Midterms had come and gone, and with them, the weight of exams had lifted from the shoulders of Class 3-E. Now, the focus was on something far more exciting—next week's trip. It was a welcome distraction, a chance for everyone to unwind after the pressure of the exams. But there was still one thing that needed to be sorted out: the group assignments.
"Alright, so who's in whose group?" Nagisa asked, sitting at his desk and flipping through a list of names. "We need six people per group."
"Don't worry," Ryu said with a smirk, glancing at the others in the room. "My group's already decided. I'll be going with Hinata, Manami, Yukiko, Rinka, and Rio."
Hinata smiled shyly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It'll be nice to get away for a bit."
Manami, who had been quietly reading her notes, glanced up and nodded. "I think it'll be a good chance for all of us to relax."
Yukiko, who had been glaring at her phone, barely looked up but muttered, "As long as it's not too boring."
Rinka, standing near the window with her arms crossed, added, "Yeah, I agree. It'll be a nice break from all the tension of school. But I bet you're already planning what kind of food to try, huh, Ryu?"
"Who, me?" Ryu laughed, but his tone was more than a little mischievous. "Of course! We're going to eat our way through the whole trip."
"Don't forget the sightseeing!" Rio added. "We can't just eat the whole time. It's a trip, after all."
Everyone laughed, but the excitement was palpable. The trip was just what they needed.
Irina crossed her arms. "You're all such children, always excited about trips and things. I've traveled all over the world—"
Ryu couldn't resist. "Make sure to water the flowers if you're not coming, Bitch-Sensei."
Irina shot him an exaggerated glare. "Who said I wasn't coming?" she snapped, but it was clear she was more annoyed than actually angry.
Tadaomi Karasuma, who had been silently listening to the conversation, finally spoke up. "By the way, I'll need you all to keep your eyes open. We'll still have to stick to the mission while we're on this trip. You know what that means."
—
The day of the trip finally arrived, and the students of Class 3-E gathered at the train station. The excitement was evident in the air, but so was a hint of frustration. As usual, the school had shown its bias by giving every other class first-class train tickets—except for 3-E. Class 3-E was relegated to the regular cars, no luxuries in sight.
"This is so unfair!" Yukiko grumbled as she dragged her bag down the narrow aisle. "Why do we always get the worst treatment?"
"Same old, same old," Ryu said, brushing his hair back with one hand as he surveyed the scene. "But you know what? It's fine. This trip is going to be too fun to care about that."
The group settled into their seats, and despite the cramped quarters, everyone was in good spirits. They joked and laughed as the train began to pull away, heading towards their destination. But just as they were getting comfortable, a group of hooligans walked by.
Ryu immediately tensed. He knew they didn't have good intentions, especially not when they were eyeing the girls, especially since he watched the anime.
Ryu's group walked through the temple's grand entrance, with ancient trees and stone pathways leading the way. The air was thick with history, and despite the earlier tension, the group's mood lifted as they marveled at the temple's beauty.
"This place is incredible," Hinata said, looking up at the towering wooden structure. "I've read about this temple before, but seeing it in person is something else."
Ryu nodded, appreciating the peaceful surroundings. "Yeah, it's pretty breathtaking."
Irina, walking beside them, added with a knowing smile, "It is nice, but it doesn't compare to some of the temples I've seen in Europe. Still, it's a nice change of pace."
As they explored, they learned about the temple's long history. Manami took the lead, asking the tour guide questions about the building's origins, while Rinka took pictures with her camera, capturing the stunning architecture. Irina, who had been to many historical sites, was happy to share a few fun facts with the group, though she made sure not to overwhelm them with her knowledge.
After spending a good amount of time at the temple, they headed to their next destination: a famous art museum. The group wandered through the gallery, admiring the masterpieces and discussing their favorite pieces.
"I think I could spend hours in here," Rio said, her eyes wide as she studied a painting. "The colors are so vivid."
Hinata, always the art lover, added, "It's amazing how art can capture moments in time."
Irina nodded in agreement. "Art is a reflection of its time. Some of these works are centuries old and still speak to us."
