"I almost let anger take over… That was close," Mash said.
(He was still holding back?) Hoshino thought.
After a one-sided "talk" with the black-suited men, Mash mentioned he had somewhere to go. Hoshino followed.
"Thanks, Sensei. Because of you… I can protect Abydos again," Hoshino said.
"No big deal. Just did what's right," Mash replied.
"What's right… Is that your default? Helping anyone who needs it, no matter who they are?" Hoshino asked.
"Even if they don't ask, if they look like they need help, I'll step in," Mash said.
"Even if it's meddling?"
"Doesn't matter if they complain. I'll help anyway."
"That's… who you are, Mash-kun," Hoshino said, smiling softly.
"Yup."
Hoshino chuckled. "Heh, I see."
"?"
Hoshino realized Mash would help anyone he decided to, no matter their resistance or anger. That was Mash.
"I'm just glad you're safe, Hoshino-san. If they'd taken you, I'd have beaten those black-suited guys to a pulp… and Kaiser? I wouldn't forgive them either," Mash said.
Hoshino laughed. "Guess I saved them. Weird, huh?"
"That's your real self, isn't it?" Mash teased.
"W-Wait! That was… uh, 'all good'!" Hoshino stammered.
"Don't worry. Our little secret," Mash said.
"You better not tell! Seriously!"
"My lips are sealed."
"Not sure I trust that!" Hoshino laughed.
"You're finally smiling. That's enough to make me happy," Mash said.
Mash had noticed Hoshino hadn't smiled earlier. He'd tried to cheer her up but wasn't exactly smooth. Still, it worked, so all's well.
"Looking forward to working with you, Mash-kun," Hoshino said.
"Same, Hoshino-senpai."
They walked until the black-suited men's building faded from view. Hoshino asked, "Where to now?"
"Gehenna," Mash replied.
"Huh?!"
"Got a request for the Disciplinary Committee."
"What?!"
"Let's go!" Mash dashed off.
"Wait, Sensei! Do you know how dangerous your position is?! Hold on!" Hoshino chased after him.
At Gehenna High's gate, Iori aimed her gun, on high alert. "Hey! No unauthorized entry—! You?!" Click!
"Getting a gun pointed at me… kinda hurts," Mash said.
"After all you did?! Of course we're cautious! And with Takanotsume Hoshino too?!" Iori snapped.
"Ugh… can't argue with that," Hoshino muttered.
Iori had every reason to be wary. Mash had thrown cars, trucks, caused her intense pain, and even whipped up a tornado with breakdancing. Anyone would be on edge.
"What do you want? Revenge for Abydos? If so, take it up with Ako, not Gehenna!" Iori said.
"Not here for that," Mash replied.
"Then leave! Hina's busy!"
Iori brandished her gun like a hissing cat. Mash, unfazed, said, "Your foot okay?"
"Thanks to you, it's wrecked! Who knew kicking your abs could hurt me?!" Iori fumed.
"Your abs are that strong, Sensei?" Hoshino muttered. (That much muscle… wait, no, that's impossible.)
"They attacked first. Not my fault, right?" Mash said.
"Ugh, technically… fine," Iori grumbled. "But can you meet Hina somehow?"
"You challenged Hina to a fight and now want a favor?" Iori scoffed.
"Fight? …Oh."
Mash recalled Hina's question: "What if you had to fight me?" His answer: "I'd fight and beat you to a pulp."
"Rumors haven't stopped. 'Schale's Sensei declared war on Hina,'" Iori said.
"I did say that…" Mash admitted.
"Told you to watch your position!" Hoshino scolded.
"Hoped she forgot," Mash said.
"No way, Sensei," Hoshino sighed.
"Get it? I'm not helping. Scram!" Iori shooed.
Mash didn't budge. "Please."
"Fine. One condition. Clear it, and I'll arrange a meeting," Iori said.
"What's that?"
Iori grabbed a broom and handed it to Mash. "Float with this for a few minutes."
"Float?"
"Fly like a witch. Then I'll help."
"That's ridiculous!" Hoshino protested.
"That's how much we don't want you here. Well, Sensei?" Iori taunted.
Mash took the broom and moved to an open space.
"What's he doing?" Iori muttered.
