It was time for the foreign language class to start soon.
As Irina handed out the quizzes, she couldn't help but glance at the students, a slight smirk playing on her lips. They think they're so clever, she thought.
But in her eyes, they were just a bunch of underachievers who didn't know how to appreciate real talent. Her eyes locked onto a few students, and she raised an eyebrow.
"You know," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "for a group of so-called elite students, you all really are a disappointment. If I were your real teacher, you'd be begging for mercy. It's honestly sad how little you know."
"So, this is Class 3-E, huh?" she muttered loud enough for everyone to hear. "What a joke. This is the bottom of the barrel, isn't it?" Her gaze flicked over the class with disdain. "How do you all even manage to get out of bed in the morning, let alone get yourself to school?"
A few of the students bristled at her words, but most just exchanged glances. Irina wasn't fazed.
"It must be exhausting, huh? Being the rejects of the school." She let out a short laugh, leaning casually against the desk. "But I guess this is where the school sends all the failures to rot. Such a waste."
Her words hung in the air, the class growing tense.
Ryu, sitting quietly at the back of the room, couldn't help but shake his head at her. He had seen this kind of thing before—overconfident, rude, and ultimately out of touch with the students.
Before Irina could say anything else, one of the students—fed up with her attitude—hurled an eraser at her. It hit her square in the chest, and she recoiled slightly in surprise, her hand instinctively going to her chest.
"What the hell was that?" she hissed, glaring at the student who threw it.
Another student, emboldened by the first, followed suit, sending a pencil soaring through the air. It landed near Irina's feet with a soft thud.
"You little brats think you can just throw things at me?" she growled, her face turning red with anger.
The room was now tense, but the students, now fully in rebellious mode, started tossing erasers, pencils, and other small objects at her. Irina's composure cracked, her eyes darting around the room as more items flew in her direction.
"Enough!" she shouted, but the students were done listening. It was clear they weren't going to back down.
The students were relentless, though, throwing more and more objects. It wasn't long before Irina, humiliated and furious, turned on her heel and stormed out of the classroom, her heels clicking loudly against the floor.
Irina's hands balled into fists, before she decided to leave the classroom.
"Fine, you little brats! You'll regret this!" she spat, slamming the door behind her as she left the room, leaving the class to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
She smirked darkly, knowing that she wouldn't let this humiliation stand. "I'll make them regret this," she whispered under her breath.
As she continued to smoke, a voice broke her from her thoughts.
"You sure know how to make an entrance," Ryu's voice came from behind her, and she turned slightly to see him leaning against the doorframe, a cocky smile on his face.
Irina narrowed her eyes as she exhaled another puff of smoke. "You again..." she muttered, annoyed but somehow entertained by his presence. "What do you want?"
Ryu stepped closer, hands in his pockets, his expression casual. "You could have handled it better. I mean, that was kind of embarrassing, don't you think?"
Irina flicked her cigarette away, watching it fall to the ground before crushing it under her heel. "It's none of your business." But her voice lacked the sharpness it had earlier—there was a subtle tension in the air now.
Ryu raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading just a little. "Look, I know you've got your pride, but if you want those kids to respect you, you've got to show them something other than that attitude. They're not going to listen to you if you keep insulting them."
Irina crossed her arms, taking a moment to consider his words. "So you think I should apologize to them? Is that it?" Her tone was skeptical, but there was a hint of curiosity behind her eyes.
Ryu shrugged, his gaze steady. "I didn't say you had to apologize, but if you keep up with that 'I'm better than you' attitude, you'll never get anywhere with them. They've got a lot of pride, too. They won't just fall in line because you say so."
Irina's lips curled into a smile, though it was more amused than dismissive. She stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "You really think you've got me all figured out, don't you, Ryu?"
Ryu didn't move, keeping his calm demeanor. "I'm just saying, if you want to teach them, you've got to get on their level. No one's going to listen if you just treat them like dirt."
Irina's smile faded just a little as Ryu's words sank in. She tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly, though her expression remained amused.
"You're really pushing this whole 'get on their level' thing, huh?" she said, her voice quieter now, but her gaze intense.
Ryu's stance didn't waver. He leaned slightly against the wall, the calmness in his posture belying the seriousness of his words. "Look, if you're going to be here, then you're playing a double game. You've got to balance being a teacher and an assassin. Koro-Sensei does it, doesn't he? He's got to be a teacher, someone who actually cares about getting through to these kids. But at the same time, he's the target. You're not any different in this role."
Irina's eyes flickered, but she didn't interrupt.
Ryu continued, his voice steady but firm. "If you can't handle both roles—if you keep thinking of them as 'just brats'—then maybe someone else can take your place. This whole 'assassin' thing can go to someone else if needed. You can't be only an assassin here. You're not in the field anymore. In this role, you have to act like both a teacher and an assassin, just like Koro-Sensei is pretending to be our target, but also teaching us."
Irina blinked, caught off guard by his words. She took a small step back, her gaze searching his face, trying to gauge whether he was just being bold or if he genuinely understood the gravity of what he was saying. Her lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Not bad" she said, her tone shifting, an edge of respect creeping into her voice. "So you think Koro-Sensei is the only one who can pull off both, huh?"
Ryu shrugged. "I didn't say that. But if you want to stick around and make a real impact in this mission, then you'll have to do it. The students won't respect you if you keep putting yourself above them. They've got pride. If you don't meet them where they are, they'll tune you out, and you won't get anywhere."
Irina tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly, but there was something different about her now—a softness, almost as if she was reconsidering her approach. "You know, you're not as bad as I thought," she said, her voice quieter, almost teasing.
Then, without warning, she leaned in and kissed him, her lips pressing firmly against his cheek. Ryu was taken aback, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.
Irina pulled back, licking her lips, her gaze playful. "You're cute. And smart. I think I'll keep you around, Ryu."
Ryu blinked a few times, still processing the sudden kiss. "What was that for?" he asked, trying to hide the surprise in his voice.
Irina smirked, her confidence returning. "Just a little reward for your advice. You've got potential. Maybe I'll actually try to teach those kids... the right way. But don't expect me to go soft on them."
Ryu watched her for a moment, then shrugged with a grin. "Whatever works for you, Bitch-Sensei."
Irina rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Don't push your luck."
With that, she walked back toward the school building, Ryu following behind her. This time, she didn't storm in, but walked with a more measured step, her attitude slightly adjusted.
When they reentered the classroom, the students were still whispering amongst themselves, clearly still buzzing from the chaos. Irina stood at the front of the class, her posture more commanding now.
"Alright, you little brats," she began, her tone still sharp but no longer dripping with disdain. "I'm here to teach you English. No more messing around. You want to throw pencils at me? Fine. But you better know how to spell when I'm done with you."
The class fell silent, the shift in her approach apparent. Some students exchanged glances, but this time, there was a sense of quiet anticipation in the air.