Mash Burnedead is indispensable to Kivotos. Without him, chaos worse than the Federal Student Council President's disappearance would erupt, potentially crippling the city. His achievements and ability to silence opposition with sheer strength make him vital. To students and citizens alike, he's cherished. But what happens when they learn he faced a life-threatening crisis?
This is the story of one such day.
"Work's tough like this."
"Like Rin-san said, shouldn't you rest until you're healed?"
"It'll pile up if I don't do it now."
"True, but…"
At Schale's office, Mash, fresh from resolving issues with the Supplementary Lessons Club, tackled routine tasks. His injuries from the fierce battle with Mika—bandaged head and chest, casts on his limbs—restricted his movement, making work cumbersome.
"Bones take a while to heal, huh?"
"If they healed in days, you'd be superhuman."
"First time I've been hurt like this… kinda new. I'll manage."
(Not the attitude of someone whose ribs nearly pierced their heart…!)
"Never seen Rin-san make that face before."
Yesterday morning, Mash returned to Schale on crutches. Rin Nanagami, waiting with paperwork, froze when she saw him.
"Good work, Sensei. Here's the backlog—… what?"
"Hey, Rin-san, long time no see. You dropped your papers."
"…Sensei… those injuries?"
"Oh, yeah, haven't reported yet. Got banged up at Trinity."
"…I see."
Mash hadn't told Rin about his injuries. The incident tied to the Eden Treaty, proposed by the Federal Student Council President, was sensitive. To avoid escalating tensions between Trinity and Gehenna, and because Mash didn't want to burden others with worry—a very Mash-like reason—he kept quiet. Rin's wide-eyed shock betrayed her struggle to process it.
"How did this happen?"
"Well… uh…"
"Something you can't say?"
"…Yeah. (Can't say I fought a student.)"
In a dream, Seia warned Mash of a grim future. Admitting "Trinity's student council president did this to me!" would spark outrage across Kivotos, jeopardize the Eden Treaty, and endanger students. His silence protected Mika and prevented chaos.
"…"
"…" (Avoids eye contact.)
"You're hiding something student-related, aren't you? You said Trinity. Unlike Abydos, Kaiser's influence doesn't reach there. It's a refined school, far from crime, though it has its share of tough fighters."
"Urk…"
"You're protecting someone—a student. You're too kind."
"…"
"You won't talk?"
"…Sorry, and please don't dig into it."
"…Fine, if you insist."
"Thank you…"
Later, as Rin left for work, she muttered, "Who did this…?" Her tone chilled Mash.
"She was furious I got hurt. Kinda happy, kinda sad."
"I was worried too, you know?"
"Sorry… didn't want to cause a fuss."
"If you'd relied on me, I could've protected you during that exam site explosion…"
"Sorry. I'll rely on you next time."
"You better! This super AI Arona is here for you!"
Arona's forced cheer echoed from the Shittim Chest. Mash vowed to trust her more.
Back to work. Today's duty…
Wait—duty?
"Hey, Arona-chan. What day is it?"
"Monday."
"—Oh no, this is bad!" Scramble!
"What's wrong?"
"Today, Hoshino and Shiroko from Abydos are coming to say 'good job at Trinity' or something…"
"Meaning?"
"Really bad."
Rin's dark reaction was bad enough. Hoshino and Shiroko, his close friends, could be catastrophic.
"I'll cancel duty—ugh, typing's slow with bandages… Gotta escape—"
Mash fumbled with his device, struggling to send a cancellation email. But then…
Click.
"Hey, Sensei! Been a while. Let's make cream puffs—… huh?"
"What's up, Shiroko—… what?"
"…Bad timing."
Abydos students Takanotsume Hoshino and Sunaoookami Shiroko burst in, humming. Shiroko's ears drooped at the sight of Mash's bandages and casts.
"…Sensei, what happened?"
"Uh, well…"
"Wrong question." Hoshino's laid-back demeanor vanished, replaced by the piercing gaze of "Horus of the Dawn." "Who did this?"
"Eep…"
(Hoshino-senpai evolved from Abydos Chill Uncle to Abydos Furious Horus!? Not cool…!)
"S-Sensei? A-Are you okay…?"
(Oh no, Shiroko's tearing up… and Hoshino's glare is sharper… This is bad.)
"It'd take a serious opponent to do this. Not Kaiser's automatons… a student, then."
(Gotta deflect.)
"H-Hoshino-san, me? Get hurt like this? No way!"
"Huh?"
