BOOM!!!
The roaring thunder echoed again, accompanied by a blinding flash of light.
"Master, if it's not thunder, what else could it be?"
"Since we're standing in a classroom right now, your Master might as well give you a proper science lesson. Who knows, maybe your future teachers will ask you about this."
"A lesson??"
"Yes, a science lesson. In the air, light travels faster than sound. Because sound is slower than light, you see the lightning first and hear the thunder second. In reality, the lightning and thunder occur at the exact same time."
"Is that so? I never noticed."
"Standing in a classroom, your Master wouldn't spout nonsense. Everything I'm telling you is knowledge you'll learn when you finally go to school."
"Oh. So what does this have to do with Reze going missing?"
BOOM!!!
The roar echoed again as a flash of light illuminated the outside world.
"Wait a minute. The sound outside clearly appeared at the exact same time as the light."
Denji, captivated by the roars outside, had specifically paid attention to the changes in light and sound.
"That's why I said the sound outside isn't thunder. It's the sound of Reze exploding."
"Reze exploded?!!!"
"Master, hurry up and save her!" Denji was just about to dash out the door.
Outside in the hallway, a figure was walking toward them.
Lightning flashed across the sky. The figure of a woman appeared in Denji's line of sight.
"Reze!" Denji immediately rushed up to meet her. "My Master said you exploded, but it looks like you're perfectly fine."
"Denji-kun, I have something to tell you."
Reze dropped her usual cheerful demeanor. A hint of guilt surfaced on her face.
Having spent quite a bit of time with Reze, Denji could tell at a glance that she seemed a bit unhappy right now.
"Reze, it's okay. Even if we don't 'do it', it's fine. I can hold out for a long time."
"It's not about that."
"There's something else?"
"Actually... I'm an assassin from the Soviet Union. I came to Japan this time to take Denji-kun's heart."
"What?! You're here to take my heart too?!"
Denji exclaimed in shock, stumbling two steps backward.
He couldn't believe Reze was an assassin too. That meant his previous suspicions about her having a secret crush on him were just his own wishful thinking.
"Don't be afraid, Denji-kun. When I first arrived, I really did want to take your heart. But during the days I've spent with Division 4, I felt a happiness I've never experienced before. Rather than taking your heart to exchange for my freedom, I'm much more willing to stay together with you all. Without you guys, no matter how free I am, I would never be as happy as I am now."
Reze's heartfelt confession calmed Denji down.
But his eyes, staring at her wet clothes, remained burning hot.
Because of the rain, Reze's clothes clung tightly to her body. A certain plunging neckline had Denji's gaze completely locked in place. He hadn't even finished listening to what Reze had just said; his mind had completely wandered off somewhere else.
The things he hadn't done with Reze in reality... he had already finished doing them once in his head.
"Hey, stop staring." Arata smacked Denji's thick skull, swatting the bugs of lust right out of his mind.
"Master, that hurts!!"
"Did you hear everything Reze just said to you?"
"I heard it, but it doesn't matter," Denji said frankly. He didn't change his opinion of her in the slightest just because of her new identity.
"Denji-kun, you forgive me?"
"I wouldn't call it forgiving, because you've never done anything bad to Division 4. Plus, you're the first girl who ever smiled at me. Even if you had those thoughts before, you never hurt me, so we're still friends!" Denji smiled.
Reze couldn't help but laugh out loud along with him.
The moment she bent over laughing, Denji's eyes instantly locked onto the focal point. Sure enough, things were much clearer when she was bending over.
"Reze, go change your clothes first."
Arata tossed a set of JK (high school girl) uniform to Reze.
"Okay. Arata-senpai and Denji-kun, wait for me in the classroom for a bit."
Reze hugged the clothes and went to another classroom.
Arata led Denji back to the original classroom and turned on the lights.
"Master, did you already know Reze's true identity from the start?"
"Yes. But I knew Reze was a good girl, so every morning I would take you or the others to go see her. I wanted Reze to gradually get used to the feeling of having friends around. If an assassin develops feelings, then she is destined to lose that title."
