Mash's Room, Late Night
"So, don't overthink it. Summarize simply… Sensei, you okay?" Arona asked.
"Uh… yeah… fine…" Mash mumbled.
"You don't look fine…"
"Simply… what's simply again?" Mash slurred.
"Sensei, let's take a break! Your brain's about to fry!"
"Just… a tiny break…" Mash agreed.
After the water fight, Mash studied alone in his dorm room. He'd boldly told Nagisa, "I'll protect those girls," but that meant against violence or unfairness. Academics? He needed help. So, he leaned on super-AI Arona for tutoring.
"Summarize today's lessons… make materials… plenty of time," Mash muttered.
"Sensei, don't overdo it! You're not used to this, and your body…" Arona warned.
"I'm fine, won't die," Mash said.
"Last time we studied and made materials, you collapsed! Brain fried, heart stopped! Rin-san, Yuuka-san, and Noah-san found you—"
"Heart stopped!? Brain too… what's going on!?"
"Brain's a concern, but CPR first! AED!"
"Got it!"
"Ready—wow, what muscles!"
"Chief Admin!?"
"Sorry, got distracted! Everyone, stand back!"
"We revived you, but…" Arona said.
"Yeah, that happened," Mash admitted.
"Don't forget! I was so worried!"
An hour of study and prep pushed Mash's brain to collapse last time, earning scoldings from Yuuka and others. Now, he wasn't that bad, but the mental and physical toll was brutal—far worse than his usual work.
"I can't quit. I took this job, so I gotta do it right. Study as hard as them—no, harder. Summarize, teach. It's what I can do," Mash said.
"Sensei…"
"Arona-chan, stick with me a bit longer? This problem's probably tough for Koharu-chan," Mash said.
"Got it! Super-AI Arona's with you to the end!"
"Thanks…" Mash ate a cream puff in one bite, tied an "Aim for Passing" headband, and said, "Let's continue."
He resumed studying.
Midnight, Dorm Room
"Can't sleep… Koharu-chan's out cold. Azusa-chan and Hanako-chan aren't here… maybe they can't sleep either?" Hifumi whispered.
In their room, Hifumi lay awake. Koharu slept soundly, but Hanako and Azusa were gone. Thinking they might be restless too, Hifumi got up.
"Just a short walk…" she muttered, tiptoeing out.
"So… like this… thanks. I'll teach it this way…" Mash's voice drifted.
"Sensei? This late?" Hifumi recalled Mash's all-night training sessions. Curious, she crept to his room, quietly cracking the door.
"!"
Mash was frantically preparing materials, a stark contrast to his usual wild antics. He was dead serious, fully focused.
"Sleepy… slap!" Mash smacked his cheek. "Ow… I'm awake."
Hifumi gasped. (That hard!? He hates this stuff, yet…)
"Wrong… ugh," Mash sighed.
(So serious… for us…) Hifumi's heart mixed awe and worry.
(I shouldn't interrupt…) She moved to close the door.
Creak!
"(Shoot!)"
"Hifumi-chan?" Mash called.
"Uh, Sensei…" Hifumi stammered.
"What's up this late?"
"Sorry… couldn't sleep, got to thinking… wondered what you were doing…" Hifumi mumbled.
"Oh… can you keep this a secret?" Mash asked.
"Why not tell everyone?"
"Please, I don't want them feeling weird."
"But…"
"Please."
"…Okay," Hifumi agreed.
"Thanks. Come in? Got cream puffs," Mash offered.
"I'll pass—don't wanna gain weight," Hifumi said, entering.
"These materials look solid," Hifumi said.
"Good… I'd jump out the window if they weren't," Mash said.
"Haha, dramatic… wait, you might actually do it," Hifumi teased.
Mash exhaled, and Hifumi sat across from him.
"Good work today, Sensei," she said.
"You too, Hifumi-chan. You led like a proper club president," Mash replied.
"Really…?" Hifumi blushed.
"Definitely."
"Tomorrow's the real camp start… but are we okay like this?" Hifumi asked.
"Okay how?"
"If we fail the second exam, we face the third. And if we fail that—"
"Everyone gets expelled," Mash said.
Hifumi's eyes widened, then she gave a wry smile. "You knew too, Sensei."
"Found out later," Mash said.
"I'm still confused. Why an 'all or nothing' system for an academic test? Why give us this camp? And—" Hifumi stopped.
