March 7th covered her mouth with slender fingers. "What's going on… my mouth just started talking on its own. This class is definitely wrong."
Dan Heng furrowed his brows, inevitably feeling a trace of worry for March 7th and Stelle.
After a moment, he spoke gravely. "I'll go check things out."
"Mmm…" But March 7th interrupted him. "But if even you start Ba na na na-ing, it'll attract way too much attention. Let me and the Trailblazer go instead. We're usually not that serious—if we mess up and look silly, it won't stand out too much."
[Nooo, I want to hear it.]
[I want to hear Dan Heng Ba na na too!]
[+1!]
Stelle crooked her finger. "Let's go."
"You're the best. Come on."
With that, March 7th linked arms with Stelle and walked up to the Banana Instructor. "Banana Instructor! The two of us want to try!"
It was soon Stelle's turn to graffiti on the wall.
She held the spray paint in her hand, eyes tightly closed, and began thinking.
This pure white wall was about to be transformed—dyed in Stelle's own colors.
Just thinking about it made the hand gripping the Dreamweaving pigment tremble with excitement.
This would surely become a masterpiece that could change the face of Origami University. To leave no regrets in her youth, she had to carefully plan the content of this painting.
From color scheme to composition, from overall to details, from concept to design—it deserved an entire system cycle…
No—an entire day… no—an entire year of meticulous polishing!
To leave an indelible mark in the history of Dreamweaving art!
[HAHAHAHA, what an idiot!]
[When will Haki Stelle stop being so abstract?]
[She's getting more and more abstract.]
[Every time I see her inner monologue I lose it.]
— —
"Hurry up and paint! Any more stalling and class ends na!" Seeing Stelle still motionless, the Banana Instructor began urging her.
Stelle shook her head.
Unfortunately, this art-ignorant big-headed monkey had interrupted her reverie.
But he reminded her of one thing: time is always the most precious resource for creation.
Stelle closed her eyes again and followed the Banana Instructor's guidance—meditate… think of an enchanting, profound trash can…!
She recalled every bucket she had encountered in the past. Their mysterious, beautiful black-hole-like openings intoxicated her. Stelle's mind was drawn into the bucket, peace and serenity pulsing along with the tiny trash bag in her chest.
"The Banana Instructor's requirement is Sleeping Banana Monkey—but do I really have to follow it exactly?"
At that moment, the voice of Sleeping Banana Monkey rang in her mind again.
"Ba na na na~, Ba na na na~ …"
For some reason, her doubts were drowned out by the monkey's Ba na~ cries.
It seemed to be the will of the pigment itself—the monkey's voice kept coming from beside her ear, and images of the monkey began surfacing in her mind…
As if countless Sleeping Banana Monkeys were throwing a rave party at her bedside while she slept.
No choice—it looks like the painting has to be it…
"No—don't give in! (Trash Can dialect)"
Stelle suddenly opened her eyes wide. "!!! It's you!"
It was—it was that mysterious bucket she had once helped—Shatana! She was suppressing the monkey!
"Long time no see, traveler. You are the savior of our tribe, the Hunt-King who takes away garbage—how could you submit here?" Shatana spoke in a language only Stelle could understand.
At that moment, the nearby Sleeping Banana Monkey looked extremely indignant, circling Shatana while nonstop "Banana na na."
"Silence, foreign ape—how dare you so easily sever the fated chains that bind us!"
The power of bucket and monkey clashed and fused within Stelle's heart, ultimately converging in the pigment at her fingertips. Banana scent and garbage scent intertwined in her nose, while two entirely different images surfaced in her mind…
[HAHAHAHA, I'm gonna puke.]
[Tears in my eyes, fam—Shatana came to save us.]
[Shatana actually showing up—I really didn't expect that.]
[Yes—defeat magic with magic.]
[I'm seriously losing it.]
[Never underestimate the bond between Stelle and trash cans.]
[Insane—even a memetic virus can be suppressed.]
[Because King-Next-Bucket is basically another kind of meme.]
[How is such a ridiculous plot making me feel so pumped?]
[It's heating up, fam!]
— —
"Finally—let emotions resonate with the materials!" Stelle silently recited in her heart.
Everything was ready! Time to show her talent and release herself onto the canvas that was the wall.
Stelle abruptly opened her eyes. She was back in front of the familiar wall. Raising the spray paint, she began to graffiti.
When she came back to her senses, the painting in her mind had already appeared on the wall.
The clash between trash can and baseball bat, accented with cyan-green highlights—it was divine inspiration.
