Assassin/Writer

And so I am sitting at the back of the class, it doesn’t really matter actually because I can stare at his beautiful and glorious back for the whole day. I can see from my peripheral vision how the boys from class stares at me, I am not even surprised because I know I look gorgeous. But, I am sorry boys but my eyes are all in this handsome blue haired boy.

The bell rings and there seems to be hurrahs echoing at this old classroom, and this is so far the liveliest day at school I’ve ever had since I started going at Kunugigaoka High. I mean, this is what a classroom and students are supposed to be right? Not unlike those ugly asses from the higher classes at this stupid school, so far I am enjoying myself.

“Mine –chan!” I called at Mine who is already approaching the front door, she stopped and turned her head towards my direction. Two boys also stopped as she waited for me, it was Isogai and my blue haired guy. My heart leaped, as my eyes met his for a moment.

“Gomen, it was rude for me not to offer you to join us for lunch. Actually, I am still trying to get used to this Class 3-E situation. By the way, I’m with Nagisa and Isogai kun. Is it okay, if they’ll join us too?” She asked. I understand her, I know that it hasn’t been long since she transferred at the end class too and she is still trying to get along with the other students.

“Oh, it’s okay. You don’t have to be sorry. I am actually the one who is shy to join you guys.” I looked down and I feel like blood is rushing to my cheeks, making me feel warm.

“Hello! By the way, I’m Isogai Yuuma.” He extended his hand for a handshake and I took it. He genuinely smiled and looked at me as if there was heart forming in his eyes. Oh my god, it was funny though.

“Hello, Kaeri-san. I’m Nagisa Shiota, it must be tough for you to be transferred at the middle of the semester.” He also extended his right hand and it’s as if it was spring and cherry blossoms were floating and there was a beautiful shade of pink aura surrounding him, he was smiling so brightly and beautifully that I thought my heart was going to break free from its cage.

I took it and felt every nanoseconds that our skin touched. Now I feel like I was the one whose eyes are forming heart shape. I was the one to first let go because I don’t want to be obvious.

“Hello, I’m Kaeri.” I said, short and sweet. I gave Nagisa a smile and then I followed them to their cafeteria.

I literally cannot believe that the kid I have been crushing on since pre-school is now having lunch with me, and my heart cringe to the fact that he does not even recognize me.

Yes, I’ve been in love with him since pre-school.

It was only for a year, because after that we moved to Los Angeles because my mom believed that I should learn about American culture and its language because, duh it’s the universal language.

I would give you a little flashback about when it all started but I just cannot contain my overflowing moe! I secretly take quick glance at how Nagisa chews, his lips are in this beautiful form of perfection. His hair falls perfectly at his face that seems like it was carved by angels.

It’s a bright and sunny day so far. A sliding door is in front of me, awaiting to be opened. I can hear indistinct chatters and murmurs inside, very typical of any classroom.

“Well then,” a voice seemingly from the teacher puts the class on silence. “You have a new classmate.”

That’s it. That’s the cue. That’s what Karasuma-sensei instructed me yesterday after I shooed his introduction away, saying it straightforwardly as if my breaking the formality didn’t matter to him even the slightest.

Alright. I’m sliding this door open. I can finally get to see what this Class E has got.

Silence.

And a huge yellow octopus. Otherwise known as Koro-sensei.

This is fascinating. I hold back from smirking and wearing inappropriate expression. Although I’m a bit astounded to have my first personal encounter with a weird creature, I could still manage to maintain my coldness. But I made more weird things than that in the future, so he should not come as a surprise to me. Not at all.

I take a brief moment of looking around before I walk toward the front so I can face my new classmates. It’s so silent that my footsteps are the only thing you can hear.

I reach to pick up a chalk on the ledge beneath the board to scribe my name on it.

Ken Miduchi. It’s written rather shabbily. Yes, my penmanship sucks big time, but that’s none of their concern.

I turn over to face everyone. All eyes are on me. Some express utmost excitement; some roll their eyes as if it’s not a big deal to have an alien in their class.

