When people were at school the next morning, Sakuragi heard footsteps of shoes nobody in the class owned. She raised her hand to go drink water.

“Niryuhuhuhu! Of course! We must always hydrate!” The octopus agreed. Silently, Sakuragi walked towards the source of the noise. What greeted her was Irina captured by a noose. Without thinking about how it could expose her, Sakuragi threw a knife at the rope, releasing her. 

Irina looked confused. “Sakuragi-“

“Not now.” Sakuragi said coldly, her cheerful persona gone. “Go.” Irina hesitated then ran away.

“Why if it isn’t Sakuragi, the assassin prodigy.” A man’s voice said in Russian.

Once Sakuragi saw who it was, she relaxed then spoke in Russian. “Lovro. You’re lucky I sent your former apprentice away before you exposed me.”

Lovro laughed. “From What I’ve heard from the government, Karasuma already saw your name in the Twilight file. He wants more proof first.”

Sakuragi let out a fake polite smile. “Thanks for the warning. Sir.”

“You don’t need to use that fake smile around me. I know you, Hanako. There’s also no need to call me sir, you’re a greater assassin than I was in my glory days.” Just then, Karasuma, Irina, and Koro-sensei arrived. Sakuragi instantly pretended to look scared. Lovro tried not to chuckle.

“Lovro-san!” Koro-sensei said. “If you want to replace Irina, you have to beat Irina in killing Karasuma.”

“What?!” Karasuma’s eyes bulged out in anger.

“Not for real!” Koro-sensei amended. “With those.” He pointed to the anti-sensei knife at Karasuma’s side.

Karasuma nodded slowly. “Make Sakuragi a target too.”

“Huh?” Sakuragi looked confused.

“Did I stutter? You’re excused from classes today.” 

Koro-sensei agreed.

Assassination...start!

Sakuragi wasn’t targeted at first, she hung out with the other students, who, having heard about the challenge, cheered her on.

Once Karasuma was captured, Sakuragi was wary that she was going to be attacked.

When she was walking in for lunch, Lovro jumped out at her, knife outstretched. Sakuragi instantly grabbed Lovro’s collar and took the knife. She pressed the knife against his throat as the other students stared in shock.

“I won,” Sakuragi said, quietly, bloodlust radiating off her in waves. 

Lovro gulped. “Da.” 

Just then Irina tapped Sakuragi on the head with her own knife. “Not quite, Sakuragi.” 

Caught up in her own bloodlust, Sakuragi let go of Lovro instantly, about to attack Irina, but Karasuma caught her instantly.

“You’re wanted for interrogation, Hanako Sakuragi, alias Twilight.” Sakuragi froze, letting Karasuma tie her to a chair.

“Tell me exactly who you are.”

“What did I do?” Sakuragi looked scared.

“Drop the act, I will not repeat myself.”

Sakuragi let her innocent mask fall away and stared emotionlessly at everyone. “Fine” She spat. “Name’s Hanako Sakuragi, 15 years old, been an assassin since I was eight, and I’m known as the 3rd greatest assassin  Twilight. That all?”

“Did you come to this class to harm the students or take the reward for yourself?”

“No. I knew about the octopus and his teaching position, but I didn’t realize it was Kunugigaoka. I received the assignment the day I arrived at 3-E. I’m supposed to be retired, you know.”

“Why did you hide your identity?”

“As I said, I was retired, so I didn’t want anyone to know, and assassination classroom or not, it’s not something I’d declare out to the world.” 

Kayano piped up this time. “Were those smiles real? All our happy times, did you ever actually care about us?”

Sakuragi turned her face towards the green haired girl, a cold, sickly smile appearing. “I’ll  leave you to figure that out on your own, Kaede-chan.”

Kayano whimpered, and ran out of the room crying. 

“Kayano!” Nagisa ran after her.

Karma glared at Sakuragi. “Wow, now we know who not to trust.” He stalked out of the room.

The rest of the class soon followed. Once everyone was gone, Karasuma untied Sakuragi. “Go home.” Karasuma said coldly.

“Believe me, I would if I had one. I just sleep on the mountain.” Sakuragi said dryly.

“Fine. Octopus!” Karasuma called. Koro-sensei appeared, uncharacteristically serious.

“Keep an eye on Sakuragi,” Karasuma said. “She’s staying here.” Koro-sensei nodded and Karasuma left.

“We need to talk,” Koro-sensei said, sitting down at his desk. Sakuragi sat in another chair without complaint. 

“It’s been a while, Twilight.”

“Same to you, Reaper-sensei.”

“Don’t ‘Reaper-sensei’ me, you lost that right whenever you started acting like this.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say, I don’t trust anyone, so I can’t let them get close to me, make me have emotions.” Sakuragi looked defensive.

Koro-sensei sighed. “What happened, Sakuragi? When you used to be in my care, you never smiled, but at least you were kind.”

“I don’t owe you anything, Reaper.”

“True, but the Twilight I know would do anything to ease the troubles of those you cared about.”

“That Twilight is dead,” Sakuragi choked out. “That Twilight was betrayed way too many times until every semblance of emotion was gone.” 

Sakuragi saw a tear drip onto her hand. “Man, the roof is leaking? I didn’t notice it was raining.”

“Twilight-Chan...Sakuragi.” Koro-sensei said gently. “You’re crying.”

“W-What?” Sakuragi brought a hand to her face. “I really am. Didn’t know I was capable.” She attempted a fake laugh, but it came out as a whimper. She felt tentacles embrace her. “R-reaper….I’m so sorry.”

“I forgive you, I’m your teacher, after all.” Koro-sensei said lightly. “Once your classmates have cooled down a little, you should apologize to them.”

Sakuragi agreed, then she went to a desk and fell asleep.

Poor kid…I hope these students do better at making her smile than I did.