As Ryu walked toward class, he noticed something unusual happening up ahead.
A woman was standing near the corner, looking distressed, her purse gripped tightly in her hands as a thug towered over her.
The scene looked suspicious, too staged.
It didn't take long for him to recognize her. Irina Jelavić. The new assistant teacher at Kunugigaoka, known as "Bitch-Sensei." Her beauty was undeniable, but Ryu knew better than to be fooled by appearances.
He knew this was just some act to draw attention from Koro-Sensei.
He was curious about the scene, and for some reason, he felt like he might as well spoil her little act.
He wasn't the type to just walk away when he could make things interesting.
The thug was demanding Irina's purse, his tone rough and threatening, but Irina wasn't responding with the expected fear. She sounded more annoyed than scared, and her acting was too exaggerated for Ryu's taste.
Ryu strode forward, the thug noticing him approaching. "What do you want, kid?" the man growled.
"I think you've got the wrong idea here," Ryu said, his voice casual, even bored. "She doesn't have anything worth taking."
Irina's eyes flicked over to him briefly, her gaze scanning him up and down. For just a moment, he caught her sizing him up with a look that lingered too long to be innocent.
She studied him for a brief moment, her lips parting slightly as she took him in—his sharp features, his confident demeanor.
He's my type, she thought, licking her lips subtly, though the movement was quick enough that it could be easily missed.
Then, as if shaking herself out of the thought, Irina quickly dismissed it. But he's too young... way too young.
She mentally sighed, forcing herself to focus on the mission in front of her.
But she quickly turned back to the thug, playing the helpless victim.
Ryu was already there, stopping in front of the thug with a relaxed posture. He didn't break eye contact with the man, his expression full of confidence. "You're really gonna rob her in broad daylight, huh? Not the smartest move."
Irina took another fleeting glance at Ryu, but it was almost dismissive. She kept up the act, drawing even more attention to herself as the thug stood frozen, unsure of what to do next.
Ryu stepped in, sidestepping the thug's lunging grab and quickly maneuvering behind him. He twisted the thug's arm behind his back and easily took control of the situation, pinning him to the ground with little effort.
"Should've picked a better target," Ryu muttered under his breath.
Koro-Sensei finally floated down from his vantage point, clapping his hands. "Great job, Ryu! You really know how to make an entrance!" he cheered, sounding overly pleased.
Irina, momentarily thrown off, gave Ryu a long look, her lips curving into an almost sarcastic smile. "Thank you for your… assistance," she said, her voice sweet but with a hint of insincerity. She turned her gaze to Koro-Sensei almost immediately, her demeanor shifting entirely.
"Ah, you!" she cooed, smiling brightly. She completely disregarded Ryu now, her attention focused entirely on the octopus teacher.
"I didn't know you were watching. Such a gentleman. Thank you for your encouragement," she added, her tone dripping with flirtation.
She turned back to Koro-Sensei, practically draping herself over him, clearly enjoying the attention. "You really know how to make a girl feel special," she said, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
Koro-Sensei was blushing.
Ryu shook his head, watching the exchange with slight disbelief.
He had literally just stepped in to save the day, and now Koro-Sensei was getting all the attention. It was almost like his effort had been completely overlooked.
However, he knew that she was just doing her mission.
"Hey, do you happen to know where the nearby school is?" Irina asked Koro-Sensei, her voice sweet but tinged with subtle mischief.
Koro-Sensei, ever the gentleman, gave a polite laugh. "Of course I do! We're standing right in front of it," he said, a little flustered by her closeness.
Irina gave a small, appreciative smile. "Of course. How silly of me." She let out a soft laugh, but her eyes never left Koro-Sensei. "I'll be sure to remember next time."
As the students filed into the classroom, the bell rang, signaling the start of the day. The classroom was buzzing with noise as usual, but the moment Koro-Sensei floated in, the chatter slowly died down.
Behind him stood Irina Jelavić, who was looking every bit the part of a new teacher. Tall, confident, and undeniably stunning, she had the kind of presence that made the room go quiet even before she said a word.
With a soft smile, she stepped forward, her heels clicking against the floor as she glanced around at the students.
Her eyes immediately locked on Koro-Sensei, and she gave him a flirtatious grin. "Well, I must say, I'm certainly excited to be here," she said, her voice honeyed and smooth, yet with an unmistakable sharpness underneath.
Koro-Sensei floated toward the front of the class with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. He clapped his hands together excitedly. "Alright, class, I'd like you to meet our new assistant teacher, Ms. Irina Jelavić! She'll be helping us with your education from now on."