Extracurricular Activities? Could be Dangerous...

Madame Cerrine!

I finally found ya! Got something for ya, right here.

Madame?!

Ahhh, I'm sorry! I meant Miss, err, Professor Cerrine!

Oh? Isn't this the same kid from before?

It is indeed, Aldo.

Looks like the personality change stuck.

*giggle* Did I not say he had potential? He really is SO full of promise.

Now, what do you have for me?

So, I got a message with an instruction to hand it directly to ya in person.

A message? Odd. All right, thank you.

O-Of course! Anythin' ya need!

Well done, dear. You deserve a treat for such good behavior.

A treat?! Awesome!

BOOYA! It's gonna be great, I can't wait!

Purposefully hand-delivered, too... Very odd indeed.

Oh yeah, I forgot that in the future you can send and receive letters instantly. There's no need for physical ones, right.

Precisely. Not unless the sender wants to conceal their identity, of course.

Well, what does it say?

"I have something very important to tell you concerning one of your students. Meet me at the airport A.S.A.P."

That's all it says. It might be just a prank, but for some reason I have a bad feeling about this...

Then we should make sure. I'll go with you, if you like.

Yes, that would be wise. Thank you, Aldo. Let's head to the airport.

I think this is the place.

Hey! Good to see ya, Teach'!

Are you the person who asked me to come here?

That's right. I got somethin' I needja help for, y'see.

Oh? I'm not sure I understand. Why should - or would - I do what you ask of me?

Well, feel free to say no. But who knows what could happen to this little lady if ya do!

What? What do you mean?

See for yaself!

Stop! Let me go!

Wait, that kid is...!

Oh, my!

Miss Cerrine...help!

Don't worry, I'll save you, I swear! Just hold on!

Oi! Get 'er outta here!

So, Teach, just do as yer told and I'll let the girl go unharmed. But if ya squeal to anyone before the job's done, yer never gonna see her again. Got it?

Crystal clear. I'll do as you ask as long as you do not lay a finger on the girl.

Great! Then let's get right to it. This way.

Hey, Cerrine. That girl they kidnapped. Isn't she the one who tried to fool you into thinking she was mugged before?

Yes. She's been absent from class for days. Now I know why.

How'd you know she wasn't in class? Were you looking out for her?

You could say I've kept an eye on her ever since that little incident.

Then do you have any idea who the guys that took her might be?

Well, I've had reports that her behavior has been unsavory of late. According to student gossip, she's been seen hanging around town with known delinquents and the like.

I see. So she's been a sitting duck for those types for a while.

Oi! Quit yer dallyin'! Get a move on, will ya?

Regardless, the safety of my students is my top priority. I have no choice but to hear these scoundrels out.

You're right. Don't worry, I'll have your back while you do.

Much appreciated. Now let's go.

Ya really need to hurry it up, Teach.

I've noticed that you gentlemen seem to be part of some sort of underworld organization. Who are you, exactly?

Hur hur hur. We, M'lady... Are the Midnight Seekers!

Mightnight...Seekers?

I've heard the Midnight Seekers are a lawless gang of thugs with their fingers in quite the number of dangerous pies.

Yer well informed, ain'tcha? So you know you better cooperate... or else. Right, Teach?

......

I do. Fine. What would you have me do?

As we speak, a good friend'a mine's looking at jail time, all thanks to the EGPD. Unless you go an' break him out, that is.

What? But that would be illegal!

Yeah. And?

Calm yourself, Aldo. With my student's life on the line we have no choice but to agree. Okay, we'll do it. Leave it to us.

If that's what you really want.

Woah! Cerrine!

When you said, "leave it to us," I didn't think that was what you meant!

Tee hee hee. Well, it's what I'm good at.

Sure, but assaulting agents of the EGPD? Surely that can't be worth the consequences?

Under the circumstances we don't have time to split hairs, Aldo. This way we do it risk-free: no fuss, no cameras, no dirt.

......

Hey, I'm free! I heard the boys were cooking up an escape plan but I didn't think it'd work!

Man, yer pretty good for a woma, Huh?

Whaaaaaaat?!

Silence! I will not tolerate needless chatter! Tell your associate that my job here is done and I did it well. Understood?

Let's hurry back to their leader, Aldo. My pupil needs me!

Right! The meeting place was Route 99, I think. Let's go!

You da best, Teach! Taking out the EGPD like that is really somethin', I tell ya!

Yes, yes. Now, where's my student? Release her at once!

Really, truly, da best teacher, huh? Puttin' yaself in harm's way for some kid.

