An Assassin's Respite

Training in Kazuna's House?

“I see. It’s a very sound plan considering the personnel we have. So, what can I do to help?” Ayanami asks.

“Hmm… Well for starters, what’s your power. That will most likely determine what your task will be and which team you’ll be on.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“Right. My power is called stroke of luck, it makes things go in my favor as long as I have control over enough factors. For example, when I was recruiting Kazuna for the student council, my power allowed for certain chance events to happen and let me lead him to join. However, I can’t use it to win something like the lottery since there are so many random factors.” She states.

“I see, but how do we know that you're planning wasn't fully responsible?” Ms. Katsuchi notes.

I can see why you would be skeptical, but I can assure you that it was due to my power. Let's use the lottery example. If I were to drop the ball itself, my power would affect the outcome and make it to where whatever numbers I picked would win.” Ayanami adds.

“Ohh, that’s interesting. In that case, you would be perfect for the infiltration team. If your power works the way I think it does, then you may make it easier for you all to move through their base undetected.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“How so?” Ayanami asks.

“From what I can gather, your power has a limited area of effect around you, and that certain instances require you to have some control over the environment. So, in theory, it could be possible for your power to clear a path for your team to make it through their base.” Ms. Katsuchi explains.

“Is that even possible?” Kagura asks.

“Hmm… It may be. Come to think of it, I haven’t really tried using my power passively and often used it proactively. I don’t know though, I would have to test it out.” Ayanami states.

“But how can you test something like that?” Kagura asks.

“True, it may be a bit difficult. For now, let’s just have you use your power and wish for luck.” Ms. Katsuchi says.

“Are you serious?” Kagura asks.

“I know it sounds like I’m joking, but for now just try it and see if anything… unique happens.” She explains.

“Ok, I’ll try it.” Ayanami says, a bit unsure herself.

There’s another knock at the door and Ms. Katsuchi opens it and is greeted by the students of class 1-A.

“Oh my, aren’t you all the punctual bunch.” She notes as she ushers them in.

“So what exactly are we going to be doing for training?” Akeno asks as she takes a seat.

“Well, it’s not quite right to call it training. You won’t really be expanding your strength, but your knowledge.” Ms. Katsuchi explains.

“What do you mean by that?” Kagura asks.

“I’m going to be giving you all a beginner's course in infiltration. How to communicate without talking, how to be stealthy, I’m even going to teach you all ways to breathe so that the guards can’t hear you breathing.” Ms. Katsuchi adds.

“You’re going to be teaching us... how to breathe?” Shiba asks, a bit confused.

“Yes, and if we’re going to have comms, why do we need to communicate without talking. And we’ve had some training with moving stealthily.” Haruka adds.

“That may be true, but, often in high-pressure scenarios, people tend to breathe heavier, move recklessly, and talk louder or sloppily. These things can be the difference between you being discovered, or just barely slipping by, especially for you all. Really, I would like to teach you all how to regulate your heartbeat, but we don’t have nearly enough time for that level of intricacy.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“Are those things really going to make that much of a difference, I mean, are we that bad at stealth?” Kagura asks.

“Not to discourage you or anything but, I’d say that if you tried your hardest to be stealthy, it would still pale in comparison to Kazuna walking around normally.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“R-Really!?” Emiko asks in shock.

“You don’t believe me. Well then let me ask you something. How many times has Kazuna just appeared out of nowhere?” She asks.

“Now that you mention it, whenever he walks I don’t ever hear his footsteps and he seems to just pop up from out of nowhere.” Akeno notes.

“You see. You don’t notice him approaching because in those moments you weren’t looking for him. An assassin must always walk the line between existing and not existing at all times.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

Everyone looks at her with a confused expression.

“But why? And what does that mean?” Emiko asks.

“It means an assassin must live in this world but exist outside of society. They live like this so that no one notices when they die and doesn’t go looking for them. So that their death doesn’t leave any marks on the world.” Ms. Katsuchi explains.

“Are you saying that assassins just live to die forgotten?” Shiba asks.

“How sad.” Emiko adds.

“Indeed. But that’s what it means to be an assassin. To die leaving nothing but myths and tall tales.” Ms. Katsuchi says in agreement.

“Then we should stop talking and start training. I won’t let Kazuna just disappear.” Kagura states.

This alleviates the somewhat depressing tone as everyone nods their heads in agreement.

“Then why don’t we get started. There isn’t much I have to teach the scouting team so, for now, I’ll just have Ayame and Akeno study some pictures of their base that I took.” Ms. Katsuchi starts.

“Right.” The pair reply in unison.

“What about us?” Shiba asks.

“It would probably be best for the two of you to practice your ability to fight together and attack someone quickly and quietly.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“Okay.” Chiyo says excitedly.

“The extraction team, however, you all are going to undergo training that is a bit more difficult. I know I said that I would be teaching you how to breathe, but there isn’t much to it really. All you have to do is breathe through your mouth instead of your nose and take long steady breaths. This will help you regulate your heart rate and help keep you from panicking. After that, I’ll teach you how to move properly.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“Got it.” Ayanami says while Haruka, Kagura, Emiko, and Haruna nod.

“Kagura, you’ll have to go through some extra training so I can teach you the technique I talked about yesterday. Is that alright?” Ms. Katsuchi asks.

“Mhmm.” Kagura nods.

"I do have one question." Ayanami says.

"And what is that?" Ms. Katsuchi asks.

"Why are there so many people on the infiltration team? If the point is stealth and avoiding any fights, then why have so many on the team? Wouldn't it be better if there were fewer people on the team?" She asks.

"That is a valid point, typically there would only be two or three people for a mission like this. But don't worry, the extra people are to help you escape from more jams. Since you all are undertrained, you're bound to make some mistake that could lead you to a tough spot, so having more ways to get out of that tough spot is better. Of course, we run the risk of increasing the chance you all get found, but with Ayanami's power, I don't think that it will be that big of a deal." Ms. Katsuchi answers.

"I see." Ayanami mumbles, seemingly satisfied with her response.

"Alright then, so let's get started." Ms. Katsuchi says as she hands Akeno and Ayame the pictures of the base.

"You two can stay here and analyze these maps. We won't be far so if you have any questions just shout ok." She says. The two nod as they immediately scan the images.

"Now, the rest of you just follow me and we'll head to where we're going to train." She says as she begins to walk towards the stairs. They reach the stairs and Ms. Katsuchi stops as she scans the wall. 

"Umm... Ms. Katsuchi? What are you looking for?" Kagura asks.

"Kazuna is someone that would stick to what he knows. Knowing that the button should be around.." She mumbles as she pushes a panel of the wall in. 

After she pushes the panel, the stairs begin to retract and uncover a stairway that leads to what they assumed was a basement. The students were standing there with their jaws dropped.

"A secret passageway in his house. And I thought that he couldn't surprise me anymore." Shiba says, dumbfounded.

"There was something like this back at the mansion, so I assumed Kazuna would have the same thing in his." Ms. Katsuchi notes as she begins walking down the stairs.

Everyone stands frozen at the top of the stairs for a few seconds before they follow her down. Once they reach the bottom they are once again awed by the spectacle in front of them. The opening room was big enough to be an atrium and there were multiple doors that they assumed led to other rooms.

"How... How did Kazuna build all of this under his house?" Kagura asks in surprise.

"It's... It's amazing." Haruka says in shock.

"Kazuna has been around the world and has met many people. He may have taken lives for a living, but many powerful and wealthy people were saved by him. Intentionally or not, he is owed a lot of favors. He probably used one of those favors." Ms. Katsuchi explains as she walks to the center of the room.

"Now shall we begin." She says.