Guh, guh, guh...!

　Today, my cheerful screams could be heard in the kitchen again. My body, which has been used to Phase 2 for a long time, is starting to get paralyzed with pain, but Sugiura's guy gets very worried when I'm being shaved without telling him, so I continue to scream every day out of a sense of duty for my cute student. However, it seems that my impromptu performance is irritating Sugiura's spirit in its own way, and this guy still looks uncomfortable. What do you want me to do?

　My name is Katsubushi Dashihiko.
　I'm a former homeroom teacher at Kamishiro High School, and now I'm Katsubushi Dashihiko.

　I don't have to explain it anymore, do I? We've tripped to another world. All my lovely students became monsters, and I became a bonito-fish. I've been living secretly in the kitchen at Sugiura ever since. You know, this is really disgusting.
　By the way, I've acquired a unique ability called "infinite regeneration". This is the phase 2 I mentioned before. I can regenerate my own body no matter how much I'm chopped off. Convenient, right?　It's no wonder they call it cheat ability. As long as I'm not a katsuobushi.

　When I mentioned this, Aya Sugiura, who is in charge of the kitchen of Class 4, said with a dumbfounded look on her face, "Ms. Sugiura, a katsuobushi that can make an infinite amount of dashi broth is not a good idea.

Ms. Sugiura said with a dumbfounded face, "A bonito-flavoured pork belly that can make an infinite amount of soup stock is just cheating!

　Indeed, you may be right.

　Today, the students' stomachs are filled with the broth from my shavings. It's a real pleasure to be a teacher.
　By the way, I heard that there are some changes in this class that I don't like from a teacher's point of view.

"Mr. Sugiura-san, is it true that we have a new student in this class?

　What I was going to ask, the guidebook bookman said.

'Ah, yes. The human Serena and Zekou-kun, the oga. It seems that Utsurogi-kun and his friends rescued them.
'Human!　I knew there were humans in this world, too.

　Ms. Motono said in a very upbeat voice, "I know how you feel. I know how you feel. After all, the only creatures I've seen since I came to this world are Sugiura (Scylla), Hikino (Wisp), Ryuzaki (Dragonoid) and Honno-san. To be honest, I'm not even sure they're living beings as far as Hino and Motono-san are concerned.
　It's been a month since they came to this world. The students must have just started to get used to living in a world full of monsters. Now that a human has been thrown into the mix, the tension must be soaring. Of course, there were students who looked almost human, such as Koganei (High Elf), Sakuma (Succubus), Benii (Vampire) and Inugami (War Wolf), but even so, the fact that they are human must have given them new hope.

　However, Sugiura's expression is strangely bitter.

''What's the matter?　Sugiura.
That Serena seems like a very clumsy girl.
Hmm...?
''I can't help you in your search, and even when I go around helping the base personnel, I keep failing...''
I see.

　Well, there are students everywhere who are not on point. In my class, it was the same with Koganei.
　But I think that's not a good idea in the extreme situation when your life is on the line.

It's fine at first, but I'm sure the dissatisfaction of my classmates will gradually build up.
''That's right. It's going to be another burden for the chairperson........
''Well, if you have any problems, bring Ryuzaki back to this kitchen again. All I can do is consult with him and make him take the broth, but...
Uh-huh.

　Shhh, shhh, Sugiura nodded as he sharpened the knife.

'Well, if it looks like it's going to be tough. The current chairman of the committee has quite a few other kids supporting him, so he seems to be doing okay.''
'Well..... I'm both happy and lonely........

　My joy, of course, is for my students who are growing up on their own, away from me. I think that children may be less children than adults think they are, just as adults are less adults than they think they are. It's the same as adults are not as mature as children think they are.
　I wondered what would happen now that Gourin was gone, but Ryuzaki was holding the class together properly. It was a good thing.

　When I was feeling sorry for myself, Sugiura, who had finished sharpening the knife, suddenly said

You know what? I'm sure that Serena-san will be in charge of the kitchen today.
Oh, wow.
They might be here soon. So, doctor....
'Yeah, I know, and as a homeroom teacher in year two and four, I have to make sure I say hello to all the new students!
No, it's not...

　Just as Sugiura was about to say something, there was a clattering sound of running towards the cafeteria and a girl came through the kitchen's goodwill.

''Here you are!　Sugiura, this is Serena!　Have a great day!
'Uh, yeah ...'

　Sugiura gave a rare bitter smile and scratched her cheeks.

　I turned my gaze to Serena, the transfer student who had made a dashing appearance. Since it's a human from another world, I had imagined what she really looks like, but she's a Caucasoid race with blonde hair, blue eyes, and bare skin as white as porcelain. Since the outside of the dungeon is said to be a reddish-brown wilderness, though, it was possible that they could be brown-skinned Mongoloids and the like. I like brown girls, by the way. It's even better when they have a healthy tan on the sports club, but it's a shame, because the promising star of the track and field club, Himemizu, seems to be the type of girl who takes good care of her skin with UV rays.
　Well, that's okay. Anyway, here's Serena. My mother's side of the family ran a long-established fabric store, so I know what I'm talking about, but the clothes Serena wears are made of the highest quality fabrics. It was constructed with an emphasis on ease of movement, and she wore point armor and the like over it. I wonder if she is actually a warrior of the noble class.

