Chapter Text
SCHALE – Sensei’s Office
It was another quiet night at the SCHALE office. The only thing filling the room was the soft clack of keys and the faint hum of electronics. Sensei sat at his desk, hunched over the monitor, typing steadily, the dim glow of the monitor illuminating the stacks of paperwork surrounding him.
“Phew… sent it just right on time hopefully Rin-chan won’t nag me too much.”
He sighed, stretching his arms before leaning back in his chair, eyes drifting toward the ceiling. Just as he was about to stand up from his desk, the seemingly normal looking tablet, the Shittim Chest glowed with it’s bright light.
“Good work, Sensei!” chirped Arona, her voice as cheerful as always.
Plana appeared beside her, ever the calm presence. “Sensei, well done finishing your tasks for the day, it is best you immediately turn in for the night.”
“Thanks for helping me keep everything running smoothly. I don’t say it enough, but I really appreciate both of you.” Sensei replied with a tired grin.
Arona beamed. “We’re always here to support you!”
Plana gave a soft nod. “Rest well. You’ve earned it.”
He smiled warmly and tapped the top of the Shittim Chest gently.
“Good night, girls.”
“Good night, Sensei~!” Arona sang out.
“Sleep well,” Plana added.
The screen dimmed back to its resting state, and the moment the light faded, the full weight of the week hit him like a physical blow. It was a crushing, bone-deep fatigue. His body still hadn't fully recovered from the grueling expedition to the Glacial Sea.
“…”
He closed his eyes, but his mind refused to shut off.
Memories from his time in Kivotos began to replay behind his eyelids. The chaotic firefights that broke out in D.U. on his first day, the high-stakes political drama during the Eden Treaty, his encounters with Gematria, the arrival of the False Sanctums and Phrenapates and most recently, the confrontation against Decagrammaton. He internalized every close call, every mistake, agonizing over whether he could have handled things better.
The past cannot be changed so look forward to the future, he himself knows this, and says this but he is only human after all with very human regrets.
‘Have I truly done anything properly as their teacher?’
Sensei made sure to keep his thoughts to himself as to not disturb Arona and Plana.
An adult’s woes wasn't something his students needed to hear. In a world populated by girls who could shrug off tank shells, he was a fragile, vulnerable anomaly. A single stray bullet could end him. Yet, because he was the adult, he had to be the pillar. If the teacher crumbled, what hope did the students have?
‘I’m so tired.. If I don’t get up now I could really just fall asleep here.’
And that he did…
Morning arrives and inside the office, Sensei was still slumped over his desk, dead to the world, until the sharp blare of his phone’s alarm cut through the silence like a siren.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
“Mhm… five more minutes…”
His groggy protest was useless. The alarm was insistent, blaring at full volume, forcing him to stir from his uncomfortable sleeping position. With a heavy sigh, he pushed himself up, rubbing his temples as the realization set in he had completely passed out at his desk. No blanket, no pillow, just sheer exhaustion knocking him out cold the night before.
“Ugh… I fell asleep on my desk again,” he muttered.
"Where are my glasses..."
He fumbled across the desk, found the plastic frames, and slid them onto his face. Instancy, a sharp, blinding headache flared behind his eyes. The world turned into a nauseating, smeared blur of colors.
"No way... did my prescription change overnight? Am I getting old that fast?"
Winced, he ripped the glasses off and tossed them back onto the desk. He blinked, expecting the room to remain a blurry mess but when looked accross the room the edge of the filing cabinet was perfectly sharp. The tiny text on the whiteboard across the room was entirely legible.
A strange feeling crept over him as he walked toward the window. The sight that greeted him took his breath away.
The morning sun was rising over the D.U. skyline, bathing the skyscrapers in a brilliant, liquid gold. The sky was an immense canvas of soft pinks, deep oranges, and clear blues, like a scene straight out of a painting.
"Woah… so beautful."
Instinctively he rolled his shoulders, then twisted his torso from side to side, waiting for the inevitable, familiar pops.
"Wait, seriously? No stiffness? My knees don't feel like rusty hinges today and my throat isn't sore."
Usually, his mornings started with a laundry list of complaints dull joint aches, a stiff spine from hours in an office chair but right now-
"I feel... incredible." he laughed to himself, stretching his arms high above his head without a single muscle protesting.
"Alright, let's get cleaned up before this miracle wears off," he hummed, thoroughly amused as he turned toward the executive bathroom to start his morning routine.
He entered the bathroom and reached for the soap in the top drawer.
"Huh? Was this shelf always this high?"
He had to hop slightly onto his toes to snag the soap. Shaking his head at his own clumsiness, he turned on the faucet, gathered a palm full ow water, and splashed it directly into his face. The water felt so refreshing that it washed away his worries from last night.
“Phew, towel towel..”
