CHAPTER 9 - December Decision (3)

[MAKING THE DIFFICULT CHOICE]

When Kaede Kayano had taken an attempt on Korosensei's life, it was revealed that her real name was Akari Yukimura, the younger sister of Class 3-E's previous homeroom teacher, Aguri Yukimura. She was once a talented child actress before becoming dormant in the industry so that she could enact her revenge for her sister's death by using the tentacles that Korosensei has and that Itona had.

The revelation of her true identity has impelled Korosensei to disclose his past to everyone. He told them that he was once a human – an assassin – who had become a lab rat in an experiment as a result of his apprentice's betrayal. There, he met Aguri who has taught him compassion and kindness up to her last breath. Because of her, her final wish, he has decided to teach and help the students of Class 3-E in her stead.

Who would have thought that knowing about their target's past would drive them into a predicament? That is...

... to kill or to save their teacher?

Everyone has been spending their winter break weighing on these two options. Realizing that there was more to just killing their teacher with the things he has done for them and the memories they have shared, they started to consider the possibility of saving Korosensei – especially Nagisa.

One night after another uneventful day, Hayami called Chiba on his phone. She asked to meet since she needed the company and some share of insights with her partner.

"Where can we meet?" she asked, a tinge of weariness in her husky voice.

Chiba glanced at the wall clock of his room, telling him that it was already half an hour before midnight. "I'll think up of something," he said. "For now, go to sleep."

"You too."

"Mm." He could hear her stifling a yawn from the other end. Although she could not see it, he smiled. "Good night."

"Night."

The next morning, he sent her a message suggesting to clear their heads in a shooting range center. And she liked the idea.

***

Pulling the trigger repeatedly at the targets before them, Chiba could feel the release of stress that had been tampering with his mind for the past week. Even Hayami was able to gather her thoughts but she has yet to make her final choice.

After using up all of her ammo, she slumped down on the ground while he followed her lead. She lowered her pistol in between her thighs as she asked in a soft tone, "What if we can save Korosensei?"

"We can't take the risk." He hugged his rifle to his chest. "If we don't kill him when the deadline comes, the explosion will destroy the earth."

She could not agree with him more. "And we formed a bond because of the assassination. It would all be a waste if we try to change that," she added.

"If we want to truly 'graduate', killing him would be the best way to do it," said Chiba before both of them got up on their feet.

Despite everything that Korosensei has taught them – the lessons he has endowed – they knew that nothing was going to change the fact that he was their target right from the start. That's why they should not change their objective now. For sure, he would also want that.

HAYAMI: Not only for ourselves and the whole planet...

CHIBA: ... but also for him...

HAYAMI & CHIBA: ...We will land the sure kill!

As they began to finish each other's sentences, they raised their guns in unison and aimed them once again at the clean-slate targets. Declaring their final statement together, they pulled their triggers at the same time, both pellets piercing through the bullseye of their respective targets.

'Perfect shot.'

***

With their standpoint on the assassination all straightened out, the two snipers deemed it a good time to take a leisure walk on the streets. They passed by the riverbank where the sun crest over the horizon, the orange afterglow overlaying the cloudy sky.

Hayami stopped before facing the view. "Three months left," she muttered particularly to herself.

After catching her words, Chiba looked at her brooding face over his shoulder. He replied, "A lot happened."

This year was not just their last year before entering high school. There were a lot of words to describe what they have gone through but they could simply say that it was mainly filled with striving, suffering, and success. Both losses and victories were shared in this class. They have certainly grown not just as assassins but as themselves too.

Now that the deadline was coming near, it was clearer to them that they would need to make their remaining time count.

Even if they would have to kill the very best thing that happened in their lives.