“Why don’t you introduce yourself?” Koro-sensei insists.

“No need. Just read it.” I say in my usual cold tone.

And then I can see everyone is in subtle shock. They probably didn’t expect me to be elusive. Not my fault. Besides, I didn’t come here to make friends. I came here to.. to… what was that again? I drop my gaze on the ground trying to recall something important. Darn, time travel has probably messed with my memory.

“Nyuruhuhuhu…okay then, Miduchi-san. Please take a seat.” His voice snaps me back from the trance. I raise my eyes to see him pointing one of his gross tentacles to the vacant chair to the near left just in front of me.

So I’ll be sitting in the first row. Cool.

But what’s that thing again? What was I trying to remember a while ago?

Maybe it will come back in itself later.

I slump in my chair without further ado as I stare at my name written on the board, readying for yet another trance.

And then chatters and murmurs fill the air once again, snapping me again from the trance I just tried to get back into, but this time their voices are lot toned down so I won’t hear what - or rather who - they’re talking about - and it’s definitely me.

Now I’ve finally made all my way up here. The series of excited footsteps is landing closer and closer to the school’s glass door. This is it! Now all I have to do is push this door open to meet someone so I can finally settle my transf—

…

Benches are empty. The hallway is awfully quiet. No signs of humanity can be sighted inside the lobby.

Surprisingly, nobody is around. Where’s that guy who set the meeting time?

He’s supposed to arrive several minutes or even hours ahead of me.

Or maybe the place for meet-up was moved and I wasn’t informed?

But I reckon there’s a great chance he’s somewhere around here. I start plodding toward the hallway to the left. I scan around the lobby, expecting to see him halfway. Shifting my face from left to right, I’m starting to feel a scintilla of dismay. Maybe the people of Class A were just plotting against me to make a fool out of me after all, maybe as a retribution for failing the exam? Impossible. Why do I keep making up things that are way too far from realizable? But everything feels as if it’s completely set up. Am I on some gag show?

“Ken Miduchi,” a voice speaks from my behind.

My feet come to a stop. I turn over my shoulder. I see a man of tall stature. He sports a black, spiky hair. His eyes are subjecting me with a sharp look, a much sharper look than I could ever give anyone. He dons a black suit. From his looks, I can infer that he’s the type of person who is tired of what life has to offer him…like he’s forced to do what he hates doing and is deprived of the option to quit whatever his job.

But paint his hair blue, and ta da~ there’s Sonic the Hedgehog standing before me—only that he’s not so fast in making it here to the lobby.

“Please follow me.”

He turns around and walks in the opposite direction. Man, why so serious? He hasn’t even introduced himself yet to be so quick as to turn his back against me and tell me to tag along. Oh well.

Turns out we were actually meant to meet at the other hallway where he opens the second door to the right. Just when he opens it wide enough, he stands still next to it and waits for me to enter first. I stare at him for a couple of seconds just to study his face before proceeding inside. I can feel the world being slowly enshrouded in eccentricity. But what can I do?

There are two metal chairs at the very center facing each other; a bulb hanging in the middle is enough to light up the entire room. I walk to ensconce myself to the chair nearest to me.

This feels so much like an interrogation room. Did I commit a crime or anything? Between my steps, I hear him close the door in the background.

Now, we’re down to business.

He sits on the chair in front. “I’m Tadaomi Karasuma. I will be one of your teachers in Class E from now on.” He says.

“Mmmkay..” My voice coming from my nose to show my disinterest in long and boring introductory remarks.

Then, out of nowhere, he hands me this silly-looking rubber dagger. What the fuck am I going to do with that? Kill a cockroach by swinging it about in the air? Stab my new classmates to death with that toy? I’ve never been this full of shit all my life.

Class E sure is weird. No matter how good I claim to be in English; there’s just not a single term that can describe the mess I’ve gotten myself into.

