I open my eyes to see Tempera. “And so the hero awakens.”

“What happened?” I ask drowsily.

“You put your life at risk protecting your friend. And here I thought I was the only angel on campus.”

A dark figure approaches the hospital bed.

It’s the department head again. I think his name was VirtueVice.

I look up at him. “Were you the one who saved me?”

“I should have intervened sooner. My apologies.” He bows to me.

“Is StarBorne okay?”

Smiles appear on VirtueVice’s body. “You surrendered your life to protect the same person you tried to kill. You’re truly an enigma.”

“I didn’t plan it. Just sorta happened.” I scratch my head, accidentally agitating my wound.

“You’ve proven yourself worthy. I’ll be giving you special courses to refine your ability.”

“What ability? I just freak out and stab things.”

“Yet you do so without intention. Your attacks are unreadable. We will need to balance the muscle memory with proper accuracy and precision. Not all jobs have a single target. You could be our broad-spectrum assassin.”

I sit up despite the pain and stare at his blank face. “You really believe in me?”

“You’ve given me every reason to. You parents have already been informed that you will be spending the next year with me. As will BunBun.”

“BunBun? Not StarBorne?”

“All will be made clear soon enough. The results of the exam have been postponed it until you made a recovery.” VirtueVice casts his shadow over my head, forming it into a black crown. “You are going to be the idols of the school.”

“What about WarWolf? Will I still be able to see her? Did all my classmates make it out okay?”

“There were two casualties caused by your friend Goopy. All other students are either in recovery or back home. With exams over. The students have a week break before the test results are revealed. You’ve been out for ten days.”

“Did you find out who organized the attack on StarBorne?”

“Such information is classified.”

“Please don’t kill him. He’s not a bad person. He’s just confused.”

VirtueVice’s head coils up to me. “You don’t think he’s bad even though he’s a traitor.”

I shake my head. “Things aren’t so simple. He’s just lost and feels helpless.”

“That small sentiment could allow the small embers to burn down Isekai.” VirtueVice’s body moves like a flame.

“If you kill him, then I’ll kill myself too.”

VirtueVice’s head becomes a spear and presses against my chest. “You wouldn’t willingly throw your life away.”

“It’s not about him! His death would create a ripple that would destroy WarWolf’s life!”

“Loss can make an assassin stronger.”

“It won’t with her. She’ll shut down. She needs support.”

“The punishment has already been decided. Rest for now. Tomorrow you will return to school as a hero!”

Tempera rubs her finger on her tongue, heats it and then places it to my mouth. “Rest little angel.”

I awoke with less pain then before.

VirtueVice carves open a portal and guides me in.

I step out onto a stage. All the students of the school are standing at attention.

A RiftRipper with a bowtie comes to me from behind the podium. He takes my hand and carves into it with his golden blade, creating the Assassin Guild symbol. “Take a bow, Assassin Hero.”

I’m an assassin hero? But I didn’t do anything.

“That’s the School’s president, DeathDream. You should be honored to have his praise.”VirtueVice’s tendril slowly lowers my back.

My eyes water up. When I raise my head, I see nearly fifty students raising their hands in salute.

This is…real.

BunBun is at the front, blowing me kisses.

I catch one and hold it to my cheek.

Without her I would never have had the strength to get this far.

DeathDream turns to address the crowd. “Department Head VirtueVice will now proceed to give out the results of the exam.”

“Wait…I wanna say something.”

The Principal spits out a microphone from cloak and holds it to me.

“I’m really nothing special. I’m just a kid, like all of you. I got this far because my parents believed in me…and so did my dear friend.” I look at BunBun and blush. “My class inspired me with their dedication and skill. To be honest, there were many times where I felt out of place amongst them. I’m only here now because of others believing in me. My family gave me heroes to look up to and I hope that I can inspire you to aspire to be a great assassin hero too. Long Live Isekai!” I raise my hand with firmness.

Nearly everyone joins in.

They believe in me. Even if what they think isn’t true, the inspiration I’m giving…that’s real.

VirtueVice approaches the podium. “The final exam results have been tallied. I, along with department heads of three other branches, have examined each and every one of your performances. You’re not assassin’s yet so even if your team did not gain enough points, you may still qualify.”

The students murmur amongst each other.

“Before I reveal who passed, I want to inform you that the culprit who placed the false mission of killing StarBorne in the test sheets of certain students has been captured.”

I wipe my eyes to see WarWolf.

Her eyes water up despite her trying to stay strong.

“The culprits actions led to the death of two students and he alone is to blame. However if another student comes across anything suspicious and does not report it, then they will be excommunicated from the guild.” VirtueVice calms the ripples on his form. “Now, for the students who passed. The Assailants scored far beyond any team. They displayed remarkable bravery and teamwork. Weech, BunBun, StarBorne, WarWolf, BladEagle and Goopy…you’ve all exceeded expectations and passed the test.”

“I got her killed. I don’t deserve to pass!” yells Goopy.

“An assassin’s first mistake is often fatal. You’re lucky your mistake did not cost you your life. You are only undeserving of the passing grade if you do not use your failure as a springboard. Hold it close and let it temper your blade into one of glory.”

Goopy bows. “Thanks so much for accepting me.”

“I can only do so if you accept yourself. Before we reveal the other class that passed, I want to announce that my own record has been surpassed. She scored nine takedowns for a total of twenty-seven points. Not only is that the highest score this year. It’s the highest score of the decade. BunBun has scored more than any KIT in over a decade, taking out an entire team and a half using her stealth, kindness and pinpoint precision.” VirtuVice’s body bends till his head presses against the floor and disperses into a puddle.

BunBun overheats and faints.

