A Creed In A Prison School

The yard fell into a stunned silence as Akihiko's words sank in. The boys froze, tools clattering to the ground as they exchanged incredulous glances.

"A punishment ?" Kiyoshi stammered, his face pale.

But Gakuto's eyes lit up with a suspiciously intense gleam. "Wait... does that mean the Vice President herself will be the one to administer said punishment?"

Andre's head snapped up from his usual trance-like admiration of Meiko, his massive hands trembling with anticipation. "Vice President's punishments... up close and personal..." His breathing grew heavy.

Shingo slapped Kiyoshi on the back. "Dude, this sounds insane, but... kind of genius?"

"No, it doesn't!" Kiyoshi hissed, trying to keep his voice down. "They're punishments, not rewards! What is wrong with you guys?"

Gakuto adjusted his glasses dramatically, a triumphant smirk creeping across his face. "Kiyoshi-dono, you lack vision. A man of culture recognizes that true discipline—"

Andre cut him off, his booming voice echoing across the yard. "Vice President! I will do my absolute best! Please punish me!"

Meiko's whip cracked against the ground, silencing the growing commotion. Her face burned with a mixture of fury and confusion as she glared at Akihiko. "What is the meaning of this nonsense?!"

Akihiko shrugged, unfazed by the chaos he'd unleashed. "Motivation, Shiraki-san. You wanted them to work harder, right? Looks like they're ready to give it their all now."

The boys nodded enthusiastically, each practically vibrating with energy.

"Y-yeah!" Gakuto stammered, gripping a shovel like it was a sword. "Let us fight for the glory of the Vice President's... um, discipline!"

Kiyoshi buried his face in his hands. "This is going to backfire so badly..."

Meiko adjusted her glasses, her voice low and menacing. "If you think I'll let this ridiculous scheme slide, you're sorely mistaken, Mochizuki."

Akihiko raised his hands in mock innocence. "I'm just here to help, Vice President. Let them prove themselves. They're eager."

Andre stepped forward, practically bouncing on his toes. "Please, Vice President-sama! I'll build faster than anyone! Let me show you!"

Meiko sighed, visibly restraining herself. "Fine. But if this little 'game' of yours slows them down, Mochizuki, you'll regret it."

Akihiko smirked. "Relax, Vice President. Trust me."

The boys scattered like frenzied ants, suddenly working with a zeal that bordered on terrifying.

"Faster! Stronger!" Gakuto shouted, wielding a hammer like a man possessed.

Andre carried multiple planks at once, his voice booming. "Anything for Vice President -sama!"

Even Shingo, usually the most level-headed, seemed caught up in the bizarre fervor. "Come on, Kiyoshi! Do you want to lose?!"

Kiyoshi groaned but reluctantly joined in. "This is insane..."

As the chaos in the yard unfolded, Akihiko noticed one of the boys lagging behind. Joe stood off to the side, hunched over and coughing violently into his handkerchief.

"Hrrgh! Hrrgh! Damn it... I'm too weak..." Joe muttered, his voice rasping as he doubled over. His eyes darted to a pile of wooden planks, his determination briefly flickering to life. "No! I must... contribute... for the Vice President!"

Gakuto, hammering nails with the precision of a lunatic, paused and called out, "Joe, my friend! You cannot falter now! Remember, history favors the bold!"

Joe straightened up, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away dramatically, his eyes blazing. "You're right, Gakuto. For the glory of Vice President's whip... I WILL RISE!"

Akihiko raised an eyebrow, watching Joe stagger toward the pile of planks. "Is he always this dramatic?" he muttered to Kiyoshi, who was trying and failing to look busy.

"Pretty much," Kiyoshi sighed. "Just wait, it gets weirder."

Joe grabbed a plank and hoisted it over his shoulder, veins popping in his thin arms. "Behold! The strength of my resolve!"

The plank immediately slipped from his grasp, clonking him on the head. He toppled to the ground with a thud, his handkerchief flying through the air like a battle flag.

"Joe!" Andre shouted, dropping his own load of planks to rush over. "Are you okay, brother?!"