Stelle excitedly found the Dreamweaving Banana Instructor and invited him to appraise her work.
"Oh! This painting…" The Dreamweaving Banana Instructor examined it carefully. "What even is this thing! Why is it all trash cans? Where's the monkey? 0 points!"
Subtitles once again showed Stelle's inner monologue.
"My persistence only brought painful consequences. The Banana Instructor's scolding and the mocking laughter from classmates below ring in my ears. I just painted what I wanted to paint—did I really do something wrong?"
At that moment, Shatana's voice rang again.
"Traveler… thank you for your painting. Upholding what you believe is right—that is the pride of a bucket."
"Look—I didn't do anything wrong!"
[No way—after watching this I actually feel like crying? What's wrong with me?]
[See—this is true bonding. The power to break through anything.]
— —
The Dreamweaving Banana Instructor completely ignored Stelle and went straight to March 7th.
Stelle followed along, ready to watch the show.
In front of March 7th's graffiti wall—spotless. But right in front of it stood a massive… Six-Phased Ice?
Rappa couldn't help but exclaim, "Ninja • Six-Phased Ice! What powerful Ice Release—Lapis • Ninja is truly an upper-rank ninja!"
March 7th hurriedly explained, "No—this Dreamweaving method is way too similar to condensing Six-Phased Ice. I couldn't tell them apart."
[Trailblazer Express upper-rank ninja—March 7th.]
[Legendary beautiful girl, hand-crafted Six-Phased Ice.]
[I can't tell them apart!]
[March 7th is truly a divine being!]
[Is this some kind of foreshadowing?]
[March 7th definitely has something to do with the Path of Remembrance—just wait for how they tie it up later.]
At this moment the Dreamweaving Banana Instructor didn't curse her out—instead he praised her. "Ama—amazing bana! To build such a large object in so little time… truly on par with professional Dreamweaving Monkey technique…"
"Wow—Mr. Reca really wasn't lying. This lady really is a genius!" March 7th gave herself a big thumbs-up.
"But—0 points!" The Banana Instructor's words instantly doused her with cold water.
"Why?!"
"A giant ice block—what banana use is that? I told you to paint Sleeping Banana Monkey, not make shaved ice! Even professional Dreamweaving Monkeys have to obey the client's demands!"
"What?! Didn't Banana Professor say the classroom should be free? Your demands aren't free at all!"
"You have the freedom to cause trouble in class—I have the freedom to give you a low score. Isn't that free enough? Being unconventional comes with the price of being unconventional. Get down na!"
March 7th pouted. "Ugh—how unreasonable!"
Finally the Dreamweaving Banana Instructor came to Chaletka's wall—there was nothing there.
Chaletka had her eyes tightly shut, desperately trying to create something related to Sleeping Banana Monkey.
"Stop chanting—your mouth is for eating bananas, not for Dreamweaving—blank paper! 0 points!"
Faced with the Banana Instructor's harsh words, Chaletka panicked instantly. "Wait—please give me a little more time…"
"No love for Sleeping Banana Monkey—no amount of time will let you paint it… I remember you're the dead-last na in class, right?"
"N-no! I've at least come in second-to-last a few times…"
"Sigh—every time I see students like you, I feel exhausted. A monkey without tree-climbing talent will never reach the bananas. Why humiliate yourself by stepping on stage? Just accept reality and give up this path early, Ba na na na~."
[Where's Godfather? Where's Godfather? Save her!]
[Dr. Ratio's hospital would never tell you to give up—he'd just call you an idiot.]
[Uh… hard to judge.]
[What—Godfather still in C?! Godfather's stock is still rising?]
— —
Stelle clenched her fists. "Hey! That's going too far!"
The Dreamweaving Banana Instructor turned to look at Stelle and spoke calmly. "This classmate, you surely can't understand the love contained in this Banana Instructor's words. No matter what, you and the previous female classmate still have some talent—but this girl who handed in a blank paper has nothing at all.
If you keep chasing things you can never obtain, aren't you just walking in the opposite direction of happiness? Give up—give up Ba na!"
Hearing such an evaluation from the Dreamweaving Banana Instructor, Chaletka's tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Has Your Excellency finished speaking?" Rappa slowly walked to Chaletka's side. "If so, please turn your gaze back here."
On Chaletka's assignment wall—without anyone noticing—a graffiti piece in Rappa's distinct style had appeared.
"Wait—what banana is this now?"
Rappa lowered her hat brim. "This is Frenzied • Talisman Seal. Please, Big-Head • Evil Spirit, offer your critique."