He grabbed the linen cloth, vigorously wiping his face dry. He looked up, fully expecting to see the usual reflection staring back at him—the rugged, late-twenties man with permanent dark circles under his eyes, rough skin, and the distinct shadow of morning stubble.
Instead, the mirror showed a teenage boy.
He blinked once. Twice. He rubbed his eyes then looked again, still the reflection remain unchanged.
The boy in the mirror had soft, unblemished skin. His hair was thick and unruly, lacking the thinning edges of stress. The heavy, deathly dark circles under his eyes were completely gone, replaced by the bright, clear gaze of a teenager at his absolute physical peak. His clothes—his standard adult suit—hung off his frame like an older brother's hand-me-downs.
The silence in the bathroom stretched for ten seconds.
Then, Sensei let out a long, slow breath and leaned against the sink.
"Okay, If I were back in my original world, I would be losing my mind right now. But this is Kivotos."
“I’ve dealt with all kinds oft things in my time here, a sudden age-reversion is practically a baseline Tuesday here. If I just leave it alone, it’ll probably wear off by sooner or later."
“Though what could have caused this..? I do not recall eating something weird besides some cup ramen and I also did not eat dinner last night..”
As if on cue, his stomach let out a ferocious, cavernous growl
“Wow. Okay, definitely a teenager's metabolism. I could a full course meal right now..”
He chuckled, the initial panic subsiding into a weird sense of practical acceptance. It was fine. He was still Sensei. He leaned closer to the mirror to inspect his new, smooth jawline.
“What’s that on top of the mirror?”
He reached up with his towel to wipe a patch of condensation off the upper glass, trying to get a clear view.
As the glass cleared he realized the light wasn't coming from the ceiling, it was hovering above his own head.
“A HALO?!”
“Some things still do surprise me after all.”
The halo, a signature trait of a Kivotos student, the source of their Mystic power that allowed them to shrug off bullets and explosions and gain special abilities.
"An outsider like me gaining a halo... What is going on? Was that cup ramen of mine spiked with something?"
He should probably be worried. There could be some mysterious power at work here, but as he was trying to touch the halo newly formed on his head, a deeply practical, slightly reckless thought crossed his mind.
If I truly have a halo now... does that mean I'm as durable as a student?
“Only one way to find out!”
After quickly freshening up, Sensei hurried back into the main office. He was still hyper-aware of the unfamiliar lightness in his limbs, the odd, vibrant energy humming beneath his skin. He moved directly to his desk, bypassed the stacks of forms, and opened the low cabinet where his personal sidearm was stored.
He pulled out the semi-automatic pistol, weighing it in his hand.
“I finally found a use for this.”
This was the simplest, most direct test he could think of. If he had actually inherited the properties of a Kivotos native, his skin should be able to withstand a bullet. If he hadn't... well, he'd find out very quickly.
His hand trembled slightly as he raised the weapon, pointing the barrel directly at his open palm. His heartbeat picked up, his adult rational mind screaming at him that this was absolute lunacy.
He took a deep breath, steadied his grip—and pulled the trigger.
Or at least he tried to.
"Nevermind..." Sensei muttered, lowering the pistol and letting out a shaky breath. "I'm kinda scared. While the students won't die if they get hit with bullets, it still is painful to get hit."
He placed the gun back onto the drawer with a sharp clack.
"Aight, abort mission. Still, thanks to being younger, my body feels so light!" Sensei stretched his arms up, marveling at the total lack of back pain. He took a few experimental steps, bouncing on his feet.
"I feel like I could run a marathon. I might actually be able to keep up with Sumire's training regimen, or even with Shiroko's bike riding!"
"Mmm… why are you shouting so loudly this early in the morning?"
A soft, drowsy voice drifted from the desk. Sensei blinked, turning toward the Shittim Chest. The screen was glowing, and Arona’s was rubbing her eyes, yawning sleepily.
"Ah, sorry, Arona. I just got a bit carried away."
"It’s rare to see you this energetic, Sensei," Arona murmured, floating a bit closer to the glass. "After finishing heavy work, you usually look half-dead…"
She paused. Her eyes went wide, and she practically slammed her hands against the inside of the screen, staring out at him.
"W-wait… is that really you, Sensei?!"
"That's right," Sensei chuckled, gesturing to himself. "For some unexplained reason, I seem to have gotten younger."
Arona stared at his face, her panic instantly melting into a cheeky, mischievous grin. "That’s why your hair looks so much fuller than usual!"
Sensei’s expression flattened into a glare, his brow twitching. "Oi."
"I’m joking! I'm joking!" Arona laughed, waving her hands in the air. "Even if you do go bald in the future, Arona will always stay by your side!"
Due to their loud banter, Plana, who was still asleep in the background of the digital classroom, woke up. Rubbing her eyes, she quietly approached the front of the screen to see what the commotion was about.
