Chapter 14: Term Time

"I can't do this anymore!" I slammed my head into the table.
"Look, Ams… you have the lowest grades out of everyone here… It's either study here or with the octopus… because frankly, none of us trust you to study by yourself…" Rio laid the truth on me hard.
"You don't have to say it like that, Rio…" San-Nii nervously chuckled.
"Don't you go taking it easy on her, San!" She glared at him. "With her being your 'sister' in the grand scheme of things… how she does will also reflect on you… and since I'm dating her how would it look if she was related to one of the smartest people in the school and dating the other…"
"Do family dynamics really mean that much?" He sank into his chair pondering… "And I don't think anyone outside of E-Class even knows you two are dating…"
"Both of you need to stop shouting…" Hina covered both of their mouths. "You two may be super geniuses but the rest of us aren't and we're trying to hear Ritsu!"
"R-Right Hina! S-Sorry Hina!" They both calmed down after that.
Ritsu continued her tutoring to the rest of us that had gathered. Hina, Tomo, Nagisa, and Kiko were all listening with intent… but from the pale look on Kaede's face she was as lost as I was. I stood up in my chair. "Kaede wanna go make sn-"
"Nope!" The firm hand of my brother grabbed my shoulder and pushed me back into the seat… "Don't worry about snacks sis, I'll see what your mother is up to and maybe she can help me with making us something so that her daughter can focus on her studies." I froze. "Rio… make sure Ame doesn't leave her chair for any reason…"
"With pleasure!" My girlfriend smiled devilishly as she walked up and took San's place.
"Make sure she can still study…" He said before leaving to head upstairs.
"Hey Hina… I know I said I would watch her, but can you cover for me real quick… I need to go get something from Ame's room…" Hina sighed but took Rio's place.
"Be quick about it please… I'm trying to learn."
"I'm trying to teach!" Ritsu barked. "Nagisa, throw a book at Ame-Aneki!"
"What? Why me?!"
"Ritsu calm down…" Hina sighed. "Please continue."
Ritsu continued her lecture, only to be cut off once again as Rio slammed open the door.
"This is ridiculous!" Tomo growled. "How does San put up with all of these constant distractions…"
"Hey! Not like it woulda been any easier studying with the Octopus…" Rio scoffed… "We were there… How was anyone supposed to study with him bouncing about like crazy… BESIDES PEOPLE THERE ARE TENTACLES ON THE LINE!"
"We know Rio!" Hina and Kiko shouted at her in unison.
"You don't have to keep lording that over us…" Hina glared at her.

*
A few hours ago while San was doing his daily bit of extra training, Rio, Hina, myself and the others had all decided to study per Nagisa's suggestion while we waited for him. The term finals were fast approaching and Koro-Sensei was running about to help everyone who requested his assistance. "Got room for a few more?" Rio asked, waving in his direction.
"Of course, Nakamura! Pleased as punch to have all of you as well." He had us sit and handed us each a notebook. "Not to pry, but don't you all usually study with Ritsu and Shuri? Oh that's probably still the case, but Shuri is probably just doing his daily workout… Oh boy if he keeps going like this he'll end up more bald then me… I've seen the proof! 100 push-ups! 100 sit-ups! 100 squats! Followed by a 10km run! Do it every single day!" His face shifted to tan in color and his new face gave a deadpan expression.
"Koro-Sensei… please take studying more seriously…" Yada whined.
"Right! My apologies Yada!" His face returned to its normal complexion.

"Sir, you're not going to threaten to leave again if we don't place in the top 50 are you?" Nagisa asked.

"No… I understand that last time my goals for you all were a tad too lofty. I now see that each of you has different motivations. I'll aim to make sure that you're all doing your best… Even those who score low like our good man Terasaka and our friend Ms. Sasu should have enough incentive with what I have planned.

"A tentacle for each top score…" San rubbed his chin in thought.

"Yeah you, me, and Bakabane probably have three by ourselves… but we need him slowed down even further! And for that we need as many people as possible to get top marks…" Rio glared at me. "And you have to study this time."

"Let me what I can do… for now Hina, Rio… Keep an eye on Ame. I have an idea. Ritsu-chan, it's time for a software update."

"Yay!" The girl on the monitor cheered.

