3. Exile

"I must say I'm disappointed, Mr Kunomasu."

Nao stood before the principal in the dimly lit office. He was scrutinized with only anger and disappointment, watch little move Asano Gakuho made was met with an uncomfortable shiver rushing down his skin.

"I believe you have understood the consequences of your actions," Asano did not sound pleased-- the details of the issue shimmered in the background, burning bright as those eyes Asano had. It was like being stared down by the devil himself-- mortifying.

Naomasa kept his head down-- there was no other way.

At best, his educational license would be revoked. At worst, he would be filed a lawsuit and would have to serve in prison on assault. 

"The five students that were involved have been suspended for a week for evident reasons," Asano helpfully supplied, "as for you... here we are."

Suspended, not expelled, huh?

At the very least, they didn't get off the case scot-free. Perhaps, one of them caved and told Asano the truth of the event-- but that didn't mean Naomasa would be any less guilty.

For an educational professor to raise a hand on a kid-- that was in no way right, in any situation. And Naomasa knew that.

He gulped, nervous.

"I trust you were late for a hospital checkup this morning?" Asano inquired, surprisingly politely.

Naomasa flinched, raising his head slightly-- "Y-Yes, sir..."

"Well," Asano hands were folded-- his smile was eerie, a simple facial expression serving as a threat-- "I suppose we cannot condemn you, in honour of the injuries you sustained."

Huh?

"Excuse me-- I'm sorry, what?" Nao gawked.

"I've heard that Class E up on the hill have been suffering issues of students being unable to settle and behave against their teachers," Asano explained briefly, as if it were a matter of fact all of a sudden-- wait, why is Class E involved? Sir?

Unable to settle and behave against their teachers, Nao considered carefully, he didn't remember much of the teachers up there having trouble warming up-- ah, is Bitch-sensei already around? No, even so, she settled down quite well in the following period of time...

"They've been a recent hassle, unfortunately, due to very unforeseen circumstances," Asano simpered, "it would concern me if someone trustworthy was not by their side to tug on their reins once in a while."

"Pardon my... rudeness, sir," Naomasa stuttered over his words, concerned, "but was not Yukimura Aguri-sensei in charge of the class prior to her passing? I fail to recall if there was a new establishment of a teacher in charge of 3-E."

He was sweating profusely, not knowing quite clear why he was trying to half-lie his way around the situation-- yes, he can't show signs of knowing Koro-sensei yet, that's common sense.

"Is that so?" Asano seemed unaffected, strangely accepting the question as a thing he could just brush off, "well, I think I've decided on the man."

Naomasa found his lips curving upward, blasting with exasperating bewilderment.

"Congratulations, Mr Kunomasu, we have decided against bringing this incident to court, and you may keep your teacher's license," Asano reached for the phone, as if it was a done decision, "so I hope to see you in Class E from tomorrow onward."

Okay.

No, not okay!!

"Wait-- hold up!!" Naomasa panicked, "sir, what of the students? Their parents? Surely, they wouldn't be approving of this in any--"

"Please rest assured, I will have my ways," Asano consoled the teacher, "I believe you would much prefer this alternative in comparison to court, am I wrong?"

"Well, yes, but--" Nao was freaking out further, all his senses willing him off the course of swearing and into the course of composing a concrete response, "sir, as honoured as I am to receive this pardon, I fail to see the reason you would... subject me to this... uh, biased treatment."

No no what in the holy hell is going on

As far as logic goes this is pushing it

"As you've mentioned," Asano smiled, "it has come to my attention that Class E currently lacks supervision from our school. I wish for you to keep them in check, that is all."

Fuck, am I in a bloody fanfic? 

Is the government okay with this?!

I can't just say yes to this, can I? I'm not supposed to know about the octopus on the hill, but I know the government wouldn't be pleased to have me up there and-- like--

going up there would mean me getting caught up in the Assassination Classroom, right?

Fuck no! I literally just--

Naomasa was no assassin and in no way was he was combatant. Going up there as a normal teacher would be many forms of just plain odd.

"Do I..." he scratched his cheek nervously, "have the right to refuse?"

Asano's smile brimmed ever more cheerful, "yes, you may. If you're willing to risk some of your lifetime behind bars, of course."

  ー  

He didn't need to go for class in the afternoon, so he just went back home.

"You're early."

Ms Sakurai was a florist that really didn't do much except being a florist. With mellow auburn hair styled into the ironic side ponytail, it was hard for anyone to not like her as a person.

"I'm home," Nao mumbled, "great news, I got demoted."

"That's terrific," Ms Sakurai smiled, drying her hands on her peach apron, "you're alive!"

Nao stumbled, "you always manage to be more negative than me, huh?"

Gently cradling a bouquet of multicoloured roses in her arms, she approached the man with a  smile, picking out one that bloomed a false shade of yellow and offering it to him.

Nao accepted the golden rose with mixed emotions--

"Jealousy?" Nao asked, "Or Frienship?"

Ms Sakurai shook her head.

"Uh, I don't know the yellow ones all that well... Remembrance?" Nao tried again.

Ms Sakurai giggled, rubbing her (surrogate) son on the head, "it's the promise of a new beginning, Nao. Also, welcome back."

His gelled hair now sticking strangely, Nao groaned, reaching up to fix it.

"There's nothing delightful in this new beginning, Ms Sakurai," Nao sighed, "I'd rather have it symbolise something more emotionally genuine."

Ms Sakurai picked out a blue rose.

"Unattainable, huh," Nao mused, taking the rose with unconcealed repulse, "give yourself a pink one from me, Ma'am."

"You're welcome, dear," Ms Sakurai chuckled.

  ー  

Nao's room was on the second floor, overlooking the street. It was a small space, but it was where he'd lived for a decade.

He was only in his late twenties, but occasionally he felt like he was a hundred years old. 

Just in the morning he got a lecture from the doctors in the hospital about his goddamn heart-- something about putting him in for an operation? He didn't listen. He was given a new dosage of medicine and sent off with strict reminders of his next checkup.

Then came Board Chairman Asano.

Naomasa considered leaping off the building now. 

Genuinely and with all his soul, he hated the idea of being near that class. Sure, he was born into this world that strongly dictated from an anime, and he's a teacher of the main character's school; but he was content being a teacher in the main building, living his life peacefully with Ms Sakurai. 

Why would he want to be caught up in that drama up on the mountain? What would he even do? What can he even do?

If he triggered the Butterfly Effect, there would be hell to pay. No, what if the Temporal Paradox applies? No, get this Steins Gate bullshit out of my head, this isn't that kind of story!

Naomasa sighed.

Guess he'll just have to wait and see what happens up there.

Catching sight of himself in the mirror, he unbuttoned his dress shirt, revealing a large, white stain on his skin. Splashed from the left shoulder, spilling to his chest above his heart, stretching to end around his elbow-- bright white against dark beige skin. 

It was a mark that branched out a thousand times, forming an art resembling an abstract winter tree. Or-- the scientific referral of this shape-- a Lichtenberg figure. He noted the edge of the branches, little white fingers pooling like a thousand hands reaching out hungrily toward his heart.

They say birthmarks are a symbol of how you died in your past life.

Nao came to the conclusion that Afterlife God loved to be gaudy.