"Plana-chan! Look, look!" Arona chirped, pointing wildly out at the office.
"Oh, were we too loud? Sorry, Plana, and good morning," Sensei said warmly.
"Good morning, Arona-senpai, and Sen—" Plana started, her flat voice cutting off instantly as her eyes locked onto him. Her usual stoic expression crumbled into pure bewilderment. "What on earth is that appearance…?"
"Sensei has gotten younger! Isn't it kinda amazing?" Arona beamed.
"As I said earlier, it seems I’ve become younger," Sensei explained, running a hand through his admittedly thicker hair. "Judging by how I look, my physical age is about that of a high school student."
Plana's eyes drifted upward, staring at the space right above his head. "You also have a halo now, Sensei? Shouldn't you be more concerned?"
Arona blinked, finally looking up as well. "You're right! I didn't even see that!"
"We'll get there when we get there. Ehe," Sensei replied, giving a thoroughly unbothered, nonchalant smile.
Plana watched him for a moment, her expression softening back into her usual calm, dedicated demeanor. She gave a small, respectful bow. "In any case... even if you become younger, Sensei is still Sensei. I will support you as usual."
"Hehe, thanks a lot! I love you, Plana!" Sensei beamed.
"Sensei, that's unfair! Me too! Hmph." Arona immediately pouted, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks. "
"You called me bald earlier, so nope," Sensei teased, turning his back slightly.
"Noooo!" Arona wailed, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
"Just kidding. I love you too, Arona!" Sensei laughed, turning back to Arona with a bright, genuine smile. "I love you both soooo much!"
"Yaay! I love you, Sensei!" Arona cheered, her gloomy mood vanishing instantly as she bounced up and down.
With a fond smile, Sensei closed the distance between them. He leaned down and gently pressed a kiss onto Arona’s forehead, then turned and did the exact same for Plana, before giving them both a warm, affectionate headpat.
Plana’s cheeks flushed a deep, bright pink. Arona, on the other hand, just stood there smiling all giddy, practically floating on air from the affection.
"Well, I'll see you girls later," Sensei said, stepping back and looking down at his baggy sweatpants. "I still need to find some proper clothes and get breakfast."
"See you later, Sensei! Heehee!" Arona waved energetically, still swaying side to side.
"Farewell, Sensei," Plana murmured softly, her voice a little smaller than usual as she tried to cool her blushing face. "We'll be here in case you need anything."
With a final wave, Sensei pulled his consciousness out of the digital space, leaving the Shittim Chest behind to go tackle his wardrobe crisis back in the physical office.
Inside the tablet, the classroom fell relatively quiet again.
"Arona-senpai," Plana murmured, her hands folded neatly in front of her as she stared at the floor.
"What is it, Plana-chan? Hehe, hehe~" Arona sighed happily, still in a complete daze.
"Hmm..." Plana turned her gaze toward the empty space where Sensei had just been standing. "Besides his appearance... I was caught off guard by how Sensei acted."
"It's fine, isn't it? Hehe, hehe~"
"Hmm..." Plana remained quiet, looking thoughtful.
Before, Sensei had always carried himself with the heavy, slightly restrained warmth of an adult guardian. But just now, his affection had felt entirely unrestrained, overflowing with a bright and youthful spontaneity.
"Phew... I'm stuffed. Three bento boxes... I was really that hungry, huh?"
Sensei leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, satisfied sigh as he patted his stomach. The empty convenience store containers were stacked neatly in front of him.
He had gone to get breakfast, just like he told the girls he would. Luckily, Angel 24 was located right on the first floor of the SCHALE building, making it a very quick and easy takeout run. Even better, Sora hadn't been on the morning shift. The last thing he wanted was to try and explain his sudden de-aging to a deeply confused middle schooler while trying to pay for his food. He had managed to slip in, grab his massive breakfast haul, and slip back up to the office entirely unnoticed.
But now, sitting alone at the dining table, the initial excitement of his youthful energy began to settle, replaced by the cold, hard reality of his situation.
Sensei rested his chin in his hand, his eyes drifting over to the stack of oversized suits he had abandoned on the lounge sofa.
"Seriously... how should I handle this situation...?" he pondered aloud.
"I can't exactly hide in the office forever," he muttered to himself. "The General Student Council expects daily reports. If anyone sees me like this, the rumors are going to spread across Kivotos faster than a Trinity gossip column."
“No choice, I have to call Rin first, perhaps she will know what to do." he muttered, tapping the screen.
He held the phone to his ear, waiting through the rhythmic beeps. On the third ring, the line clicked open.
"Sensei," Rin's voice came through the speaker, crisp, professional, and radiating its usual undertone of slight exhaustion. "Good morning, I usually do not expect calls from you this early. Is there an issue?"
