Five days after joining SCHALE, Mash Burnedead, a technological disaster who could break devices just by touching them, somehow managed to power through with sheer determination.
After tackling a mountain of complex paperwork—
"Hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph!"
Mash was, as always, grinding through his daily workout routine.
Using his first paycheck from retaking SCHALE's clubroom and quelling riots in D.U., Mash bought dumbbells and barbells, training his arms according to his usual regimen.
"…Sensei, you're something else," Arona's voice echoed from the Crate of Shittim.
"Am I? I think I'm pretty normal." Swing, swing, swing.
"Normal people don't lift massive dumbbells like they're toys! And just the other day, you took down a gang of delinquents rampaging in the city—by yourself!"
"Yup." Swing, swing, swing.
"That's not normal! Blocking their gunfire with a wrecked car while closing in to knock them out?!"
"Bad kids need a scolding." Swing, swing, swing.
"I get that, but… please stop working out while we're talking!"
"Sorry." Stop. Set.
(He stopped instantly?! So obedient…)
Setting down the dumbbells, Mash grabbed a cream puff to refuel with sugar and protein. Arona, watching him repeat this routine for five days, felt a mix of awe and dread at how accustomed she was becoming to his quirks.
"Oh, by the way, Sensei!"
"Hm?" Munch, munch.
Arona pulled a letter from a pile and showed it to Mash, mid-cream puff.
"This case might be urgent. It's a bit ominous, so you should read it."
"Let's see…"
"To the Sensei of the Federal Investigation Club,
Hello. I'm Okusora Ayane from Abydos High School.
I'm writing because we desperately need your help.
To be blunt, our school is in dire straits, targeted by a local violent organization.
The situation is complicated, but it seems they're after our school building. We're holding them off for now, but our ammunition and supplies are running low.
If this continues, they might occupy our school. So, we're asking for your help, Sensei. Please, lend us your strength."
"That's it. There's a map attached too—Abydos High School," Arona said. "What do you think, Sensei?"
"I'm going, obviously."
"Instant decision, huh?"
"They need help now, right? Then I gotta move fast."
"That's our Sensei! But be careful, okay?"
"Why?"
"Abydos used to be a huge autonomous district, but climate changes have hit it hard. Let me pull up the map… Here! And a photo too."
Mash studied the screen. Abydos was a desert wasteland, with buildings buried under sand, barely visible.
"That's rough."
"Sandstorms caused widespread desertification. Efforts to stop it failed, and residential areas got swallowed. But Abydos is still vast! Some people even get lost in the city center!"
"That big, huh? I'll need to be careful. Time to prep."
Mash began gathering supplies for Abydos.
"Let's see… dumbbells, resistance bands, ab roller… kettlebell, chin-up bar, balance ball, BOSU, hand grips, medicine ball, ab mat…"
"Sensei, those are number one on the 'useless if you're lost' list!"
"…Huh?"
"Not 'huh'! Normal people pack food or tools! You don't need to train if you're lost!"
"…Got it. I'll pack food."
"And water, okay?"
"Yup."
Mash quickly stuffed items into a rucksack.
"All set."
"Sensei, what's in your hands?"
"…Cream puffs and protein powder?"
"Why?! Why only cream puffs?! Planning to live off those for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? And protein powder isn't hydration!"
"They're moist, so it's fine."
"That's not the issue!!"
Scolded by Arona, Mash packed proper supplies.
Carrying an oversized rucksack no ordinary person could lift, Mash set off with perfect preparation…
But—
"Where am I?"
Having reached Abydos' autonomous district, Mash still hadn't found the school after days of wandering.
"Strange. The map says it's around here."
Mash pulled out his smartphone—not his first, as he'd crushed the screen and frame of the original with a single touch. Rin had specially ordered a custom, ultra-durable model for him.
"Oh, I was holding the map upside down."
Sighing, Mash grabbed a cream puff from his massive rucksack.
"Let's think while eating. This is my tenth one…"
The rucksack wasn't just packed with cream puffs—it held ammunition, medical supplies, and a few workout tools.
"I'm almost out of cream puffs. This could be bad."
A bit late to realize.
Deciding to keep moving, Mash munched on his cream puff and walked on.
"…Someone's there?" Arona's voice piped up.
"Hm?" Munch, munch.
Turning, Mash saw a girl with silver hair and wolf-like beast ears, riding a road bike with a white assault rifle slung over her back. She dismounted and approached, rolling her bike.
"What're you doing out here? Lost?"
"Spot on. Can you help?"
"Sure. I'm Sunaookami Shiroko, second-year at Abydos High School."
"Abydos High School? That's where I'm headed."
"…Why?"
"Oh, introductions first. I'm SCHALE's Sensei, Mash Burnedead."
"SCHALE's… Sensei?!"