　I greet Serena in as fresh a voice as possible.

''Hi, so you're the new student Serena!　I am Katsuragi Idehiko!　I'm your homeroom teacher for year two, class four!
'Heeeeeeeeeee!　The wooden sword speaks!

　This guy seems to have a good eye for observation, to suddenly guess the source of his voice. I am not to be underestimated.
　Sugiura put his hand on his forehead and sighed heavily. What's the matter with you, Sugiura? What's that yare-yare attitude.

You are not a wooden sword, Serena, I am not a wooden sword. It's a katsuobushi. You may not be familiar with it, but...

　For starters, I'll make sure to make corrections where they need to be made, exactly.

'Eh, ah, haha...'
'They say it's the hardest fermented food in the world. I don't know how they do it here. The first step in making it is to make the bonito...
Hey, sir!
"Whoa!

　Sugiura grabbed me with one of her octopus legs and moved to the back of the kitchen and whispered an earful to me.

''You know, I haven't told Serena-san that we've transitioned!
"(Is that so?)　(I don't think you need to go to the trouble of doing something so sluggish...)
I agree with you, but it's the Chairman's idea!　(You have to obey me, doctor!)

　Ummm, okay. I groaned. I can't think of much of an advantage of hiding our situation from Serena here. Well, there is no possibility that she is a demon hunter sent from the human country and is trying to sneak into this class and destroy it from the inside, but that would be too perceptive, as expected.
　After all, Ryuzaki might be worrying about it all by himself and thinking too hard about it.

　I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it. I'm not just a teacher, I'm a mere flesh-and-blood man.

"Well, um, what's the matter with you...?

　Serena nodded her head in a dismissive manner.

'Oh no, yes. I'm Katsugari Idehiko. Katsuobushi. Feel free to call me Sensei!
'You're a teacher!　I understand!
'Good and straightforward reply!　And as for the rest of what I just said, katsuobushi is...

　Serena nodded with a serious look on her face as I generously shared my knowledge as a dry goods man's son.

I see..... I see.....
You understand? That's a good boy, Sugiura.
'Uh, uh, yeah...'

　Sugiura's temples were twitching strangely. What in the world could he be so angry about? Maybe she didn't have enough calcium. Maybe it's the doctor's infirmity. Maybe it's a lack of nutrition for the cooks.
　Sugiura took a deep breath once and regained his composure, then turned to Serena and said.

''Once again, I'm Aya Sugiura. Serena-san is going to help me in the kitchen now, have you ever cooked before?
Well, well.... At home, it was usually the cook or your father who made it for us...
I see. Well, I guess we'll just have to do it. In the meantime, can you scrape the doctor for me?
'What?　That's difficult to do all of a sudden... but I'll do my best!

　Serena took the knife from Sugiura and grabbed me with a grim face. Since she says she's a spearman, I thought it would feel more calloused and lumpy, but the palm is as delicate and soft as it looks. It's moist and comfortable. No, you can't have moisture in your bonito fist.
　Well, what is it? If I'm going to let Serena scrape it off, it looks like I don't have to scream an unnecessary scream either. I'll give you some simple advice in return. It's hard to shave them thin.

"Okay?　Serena, the first thing you need to do is cut me down, but I'm hard at first, so...
Here we go!

　Come on!　Vine!　Jesus Christ!

Gyaaah!
Serena!

　I was the first member of Class 4 of the second year who had been transferred to this world to see the natural blood of a human being from this world, a memorable experience.




　As expected, it was reckless to make them shave bonito flesh from the start. Sugiura apologized to Serena and called Hakuba to tend to his wounds, and then he decided to have her cut cucumbers this time. They came from Hanazono's vegetable garden. Among the many vegetables, cutting cucumbers would be one of the less difficult.
　However, Serena blasted fresh blood again.

　After having the white horse heal her wounds, Serena then confiscated the knife and was left to wash the dishes. But, as I thought, or rather, as it should be, she broke the plates, and then she was entrusted with serving, but as she should have been, she made a fiasco of splattering the food on the floor.
　As far as I know, Aya Sugiura is a relatively mild-mannered and rational student. There is a methodical part of her that gets irritated by poor arrangements, but she is still able to digest her anger within herself and express constructive opinions.

　Witnessing that Sugiura struggling to suppress the urge to yell at me, I chilled my liver (no).
　Every time Serena made a mistake, Sugiura's anger rose, but in the end she took a deep breath and said to her, "Thank you.

'Thank you. Serena-san, you can go up now for the day.

　Serena was a little puzzled by those words, but eventually she smiled as if she'd figured it all out and left the kitchen with her head down and trudged away.

'You've put up with a lot. Great job, Sugiura.
Yeah. I admire you too, Mr. Sugiura.

　When Honno-san and I praised her one after another, Sugiura gave a bitter smile.

Well, I have a feeling someone else will lose their temper if I put up with it, though.

