Afterward, Kaede met the school principal for the first time. On his face, she faintly perceived centipedes crawling in the darkness.
Of course, Kaede knew that this was merely an effect the other party was projecting onto her. She knew how to use such influence herself, though she usually minimized it so that others wouldn't notice.
Of course, she could also go all out. When she did, a dragon's phantom would appear behind her in everyone's eyes. Yes, it was a phantom, but to others, it appeared almost like a materialized giant dragon.
However, even after witnessing this, Kaede had no interest in the principal; as long as he didn't provoke her, it would be fine.
That was what Kaede thought.
However, what on earth was going on with what happened next?
Every day when Kaede arrived, she fell into silence as she looked at the snacks piled up on her desk.
"Hehe, Kaede, these are just extra snacks from our homes. You seemed to like them, so we brought them over," Maehara Yuto said with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah, I gave the chocolate balls here," the little chubby student, Kimura Masayoshi, added from the side.
"Kaede, don't be shy, just accept them!"
"..."
Kaede sighed, then smiled. "Mm, I'll eat them all."
Well, that was Kaede's response, and it left the whole class stunned for a moment. They had expected her to thank them, but this answer—truly, as expected of Kaede!
Her response was just so unique, yet after their initial shock, everyone burst into laughter.
"Kaede is really popular~" Shiota Nagisa watched this scene, his eyes narrowing as he smiled. He had also contributed some snacks; although they weren't expensive, they were a gesture of his sincerity.
He and Kaede had always been closer, but Shiota Nagisa had no complaints about this. After all, compared to how things were before, he hoped Kaede would be accepted by everyone, and it seemed that had now been achieved.
However, this was only natural. Although she hadn't shown it at first, once she did, her unique charm truly made people admire and become fascinated by her.
Reliable, cool, and unexpectedly a total foodie. The first two traits inspired admiration, while the latter helped bridge the distance between them. It was wonderful~
However, not everyone thought like Shiota Nagisa. Terasaka Ryoma, for instance, was staring at Kaede with a gloomy expression.
"This kind of class... seriously, why? She's supposed to be an assassin, not acting like a foodie instead of doing her job properly? Tsk, staying in a class like this just makes me feel incredibly annoyed!"
"We're all just a bunch of underachievers, so why pretend to study hard? Underachievers should act like underachievers. What's the point of this cozy atmosphere?!"
"Annoying, it's just so annoying!"
Terasaka Ryoma narrowed his eyes.
"This is all that monster's fault! Before that monster arrived, I was always among a bunch of hopeless losers... It's all that monster's fault!"
So, if that monster disappeared, the class would return to how it was before! I could go back to being with a group of hopeless losers!
Terasaka Ryoma looked at the vial in his hand, a strange smile quietly spreading across his lips.
As for Kaede, although she felt an uncomfortable gaze, she didn't dwell on it; she wasn't narcissistic enough to believe that everyone would accept her.
What was she doing now? She hadn't been lying, so she was currently polishing off the food on her desk.
The speed at which she ate made Akabane Karma, who was sitting next to her, break into a cold sweat. Watching Kaede eat, he couldn't help but feel that no matter how much they gave her, she would be able to finish it all.
"Is this really worthy of the world's third-ranked assassin..."
Ranking, my foot! Akabane Karma roared internally. Although roaring didn't fit his personality at all, it was the only word that could express his current feelings.
What does being an assassin have to do with eating! I haven't seen Professor Bitch eat that much! Isn't Professor Bitch also a top-tier assassin?
Just then, a scent drifted over, and it seemed something had happened over there.
A fair amount of white gas drifted over. Kaede quickly finished the snack she had opened, stowed the rest inside her desk, then stood up and looked toward where the incident was taking place.
Her movements were fluid and seamless, without a hint of hesitation, leaving Akabane Karma dumbfounded.
Well, Akabane Karma could only admit that he was truly impressed by the assassin sitting next to her. She was... just too amazing, in every respect!
"Terasaka-kun! You must stop causing trouble in class!"
At that moment, Koro-sensei's voice reached the ears of the students who didn't know what was happening, including Kaede.
"Don't touch me, you monster!"
"You're disgusting, you monster! And Class E, being manipulated by this monster and acting all chummy with it—you're all the same!" Terasaka Ryoma glared at Koro-sensei, fiercely roaring out his inner dissatisfaction.
"Why are you so unhappy?" Akabane Karma listened to Terasaka Ryoma, a smile playing on his lips. Although Terasaka Ryoma's words annoyed him, Akabane Karma was Akabane Karma; he wouldn't easily reveal his anger—well, except when facing certain special people.
However, Terasaka Ryoma's words caused the entire class to fall silent.
"What's your problem? You looking to fight, kid? I've hated your guts from the very beginning!" Terasaka Ryoma was like a hedgehog; once touched by Akabane Karma, he lashed out wildly at him.
However, Akabane Karma didn't waste any words on Terasaka Ryoma. He simply grabbed Terasaka Ryoma's head with one hand. Even though Terasaka Ryoma was taller than him, at that moment, Akabane Karma looked as if he were looking down on him.
His crimson eyes glinted, and a slight smile played on his lips.
"That won't do, Terasaka. If you really want to fight, you should talk less and go for the kill more!"
Terasaka Ryoma had already been startled by Akabane Karma, and his words only unnerved him further. But the sense of annoyance welling up inside him gave him the strength to exert force and break free from Akabane Karma's grip.
"Let go! This is so boring!"
As he said this, Terasaka Ryoma tried to rush out of the classroom, but a figure appeared before him.
It was Kaede, holding the box of insecticide and staring at Terasaka Ryoma.
"W-what are you doing?" Although Kaede didn't project any imposing aura, Terasaka Ryoma's voice trembled unconsciously, and he suddenly seemed to lose his nerve.
"I'd like to ask, what is this?" Kaede asked, tossing the object in her hand.
"That... that's just some ordinary insecticide," Terasaka Ryoma said, averting his gaze.
"...Look into my eyes and tell me, what is this really?" Kaede looked at Terasaka Ryoma with indifference, as if looking at a dead man, and it was precisely that gaze that struck fear into him.
You monster!
"I..." Terasaka Ryoma took a deep breath, "Why should I tell you!"
Then Terasaka Ryoma bypassed Kaede and ran out.
Kaede did not stop Terasaka Ryoma, because from his final reaction, she already knew the answer.
At first, she only saw a trace of joy hidden in Terasaka Ryoma's eyes; why was he happy?
Being lectured by Koro-sensei is not a pleasant thing, so the only possibility was that there was something fishy about what just happened, but Kaede wasn't sure, so she tested it, and the result...
"Koro-sensei, it seems you need to be a little careful." Kaede said indifferently, then returned to her seat.
"Impressive, Kaede." Shiota Nagisa looked at Kaede, having obtained the desired answer so simply; from Terasaka Ryoma's response, they could all be certain that the bottle of insecticide was definitely not simple.
Koro-sensei also narrowed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought.
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