The morning sun was filtering through the tall windows of Class 3-E, casting elongated shadows across the worn wooden floor. Anya Forger was sitting at her desk, her small fingers tracing the edge of the table, the metallic scent of chalk dust mingling with the faint aroma of morning dew drifting from the open windows. Her eyes darted nervously between her classmates, each absorbed in preparations for the day's exercise.
Loid's instructions from the previous night echoed in her mind: Remain calm, gather information, do not expose yourself. But the reality of the classroom was far more chaotic than he had prepared her for. Koro-sensei was moving rapidly from desk to desk, adjusting papers, pointing out errors, and checking each student's posture with a speed so fast it blurred his form in Anya's vision.
This is insane, she thought, gripping her pencil tightly. How does he even teach like this?
From across the room, Karma Akabane leaned lazily in his chair, his sharp eyes following her every move with a smile that suggested he already knew her thoughts. "Hey, new girl," he called, tilting his head. "Are you going to be able to survive this, or should I start taking bets?"
Anya's telepathy twitched involuntarily. His mind was flickering between curiosity and amusement, a mental play that was almost a game in itself. She bit her lip, trying to focus on her own thoughts, but the flood of rapid calculations, strategic considerations, and minute observations coming from the rest of the class made her feel dizzy.
Nagisa Shiota, seated near the window, watched silently, his expression neutral but his mind scanning hers with the subtlety of someone evaluating a puzzle. She's different, he noted. Not just a new student… something about her presence is unusual. She senses more than she should.
Koro-sensei floated above the class, his round head glinting slightly in the sunlight. "Today," he said, his voice carrying the musical lilt of excitement, "we will practice our reaction drills. Everyone, prepare your anti-Koro devices. And Anya, I expect you to participate fully, yes?"
Anya froze. Participation meant she would have to dodge, react, and anticipate Koro-sensei's lightning-fast movements—a task that might crush her fragile frame if she wasn't careful. She nodded obediently, swallowing hard, her stomach twisting. I'm going to die, she thought, the words racing through her mind almost too fast for coherent formation.
Loid, standing at the back of the classroom, observed with a composed exterior. He noted the positions of each student, their training equipment, and the speed of Koro-sensei's movements. His mind was calculating: If she survives this first drill, it's a good sign. But I need to confirm why the administration placed her here. There's more to this than a clerical error.
Yor stood quietly near the doorway, her posture taut with barely contained readiness. She scanned the students as if each could erupt into danger at any moment. Too much killing intent, she thought, a shiver running down her spine. And yet they all seem… disciplined. Careful. Dangerous in ways I've never faced before.
Koro-sensei clapped his tentacles together, signaling the start. "Go!"
In an instant, the classroom erupted into motion. Papers fluttered in the air, anti-Koro devices whirred and clicked, and students ducked, rolled, and aimed. Koro-sensei zipped from one end of the room to the other, his form a streak of yellow impossible to track.
Anya's heart pounded. Her eyes widened as she tried to anticipate his movements, her telepathy giving her brief glimpses of the teacher's mental patterns. Move left… no, wait, jump back… focus… But the speed was overwhelming. Her small body stumbled as she attempted a roll, narrowly avoiding a floating chalkboard projectile.
Karma smirked, watching her with thinly veiled amusement. "Not bad," he said. "But your reflexes are slow. You're going to need to adapt."
Nagisa leaned slightly forward, voice calm. "Don't overthink it. Feel the flow. He won't hit you unless you give him the opportunity."
Anya tried to follow the advice, closing her eyes for a fraction of a second, allowing her mind to read Koro-sensei's immediate intent. The mental chaos was staggering: dozens of simultaneous calculations, emotional assessments, and rapid-fire decisions, all compressing around her small consciousness.
I can do this… I have to, she thought, focusing. I won't panic. I'll just… watch…
A tentacle shot toward her, and she rolled just in time, feeling the wind of its passing graze her cheek. She landed on the floor, small and trembling, but upright. Koro-sensei paused mid-motion, floating above her with a tilt of his head.