Sensei took a deep breath, realizing he had to be very careful with his wording. "Uh, good morning, Rin. Actually, yes, there is a bit of an issue on my end. A... personal complication, you could say."
On the other end of the line, the sound of rustling papers stopped. Rin paused, her sharp mind instantly picking up on the subtle shift in the audio. The pitch was noticeably lighter, lacking the deeper, tired rasp of the adult man she spoke to daily.
"Sensei? You sound... different," Rin noted, her tone narrowing slightly, though she sounded more analytical than suspicious. "Did you catch a cold? Is that the reason you are calling? If you require a medical leave of absence to recuperate from overwork, the General Student Council can adjust your schedule."
He let out a soft, dry chuckle.
"I wish it was just a cold, Rin. But it's a little more complicated than that."
"What do you mean?" Rin asked, a faint note of impatience creeping into her voice. "If there has been an incident at the SCHALE residence, please state it clearly.”
Sensei rubbed the back of his neck, realizing there was absolutely no way to explain an age-reversion and a sudden manifestation of a halo over a standard voice call without sounding completely insane.
"Honestly, it's probably faster if you just come over to SCHALE," Sensei said.
A few minutes later, RIn arrived at SCHALE looking entirely dumbfounded.
"Surprise..?" Sensei offered, giving a tiny, helpless smile as the heavy pneumatic doors fully opened.
Rin stood frozen in the doorway, as she stared at the boy standing before her, blinked, and then slowly removed her glasses. She pulled a small cloth from her pocket, meticulously cleaned off the lenses, and put them back on.
What she was seeing was still exactly the same. A teenager wearing an oversized hoodie, with a vibrant halo floating serenely above his messy hair.
"Is this a newly invented prank?" Rin asked, her voice entirely flat as she adjusted her frames. "I haven't been keeping up with the trends lately."
"No, it's not..." Sensei chuckled sheepishly, raising a baggy sleeve to scratch his cheek. "But hey, on the bright side, I think I can work twice as hard now!"
Sensei tensed up slightly, bracing himself. He was fully expecting Rin to get angry, to lecture him.
Instead, Rin's sharp gaze softened just a fraction, her eyes scanning him from head to toe.
"Is your body feeling okay?" she asked quietly. "Do you not feel any pain or discomfort?"
Sensei blinked, caught completely off guard by the genuine concern. "Uh... no. In fact, I feel the opposite. My back doesn't even hurt anymore."
"That's good enough," Rin said, letting out a controlled, professional sigh as she stepped fully into the office. "Panicking about the situation won't do us any good, so let's think up what we can do from now on."
Sensei’s face instantly lit up with a bright, youthful grin. "As expected of Rin-chan! So calm and collected!"
"Who are you calling Rin-chan..."
The two moved over to the lounge area, now seated across from each other at the coffee table to continue their discussion. Rin sat with her usual perfect posture, while Sensei leaned back against the sofa, his oversized jogging pants bunching up around his bare feet.
"It is of utmost importance that you get your body checked up for medical tests. We need to see if there are any hidden complications that you yourself may not be feeling right now."
"Uh-huh," Sensei nodded.
"So, I propose we ask help from Millennium and Trinity," Rin continued, her analytical mind already charting out the logistical framework. "Millennium, because of their state-of-the-art medical facilities equipped with the latest technology. And Trinity, because not only do they have the Remedial Knights known for their expertise in the medical field and hospitality, but they also might possess some answers to your... for lack of a better term, 'studentification.' Being one of the oldest academies, they hold the Old Library, which may contain records of similar spiritual or mystic phenomena."
"Oooh, I like the sound of that!" Sensei cheered, his new halo giving a cheerful, bright pulse above his head.
"Do not get ahead of yourself," Rin countered sharply, though her expression remained deeply pensive. "This must be handled with absolute secrecy. Because all sorts of complications may arise.”
"Therefore, we need to be careful about who we involve.
"Right, that makes sense," Sensei agreed.
Rin nodded, taking out her own terminal to pull up the secure contact lines. "I will handle coordinating with the schools. For Millennium, it would be best to contact Seminar directly. for Trinity, I will reach out to the Sisterhood or the Tea Party to get discreet access to the Remedial Knights and the Old Library. We should split the appointments to avoid drawing too much attention."
"Sounds like a plan," Sensei said, leaning back against the sofa. “Sorry for handling everything on my behalf Rin.”
“Don’t mention it, this is a crisis most unprecedented.”
"Though I should probably get some new clothes before we go anywhere. Most of my business clothes don’t fit me anymore.”
Rin glanced at the oversized fabric bunched around his hands, then looked up at his face. Despite the completely bizarre circumstances, seeing him so calm was actually helping keep the situation grounded.
"I will look into some clothes for you before you set out," Rin said, her tone returning to its usual professional rhythm. "For now, stay inside SCHALE. I will finalize the arrangements and contact you once everything is ready."