"Yup."
Shocked, Shiroko stared at Mash, as if trying to bore holes into him. Tilting her head skeptically, she asked again.
"…How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Same age?!"
"Yup. So, where's the school? Oh, since we're the same age, can I call you Shiroko-chan?"
"S-Sure."
"Thanks. Can you guide me to the school?"
"…Okay, this way."
Half-expecting, half-doubting, Shiroko led Mash to Abydos High School, while he kept eating his cream puff.
"Man, you saved me. I was about to wander forever."
"What's in that rucksack?"
"Ammo, medical supplies… and food."
"Good, we're short on those—wait, you carried all that alone?"
"Yup."
"What are you, Sensei?"
"Human."
"I know that, but—"
"Want a cream puff, Shiroko-chan? Chocolate or custard?"
"Custard, then… Wait, you pulled that from your bag?"
"I've got plenty, don't worry."
"That's not the point… Never mind."
Realizing communication might be futile, Shiroko gave up questioning, took the custard cream puff, and ate it. One thing became clear:
This guy's definitely weird.
"Tasty?"
"…Yeah."
"Great."
But there was a kindness to him, too.
Arriving at Abydos' school, Mash followed Shiroko inside.
Curious about his first visit to a school, Mash was struck by the sand-covered state of the building. Sand dust yellowed the walls and floors, piling up in corners and stairwells. The sandstorm's impact, swallowing even this large school, made the crisis facing the students feel all too real.
"I'm back," Shiroko said.
"Welcome back, Shiroko-senpai… Huh?"
As Shiroko opened the committee room door, the Abydos students awaiting rescue were gathered.
"Sh-Shiroko-senpai brought a boyfriend?!" Serika exclaimed.
"Nope," Shiroko deadpanned.
"Wow, Shiroko-chan, how bold! ♧" Nonomy teased.
"You're grinning, Nonomy. You know that's not it," Shiroko said.
"C-C-C-Calm down! We need to stay calm, composed, level-headed… There's no way I can stay calm!" Ayane panicked.
"Ayane, chill. Didn't you call this guy?" Shiroko asked.
"What?! No way, Ayane-chan!" Nonomy gasped.
"N-No! I don't know anything about this!" Ayane protested.
"He's Sensei," Shiroko clarified.
"Huh? …Sensei?" the group echoed.
"Yo," Mash said, raising a hand.
Raising a hand in greeting, Mash set down his massive rucksack.
"S-Sensei? No way, Shiroko-senpai, he looks our age!" Serika said.
"Exactly," Shiroko confirmed.
"Then he's not a Sensei!" Serika snapped.
"No, I am. Look." Mash showed his SCHALE nameplate.
"…It's true. He's SCHALE's Sensei," Nonomy said, inspecting it.
"No way… I thought we'd get a reliable adult, not a kid…" Serika slumped, disappointed.
For someone as pure as Mash, "kid" was a forbidden word. Though his face remained expressionless, a dark aura enveloped him as he curled up in a corner, hugging his knees.
"Sorry… I disappointed you, huh?"
"N-No, you don't have to feel that bad! I'm sorry, okay?!" Serika stammered.
"I've never seen someone sulk so obviously," Nonomy giggled.
"…Told you he's weird," Shiroko muttered.
Comforted and apologized to, Mash stood and introduced himself again.
"Nice to meet you. I'm SCHALE's Sensei, Mash Burnedead. Let's get along."
"You're really the Sensei—oh! I'm Okusora Ayane. Thank you for coming!" The red-rimmed glasses girl with pointed ears and black hair bowed deeply.
"Uh, shouldn't we wake Hoshino-senpai? Oh, I'm Kuromi Serika. Nice to meet you," said the cat-eared girl with black twin-tails, her honorifics slightly awkward. She dashed out, shouting, "Hoshino-senpai, wake up!"
"Hoshino-senpai was exhausted from yesterday… Will she wake up soon? Oh, Sensei! I'm Izayoi Nonomy, a second-year like Shiroko-chan. Call me Nonomy! ♪" The blonde girl, cleaning her Little Machine Gun V M134 Minigun, smiled warmly, thrilled to welcome a rare outsider to Abydos.
The door clicked open, and two girls entered—Serika and the one she called "Hoshino-senpai."
"Yawn… It's not wake-up time yet, why… Hm?" A petite girl with long pink hair, one golden eye, and one blue, locked gazes with Mash.
…
In that moment, their eyes sized each other up, both certain:
This person… is strong.
"Uhee… Who're you? You don't seem ordinary," Hoshino said.
"Mash Burnedead, from SCHALE."
"So you're the Sensei? …Hmm, maybe it's my old-man instincts, but you seem younger than me."
"Old-man…?" Mash tilted his head.
