"This way?" Mash asked.
"Y-Yes, that's right…" a Chimi Troupe member stammered.
"Man, I'm pumped," Mash said, cracking a faint smile. "Gonna show off a new move."
*(Eek!?) * the troupe members thought, exchanging nervous glances.
"Oh, I forgot to ask," Mash said, turning to them. "Why'd you take a job to ruin the festival?"
"F-For the money…" one admitted hesitantly. "And, well…"
"Well?" Mash prompted.
"They… said stuff like, 'Delinquents like you can't enjoy a festival. What's the point of watching others have fun when you can't?'"
"And?" Mash pressed, his tone calm but piercing.
"At first, we were mad, y'know? But… what they said kinda made sense. If we can't enjoy the festival anyway… why not just wreck it?"
"I see," Mash said. "But you guys want to enjoy the festival, right?"
"I-If we could… yeah," another mumbled.
"Then I'll make it happen," Mash said firmly. "The festival belongs to everyone."
"B-But we've caused so much trouble…" one protested.
"Sure, you've made a mess," Mash acknowledged. "So I'll apologize with you. It's a festival—everyone should get to have fun."
"Teacher…" the troupe members murmured, touched.
"But brace yourselves for Shizuko's iron fist," Mash added. "She's probably gonna let you have it."
"Ugh…" they groaned, wincing.
"Anyway, for now…" Mash tapped at his device. Tap, tap.
With guns trained on him, the Chimi Troupe led Mash toward their employer. Honestly, they figured it'd be better for them if Mash just took the guy out, so they hurried along.
"—We brought him," one announced.
"Well done, Chimi Troupe," a voice purred from the shadows. "Not bad at all. I'll make sure your reward is generous."
"Yeah," Mash said, unfazed.
"Hmph. I can't believe those higher-ups gave authority to a kid like this," the voice sneered. "What a joke."
"…Nyan Tenmaru?" Mash asked.
"Heh, sorry to disappoint, but that's a fake name," the voice chuckled.
With a patter of footsteps and a sinister chuckle, the mastermind behind it all—the villain of this tale—emerged from the darkness.
"I am the one who hired the Chimi Troupe, planned to sabotage this festival, and set it all in motion… Nyate Masam—!"
SLAP!!
"NYAOW!?"
Mash's hand connected with a resounding slap, sending Nyate Masamune sprawling, nose bleeding.
"Wha—!?" the Chimi Troupe gasped.
"Gah…! You—! What's the meaning of this!?" Nyate sputtered, clutching his face.
"Just punishing a bad guy," Mash said plainly.
"At least let me finish my speech!" Nyate roared. "Who ignores a villain's monologue and just slaps them!?"
"I didn't punch you. It was a slap," Mash corrected.
"It's the same thing!!"
The Chimi Troupe, despite themselves, helped Nyate up, concerned. Slapping a cat might look like abuse on paper, but Mash didn't bat an eye.
"Ugh… fine," Nyate growled, dusting himself off. "I'm not your typical comic-book villain. I'll make you regret this. Hand over your device."
"Here," Mash said, tossing it over.
"Huh? That easily…?" Nyate blinked. "W-Well, then… let's bind you with chains!"
"Go ahead," Mash said, crossing his arms behind his back.
"Stop being so compliant!" Nyate snapped. "Whatever! Tie him to the pillar—tight!"
"Y-Yessir," the troupe mumbled.
With apologetic looks, the Chimi Troupe wrapped Mash in chains, binding him tightly to a pillar. Nyate cackled, sauntering closer.
"Now you can't escape or call for help… all alone—or perhaps a moth drawn to the flame?"
"Guess so," Mash said, playing along.
(Can some iron chains really stop this Teacher?) the troupe thought skeptically.
(That guy totally wasn't listening to us.)
(Probably heard us but didn't believe it.)
(I get why, but…)
Bound to the pillar, Mash put on a half-hearted "oh no, I'm done for" act. As if chains could hold him. Foolish.
Nyate, who'd heard the troupe's warnings but laughed them off, was utterly convinced of his victory.
(Teacher… how could you get caught so easily? There's no way you'd lose…) Izna, watching stealthily from the shadows, fidgeted with worry.
"Why are you doing this?" Mash asked.
"My goal is simple—money," Nyate said with a smirk.
"Money?" Mash echoed.
"The Byakuya Spring Cherry Blossom Festival… do you know how much cash flows through it every year?"
"Like… 30,000 yen?" Mash guessed.
"Are you mocking me!?" Nyate snapped. "It's massive, obviously! And yet, that money is controlled by the festival committee—those brats. It pisses me off."
"…Brats," Mash repeated, his eyes narrowing with a creak.
"They think they can make the festival 'wonderful'? Even going to Millennium for help?" Nyate scoffed. "If they'd left it to me, I'd have made way more profit!"
"So you're ruining the festival—everyone's joy—for that?" Mash asked.
"Exactly," Nyate said. "If the festival's canceled, those kids will have to step down. Then I, the head of the shopping district, will swoop in and take over. That's the plan."