“Eh I can’t let you do all that Rin-chan.”
“Again who are you calling Rin-chan…?”
“I have a better idea how about you come with me clothes shopping? You could definitely use a break from the GSC office.”
“I cannot just immediately make drastic changes to my schedule unannounced.”
“Oh dont worry I already told Aoi to let you off the hook today while we were talking.”
“…”
Before she could object, Sensei gave her a bright grin. "Let's have a date!"
"A... a what?!" Rin stammered, her usual icy composure completely breaking as a faint flush of pink hit her cheeks.
"A date," Sensei repeated casually, leaning forward on the table. "We're going out to look for clothes anyway, and you haven't taken a proper day off in forever. It's the perfect excuse."
Rin quickly adjusted her glasses, clearing her throat to try and pull herself back together. "Sensei, don’t just make decisions on your own also it wouldn’t be called a date but a shopping trip. Understand?”
"Sure, let's go with that," Sensei chuckled.
Rin let out a long sigh, realizing there was no point in arguing with him when he was this energetic.
"Let's meet in two hours," Rin said, adjusting her stance as she prepared to head out. "I will secure a location where we can find suitable attire without drawing attention."
Two hours later, Sensei stepped out of the SCHALE building completely disguised. He was wearing an oversized black hoodie and jogging pants, and also a baseball cap pulled down low, a pair of dark sunglasses, and a white medical face mask.
Rin met him nearby, looking entirely different in her casual clothes instead of her usual formal General Student Council uniform.
“Doesn’t this make me stick out more?”
“Rather than people figuring out your identity at a first glance.”
“Well anyways, I’m so excited! I’m going on a date with Rin-chan!”
“It’s not a date!”
To ensure they wouldn't run into crowds of students, Rin led him to a train heading toward the far east side of the D.U. (District of Utnapishtim). Instead of a major shopping mall, they went inside of a small thrift store.
After a bit of browsing, Sensei finally managed to find a few sets of casual clothes that actually fit his teenage body. Though still the cap, sunglasses and facemask remain.
"Phew, all done," Sensei said, adjusting a properly fitted hooded jacket. "Thanks, Rin. I really appreciate the help."
Rin checked her terminal. "Now that you have appropriate attire, we should head back to the office to finalize the arrangements with Millennium and Trinity."
"Hold on, it's still way too early to go back," Sensei said, flashing her a grin. "We're already out, and you took the whole day off. It's a rare occasion, so let’s spend a little more time together."
Rin paused, looking at his energetic expression. She hesitated for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. "A short extension. That is all."
Sensei immediately made the most of it, dragging Rin toward a nearby small arcade. Rin stood by the entrance, crossing her arms as she looked at the flashing lights.
"I have never had a reason to visit a place like this," Rin said stiffly.
"What?!" Sensei turned to her, genuinely shocked. "But youth is all about hanging out at arcades after school! Come on, we have to try at least one game."
He pulled her over to a popular 2D fighting game. After going through a quick tutorial to learn the buttons, they dropped their coins in for a proper match. Sensei took the first round, leaning into his experience, but Rin caught on quickly. By the second round, her sharp focus kicked in, and she completely shut him down to tie the score.
"Alright, last round, no holding back," Sensei said, suddenly very fired up.
But Rin’s inputs were flawless. Within a minute, she drained the last of his health bar, the screen flashing a bright VICTORY over her character.
Sensei slumped against the control panel, comically dejected. "Man... completely crushed." Then he bounced right back up, looking at her with an impressed smile. "You know, you might actually have a knack for becoming a professional gamer!"
Rin stepped back from the cabinet, a faint, rare smile touching her lips before she caught herself. "It is a hollow talent. I certainly won't have the hours to pour into a hobby like this once I return to the GSC."
“Hmmm… what a waste you might be able to go toe toe with some students I know..”
The afternoon air was filled with the savory scent of cooking food. They had wandered into a district lined with various outdoor food stalls. Sensei's teenage metabolism instantly kicked in, and he steered them toward the vendors.
A few yards ahead, a small commotion caught their attention. Three delinquent students, the Sukeban were crowding around a food stall.
"I told you, this stuff tastes like garbage," one of the delinquents barked, slamming her hand on the counter. "Therefore, it should be free."
"But you've already ordered and eaten three full portions!" the vendor protested, his hands shaking. "If it was bad, why did you keep ordering?"
"Are you talking back to us?" another delinquent sneered, raising her weapon.
“Eek!”
Rin reached for her pocket, her eyes narrowing. "Sensei, stay back. We should call the local authorities. If you intervene, it will draw attention."
"It'll take too long for the police to get here," Sensei muttered.
Before Rin could stop him, he stepped right into the scene. He didn't have a weapon, and he still wasn't entirely sure how he was going to pull it off, but his instincts as an educator took over.
