Third Person View

"This will hurt a bit," the nurse said before gently patting Nagisa's cheek with some cloth.

Nagisa winced a bit as she sat up on the edge of the bed, but beared with it as the nurse continued treating her. She gave out a sigh after it was done, but knew she and her students would have to stay for some time more.

Noticing Mizuguchi on the bed beside hers, she frowned at the detective who was questioning him. "Couldn't they have waited later for that?"

From their conversation that she inevitably heard, it seems that the people they dealt with were underlings of the yakuza. She cringed at the thought of someone higher up in their clan who now has a grudge against her and her students.

Once the detective was done questioning, he thanked her student before writing in his small notebook as he left.

Mizuguchi sighed. "You look like you have something to say to me." He didn't turn his head as he spoke.

Nagisa rested her hands on the edge of the bed. "Only if you want to."

Her student gave a small laugh. "I always hated your guts." Nagisa didn't comment. After a moment, he continued. "I got into some trouble with some big company's boss. Guess he was so scared that he started making some goons follow me to make sure I keep my mouth shut. Not like I was gonna tell, anyway. I didn't give a crap about Titans Tech's corrupt ways."

He scoffed. "They showed me a picture of my house earlier."

Nagisa gave him a smpathetic look. "I see. That must have been tough."

"Well, it wouldn't be much of a problem for me. Thing is, my mom's home, too." He looked away. "It's the first time they went this far, too."

Nagisa's brows furrowed. If the yakuza clan is the type to hold a grudge, then he's in a bad spot. They aren't likely to do anything reckless right now, but what about the future? Perhaps if they somehow made the underlings talk, they could track down the clan? But that was way beyond her power.

"We'll find a solution, Mizuguchi-kun."

"This is my problem. I can't drag anyone into this."

Nagisa smiled. "You shouldn't try to burden everything on your own, Mizuguchi-kun. Everyone is here for you and willing to help. You just need to reach out."

Mizuguchi leaned back on his bed. "What's the point? I can't keep running to someone whenever I have a problem. I'll end up burdening everyone, too."

Her eyes widened, then turned soft as she gazed at her student. Mizuguchi cared deeply about everyone more than he let on.

"Maybe for small problems, yes. But for a big one, when all odds seem to go against you... You'll be surprised by how people close to you are willing to help." When he didn't answer, she continued. "I don't think it's a sign of strength to keep burdening things alone. To reach out and ask for help, then working together for a solution... There's strength in that, too."

Mizuguchi flinched at her words. Then he looked at her with a skepticism. "Why are you doing all this, anyway?"

"Well..." Nagisa gave him a smile. "Because I'm your teacher."

He didn't say anything as his eyes widened. Now that he thought about it, she also said something like that when she tried to pull him up the cliff. He gave out another laugh. "And here I thought you were being nice to us so you could keep your crappy job."

"Who's to say that also isn't true?" She jokingly replied.

Just then, the door to their shared room opened and in came Sakurai in bandages, holding a piece of bread. "Man, they have no food here. They expect patients to eat this crap every day and get better?"

The nurse who was following behind chastised her. "Miss, you shouldn't be walking around! We haven't finished treating you yet."

"Oh, quit your yapping. I don't even need to be here for these small bruises." She walked up to Mizuguchi and Nagisa and handed them a plastic bag. "I felt sorry for you two and bought you some."

"Thank you, Sakurai-san." Nagisa accepted the bag with a smile.

As her two students conversed, Nagisa thought back to their earlier conversation and the best way to help. Suddenly, something clicked.

"Mizuguchi-kun, what did you say the big corporation's name was, again?"

"Huh?" Mizuguchi looked at her. "Titans Tech. Supposedly it's a branch from the States, or whatever."

That's it. "I might be able to help."

-Time skip-

When Nagisa said she was going to help, he didn't think it would be in this way.

"Embezzling, overworking employees, and having connections with the yakuza. Not to mention using said yakuza to threaten a high school student by assaulting him and showing up to his house uninvited." There stood Asano Gakushuu, the literal CEO of Titans Tech. How the hell did Nagisa get in touch with him?

Did they know each other? Wait, in the profile he saw of him online, it said that he went to Kunugigaoka middle school. That explains it then, they used to go to school together. Damn, Nagisa had some connections. Suddenly the promise of taking them out to that expensive all you can eat restaurant sounds more believable.

"M-mr. Asano, sir, I swear I was only doing it for the sake of your company!" The man who was behind it all cowered in front of them.

"Don't make me laugh. Scum like you are the reason people think corporations are corrupt. Titans Tech have no need for low lives who think they can take advantage of their position for their own gain."

Asano grabbed the employment contract from the lawyer and then proceeded to rip it to shreds. "I believe you have no need for this anymore." The boss watched as Asano dropped the ripped paper to the floor.

"W-wait, please!"

Asano turned to the police. "I trust the court has seen enough evidence. Take this man away."

Mizuguchi watched as they dragged him out of the room. Damn, what a scary guy. He would hate to get on his bad side.

The investigator who came with Asano looked at Mizuguchi reassuringly. "Don't worry, we'll make them talk and take down their clan. You have nothing to worry about."

"Uh, sure..." Mizuguchi nodded.

What a way to spend his weekend.

Nagisa approached Asano. "Asano-kun, thanks so much. We couldn't have done this if you didn't agree."

