Archive of Our Own ^beta

Yamato Nadeshiko.

It's an expression that refers to the traditional Japanese concept of "ideal woman." A pure and feminine woman. Kind, graceful, humble, patient, faithful... meek. Quiet. Shy. Keeps the house clean. Has many children. Respects her husband no matter what. Knows her place.

Yamato Nadeshiko.

It's often said that this type of woman is becoming extinct... that it's rare to find a woman who embodies these characteristics these days. But there's a girl at Kunugigaoka Junior High School who fits that description perfectly:

[Name] Funakoshi.

She was the very image of the ideal. Her posture was impeccable, her smile always gentle, her gestures soft, her eyes downcast when she spoke to teachers, yet firm enough to keep her classmates' attention. She had impeccable grades, enviable artistic skills, and an equally impeccable reputation.

Every girl wanted to be like her. Every boy wanted to have her by his side. And, of course, Gakushu Asano, the Student Council president, 'direct heir' to the whole school, made no effort to hide his gaze. He chose her as his debate partner, praised her public performances, discreetly accompanied her to school events...

There were rumors that the two were engaged — an unspoken hint that she was "promised" to him. A future of prestige, power, and perfection awaited her. The perfect wife for the successor to Principal Gakuho Asano's academic empire.

But, like flowers in autumn, in the third month of the school year, everything began to crumble.

"She's not as pure as she seems. I saw her enter a room alone with a teacher and—"

The rumor rose like smoke: invisible and… suffocating. [Name] heard it for the first time in the girls' locker room, coming from a hushed conversation behind a door. The first crack in her perfect wall.

She ignored it. It was just malicious gossip, and people like her… were above that, right?

But the smiles began to fade. First, from her classmates. Then, from the teachers. The letters and even notes of admiration stopped. The compliments vanished. Gakushu stopped greeting her. In fact, he began acting as if she didn't even exist. If they passed in the hallway, he would look away as if she were an insect.

[Name]'s grades began to slip. How could she stay concentrate? How could she maintain her practiced smile when people's eyes turned to blades? How could she maintain her grace... when no one believed her graceful anymore? And then came the verdict.

Transfer. Class 3-E.

What remained of her dignity, she buried there.

(...)

The sudden transfer of someone had Karasuma tearing his hair out. Great. Now he had to explain and submit another student to this situation. He stared at the official sheet of paper in his hands, the cold 'handwriting' of Principal Gakuho Asano perfectly aligned.

"Funakoshi, [Name]."

Karasuma stared at the paper for too long.

"Funakoshi…?! How??" he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowed.

The school had a very specific type of student who ended up in Class E, and Funakoshi clearly didn't fit into any of them.

"What kind of nonsense has gone on behind the scenes at this school now?" he thought irritably.

Because Karasuma had managed to read that system in just a few days with an expertise only an agent like him could muster. And of course, he'd gotten glimpses of the 'other side of the fence' where the supposed 'elite' lived. It was impossible not to hear about [Name] Funakoshi if you spent fifteen minutes in that part of campus. It was enough for him to know that Class E wasn't where someone like her would normally transfer to.

There was something going on. Something bad. He sighed, slamming the records folder shut with more force than necessary. This is going to give him headaches for the rest of the year.

(...)

The day before her first class in 3-E, [Name] was taken to a room where Karasuma and some other government officials briefed her on the situation. She was incredulous and terribly frightened, of course, but she had to accept it quickly, even callously, if she could say so.

"Alright, everyone!" Koro-sensei exclaimed, his cheerful, bouncy voice filling the room. His tentacles fluttered in the air, dancing excitedly. "Before we start class, I have a surprise for you guys!"

The students of 3-E glanced at each other, some curious, others simply bored, accustomed to the eccentricities of their unusual teacher.

"We'll have a new classmate!" Koro-sensei continued, that smile wide and permanent. "A student who transferred from Class A!"

Now that was news.

A buzz began to grow. It was almost impossible for anyone there to imagine who could be so "prestigious" as to come from Class A... and now be in the same classroom as the rejects. The more attentive ones exchanged surprised glances, some frowned, and others quickly began to speculate quietly.

"Who could it be?" Kayano murmured, whispering to Nagisa.

"Someone who was in the elite... to end up here must have been serious," Maehara murmured to Isogai, who nodded.

Koro-sensei raised a tentacle to indicate the door. "She's almost here! Let's give a warm welcome to... [Name] Funakoshi-san-deeeesu!"

The door opened slowly and creaked loudly. [Name] entered, her hesitant footsteps trying to sound firm, echoing through the room. Her impeccably ironed uniform seemed out of place in Class E's simple classroom.

The room fell into absolute silence. Wide-eyed eyes, mouths agape, disbelief visible on every face.

Funakoshi? In 3-E? Impossible.

She bowed elegantly, head bowed and hands clasped in front of her, full of dignity expected of someone from Class A… except she was in Class E. "It's a pleasure to meet you…" Her voice was soft, graceful. "I hope we have a great year together."

Koro-sensei, however, noticed every nuance in her posture. The struggle to maintain her composure, the fear disguised as eloquence, the flicker of hesitation in those eyes that were supposed to encompass confidence.