"I'll be back with something in an hour. Rio, you're in charge of leading the studying until Ritsu-chan and I get back… Remember tentacles are on the line… Yep, it still doesn't sound pleasant…" He walked off leaving us with a room full of our friends…

By the end of the hour, San came back wheeling in a familiar yet smaller version of something we had gotten used to seeing in the classroom. "Good evening students!" Ritsu popped up on screen wearing an adorable teacher cosplay. Her light purple hair had been lengthened, she was wearing a pencil skirt, a slightly baggy white dress shirt, and a pair of red square frame glasses. She looked very much like a thinner framed Professor Bitch with purple hair and glasses. "Hiya I'm Professor Ritsu!"

"San, you're telling me you made this in an hour?" Tomo said with genuine exasperation on his face.

"How do these geniuses expect us to keep up with them?" Kaede whined. "Yep call it… stick a fork in me I'm done…"

"I will not be stabbing my students Ms. Kayano, now students to your seats, Director Shuri has prepared materials in a similar manner to our teacher." Ritsu spawned a pointer and whiteboard and, as we took our seats, began her lecture.

"Thanks Hina for covering for me!" My girlfriend returned from my room. Hina nodded to her and returned to her seat. As I turned to watch Hina return to her seat, I didn't pay attention to my sneaky girlfriend. With an audible metallic click all eyes were directed to Rio and me.

"Why is everyone looking at us? Do I have something on my f-... Face…" I looked down at my wrist… Attached was one half of white fuzzy handcuffs, the other half was attached to Rio's arm.

"Y-you just have those laying around…" Nagisa blushed, blinking his eyes rapidly.

"Calm down guys… She is an assassin after all…" Tomo tried to deescalate the situation.

"It isn't what it looks like!" I waved my hands about, pushing Rio up against me. "I've just been working-"

"That's fine and all, but why are they fuzzy?" Kiko asked. I dropped to my knees, a sniveling mess.

And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse… the front door opened and in walked San-Nii with my mom. "Well at least it sounds quiet in here… maybe Hina got Ame to-" San took in the scene as he stepped through the door. He audibly swallowed as my mom stepped in behind him.

San went cold as my mother put a hand on his shoulder. "San dear… please explain to me why my daughter is handcuffed to that blonde harlot… when you clearly explained to me that this was a study session… Just what are you studying? Human anatomy?" She began to approach us.

"Izana-Sama! It isn't what it looks like!" Rio tried to cover her ass… "They're hers!" She pointed with the bound hand at me.

"Gee thanks for throwing me under the bus…" I glared back at her.

"Just what do you allow this deviant to bring into your house San Shuri?"

"What? Me? I wasn't even aware of-"

"Mom… Rio and San have nothing to do with this… well she did go and get the item from ou- my room… perhaps it's better if we get the key…" I looked at Rio.

"Perhaps it isn't…" Rio blushed… "At least not with everyone staring at us." I now joined her as we looked like a pair of tomatoes.

"Rio… where's the key…?"

"Do you want your mother to kill us?"

"Rio… you didn't…"

"Not the time Ams…"

"R-Right… let me try and salvage this…" I looked at my mother with sad kitten eyes. "Mama, I don't want to be just an assassin… I wanna be known to the world… not just hide in the shadows."

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but you don't-"

"Mama!" I narrowed my eyes. "I got forced into this life… Up until a few months ago it's the only life I knew… we knew…" My mom looked away. "There's a reason we remain in the dark. Bring too much to light and our scars show… Our past will catch up to us."

"Then Izana-Sama…" San looked my mother in the eyes. "I'll just have to do something about that when it comes time."

"You sweet boy…" Mom lowered her gaze. "Our problems aren't yours to bear…" A metallic click resonated near me as I could suddenly move my wrist. I turned to Rio who put a finger to my lip and pointed to watch the scene in front of us play out. "I can't ask you to take-"

"Not to be rude Izana-Sama… and I apologize for cutting you off in such a manner. This time I'm actively choosing to have my life 'interrupted' by the life you and your daughter lead. I didn't get this courtesy the first or second time women from the Sasu family held stake in my life," he firmly assured her.

"I suppose you do have a point… my dear son…" She replied with an endearingly coy smirk. "Oh my rambunctious children… Wait…" Her eyes narrowed as she turned back to Rio and me. Rio had luckily hid the handcuffs successfully. Mom had a furrowed brow as she frowned. "I apologize, Ritsu-Sensei for interrupting your teachings… Don't you just look adorable dear. Please let me know if my son or I can be of any help while we prepare snacks, especially in regards to my daughter… or her mischievous girlfriend…" Rio tensed up which only grew worse as a metallic clatter hit the ground.

