The first time we met, I thought Sensei was strong and weird.
He caught and deflected bullets barehanded, blocked or dodged my attacks, and my… what was it… instincts? Yeah, they meant nothing against his muscles. Amazing, right?
So strong he beat our leader, yet kind enough to make up fast. Just… incredible.
I kinda wanna get closer, talk more… Why?
Anyway! Mash-sensei's super kind, honest, and strong… Wait…
Who was I talking about…?
Oh, right! Sensei! Why'd I forget? Whatever!
Today, I'll help with his work and go shopping!!
Schale, One Day
Mash toiled as usual, swamped with an insane workload, pushing through.
"gdgjhjgngtgtrmjgdjjg…"
"Sensei's speaking an alien language!"
"BBBBBBBB… Endless. No end in sight… Let's train."
"No, Sensei! This has to be done today!"
"But… this much, alone? Impossible."
"Patrolling with Hina Sorasaki."
"Ugh."
"You left before finishing."
"True self-inflicted pain."
"You're saying that?"
"Gotta do it."
Mash stretched, focusing on papers and PC, brain overloaded, shutting out distractions.
"Work… cream puffs… work… training… work… walks…"
"Don't give in to temptation, Sensei!"
"Right… Focus—work, work, work…"
Mash pushed out thoughts of cream puffs and training, diving in. His brain worked harder than ever, fighting urges—
"Sensei! Brought a giant cream puff. Wanna eat?"
"Yes."
He lost. Mash stopped work, rushing to the giant cream puff brought by Asuna Ichinose, C&C's Callsign 01.
"Thought you might be tired, so I stopped by a cream puff shop. Saw a 'Super Limited Giant Cream Puff!' sign and got it!"
"Pure luck… amazing."
"Yup! Total coincidence. Split it?"
"Okay."
"Thanks! Let's eat!"
"Here we go."
They devoured the halved puff. Eating during work, Arona warned:
"Sensei! Food's fine, but work!"
"…Right, sorry, Asuna. Later."
"Hey, Sensei! After this, wanna go out? There's a cool shop nearby~"
"Let's go."
"Sensei!?"
"It's not slacking, just fulfilling a student's request… It's fine."
"Who're you talking to?"
"Uh… nothing."
"Hmm."
After finishing, they headed out, but Yuuka appeared, blocking them.
"No, Sensei! That's how work piles up!"
"…Asuna-san."
"Yup!"
Mash and Asuna chose to break through, sprinting to a window, crashing through to escape.
"Wait!? It's a long drop! Sensei's fine, but Asuna-senpai…"
"Sensei~!"
"Gotcha." Catch.
Mash caught Asuna mid-air in a princess carry, landed, and headed shopping.
"Borrowing Sensei~!"
"Ugh!!"
"Run~!"
Yuuka couldn't catch Mash's speed and gave up, waiting for their return, helping with his work meanwhile.
"…Were those two always that close?"
Kivotos Shopping Mall
"Hey, Sensei! How's this?"
"Hm… Dunno."
"Me neither! Haha!"
(Why are they here if they don't get it?)
At a perfume counter, not because Asuna wanted anything—just wandered in, both puzzled.
"Sensei! Over there!"
"Whoa, don't pull so hard!"
"Hurry~!"
"Wah!"
Asuna dragged Mash through the mall, buying clothes, bullets, food, chatting happily.
"…Hey, Sensei."
"Whaf's up?" Munching cream puff.
"Those people… suspicious?"
"The helmet guys?"
"Yup. Feel like bad news."
"They look normal."
"No, my gut says danger! Gotta check!"
"I'll go. Stay here, just in case."
"Okay?"
"Yup. They might be planning something."
"True… Be careful!"
"Yup."
Trusting Asuna's instincts, Mash tailed the suited Helmet Gang to a dark alley.
"Here's good… Ready?"
"Yup. Blow up the mall, use the fire to steal supplies."
"Operation Arson Theft! Leader, you're ruthless~"
"Stop joking. Start before anyone comes."
The red-helmeted leader, holding a button, gave orders. Then—
"Does that button trigger an explosion?"
"Would be nice, but it starts a countdown."
"How long?"
"About five minutes."
"Hm. How to disarm?"
"Why—!?"
"Yo, arson theft's a wild plan."
"Schale's Sensei!?"
Mash stood behind the leader, who signaled allies to attack, but—
"Urk…"
"Sorry, your friends are down."
"When…?"
"Where's the bomb? How to disarm?"
"Haha, I won't—"
Thud!
"Tell me."
"Eek!?"
Mash wall-slammed the leader, intimidating her. Feeling he overdid it, he steeled himself for answers.
"Bomb locations are on this map!!"
"…All over the place. Gotta tell Asuna."
Mash contacted Asuna, relaying bomb locations.
"Asuna, bombs in the mall—'Sensei! Big trouble!!'—Found something?"
"Yup! Bomb-like things, pretty strong. Those guys?"
"Yup, multiple—'Got 'em all, gathered them~'—Wow."
Asuna's instincts found the bombs, moving them to low-traffic areas. Mash was stunned by her speed.
"Amazing… Disarming method—"
"This? Yoink!"
"Don't touch it!"
"Timer stopped~"
"No way… Even pros struggle with those."
"Got the method, disarming the rest~"
"I'm joining you. You—"
"Yes!!"
"Don't do this again. Next time… no mercy."
"Y-Yes!!"
The leader and gang surrendered to Valkyrie, bombs disarmed, mall saved by Asuna.
"Shopkeepers thanked us, gave us stuff. Lucky!"
"Yup."
Grateful staff gifted them goods. Mash carried most; Asuna held a bag.
"Planting bombs for arson theft… Scary."
"Right… Been wondering."
"What~? Oh, wanted this!"
"Your crazy instincts… self-taught?"
"Nope. Born with 'em, I think."
"Really? No… side effects?"
"Side effects? Hm… Maybe? Nah."
"That's… okay?"
"Totally fine! Don't worry~"
Asuna laughed, hopping ahead with bags.
"Hey, Sensei… Can I call you Master?"
"Master?"
"Yup!"
"Fine, but why?"
"Wanna call you that. Wanna serve you… Is that bad?"
"Not… bad."
Asuna beamed, bouncing, then faced Mash.
"Yay! I wanna know Master… more…"
"More?"
"…Huh?"
Her smile faded to confusion, staring blankly upward. Mash noticed, stepping closer.
"Asuna, you okay?"
"…Sensei… No, Master… Why'd I…"
"You asked to call me that."
"Did I…? …"
"Let's sit. You're off."
"Master… Huh? Why…"
Asuna's face normalized, and she stepped back.
"S-Sorry, Master! Urgent thing came up. Thanks for shopping with me!"
"Wait—'Byee!'"
Asuna ran off. Mash pondered. She forgot something briefly, then snapped back.
"…Not normal."
Worried, Mash decided to talk to her tomorrow. His unease lingered.
"…Master is Mash-sensei… Mash-sensei is Master… Huh…"
"Sensei… What's that?"
Short one. I couldn't handle the serious.
This hurts. More than Hoshino's story… Painful.
Clouding? If so, sorry.
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