"…To go that far… against us?" Nagisa said, her voice trembling.
"It's hard to believe, but it's true," Mash replied.
"We owe the Pandemonium Society's chairwoman our gratitude…" Nagisa said, her face pale.
"You okay?" Mash asked.
"…Just a slight dizzy spell," Nagisa said. "No need to worry."
After his meeting with Makoto, Mash headed straight to Trinity to meet with Nagisa, the academy's leader. Hearing the full scope of Arius's plan, Nagisa's expression darkened with shock.
"No… if you think about it, it makes sense," she said, steadying herself. "If they didn't hate us that much, there'd be no reason to attack Seia-san, to drive Mika-san to that point… or to try to kill me."
"They're pretty set on killing me too," Mash said. "Gotta stay on guard."
"Understood," Nagisa said. "I'll inform the other factions. For your own sake, Teacher, take the best precautions you can."
"Precautions… like powering up my body to block attacks or punching everything to bits?" Mash asked.
"That's enough?" Nagisa said, incredulous. "Better safe than sorry. Overconfidence can be fatal."
"Hmm… got it," Mash said. "I'll think it over more."
"Please do, for your own sake," Nagisa urged.
"Alright," Mash said.
"This is the first step toward peace," Nagisa said firmly. "I won't let anyone interfere."
"Same here," Mash said. "We'll protect it, no matter what."
With conviction, Mash reached for his teacup. Nagisa noticed something off.
"Teacher, your right hand… it's trembling," she said.
"Huh? Oh, you're right," Mash said, looking at it.
"You didn't notice?" Nagisa asked.
"Nope," Mash said. "It'll probably stop soon."
"If this is from that anti-Teacher knife's effect, you should visit the Relief Knights," Nagisa said. "Better to act before it's too late."
"I'll meet with the Remedial Class kids first, then head there," Mash said.
"Teacher, you…" Nagisa began.
"Thanks for worrying," Mash said. "The tea was great, too. We've covered everything, so I'll take my leave."
Mash bowed and headed for the door. His back seemed different from the one Nagisa once knew, so she called out.
"Teacher…!" she said.
"What's up?" Mash asked.
"…Please, don't forget yourself," Nagisa said.
"…? Uh… got it?" Mash replied, puzzled.
Uncertain of her meaning, Mash left with a confused expression. Alone, Nagisa held her teacup, recalling Mash's face.
(A child trying to become an adult… I'm not one to talk, but Mash-san, you're… trying too hard to become one.)
Mash hadn't shown his usual youthful spark. The shadow of the boy who saved the Remedial Class seemed to be fading, and Nagisa couldn't shake the feeling.
"Hey, everyone, long time no—Oof!" Mash said as Azusa tackled him.
"Azusa! I told you not to glomp him!" Hifumi scolded. "A-Anyway, doing that to a guy is… i-indecent! It's the death penalty!"
"It's been a while, since my meeting with Mika-san~♡," Hanako said.
"Haha… uh, good to see you all!" Koharu said. "How's your health?"
"Injuries are all healed, and my workouts feel great," Mash said. "Azusa-chan, mind letting go?"
"Muu, fine," Azusa said, releasing him.
(Didn't that hurt, slamming into Teacher's abs?) Hifumi thought.
(Is Azusa-chan… really turning into a human weapon?) Koharu wondered.
(She looks happy, so it's fine!) Hanako thought.
Learning that Hifumi and the others were gathered in a room at Trinity, Mash stopped by to visit. Azusa's tackle aimed at his abs was, unsurprisingly, ineffective.
"Teacher, listen," Hifumi said. "I made cream puffs without a machine the other day, perfectly shaped! You've gotta try them next time."
"Sweet, I'm looking forward to it," Mash said.
"Hehe~✨," Hifumi beamed.
"What's the occasion?" Hanako asked.
"Oh, just wanted to see you all," Mash said. "That's not enough?"
"No way! I'm thrilled to see you!" Koharu said. "I've got so much to talk about, so it's perfect timing!"
"That's… nice to hear," Mash said. "I've got no plans after this, so I'll stick around for a bit."
"Really?" Hifumi asked.
"Yup, really," Mash said. "So, where do we start?"
"Oh, listen!" Koharu said. "On the last quiz—"
Mash and the Remedial Class chatted eagerly, sharing stories of small sorrows, great joys, and surprises. They savored the moment.
"…"
"What's wrong, Azusa?" Hifumi asked. "You're staring at Teacher."
"No… it's just, something's off about him," Azusa said.
"Off?" Hifumi asked.
"Yeah, like he's hiding something… clouded, maybe?" Azusa said, frowning. "Hmm?"
"N-N-N-No way!" Hifumi stammered. "Nothing's wrong!"
"You're still terrible at lying!!" Koharu said.
"I'm fine, see? Healthy as ever, same old Teacher," Mash said.
"If you say so…" Azusa said, unconvinced.
Sitting beside Mash, Azusa studied him closely. She couldn't pinpoint the unease, but he wasn't his usual self. Hanako, too, worried about Mash's expression—almost as if he were hiding something or lying.
"Teacher, are you tired?" Hanako asked.
"Nah, things have been peaceful, so I'm well-rested," Mash said. "No bags under my eyes, right?"
"True, no bags…" Hanako said, hesitant.
"I'm your Teacher, right? Just seeing you all and talking blows any fatigue away," Mash said.
"Even so…" Hanako said.
"C'mon, enough about me," Mash said. "Let's keep talking."
"Right, right!" Hifumi said. "No more gloomy stuff—next topic!"
Despite their concern, Hanako and the others continued with lighter topics. But Azusa and Hanako couldn't shake Mash's words.
"I'm your Teacher, right?"
"Enough about me."
Mash had always prioritized others, but this time felt different. "I'm your Teacher, so forget about me"—it was as if he had no interest in himself.
(If something's wrong… I'll have to stop him,) Azusa thought.
(Mash-kun, it's okay to just be… you,) Hanako thought.
They carried on, their worries lingering.
Lately, Mash had been dreaming constantly.
"Everyone…?"
Crumbling buildings, searing heat coursing through his body, a blazing earth beneath a sunless sky.
"Why…?"
Before him lay those he'd connected with, bleeding, eyes empty, collapsed. Their halos… gone.
"Get up… please, get up, everyone… you'll catch a cold sleeping here…"
No response. No warmth. Cold, lifeless.
"No… no, you can't… don't say it—don't!"
He pulled their bodies close, his own feverish. They were rigid, like dolls, growing colder.
Why did this happen? How? Why them…? Who did this…? No, it's… all—
"My fault."
He was supposed to be strong, powerful—yet he couldn't protect them. Because he made them fight, pushed them, shielded them… they ended up like this.
It's my fault they got hurt… became sacrifices.
If it comes to that…
If everyone's going to disappear…
Then I should bear it all alone, fight alone.
That's why I'm here.
That's what it means to be a Teacher.
That's how I become an adult… like Grandpa, like the Teachers in that other world.
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