"Hey there, girls," Sensei said, keeping his voice calm and casual as he stepped between the delinquents and the stall. "You really shouldn’t be bothering people who are just trying to make a proper living.
“Huh? The fuck’s your deal?” the leader asked, her mood visibly souring.
“Just a fellow customer looking for a meal, also a concerned citizen passing by.”
“Out of my sight or this muzzle will be pointed towards you instead of this punk. (the vendor)
“Woah woah weapons down, let’s try not to be violent here, or else instead of the food here you might have your next meal might be at the Corrections Bureau which I really don’t want so just tell me your problem I can hear you out.”
“If it’s money you have a problem with I can help you, I have some spare cash with me but of course I need it paid back so my proper solution is to help you get into part-time jobs.”
“Just a secret between us I just happen to know a few people affiliated with the GSC and SCHALE.”
“?!”
The three delinquents blinked in shock, thrown off by his sudden intrusion and his relaxed demeanor, especially when they heard GSC and SCHALE.
"Just who the hell are you to preach to me weirdo? Hah?!" . She looked at him angrily
Just then the other delinquents whisper to the leader. “Boss.. His companion I thought I recognized her but the moment he mentioned the GSC.. I’m sure that’s definitely Nanagami Rin…”
“Y’know the chief administrator? We’d seriously won’t be left off the hook easily if we mess with them..”
The leader looks at Sensei then at Rin standing a few paces back, and let out a frustrated click of her tongue. "Ugh, whatever. This place is annoying anyway. Let's go."
Not wanting to deal with a weirdly calm stranger or potential backup, the three turned around and stomped off down the alleyway.the three turned around and stomped off down the alleyway.
“Ah wait the pay-” Sensei tried to call out the leaving delinquents but was stopped by Rin.
“Hah.. that’s enough, don’t just throw away this lucky moment.”
“I got scolded, also I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything about the money…”
The vendor let out a massive sigh of relief, bowing repeatedly. "No no, thank you so much, young man! I don't know what I would have done."
"Please, let me treat you both to a meal as a thank you," the vendor insisted, immediately prepping a fresh plate.
"Oh, no, you really don't have to—" Sensei started.
"I insist!" the vendor said, looking between the two of them. "I'm really sorry I caused a disturbance during your date."
Rin’s face instantly flushed a bright pink, her posture turning rigid. Sensei just chuckled, not bothering to deny the comment.
“I really appreciate your offer but I want to pay after what happened. One for the lady and three for me!”
“Thank you for your patronage! I’ll make it the best I can!”
Rin watched Sensei's back, a soft, genuine smile gracing her face. He really is a hopeless busybody, she thought to herself, a feeling of deep affection warming her chest.
They sat down at a small plastic table nearby to eat. Rin took a quiet bite, her expression turning nostalgic as she stared at the bustling food street.
"The last time I came to a place like this... it was with the General Student Council President, a very long time ago," Rin murmured softly. "She was also incredibly pushy about making me take breaks."
Sensei smiled warmly at her, setting his chopsticks down. "It's nice to see you finally relaxing a bit, Rin."
After finishing their food, Sensei thanked the vendor and discreetly left a generous tip.
Then the two were now headed to a nearby bus stop to return home.
"We really need to go back," Rin said, her voice returning to its professional weight. "I still need to coordinate with the leadership at Trinity and Millennium for your physical evaluation. We need to find out exactly what caused this transformation."
Sensei looked over at her, a playful glint in his eyes. "Setting work aside for a second... did you have fun today?"
Rin looked away, her expression stubborn as she tried to fight off a smile. "I suppose... it is acceptable to loosen up once in a while. It will allow me to work more efficiently tomorrow."
Sensei sighed, shaking his head with a smile. "Talking about work again? Well, that's fine for now. Next time, I’ll make sure you actually say 'I had a great time!'"
Rin’s breath hitched, a prominent blush rising to her cheeks at the clear implication that there would be a next time. "Let's... see about that."
Their conversation cut short as a loud scream echoed from down the street.
Just outside a convenience store, a chaotic scene was unfolding. It was the exact same trio of Sukeban delinquents from earlier. They were currently harassing an elderly shop owner, knocking over displays and demanding snacks and ammunition.
"Just take it and leave!" the owner yelled.
“Hahaha! See ya geezer!”
The delinquents grabbed several bags of supplies and bolted out into the middle of the road.
At that exact moment, a heavy delivery truck rounded the corner. The shrill, terrifying screech of metal on metal echoed through the street it looked liked the brakes were completely busted. The massive vehicle was skidding wildly out of control, barreling directly toward the three girls who were in the middle of the crosswalk, frozen in terror.
"Watch out!" Sensei screamed.
