Soon, the class trip ended.
There was now news of a new transfer student.
Ryu knew that it was the introduction of Ritsu.
The class was buzzing after their recent trip when Koro-sensei entered, his usual grin on display. "Alright, class! We've got a new transfer student joining us today!" he announced with his trademark enthusiasm.
The students glanced at each other with varying levels of curiosity. It was rare for anyone to join their class, let alone someone new who would be part of their strange mission. Nagisa turned to Kaede and muttered, "I wonder what this one's like."
Just then, the door slid open, and a girl walked in with cold, mechanical precision. She had short hair, a perfectly tidy uniform, and a completely emotionless expression. She stood there, silently scanning the room, not giving any sign of nerves.
"This is Ritsu," Koro-sensei introduced with a wide smile, his eyes gleaming with pride. "She'll be joining us for the rest of the term. I'm sure you'll all get along just fine!"
The students all stared at her. She looked... strange. Like she didn't belong here. There was something unsettling about the way she moved, so calm, so robotic. The atmosphere felt tense for a moment.
"I am Ritsu," she said, her voice flat and emotionless. "My mission is to neutralize Koro-sensei."
Ryu, sitting in the back, raised an eyebrow. It wasn't anything new to him; he'd heard about Ritsu's purpose. But hearing her speak in such a detached tone, without any of the usual nervousness that came with a transfer student, made it hit differently.
As if on cue, Ritsu pulled out a small, advanced-looking gun and aimed it directly at Koro-sensei, who was floating above his desk in his usual nonchalant pose. Before anyone could react, she fired.
BAM! A shot rang out, but Koro-sensei dodged it effortlessly with a wink. "Hehe! Is that all you've got, Ritsu? You'll have to do better than that to hit me!"
The class collectively groaned, already tired of this routine. For the last few days, Ritsu had been in the classroom, constantly trying to take shots at Koro-sensei from every angle—whether it was with guns, sniper rifles, or anything she could find. It was clear she was following her directive, but the repetition was starting to wear on everyone.
"Again?" Karma groaned, rolling his eyes. "She's been doing this every day now. Is she ever going to stop shooting him?"
"She's very persistent," said Nagisa with a small sigh. "But it's getting old."
Ritsu simply set her gun down, as if nothing had happened, her face still devoid of emotion. "I will continue until the mission is completed."
Ryu, who had been observing the whole scene with mild amusement, glanced over at Koro-sensei. Despite the endless shots being fired at him, the teacher seemed completely unfazed, his grin widening with every near-miss. "Hehe! You know, Ritsu, persistence is key, but it's not going to help you hit me!" he called out teasingly.
The class was used to this by now, but the constant interruptions during lessons were starting to drive them all mad. Whether they were mid-discussion or working on assignments, Ritsu would find a moment to aim her weapon at Koro-sensei and fire. It wasn't just the constant attempts on his life that bothered them—it was the lack of variation. No matter how many times she missed, Ritsu would reload, reaim, and try again without changing her strategy.
"I don't know how much more of this I can take," Kaede muttered under her breath, massaging her temples.
"Tell me about it," Nagisa replied. "It's like she's just going through the motions without any real creativity. We're all just sitting ducks here."
Even Koro-sensei was starting to show signs of irritation, though his usual jovial nature prevented him from saying anything outright. "Ritsu, my dear," he called, "could you at least try a little variety? I'm starting to feel like I'm in a shooting gallery!"
Ritsu didn't respond, only nodding silently as she reached for another gun. She seemed completely focused on her mission, showing no interest in anything else happening in the class. Despite the class's exasperation, Ryu couldn't help but find the situation both amusing and a little concerning. Ritsu wasn't like the other students; she was, in every way, an outsider, programmed solely to fulfill her mission. And though she was becoming a huge annoyance to everyone, her precision and cold efficiency were undeniable.
"Let's get through this lesson before we get hit by another bullet," Ryu said, leaning back in his chair, hoping to avoid another round of constant shooting.
But Ritsu didn't stop. As Koro-sensei floated lazily above them, Ritsu took another shot.
BAM!
And Koro-sensei dodged it once again with his usual flair, grinning like it was the most fun game in the world.
"Alright, that's it!" Kaede suddenly snapped. "We can't take it anymore!"
She was the first to act. With a quick motion, she grabbed some masking tape from a nearby desk. "Hold her still, everyone!"
The class sprang into action. Ritsu didn't even flinch as they surrounded her. She didn't attempt to defend herself, seemingly uninterested in anything other than fulfilling her directive. The students worked together to bind her arms and legs with strips of tape, securing her to the chair. The entire class held their breath as they finished, knowing that Koro-sensei's antics would likely go uninterrupted for a while.
Once Ritsu was completely taped up, the room fell silent.
Koro-sensei floated down, his grin now replaced by a look of mild disapproval. "Now, now, class, we mustn't resort to violence, even if it is in self-defense," he said, his voice lighthearted. "However, I do understand your frustration. Ritsu, I believe it's time for you to learn an important lesson."
Ritsu, still bound and staring blankly ahead, didn't respond. She simply waited.
Soon, the class was over and everyone left.
Koro-sensei nodded thoughtfully. "You see, Ritsu, while your persistence is commendable, you are missing something crucial: cooperation. You're working alone, and that's limiting you. You've been so focused on your directive to eliminate me that you've ignored the power of teamwork."
The students exchanged glances. This was a side of Koro-sensei they hadn't seen before. Normally, he was the one teaching them lessons on their mission, but this time, it seemed like he was teaching Ritsu.
Ritsu's expression remained unchanged, but Koro-sensei didn't stop. "Ritsu, let me add a new program to your system," he continued, raising his tentacles in the air dramatically. "It's called the 'Power of Cooperation.' It's essential, not just for completing a mission, but for everything you do. Alone, you can only go so far. But together? Well, together you can accomplish anything."
With a flick of one of his tentacles, Koro-sensei transferred a new code into Ritsu's system. For a moment, the classroom was still, the tension palpable as everyone waited to see if anything would change.
Ritsu blinked, her expression briefly flickering before returning to its usual blank state. She looked down at her hands, as if processing the new information. After a beat, she finally spoke, her voice no longer as emotionless as before, though still mechanical. "Cooperation… understood."
Her body twitched slightly, as though adjusting to something new, and then, she looked at Koro-sensei—this time, her gaze wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm either. There was a hint of something softer, something more human.
"I... will cooperate," she said, almost as if she were considering the idea for the first time. "I will adjust my approach."
Koro-sensei nodded, his grin returning. "Exactly! Now, Ritsu has learned a valuable lesson. No more endless shooting. It's time for us to work together as a team."
"Understood," Ritsu said again, this time with a bit more clarity in her voice. "I will... work with you."