Specimen T-04

Part 5~Human P.E

In sync, the students counted again and again.

"Ah, how I love the sound of students playing out on the sports field. It's so peaceful." Koro-sensei twisted a flower between his tentacles. "If only they weren't welding weapons." He almost sounded disappointed as the students moved through the drills, listening to Karasuma's orders.

"Again, from attack stance one! And keep your balance!" He paused, crossing his arms as he glanced at Koro-sensei. "I thought I told you to take a break. I'm the new P.E. teacher. You're not listening, are you? Leave us alone. Go play in the sandbox or something." Karauma pointed to the side as Koro-sensei sulked off.

"Why are you so mean, Mr Karauma. The students loved my P.E. class!"

The class disagreed as Koro-sensei screamed, moping in the sand. Nagisa shook his head. "I didn't mind his classes. They were a challenge."

"I think that says more about you than the classes," Keiji laughed, making Nagisa shrug.

"Let's get on with the class," Mr Karasuma ordered, happy with Koro-sensei's self-imposed banishment.

"Why are we doing this, Mr Karasuma? Especially with our target right in front of us, watching our every move." Maehara looked at his knife, almost disheartened.

"Assassination is a skill like any other. The better you know the basics, the better you'll perform. For example, let's see. Isogai! Maehara! Try and hit me with that rubber knife. It won't hurt humans. If you hit me, I'll let class out early."

Maehara and Isogai shared a look as they charged, swiping at Karasuma's head. He jumped down, avoiding each attack. He blocked each boy with a single hand and barely broke a sweat as he flipped them to the ground.

"If you can't hit me, how are you going to hit someone who can move at Mach 20?" Karauma hummed, turning to look at Koro-sensei. "We must have bored him. He changed his outfit, made green tea and built a sand castle." Karasuma turned back to his students, helping them off the floor. "If you can improve your skills enough to hit me, you'll better your chances of hitting him. Knives, pistols, sniper rifles, assault weapons. The basics of assassination. You're going to learn them all in my class."

The class laughed, divulging as they talked about the more than exciting lesson.

As they were dismissed, Isogai sighed. "We have a test after this."

"What? No," Keiji complained, hanging an arm around Nagisa's shoulder as he laughed.

"You wouldn't be so horrified if you actually studied."

"But words are hard."

Nagisa chuckled as he rolled his eyes, about to worm his way out of Keiji's arm when he spotted the figure on the hill. Squeaking, he hid behind Keiji, startling him and anyone in earshot. "Nagisa? You okay?"

Nagisa didn't respond, hiding behind his human shield as the figure on the hill laughed.

"Whoa! So that's Koro-sensei? He looks like an octopus. Freaky." The figure shot down from the hill, walking between Isogai and Keiji.

"Karma Akabane? You were supposed to come to class this morning." Koro-sensei tutted as Keiji's eyes widened.

"Karma?"

"Being late on your first day back from suspension doesn't look good."

Karma laughed. "I got used to sleeping in. Kidding! Sorry, I'm late. It's nice to meet you, Koro-sensei." Karma held out his hand as Koro-sensei shook it.

"Nice to meet you, too. I look forward to a productive year together." Koro-sensei abruptly stopped as his tentacle burst into goo. Karma flicked out a blade, swiping at Koro-sensei as he shot away.

"Wow. You are fast. And they weren't lying when they said this would hurt you. Even little tiny slivers like this." Karma held up his hand, observing the knife slices he had glued on. "I can't believe you fell for the oldest trick in the book! And look at you way over there, you scared?" Karma began imitating chicken noises as he walked closer. "'Koro-sensei' that's a play on 'koro senai', isn't it? 'Can't kill'. You know, I think they got your name wrong."

Kayano tilted her head, walking up to Isogai. "I haven't been in class E that long, so who's that guy? What's his story?"

Isogai sighed, crossing his arms. "I'm surprised you didn't know. Most of the city knows his story. A few years ago, he basically went crazy, got in tons of trouble, constantly picking fights, that kind of stuff. He spent more time suspended than at school. Apparently, he actually attacked this lady, almost killing her. And after, her son went missing. What a poor lady."

Nagisa flinched as he heard Isogai's words, still hiding behind Keiji.

Karma turned around, swinging his knife around him with trained precision. He began walking away, faltering in his step and dropping his knife. He stared in almost horror, frozen on the spot. "It can't be... Nagisa?"

Nagisa let out a breath, finally stepping out from behind Keiji. "Hello, Karma. It's been a while."

Karma stayed quiet for almost a minute before he charged forward, punching Nagisa and knocking him to the ground. "That's what you choose to say?!"

Nagisa grumbled, rubbing his cheek as Keiji growled behind him, the protective aura surrounding him. Koro-sensei looked on the verge of turning black, but before either could fight, Nagisa motioned for them to step down.

Karma glared at Nagisa, his fists in a tight grip. "What are you doing here? What happened to you? Why did you go? I thought you were dead! Why... why did you leave me behind?"

Nagisa gently pulled himself off the floor, laughing as he put on that signature smile. "I don't believe that was my choice." Nagisa glanced behind Karma, looking at Koro-sensei. "Do you mind if I take him? I'll bring him back in one piece." He paused. "Ish. Come on Karma." Nagisa grabbed Karma's, not waiting for an answer before dragging him off.

~~~

Karma crouched on the floor as Nagisa watched him, his hands folded behind his back. "You calmed down?"

"I don't understand. Everybody said you were dead. I thought..." Karma drifted off as Nagisa slid back before him.

"Well, I'm not dead. I'm not some ghost trying to haunt you if that's what you think."

"Why didn't you come to me? I could have helped."

Nagisa shrugged. "No one could have helped. I was always going to be her little replay."

"So you ran away?! You could have gotten me! I would have stayed with you! I could have protected you."

"Karma." Nagisa sighed, grabbing Karma's hand. "There are some things you can't protect me from, but we don't have to be separated now."

Karma hesitated, humming as he smiled. "You'll have to fight hard to get me away from you now."