Mika's summoned meteor, shattered by Mash's fist, burned up in the atmosphere, its fragments falling as pebbles around the gym.
"Meteor… bare hands… huh?" Koharu stammered. "I get it," Hifumi said. "Normal reaction," Azusa added. "Why are you all so calm!?" Hanako exclaimed. "Used to it," Tsurugi shrugged. "That's Mash Burnedead's strength… ♡," Hanako purred. "Could I break a meteor if I trained… like Sensei?" Koharu mused. "No chance," Azusa deadpanned. "Muu… (ᓀ‸ᓂ)"
The Remedial Class and Tsurugi accepted Mash's feat as expected, shocked only by Mika's meteor summon.
"Captain," an Arius student whispered. "Don't," their leader hissed. "We're fighting that? With broken arms?" "Don't." "Beyond superhuman… how do we kill him?" "Stop. I'm giving up."
Arius despaired, knowing defeat meant their leader's "punishment." Trapped.
"Haha… hahaha…" Mika laughed, hollow. Her meteor, her full power, obliterated effortlessly. Defeat sank in, her laughter masking despair.
"Mika-san… what's next?" Mash asked. "!" "Whatever you try, I'll stop it." "!!" "Or… is it over?"
Blood poured from Mash's wounds, his face pale, yet he spoke calmly, showing no pain.
"GAAAH!" Mika screamed, lunging with a frantic punch.
Mash didn't block. He took it head-on.
WHAM!
"!?"
Mika swung again, vision blurring. Mash stood still, absorbing her blows, letting her vent her fear and loneliness through her fists. He was her shield, protecting her and the others by enduring.
"Why… why not fight back!?" BAM! CRASH! "…" CRUNCH! SPLAT! "You're strong enough to dodge! Why!?" SMASH! "…" SQUELCH… drip, drip… "You keep saying I'm bad! A villain! Can't go back!"
The gym echoed with brutal sounds—Mika's fists breaking, Mash's uniform tearing, blood splattering as bones and flesh gave way. Some Sisterhood and Arius students looked away, covering ears and eyes.
"Why… why not fight back!?" Mika sobbed. "Maybe he's letting Mika-san unload everything," Hanako said. "Venting it all," Azusa added. "Human punching bag…" Tsurugi muttered.
Mika's punches slowed, her arms numb or exhausted. She collapsed to her knees, screaming.
"You still think I can come back!?" "I do," Mash said. "You're so… kind. But what about everyone else!?" "I'll handle it." "Nagisa won't forgive me." "She will. She's wise, strong. Plus, I owe her an apology too." "The Justice Task Force? Sisterhood? The council? Filius and Sanctus factions?" "I'll negotiate—lick boots, grovel, whatever—to ensure you live normally at Trinity." "Why… why care so much? After I hurt you!?" THUD!
Mika tackled Mash, grabbing his collar. Marie and Hinata moved, but Sakurako stopped them.
"Wait. This is Sensei's." "Yes," Marie nodded.
(Why go this far…) Sakurako wondered.
Mika had committed grave sins—treason unforgivable even across schools. Yet Mash, battered by her, refused to abandon her.
"I hurt you… a kid younger than me! Lied, betrayed, wounded you!" "We both got hurt. I hit you too. Even?" "I'm Kivotos-born; I'll heal fast. You're human—one wrong move, and you'll die!" "I told the club this already…"
Mash grabbed her hands, pulling her close with unwavering eyes.
"I won't die. Ever." "Absolute…?" "Absolute." "But you'd sacrifice yourself!" "Not sacrifice. If I died… it sounds arrogant, but my precious people would cry." "!" "You're the same, Mika. If you were gone… I'd cry for real." "Why…?"
Mash sat up, holding her hand gently.
"You're my student, my senior, my friend, my precious person." "Haha, stop… I'm not worth—" "Who says you're worthless? Anyone ever tell you that?" "Well…" "I hate evil. But if someone who sinned truly repents, they deserve a chance. That's who I am. So, Mika…"
Mash gripped her hand with his broken fingers, resolute.
"Let me share your sins until you atone." "What!?" "Red light's less scary when we cross together, right?" "That makes no sense!" "I failed to stop you, see your plan, understand your pain. That's on me, your Sensei." "No! I did this! The club, Nagisa's schemes, the treaty—I dragged you in! You're a victim!" "As your Sensei, I'm involved. It's okay, Mika."
Mash's bloodied hand touched her cheek, warm and gentle despite their fight.
"I'll never abandon you. I won't give up. I'll always be your Sensei, supporting you."
"!!!!"
Mika's eyes widened. Emotions flooded her. Tears fell.
The battle was over. Mash won.
"Haa… ugh… sob…" "I said you could lean on my pecs if things got tough. So… go ahead."
Mash spread his arms, chest out, inviting her. Mika, at her limit, dove into his embrace, sobbing, staining his bloodied shirt. She wailed, releasing years of pain.
"Ugh… sob… I'm sorry… so sorry!" "It's fine." "It wasn't… sob… supposed to be like this!" "Seia too, right?" "I didn't mean to kill her!"
Mika confessed, trembling in his arms.
