Chapter 12
One Month Later
The world outside the hospital felt heavier than I remembered. The air was salty, the sun glaring down as if mocking my sluggish movements. Still, I pushed forward.
The academy wasn't easy to get to—not with the island it sat on being surrounded by treacherous waters and filled to the brim with military equipment to fend off any attack from the outside. I found a broken plank near the shore and, without any better options, decided to use it as a makeshift board ' it's worked the first time ... I hope it works again '
Balancing on the plank was a challenge. Each wave threatened to toss me off, but the rhythm was oddly meditative. It gave me time to think—about the last month, the people I'd met... well not people but one person
As I approached the island, the familiar silhouette of the academy loomed in the distance. "Home sweet home," I muttered, paddling with one hand and bracing myself
Even from afar, I could hear the faint hum of activity.
The plank scraped against the rocky shore as I stepped off, my legs trembling slightly from the effort. Despite the exhaustion, I pushed forward, making my way toward the grand entrance looming ahead.
Before I could get too far, a towering figure stepped into my path—A broad-shouldered man stepped into my path—a bodyguard, judging by his stance and the way he crossed his arms. His sharp gaze sized me up like I was trouble. "State your business," he barked, his voice rough and commanding.
"Kasumi. First year. Just got back from the hospital," I replied, casually pushing his arm aside. To my surprise, he stumbled backward, landing on his butt.
'Did he fall on purpose?' I wondered, narrowing my eyes.
"Eh! Uh... ahem, welcome back, Mr. Kasumi," he stammered, scrambling to his feet and dusting himself off.
That was... easy. I frowned slightly but shrugged it off, heading toward my dorm without another glance.
_________
As I walked down the corridor, the unusual quietness caught my attention. The once-crowded hallway was now nearly empty, with only a handful of people scattered about.
"Ah, Kasumi-kun! Welcome back," a familiar voice called from behind.
I turned to see Satoda-sensei approaching, her usual kind smile still firmly in place.
"Oh, Sensei," I greeted, surprised to see her there.
She gave me a knowing look. "How was your vacation?"
"If you call sleeping most of my time surrounded by dying old men a vacation, then yeah—it was great," I replied with a smirk.
She raised an eyebrow. "Hoho, then take this as a lesson—stop slacking off, or you'll end up like them."
" heh ... I would rather end up like them then a certain old woman who's rotting away in a place she doesn't belong to "
Her eyebrow twitched, the vein on her forehead throbbing dangerously. "You little—"
"Forget that," I said with a smirk. "Where is everyone?"
She crossed her arms, clearly annoyed by my previouscomment. "They went on a school trip yesterday. Your girlfriend asked me to give you this." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a gun, handing it to me. "She said you should stop always using your hands—which, honestly, I agree with her on."
I raised an eyebrow, my smirk fading slightly as I took the gun from her hand. "My... girlfriend?" I asked, the confusion evident in my tone.
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah , akao chan the fiery one with the sharp tongue. Yellow eyes, talks like she owns the world? Ring any bells?"
I snorted, shaking my head. "She's not my girlfriend."
"Whatever you say," she replied. "Still, she's got a point. You should really stop relying on just your fists. Might save you some trouble. "
I inspected the gun briefly, weighing it in my hand. "Maybe. But fists don't jam," I said, slipping it into the waistband of my jeans. "Besides, you don't carry one."
"Oh!" she exclaimed, feigning surprise with a dramatic hand to her chest. "So you see me as a role model, huh? I'm flattered, but you really shouldn't. I gave up being an assassin a long time ago." Her tone was light, but a flicker of sadness crossed her eyes. "Now, I'm just a humble teacher... teaching children how to survive." The weight in her last words betrayed a deeper regret she couldn't fully hide.
"I see... So, when will everyone come back?" I asked.
She shrugged casually. "A week, maybe? They're off on some trip to the woods to deal with a cult."
I raised an eyebrow. "A cult? Sounds... cool."
Satoda-sensei chuckled lightly "They're just cleaning up a mess before it gets out of hand ."
"Figures," I muttered, leaning on the wall for support. "And you stayed behind just for me? I'm touched, Sensei."
"Don't flatter yourself," she shot back, a playful glint in her eye. "Besides, you'll be going on a school trip with another branch of the JCC."
"What?" I groaned, nearly losing my balance. "Can't I just stay here? My legs still hurts"
She crossed her arms, her smirk widening. "Lazing around for too long and doing nothing wont help you heal, Mr. Kasumi. Besides, you'll earn points based on your performance."
I sighed heavily while scratching the back of my head"Great. Nothing motivates a recovering patient like forced labor and some imaginary points."