Specimen T-04

Part 3~Baseball

"The American newspapers are full of articles about the moon's destruction as well. I wish they'd put something more interesting on their front page." Koro-sensei lounged in the clearing, sipping at his drink and unaware of the students sneaking closer.

"Every morning before homeroom, he kicks back and relaxes behind the school building with an American newspaper and a fresh drink he picked up in Hawaii at Mach 20. It's just like you told me. Thanks, Nagisa." Sugino smiled as Nagisa put on the familiar sly smirk.

"Of course, my information is always accurate."

Sugino chuckled, rolling his eyes slightly as he stepped out from behind the tree. He took his place, swinging his body as he threw the ball.

"Good morning, Nagisa, Sugino." Koro-sensei appeared behind them as Sugino jumped, spinning and almost falling over. "Come now, you should always reply when someone greets you."

Nagisa simply straightened up with a fake disappointment. "Well, there goes that plan. Good morning, Koro-sensei."

Koro-sensei nodded. "I like your idea of covering the ball in anti-'me' BBs. Unlike an air gun, it doesn't make a sound when thrown. But I had some time before the ball reached me. And since I can't touch those BBs without hurting myself, I went over to the storeroom to get a baseball glove." Koro-sensei held up the glove, throwing the ball up and down. "I really do hope you manage to kill me before graduation. Time for homeroom, okay."

Nagisa softly shook his head, hiding his admiration. "Don't get too bummed out, k?" Nagisa punched Sugino's arm before he walked away.

Sugino ended up bummed out anyway.

~~~

"Hey, Nagisa," Keiji sang into Nagisa's mind, avoiding doing his work. "I'm guessing the sabotage went without a hitch?"

"Yeah," Nagisa replied internally, knowing Keiji was reading his thoughts. "I don't think Sugino even noticed the change. Not that it would have mattered. Koro-sensei already had tons of time without the help of my weighted ball."

"If only you were that fast."

"I am that fast. You're the slow one."

"You want to prove it?"

"I'm not getting you whatever foreign treat is in your head right now."

"Awww." Keiji pouted, leaning against his hand. "But I don't want any more tomato soup."

"Well, good news, it's not tomato soup tonight."

"Wait, seriously?!" Keiji beamed, a common mistake.

"We ran out. I'm making mushroom soup later."

Keiji groaned, hitting his head on the table and causing Koro-sensei to turn his attention to him. "Fukuda, would you like to answer the question on the board?"

Keiji gulped, staring at the different spellings on the board. "No?" Koro-sensei sighed, asking another member of the class as Keiji lowered his head. "Stupid spelling."

"Ignore that. What's the report on the student ideas," Nagisa thought, praying Keiji was still listening.

"Relax, most aren't going anywhere. I shut down the one promising idea. They were going to lure Koro-sensei into a trap with food. It's basic, but it could work."

"I doubt that."

Keiji shrugged, sitting up. "Are you sure we should be interfering so much? What if someone figured out we weren't actually helping?"

"Then we don't have to be discrete about it."

"Of course, how could I forget the amazing T-04 would have a plan for everything," Keiji smirked, his joke going down faster than the Titanic. "Sorry."