"And for your own selfish greed… you used Izna-chan?" Mash said, his glare sharpening.
Nyate's eyes glinted. "Izna… oh, that self-proclaimed ninja kid? Yeah, she was useful. Didn't cost much, but she worked her tail off."
"…"
"I just played along a bit, and she was so easy to manipulate," Nyate said. "Her skills were worth ten of the Chimi Troupe."
"Played along?" Mash asked.
"Yeah, her childish ninja fantasies," Nyate sneered. "Magic ninjas? That's pure fairy-tale nonsense."
"Izna-chan's serious about her dream," Mash said, his voice steady.
"That's what made it so easy," Nyate laughed. "'As your employer, I command you!' or 'A ninja's duty is to obey!' Pfft, hahaha! Just thinking about it cracks me up!"
"So to you, Izna-chan was just… a convenient tool?" Mash asked, his tone darkening.
"Exactly! Cheap, gullible, and oh-so-helpful," Nyate cackled. "A real bargain!"
Clutching his stomach, Nyate laughed from the depths of his soul—so immaturely that even the Chimi Troupe cringed. Mash's anger flared, ready to burst.
"You used Izna-chan's dream… for money," Mash said.
"Dream?" Nyate scoffed. "You call that delusional nonsense a dream? You're quite the softie for someone with your power, Teacher."
(No… he said he'd support my dream, that he wanted me to shine as a ninja… was it all a lie to trick me?) Izna thought, her heart sinking.
"And you," Nyate continued, "you're a bit dim, aren't you? Knowing I was deceiving her, you still hung out with Izna. How foolish."
"Maybe so," Mash admitted.
"Ha, you get it," Nyate smirked.
"But that was my choice," Mash said. "Izna-chan had nothing to do with it."
(…!) Izna's breath caught.
"Let me say something," Mash said, locking eyes with Nyate. His voice was calm but unwavering. "Have you ever worked tirelessly, day after day, for a plan like this?"
"What?" Nyate frowned.
"Have you ever kept going, even when everyone told you it's impossible, that you should give up? Have you poured your heart into a goal, worked alone, pushed through no matter how others looked at you? Could you do that?"
"What are you babbling about?" Nyate snapped. "If something's impossible, I'd quit and face reality. Effort? What's the point? Taking the easy way is smarter. I'd outwit—"
"Then shut up," Mash cut him off.
"!?" Nyate flinched.
Mash, still bound to the pillar, his movements restricted, raised his voice. His usual polite tone shifted to something raw, direct. "Izna-chan's working her heart out for her dream, no matter what anyone thinks. She's giving everything to something amazing… and you dare call it a childish game?"
"I don't get it," Nyate said. "You're calling that pointless fantasy effort? Chasing a fictional ninja fairy tale? You're saying she should keep at it?"
"So what if it's a dream or fiction?" Mash said. "I don't think it's wrong to chase something you admire."
"We're not connecting here!" Nyate shouted. "Everyone's the same! I could run this festival better, make way more profit!"
"About that," Mash said.
With a creak-creak-creak, Mash spoke as if it were obvious, his tone matter-of-fact. "Students running a festival for everyone's sake versus an adult running it for their own profit… of course they'd choose the students."
"Guh…!" Nyate recoiled.
"Kids might be dreamers compared to adults, sure," Mash continued. "But what's wrong with that? Between someone who doesn't dream and someone who does… I think the dreamer's happier."
"Enough!" Nyate roared. "Talking to you is a waste of time! Give me a gun! I'll end this Teacher right—"
SNAP!
"…Huh?" Nyate froze.
"Finally free," Mash said, stretching. "That took a while."
"W-What… the chains… iron chains… broken… torn apart!?" Nyate stammered.
"You can shoot me if you want," Mash said casually. "But don't blame me for what happens next."
"Chimi Troupe!" Nyate bellowed. "Do something about him! I've got money!"
"Nope, no way," one said.
"What!?" Nyate yelped.
"No chance of winning," another said. "Yeah, we're done."
"Don't mess with me! After all I've paid you!?"
"You haven't paid us yet," one pointed out.
"And it's looking like you never will," another added.
"We're switching sides!" they declared.
"You traitors!!" Nyate screamed.
The tables had turned: Mash, the Chimi Troupe, versus Nyate Masamune. Honestly, victory seemed impossible for him.
"Then I'll use her!" Nyate snarled, turning. "Hey, Izna—!"
Snap!
"Izna-chan," Mash called.
"Yes! Teacher… no, my true lord!" Izna declared, stepping forward.
"Y-You! Since when!?" Nyate stammered.
"I've been watching the whole time," Izna said. "A ninja mustn't betray their lord—but if that lord is evil, Izna won't follow! The Teacher who supported my dream, who got angry for me… he is my true lord!"
"Ngh!" Nyate growled.
Izna pulled out an envelope and hurled it at Nyate. In bold letters, it read: Resignation Letter.
"Thank you for everything," Izna said. "But Izna's moving on!"
"You ungrateful—!" Nyate began.