After a few hours at the museum, they moved on to their third destination—a botanical garden. The flowers were in full bloom, and the scents were intoxicating. The group spent time wandering through the various themed gardens, snapping pictures, and enjoying the vibrant colors that surrounded them.
"This is so peaceful," Rinka said, leaning against a stone pillar. "I wish we could just stay here forever."
"Yeah, this trip's been a good break," Ryu agreed, taking in the beauty of the moment.
Irina sighed contentedly, "Not bad. I've been to more beautiful gardens, but this one has a certain charm."
Just as they were about to head to their next stop, the same group of hooligans appeared again, standing at the exit of the garden. They eyed Ryu's group with that same unsettling look, lingering a little too long.
"Let's move," Ryu muttered under his breath. "Stay close, everyone."
As they walked toward the exit, the hooligans stepped in front of them, blocking their path. The leader of the group smirked, his eyes locking onto Ryu with an air of superiority.
"Well, well, well," the leader sneered. "Look who we have here. You really think you can just walk around and enjoy the sights, huh?"
Ryu's body tensed, his hand instinctively moving closer to the sword at his side. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice calm but firm. He was ready for anything.
The hooligan leader stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "What's it to you, pretty boy? You're with all these girls, think you can show off?" He looked Ryu up and down with disdain. "Think you're tough, huh?"
Hinata, standing beside Ryu, stepped forward slightly, her voice steady. "We're just here to enjoy our trip. If you have an issue, take it somewhere else."
The leader sneered at her, clearly undeterred by her calm demeanor. "Oh, I don't think so. You think you can just walk around like you own the place, huh?"
Ryu took a deep breath, trying to remain composed. "You don't want to do this," he warned. "If you back off now, no one gets hurt."
The hooligan leader smirked, ignoring her entirely as he eyed Ryu. "What's wrong, pretty boy? Think you can stop us?" He motioned for his friends to move in closer. "I think we'll have a little fun with you and your friends."
Ryu narrowed his eyes. The threat was clear. "I gave you the chance to walk away," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Now you've made a mistake."
Irina planned to intervene. After all, she knew that Ryu was just a high schooler and only a beginner assassin.
The hooligan lunged at Ryu, but the moment he moved, Ryu was already several steps ahead. His body moved like a blur—so fast that the hooligans didn't even see it coming.
In a swift motion, Ryu drew his sword and disarmed the first thug, sending his weapon flying across the garden. The hooligan stumbled back in shock as Ryu was already on top of him, grabbing his collar and slamming him to the ground. "Don't make this harder than it has to be," Ryu warned, his voice cold.
The remaining two hooligans hesitated for only a moment before charging at Ryu together. Ryu didn't even flinch. He pivoted to the side, letting one of the men rush past him, and then delivered a quick, powerful kick to the other's midsection, sending him crashing into a nearby tree.
The final hooligan, seeing his friends quickly taken down, tried to swing a punch at Ryu's face. It was an amateur move, but dangerous nonetheless. Ryu ducked under the punch, his fist connecting with the thug's stomach in a quick, brutal blow. The man gasped for air and dropped to his knees, defeated before he even had a chance to retaliate.
The group of hooligans was now lying on the ground, completely incapacitated. Ryu stood over them, breathing lightly, as if the fight had been no more difficult than a warm-up.
Irina, who had been standing quietly off to the side, crossed her arms, watching the entire fight unfold with a neutral expression. But as the last thug hit the ground, she let out a low whistle, her gaze lingering on Ryu with a hint of approval.
"Not bad, Ryu," she said, uncrossing her arms and stepping forward. "I wasn't expecting that."
Ryu turned to her, sheathing his sword. "What, you think I couldn't handle myself?"
Irina smirked, though it held a touch of admiration. "I never said that," she replied, her tone softer than usual. "I just didn't know you were that good."
Ryu chuckled, clearly pleased with the response. "Don't worry about it. It's all part of the service."
As the group gathered around, the tension from the fight melted away, but Irina found herself watching Ryu with a new, more respectful look. She'd always known he was capable, but seeing him in action like that—it was hard not to be impressed.
She couldn't deny the growing admiration she had for him. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Ryu than she had first thought.
Ryu knew that in the anime, some girls were kidnapped. He was glad to have changed things.