Y'know, it'd be interestin' to find out how far into harm's way you'll go.

What's the meaning of this?

Tell ya what, I'll give you back your precious student if you can take a few knocks from this thing without fightin' back.

Hey, that's not what we agreed! Come on, Cerrine! Let's take these guys down and be done with this charade!

It's all right, Aldo. The safest plan is always the smartest, and I can take it as good as I give it. Keep quiet, stay back and watch. I can take it.

Hoo, boy! You really got spunk for a teacher. I respect that! Let's see how long it'll hold out!

Ngh!

Agh!

Cerrine!

My...my... Finished already? Then let my student...go...

Heh heh! Impressive stamina but I ain't through with ya yet, Teach'!

......

How about now, huh? I won't judge ya, if ya beg me to stop!

Quit it already! You've done enough. So just stop! Don't hurt her anymore!

Shut yer trap, you!

Kyaa!

Ain'tcha forgettin' yer the one who asked me for this, huh? It's too late to be havin' regrets! 'Cause I was never gonna let her walk away once ya got her here!

B-But that isn't what you promised!

Hey, Teach', here's a lesson for ya!

No!

Yer a dunderhead! Got done good by yer own pupil! How's it feel knowin' ya put yerself on the line for nothin', huh?

Shut up. It wasn't "nothing."

I can finally say that I gave my all to help a student of mine... And that's worth more than you could ever know.

Act tough all ya want, lady, but you can't do nothin'. Yer finished.

Cerrine, stay back and rest. I'll take care of this coward!

Don't make me laugh, Aldo. Do you really think a few love taps are enough to keep me out for the count?

O-Oh, I guess not. Since you're really strong and all.

Precisely. Now, you! Prepare yourself! To learn the joys of obedience!

Damn it! This wasn't how things were supposed ta go!

Look here! If ya take even a single step closer, yer gonna regret it! Ya don't wanna make an enemy of the Midnight Seekers, y'hear me?!

Tee hee. Don't I?

It don't matter how strong ya are yer no match for our group, I'm tellin' y...

Enough!

Who are these guys? More members of the Midnight Seekers?

That's right! And the guy behind me? He's one of the scariest guys in our entire gang!

Now yer really gonna get it! Prepare to taste the regret of goin' against a member of the Midnight Seekers!

......

......

Was my instruction insufficient?

M-Madame! My apologies!

Whaaa?!

Since when did you start laying hands upon poor, defenseless students?

You know I don't like that kind of behavior. You must think yourselves so very important to go against my word.

N-No, Madame, I swear! We'd never go against yer word in a billion years, no matter what!

But I'm guessin' a lug at the bottom of the chain wouldn't know any better. Listen up, ya scrawny maggot. Few years back, this lady here took the top spot in our little Seeker family. We called her the "Queen o' One Thousand" 'cause she had more than a thousand men waitin' on her hand and foot.

Y-You mean... The person who became the gang leader at age 15 and never lost it until they stepped down...is that woman there?

That's right. An' all us chiefs in the Midnight Seekers are still but servants of our glorious Queen.

I...I... Wh-What have I done?

Now, ensure this good-for-nothing runt is adequately disciplined this time. As for the fugitives who escaped the EGPD, I shall see to it that they turn themselves in immediately.

Yes ma'am! Forgive us for the trouble!

You! Knucklehead! Show some humility before the Queen! You'll really get yours later for yer disrespect!

E-Eek!

Worry no longer, my dear. The Midnight Seekers will not trouble you further. You're safe now.

I... Miss Cerrine, I, umm...

Later. First, let's get back to Elzion.

We should be fine to stop here.

Now, you may go home, go to school and otherwise do as you wish from now on. Well, except for skip classes. Seriously, don't do that.

......

Don't you want to ask me anything? Like why I did what, um, what I did?

I don't need to. You hate me, don't you? The stunt you pulled before already made me well aware of that, don't worry.

Then... Why did you put yourself in harm's way to save me?

Hmm. Why indeed? I suppose you just seemed so... Unhappy. And I can't sit back and let a child suffer all alone.

I...

That's exactly what you said when I first met you!

What?!

But if you meant it, why didn't you talk to me when I needed help the most?!

When you used to talk to me, I had the strength to keep on going, you know? All the advice you gave me about things with my dad and my mom... Is everyone around me just a liar?

I just don't know you anymore! And I don't want to! So leave me alone from now on, okay?!

Oh, I see now. That's why.

What do you mean?

Nothing, really. I simply remembered something I have to do.

(If I fail, the reason I became a teacher will be for naught...)