"Who's the one repaying kindness with betrayal?" Mash shot back.
"Don't underestimate me, Teacher," Nyate hissed. "I planned for this! I hired another group of automata mercenaries. If the festival's ruined, I win!"
"Hmm," Mash said.
Suddenly, Nyate's device rang. Hesitantly, he answered, and a woman's voice came through.
"This is me! The festival's—'All the mercenaries you hired were taken out before they reached the academy.'"
"Who are you!?" Nyate demanded.
"Wakamo-chan did her job, huh?" Mash said.
"My beloved~♡ This Wakamo, as ordered, crushed all the other mercenaries and kept the festival safe~♡"
"W-Wakamo… the Calamity Fox!?" Nyate gasped. "Wait, you knew I hired others!?"
"I figured you'd pull something like that if you were desperate," Mash said. "That's all."
From a distance, the sound of running footsteps grew louder, followed by a shout that echoed through the air.
"NYATE MASAMUNE!!"
"K-Kawa Shizuko!?" Nyate paled.
"You've got some nerve!" Shizuko roared.
"We asked around, and you were the only suspicious one," Mimori said.
"Heard you tricked the Chimi Troupe too, huh?" Tsubaki yawned.
"No intention of paying them, just planning to brush them off like nothing happened…" another added.
"Unbelievable!" Shizuko snapped.
"And how dare you mess with Teacher!" another shouted.
"I'm fine, really," Mash said. "Now, then…"
The Training Club, Festival Committee, Chimi Troupe, Izna, and Mash versus Nyate Masamune. He was utterly cornered.
"A moth drawn to the flame," Mash said. "Your words, right? I'm throwing them back at you."
"N-No…!" Nyate stammered.
With a whoosh, Nyate turned and bolted. "Farewell!!"
"He's fast!?" Tsubaki gasped.
"Leave it to me," Izna said. "I've got a special ninja technique."
"Ninja technique?" Mash asked.
"Ninja Art! ✨"
Mash dug his hands into the ground, burrowing slightly. Then—
"Muscle Ninja Art: Earth Escape Technique—Hmph!" Zwoosh!
"He dove into the ground!?" the group gasped.
"Amazing! ✨" Izna cheered.
"Is that okay!?" Tsubaki asked.
Mash swam through the earth, closing in on Nyate. At the perfect moment, he burst out, grabbing Nyate's leg and yanking him into the ground, leaving only his upper body exposed.
"No running after all you've done," Mash said.
"W-Wait, Teacher, hold on!" Nyate pleaded. "Let's make a deal! Let me go, help me out, and I'll pay you whatever you want! Not a bad offer, right?"
"Money's nice," Mash admitted.
"Exactly!" Nyate said. "So—"
"Give me 10 billion yen," Mash said.
"…What?" Nyate blinked.
"Get me 10 billion yen, and I'll consider it," Mash said.
"Are you insane!? Who could prepare that kind of money!?"
"That festival's worth that much," Mash said. "No, it's not something money can buy. No matter how much you offer, I won't let you destroy it."
Soon, the others caught up. Shizuko, having overheard Mash's words, looked satisfied.
"You've caused a lot of trouble," she said. "Time for some punishment."
"Y-You're not gonna hit me, right?" Nyate stammered. "I'm an old man… and a cat! You wouldn't do something so cruel, would you?"
"You've got some nerve saying that," Shizuko muttered.
"If I hit you for real, you wouldn't survive," Mash said.
"R-Right?" Nyate said, hopeful.
"So we'll punish you another way," Mash said. "Izna-chan."
"Yes! Sakura daifuku, ready!" Izna said, holding out the treats.
"When did you—?" Tsubaki blinked.
Mash, holding the sakura daifuku, crouched in front of Nyate, who was still half-buried. "Alright, everyone, join in~!"
"Who're you talking to—Mmph!?"
"Sakura daifuku party~! Sakura daifuku party~! Sakura daifuku party~! Sakura daifuku party~! Sakura daifuku party~! Sakura daifuku party~!"
"Mmph! Mph—Gulp!" Nyate choked as daifuku was stuffed into his mouth.
Mash shoved sakura daifuku into Nyate's mouth at a steady pace, mercilessly, relentlessly. The sight was so bizarre that most onlookers were horrified—except Izna, who was furiously taking notes.
(The sweetness… spreading in my mouth… it's suffocating! But delicious! No, painful! But… tasty! I can't—my head's spinning, I can't think… pain… sweet… ngh…)
"AAAAAHHH!!" Nyate wailed.
And so, the villain was defeated, and the incident came to a close.
Eating ramen late at night gave the author some serious indigestion. Whoops.
And I can't help but feel… didn't they nerf the reconstruction event rewards a bit? Or is it just me? Sorry if I got that wrong.
Meanwhile, my newbie sibling-teacher is like:
"My stomach!! Feels great!!"
"Aren't these kids adorable!? Oh, Miyu's so cute! I want her as my daughter!!"
Sometimes I wonder if we're even related.
Comments and feedback are super appreciated! Check out my activity report too, please!
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