I hop off the podium and lift her to her feet. I pat her cheeks until she comes back into awareness. “Are we really the stars of the school?” she asks, leaning on me.

The students mutter amongst each other.

WarWolf starts clapping and soon the entire school is cheering her on.

BunBun buries her face under my hands. “I…I couldn’t have done it without StarBorne…and my teacher, KillStreak!”

VirtueVice beckons KillStreak to the stage.

Teacher fumbles up to the podium. Turning into a ball and then reforming behind BunBun. He pats her. “I’ve never been prouder to be a teacher. There is no class I cherish more than the one I have now. We are family. I look forward to nurturing them for the next five years.”

VirtueVice nods to Teacher. “You’ve done a praiseworthy job. Now, I’d like to announce the second-place class. Stampede, a single member of your team moved beyond grief and put her life on the line to protect a fellow student. CamOctopus, BlasToad, ToxiCroak, WhipWasp, BongoBear and SnakeSword…you’ve all passed. CamOctopus has a speech prepared for everyone.”

She nods, wipes her tears and steps up. “BlasToad died never knowing friendship and BongoBear died never helping anyone but himself. I could have spoken to her, befriended her, but I didn’t want to get outcasted. I was a coward. We’re all assassins, whether we like it or not, we’re going to have blood on our hands someday. Let us remember those we lost. I ask that each of you make an effort to be kinder to your fellow KITs. Share a dream or a moment together. What happened to them could have happened to any one of us. We need to let go of grudges and jealousy and support each other. Darkness awaits us all, but while we live we can pass on our light to everyone. Goopy.”

He looks up, wiping the tears from his eyes.

“Come up here.”

He nods and walks up the steps.

“It’s not your fault they died.” CamOctopus embraces him. She looks out to the students. “No matter what class we belong to, we are all assassins, we are family!”

Sobs could be heard around the room.

To think she was so frightened before. CamOctopus has truly come so far and I…I helped her. That may never be in the stories they tell about me, but it’s special. It wasn’t a mistake or an automatic response. I chose to help her. My words inspired her and now she’s inspiring others.

The standout student of each class was told they had passed, along with a few others that made an impression. The new class rosters were revealed. The original six classes had been brought down to three. And StarBorne wasn’t in any of them. Instead CamOctopus was moved to our class. The top students from the classes that didn’t pass were moved into another class and the rest were moved into Stampede. The other students were informed that they would be put back into the beginner’s course and be given a chance to pass next year. Those involved in the attack against StarBorne were then brought to the stage.

VirtueVice circles around them as he talks. “A skilled assassin is worthless without loyalty. Whether you were deceived or not, the fact remains that you tried to kill your fellow student. CatBoys make sacrifices for power. They are the enemy.”

Wait so BladEagle wasn’t making that up?

VirtueVice opens his cloak and spits out a naked man.

I’ve never seen SparkuPine look so terrified and pathetic.

I notice WarWolf clenches BladEagle’s hand roughly and bites her lip.

I go to hug her but she stops me.

“He’s a traitor…he deserves this.” She says with deep sorrow in her eyes.

VirtueVice turns his gaze to WarWolf. “Indeed he is. Come to the stage.”

WarWolf nearly topples over as she climbs up.

Everyone’s eyes are on her.

“This man not only conspired against Isekai. He tried to murder your leader and he spread a lie to make innocent’s follow his mad quest.” VirtueVice sets a knife into her hands. “Show every student in our department that you are not your father.”

WarWolf’s hands tremble. “I’m…not…”

“Hush. Hush. No need for words. An assassin speaks through their blade.”

WarWolf presses the knife to his chest.

SparkuPine looks at her. “What will you do when you have your dream and nothing else?”

“The words of a traitor are weightless. They are dust. Gone and forgotten.” She cuts deep into her father’s emblem, defacing it with a second mark.

“Do you all know what your next final exam is? You’ll have to mmmmrph!” SparkuPine’s mouth is covered by WarWolf.

“Silence, traitor.”

“Well done.” VirtueVice puts a gag in SparkuPine’s mouth. He then pulls a whip out from the void in his chest and hands it to one of the students who tried to kill StarBorne. “His life is in your hands. Whip until you are satisfied. Release your anger so you may be centered once more.”

WarWolf cringed at each strike. Her father’s muffled screams rattled her body.

When the last student had finished lashing the traitor. WarWolf spit on her father and made her way back to us.

BladEagle offers her a hand and she whacks it aside.

“Don’t say…anything.”

VirtueVice ends the ceremony and students disperse. A heavy sense of dread weighs up on the room. He stops our class when we head to the exit.

BunBun raises her hand. “Where is StarBorne?”

“Being kept safe. You all need to be more vigilant than ever. Your lunch breaks and after school activities won’t simply be amongst the six of you, but rather the whole department. You’re stars now, idols to your fellow KITs. With that rank comes higher expectations. You’re all targets now and the true ringleader, the one who brought SparkuPine to the arena has yet to be uncovered.”

“It must have been a RiftRipper.”

“Indeed, but this is a truth that only you six are worthy to bear. Disclosing it to anyone else means treason.”

I gulp. “Understood.”

“Go with your teacher, he will guide you home safely. And be wary of everyone.” VirtueVice grows eyes of malice that swirl and distort. “There are many who will try to end the destiny of living legends. Don’t let them succeed.”

Everyone? Even my own parents? No. That’s impossible. I know my father is loyal to the guild. But what do I really know about mom?

I shake away my worries.

An assassin uses trust as guise, but there’s no mistaking the love they have for me. I’m going to give them a big hug and thank them for every second of joy they’ve carved into my life.