"Just a prank! Gotcha!"
Lame excuse. Facing Horus of the Dawn, Mash's trembling and forced smile stood no chance against Kivotos's most intimidating student.
"Come on, Sensei, don't mess around."
"I was really worried."
"Sorry, got carried away seeing you guys."
"Really? That's sweet~ Hahaha!"
"Hahaha—"
"Think that'll fool us?"
"No way, Sensei."
"…Yeah."
"You wouldn't pull something that dumb."
Hoshino and Shiroko's piercing stares forced Mash to explain, but he omitted Mika's name.
"Hmm… Hmmm?"
"A-Are you mad?"
"Not at you. At that student."
"Oh… but it's resolved, so forgiving them isn't 'impossible'… urk."
Hoshino seethed, plotting retaliation despite Mash's pleas. Shiroko, near tears, touched his bandages, overwhelmed with worry.
"Why'd you fight so hard?"
"Had to stop them, or they'd be alone."
"Even getting this hurt? You didn't need to suffer like this…"
"I did the same to them. We're even."
"Kivotos people heal fast, but you don't… Please…"
Shiroko clutched Mash's clothes, eyes glistening. "Don't be reckless… don't disappear…"
"Same here," Hoshino added. "If you vanished, I couldn't go on."
"…I can't promise no recklessness, but I'll try."
"Don't forget you're human too, okay?"
"…Yeah."
For two hours, Shiroko clung to Mash's lap, and Hoshino, shield in hand, chatted while staying vigilant.
After they left, Mash typed with his left hand:
Returned to Schale yesterday. Duty roster paused for now. Sorry for the trouble.
"Perfect." Send.
Sinking into his chair, Mash grabbed a cream puff Shiroko made. As he bit—
CRASH!!
"…Huh?"
"Sensei!!—…!?"
Gehenna's Disciplinary Committee Chair, Sorasaki Hina, smashed through the window. Brandishing her Destroyer, she approached with murderous intent.
"Sensei… you're okay now…!"
"H-Hina-san—"
"Who did this?! I'll find them… make them pay!"
"Stop, Hina-san! I'm fine—'No way you're fine like that!' …Déjà vu."
Usually composed and strict, Hina was unhinged, ready to fire her gun in Schale.
"Bandages everywhere, casts—how is that fine!?"
"No bleeding, barely hurts. Look, I can eat cream puffs."
"Still…!!"
"You saw my email and rushed over, right? Thanks for worrying."
"Of course I worried… That email… I got scared. 'Something happened, Sensei's in danger!' I couldn't stay put… I was terrified!"
"…(Guilt.)"
"You're… really okay?"
"Absolutely."
"Good… thank goodness."
Calming down, Hina lowered her gun, breathing deeply.
"What happened? Given your recent work, it's Trinity-related."
"Lots of crazy, weird stuff."
"Can't tell me… or Gehenna? Eden Treaty-related?"
"…Yeah."
"You can't tell anyone?"
"…Yeah."
"If you're that set on silence, fine. I won't pry."
Hina shouldered her Destroyer and left through the broken window, heading back to Gehenna.
"Glad you're safe. I ditched work, so I'm heading back."
"Good… work?"
"Remember this, Sensei."
"Hm?"
"I'm a Gehenna student. Revenge comes naturally."
Leaving those words, Hina vanished. Mash muttered, "…Am I a dangerous guy?"
"I should escape."
"What!?"
"Or everyone'll react like that…"
"If you disappear, public safety and the students' mental states will collapse!"
"…True."
The office door opened again.
"Panpakapaa~… huh?"
"Hey, don't open the door like—… what?"
"Master~! Two maids and a cute hero—… huh?"
"…God, did I do something wrong?"
Millennium students—Neru Mikamo, Asuna Ichinose (C&C, third years), and Aris Tendou (Game Dev Club)—froze at Mash's state, then rushed him.
"What happened, Sensei?"
"Stuff."
"You're hurt? Master, this bad? A-Are you okay? Does it hurt? W-Wait… calm down…"
"I'm fine, Asuna-san."
"Something stronger than a final boss did this!?"
"Uh, yeah… maybe. (Good, Aris is her usual self.)"
Neru stayed calm, but Asuna was frantic, teetering on instability. Aris seemed cheerful, but…
"Don't worry, Sensei! Aris will defeat the secret boss who hurt you!"
"No, no, Aris-chan, you can't!"
"It's fine! Aris has been collecting battle data, training, and leveling up—secret bosses are no match!"
