Passing through the park as a shortcut, I noticed a pink haired girl alone and on the verge of tears.

"Excuse me, but why are you here all alone? Where are your parents?" I asked, squatting to the same level as her. I couldn't just leave her here.

"I got l-lost." she replied coldly, stuttering a bit.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Why do you need to know?" she retorted.

Damn, she has a sharp tongue...

"Well, since you're not gonna tell me anything, where are you trying to go? I can take you there if that's alright." I offered.

"How do I know that I can trust you," she demanded while glaring at me.

"Well, I can just leave you here or I can get the police to help you," I suggested.

"Fine, I'll go with you. But first, what's your name?" she asked.

"My name's Shiniko, what about you?" I held out my hand to her.

"Sakura," She grabbed on lightly. "Now let's go."

"Where to?" I asked, standing back up.

"Wakaba Park Cram School, you know where it is?" she questioned.

"Sure do! Let's go," I said cheerfully with a smile.

I took Sakura back to the school, the principal thanked me. I offered to visit and volunteer from time to time.

When I got home, I continued with my projects. After finishing the last of them, I made dinner, then got ready for bed, but before that I did some more work on my laptop. Then, I went to bed.

The next day, I went back to the cram school. The principal, Matsukata, showed me around and introduced me to everyone. The kids were so excited to meet someone new. It was like drowning in an ocean of little people.

Matsukata told me that he's always very busy, even with a few helpers around. I volunteered to teach the kids, look after them, and help him run errands.

Matsukata was glad to have gained another helper, but little did he know, I was only doing this and going outside more to forget about my school life.

All the kids were happy to have someone that played with them and taught them. I got to know most of them, and Sakura, or as the others call her, 'Sis Sakura', opened up a lot more because we could relate to each other— we knew what it was like to be bullied at such a young age.

In the morning, she would meet up with Akari and hang out together, and we would have lunch together. Afterwards, I would go to the cram school, and pick up a few things on my way there.

I would stay until all the children were picked up and all the cleaning was done. Then, on my way to the training grounds, I would stop by the lab and visit The Reaper and Yukimura sensei.

At the training grounds, I either train, get assignments. Irina's been receiving missions overseas, so I haven't had lessons in awhile. On days I choose to train, I can choose to go home early or stay late, most of the time I choose to stay late.

Some days, I don't go anywhere and have a self care day instead.

~Time Skip~

Today, I was going to hang out with Akari for the whole day since we both had nothing to do.

We went to lots of different places together. At the end of the day, it was already dark out, so we decided to go to the lab together.

On our way there, there was a loud explosion. Both of us were knocked to the ground.

"What just happened...?" Akari asked.

"Who knows, but it's probably not good." I replied.

We rushed to the lab and saw it had collapsed. I found an entrance we could crawl in and got in quickly.

When I came out the other end, I saw a giant tentacle monster and beside it was what seemed to be Yukimura sensei. Before he could leave, I ran up to him.

"Wait! Don't go!" I shouted.

He turned around.

"I haven't told you who I really am yet. I'm an assassin too, I'm known as 'Fallen Light'."

The Reaper smiled sadly and was about to take off. Akari made her way through the tunnel and her sight landed on her sister, then to the tentacle creature that blasted away into the night sky.

"Yukimura sensei!" I exclaimed and turned to the female teacher laying on the ground. I kneeled down beside her with tears, I couldn't say a single word.

"Aguri..." Akari whispered in shock while making her way over to her body. "Big Sis! Oh, God, talk to me! Wake up! Aguri, please!" Akari begged, then started sobbing.

I saw a piece of paper on the ground next to her and picked it up.

"A-Akari, look at this."

"W-what is it?"

"It's a note. It says:

To Whom It May Concern,

I will withdraw for now, but I can take over as homeroom teacher for Kunugigaoka Junior High Class 3-E. Discussions to follow.

From a super-destructive creature." I read the message left on the note.

As I finished reading, Akari saw a case with vials of tentacle seed and a computer, and grabbed them both.

"Come on, we're going back to my place." Akari said with a straight face.

"Sure."

The two of us went back to Akari's place in silence. When we got there, Akari turned on the computer and started to read about the tentacles in a quiet whisper.

"It says here: The Weaponized Tentacle Prototype is compatible with human physiology. Provided a strict regimen is adhered to, otherwise the pain is excruciating." She held up the vial with the injection device.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked with concern.

"I'm sure." she confirmed. "I have to avenge my sister's death. You're going to Kunugigaoka, right? Is there really an E Class?"

"Yeah, there is."

"Are you in it?"

"When the new school year starts, yes." I answered.

"I see. You should go now, it's getting really late. I'll call you if I need your help, ok?"

"Alright then, bye Akari. Take care ok." I left her house and walked back home, memories of Yukimura sensei, The Reaper and myself replaying in my mind.

When I got home, I showered and went straight to bed.

~Time Skip~

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.

"Hello..." I mumbled.

"Shiniko, it's me Akari, I need you to come over right now." I said calmly.

"Uh-huh..." Then, she hung up.

I dragged myself out of bed and got ready. I looked at the time, it was past noon. When I got to Akari's place, I knocked on the door and heard a 'come in'.

I knew what this was about, and headed straight to her washroom. Akari was staring at the mirror, probably thinking to herself.

"If my instincts were on point, in Kunugigaoka's E Class. I'd find the monster that murdered my sister."

I waited, until Akari snapped back to reality.

"What do you need?" I asked, startling her a little.

"I need you to dye my hair, but first there's something I need to do." Akari took one of the vials of tentacle seed and injected it into the back of her neck. Her face showed immediate pain, then it turned back to a serious face.

"Are you ok?! Does it hurt?!" I asked.

"It hurts, but I'm fine." She replied.

I started to help Akari dye her hair. She still needed to do a lot of things, so she thanked me for helping, and quickly got changed and we both left her place.

Spring break was almost over, and I was glad for two reasons: The Reaper that turned into a tentacle creature is going to teach E Class, and I was going to be in E Class.