“You are going to need this one,” he says. “A giant octopus has nearly destroyed the moon, and—

“Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi,”

“Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi,”

          The voice of each students are echoing across the field on a sunny afternoon. Each one of us are swinging our knives from eight directions as per what Karasuma-sensei taught us. Of course, I need to participate even though I already know such basic combat skills like this. The only thing is, short-handed knives hate me and we don’t get along very well.

Why? My father’s apprentice who also happens to work in the ministry of defense, taught me the basics on wielding different weapons. This aims to know what is more suitable for my combat strength and physique. My instructor or I should say my master, found out that I’m capable of handling mid-range and long-range weapons but not the short-range ones. It became my weak point.

In my perspective, I can see Karasuma-sensei and Koro-sensei standing on the small uphill.

“From now on, I’m in charge of Physical Education,” Karasuma-sensei says while Koro-sensei is now sulking because he’s not in-charge of the Physical education subject anymore.

While I was, eavesdropping their conversation and trying to look as not as skilled as the guys from the class are... There’s this guy whose hair is orange who walked towards our gym teacher. I believe that he is Maehara Hiroto. “But Karasuma-sensei, is there any point in this training? And should we be doing it right in front of our target?” he asks.

“It’s the same in assassination as in studying: Drill the basics and they’ll serve you well,” Karasuma-sensei replies. He has a point, yes and it is really an essential thing you need to remember in using a weapon. It may seem boring at first but before you can learn something that is complex, everything should start from the basics.

Karasuma-sensei calls Maehara-kun and Isogai-kun and challenged them to try hitting him with their knives and if ever the both of them successfully lay a scratch on him, we can go home for the day. I don’t know why but seeing this make me feel this excitement rushing inside my body wanting to replace those two students and fight this black hedge-hog haired man in their stead. It’s hard to contain this feeling however, I must not do something reckless. Koro-sensei and everyone else here don’t know about my abilities yet. I shall unleash it when the appropriate time comes.

Without further knowledge of the basics, Karasuma-sensei beat down the two students. Well, it’s expected and there’s nothing to be surprise of. Then, he dismissed the class telling that from now on, he will be teaching us all the assassination basics.

The students dispersed around the field and walk towards the direction of our old wooden classroom, that seems to be more like a shack rather than a school. I also took a step and now I’m behind Nagisa-kun and Sugino-kun. Then Nagisa-kun suddenly stops after hearing another man’s voice calling him. Looking up, I saw a red haired guy holding a box of strawberry milk on his left hand.

It was not really a trouble to be able to transfer to class 3-E. It only took me three steps. First, I intentionally failed the preliminary exam, made the principal to summon me into his office for a talk. Second, I just used my family’s financial influence to the school to threaten the principal and transfer me to Class 3-E as soon as possible. Third, I just used my pretentious overly cute looking face to thank the principal for giving me his permission so that I could leave that hella boring B-Class, leaving him face palmed as soon as I left his office.

He was stressed out because I’ve heard there were also two other students from A-Class that were transferred to that infamous Class 3-E, and now I am contributing to the growing number of failures in his oh so precious school.

I was oriented before transferring to the things about that class that I already heard of and I already know. (I’ve read about it from the paper Lovro Sensei gave me. Not just once, not twice but thrice.) They gave me this funny looking rubber dagger that is supposedly made out of Anti-Sensei material. It would not harm a human but it will surely harm this so-called Koro Sensei, Mr. Karasuma pointed out.

“Ms. Otsuka, I know you were trained to be an assassin ever since you are a little kid and your skills would greatly contribute to the class so I am expecting a lot more from you. I hope you can help kill that sensei and save the world.” Mr. Karasuma said.

I gave him my famous smile, so devious and cute and bowed before I leave the briefing room.

“Oh, I would love to kill that sensei, all right…” I smirked.

-

I followed Mr. Karasuma and even though I wanted to be transferred there was a part of me that is nervous of what is it going to be like the moment I step my feet on that classroom. Will I be mocked and degraded by the whole school too? Probably yes, but do I care?