"That's not—!"
"Calm down, Aris."
"I'm always calm!"
"Then why's your face and grip like that?"
"…Huh?"
Aris's voice was bright, but her clenched fists and expression radiated uncharacteristic rage, a chilling madness behind her innocent facade. Asuna and Neru restrained her, calming her down.
"My party member was hurt… Aris can't forgive that!"
"I get it, I'm pissed too. But think—who could do this to Sensei? You think you can handle them?"
"…Well…"
"Master doesn't want revenge, Aris-chan."
"She's right. It's resolved."
"…Aris has regained sanity."
"Good. Man, you got wrecked, Sensei."
"Yeah…"
"Master, you're safe!!"
Aris grabbed Mash's clothes, feeling his warmth. Asuna hugged him, relieved.
"You won't say who did it, right?"
"Yeah."
"No point prying. But remember—you're more important to us than you think. To Asuna, C&C, and the Game Dev kid."
"…Got it."
"So… don't overdo it. Call us if it gets tough."
"Will do."
"Aris will help too! Bad guys hurting Sensei? Aris's light will blast them!"
"I'll help too! Want help now?"
"I'll pitch in. You probably overdid it, huh?"
"Ugh…"
"Rely on us. Show me those papers."
"Thanks, Neru-san."
"No biggie."
They finished work, chatting over cream puffs about Game Dev Club antics and Yuuka's lectures. Other students visited, all saying, "Don't be reckless."
But for Mash, avoiding recklessness wasn't an option.
"I'll be… moderately reckless."
Exhausted, Mash reflected. "Aris's anger was new… scared me."
"Neru-san and Asuna-san were intense too."
"Gotta avoid injuries."
Hoshino, Rin, Hina, Aris, and Neru showed similar emotions; Asuna and Shiroko, a different kind. Shaken, Mash sank into his chair.
"Wonder if Grandpa would make that face too."
"He'd be sad."
"Yeah… maybe more strength training."
"Stronger than now?"
"Yup."
"How strong?"
"Swimming the ocean with a continent as a float?"
"What are you aiming for…?"
Joking but serious, Mash resolved to train harder once healed to avoid injuries.
"For now… rest. See you later, Arona-chan."
"Okay!"
Mash powered off the Shittim Chest, lying on the sofa, hoping to see Seia in a dream.
Click!
Another interruption—the fourth. Fate seemed to toy with him.
Rikuhachima Aru, president of Gehenna's Problem Solver 68 and Mash's peer, burst in.
"Sensei! I saw your email—… what?"
(Déjà vu. How many times now?)
Aru rushed to the bandaged Mash, sprawled on the sofa, her face paling.
"S-Sensei…? What's with… these injuries!?"
"Long story… Hey, Aru-san, long time no see. How's it going?"
"Nothing new—wait! You're what's new! What happened!? Something big enough to do this to you…?"
"Yeah."
"You… were reckless, huh?"
"…Yeah."
"How's the injury?"
Mash sat up, explaining lightly, "No big deal." But his fractures and bruises were severe, far from trivial.
"No danger to my life."
"I trust you're tough, but…"
"See? I can eat cream puffs, do one-handed handstands, and train."
"You're injured!"
"My heart's healthy."
"That's not the point!"
"I'll get tea—'No!!'"
"Don't move! What if it worsens!?"
"But—'No buts!'"
"You're injured, so stay put and rest. Got it?"
"…Yeah."
Aru pinned Mash to the sofa and headed to the office's kitchenette, grabbing a teapot, cups, and Nagisa-supplied tea leaves. Mash watched her.
"Nice cups… like this, right? Heh, I'm good." Pose.
(Aru-san's cool like this… gap moe? She's pretty, too.)
Aru's expression shifted. Sweat beaded, her body trembled. Mash started to rise.
(Why isn't the color changing? It should steep like this…!) "Oh no! This is water, not boiled!"
"Aru-san?"
"Wait, Sensei! I'll make perfect tea—Splash! Oh no, I spilled it!?"
"Calm down."
"I'm calm! Just wiping the tea—Slip! Eek!"
"Oof."
Spilling the "tea" (water with leaves), Aru slipped while wiping it, her cup hitting Mash's forehead.
"Why does this happen!?"
(That's so Aru-san. Calming, somehow.)
With Mash's help, they prepared tea and sat for a chat.
"So everyone reacted like that to my injuries…"
"Wow."
"Thought you'd do the same, Aru-san."