"Well done, class!" he exclaimed again, clapping his tentacles. "Let's welcome our new star with much affection! Show us how we should greet a new student!"

The students looked at each other, most in confusion, before slouching from their desks. "Welcome, Funakoshi-san!" Their unison was slurred, as if they didn't quite know how to say such a sentence. The only ones who didn't stand were Terasaka and his group, and of course, Karma, but, oddly enough, they joined in the chorus.

"Okay, Miss Funakoshi, you can sit down..." Koro-sensei scanned the room and noticed there wasn't a single free chair. But that wasn't a problem at all. In the blink of an eye, he grabbed an extra desk and tossed it next to Karma. "Next to Karma-kun over there!"

"That desk... was it there before?" she wondered, a invisible drop on the forehead, but she thanked the teacher and obediently walked to sit.

As she sit down, [Name] could feel the gaze of all the students on her. She tensed, her fingers clenching the fabric of her uniform skirt, hiding her nervousness behind a facade of impeccable posture.

This kind of attention... would normally be a source of pride for her. But honestly, after everything that had happened, she was terrified. She was sure everyone there already hated her. Maybe they saw in her the symbol of the system that despised them. Maybe they knew the rumors. Maybe they laughed at her inside.

But the reality was the opposite. The students of Class 3-E weren't judging her. There was no contempt in those looks. Just... curiosity. After all, it was rare for someone "from above" to fall straight to "rock bottom" like that. She was the kind of person they only saw from a distance, untouchable, unreachable. And now she was here. Among them. In the flesh.

"Who would have thought, huh?" said a relaxed voice beside her. [Name] turned her head slightly.

Karma Akabane.

Akabane was a popular figure on campus. Infamous might be the better word. Always getting into trouble. And that was why he was in Class 3-E. Not for lack of intellect... far from it, actually. But because he'd accumulated days and days of suspension like trophies.

He had what could only be described as a teasing, lazy smile on his lips. His eyes were half-closed like a cat's who discovered a new toy. "It seems like a castle has collapsed... welcome to Class E," he added casually, resting his chin on his hand and looking at her with genuine... amusement?

[Name] arched an eyebrow slightly. The statement itself was odd — but it didn't seem mean. There was a dry humor there. A challenge, perhaps. "You're quite... direct," she said softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "But thanks for the 'welcome'..."

He was inwardly surprised. Maintaining a witty retort in that situation was something few could manage.

"Don't take it personally. Here, honesty is paramount." He gave her a crooked smile.

Koro-sensei appeared between them like a yellow blur, separating them with one of his outstretched tentacles. "Karma-kun, Funakoshi-san, no romance in the first period!" he said. "Save it for after break!"

[Name] blushed, stuttering. "Oh my— I'm so sorry, professor!! W-we weren't—!" But he was already in front of the board, resuming whatever explanations he'd been making, leaving her steaming in embarrassment while Karma seemed unperturbed enjoying the situation, staring directly at her.

Just a few minutes into class, [Name] had already realized something unexpected: Koro-sensei was, in fact, a surprisingly good teacher.

His voice had a rhythm that made it easy to understand. He was clearly very knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, able to connect complex concepts with practical examples. In no time, Koro-sensei was able to explain to [Name] the accumulated material from the previous two months clearly and efficiently, as he had simplified the entire content especially for her.

Near break, Koro-sensei signaled the bell and flew like a yellow missile toward the faculty room —probably to devour an absurd amount of candy.

The students began to organize themselves to lunch time, and [Name] discreetly took her own bento from her bag. But before she could open it, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned, a little surprised, and came face to face with Kaede Kayano.

The girl had a slight blush on her cheeks and a somewhat shy smile, as if she were about to break through an invisible barrier. "H-hi, Funakoshi-san. Can we sit here?" she asked, gesturing to the empty seats around her. Behind her stood Rio Nakamura, Okuda, Yukiko Kanzaki, and Toka Yada, all with curious eyes.

[Name] blinked. "Hello... of course," she replied gracefully and softly, with a small smile. It was enough to make the girls' eyes light up, enchanted by her delicate aura.

"Ahhh, your hair looks so soft and beautiful!" Toka exclaimed, without even thinking.

"I swore you'd be more... mean," Nakamura commented, resting her chin on her hands and looking at her with interest. "I think I lost that bet."

"Nakamura-san!" Kayano scolded her with an embarrassed nudge on the arm.

"It's okay," [Name] replied calmly. "I... understand where that impression comes from."

Kanzaki quickly intervened. "I bet it must be confusing for you... getting into this murder thing all of a sudden."

[Name] hesitated for a moment, looking at her own bento as if it were about to give her an answer. "Oh, well, yes... it was scary when they told me," she confessed. "I thought it was some kind of sick prank. And when I realized it was real... that you guys really are trying to kill the teacher... but I guess, just like you all, I'll have to get used to it, right?"

"You'll get used to it sooner than you think." Rio nodded.

"I-I hope so..."

Koro-sensei pulled them out of the conversation by poking his head around the classroom door. "Students, I advise you to finish your meals a little faster today! You'll have an assassination fitness class with Karasuma-sensei soon!"

"Assassination fitness... class?" That was literally the only sentence [Name] could hear from that entire speech.

She doesn't... know if she'll get used to it that easily...