"And?" Mash pressed.
"…"
"Something else Nagisa-sama said?" Mash asked.
"N-No, it's…"
"…"
"Ugh…" Hifumi nodded slowly. "Yes."
"I see."
"Nagisa-sama told me not to tell anyone… it's too much for me. I don't know how to say it…" Hifumi trailed off.
"Find Trinity's traitor," Mash said.
"You too!?" Hifumi gasped.
"Yeah, she asked me," Mash said.
"When I spoke with her…" Hifumi began.
Tea Party Terrace, Another Day
On a different day from her club president appointment, Hifumi learned the club's true purpose.
"Hifumi-san, can you find the traitor in the Supplementary Lessons Club?" Nagisa asked.
"What!?" Hifumi was stunned.
"Honestly, we don't care about exam results. Pass or fail, it doesn't matter. Neglecting studies isn't ideal, but expulsion is our last resort," Nagisa said.
"Last resort!? I-I can't—!" Hifumi protested.
"Can't what?"
"I… I can't…"
Hifumi couldn't betray her comrades. She wanted to refuse, but Nagisa's intense gaze silenced her.
"We need you to gather their info and find the traitor quickly. It's the only way to save the others. You're in the club for this," Nagisa said.
"Why me?" Hifumi asked.
"Because of your strong ties to Schale," Nagisa replied. "With Schale's Sensei there, the traitor won't act recklessly—like a lid on a trash can."
"Trash can…?" Hifumi echoed.
"Forget that, my muttering. Anyway—" Nagisa continued.
"Nagisa-sama!" Hifumi tried.
"Hifumi-san," Nagisa cut in, her authority overwhelming. "There's no other choice."
"Ugh…!"
"If you fail, you'll share their fate. This is for your sake too. I'm counting on you, club president."
Hifumi could only bite her lip and bow.
"She'd go that far…" Mash said.
"I-I can't believe there's a traitor…" Hifumi stammered.
Mash knew Hifumi—honest, kind, caring. Nagisa was asking her to abandon that and hunt a traitor.
"I can't…" Hifumi said.
"You're kind, Hifumi-chan," Mash said, patting her head gently. "Good job."
"H-Huh?" Hifumi blinked.
"Thanks for telling me. Leave the traitor stuff to me. Do what you can—like studying for the test," Mash said.
"But alone—"
"I'm Schale's Sensei. I got this… probably," Mash said.
"Probably!?" Hifumi exclaimed.
"Just trust me. I'll believe in you all to the end," Mash said, giving a thumbs-up and a small smile.
Hifumi smiled back. "Okay! I don't know what I can do yet, but I'll think about it. You believe in me, so I'll believe in you!"
"That's the spirit… one thing," Mash said.
"Anything!"
"I'm so sleepy I might die… carry me?" Thud. Mash collapsed.
"Sensei!?" Hifumi cried.
"Zzzz…"
"He's out… Sensei, get to bed! Guess I'll carry him… ruining the moment," Hifumi sighed.
She tucked Mash in, returned to her room, and slept well.
Same Time, Camp Lobby
"Hanako?" Azusa called.
"Oh, Azusa-chan… cream puff?" Hanako asked.
"Got hungry, made some with the machine. It's amazing," Azusa said, munching.
"You used it already…" Hanako noted.
Azusa, eating, saw Hanako gazing sadly at the night sky.
"What're you doing here?" Azusa asked.
"You're up too, in your uniform? Changed on purpose?" Hanako asked.
"Took a nap, now keeping watch," Azusa said.
"Watch? You don't look well-rested," Hanako said.
"Can't sleep in new places," Azusa admitted.
"…"
"Liar," Hanako thought, keeping her smile. Azusa looked rough.
"No worries, I'm trained to stay up five days," Azusa said.
"That's not the point…"
"Maybe Hifumi's out too. New place, everyone's uneasy. A watch might help," Azusa said. "Don't worry."
"Don't overdo it, Azusa-chan," Hanako said.
"Thanks," Azusa replied.
Hanako waved and left. Azusa, eating alone, looked up. "Eating alone… feels lonely."
Humor's tricky, but this hit the feels! Mash pushing back in fanfic? He'd probably deadlift the situation. Next time for more Hifumi talk!
Comments and ratings super appreciated!
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