Autumn meant school festival season and just thinking that, like always, the competition with Class A led by Asano would grow fierce again made my spirits sink no matter what.

“I hear the main school building is getting ridiculously hyped for the upcoming school festival.”

“That Asano guy apparently signed contracts with food places. Do normal middle schoolers seriously lock in hardcore sponsors for a school festival?”

“Well, if it’s him, the scary part is that you can totally see him doing it. So what are we going to do, Korosensei?”

“Of course we have no choice but to go for the win! This showdown is shaping up to be the culmination of everything besides assassination and studying!”

“I don’t want to lose to Class A either, but… what are we even supposed to do?”

“Well now, Asano-kun is right about one thing. What matters most is a sense of getting a good deal. If you can create something that exceeds expectations on a low budget, customers will come just for that.”

“Sure, but still…”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, isn’t it right around you all! A trump card! And the value that Class E has is… this!”

Saying that, Korosensei showed us mushrooms, wild mountain vegetables, fish and other things known as the bounty of the mountains.

“These ingredients are just like you, hidden deep in the mountains where no one has realized their true potential! Now, sell them with the intent to kill! Your many blades!”

It was our first cultural festival. Of course winning was important, but since there wasn’t anything particularly at stake this time, it would probably be fine for us to focus more on enjoying it.

* * *

And then the day of the cultural festival arrived and since I was assigned to rotate between ingredient procurement and customer service, I was currently struggling badly with the customer-facing work.

“W-welcome…”

The ones who appeared before us were the high schoolers who had tried to kidnap Yukiko and Kayano during the school trip.

“You guys! What the hell are you doing here?!”

“What, gonna try kidnapping girls again? lol”

“…We’re not doing that anymore. Getting caught by that monster teacher would be a nightmare. But hey, you don’t need brute force to ruin things. There are plenty of ways. Like shouting that the food here tastes like crap, or posting a little comment online…”

“Tch…”

“Come on, hurry it up. We’re customers, you know.”

“O-our signature dish, the acorn dipping noodles.”

“Whoa, that looks good! Hey leader, can I order the Mont Blanc too?”

“Me too, me too. I wanna try the smoked fish.”

“Don’t get noisy! You’ll expose how stupid you are! Besides, this is just some middle schoolers’ half-baked idea. The taste can only be so good.”

The high schoolers brought the dipping noodles to their mouths with clear intent to spit them out, but our class’s dipping noodles weren’t like the usual stuff you find anywhere. After a single bite, they seemed to realize that. Maybe it was really that good, because I could see faint tears welling up in their eyes.

“Damn… it’s good.”

“It works, right? We researched it thoroughly for a full week. The noodles are made from acorns and we used grated mountain yam as a binder. Mountain ingredients tend to have strong quirks, so we went with a rich dipping broth. It was a struggle, the pork-bone soy sauce acorn noodles are the result of pursuing the ultimate balance!”

“It’s definitely a flavor I’ve never had before…”

“H-hey, let’s try other stuff too! What’s this egg mushroom? I’ve never even eaten it before!”

“You idiots! Say it tastes bad! Say it’s bad!”

“Huh, it tastes bad? I’m sorry. Did our students’ cooking not suit your palate?”

“ It’s delicious!! ”

“Oh? Then how about this persimmon and loquat jelly? It’s just about the same softness as my skin♡”

“”We’ll eat it!!””

“If you ate the whole menu, sensei would be soooo happy♪”

“But that would cost money…”

“There’s an A•T•M in front of the station♡”

““We’ll go withdraw some!!””

With that, the high schoolers rushed down the mountain at an unbelievable speed. As expected of Bitch-sensei, when it comes to customer service, no one can beat her.

At the foot of the mountain, Yada was drawing in customers and at the summit was Bitch-sensei. From Sugaya’s posters to Okajima’s food photos, Hazama’s menu explanations and Mimura’s special website, there were no gaps not just in customer service but across all fronts. We had all the materials needed to draw interest, but according to the scouts’ reports, for now Class A still had the upper hand.

“Hey!”

While I was thinking about that, a familiar voice called out from behind me.

“You here, Kiyotaka? Sakura-sama has come to grace you!”

“Sakura, huh… and it looks like everyone from Sono is with you too.”

“Oh? So you’re still seeing each other, Ayanokōji-kun.”

“Well, I just go teach her some studying now and then.”

“If my personal tutor asks, I have no choice but to come like this♪”

“I didn’t ask though…”

“Well done, Ayanokōji. At least we can rack up customer numbers now!”

“Sorry we’re not rich customers. Now then, let’s have these rumored acorn noodles.”

“Coming right up, one serving of acorn noodles!”

“Oh, that looks good. Let’s see… oh, this is exquisite!”

“If it’s this good, shouldn’t it be selling like crazy?”

“That’s the problem. No matter how good it is, if it doesn’t reach a lot of people, customers won’t come.”

“Hm, but there’s no need to worry. You guys have a mysterious power, don’t you?”

“Yeah. If your daily conduct is righteous, it’ll surely reach everyone.”

With that, Sakura and everyone from Sono went back down the mountain. They must all have confidence in what they’ve done, which is why the current lack of customers frustrates them. We probably needed something impactful.

While thinking that and continuing my weak-at-customer-service routine, serving customers one after another, I caught sight of men in black suits at the edge of my vision. It looked like the disturbance was headed my way. I slowly approached the man.

“W-welcome. What would you like to order?”

“…No need to order. More importantly, call over Kiyotaka.”

“There’s no need for that. What do you want… Father.”

“I never thought the day would come when you’d call me father.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. In front of my classmates, this is just more convenient. More importantly, if you came all this way where everyone can see you, you must have a damn good reason.”

