Ch3 - The Strongest

Sometimes the strongest people, are the most damaged.

"Welcome back, from fall holiday.

Now that you're back, I expect no more complaining about 'missing family'.

The next one to mention it, earns the entire class a night without dinner."

The children all nodded.

Fall holiday had been pleasant.

They got a holiday every season.

Always two weeks long.

Time to visit family, at least when they were young.

Older students made use of the time, to take personal assignments.

"Class leader, get up here."

"He isn't here sir." a child spoke.

"What? Where is he?" the teacher asked.

"The principal took him, when we came in." another answered.

"I'll go retrieve him. While I'm out, I want all of you to clean.

You left this play a mess, I expect spotlessness.

There will be no meals till it is up to specs."

The children groaned, but went to work cleaning.

Elsewhere, the purple neko sat in a large chair.

He was staring at the ground, looking solemn.

Behind the desk, was the woman who'd 'properly welcomed' them.

"I understand that your fall holiday was met with misfortune."

The neko looked to her, a mix of sadness and confusion on his face.

"And I understand a desire to be with family during this time of mourning.

However, allowing you to go be with your family would put you behind on your training.

I must recommend staying here.

Your records show, you are doing remarkably well in all areas.

To throw this strong progression away, would be a complete waste.

Also, missing to many days of school would mean we would have to expel you."

The neko just stared at her, with a light head tilt.

There was a knock at the door.

The woman spoke, "Not now, I am with a student."

The door opened, none the less.

Standing there was his teacher, "Yes, I heard you had my student."

The woman stood up, "Yes, we are discussing his future.

Leave us, he will be returned when we are finished speaking."

The teacher shook his head, "No."

He went over, and knelt next to the neko.

"Do you wish to speak to this lady about what happened?"

The neko shook his head no.
The man nodded, "Do you wish to return to class?"

The boy nodded.

"I thought so.

You always struck me as the kind who didn't desire to dwell."

The woman looked annoyed, and ready to protest.

The man spoke again, "Go ahead to class, the others are cleaning."

The neko nodded, and got up leaving.

The woman spoke, after he left.

"Why did you do that?

After the shock of what happened wheres off-"

"No, he will be fine.

Besides, if you looked at his record properly...

You'd see the only family he has is siblings.

He is the oldest child, and he knows that this line of work pays well if he's good.

So, rather than go home and cry.

He wants to be here, learning a trade that will keep his family's future secure."

The woman gave a scowl, "Fine.

But, I want him to meet with the school's councilor."

"That wont help, he doesn't talk."

"What?" the woman asked, confused.

"He doesn't talk.
Or can't. I'm not sure."

"He's your class leader, and he doesn't talk?"

The man shrugged, "The other students seem to have accepted it.

Perhaps it makes them feel like he listens."

The woman shook her head, "Well, I still insist he meets the councilor.

At least once.
Also, do try to determine the cause of his mutism."

The man nodded and walked out.

Inside the 'classroom' the children were scrubbing the floor.

The neko walked in and the children simply looked to him.

He went over, grabbed a rag, and began helping.

The teacher walked in not long after.

"Keep cleaning." he said, as he went over to a board.

He began writing on the board.

He was writing everyone's name in a long list.

Next to each name, he also wrote down numbers.

"Alright, put the cleaning supplies away, and take your seats."

The children hurried, and it wasn't long before they were all sitting.

"Now, I have here generalized rankings.

These are based on performance so far.

Given everyone's marked improvement at hide & seek, we will begin survival training.

We have been discussing proper techniques for survival in a variety of environments.

As such, this week I will be discussing proper ways to kill various animals.

Next week, survival training begins.

You will all spend a week at a time in different environments.

After the week, you will return here.

You'll be debriefed, get one meal, and be sent out again.

This will continue until winter holiday.

After which we'll begin alternating our game time between hide & seek, and dodge ball.

Any questions?"

The children all looked to each other, there were no questions.

"Good.

Now, back to cleaning.

It's nearly dinner time.

I'd hate for you all to miss dinner."

The children rushed grabbing the cleaning supplies.

The teacher stood, then smirked.

"Push-ups!" he shouted.

Suddenly every child dropped their cleaning supplies and did five push-ups.

Then, as if nothing happened, they grabbed their supplies and began cleaning again.

The teacher walked around, observing.

"What is the best shelter in a forest?" he shouted.

"Lean-to" they responded in unison.

"What is the best shelter in a city?"

"Vagrant quarters." again perfect unison

"The local lord has sent guards to seize all vagrants.

Where do you go?" the teacher asked.

"The roof tops, where all shadows hide." it was nearly a chant this time.

The teacher chuckled, the statement was meant as a reminder that assassins were not the only ones on rooftops.

"While on contract, someone witnesses you kill your target.

What do you do?"

"Eliminate them. No witnesses!"

"Good, very good." the man said, making notes on his clipboard.

Author's Note

This chapter sort of ends the 'first year' of the school.
The next will jump a year or so forward.