"Master, you really are amazing. Thank you for not killing Reze," Denji chuckled.
At that moment, footsteps echoed. Reze walked into the classroom wearing the JK uniform and a short pleated skirt.
"Wow!!" Denji's eyes instantly went straight, staring intently at every exposed patch of skin.
"Student Reze, please take a seat. It's time for class to begin."
Arata took the initiative to stand at the podium and play the role of the teacher.
"Yes, Teacher Arata," Reze replied, immediately sitting next to Denji, making the two of them desk-mates.
"First question: The Country Mouse or the City Mouse—which side would you choose?"
"What do you mean? Why do we have to choose a mouse right from the start?" Denji asked, confused.
"Oh, Student Denji, I'm not literally making you choose a mouse. This is a story from Aesop's Fables."
Reze spoke up, "The Country Mouse lives a peaceful life, but can't eat the delicious food of the city, nor can it experience the vibrant, colorful city lifestyle. The City Mouse, on the other hand, eats well, but is in high danger of being eaten by humans or cats. I used to think being the Country Mouse was perfectly fine. But after meeting you guys, even if there's danger in the city, I'm willing to stay."
"Sounds super profound or whatever, but as long as I get to eat good food, I'm willing to stay in the city," Denji said.
"It seems both students prefer to be the City Mouse. Although the city is dangerous, it's full of opportunities and challenges, and the rewards you reap are doubled," Arata concluded.
"Teacher Arata, which mouse do you choose?" Reze asked.
"I choose the mouse that gets to live in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," Arata laughed.
"The teacher has understood both of your thoughts. Now, our first class is Math."
Arata picked up a piece of chalk and quickly wrote '1+1=3' on the blackboard.
"1+1=3? Master, you wrote it wrong, right?" Denji had never been to school, but he had learned basic addition and subtraction.
"I am not your Master right now. Call me Teacher Arata."
"Uh..." Denji struggled to change his tune so quickly.
"My question isn't whether 1+1=3. The question is: under what circumstances does 1+1 equal 3?"
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible," Denji declared confidently. He had absolute faith in the indisputable fact that 1+1=2.
"In the case of one man plus one woman, it can equal three," Reze answered.
"If you put it that way, it could equal four too," Denji immediately pointed out.
"In mathematics, 1+1 only equals 3 when calculated incorrectly. But for humans, as long as two people coming together can produce an effect greater than 2, they can unleash infinite potential," Arata explained.
"Does Teacher Arata mean that Denji and I should achieve an effect greater than 2 in the future?" Reze asked.
"One Bomb Devil and one Chainsaw Man. Both are immortal devils. If you team up, I imagine you'd be incredibly powerful."
"Reze, you're the Bomb Devil?!"
"That's right, Student Denji. See this pull ring on my neck? As long as I pull this, I can transform." Reze specifically showed him the pin on her neck.
"A pull cord just like mine!!" Denji exclaimed.
He thought Reze was just a regular devil. Now it turned out she was a Weapon Devil too, and just hearing the name made her sound incredibly strong.
"Your Master... wait, no... your Teacher is going to China tomorrow. I hope the two of you can cooperate well while I'm away."
"Rest assured, Teacher Arata. I will absolutely protect Student Denji while you're away."
"Protect me? How could I let a girl protect me?!" Denji protested.
"Student Denji, how about we have a sparring match?" Reze asked with a provocative tone.
"Sure, but we have to do it outside."
"Teacher Arata, are we allowed to spar?" Reze raised her hand and asked.
"You may. This way, the two of you can become more familiar with each other."
Arata nodded with satisfaction.
Afterward, the three of them left the classroom.
The rain was still pouring outside. The three stood at the entrance of the classroom hallway.
"Let's take off our clothes before going out. We'll catch a cold if our clothes get wet." Denji took the lead and stripped off his jacket.
"No need to take off your clothes. I told you two to spar as devils, not to 'spar' at anything else." Arata shut down Denji's sneaky little ulterior motives.
"It's fine. Besides, I don't want to get the clothes Teacher Arata gave me wet either."
As soon as her voice fell, a completely naked Reze appeared before their eyes.
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