“Minna-san, today we will be joining by another transfer student from the upper class.” I heard the teacher said to the students.

“Another transferee?”

“What’s going on?”

“Someone new who we will be competing for that ten billion yen!”

“Ugh, why do these students from the upper class keeps on coming?”

“Will this be the last?”

I overheard their rants, I got a little frustrated. Well, I am not here to compete with amateurs, and 10 billion yen is not my aim. My inheritance will worth much more than that. And what’s with the attitude, you ain’t even know me yet. Somehow, there’s a part of me that got hurt.

So, I gathered up all the courage left, took a deep breath and flashed a sweet smile before entering the so called “Assassination Classroom”.

 “Ohayou gozaimasu. Hajimemashite, watashi no namae wa Kaeri-desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” I bowed, still smiling sweetly. And then I looked around the classroom to scan everyone’s faces.

Some boys’ jaws are dropped to their desk while looking at me. I can’t blame them, I have the looks that can do that. For I know, some of you were ranting about my transfer just a while ago.

The girls are normal looking, and not as cute as me though. I have nothing to worry about.

I saw this beautiful blue haired person, and my heart skipped a beat. We had like a 5 second eye contact, before I looked away. After that, I looked at the famous creature who blasted 70% of the moon. Gosh, he really looks like an octopus!

“Where should I sit, sensei?” I asked the octopus.

“There is a vacant seat on the last row, the one beside Terumi-san.” Mr. Octopus said and he pointed out where it is. I looked over and saw a short and red haired girl, with eyes that sparkle. My eyes grew and I sense that she is not some ordinary girl. There is something in her aura that is full of fighting and… omg, she is so KAWAII!

I walked on the isle and I sat on the chair beside her.

“Konnichiwa! I’m Kaeri… I hope we can be best friends!” I know, I was being weird but I just like the aura that she has, it’s super cute!

“Ano… Hai. I’m Terumi Mine.” She extended her hand, smiled and we shook our hands.

“Will it be okay if I call you, Mine-chan?” I asked.

“Hai! Then I’ll just call you Kaeri-chan. By the way, you didn’t tell your surname.” She said, with a smile on her face.

I just smiled and whispered.

            “My name is Terumi Min(e) from today and onwards I’ll be attending this class. Please treat me well,” I said in front of these new faces and bowed as I reach the last sentence of my statement. The yellow octopus beside me was very happy about my presence. But he always had this grinning face so it’s common to define him being happy now right? The octopus pointed his tentacle towards the direction of my seat saying that I could take that one. Of course, I took a step and walk to reach my table.

             The classroom seating arrangement has three columns with two table for each. The distance between the tables is about half of its size. From the teacher’s desk, my seat can be located at the middle column. The yellow octopus wanted me to occupy any of the two seat from the last row since it was vacant. I could feel the sight of my classmates glued on me. The way they look is nothing to worry because it’s harmless they’re just totally curious about my appearance.

             I sat behind this guy with a very long bangs already reaching his nose. I kinda wondered if he could still see things around him. Setting that aside, all I did for the whole time was to observe things around me especially this octopus.

             With a fast pace of time, lunch break came. Chatters and creaks from the chairs can be heard as some of the students stood to prepare for the break. “Sigh… this is all different from my routine, I want to see Gakushuuuuu~” I whined in a very small voice as I dropped my head down on the table.

            “Umm… You’re Terumi-san right? If you want, you could join me or Nagisa for lunch,”

            A voice of a guy caught my attention, I tilted my head upwards and found a person with somewhat a spiked black hair brushed downwards paired with a couple of bangs. He was also with this androgynous blue haired small individual which he called ‘Nagisa’ earlier. I was curious to know if this Nagisa who’s wearing a male uniform is really a guy or girl. So I thought that I should eat with him for today.

            “Yes I am Terumi, thanks for inviting me. Maybe I could join him for lunch heeheehee” I replied while gesturing my hand towards the blue haired guy’s direction.

           “Okay… By the way I’m Isogai, Isogai Yuuma. Nice meeting you.”