"It's just Hoshino-senpai's way of talking. Don't mind it," Ayane explained.
"Hoshino-senpai, he's my age," Shiroko added.
"Oh? Well, I'm Takanotsume Hoshino. Call me Hoshino, okay? Nice to meet you~" Hoshino said, still skeptical but welcoming.
"Nice to meet you, Hoshino-senpai," Mash replied.
As they prepared to discuss the situation—
Ratatatatat!
Gunfire echoed from outside. Mash tensed, readying himself.
"…Again?" Hoshino sighed.
"Those jerks…! They never learn!" Serika growled.
"The usual crew. We just drove them off, ugh!" Ayane groaned.
"We've got no choice but to fight. Sensei, stay—where's Sensei?" Nonomy looked around.
"…No way," Shiroko muttered.
A bad feeling hit Shiroko as she leaped out the open window to the courtyard. Serika called after her, but Shiroko had already landed below. The others grabbed their gear and rushed out the school's entrance.
"Who're you?!"
"You with Abydos? Let's take him out!"
"Wait, he's got no halo. Shooting him's risky."
"Tch… Whatever, get outta the way!"
In Kivotos, the "Helmet Gang" is a varied bunch—delinquents, desperate workers, or underworld mercenaries—all united by their helmets. The Kata-Kata Helmet Gang was Abydos' current enemy.
"Don't recognize these guys… Not the ones I beat last time, right?" Mash asked.
"They'd have run if they met you before, so these are different ones," Arona replied, audible only to Mash.
Footsteps approached—Shiroko and the others arrived.
"Sensei, get back! …They never learn," Shiroko said.
"Hyahaha! We don't need to learn! Keep hitting you, and you'll run out of bullets soon, right?!" a delinquent cackled.
"Get lost! This is our Kata-Kata Helmet Gang hideout now!" another shouted.
Mash tilted his head. "Kata-Kata Helmet… Aren't helmets already hard?"
He'd dropped a bomb.
"…Huh?" the gang froze.
"Sensei!" Shiroko hissed.
"Why're you provoking them?!" Serika snapped.
"I wasn't trying to," Mash said.
"You mocking us?!" a delinquent roared, aiming his gun at Mash.
"Sensei!" Nonomy cried.
"Trouble," Hoshino muttered.
"That's dangerous to shoot at people," Mash said calmly.
"We know that! Especially for a halo-less weakling like you!"
"…Weakling," Mash repeated.
"What? Wanna do something about it? If you can, that is!!"
"Dangerous!!"
CRUNCH!
"—Huh?" the gang gasped.
"You went too far," Mash said.
Mash crushed the gun in his hand. The bent wreckage stunned the delinquent, shattering Kivotos' common sense. The other gang members' faces comically shrank in shock.
And it wasn't just the delinquents.
"S-S-S-Senpai?! D-Did he just… crush a gun with his hand?!" Serika stammered.
"Y-Yes, I saw it clearly… Wait, can you crush iron like that?" Nonomy blinked.
"Even with a halo, maybe… but a halo-less person?" Ayane gaped.
"…Told you he's not normal," Shiroko said.
"Uh…? (I knew he was strong, but this strong?)" Hoshino thought.
Mash's unthinkable act sent the room into a frenzy.
Then—
"Die!!"
A delinquent from the back pulled the pin on a grenade and lobbed it at Mash.
The next moment—
BOOM!
An explosion roared.
"…Huh?" the thrower gasped.
Mash stood behind him.
"What did you do?!" Serika shouted.
"Sensei's over there now!" Ayane pointed.
"Uhee… I didn't miss that," Hoshino said.
"You saw?" Shiroko asked.
"Yup. The moment the grenade was thrown, he dashed forward—"
"Hah!" Whoosh!
"—and threw it back before it could detonate… Uhee? What's that mean?" Hoshino said.
"That's our line!!" Arona yelled.
"What are you?!" the delinquent screamed.
"I'm the Sensei here to save Abydos," Mash said, grabbing the delinquent, disarming him, and snapping his rifle's lower frame and barrel with a single strike.
Holding the broken gun aloft, Mash taunted, "Who's the weakling now?"
For Mash, it was a demonstration of his strength and a retort to their insult. But the delinquents, realizing they couldn't win, fled in a wailing panic. Without a fight, Abydos triumphed over the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang.
"The Kata-Kata Helmet Gang retreated… It seems the ones sneaking in from the back and gym fled after hearing about Mash-san," Ayane reported.
"Shiroko-senpai, I'm done. I'm so tired from my part-time job, I'm seeing hallucinations," Serika groaned.
"Get it together. This is real," Shiroko said.
"An incredible person showed up!" Nonomy beamed.
"…Sensei, what are you?" Hoshino asked.
Turning with a peace sign, Mash said, "Just a Sensei here to help."