Chapter 5 - Aki-sensei vs the Sentinels

Aki-sensei vs the Sentinels

Suzume: Aaah, that was so scary!
Aya: What's wrong, Suzume-senpai?
Yumiko: And what scared you this time? A scarecrow on the side of a road?
Shizuku: Just because her name means sparrow doesn't mean..
Suzume: Those things are really startling to look at, with their eyes so huge and all.
Shizuku: So she does get startled then.
Suzume: But that's not the thing that scared me today... Mebu, are you listening?
Mebuki: More or less.
Suzume: Can you worry about me with more devotion!?
Mebuki: Suzume, if I did that every time, I wouldn't hold up. So, what was it?
Suzume: It's about our teacher. She just scolded me for being noisy, had me in shivers!
Yumiko: That teacher really does give of the feeling of not having feeling, almost as if mechanical.
Shizuku: And that masks only makes it worse.
Suzume: And despite her attitude, she watches us with attention.
Aya: Maybe that means she actually cares about us a lot?
Suzume: Yeah no way. I bet she thinks of the Sentinels as disposable goods.
Mebuki: Her attitude definitely says that, but lately I've been wondering if those are her honest thoughts.
Suzume: Do you think she laughs?
Yumiko: I have not heard her laughter even once.
Aya: Now that you mention it, neither have I.
Mebuki: Same.
Suzume: Not that you laugh a lot either, Mebu.
Mebuki: Do you want to see me laugh? Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha.
Suzume: Mebu, that's scary!
Yumiko: I have not seen Shizuku-san laugh much, either.
Shizuku: When we change, she laughs a lot.
Yumiko: Can you not laugh like this?
Shizuku: There are times when I think things are funny, it just doesn't show on my face.
Mebuki: I've begun to understand that too.
Suzume: Shizuku actually has emotions, unlike that masked teacher of ours.
Aki: Kusunoki-san.
Suzume: Wah!
Aya: Sensei!
Aki: I have something I need to talk to you about. Please accompany me to the viewing platform.
Mebuki: Got it.
Aki: Kagajou-san. It looks like you've been talking about me, whether I have emotions or not. Is that idle chatter of any connection to your duties or survival as Sentinels?
Suzume: Uh...
Shizuku: ...
Aki: Cut short the chatter and focus on your duties.
Shizuku: ...We had our hands full with ourselves before, but now we have the leisure to worry about others. I don't think that's something bad.
Mebuki: Shizuku?
Aki: Yamabushi-san, talking about me is still pointless.
Shizuku: ...The Aki-sensei I knew was cool-headed, but not cold-hearted.
Aki: ...
Suzume: Eh? Acquintances? Parent and child?
Aki: No.
Suzume: Of course not.
Shizuku: She was a teacher at my elementary school.
Yumiko: Oh, at Shinju-kan?
Aki: Talking about the past is pointless as well. You should think about fulfilling your duties.
Shizuku: Aki-sensei.
Aki: Don't call me by that name. It's meaningless here.
Shizuku: ...
Suzume: I think there were some emotions here just now... Just kidding! It's a joke! A joke!
Aki: And joking around me is pointless as well.
Yumiko: Hmmm...

Aya: That evening, we gathered in Mebuki-senpai's room.
Suzume: This afternoon sure came as a surprise. I can't believe our masked teacher and Shizuku knew each other.
Shizuku: Aki-sensei was the teacher in charge of the Heroes at Shinju-kan.
Yumiko: And because of that stellar record, she was assigned to be in charge of us as well, then.
Mebuki: I didn't know the whole situation before.
Aya: Aki-sensei is a descendant of the Aki family knows for their Miko affinity, so she's suited to support the Heroes even by her lineage.
Suzume: Mebu, don't you think it feels nice to have a teacher in charge of the Heroes watching over us as well?
Mebuki: When her behaviour is so mechanical, not really. She wasn't like this before, right, Shizuku?
Shizuku: No. She was sometimes intimidating and somewhat cool, but she wasn't like this.
Suzume: She didn't laugh at jokes either?
Shizuku: I don't think so.
Yumiko: Well then... Perhaps we could still make her laugh now.
Aya: Oh... It's heating up, Miroku-senpai!
Yumiko: Her being this reserved... Makes me want to drag emotions out of her, even if by force!
Suzume: Is this what they call reverse psychology?
Mebuki: You're right. Makes you want to take her by surprise. Let's make that teacher laugh.
Suzume: You sure say some crazy stuff, Mebu.
Mebuki: That teacher says stuff like "pointless" and "impossible" too much. Let's show her how we can make the impossible possible.
Aya: If you want to make her laugh, then I'm all on board!
Shizuku: I'll try to do what I can to help.
Yumiko: That being said, how exactly should we make her laugh?
Mebuki: There are some recordings of the old era in the library.
Shizuku: So we'll watch ancient comedy shows.
Suzume: That might come in handy! We can just imitate the ones we find funny.
Yumiko: Ufufu... You had better be prepared for what is about to descend upon you!
Aya: Mebuki-senpai and the rest began to take time out of their training regimen and research comedy. And so, a week has passed.