           “Oh, nice meeting you too Isogai-kun. Hope we can get along well,” I flashed a small smile on him.

           “And I’m Shiota Nagisa. You can just call me Nagisa, can we take our lunch together with my friends? I’ll introduce you to them,” Nagisa-kun said while happily showing me where we will eat.

           I followed Nagisa and joined them for lunch. I could tell that they’re trying to keep a conversation with very simple topics so I won’t be out of place. But nahh~ I just observed them and put on a smile every time their gazes will reach mine.

________________________

           Throughout this day, I studied the octopus’ movements. Given that he has a Mach 20 speed, the color of his face also change depending on the mood. But what I like about this teacher was his method of instructing his students. He had a very understandable lectures and provides each one of us a chance to answer the problems he wrote on the board. The octopus also creatively used his tentacles for multiple choice type of queries. In additional, he also forbids the students to assassinate him during class. It’s true that everything he taught becomes easy however there’s still a fact that cannot be changed.

          This monster destroyed (70%) of the moon. Earth will be next in line if we won’t do something to assassinate him. The government will take any measures to erase this threat. They would even go such lengths to provide us such anti-sensei weapons.

          But why this octopus chose to teach the end class? I wondered what are his intentions.

I was so excited to have been back in Japan after a couple years of stay in China, where I have trained and deepen my understanding of Kung Fu and also to improve my Mandarin. It has always been like that ever since I was a child. I’ve lived in different countries and learned a lot about their culture. Although I love all the places I’ve travelled and all the places I have lived, for me, there is still no place like home.

But, all my excitement was gone the moment I have realized that the school everyone’s been talking about, everyone’s been trying to get to, isn’t all that great. Kunugigaoka Junior High School, a school full of studious zombies. They are no fun at all! All eyes are glued down to their books, and everyone’s really unpleasant. Especially, this B Class. Guys are all absolutely ugly ass.

I vented my frustration on my trainings and practices after school that I almost cripple the body of my sparring mate every time. It’s just that, seeing blood and hearing the moaning pain of my target, takes away all the frustrations I have at my shitty school.

“Kaeri.” A familiar voice said, even without looking, I already know whose voice it came from.

“Sensei!” I let the arms of my sparring mate go as soon as I saw my sensei’s form coming.

“I can see that you have been working really hard.” Lovro Sensei said as he look at the poor state of my sparring mate. I was practicing jujitsu this time and even though my trainer’s armed with a dagger, I still managed to beat this man whose size is tripled compared to mine.

“School’s just… so stressful, Sensei… I cannot use my overly cute face, all guys are so ugly!” I whined. He smiled and turn his back, and so I followed him. I bowed myself goodbye to the trainer who is now lying on the mat, tired and beaten. And I felt a little bad for being too harsh, though. Gomenasai was the only word I could utter.

We walked to our place’s living room, where Lovro Sensei and I sat. I like receiving guest at this part of our house where all of the books written by famous and best-selling authors from around the world are displayed in antique bookshelves that it almost look like a library rather than a normal receiving area. I am still on my training clothes but I still smell like strawberry although I have sweat so much from training.

He handed me a manila envelope while he sip his cup of black oolong tea. I was sitting next to him in a long European style sofa.

Puzzled, I took and untied the closing flap to see what is inside.

 ASSASINATION MISSION OF STUDENTS FROM CLASS 3-E.

 I scanned the document and I was utterly surprised.

“What is this, sensei?” I am profoundly confused. What is this assassination mission of class 3-E students? Seriously though, those discriminated and looked down upon students from class 3-E has some special assassination mission?

“It’s all up to you, Kaeri.” Lovro Sensei said as he stood up and left me in that big, empty room. I stared at the paper on my hands. I don’t know, and I am not really sure about this.

 -

 All the students from Classes A to E are lined up of for this month’s general assembly. I carefully observed each one of the students from Class 3-E to see if there is anything special for them to have this special mission.

