CHAPTER 11 - Forever February (4)

[STOLEN MOMENTS REVEALED]

Since Korosensei was not included in the class graduation album, he became dead set in making one besides the school's publication. This meant something unorthodox again which was already the norm in Class 3-E, where the students were assigned to kill their teacher by March.

Only a few weeks away from their deadline.

At first, the whole class was not motivated to take part in another of their teacher's frolics. But when Korosensei showed Hayami a picture of her in a pet shop wearing an elevated expression as she rubbed her cheek to a kitten followed by those of her other classmates, which were embarrassing and meant to be kept private, it was now clear to them that they have to participate in the editing.

"Everyone look for your photos! Grab and throw them away!"

All except for Karma scrambled to the stockpile of photos to discard shreds of evidence of their humiliating moments. Hayami could not believe her eyes when she saw another photo of her pursuing a cat, looking like a pervert. She immediately tore it into pieces before anyone noticed.

Likewise, Chiba was shaking as he stared at his picture walking to school with bed hair, his mouth wide open from yawning.

"Chiba and Hayami have gone out on a date?!"

All twenty-eight pairs of gazes darted towards Kimura, who was holding a photo showing the two snipers sitting face-to-face in a café. Nakamura, Terasaka, Kurahashi, and several more clumped around Kimura to take a look.

Then Maehara cried out suddenly – "They went out more than once!" – and flipped towards everyone the second date picture of Chiba and Hayami in the cinema.

Everyone's faces were now filled with mischief as their heads rotated to the pair. Both Chiba and Hayami gulped tensely as they stepped backward away from them.

The two looked at each other – Let's get out of here – and nodded at once before dashing to the door.

While some were still caught up in the revelation of the sniper duo's dating status, discussing what-ifs and being hyped up that their ship has sailed, the rest went back to disposing of their pictures.

"Everyone, outside now!" Korosensei burst out as he wore an animal costume. "We need to add variety to our photos with some costume alterations!"

***

"That was close," Chiba breathed out as he glanced back at the building. "It would have been torture if they bombarded us with questions."

Hayami crossed her arms. "I had a hunch that Korosensei was following us on our 'appointments' but I never thought that he would be taking photos," she said.

When their classmates had collectively emerged from the entrance, Chiba turned over his shoulder and flinched. "What are they doing outside?" he asked.

She merely shrugged in reply just as their yellow octopus teacher gave them a small fright from the tree branch above.

"We are having a photo shoot to add to my collection for the graduation album. You two are joining," Korosensei told them.

"Pass," said Chiba.

Hayami was about to say "Me too" when she was cut off by the tentacle worming around her torso and Chiba.

"I'm sorry. You don't have much of a choice." Korosensei snickered deviously before taking them to where their classmates were.

They have been trying out various themes for their costumes until Korosensei thought of dressing the pairings in class into matching outfits for matchmaking purposes and as a reference for his novel.

While Korosensei was busy multi-tasking the photoshoot and the boys' costumes, the girls went inside the classroom to change. Upon finding out what they were going to wear, some of them voiced out their complaints.

"I don't want to wear that!" Hayami refused as she edged further to the back of the room.

Lifting the maid costume in her hands, Nakamura said with a sneer, "Why not? It'll look good on you."

Hayami shook her head violently, using her arms to shield herself.

'This was ridiculous. Why on earth would I –'

"Touka. Kurahashi. Back me up please," Nakamura called out over her shoulder.

Emerald-eyes widened at the brunette in a ponytail and at the orange wavy hair, who were both closing in on her like predators. She tried to plead with her gaze to which they responded with apologetic smiles. But behind their façade, she could see two horns growing each from their heads.

Hayami gritted her teeth and braced herself for what was to come.

"You look so kawaii, Haya-chan!"

"It fits you perfectly."

She squirmed sheepishly beneath the frilly costume as she fiddled with it. She was not one to put on this type of clothing because it was eye-catching and 'too cute'. It did not suit her personality and taste as well.

Nakamura placed one hand on her hip as she leaned to the sniper's ear. "You know who else will think you're cute?" she whispered.

As an answer to her question, the blonde prankster added, emphasizing every syllable – "Chi-ba-kun."

Turning her head away, a blush tainted Hayami's cheeks.

***

"Ah," both of them blurted out at the same time as soon as they saw each other in their costumes.

While Hayami was a maid, Chiba was clothed in as a butler. Sweeping her gaze around, she found that her classmates' outfits were also complementary – like Nagisa and Kayano as both devils.

Upon looking back at her partner, she stiffened when she had caught him eyeing her profoundly while holding his chin. "What is it?" she asked with reluctance.

"Cute," he mumbled, the word running out of his mouth before thinking twice.

She smiled, a bit red-faced at his subliminal compliment, and said, "You look good yourself too."

Then Korosensei appeared in front of them in a flash, together with his camera, after finishing assembling their props – a prearranged round table by Hayami's side as she held a ceramic teapot and a tray on Chiba's hand with a towel slung over his other arm.

A tentacle ready on the button, Korosensei barked out a few instructions for their pose before pressing it.

SNAP!