"Iori-chan, step back," Hoshino warned.
"?"
Mash crouched, gathered strength, and—
BOOM!
He launched into the air, riding the broom, legs flailing wildly.
Flap-flap-flap-flap!
(Those legs are going nuts…) Hoshino thought.
Mash hovered, perfectly still, not falling.
"What is that?! How's he doing it?! Muscles?!" Iori shouted.
"He's… flying?" Hoshino gaped. "Why?"
"I wanna know that!" Iori yelled. "I gave an impossible task to get rid of him, and he did it!?"
Then, a small figure appeared. "What's the commotion?"
Iori jumped at Hina's voice. "C-Committee Leader?! When did you—?"
"Just now… Wait, what's he doing? Why's he flying?" Hina asked.
"Flailing his legs to stay up," Iori said.
"How does that work?" Hina wondered.
"Hey, Hina-san," Mash said, landing.
"Good morning, Hina-san," Mash greeted.
"Morning… What's your request?" Hina asked.
"Got a favor to ask."
After making their request, Mash and Hoshino returned to Abydos High. Inside, they were greeted.
"Morning, Hoshino-senpai. Right cheek or left—which one do you want pulled?" Serika asked.
"It's definitely getting pulled?!" Hoshino yelped. "S-Serika-chan? You're not yourself…"
"I'll pull both," Shiroko said.
"I'll hold her," Nonomi added.
"And I'll lecture for an hour," Ayane said.
Furious juniors glared, faces terrifying.
"Thanks for bringing Hoshino-senpai back, Sensei," Ayane said.
"I'll leave it to you guys," Mash replied.
"Sensei, please stay!" Hoshino pleaded.
"I'll stay, but I'm not joining the talk," Mash said.
"Huh?"
"Let the scolding begin," Ayane declared.
"Senpai might say, 'What do old men know?' so we'll chew her out thoroughly," Serika said.
"Eek…" Hoshino whimpered.
"Senpai always dodges us. Worries about us, encourages us, but never shares her own feelings," Serika said, pulling Hoshino's right cheek.
"How are we supposed to understand you if you don't talk?" Shiroko added, tugging the left.
"You left without a word. Did you think we'd be okay with that? No way," Nonomi said, restraining Hoshino.
"We're not happy without you! Even if it lightens our load, we won't keep going if you're gone!" Ayane said, lightly smacking Hoshino's stomach.
"S-Sowwy!" Hoshino mumbled through stretched cheeks.
Serika and Shiroko released her, cheeks snapping back with a pop. Shiroko looked her in the eyes. "We won't forgive you for carrying everything alone and ending it like that. Spill your feelings. Now."
"Shiroko-chan's got a predator's eyes… Is it okay to talk?" Hoshino asked.
"Obviously!" they shouted.
"Okay… I'll talk."
Hoshino opened up. She'd formed the Abydos Countermeasure Committee out of her selfish desire to revive the school. She was thrilled when her juniors joined her. But the debt never shrank. Seeing them smile warmed her heart but also pained her. She thought going to Kaiser, taking all the burden herself, would save her juniors and the school. Sacrificing herself would solve everything.
She also hated herself for thinking, even slightly, that it'd ease her own pain.
"I planned to say goodbye today and end it all… But Mash-sensei stopped me. He made me think maybe it's okay to rely on others… So…"
"I won't forgive you," Serika said.
Hoshino's face fell, expecting rejection. But Serika, crying, shouted, "You have to stay until the end! I won't forgive you for carrying that burden and leaving!"
"Serika-chan…"
"Our situation's not great, but that's why we fight together!" Ayane said.
"Ayane-chan…"
"We got so close! Never seeing you again? That's too much! I won't forgive that!" Nonomi huffed.
"Nonomi…chan…"
"Senpai, we'll love you—your cute juniors—until our last breath," Shiroko said.
"Shiro…ko…chan…" Hoshino sobbed. "Can I… stay?"
"Of course!" they chorused.
Hoshino broke down, and the others cried too.
"…"
Mash slipped out quietly, not wanting to disrupt.
Ring-ring!
"Hello, this is Handyman 68. What's up, Sensei?" Aru answered.
"Hey, Aru-chan. Wanna crush some bad guys?"