"Right Mama-za- I mean Izana-Sama!" Ritsu chirped.

"K-Kitchen is this way Izana-Sama!" San quickly ushered her in.

Soon after the study session Kaede, Nagisa, Kiko, and Tomo all left for home to get some rest and make final prep for tomorrow's exam. This left the five of us and my mom to the lounge. Hina was sitting on the arm of San's recliner and I had the uncomfortable seat of sitting between my mom and my girlfriend. It didn't help that I didn't feel any better off than before we studied. "San-Nii, Mama, Rio… I'm gonna let you all down…"

"Just do your best Sis, I have faith in you…" San reassured me. "Even if you do poorly, you can only improve. I myself am trying for second, tomorrow."

"Second?" Mom asked with a curious look.

"If I do better I'll be happy for sure, don't get me wrong… but if I aim for first that'll make it harder for me to continue to improve in the future." The rest of us looked at him with confused expressions."I know it sounds odd, but it's a lesson I got from an old anime that my dad had in a box set. 'There is always someone stronger, someone better at the things you do. That doesn't mean you give up, that means you keep striving to be better." I took that as, 'So I'll aim for second, that way I'll always have room to improve… and I'll learn a bunch of different skills in the process.'" Hina hugged him.

"Well at least he's number one to us, right ladies!" Rio cheered only to be met with a death glare from Mom. "Keep glaring…" My girlfriend waved her off, "I hear if you keep a face for too long; it'll get stuck like that." She smirked devilishly. "It isn't true of course but it makes for a fun taunt."

"Rio… Please try to be respectful of Izana-Sama… You are dating her daughter after all," San sighed.

"I'm just pressing her buttons…" Rio's voice turned sorrowful. "Truthfully, I'm thankful to her for being understanding with me, even though I'm not her ideal match for her daughter. Izana-Sama, before we continue, allow me to explain the handc-"

"No Rio…" I stood up, cutting her off. "They're mine!" My face beat red with the blood rushing to it. There was also a gentle tint of pink on each of the other student-aged people in the room, even Ritsu. "Just like San, I love anime!" I exclaimed. "Not just for the morals, or the food, but the clothing- be right back!" I ran to my room and pulled out a large tote. I used 'Ogre' to lift up and carry it, as it was quite heavy.

"Daughter, have you been slacking? What could be in that tote that you would need to take your strong form to carry?"

"Your vote of confidence is as uplifting as always, mother…" I growled. As I dropped the carrier at my feet in front of everyone.

"Sis, y'know I'm always down to train if you ask," San smiled at me, once again causing a blush to flood my face.

"N-not you too, San! A-anyway stop distracting me!" I stomped both my feet.

"Didn't mean anything by it… though to make everything else better it's best to improve your bas-"

"San-Nii!"

"R-Right, sorry s-sis…" He flinched and then motioned with his arm. "Proceed…"

"Thank you…" I pulled open the lid to reveal a number of fabrics and linings, both cut and uncut. "The handcuffs Rio grabbed were for one of the costumes I was designing." I pulled out one of the costumes. "Y'see, I was gonna de-fuzz them and then break them for a costume of a character… I too got this idea from an anime… San-Nii, Mom, Family…"

"Not liking how I was second there…" Mom said through gritted teeth.

"At least you were mentioned…" Rio grumbled.

8

") don't want to be kept in the shadows all my life… I

" I sighed. "Lighten up! Live a little. We have more than just Lovro, Rina, and the boys looking out for us."

"I can't do that, Ame! Lovro counts on me! He counts on the both of us!"

"Counterpoint Izana-Sama…" San interrupted. "This is a job, correct."