Aki: So, what made you bring me to this empty classroom?
Aya: We wanted you to see the results of our independent joint training!
Aki: Joint training? And when?
Yumiko: But of course, inbetween our daily routine!
Aki: And where did you find the time for that?
Yumiko: Time is something you make, is it not?
Aki: I see. And judging by your data from the past week, your cooperation as a group has, in fact, increased. What did you do?
Suzume: Ma'am! We all undertook training that uses our heads to be capable of flexibly responding to whatever missions we might be tasked with, Ma'am!
Shizuku: Specifically, training in comedy. Sensei, we're going to make you laugh now.
Aki: Excuse me?
Yumiko: If we make you laugh, then victory is ours.
Aki: Have you grown loose because of how infrequent your missions outside the wall are now? Something so useless...
Mebuki: It wasn't useless. At the very least, our vigorous exchange of opinions let us improve our cooperation. And the data should prove that as well.
Yumiko: To add to that, researching comedy proved to be an adequate way to reduce stress.
Aki: True enough. Seeing as the results appear clearly in the numbers, I will accompany you for a while. Although...
Mebuki: What is it?
Aki: I'm surprised. I thought you would disapprove of something like this.
Mebuki: I want to make the impossible possible. And for that, I'll begin with something close by.
Aki: I see. Well then, make it brief.
Suzume: Alright. Here goes the top batter! I'm on!
Aki: Unexpected pick for that.
Suzume: Even if I fail, there are a lot of people after me, so it's actually easier.
Aki: You're honest. Now, begin.
Suzume: Hello everyone! Bird comedian, Suzume here! Chirp chirp!
Suzume: Today for dessert I pecked away at some sweet roll crumbs, as expected of a sparrow. Chirp chirp!
Suzume: I was just chased around by a nasty cat, as expected of a sparrow. Chirp chirp!
Aki: Hmph.
Mebuki: She laughed!
Aki: I did not. I merely sniggered at how ridiculous this is.
Suzume: Eeh, doesn't that count as laughter?
Shizuku: Quit it, your peeping is annoying. As expected of a sparrow.
Su/Shizuku: Chirp chirp!
Shizuku: This is more fun than I thought.
Aki: Hmph... What farce...
Aya: It looks like it's working well!
Yumiko: This might end up being much easier than we thought.
Aya: I will be going next!
Aki: Please do.
Aya: On multiples of three, I will loosen up.
Aya: One, two, three~.
Aya: Four, five, six~.
Aya: Seven, eight, nine~.
Shizuku: Cute.
Suzume: Cute.
Aki: Kokudo-san. Cute and funny are different things.
Suzume: That's an unexpectedly harsh remark!
Aki: As the judge, I must pay attention. And I won't laugh out of pity either.
Suzume: You're really stoic when it comes to laughter!
Aki: I will commend Kagajou's vigour, at least.
Suzume: Even if it's just this, I got praised!
Aya: I'm sorry. I'll reflect on this.
Mebuki: But she still thought she was cute.
Yumiko: I suppose that means she is, in fact, human. Let us finish this.
Mebuki: Roger.
Yumiko: Allow me to reconfirm our plan. We are going with a joke that involves thinking up a special move for me.
Mebuki: Right.
Yumiko: You shall play the fool and say "A move that makes cats attached to you when you use it".
Mebuki: Right.
Yumiko: And then I shall react with "I do not need that!" Perfect! Simply perfect! Makes me giggle simply imagining that.
Mebuki: Roger that.
Aki: Well, next?
Yumiko: We shall...
Mebuki: Act as a duo.
Aki: Go on!
Yumiko: Hello! This is Miroku!
Mebuki: This is Mebuki.
Yumiko: Do you not think I might be lacking something?