"Hah! I'm Rikuhachima Aru, Problem Solver 68's outlaw president! If you say you're fine, I believe you and act normal."
"You'd be popular if you're always like this."
"What!?"
Aru stayed her usual self, sipping tea and sharing Problem Solver updates. They talked as peers, not Sensei and student.
Hours later, as dusk fell, Aru prepared to leave.
"Call if you need anything. Special service for you, Sensei."
She left for her office.
On her way, Aru clutched her chest, suppressing dark emotions. She knew it was resolved, that Mash didn't care, but…
(Those injuries… saying he's fine? No way! That face…)
"There's no danger to my life."
(That wasn't my Sensei, Mash Burnedead. It was an adult lying to reassure a student… not a face a 16-year-old should make. Why, Sensei, why…!?)
Was it worry for Mash, anger at herself, or something darker? Aru gritted her teeth, nails digging into her palm, drawing blood. Words echoed in her mind:
He was abandoned. No black line birthmark—proof of magic.
Sensei can't use magic, so his parents abandoned him?
In my world, magic is everything. Those without it have no worth, no right to live… seen as forsaken by the gods.
Those like Mash, or who lose magic, are called 'magic-deficient.' Left alone, they're executed despite no crime.
"If there's a god… tell me—what did he do? Why this cruel fate? And Federal Student Council President—why burden him with an adult's responsibility?"
Aru walked on, muttering, "Why does Sensei always suffer like this…?"
"Maybe I'm imagining it… but Aru-san felt… like the others. Nah, stop thinking."
Mash downed his tea, checking the time: past 5 PM, dinner time.
"What to eat… oh, right, I'm like this. Delivery it is."
As he browsed a food app, a knock.
"Who's that? Come in~"
"Hey, Sensei! Long time—… whoa!"
"Mobue-chan, been a while."
After School Sweets Club leader Mobue entered, holding a box of cream puffs.
"Heard you got messed up."
"From who?"
"Tsurgi-san. Triko mentioned it too. She was crying, comforting a junior from the Supplementary Lessons Club. Thought she was tough, but she was shaken."
"Tsurgi-san said that? Gotta email her."
"Visit the shop too. The owner fainted hearing this."
"Wow."
"Came to share new cream puffs. Try 'em?"
"Of course, I'm hungry. Thanks, Mobue-chan."
"No prob."
The cream puff looked like a hard biscuit but had smooth custard. Mash gave instant praise.
"Delicious! Got a name?"
"Looks tough, but sweet inside. Not just a cookie puff—'Gap Moe Cream Puff'!"
"Amazing name."
"Thought it up all night. Got style, right?"
"Club leader for a reason. World-class."
"Stop, you'll make me blush… ugh, I'm failing."
"Hm?"
Mobue, cheerful until now, looked down, her tone serious.
"I owe you, Sensei."
"Owe?"
"Yeah. You helped a delinquent like me, supported my passions, found me a job. I'll repay that forever."
"No need."
"You were the first to care that much… You're special to me."
"That's awesome to hear."
"When I heard you were hurt bad, my heart stopped. I was terrified."
Mobue hugged Mash's scarred chest, trembling, sobbing.
"I'm so worried… I know you're strong, but… I'm scared! If this happens again… if you disappear…!"
"Mobue-chan…"
"Please… don't go…"
"I won't leave you all. Promise."
"Really…?"
"No plans to go anywhere. Can't promise no injuries, though. Some students carry pain I can't ease with words. If I can take their hurt by being their punching bag, I will. It's all my dumb brain can do."
"…"
"But I promise—I won't lose, and I won't die."
Mash gently patted Mobue with his bandaged hand. In Kivotos, staying unscathed as Schale's Sensei was impossible. But Mash could promise to never lose or die.
"Tell everyone—I won't die."
"Promise?"
"Yup."
"Break it, and I won't forgive you. I'll kill you if you die."
"Swear to God."
"Let me stay like this a bit."
"Okay."
Mobue clung to Mash until 7 PM, then returned to her dorm, leaving the office quiet.
"I won't lose. I won't die."
Mash steeled his resolve.
Footnote: Teapot and cups were an apology gift from Nagisa.
Enough seriousness! Next up, full-on comedy!!
Not much to add, but Little Bro and Sis Sensei asked about:
"Shun Sunohara… there's a kid with the same name, right? Super cute."
"Big Shun-chan… not married, right? Lolis are great, I'm all for lolis or shotas."
"That kid drank a potion at an event and shrank."
"Like Conan!"
That event was wild.
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