Before his brain could even process the danger, his newly rejuvenated body moved entirely on instinct.
"Sensei!" Rin shrieked, reaching out a hand, but he was already gone.
Sensei sprinted across the asphalt with a burst of speed his body had never experienced before. He reached them just as the shadow of the massive truck loomed over the girls. With a heavy dive, he threw his weight forward, forcefully shoving all three delinquents out of the path of the vehicle.
The force of the impact sent them rolling across the pavement. Sensei crashed hard onto the ground, his cap, sunglasses, and face mask flying off into the street, completely exposing his face.
He pushed himself up on his elbows, breathing heavily. "Are you all okay?!"
The three delinquents sat up, scratched but completely unharmed. They opened their mouths to complain, but the words died in their throats. They stared at the boy in front of them his messy hair falling perfectly around his face, his expression fierce and deeply caring.
"W-we're...okay…" the leader stammered, her face turning an intense shade of red.
"Y-yeah... thank you..."
"Phew..." Sensei let out a relieved breath, his expression shifting into a stern frown. "Good. But I saw what you were doing at the convenience store just now. You all need to properly reflect on your behavior. Kay~?”
The three delinquents let out a simultaneous, high-pitched squeal, completely overwhelmed by his voice and presence.
CRASH!
The moment was shattered as the runaway truck slammed violently into the concrete wall of a nearby building. Smoke billowed from the crumpled hood, and small flames began to lick at the engine block.
Sensei scrambled to his feet. Through the cracked windshield, he could see the driver slumped over the steering wheel, completely unconscious.
Without a second thought, Sensei rushed over to the burning vehicle. He scanned the ground, grabbed a heavy concrete brick that had broken off from the building structure, and slammed it repeatedly against the driver's side window until the glass shattered. Reaching through the frame, he unlocked the door, hauled it open, and carefully but swiftly pulled the unconscious driver out of the smoke-filled cabin, dragging him away to safety on the sidewalk.
Rin stood on the curb, completely paralyzed with shock. She wasn't just terrified by the sheer danger of the accident, but utterly stunned by how incredibly nimble, fast, and decisive Sensei had been. It took her a few seconds to snap back to reality. She quickly pulled out her terminal, dialing emergency lines.
“We need a Valkyrie police dispatch and the Fire Department at the eastern commercial sector immediately!"
By the time the flames were suppressed and the driver was loaded into an ambulance, a massive crowd had gathered around. The entire street was packed with onlookers cheering and whispering about the heroic rescue.
Sensei stood by the sidewalk, wiping a bit of soot from his forearm. The adrenaline was finally wearing off, leaving his teenage body feeling completely exhausted. The whole event felt like a blur.
Across the street, Rin's eyes widened in panic as she saw the size of the crowd swelling around him. This is bad, she thought, immediately moving forward. "Excuse me! please, let me through!" she called out, trying to shove her way through the wall of onlookers. But the sheer volume of excited citizens completely pinned her to the perimeter, making it impossible to reach him.
"Yeah, I should probably get out of here..." Sensei muttered to himself, looking around the floor for his discarded mask and shades, but they were long gone under the feet of the crowd.
"Excuse us! Kronos News, coming through! Let us through!"
A path opened up in the crowd as several students from the Kronos School of Journalism pushed their way to the front, their professional camera lenses and recording equipment aimed directly at the center of the scene. As journalists whose entire purpose was to broadcast breaking news across Kivotos, they were always the first to arrive at any incident.
A bright camera light snapped on, illuminating Sensei’s fully exposed face.
"We are live at the scene of a devastating vehicular accident, where a mysterious young hero has just single-handedly rescued three students and a driver!" the Kronos reporter announced into her microphone, thrusting it right toward Sensei. "Please tell us, what drove you to jump into danger like that?"
Sensei froze, the bright light blinding him. He quickly pulled the hood over his head to hide his features. "Uh, no comment. I just did what anyone would do. Now if you would excuse me I need to go—"
"Wait..." The Kronos reporter stopped mid-sentence. She lowered the microphone slightly, staring directly at his face, then looked down at her camera monitor to get a clearer, high-definition view of his features under the hood.
"His face... doesn’t he look like SCHALE’s Sensei?"
"That’s right! No wonder you looked so familiar!"
(Ugh... is this it? Is there no way for me to get out of this situation?) Sensei thought, bracing himself. Still trying his best to hide under his hood, he prepared for the ultimate revelation of his transformation to break the internet.
"No way..." the reporter whispered, her eyes widening in utter shock. "Are you... related to SCHALE's Sensei?!" The crowd instantly erupted into a frenzy of shouting, gasping, and chaotic gossip.
"That Sensei?! But Sensei doesn’t have a halo, though."
“Sensei’s relative... but Sensei is an adult without a halo, since he isn't from Kivotos. If this boy has a halo, that could only mean...?”
