The bell rang, signaling the start of the daily pledge.
As students took their positions, a tense, almost electric atmosphere filled the room.
Koro-Sensei stood in front of the class, smiling in his usual unflappable way.
"Alright, class, get ready for the pledge!" Koro-Sensei cheered, his voice warm and welcoming.
This wasn't just a classroom moment.
This was the moment—the moment where the students could launch their full-on attack.
Ryu stood toward the back of the class, his eyes scanning the room.
He had his own mission, separate from the others, but he couldn't help but be intrigued by the action around him.
The other students were on edge, preparing to strike with everything they had.
He wanted to join in on the fun.
Karma was already moving, a wicked smile on his face.
His hands gripped a custom-made gun, a silencer attached to the end. "This will be interesting," he muttered to himself as he crouched low, blending in with the others.
He knew Koro-Sensei's pattern better than most, so he had a strategy in mind.
Nagisa, to his left, was ready as well.
His small frame made him the perfect candidate for stealth. A specialized tranquilizer dart gun in hand, he moved cautiously, eyes trained on the target.
He didn't say anything but moved with purpose. Today, he intended to take the shot.
The students all tensed as Koro-Sensei's wide grin grew, his tentacles flitting around him in an almost whimsical dance.
"I can feel the energy in the room! You're all so motivated today! I can't wait to see what you come up with!"
Without another word, the students lunged into action.
Karma was the first to strike. He took a quick step forward, aiming his silenced pistol at Koro-Sensei's head, the shot echoing sharply in the room. It was a clean shot—dead center.
But in the blink of an eye, Koro-Sensei's tentacles moved to intercept the bullet, the weapon effortlessly swatting it aside as though it were nothing more than a fly. He laughed, the sound playful and infuriating.
"Nice try, Karma! But you'll have to do better than that!" Koro-Sensei taunted.
Nagisa was next. He had anticipated Koro-Sensei's evasion, and with precise timing, he shot a dart aimed directly at Koro-Sensei's exposed shoulder.
The dart flew through the air, its tranquilizer-coated tip gleaming in the light.
But, as always, Koro-Sensei's tentacles shot out, knocking the dart off course. It whizzed harmlessly past him, embedding itself into the wall behind him.
"Close, Nagisa!" Koro-Sensei said with an exaggerated cheer, as though he were congratulating a child on a well-done drawing. "But not quite!"
Pandora, standing silently at the edge of the room, didn't seem to care for the theatrics of it all.
She kept her calm, quiet gaze focused on Koro-Sensei, her hands folded neatly in front of her as if she were merely an observer.
Despite the near misses, the students didn't give up. Yukiko was determined to prove herself, had a gun of her own, a smaller pistol that she aimed at Koro-Sensei's legs. Her fingers tightened on the trigger, and a barrage of bullets flew in rapid succession. However, Koro-Sensei twisted his body, using his tentacles to shield himself once again. The bullets ricocheted off his armor-like skin and hit the ceiling, causing a shower of plaster to rain down.
"Is that all, Kanzaki?" Koro-Sensei asked, clearly enjoying himself. "You'll have to be faster than that if you want to catch me!"
Ryu stood quietly behind them all, watching each failed attempt. He was in no rush to join in the chaos. In truth, he already knew the outcome. Today, like every other day, would not be the day they succeeded. But he also knew there was something else here—something beyond just taking a shot.
Koro-Sensei was playful and taunting, but the truth was, even after all their efforts, he hadn't harmed a single one of the students. Each shot they took, each assault, was deflected with ease. It was a puzzle that even Ryu couldn't yet solve. He knew that any direct approach was bound to fail.
They had been at this for minutes, and still nothing. And yet, Koro-Sensei remained calm, always evading them.
Finally, Ryu stepped forward. He didn't pull out a gun, nor did he take any direct action. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Koro-Sensei's movements, watching every subtle shift in his posture, every flick of his tentacles. There's a pattern, Ryu thought. He's playing with us.
And as the others continued to take their shots, Koro-Sensei grinned, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Keep it up, everyone! You're getting closer! I can feel the progress!"
But Ryu wasn't watching Koro-Sensei anymore. He was watching the students, the ones who were so focused on their attacks. Their moves, their responses, everything was part of the puzzle. He could see it now—if he wanted to beat Koro-Sensei, it would take more than just brute force.
As the class came to an end, and the students, once again, found themselves defeated, Koro-Sensei's voice rang out.
"Well, well! Another valiant effort, everyone!" His smile remained unwavering. "But maybe tomorrow, I'll be just a little more... elusive."
The class groaned collectively, exhausted, but Ryu stayed. He couldn't care less about this in heart. However, it seemed like a fun activity.