"Critique my banana skin! Can this thing even be erased?!"
"This scenery is exactly what the Sweet Ninja holds in her heart. The moment you turned away earlier, her form followed her mind— inspiration burst forth like a gushing spring. The entire process took only 0.1 micro • seconds—even a ninja's super • vision couldn't catch it!"
"What nonsense! You obviously painted this!"
Rappa stared sharply at the Dreamweaving Banana Instructor. "'A cooked salmon cannot swim—nor can a ninja deceive with demonic words.' The Sweet Ninja Disciple only needs a little assistance. This one is willing to serve as her brush and help her complete her training."
She then slightly bowed her head, fixing her gaze on Chaletka. "Sweet Ninja Disciple—is that correct?"
"Ah? This…"
Seeing Chaletka hesitate, Rappa continued. "The Galaxy Ninja Scroll states: 'A python has no feet yet can slither swiftly; a manta ray has no wings yet can soar through the sky.'
If you have already made up your mind, why not shout it out with conviction!"
Chaletka seemed to steel herself and shouted loudly, "Whatever it takes—I really need the credits!"
"No—that's cheating bana!"
"Big-Head • Evil Spirit Your Highness—teachers transmit the Way, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts. You must not lightly deny a Ninja Disciple's Ninja Path!"
March 7th chimed in too. "Exactly! No matter what, that earlier criticism went too far. And my Six-Phased Ice isn't bad either!"
With that, the Dreamweaving Banana Instructor's anger flared. He summoned several Banana Helpers. "Banana Helpers—with me! Let's give this group of failing students a proper lesson bana!"
"Finally showing your brutal true nature? Then this one shall begin the grand • hunt." Rappa seemed to have been waiting for this moment. She formed a hand seal—a massive shuriken appeared in her grasp.
What followed was a one-sided massacre.
As a Galaxy Ranger, Rappa's strength was beyond question. The moment the Banana Helpers moved—the fight was already over.
Flashes of white light streaked across the screen. The Dreamweaving Banana Instructor and the Banana Helpers all collapsed.
Rappa stepped on the Banana Instructor's head. "Victory is decided. Allow this one to recite the Ninja • True Words for you—'No matter what treaties or laws exist, those who resort to violence must be prepared to face violence in return.'"
[Badass!]
[Cyber ninja is just built different!]
[As expected of a Galaxy Ranger.]
[Good!]
— —
Finally, Banana Professor—the one who appeared at the beginning of the plot—stepped in and resolved the farce.
"Your Excellency is the lord of this Origami Village?" Rappa carefully sized up the person before her.
Banana Professor smiled faintly. "Lord? You flatter me. I'm merely a faculty member. The true masters of this campus are always the students.
I heard there was some disturbance in the Dreamweaving Design class, so I came specially to take a look. Turns out these Dream Troupe members lost control. Once again—my apologies to everyone."
[This old guy's got something. One sentence and he's already proven he's not at fault!]
[This old guy is way too smooth—starts deflecting right from the opening line.]
"But this classmate—you look somewhat unfamiliar. You shouldn't be a student of Origami University, right?" Banana Professor kept smiling; it was impossible to read his true feelings. "That being said, I've heard there's recently been an unidentified stowaway who infiltrated Penacony… pink hair, red clothes, burning scarf. The Hound Family's sighting report bears some resemblance to you, classmate."
Rappa remained neither humble nor arrogant. "Your Excellency need not beat around the bush. Speak plainly."
"Hehe, what I mean is… if the criminal truly harbors ill intent, why would they come to Origami University to attend class? You're just a good child who loves learning, aren't you?"
[Ah???]
[Ah??]
[Feels kinda forced.]
[Probably just saying he knows Rappa's identity—but he's not going to say it outright.]
"Every banana sapling has the potential to bear fruit. Everyone has the right to receive equal banana education. Origami University is free! So classmate—you are completely welcome to stay and audit. Study hard, okay!
Come—let's show some enthusiasm and welcome our new classmate!"
In an instant, Rappa was surrounded by other college students.
"Classmate—you actually dared to stand up to the Banana Instructor? That's so cool! I've hated him for ages!"
"Why do you call yourself a ninja? Does your planet really have ninjas?"
Even Chaletka tugged at the hem of Rappa's clothes. "R-Rappa classmate… thank you for helping me out! Could you… teach me how you did that graffiti… ninjutsu?"
The students' enthusiasm made Rappa slightly uncomfortable. "…"