"Whatever I say… it's just excuses… I just wanted to scare her… probably an accident. Seia… her body was always weak, unlike us…" "I see." "It's an excuse… I'm sorry, Seia… I…"
"Seia's alive," Hanako interjected.
"What?" Mika gasped. "What!?" Tsurugi echoed.
"We knew Seia's 'death' drove you. She's alive, hidden for safety outside Trinity since her attacker wasn't caught. She's not fully healed, still unconscious, but safe. Mine, the Rescue Knights' leader, guards her."
"…" "So… you didn't kill anyone," Mash said. "Exactly," Hanako confirmed.
Mika hadn't killed. She bore no murderer's guilt. Her friend was alive.
"Seia… she's okay… haha… thank goodness…"
Tears flowed again. Mika clung to Mash, sobbing with relief.
"Thank… goodness…" "Yeah, really," Mash said. "No reason to fight anymore, right?"
Mika nodded, crying. Hanako shouted, "Sensei wins!"
The Eden Treaty Gym Showdown—Mash Burnedead vs. Mika Misono—ended. A battle sparked by a club's exam, escalating into a clash for Kivotos' fate, was dominated by Mash.
"Our victory," Sakurako declared.
The Remedial Class and Mash prevailed.
"Yay! We did it!" Hifumi cheered. "Sensei!" Koharu cried. "I knew you'd win!" Tsurugi roared.
As Hanako announced victory, the club rushed Mash, celebrating. Mika, still crying, spoke.
"Go to them, Sensei." "But—" "I'm okay now. Thank you." "Yup."
Mash joined the club. Arius students approached Mika.
"Mika Misono." "Haha… sorry, I lost. Do what you want." "We surrender to Mash Burnedead." "What?" "How do we fight after that?" "But… is that okay?" "We'd die back home. Better in a cell." "Interrogations are rough." "We know nothing important."
Arius dropped their weapons, sitting by Mika.
"We won't ask forgiveness… but know we had no choice." "I led you. You acted. We're both guilty." "That man—Mash Burnedead…" "?" "He might… save Arius." "Yeah." "Seeing him… I lost the will to fight."
Arius, hopeless under "her" tyranny, saw hope in Mash. He could change everything—Kivotos itself.
"Captain… I want to live… a little longer." "Me too."
From accepting death to wanting life—a step forward.
Meanwhile, the club and Mash danced in victory, chanting and cheering.
"Hero! Hero! Hero!" "Star! Star! Star! (ᓀ‸ᓂ)✨✨" "Victory! Victory! Victory!" "Your hero? ♡" Hanako teased. "Oh yeah!"
"Woo! Woo—cough!" "Sensei!?" "You pushed too hard!" "What's this!?" Mash said, wiping blood, mimicking a detective drama.
Fatigue and pain hit.
"Ugh…" "Sensei! Stay with us! How many fingers?" "Two billion." "Still joking? Good!" "Not good!" "Stop the bleeding!" "I'll carry him." "Please!"
Tsurugi lifted Mash as the Sisterhood bandaged him. Mika, supported by Sisters, spoke to Azusa.
"Azusa, you know what this means?" "Of course." "Think Trinity will protect you?" "…" "They won't. Arius makes you a target for every faction, forever." "Probably." "But you're okay… because Sensei's here." "Right. And I learned fighting isn't futile." "You're strong." "Heh."
Arius' leader, Number 270, approached Mash.
"Mash Burnedead." "Yeah?" "We're disposable pawns with no valuable intel." "Don't care. Jail's tough—sure you're okay?" "I've been in cells before. Don't worry." "…" "It's selfish… foolish… but please…"
Arius bowed, pleading.
"Save Arius, Sensei." "Count on it. I'll save you, even if I die."
Satisfied, Arius left calmly. Mika waved.
"Thanks, Sensei. ⭐︎"
The Sisterhood took Arius to the Justice Task Force and Mika to the Rescue Knights.
"Thank you, Sakurako," Mash said. "No trouble." Sakurako left.
Only the club and Tsurugi, holding Mash, remained.
"I'm taking Sensei to the Rescue Knights. You all, get to the exam." "Me too—" "No way, Sensei." "Fine, I'll get treated." "Good. Koharu, do your best." "Leave it to me!" "We won't lose!" "Time to repay Sensei!" "Let's go!"
The club ran to the exam, determined to honor Mash. Only Tsurugi and Mash remained.
"They're gone, Sensei." "Good… I'll… sleep… zzzz." "Too fast!"
Mash passed out in Tsurugi's arms, exhausted but hiding it to spare worry.
"Good work, Sensei," Tsurugi whispered. "Zzzzz…"
Family Secrets Talk:
"If I said I got a boyfriend?" "Take you to the hospital." "I'd support you." "Bro, brace yourself." "A boyfriend for little sis!? No way!" "Hahaha, name your price, let's settle this!" "Sorry."
"If he cheated?" "Bury him." "Living hell for him." "Too far!" "Burying's a joke. I'd just punch him." "Yeah, joking! Haha~"
"I'm serious." "What?" "I'd scream, 'You can't have her!'" "Total siscon…"
Want sis happy but can't let go. I'm such a siscon.
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