Mebuki: IQ?
Yumiko: Oh I have plenty of that! The Miroku household's storage is so full of that the walls are creaking!
Mebuki: The completeness of your ringlets?
Yumiko: Not fully curling them is fashionable in and of itself! What I am lacking is a special move!
Mebuki: You're right, we Sentinels have no special moves.
Yumiko: Precisely! This shall pose a problem when we become Heroes! And that is why I want you to assist me with coming up with one!
Mebuki: Then how about you summon your butler Alfred to attack?
Yumiko: A-Alfred is not suited for combat, he cannot be a striker.
Mebuki: Does Alfred exist anyway?
Yumiko: O-Of course he does, he is right behind you, in fact.
Mebuki: Where?
Yumiko: Oh look, he has already hidden himself. He's a modest man.
Mebuki: How does Alfred speak?
Yumiko: Uh, well... Yo! I'm Alfred! Nice to meetcha!
Mebuki: Sounds like an interesting guy.
Yumiko: Excuse me! When did the topic shift to Alfred? What happened to my spcial move? This is not what we have agreed upon!
Mebuki: I thought it would be better if we did it like this. Senpai, you're unexpectedly funny.
Yumiko: U-U-U-U-U-Unexpectedly funny!? How insulting! I challenge you to a duel on the rules of Miroku family!
Aki: Heh.
Suzume: Ah, you definitely laughed right now.
Aki: I wasn't convinced at the start, but you utilised Miroku-san's natural capabilities to their fullest. The flow was quite good.
Suzume: Thought-out and easy to understand impressions!
Mebuki: As expected of Miroku-san.
Yumiko: I cannot say I am satisfied, but a victory is a victory!
Aki: However, you didn't make me burst out in laughter. For amateurs, this should be key.
Shizuku: I'll be the last.
Aki: Even you? Go on.
Shizuku: One-shot gag~. I'll do a weird face~.
Shizuku: Booo.
Aki: Pffft...
Suzume: Eh? Huh? Isn't it working super well?
Aki: Pffft... *cough cough* It wasn't particularly amazing, but you pass.
Suzume: She managed to hold on to her breathing!
Shizuku: Thank goodneshh.
Aki: That was quite an underhanded trick.
Shizuku: Think of it as me repaying the favour. I think I tried well.
Aki: Repaying?
Shizuku: Aki-sensei, back in elementary, you would sometimes talk to me when I was alone.
Mebuki: Shizuku...
Aki: It was just my duty as a teacher.
Shizuku: Even so, that saved me.
Aki: That time is long gone. I take back my words about your chatter being pointless. A mind that's too strained will pose a problem on your missions.
Shizuku: Sensei...
Aki: But take care not to derail too much. Tomorrow begins early. Prepare for it and sleep.

Aki: Comedy, huh. Jeez, even remembering that is ridiculous. Haha... AH!
Suzume: A-A-A-A-A-Ah, I-I-I-I-I just wanted to confirm tomorrow's meeting time and chased after you, y-y-y-you see...
Aki: You saw, didn't you.
Suzume: N-no, I... I know! Ugh!
Suzume: Ow, it hurts. I bumped headfirst into a pillar. I don't remember a thing! You know, since I'm a birdbrain who'll walk three steps and forget everything.
Aki: As expected of a sparrow.
Suzume/Aki: Chirp chirp!
Aki: I only played along with your quick wit just now.
Suzume: Are you sure you just didn't want to-
Aki: I didn't. And in the first place, you merely paid homage to a past comedian. You should add more personality to it. Miroku-san's performance had more originality to it.
Suzume: You actually really like comedy, huh.
Aki: *sigh*
Suzume: *cough*
Shizuku: In the end, Aki-sensei went back to her usual self the next day. But I believe that the person behind that mask is still the kind teacher I knew.