Chapter Text
After being together for a whole year, it was finally time. The amount of things that the teacher, the being named Ike Eveland that the government ordered them to assassinate, taught them, the fun times together with him, and the times they have attempted to get him, only to fail or only get there partially. So many things happened together with Ike and his students, Class Quilldren. Happy times, sad times, frustrating times, and even times of trial. All of these emotions caught at once, flashing before everyone’s eyes as they started to approach the poor man, who was currently laying on the ground, clearly exhausted and weak. It was time. Graduation time…and by graduation time, it also meant that… i t was assassination time.
Many different figures merged together, forming seven different beings that took the form of small children. One for each arm, one for each leg, one for the head, one holding the body and waist, and then one more with the knife that pointed at Ike’s chest. All the quilldren had tears in their eyes, and were clearly shaking. The grip that the six of them had was extremely loose, while the one with the knife had their grip extremely tight, as it was held up in the air. Ike couldn’t help but released a pained laugh, feeling everything that they were doing and seeing the tears that were threatening to fall. “Silly, I could escape if you hold onto me like that.” he reminds them in a soft voice, causing the remaining six to grip on their respective parts much tighter.
They didn’t want this, they wished that they could have the moments they had with Ike forever. It can’t end so soon. Yet, that was the cruel reality. If they weren’t the ones who did it, others will aim for Ike instead. Just like earlier, and it just didn’t FEEL right for any of them. The idea was solidified for all of them, it HAD to be Class Quilldren. Class Quilldren must be the ones to assassinate Ike. Not for the money, not for recognition, but for their own selves. “Shall we begin the graduation, then?” Ike asks, the seven of them nodding quietly. “It’s time for a final roll call then” he mutters, closing his eyes as he smiles happily while speaking.
“Asian Quilldren?”
“Present…”
“North American Quilldren?”
“Yo…”
“South American Quilldren?”
“Hey Ike…”
“Australian Quilldren?”
“Here…”
“African Quilldren?”
“Right here…”
“Antarctic Quilldren?”
“..Mhm…”
“Last, but not least…European Quilldren?”
“Yes, Ike…”
“Good, everyone is present…” he muttered, relaxing his body before continuing. “You all were amazing…you did so much for me, and I’m glad to see that I’ve done so much for you. As I’ve mentioned before, there is nothing that lasts forever…the fact that you’re here right now right to my end means a lot to me already.” he started, as the tears that were threatening to fall were starting to pour out of each child. “I couldn’t ask for better students…you were not always the kindest, yet you were definitely one of the best. Each with your own special quirks and charms that compliment you well. And now, we’re here. A final farewell.”
Ike took this moment to open his eyes a little, staring up at the quilldren that had the knife. “Before I go, I would like to make a final request…may I?” he asks, the quilldren all silently nodding in agreement. “Please smile in front of me…one last time…” he muttered so quietly, yet it was one full of emotion that had all of them agree without a shred of hesitance. All seven children then tried to force the best smile they could muster for the man. “Now for the final initiation and test before the completion of the graduation. Right here, between my chains is the heart.” he informs, before closing his eyes. “It was fun, quilldren. Even when I’m gone, please, always smile for me, okay? After all, the world….is full of hope.”
Seeing as the man finally fell silent, it was the sign that the one with the knife could make the final move. They had to take a few deep breaths, taking a few seconds in before finally hitting the last nail of the coffin. Their arms moved downward, lodging the knife into the man below them. After a few seconds, Ike started to glow a gentle blue light, and even in his final moments….he never stopped smiling as the quilldren watched him slowly turn into small bubbles of lights that went up the sky, never to be seen again. While all the quilldren were trying to smile for the final moments, the moment Ike was completely gone, they completely let loose and started sobbing to the ground. The knife clacking to the ground as it laid there, all seven children dispersing back into their fluffy forms, a crowd of them starting to cry and wail for their teacher that was now gone.
Even after all that, it took months before they could properly get over the death of their teacher. They couldn’t help but constantly stare at their books, computers, phones, writing materials, or hear jokes or even cute sounding noises in reminder of them. Every time they did, they just ended up crying again just like the night of his death. One of them had snapped the rest awake, reminding them of Ike's words.
“Always smile for him, for the world is full of hope.”
It was those words alone that picked them back up, pushed them back in full swing as they seeked for their own individual routes. Sometimes, they ended up banding back together. It was during a class reunion back at the school building where they prepared a little celebration, and acted as if Ike was there. Even if he wasn’t there in physical form anymore, they smiled. Because they believed Ike was still there in spirit. Smiling happily and watching his quilldren like the proudest parent in the world.