Asano looked at his old schoolmate. "I only sped up the process. That guy was always getting on my nerves, anyway. I finally get to get rid of him."

"I guess your hot-headdedness actually helped you out for once, Asano-kun," the red head beside Nagisa said.

"Not a word out of you, Akabane."

Asano then turned to Mizuguchi. He flinched under his piercing gaze. "You. On behalf of Titans Tech, I apologize for the inconvenience."

"You don't look sorry, Asano-kun." The red head added, which earned him an elbow from his teacher.

"No, it's fine. It worked out in the end, after all."

"Still, it wouldn't do without compensation." Asano glanced back at the couple who were now bickering. "So, Shiota-san is your teacher?"

"Yeah."

"I see. You would do well to listen to her, for she can tame even that spawn from hell." He said that with a steady voice and unkind demeanor, but Mizuguchi could tell he went way back with his teacher. And her boyfriend, though it seems they had some hostility with each other.

Nagisa shifted her gaze to him. "You can go home now, Mizuguchi-kun. Thank you for your time. Would you like a lift back?"

"Nah, I'm good," Mizuguchi replied. He looked away from them sheepishly. "Also, uh... Thanks. For the help."

"Happy to help. Right, Asano-kun?"

Asano nodded. "Yes. It wouldn't do me any good if my company leaves a bad taste in a potential patron's mouth."

"Business as always." Nagisa sweat dropped.

The adults walked him out of the police station where they parted ways. Mizuguchi felt a weight was gone from his shoulders as he walked home.

Karma's POV

Nagisa waved goodbye as we saw her student off.

"So are you taking off, too, Asano-kun? Wanna grab a bite first?" She casually asked him.

"If you want to be the third wheel, that is," I added with a grin.

He seemed to ignore my comment. "While lunch sounds good, I'm afraid I'm needed elsewhere."

"But it's the weekend?" Nagisa tilted her head cutely.

"There is no rest for the youngest man to have ever been CEO of a tech corp from Silicon Valley." He said that with an annoying smirk on his face.

"Yet he still loses first place to me in exams during high school." I stuck my tongue out.

"That's rich coming from the person who got an eighty five for math in middle school."

Okay, now that was an old wound. "You haven't changed at all, huh, Asano-kun?" I smiled as I glared at him.

"Neither have you, Akabane. I don't know what sorcery you put upon Shiota-san to make her put up with you all these years." He crossed his arms.

I slung my arm around Nagisa's shoulders and smiled at her. "I don't know either."

Asano-kun's secretary whispered something in his ear from behind. He closed his eyes. "It seems I must be going now. Perhaps we shall meet again."

"Ah, alright," Nagisa replied.

We watched as the secretary opened the door to the car for him.

"Thanks again, Asano-kun. Really." Nagisa spoke to him through the car window.

"I only did what anyone would do. Don't think about it too much." He turned to look at us. "Take care."

Asano-kun wishing us good health? I must be dreaming.

"You too, Asano-kun."

I smirked. "Don't stir up too much trouble."

"That's my line, Akabane. Well, until next time." He rolled up his window and nodded to the driver. We watched as they drove off.

Once they were no longer in sight, Nagisa gave out a chuckle. "Even after all these years, you two still act like you're schoolboys competing for the best grades."

"A good competition is always welcome."

We started walking towards our car.

"I think it's good for you, though. Keeps up healthy competition and motivation."

"If you say so, Nagisa."

As we walked, I noticed her bruised cheek again. It was swelling slightly, but it had gotten better these past few days. "Does it still hurt?" I reached out my hand to caress her cheek.

"Mm, only sometimes. I think I managed to avoid a lot of hits."

I frowned. When Nagisa wasn't responding to my texts, I assumed she was busy during the trip. But after not responding to my calls during the evening, I started to become worried. And my fears were confirmed when her students picked up the call and explained the situation.

"Of course Nagisa wanted to help her student and got injured. And I wasn't there for her..."

I knew Nagisa was strong and could hold her own against someone bigger than her. But the moment I heard the word "hospital", all coherent thoughts flew out of my head. Luckily it was only a couple of minor injuries, though. I looked over her injuries again when she came home.

I clasped her hand in mine. "You say I'm reckless, but you are too, you know?"

"Sorry. I know that." She looked down on the ground.

I smiled. "I'm not necessarily saying it's a bad thing. You wanted to help your student. I'm just glad you were alright."

I felt her hand gripping tighter and my smile widened.

"Who knew being a teacher was such a dangerous job?" She smiled.

"Maybe you were better off being an assassin, Nagisa. It's not too late. You can even contact Karasuma-sensei!"

Her laugh is still my favorite sound.
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New chapter up! Any Asano fans? 👀 Expect the old cast of previous fics to appear too!

Character of the Day:
Mizuguchi Hideki

Gender: Male
Birthday: 13th March
Height: 178 cm
Blood type: O

Apearance: A tall, rugged boy with brown hair. A lot find his presence itself intimidating.

Personality: He isn't friendly with a lot of people aside from his mom. He was skeptical of Nagisa at first, but is starting to open up. Mizuguchi doesn't trust easily, and likes to do things by himself.

Fun fact: Though it may not seem like it, he cares for his classmates amd enjoy being around them.

Thanks for reading this chapter~