Joe weakly held up a trembling hand, coughing even harder. "Do not mourn me...! " he croaked. "This is but a temporary setback... My body may be frail, but my spirit burns eternal! "

"Burning a bit too much," Akihiko muttered, smirking. These guys are crazy, how could such perverts exist? He could understand Mari in a way by seeing such weirdos exist.

Andre knelt dramatically beside Joe, tears streaming down his face. "Stay with me, Joe! Don't go toward the light!"

Joe clutched Andre's collar with his last ounce of strength. "Tell to Vice President... I did it for her..."

Meiko stomped over, whip snapping against the ground. "What the hell is going on here?! You're wasting time!"

Joe weakly tilted his head toward her, coughing again. "Vice President... I... I failed you..."

Meiko's brow twitched. "Get up, or I'll really give you something to cry about."

Joe's eyes widened, a spark of life returning to them. "Y-Yes, ma'am!" He scrambled to his feet, swaying slightly but determined to return to work.

Akihiko burst out laughing, earning a sharp glare from Meiko. "What's so funny, Mochizuki?"

He waved her off, grinning. "Nothing. Just enjoying the show. You've got quite the squad here."

Gakuto struck a heroic pose, wiping sweat from his brow. "We are not just a squad! We are comrades united by discipline and—"

Andre interrupted, his voice trembling. "By love for Vice President!"

Kiyoshi groaned, his face in his hands. "I'm surrounded by lunatics..."

Joe, still swaying on his feet, managed a weak thumbs-up. "For Vice President... Always..." before collapsing into another coughing fit.

Hana, leaning against the wall, finally broke her silence, looking at the boys with a disgusted look. "You weren't kidding, Mochizuki-san. These guys are insane."

Akihiko smirked, watching as Meiko's frustration grew. "Insane? Nah. Just... committed."

Meiko's whip cracked again, silencing the group. "Enough talking! Back to work, all of you! If this wall isn't done by sundown, you'll regret it!"

The boys immediately scrambled back into action, their energy renewed by both fear and enthusiasm. Akihiko crossed his arms, smirking as he leaned back.

This was going to be a long day.

Yeah, a long day.

XXXXX

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the school grounds in a warm, orange glow, Akihiko stood at the edge of the courtyard, his usual carefree grin replaced by a mask of stone-cold seriousness.

He adjusted the clasp of his hood, pulling it over his head. The black Assassin's robes fit snugly, the material sleek and efficient, with hidden compartments for weapons and tools. His bracers glinted faintly in the fading light, their metallic edges hinting at the lethal equipment concealed within.

"Time to leave," Akihiko muttered to himself.

The moon emerged from behind a thin veil of clouds as Akihiko slipped silently through the school's perimeter. The transformation was striking. Gone was the goofy, laid-back student who had spent the day orchestrating chaos in the yard.

Once clear of the school grounds, Akihiko activated the communicator embedded in his wrist bracer. A faint crackle preceded a familiar voice.

"Kana, report," he said, his tone measured and commanding.

Kana's calm reply came through immediately. "Perimeter is clear. I'm in position overlooking the district. All quiet for now."

Akihiko nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Good. Stay sharp."

He continued down a deserted alley, his footsteps silent on the damp pavement. The weight of the mission pressed against his chest. After the Ryokai incident, the Templars had intensified their attacks. Each passing day brought new reports of assassinated operatives and compromised safehouses. Tonight, however, was a chance to strike back.

Reaching an inconspicuous side street, Akihiko leaned against the wall and tapped his communicator again. "Ryo, status?"

"West side secure," Ryo's voice replied, tinged with a hint of amusement. "No sign of trouble yet. I'm starting to think these Templars are scared of us."

Akihiko allowed himself a brief smirk. "Let's not get cocky, Ryo. Haru?"

"Inside and ready," came Haru's steady voice. "No disturbances, but I've identified the main targets."

"Good work," Akihiko said. "Hold your positions. I need to see the Mentor before we proceed."

The communicator went silent as Akihiko vaulted up a fire escape, his movements precise and fluid. At the top of the building, the sprawling city of Tokyo stretched out before him, its lights twinkling like stars. For a moment, he allowed himself to take it in, the beauty of the city.

