everything seemed to be well prepared already.
"I'll end this call for now. Don't hesitate to contact me if there is anything you would like to know regarding this request of mine once you arrive at the new place you will be staying for a while."
Click. The call ended with that.
Nagisa does have a few questions in mind, but all of that would remain unanswered until he moves to the new place, as Karasuma-sensei had stated.
"Tommorow huh... I guess it's a bit too late already," muttering those words, Nagisa walked back in his room, and proceeded to pack some of his things, before finally laying back in bed.
Tomorrow would surely be an eventful day, Nagisa dreamed so to himself in his sleep.
Nagisa would've never thought that it this dream of his was nothing more but correct.
AN: Yeah... This was planned to be released around June 20, but as many users of App, that's also the day when the app suddenly stopped working. And so, here I am with this rough draft...so pardon if you see any inconsistencies whatsoever. I'll try to polish them up... if I have time.
To be honest, I lost some passion in writing after that bug occured. I wasn't able to read fanfics nor update my previous works for quite some time, and I lost some of the ideas in my head during that period.
Lengthy excuse, yada yada yada... Welp, anyway. I have received several good responses for this fic and I'll try to meet those expectations set to this fic.
With all that said, see ya on the next update!