"Excellent reflex!" he exclaimed, his tone cheerful. "You are quicker than I expected for one so small."
Anya blinked, surprised at the praise. He's… actually impressed?
Loid exhaled quietly, lowering his mental alertness fractionally, but his mind remained on edge. She survives the first drill, yes… but how much more can she handle before something breaks?
The next exercise was a written test designed to combine calculation with quick decision-making. Koro-sensei handed each student a sheet, but the numbers were moving, shifting slightly as if the paper itself were alive.
Anya stared at it, her telepathy sparking involuntarily. She could feel the mental patterns of her classmates, their strategies, and their fears. Each of their thoughts pulsed in sync with her own calculations. She realized she was processing more than a normal human should, her small frame shaking slightly under the mental strain.
Nagisa noticed her discomfort and whispered softly, "Focus on the numbers. Ignore the chaos in your head."
She nodded, closing her eyes and letting intuition guide her movements. For the first time, the swirling mental patterns coalesced into a semblance of order. Anya's pencil scratched across the paper, her answers precise, even as the classroom continued its frenzied motions.
Karma leaned back in his chair, observing. "Interesting… she's not just surviving, she's adapting."
Koro-sensei floated closer, hovering near Anya with an unusually careful approach. "You have talent," he said softly, almost in awe. "I sense something remarkable within you. Something… unusual."
Anya's heart raced, and her mind flinched. Don't show it… don't let him know…
The bell rang, signaling a brief pause. Students relaxed, some stretching, others sharing whispers. Anya slumped slightly in her chair, her small frame trembling but triumphant. She had survived, and she had performed better than she expected.
Loid approached her quietly, crouching to her level. "Good work. You handled that very well."
Yor placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, masking the intensity of her protective instinct. "You did… amazingly, Anya. Very good."
Anya managed a small smile, breathing heavily. I can do this… maybe…
But the mental echoes of Koro-sensei's thoughts lingered. His interest in her was unmistakable, and his presence in the classroom was overwhelming, like a storm contained in a single body. She felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her tiny shoulders.
The day continued with a series of exercises, each pushing Anya further. Reaction drills, mental agility tests, teamwork simulations, and timed problem-solving. Every task brought new challenges, and every challenge revealed the astonishing capabilities of the students around her.
Nagisa remained close, observing, guiding silently when necessary. Karma remained provocatively distant, throwing occasional mental challenges her way. Koro-sensei hovered constantly, his attention fixed in varying degrees on her progress.
Loid and Yor observed from the back, maintaining composure but silently cataloging every anomaly. Loid's mind was working on a report, a cover story that could explain Anya's placement if questioned. Yor's senses were stretched thin, scanning for threats, for patterns that might reveal hidden dangers.
By late afternoon, Anya was exhausted, physically and mentally. Sweat dampened her hair, her fingers cramped from constant pencil work, her mind buzzing from the flood of thoughts she had absorbed. She slumped in her chair as the bell rang again, signaling the end of the day.
Koro-sensei floated down beside her, tilting his head. "Remarkable. You have adapted in ways I did not expect. I look forward to our next lesson."
Anya blinked, swallowing. I… I survived. Today… I survived.
Loid placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, his calm eyes meeting hers. "We'll analyze everything tonight. You did well. Very well."
Yor stood behind him, her hand brushing Anya's hair in a rare gesture of warmth. We'll protect you. Always.
The students of Class 3-E watched quietly, some curious, some indifferent, some impressed. Karma smirked knowingly, Nagisa observed analytically, and the rest whispered among themselves, already speculating about the strange new student who had endured the impossible.
And somewhere in the back of Koro-sensei's mind, a question lingered: What is this child? How can someone so small withstand so much? And what will she bring to Class 3-E?
As the Forgers exited the classroom, the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the worn floor. Anya's small hand slipped into Loid's, and for a moment, the chaos of the day felt distant. But the questions remained, echoing in the corners of their minds: the secret of her placement, the unusual interest of Koro-sensei, and the dangers yet to come.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges. New tests. And the first real understanding of the extraordinary environment she had been thrust into.
She would have to adapt… or be consumed by it.