Lesson Learned

You Have so much Potential

"So, why are we doing this again?" Mitsuko questioned as she and Sugaya manoeuvred through the dark cave. "I mean, a test of courage sounds like something a six-year-old would think of."

Sugaya shrugged. "I don't know. It's not the weirdest thing he's convinced us to do."

She raised an eyebrow. "What, like when he had the bright idea to go along with Terasaka's plan and nearly got us all  drowned?"

Sugaya cringed. "Still trying to forgot that."

"Hey, guys, hurry up!" Rio called from far ahead, grinning. "I want to see if I can scare Koro-sensei before he finds us!"

Mitsuko raised an eyebrow. "Well that'll be fun," she commented dryly. "But what I want to know is why he stuck just us three together, everyone else is in pairs..."

Sugaya gave her a look like she was an idiot. "Well, considering how much of a third wheel I'm feeling right now. Either he's a fan of polygamy or he's picked me as your beard."

"A beard?" Mitsuko frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Sugaya sighed, shaking his head. "How is it I know more about gay slang than you?" He whispered. "I'm your cover, dude."

My cover? Cover for....oh.

Her eyes widened in realisation. "Oh."

"Yeah." He nodded. "Oh."

She blushed, looking over at Rio who was already further ahead. "So...that would mean he knows."

"I'd be more surprised if he didn't. He's a bigger stalker than you."

Mitsuko shushed him, looking embarrassed. "I just...well, he never said anything that's all."

"He's probably still taking notes," Sugaya commented. "He's always writing in that notebook, remember?"

"I know..." She scowled, feeling annoyed. "I wish he wouldn't, though..."

"Hey, at least you were paired with someone," Sugaya whispered, grimacing. "Like seriously, what am I? How come I don't get a pairing?"

"Well the only other student you could have been paired with is Ritsu and she's happily unattached so..." Mitsuko tried not to laugh, patting him on the back. "Aw, it's okay, Suga-kun!" She teased. "Worst case you end up dating your computer hard drive."

"Haha. You're so funny." He whacked her hand away. "My point is that I feel more underappreciated than when I made that scarecrow in the dark when Gastro was shooting the place up."

"If I had been there you would have gotten the praise you deserve," Mitsuko told him seriously, and then smirked, hurrying up to catch up with Rio. "Now come on, you're slowing us down."

"Hey!" Rio looked over her shoulder when they approached, standing in front of a wall with red writing painted on the wall. "Check this out."

Mitsuko frowned, reading the poem. "This is a blood-drenched cave of tragedy where Ryukyu royalty, defeated in battle, met a violent end."

Rio snorted. "Oh, wow he's really going all out."

Sugaya hummed, staining his finger when he touched the paint. "Yeah, except it's painted in acrylic."

Mitsuko sighed. "Figures." She looked around. "So, any idea on a way—"

There was a weird echoing sound coming from further ahead of the cave, making them feel a spike of fear.

"Uh, what is that?" Sugaya questioned warily.

Rio's eyes widened when the noise got louder. "No idea."

Mitsuko stepped back. "Um, I think we should—"

"AHHHH!!" Koro-sensei came barrelling through in an extremely tacky costume, screaming his lungs out in terror.

The three students jerked back in surprise when he took one look at them and then ran away in horror.

Rio looked more shocked than scared when they were left in silence. "What the hell?"