A/N: Yes, hello, it is me. I am still alive, and have written yet another new fic, this time featuring Ass Class, my new obsession. Reviews are appreciated! 3

Kunugigaoka Junior High, grades seven to nine, was a prestigious private school located in Tokyo, Japan. The uniforms were a sickly shade of grey – not my best colors – and I was sweating as I made the endless trek up the mountain, my muscles screaming painfully with every step I took.

My Mother had spent most of yesterday explaining to me that it had been really, really hard to convince the school to take me, especially since the results of my exams hadn't been all that fantastic. As a girl who'd spent half her life living in Italy, my grasp of the Japanese language was pathetic, and embarrassingly, the only papers I'd done well in had been English and the practical exam of Home Economics. In the end, they'd only let me in on the condition that I joined Class 3-E, the worst class, a chance that Mother had frantically snatched at. I imagine a sizable donation had also played a part in my admittance ( the school's library was now being remodeled ), but Mother wouldn't tell me that. All she said was that I had better behave myself, and that I should get along well with my classmates.

After around five minutes of muffled cursing as I dragged myself up a rudimentary gravel path, I arrived at my 'new' classroom. No wonder that pezzo di merda* of a Principal had been smirking, I thought grimly, surveying the place with an air of dissatisfaction. This place was a dump – and that was putting it mildly.

The building was one story, long and low-slung with a wooden clapboard. It was small, and unimpressive-looking, at least when compared to the main school building, sleek and white, with gleaming hallways and trophies. The roof was covered with brown shingles that looked warped and brittle. The yard itself was long and shaggy. It had been a very long time since the grass was last mowed. Apparently, no one cared much about the upkeep of Class 3-E, which would explain why this dilapidated building had been placed far out of reach, out of sight and out of mind.

The 'teacher' had been waiting for me. I'd been briefed about what being in this particular class would entail, of course, but nothing could have prepared me for his appearance. He didn't look much like a teacher ( more like an octopus trying to dress-up as one ), even though he'd dressed the part, in smart black robes and a matching hat. But I refrained from saying anything, and stuck out my hand for him to shake.

"How do you do?" I asked, in lightly-accented Japanese.

"Just fine, Miss Nakano." He replied, a sticky yellow tentacle wrapping around my hand. "You may call me 'Koro-Sensei'."

I muffled a cry of surprise, and he quickly removed his tentacle, gently prodding me over to stand in front of the teacher's desk and introducing me to the class in one smooth movement. Discreetly, I wiped my sticky hand off on the side of my skirt, telling them that I had come from Italy. I hoped that they understood – it would be embarrassing to have to whip out the dictionary. As if he'd understood my worries, however, the teacher started to translate what I'd said into something easier to understand, and immediately, the confusion on the students' faces was replaced by a dawning realization. Everyone started buzzing after that, but their voices seemed friendly, and though I couldn't understand much of what they were saying, it didn't seem to be anything bad, at least.

"You can sit next to Karma. He's the one with the red hair." The octopus motioned with a wave of a tentacle, handing me a thick sheathe of leaflets as he did. "These are for you. Your Japanese could still use some work."

His eyes twinkled when my mouth fell open, and I immediately lapsed back into Italian, the words flowing easier now that I was speaking my native Language.

"How did you – "

"I'm a teacher, Miss Nakano. Italian is relatively easy to speak, once you've gotten the hang of it." He followed me as I walked down the aisle, over to the red-head he'd pointed out. "But you've come at an exciting time. The Mid-Year exams have ended, and the class is heading on a school trip to Kyoto."

"That sounds fun!" I exclaimed, flinging my bag down onto the table, which had been badly vandalized by pens and pocket-knives. "I've never been to Kyoto before!"

"I've put you into Karma's group. There are five other people in there – Shiota Nagisa, Kaede Kayano, Manami Okuda and Yukiko Kanzaki. I'm sure you'll all be great friends! Don't hesitate to ask if you need something!"

With a parting wave, Sensei threw me to the sharks, and I felt sweat prickling the back of my neck as I nervously took a seat beside the red head, who raised his head and smiled. There was something fierce about the gesture, something that reminded me of documentaries I'd watched about lions on the Discovery Channel, the way the big cats would raise their heads and sniff the air for prey. His eyes were golden, luminous, and gleamed in the light that flowed through the windows.

"You should have tried to kill him," He commented lightly, casually flinging a knife at Sensei, who dodged effortlessly. "See? It's more fun that way!"

"Karma!" The blue haired 'girl' ( upon closer inspection, I realized 'she' was a 'he' ) chastised the red-head with a frown etched upon his brow. "She's just gotten to class, she hasn't even settled in yet - "

A girl with luxurious black hair turned, dimples pricking her cheeks, revealing a row of pearly white teeth when she smiled. "Nakano-san, how are you liking Tokyo so far?"

"Please – Call me Aina." I broke off for a minute, my mind struggling to think of what to say next. Everyone in the small group had stopped putting together an itinerary for the trip and was hanging on my every word – sans Karma, who seemed rather disinterested. "Japan's very . . . Different from Italy. The weather is cooler, and it's really modern."

"Also - " I paused to inhale, shoving an carroty colored strand of hair out of my face. " – I can't promise I'll be very good, but I look forward to assassinating Koro-Sensei with you all. Please look after me!"

And such was my first day in Class 3-E.

*Piece of shit

( The underlined words are meant to be in Italian. )