“Well, I wanted to see the target with my own eyes, but that’s not the main point. Is there somewhere we can talk without prying eyes?”

“That works for me too. My classmates look scared.”

In truth, they probably weren’t that scared, but the strange atmosphere between me and him made it so no one could approach.

“You stay here.”

After ordering his guards to wait, we headed to the staff room. On the way, Yukiko looked at me worriedly, so I sent her a look telling her it was fine and she nodded. It seemed she understood my intent.

* * *

“We’re going to talk here for a bit. During that time, please make sure no one, student or otherwise, comes near.”

“Got it. But be careful…”

“There’s no need to worry.”

After asking Karasuma-sensei for that favor, I closed the door. It seemed even Karasuma-sensei sensed this man wasn’t just an ordinary guardian.

“Now we’re finally alone. You seem pretty well adapted to this class. Have you started growing some pointless sentimentality?”

“…”

“It’s already mid-November. And yet you still haven’t disposed of the target. On top of that, you’re enjoying a school festival with your classmates. Kiyotaka, you’ve… grown weaker.”

“…”

“Is it because you’ve interacted too much with your classmates? As I thought, any education other than that place only rots you. It’s time to return to being a tool. Even if you can’t defeat the target, you’re still my finest possession.”

“I…”

I tried to voice my will, but the words got stuck deep in my throat and wouldn’t come out.

Ah, right.

Since coming here, I’ve felt it again and again.

My classmates grow and change day by day.

But I… haven’t changed at all from that place.

Still a tool.

“That’s not true.”

At the sudden voice, I turned around and saw the target standing there with a smile. I told Karasuma-sensei not to let anyone approach, but keeping this guy away was probably impossible.

“So you’re Korosensei. Just like the rumors say, you’re a monster.”

“You know about me, as expected of Ayanokōji-kun’s father. You’re not just a simple guardian either.”

“I don’t care about myself. What did you mean by what you said earlier?”

“I meant exactly what I said. Ayanokōji-kun has his own life and no matter if you’re his father, you have no right to bind him.”

“That’s wrong. Kiyotaka was created solely to fulfill my ambitions. From the moment he was born, he was my property. His will has nothing to do with it.”

“Your ambitions? Producing geniuses en masse from ordinary people? You sacrificed your own child’s future for that?”

“You already know that much, huh. But that’s just one step, part of the process. Don’t make me repeat myself. Kiyotaka is merely one piece to achieve that process. It was decided from the start. You could call it fate.”

“From the start… what do you think your child is? I’ll say it again, children aren’t tools for adults.”

“A difference in ideology. But while the piece didn’t have to be Kiyotaka, for some reason he cleared every curriculum and became the one irreplaceable supreme masterpiece.”

The sheer force of this man’s ideology left even Korosensei speechless. This was probably where I needed to change the flow.

“So is that it? If you’re done, I’d like you to leave.”

“That’s fair. Then I’ll return to where I came from. Come with me, Kiyotaka.”

“My answer to that is… no.”

“…Kiyotaka. This is an order.”

“Your orders only mattered inside the White Room. I’ll continue the assassination here, as always. I’ll decide my own path.”

Satisfied at hearing my will, Korosensei was showing a perfect-score smile across his entire face.

“If I apply pressure, I could easily get you expelled.”

“There’s no need to worry about that. I will guarantee the students’ safety and ensure no unjust measures are taken by the government. Even with your connections, that won’t be easy.”

“And it seems the chairman here has taken an interest in me. I doubt he’d agree so easily… or will you forcibly take me back, guards included? That seems even harder.”

“…I’ll withdraw for now. Whether your assassination succeeds or fails, it’s all benefit for us.“

“Yeah, I already intended to.”

“And Korosensei, was it? I’ll give you one warning. Just as a rotten orange spoils those around it, choosing to leave Kiyotaka here will surely be something you regret. Monsters can’t become human.”

With that, the man left the two of us behind. In the silent staff room, Korosensei spoke.

“I finally understand how you were raised. I’ll be blunt, there was no love there. Sensei recommends cutting ties.”

“Please don’t pity me. And I feel nothing toward that man. But cutting ties with him is impossible. As long as I’m the White Room’s supreme masterpiece.”

“That aside, sensei was happy. That you properly put your will into words… you’ll keep coming to kill me as usual, right?”

“Of course. That’s why I’m here.”

And so my unexpected three-party meeting came to an end. Alone in the staff room, I thought about his words.

‘Grown weaker…’

My essence is still bound to the White Room, but today I realized, if only slightly, that I’ve begun to change. That’s thanks to my teacher and my classmates.

He dismissed it as weakness, but is it really degeneration, or is it evolution? I still don’t know. But whatever this change is, being outside his way of thinking doesn’t feel so bad.

As for the important issue of customer turnout at the festival, it seems Nagisa’s friend Yuji helped spread the word and customers are starting to increase. I was late, but I should head back to class.

* * *

Everyone desperately gathered ingredients when orders came in, cooked, sold and sold again when acquaintances showed up and by evening everyone was already exhausted.

“This is bad! We’re almost out of acorn noodles!”

“We sold more than expected…”

“But Class A should be earning even more…”

“The mountain side dishes are selling well too! Let’s hang in there with those for the remaining time!”

“If we go a bit deeper into the mountains, there should still be stock growing.”

“No, let’s stop here.”

“But then we can’t win, Korosensei.”

“It’s fine. If we take any more, we risk disrupting the mountain ecosystem. Every creature’s actions become bonds that turn into blessings. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? How many bonds you’ve been blessed with… Those who taught you, helped you, those you troubled, those who troubled you, rivals who competed with and supported each other.”

“Man, so this was a lesson again.”

“I wanted to win, but oh well.”

And so our school festival ended midway through the second day.

We didn’t surpass Class A, but we secured third place overall.