The Secret Life Of Nagisa Sensei

(2-8) The Mountain

The train journey took little more than one hour. They didn't have to travel very far until they arrived at the mountain. Most of the students sat in their seats normally, reading or chatting. Saiki and Chie, however, felt a little more stiff. They had witnessed their teacher act in a way that was so out of character for him, yet so chilling. They felt that if he wanted to, he could kill them in their sleep, which was even more terrifying due to the fact a camping trip to a mountain would be the perfect place to do so.

By the end of the trip, however, Saiki had almost fully overcome his nervous feelings towards his teacher. He had managed to convince himself that Nagisa would not harm him. The extent the bluenette went to to rescue Hirose was evident of that. He would protect his students, not harm them.

Chie had also overcome her feelings of nervousness towards Nagisa Sensei. However, these feelings were replaced by other nervous feelings. This time, she was completely unsure what it was or why she felt them. All she could think about was Saiki. The way he fearlessly put himself in danger by confronting the gang members in the train station. The way he led the girls around that abandoned warehouse in the search for Hirose, again, seemingly without fear. He protected her twice. And now, he had infested her brain. Was she, no. She wasn't. But... Was she... Was she in.... In love?

Her thought chain was cut short by the train screeching to a halt and Nagisa standing up, telling the students to get ready to disembark. Half an hour later, all thirteen students and one blueberry had assembled outside the train station. Nagisa counted them multiple times, just to confirm that no-one had been lost. He became confused for a small time when he only counted thirteen. He realised, however, that the fourteenth student was Ren, and he was not with them anymore. Rest in peace Ren.

Nagisa lead the way through the city, the students trailing excitedly behind. Soon enough, he turned the corner and a familiar sight filled his eyes. Kunukigaoka junior high. Still stood in all its glory, or infamy, depending on which class you were in. Nagisa's eyes, however, went straight past the main campus and fixed on a small path leading into the forest on the hill next to it. Nagisa paused outside the school gates, waiting for people to catch up. The gates were locked. They had been for some time now. After principal Asano was forced to resign after the E class fiasco, a new principal had taken over. They managed to drive the school into bankruptcy, causing it to close its gates forever.

"So this is our trip, a closed school?" Hideo scoffed. A few students stared at him. Others nodded their agreement with his words.

"This is not just any closed school." Came a male voice from behind them. A black haired man was walking towards them, wearing a smart suit. His left hand was in his pocket and he held a key in his right hand. The man walked up to Nagisa and handed him the key. "This was our school," he continued, "but you will be staying in the mountain." With that, he pointed behind him at the first covered mountain standing next to the school. A few students saw the steep path leading up it, blocked off by a gate, and sighed. We have to go up a hill?

"Gates open. The others are already up there. I need to shoot, enjoy your trip." The black haired man whispered to Nagisa before leaving.

"Bye Isogai." The bluenette replied. Isogai smiled as he walked off.

"Bye kids." He said, looking back at the students, before getting into a silver car and driving off.

"So students, who wants to climb a hill?" Nagisa asked enthusiastically. A sigh emerged from the collective of students. "There is a pool at the top." He said. This made the students a lot more excited. They began the slow assent up the mountain.

At the top, Karma, Sugino and Hayami were waiting for them. They had already set up their tents in the old PE are and the main cooking area inside the classroom. Nagisa was the first to reach the top of the hill, panting slightly. He greeted his friends while he waited for the rest of the students to arrive. In a short while, all the students had reached the top and collapsed red faced upon the ground.