While those stupid boys were in prison, he was risking his life for an order that had dictated his life since birth. Could he have a normal life one day? He doesn't know, but for now he has to focus on his mission.

He turned, leaping effortlessly across rooftops until he reached an inconspicuous rooftop garden. Hidden within its tranquil greenery was a single wooden door, weathered by time. Akihiko entered, descending into a dimly lit chamber where his grandfather, Kenichi Mochizuki, waited.

Kenichi Mochizuki, the Mentor of the Japanese Brotherhood, and the grandfather of Akihiko, looked up from a map sprawled across a large table. His silver hair gleamed in the candlelight, and his piercing gaze met Akihiko's.

"You're late," Kenichi said, his voice calm but firm.

Akihiko knelt before him. "Apologies, Mentor. The school kept me longer than expected."

Kenichi gestured for him to rise, his expression softening. "You've done well balancing both lives. But tonight is critical. The Templars grow bolder by the day."

Kenichi's expression darkened. He held up a dossier and slid it across the low table toward Akihiko. The young Assassin picked it up, his brows furrowing as he read the name: Maxime Gorm.

"Who is he?" Akihiko asked, looking up.

Kenichi's fist slammed onto the table, the force reverberating through the room. His anger was palpable. "Maxime Gorm is more than just another Templar. He's a monster who betrayed our Order. 13 years ago, he led the extermination of our Kyushu camp. Over two dozen of our finest, men, women, and children... massacred without mercy. I lost good friends that day. The Kyushu branch was one of our strongest, and he wiped them out like they were nothing."

Akihiko's grip tightened on the dossier. "And we let him live?"

Kenichi's eyes burned with fury. "It wasn't by choice. The Templars covered his tracks well. We believed him dead for years until recently. His name resurfaced after Ryokai Industries fell, and intel confirmed his presence in Tokyo. He's been orchestrating the recent attacks against us, rallying Templar forces for a larger offensive."

Akihiko nodded, his jaw set. "What do you need me to do?"

Kenichi leaned forward, his voice low and commanding. "Tonight, you infiltrate his estate. It's heavily fortified, but we've identified a window of opportunity. He's hosting a private gathering for high-ranking Templar officials. Your mission is twofold: eliminate Maxime Gorm and recover any intel he's gathered on our operations. This is a chance to cripple their momentum."

Akihiko's gaze hardened. "Understood."

Kenichi stood, placing a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "This isn't just another mission, Akihiko. Maxime Gorm is dangerous. He won't hesitate to kill you if given the chance. Do not underestimate him."

"Value your life more than this mission. I don't want to lose another son." Kenichi's tone left no room for discussion.

The atmosphere in the room took a melancholic turn for a moment before Akihiko turned to leave, leaving his face hidden by the shadow of his hood.

"I won't," Akihiko promised, bowing slightly before turning to leave.

An hour later, Akihiko perched on the rooftop overlooking Maxime Gorm's sprawling estate. The mansion was surrounded by tall walls, patrolling guards, and surveillance cameras. The gathering inside was lavish, but beneath its elegance lay the sinister workings of the Templars.

He activated his communicator. "Kana, what's the situation?"

"Sniper teams positioned along the west and north sectors," Kana replied. "Guards are heavily armed, but there's a blind spot near the south terrace."

"Good work. Ryo, Haru, are you ready to move?"

"Standing by," Haru confirmed.

"All clear," Ryo added.

Akihiko exhaled, steadying himself. He adjusted the straps of his hidden blades, the metallic sheen of the black assassin insignia on his chest reflecting faintly in the moonlight.

It would be a lie to say that he wasn't stressed, this mission is important for the Assassins. His grandfather trusted him to eliminate Maxime though he is only a child.

Akihiko is known in the order as a genius who has never failed a single mission, but this one will be the most difficult he will have to do, he himself not being sure if he can succeed.

But, an assassin always follows orders.

If he were to die tonight, he already imagines Mari personally creating a VIP tomb for him while shouting with joy. Suppressing his slight smile, Akihiko prepared to launch the signal.

"Tonight will be your death."