“ARE YOU SENSEI’S SECRET LOVE CHILD?!”
“Huh...? HUUUUUUUUUUUH?!” Sensei’s jaw dropped. "How did you even come to that conclusion?!"
From the edge of the crowd, Rin desperately redoubled her efforts, using her weight to try and wedge through the tight pack of students. "Please move out of the way!" she commanded, but her voice was entirely drowned out by the chaotic roar of the crowd.
"This might be the biggest scoop of the century!" the reporter yelled, shoving the microphone closer.
"So, who is your mother?! People across Kivotos have been incredibly eager about Sensei's love life, but his defenses are known to be iron-clad!"
"Time out! Time out!" Sensei stammered, waving his hands frantically, "Are you even aware of how much of that doesn't make sense timeline-wise?!"
"Then... are you a bio-engineered clone created by combining Sensei's DNA with a student's?!"
"What are you even saying?! Go become a sci-fi author instead of a journalist!"
"So who is the other DNA donor?! Who is definitively Sensei's lover?!"
"You're more curious about that than the actual bio-engineered organism part—which by the way I am not?!" Sensei threw his hands up in exasperation.
By this point, his frantic retorts to the journalist's absurd questions had caused his hood to slip completely off his head, exposing his messy hair and flushing face to the flashing cameras but just as the reporter opened her mouth to pitch an even wilder theory, a heavy-duty megaphone blared through the intersection, completely cutting her off.
"Valkyrie Police Academy, Public Security Bureau! Everyone, clear a path immediately!"
A disciplined line of Valkyrie officers moved into the intersection, their heavy tactical shields locking together to systematically push the aggressive Kronos journalists back, carving out a secure perimeter. Walking right at the front of the formation was Kanna, flanked by Kirino and Fubuki.
Kanna marched over with an intense, professional stride, fully prepared to take a standard witness statement from a brave civilian. "Are you uninjured? Don't worry, the Public Security Bureau has the situation under—"
Kanna cut herself off mid-sentence. She stopped dead in her tracks, just a few feet away from him. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto his face, then flicked up to the glowing halo floating above his hair. Her usually stoic expression completely shattered.
Right next to her, Kirino’s jaw dropped. She inhaled sharply, her eyes widening to the size of saucers as she pointed a trembling finger at him. "Wha—wait! Se—Se—"
Before the word "Sensei" could leave her mouth and echo into the Kronos microphones, the teenage boy lunged forward catching Kirino entirely by surprise, putting his hand firmly over her mouth.
"Mph?!" Kirino squeaked, her eyes darting frantically.
"Please, you three, play along!" Sensei whispered desperately, giving Kanna and Fubuki a pleading look. "I'll explain everything later, just help me get out of here!"
Fubuki’s lazy demeanor instantly vanished, replaced by a look of sheer amusement as she whispered to Kanna, "Wow, Director. Look at that face. He really is Sensei's kid."
"Fubuki, not you too," Sensei says exasperated
Kanna's brain locked up for a fraction of a second, but her sharp tactical instincts quickly kicked in.
She saw the live cameras, she saw Rin trying to push through the crowd, and she realized the absolute absurdity of the situation.
"Step back!" Kanna suddenly barked into her megaphone, smoothly stepping into the line of sight of the cameras to shield Sensei. "The Public Security Bureau is taking this material witness into custody for questioning regarding the collision! Officers, secure the transport vehicle!"
Before the Kronos reporter could shout another question, Fubuki and a still thoroughly confused-looking Kirino quickly escorted the teenage Sensei toward the waiting Valkyrie armored car.
Glancing back over his shoulder through the flashing cameras, Sensei spotted Rin completely swallowed up by the crowd.
Leaning halfway out of the heavy armored door, Sensei cupped his hands around his mouth. "Rin! Over here!"
Hearing his voice slice through the noise, Rin didn't hesitate. Abandoning all semblance of her usual composure, she made a desperate dash for the open vehicle, leaping inside just as Kanna slammed the heavy steel doors shut behind them, cutting off the chaotic roar of the crowd.
“Let’s goooooo!”
-----
Rin sat in the back of the Valkyrie transport vehicle, staring blankly out the window as the neon signs of the D.U. blurred past. The faint, rhythmic ticking of the car's dashboard clock was the only sound competing with the muffled radio chatter up front.
She felt entirely, utterly exhausted.
It wasn't just physical fatigue; it was a deep, existential weariness that settled into her bones. Looking back over the last few hours, she realized how incredibly naive she had been about trying to keep Sensei's condition hidden from the public.
All of that planning and disguise and for what? Within a single afternoon, he had managed to get caught up in an incident that got broadcasted live on camera for the entire Academy City to see.
('Wherever Sensei goes, trouble follows')
Rin thought to herself, a numb, resigned feeling washing over her.