Gehenna Slums
A lawless corner of Gehenna, far worse than the rest. Neon lights flicker in the dark, littered streets and cracked asphalt scream danger. Stepping here is near-suicidal.
Yet—
DADADADADADA!
"AAAAHHH!?" Koharu screams.
"WOOO…✨" Azusa marvels.
Mash races through, pulling a cart with the Remedial Class at breakneck speed, like a screaming rollercoaster.
"Should be around here…" Mash mutters, sprinting.
"Sensei, stop! Please!?" Hifumi begs.
"My neck's gonna snap!" Koharu wails.
"Stop, Sensei!" Hanako pleads.
Everyone but Azusa is terrified, feeling like they're on a death ride. Azusa's having a blast.
"Stop, please!" they shout.
"Sorry!" SCREECH!
"KYAA!?" they scream as Mash slams on the brakes.
The sudden stop flings everyone forward—except Azusa, who lands gracefully. Mash catches the others mid-air.
"I… thought I'd die…" Hifumi gasps.
"Too fast!" Hanako scolds.
"Sorry, I was rushing," Mash says.
"At least slow down… I'm dizzy," Koharu groans.
"Over already? Shame," Azusa says.
"Only you enjoyed that, Azusa-chan…" Hifumi pants.
Checking the time, Mash says, "We'll make it."
"Time for choux cream fuel!✨" Azusa declares.
"After that?" Koharu balks.
"Don't want any?" Mash asks.
"I didn't say that!" Koharu retorts.
"Let's eat. Pre-exam nutrition," Hanako suggests.
"Okay…" Hifumi agrees.
"Today's choux creams use cake and bread flour—oh no," Mash says, pulling out the bag.
"What?" Hifumi asks.
Only four choux creams—one short.
"Four? You miscounted?" Koharu says.
"My bad. You guys eat," Mash insists.
"Sure?" Hifumi asks.
"Bought them for you. Dig in," Mash says.
Not wasting his kindness, they eat. The taste eases exam nerves, comforting them.
"Sensei…" Azusa says.
"Hm?"
"Here, half." Azusa splits her choux cream.
"For me?"
"Of course. It's sad if you miss out. Plus, it's tastier together."
"Got it. Thanks."
Mash munches the half, fatigue lifting slightly.
"Delicious!" Mash says, chewing.
"Yum…" Azusa echoes.
"You two eat the same way," Hanako giggles.
"Like siblings. Heartwarming," Hifumi smiles.
Sharing doubles the choux cream's joy and the moment's warmth. Hifumi and Koharu smile naturally. Hanako, though, hides her thoughts behind her smile.
(Sensei, who's obsessed with choux creams, miscounted? Never happened before…)
(He's swaying… eyes sleepy… Is he past his limit?)
Hanako realizes Mash's been pulling all-nighters, pushing through tasks he's bad at.
"Sensei?" Hanako says.
"What, Hanako-chan?"
"After the exam, sleep. No overdoing it, okay?"
"Yup, planned to," Mash replies.
"No staying up late, got it?"
"I'll be careful," Mash nods.
Hanako indirectly begs him to rest. Mash understands, nodding slowly.
"Time to go," Mash says.
"It's not far, so no need to rush," Hifumi notes.
"Got it."
"Let's review textbooks on the way," Azusa suggests.
"Great idea!" Hifumi agrees.
"Here we go again~♡" Hanako says.
"Ready!" Mash declares.
Mash pulls the cart carefully, like transporting precious cargo, toward the destination.
"There's someone," Mash says.
"A checkpoint?" Hifumi wonders.
"That's a Gehenna Disciplinary Committee uniform," Azusa notes.
Minutes into crossing Gehenna's bridge, they spot a checkpoint—vehicles, poles, "No Entry" tape, and armed Disciplinary Committee members.
"Stop! This area's restricted!" a member shouts.
"Uh-oh," Mash mutters.
"Restricted?" Hifumi asks.
"The Hot Springs Development Club's causing trouble. We're handling it," the member explains.
"Hot Springs Club…" Koharu mutters.
"Never learn," Azusa sighs.
"There's a curfew tonight. Urgent matters go to the district office—huh?" The member freezes, spotting Hifumi's uniform.
"You… Trinity?" she asks.
"Uh…" Hifumi stammers.
"And Schale's Sensei!? Why's he with Trinity students!?" the member demands.
"This could be bad," Mash says.
The member, eyes wide, raises her gun at Hifumi. "What's Trinity doing in Gehenna!? Your purpose!?"
"N-No, we're just here for an exam…" Hifumi explains.
"Exam? Why here!? That's nonsense! Lie better!" the member snaps.
"Such logic…" Koharu mutters.
"You—Justice Task Force!?" the member accuses, spotting Koharu's uniform.
"Uh!?" Koharu gasps.
"Sending Justice Task Force before the treaty!? Is Trinity insane!?"
"N-No, it's not like that!" Koharu stammers.
"Hmph…" Azusa frowns.
"This is… problematic," Hanako says.
It's understandable—Trinity and Justice Task Force students sneaking into Gehenna at this hour? Highly suspicious.