They don’t seem special, well for me. Being trained ever since I was young to be an assassin, I know how lacking these students are. People from other class keeps on bullying and making fun of them. Their heads, were hanging down and not having any contact from the other class. I can feel how embarrassed they were. Somehow, I felt a little angry.

“Ei, Nagisa-kun!” I heard these two ugly ass boys called one of those class-3E students. I looked and saw a familiar boy – with a blue hair, tied into two pigtails– looked at them.

My eyes widen. His form, his hair, his eyes... It reminded me of the same blue eyes from primary school.

“Tough trip coming down to the mountain I bet?” Then they laughed, obviously mocking everyone from the E Class. 

The school dean came in front the podium to greet everyone. 

“You are the cream of the crop. This nation’s chosen elite! I, your school dean, can vouch to that! But if you’re not careful, you could end up like certain other good for nothings!” Then everyone laughed. How disgusting everyone is in this school?  

I tried to ignore hearing their laughs and retorts. I put on an earbud on my left ear and played some music. The fact that everyone was so focused on degrading the last class and to the speaker, no one noticed that I am being some irresponsible kid from the B-Class.

I was disrupted from my reverie when I’ve heard a commotion from the student. They were all looking on the side of the E-Class. Curious, I looked up to check what was up, then I saw a blonde woman walking, heels clicking and dressed as if she was some kind of super model, not a teacher. 

My eyes widen. It’s because, she isn’t a teacher! 

There was blood rushing to my head. My breathing tensed up and I found myself clenching my teeth and fist. 

She walked towards this blue-haired boy and talked with him a little, gosh. How flirty! 

It’s all up to me huh? Well, I wasn’t sure about this the other day but now I have a reason to transfer.

ASSASINATION MISSION OF CLASS 3-E STUDENTS.

TARGET: SENSEI.

Today would be full of nothing special, I supposed. Sticking my eyes to the ground as if not minding whether I bump into a random person or wall, I take all the leeway and time I was given to go to school with slow and conceited footsteps. At this time, the second period has already kicked in inside Class A.

But not for me.

Not anymore.

I’m not too late for school. In fact, someone’s about to welcome me on the school lobby. He must be the one to take me to the End Class. I need not take things seriously, but why is there a pang of anxiety slowly trickling through my bones? My plot went all too well, didn’t it? As hard as I try to part the clouds in my mind to pacify this internal trembling, the body remains triumphant over the brain.

I don’t know how and why I suddenly fell into this pit of uneasiness.

Class E. Whenever it constantly flickers on my mind, my soul feels as if it’s about to burst free through my nostrils.

Are my new classmates just a collected bunch of pickle-sized brains?

Or even worse, brawns that can send me flying mid-air with just one good jab?

I grit my teeth and close my eyes wrinkled as I swiftly shake my head to perish this uneasy feeling that has been slowing my steps all this time.

Turning back is never an option. It never was.

I keep reminding myself that this is the past, and it proves to be an effective tool in at least killing off this unwanted vibe if ever the same thing starts to creep back in again. Maybe I’m just being delusional. Could this be a side-effect of violating time’s rules?

Here I am wearing my school uniform, sitting formally on a red couch with hands curled and pressed against my knees. I looked around and saw only a small light and dim room. “What’s this an interrogating room? It could be nice if they put me in a fancy room then offer me a glass of juice.”  I sarcastically thought. I sat still and waited for someone who will orient me on matters regarding my transfer to Class E.

Minutes passed and someone came in. With this dim light it became hard for me to recognize who entered the room. As the silhouette gets nearer, the first thing I noticed is a jet black hedgehog like hair and a black suit. The shadow for sure is a guy. I believe that he’s Tadaomi Karasuma-san. “Sorry, did I make you wait?” he said with a straight face but there’s a slight hint of worry in his tone.

“No, not at all. I also just came in a few minutes ago…” I replied. ‘Ugh’ this is so awkward, I don’t know why but Karasuma-san is kind of intimidating or it’s just my first time meeting him face to face. Well, don’t blame me for being stiff in this situation. I only heard this guy from my dad’s colleague.