"Yes San dear." Mom raised an eyebrow, looking at him with intense curiosity.
"Then… would it be incorrect to say you have taken on long roles before?" He rested his left elbow on the armrest and put his fist under his chin.
"I've had a few…" Mom answered somewhat nervously.
"Okay well, let's look at the situation like this. Our target has informed us that if we don't kill him in a year… He'll destroy the world."
"Yes, we're quite clear on that." Mom sighed.
"I'm aware…" San fixed his eyes on Mom. "The point I'm making is that, shouldn't a mother be wanting her child to live the life she chooses especially knowing that she may only have one year left to do that?" Mom's eyes fell.
"I'm just supposed to let her walk awa-"
"I'm not!" I pleaded with her. "I just want more! I need more!" I began to tear up. "I c-can't just keep killing mom…" The look of despair on my mother's face. "It's all I've ever known, but I'm being given another chance at the life I haven't had, the life we haven't had, Mom!"
"Give it some time Izana-Sama, maybe play the mother you haven't been able to be… live what could be your last year to the fullest," San got up and hugged me while still looking at mom.
"San…" I couldn't see her eyes, but her voice sounded raspy. "You swear you'll look out for her…"
"With my life…" He nodded, gripping me tight.
"And you three, as well?" She asked in Rio's direction.
"I'd be a bad girlfriend…" Rio scoffed.
"I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't," Hina nodded.
"Yep!" Ritsu cheerfully chirped.
"Then until further notice… Will you accept an old woman as not only her daughter's mother… but a mother that will look out for you as if you were her children."
"I'm in!" Rio cheered, only to receive the sharpest death glare.
"I happily accept… Besides now I won't have to deal with Rio calling me the group mom!" Hina let out a sigh of relief.
"MAMA-ZANA!" Ritsu cheered.
"And you San…?" Mom looked to him.
A long pause filled the air, before a small smile spread over his face. "Welcome to the family Nami Shuri." He spread his arms wide.
"San!" I looked up at him with happy tear-stained eyes.
"That's Mom to you!" She winked at him before stepping into the hug. Hina and Rio joined in as well. "Now that that is settled, son I expect for you to look after your little sister and this includes making sure she keeps her grades up." She smiled at him. "Daughter, if you want to keep doing this cosplay business I expect you to keep your grades up or I'll lock you out of your job funds."
"Mom!" I complained.
"Don't you 'mom' me!" Mom shook her head with a sinister smirk. "Cosplay artists know how to measure their fabrics, cooks know how to measure their ingredients. You have to be able to read in multiple languages and do your research over several time periods to perfect your costuming…"

"I don't like where this is heading…" I tried to pull away but was caught in my mother's clutches.

"Son, be a dear and make sure your sister is well taught for your exams in less than a week." She stepped away dragging me with her. "Oh and Hina dear, please take my daughter's girlfriend down to the mall…" Yet another devilish grin spread over her face… "Take this card with you and treat yourself," she said, handing Hina a familiar blue card.

"Oh c'mon!" I dropped to my knees, realizing that the card handed to them was mine.

"Maybe Ame will learn the value of math when her finances are on the line," My mother shrugged. Hina looked apprehensive after being given the card, but Rio pulled her along.
"If we hurry, we might just make it to the mall right before closing!" Rio egged on.
"Rio!" San, Hina, and I frowned.
"I-I get it mom," I lowered my head.
"Good… Now San, Ritsu, help your sister with her studying habits." Mom offered me a hand up.
"Yes, Izana-Sama!" San nodded, before ushering me into his study.
"You got it Mama-zana… I mean Mama-Nami!" Ritsu saluted her.

"I can't study anymore…" It was the next day and San had me going full tilt into it. Hina would occasionally peek in on the three of us and I felt like some of it was sticking but I wouldn't know for sure until the tests came. Rio, Nagisa, Kiko, and a number of others, to give us some focus time, were lucky enough to have reserved a spot on the main campus for studying thanks to Isogai.
"San!" The front door slammed as Rio stomped in shouting for our humble host. "Those pretentious assholes are at it again!" He stepped out of the room to go check on her. I followed to check on my angered girlfriend.
"You'll have to be more specific, Rio… Terasaka and his gang? Horibe and Shiro? Shind-"
"The BIG FIVE…" Rio rolled her eyes, and flung her arms into the air. "Even that wimp Araki, choose to offer some venom." She was clearly fuming mad.
"Tch… we all know those punks don't hold a candle to you and San!" I beat my chest.
"Not now babe!" She broke her anger upon seeing me. "Also… hi babe, is tutoring going well? Wait! Not the time! I'm still angry! Sorry!"

"Breathe Rio!" San put his hands on both her shoulders as she was showing signs of hyperventilation.

"I screwed up San… Those idiots pissed me off and I screwed up…" Rio panicked.

