Teachers who attempted to step into their classroom were humiliated, tormented, destroyed and forced to quit. Every preparation they made was successful, they counted, and not a single one managed to reign them in. For them, adults were formidable opponents, but with their teamwork and determination, they found it possible to overcome them. Therefore, the celebration of such a triumphant event was an opportunity no one should have missed.

However, the joy and celebration of the students from their victory quickly turned to quiet. Their eyes were stuck on something at the door behind Idris. This sight made their jaws fall open and their eyes grow wide in disbelief. Murmurs filled within the classroom, eyebrows furrowed, and hands covered mouths. It was as if they wanted to say something, but the words they intended to speak just wouldn’t come out.

Idris appeared puzzled, his hand ruffling his hair as his classmates’ gazes were directed behind him. “Hey, what’s the matter? Why those expressions?” Even Idris himself was wondering why they all suddenly went quiet, as if they had discovered something. “You all look like you’ve seen a ghost coming back from the dea—” His voice trailed off as he turned to see what had captured their attention.

“Did you take the shot, Officer?” the soldier communicated over the radio, eagerly anticipating a signal to confirm if the target had been neutralized.

The soldier tasked with taking down the teacher exerted great effort in scouring the area of the gate’s exit. “Negative, Sergeant,” he reported, fully aware that despite his vigilant watch, not a single shadow of that teacher had shown up. “The target has not shown up at the exit.” The intensity of his focus was such that sweat trickled down his face while heightening his senses.

The pair stationed at the bottom exchanged glances before directing their gaze towards the opening where the lookout was performing his duty. They found themselves puzzled by the delay in the soldier’s action to eliminate the target so they thought that perhaps the outlooker was either distracted or had made an error. Looking back on their previous operations, the annihilation of their targets at the exit was much quicker which made this particular instance feel oddly different.

“Are you sure you’re not mistaken, Officer?” He signaled his partner to go up and assist in verifying the target’s location. He remained at the base while his partner climbed up using the fixed ladder.

When he exited the base and ascended, the one on watch inhaled deeply, gripping his firearm securely, ready for action. He responded, “I’m sure I’m not mistaken, Sir.” 

The other soldier quickly seized his binoculars and aimed them at the entrance of the classroom. They had been stationed at the base, anticipating the target’s downfall, but they received news that the target hadn’t appeared yet? Unbelievable. Everything was set and all they were waiting for was the go signal. The only thing they were waiting for was the lifeless body to be transported to the covert facility. However, everything had changed when the soldier peered through his binoculars. The sight that greeted him from the classroom’s entrance left him stunned. It was as if he had witnessed something so inexplicable that it made him swallow hard and shudder where he stood. With that, he urgently beckoned his comrades to come and see what had caught his attention.

“This isn’t what we anticipated,” the other soldier remarked when he finally caught sight of what had captivated the others’ attention.

No wonder why the target hadn’t shown up at the exit yet — it’s because he hadn’t made it to the gate all along. 

Idris recoiled, feeling a wave of nausea when he recognized the man standing before him was the one he had just doused with grimy water from earlier.

“Hi, there!” greeted the splendid and spotless man with lengthy deep-red hair tied back in a ponytail with some strands falling forward to partially obscure the side of his face, as a radiant smile spread across his cheek.

It's the same teacher we had just tormented. 

The sight was so overwhelming that Idris found himself covering his mouth with his grubby hand. His classmates also retreated, as though they wished to distance themselves from the situation they had initiated. 

What happened to him? What happened to the flour that should have left a dusty white layer on his clothes, the whipped cream that should have clung to his hair, the small candles that should have left wax droplets, the sand that should have gritted against his skin, and the water that should have drenched him?

The man they had just tormented, who should have been doused, dirty, and smelly, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, standing before them was a man who seemed untouched by their antics. From head to toe, there was no trace of the mess they had made. No speck of flour, no smear of dirt, no hint of any unpleasant substance could be spotted on him. His hair, which should have been a matted mess, was smooth and neatly tied back. His clothes, which should have been stained and soaked, were crisp and clean. His shoes, which should have been filled with sand, were polished and pristine. And the smell - there was no trace of the foul odor that should have lingered. Instead, a pleasant fragrance wafted from him, as if he had just stepped out of a shower and spritzed on some perfume. It was as if they were looking at a completely different person.

Who is this guy?

The whole class was left dumbfounded and confused, even the soldiers who were outlooking the area were gulping as well. The students had thought their planned attack would have left him in a state of disarray, but it seemed to have failed spectacularly. To add insult to injury, his smile even remained as if he hadn’t been the target of their torment at all.

The instructor let out a sigh. “Quite an intense exercise, wasn’t it? It’s impressive to see such energy from you all, considering your age.”

When those words left his lips, the students showed little joy, though a few thought him intriguing. This was the first time they had encountered such an instructor like this. How could he maintain his smile despite their actions? The students hadn’t anticipated their scheme would result in this teacher’s return. They had long prepared for this, they had everything properly planned. He was expected to abandon the classroom and give up teaching. Yet, why did he return?

With that, the teacher walked to the room’s center, smiling intact, a new portfolio clutched in his hand. As he moved, students in his path cleared the way and were unable to utter a single word. 

The soldiers had seen it all. They saw the students being overpowered by this new newcomer. Typically, it’s the students who dominate the teachers, but the soldiers were captivated by how this guy withstood their brutal treatment towards him. They were amazed, but also found it to be bad news and therefore this triggered their alarm. One soldier attempted to communicate with their superiors through the radio, but only static was audible after a few tries. The soldiers tried to relay a message to their command, but it was unsuccessful as well. 

Up to that point, they hadn’t received any orders. They were caught up in a pickle, damned if they do, damned if they don’t. They were uncertain whether to patiently await further instructions from their superiors or to seize the initiative and take immediate action based on their own judgment. Given the difficulty in reaching their superiors, the Sergeant attempted to contact another team stationed outside the campus. But upon hearing the other line, he was even more confused.

“You are my way of life, the only way I kno—” was all he could make out before the line was drowned in static. It was a man’s voice, singing loudly with music playing in the background, and it sounded like he was munching on chips too. The Sergeant was left wondering if he had reached the correct team or if it was just a civilian on the line.

Unfazed by the stunned silence in the classroom, the new teacher declared, “Allow me to introduce myself, students.” He regained his poist and rested his right hand on his chest. “I am Mr. Arcturus Mortal. Arcturus, like the star, and Mortal, like the inevitability of death. Regardless, you can address me whatever you want.”

The students, taken aback, remained motionless. Not one had the courage to rise and challenge his presence following his unexpected return. He just carried on? Introduced himself so casually? Was that even normal?

"I hope to learn from you as much as you'll learn from me," he proclaimed, his face adorned with a wide smile. “For the entirety of this school year, I will be YOUR CLASS TEACHER."