“My name is Karasuma Tadaomi and I’m here to discuss what you’re going to do when you transfer to Class E.” Karasuma-san said while standing a few meters away from me.

I took a deep breath to ease this tension then I crossed my leg sophisticatedly and placed my hands on the top of my left knee.

“Okay, shall we start now?”

On a second thought, I was so happy in this pose. Because I assumed that I’m a super duper rich lady who bestowed an order to her butler.

‘HAHA’ sorry for my stupid imagination. Can’t help it~

I’m fidgeting my pen out of boredom. Nothing’s changed. This is exactly the same thing I could clearly recall I was doing at some point 10 years ago. The blank test paper in front of me. I remember struggling to breeze through these sets of questions, but now every item seems to be something a grade-schooler would already know. I know I have warped back to the past - successfully. The brats in this room, myself excluded, are so tightly focused on their papers, gazes fixed on their desks as if their lives are at stake when they fail to snag a perfect score. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

‘How about I make a zigzag out of this answer sheet?’ I smirk as the ballpen between my index and middle fingers stops swinging.

_______________

“What’s the meaning of this?” The principal asks in a calm tone. The test paper bearing my name is lying on his table, the big 0 mark the first thing you’ll see. My gaze does not want to rise to meet his. It’s no wonder the principal would call out on a class A student who underperformed on an exam, let alone scored a flat zero. “Is this to be expected from a head teacher’s grandson, from a class A student to boot?” He continued.

I utter no word. My eyes staring blankly on the ground, my brain pondering on something else. I know I smudged the honor of being in class A. But to tell the truth, I could have perfected it any time I want. I just wanted to make sure my long-term plan goes to fruition. But I’ll remain unapologetic. This is the past. Everything has already happened. It won’t certainly affect the future where I belong so long as nobody finds out about it.

“To the End class you go,” the last words he says before he turns his office chair against me signaling my dismissal. His tone has been consistently calm all along. Man, I thought I’d get some stern reprimand.

But well, I’m out to class E. Thank you, principal. I’m smiling internally as I slide my hand to retrieve my egg-marked test paper from the principal’s chair before I leave the damned room without a word. Just when he thinks my downward leap to class E is a “punishment” for screwing up on a kid’s exam, he got it all twisted.

Who won? Spell M-E.

“The superiors need you to transfer in Class E.”

What?! Me transferring to class E??

Wait, am I hearing those words right?

I told my dad that it’s not a good joke.

But what can the both of us do when the higher ups already gave their orders.

Whether I like it or not, I’m obligated to accomplish a certain task. I was asked to assassinate or just observe an octopus alien who will be teaching the ‘End Class’. Any method will do as long as it will benefit the government.

Still, I really don’t want to be transferred in Class E. Actually, I don’t hate them and I’m against the discrimination.

However, what matters the most is my capability to fit in the class.

I don’t think I can do that. After all, I’m kind of dependent to my childhood friend who also happens to be my classmate in Class A.

But who knows, something good might occur. Everything has a purpose right?

Class A has always been routinely boring. Same monotonous habit of opening books all day. There’s not much interaction going on in the process. The only thing they have an eye-to-eye contact with is their books. Lunch break, meal time, whatever vacant opportunity they can find to spend it on reading up heavy loads of information on the academe. Their brains have been wired to doing this every single day. But I’m also part of this class, aren’t I? And I don’t exert as much effort in studying at all. I feel like it’s impossible for me to reach their level. My brain is not as jam-packed as theirs. I know where I stand. I do not really belong here.

Maybe because I’m not really supposed to be here to begin with. Grandma’s a head teacher. What’s there to expect? I’m originally in Class B. I felt I was more suited there. Where I can breathe loosely. Where I am among the top 10. But the tables turned when my grandma walked me into this class. The 1st in Class B turns out to be hanging on the bottom list of Class A.

The honor of belonging in the first section or the shame of being the last - which one do I take?