"Calm down," Mash says.
"Is Sensei with Trinity!?" the member accuses. "The rumors were true!"
"No, listen—"
"Even if you're as strong as Hina, you're not passing!" the member insists.
"Can you just hear me out?" Mash pleads.
Pre-treaty tension makes the Committee deaf to Mash. They even think he's siding with Trinity.
No choice—Mash opts for his usual tactic: brute force.
"Hold on tight," Mash says.
"Huh?" they reply.
"Don't move!" the member warns.
"Hamstring Magic!" Flex.
(Magic?) Hifumi thinks.
(Hamstrings… leg muscles?) Hanako wonders.
"Big Bang Dash!"
Gripping the cart, Mash powers up and bolts.
"Wha!?" Hifumi shrieks.
"KYAA!" Koharu screams.
"NOOO!" Hanako yells.
"GAAAH!" the Committee members are blown back by the gust.
"Not again!" Hifumi wails.
"Hasumi-senpai!" Koharu cries.
"…" Azusa clings tight.
"This wind… nice!✨" Azusa says.
The Remedial Class screams (except Azusa). Surviving without fainting deserves praise. Mash crosses the bridge, racing to the destination.
"We… made it…" Hifumi gasps.
"That was brutal…" Koharu groans.
"My vision's blurry…" Hanako says.
"Thrilling," Azusa remarks.
"Everyone's okay," Mash confirms.
"Barely!" Koharu snaps.
After the high-speed ordeal, they reach the destination, belongings intact.
"This… the venue?" Koharu asks.
"Seems so…" Hifumi replies.
"Too rundown," Azusa says.
"Hardly an exam hall," Hanako notes.
A dilapidated, rusted ruin stands before them, surrounded by graffiti and debris—a total dump.
"Inside's… really a ruin," Hifumi says.
"But there are desks," Azusa points out.
They enter, checking the setup. Desks, a teacher's podium, and a whiteboard exist, but it's barely suitable for an exam.
"It's so dark…" Koharu says.
"No electricity, but there's a desk lamp," Hanako notices.
"For lighting our papers? Where's the exam supervisor?" Hifumi wonders.
"No one's here," Mash says.
"Anything suspicious…?" Azusa starts, then Mash spots something behind the podium.
"Sensei, that's—" Hifumi says.
"An unexploded shell?" Koharu asks.
"L118 howitzer round," Azusa identifies.
"Yup," Mash confirms.
"L118… Tea Party. Likely Nagisa's message," Hanako says.
Mash nods, reaching for the shell, but Azusa stops him.
"Sensei, it might be a trap," Azusa warns.
"Right. Everyone, back up," Mash says.
They retreat. Mash inspects the shell. "Safe. No explosives or primer—just a hollow casing."
"Good…" Hifumi sighs.
"A message box, then," Hanako says.
"There's paper inside—exam papers!" Hifumi exclaims.
"And… a communicator?" Mash adds.
Mash shakes out the contents: papers and a square device.
"What's this?" Hifumi asks.
"Let's touch it caref—'Hey!' Sensei!?" Hifumi gasps as Mash taps it.
"What're you doing!?" Koharu yells.
"Just felt like it," Mash says.
"Idiot!" Koharu snaps.
The device, slightly cracked, projects a hologram, vivid in the dim room.
"You made it," Nagisa's hologram says.
"Nagisa-sama!?" Hifumi gasps.
"Tea Party's…?" Koharu asks.
"I hear your resentment, but this is a recording. Complaining's pointless," Nagisa smirks. "You reached the venue—commendable. But the real challenge starts now. The second special exam begins… now."
"—!" they gasp.
"Finish by the deadline. We're monitoring. Good luck," Nagisa says, placing a teacup down with a faint smile. "Be careful."
The hologram vanishes.
"Ugh…" Koharu shudders.
"Her tone was… ominous," Hanako says.
"Can't ignore it, but no time. Sit," Azusa urges.
"Right, the exam's starting!" Hifumi says.
"Papers here. Pens out," Mash instructs, distributing materials.
"You can do this. I believe in you," Mash says.
"Yes!" Hifumi nods.
"~♡" Hanako smiles.
"Yup," Azusa affirms.
"Of course!" Koharu declares.
Mash prays they succeed, trusting their hard work.
"Second Special Exam—begin!"
They flip their papers in unison.
Almost simultaneously—
"—!" Mash reacts.
"KYA!?" Hifumi shrieks.
"Sensei!?" Koharu yells.
"What's he doing!?" Hanako gasps.
Mash's instincts scream danger. He grabs the students, smashes through the wall, and escapes.
BOOM!
The venue explodes, reduced to rubble.
(I messed up… too slow… my fault…) Mash, holding the students, regrets as the blast throws them. He shields them tightly.
"Sensei's likely exhausted, senses dulled… that's the moment to strike," Nagisa's voice echoes.
"Not just a later explosion—set it from the start, triggered at exam's beginning."
"Had I been more careful… this might've been avoided," Nagisa muses.
"I warned you, Sensei—no mercy."
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