"Rio everything is fine…" San said, patting her on the shoulders.

"Everything is not fine!" San bellowed. Hina, Ritsu, and I stood mouths agape as Rio told San about the bet she got into with Sakakibara and the other stooges of Asano's proxies. "You two really like to stress me out by making bets that don't just affect you…" San glared at Rio and me. His eyes softened as he sat down in his chair. "I'm happy that Okuda stood up for herself, though Kaede's actions leave much to be desired. No wonder you're always acting up sis, you have such great female role models for teens your age…" Hina checked him in the neck with her elbow as I stuck my tongue out at him defensively. "Ow… Hina, I was kidding."
"She has really great role models from the opposite gender too…" Hina sighed.
"Sakakibara was at his usual antics with Yukiko too… Again…" Rio grumbled. "One of the times I'm happy you weren't there Ams, else he would have probably been creeping on you, the lech."
"Tell the pencil part again! I just love hearing that that dumbass Seo got his comeuppance from my rival!" I felt a certain rise in my emotions as I clenched my fists in anticipation for my match against Nagisa.
"She says this like she forgets Seo is ranked seventh in the school behind Akabane and me…" San sighed.
"Being ranked high in school isn't a proper measure of one's actual intelligence, Mr. Second Place! You're way smarter than Sakakibara, Araki, and that jerk Bakabane." I pumped my chest confidently.
"For now school is what matters, however!" He retorted, but still patted me on the head.
"I agree with Ame though, San…" Rio affirmed. "Koyama and Seo still winced every time your name was mentioned by Isogai, Nagisa, or me."
"Ritsu… Shoot Isogai, Kataoka, and Akabane a message for me."
"Listening, Onii-Sama!"
"Time to take the fight to A-Class!" He smirked. "They'll be coming with their counter-demands soon… Time to put their Big Five against a Big Five of our own… Whatcha say, Rio? Ya game." She simply smiled her sinister smirk.
"Could you be any more lackadaisical about this, you red-headed ass!" Rio growled as Bakabane yawned, laying in the back of the classroom with a book over his eyes.
"Karma, take this seriously…" Koro-Sensei was deep red. "You and Shuri have the best chance of dethroning young Asano."
"Calm down, teach… You and I both know I'm gonna do fine… My laziness is a credit to your study method. Besides… If Shuri is your golden boy, why not just focus on him?"
"Because I've taken it upon myself to study and even instruct others… And to teach is to learn oneself and express…" San said, before returning to helping me with a problem.
"Well said Shuri, so have you, Nakamura, and the class reps come to any conclusions regarding the bet?"
"Will you relax…" Karma scoffed. "You're starting to sound like a regular teacher… You and Shuri…. Uptight and boring. We've already got a plan of attack, right?" He lowered the book from his face. "You should have a little more faith in it… Are you that worried about A-Class winning this?"
"You're a fool if you're taking them too likely, Akabane," Rio barked… "Thanks for helping us strategize our bet… You were such a big help from your broken soap box."

"Why should we worry? C'mon man!" Okajima countered. "We're us, we've got absolutely nothing to lose. What could they possibly do."
"When we win, they'll do whatever we tell them too! San I have faith in you, Rio, and the others! I really want to eat at the cafeteria, make it happen!" Hina stood up with sparkles in her eyes.
"We'll make it happen, Hina!" San confidently responded with a smile. "Not just Rio and I, but all of class!"
Our tentacle teacher laughed in his way. "Hold it, not a bad idea, and I love the call to action from you Shuri, however I think you're aiming for too low a target."
"Yeah Hina! Are you saying you don't like my bento boxes!" I glared at her before my eyes softened to sadness.
"Excuse me, Shuri, I believe I was about to say something…"
"R-Right sorry sir…" I sat back down.
"No apologies necessary… Now to continue…" He sped to the front of the room. "I say we let them relinquish their pride and joy." The class audibly gasped as Koro-Sensei revealed his devious master plan. "You're already acquainted with being low man on the totem pole, but I want you to fight tooth and nail, all the way to the top. An assassin aims high to bring his target low…"
"Count me in, teacher!" San nodded.
"Yep, me too… Surprisingly…" Rio stood up to join him.
"Can't let the super-geniuses do all the work!" I joined them.

One by one the students of E-Class joined us… all but Bakabane who had fallen asleep halfway through the speeches.
*