　It does. I feel bitter about it too. From the looks of it, Serena is not doing this with any ill intentions. And that doesn't mean that she can't do everything, either.
　It's a teacher's duty to find the good points of the students and develop them. With that said, Serena is different from other students. There's no unofficial report, no handover, and I haven't been able to sit down with her and analyze her character. She's a completely unknown student.

　It's really frustrating to not be able to move around on your own two feet in these situations.

''I think the whole class should try to communicate with Serena a bit more, though.
Does that mean we'll be more open to each other?
I feel like we don't know each other too well right now to really get to know each other.

　We should properly tell Serena what's going on here and get more details from her too. Why don't you do that and make her do the same job as the other students? Is Ryuzaki afraid of 'special treatment' and causing the animosity of other classmates?

　Well, Serena is more like a foreign student than a transfer student. It's not hard to understand that she can't grasp the distance between them.
　I know that this is the time for teachers to come into play, but I don't know how far I can stick out in this katsuobushi outfit. I sigh heavily in my mind.

　In fact, it won't be long from now that I'll be telling Serena about the situation in this second year 4 class.
　But that day triggered another incident that the class would never forget.

　It was the attack of the Red Wing Demon (Red Wing).

　My beloved student was kidnapped or seriously injured, an incident that was an abomination to me.




"Well...

　It was only after all that I heard what happened.
　Utsurogi was mortally wounded and Koganei was taken away. It was truly an unearthly event. Thinking about the disaster that had happened to the students, I was chagrined too.

"I'm sorry, Sugiura, if I had been more careful...!
'Ya, I don't think there was anything I could have done about this, even if the doctor had been firm...'

　An unidentified red winged demon. The attack by it came right in the middle of a class meeting in the cafeteria. It seems that Ryuzaki and the others also realized once again the need to exchange information with Serena in earnest. I felt it was too late for me, but well, urgent situations make people myopic. Maybe it's because I'm halfway out of the mosquito net that I was able to notice these things.
　At any rate, the collapse of the class around Serena can be avoided. Both Honno-san and I were honestly happy when we heard about this. It would be even better if this was a chance for Serena to blend in with the class.

　Just when I was thinking that, the Red Winged Demon attacked.
　I had heard that the red-winged demon was apparently the one who had annihilated Serena's friends. I don't know what business he had with this class and my lovely students, but from the way he spoke, he clearly had a bite to this otherworldly trip.
　When I heard this story, my guts (or lack thereof) were churning. Not only did he get my students involved, he kidnapped one of them and seriously injured one of them. If I had a limb, I would have punched him in the face.

''I'm sorry Sugiura, if I were stronger...!
You're a katsuobushi, so it's only natural that you're weaker than everyone else.
"I'm not a teacher!　I couldn't stop Soraki and Koganei from getting hurt badly.......!
It can't be helped. This time it's a matter of...

　Sugiura tells me that, but it's hard to dispel the feeling of helplessness that dominates my entire body.

'Oh, God. You can't be so gloomy, Sensei. You'll get humid.

　Sugiura grabs me by the octopus legs and starts to sear me with the flames.

'Oh, burn me some more......... I'm like this, I deserve to be burned at the stake.......
"Sensei, you're a bonito-flavored katsuobushi with a mental capacity of tofu...
'That's right. I'm a rotten fish in my body and a rotten bean in my heart...
Mr. Sugiura-san, you're in a very serious condition...

　Honno-san also sounded a little worried. But I'm not such a fine man to be worried about.

　What kind of a teacher are you if you can't save your students from danger? No matter how high and mighty I am, at the end of the day, I'm just a big-mouthed, silly boy. And now I don't even have a mouth. I have nothing. Nothingness. Nothingness.
　A bad teacher who has not been able to do anything that should be done as an adult. That's what I am.

"I can't help it, Mr. Teacher...

　Sugiura said and put my body on the shelf with a rattling motion.

''Sensei, there's one student I'd like you to consult with.
What kind of advice can you possibly give me?　I can't even fulfill my minimal mission as a teacher.
'You can worry about it all you want, but is dismissing a student who is giving you an SOS for your own reasons what a teacher is supposed to be?'
Mmm....

　When I get those words, I shut up too.

　It's my situation that's bothering me. If there are students who want to learn from me as a teacher, no matter how miserable and disgusting I look, I should probably be the one to deal with them, no matter how brave I am.
　It is true that I'm a bad katsuobushi who doesn't do the bare minimum as an adult, but that doesn't mean I can't continue to fulfill my mission as an adult.

　Being an adult is hard.

All right. Let's talk about it. I'm sure everyone has a hard time with this situation...

　Sugiura walked out of the diner through the Goodwill, and soon after that, he brought a girl with him.

''Gu........''

　I can't help but gasp.
　The one who is slumped over with a face that looks like she's about to cry is the rumored transfer student, Serena.

''Teacher......... Please scold Serena for being careless and incompetent........

　Serena said, looking terribly depressed.

''What's going on?　Selena, it's not a good idea to demean yourself.

　As he says it, the boomerang of the words he throws at me stabs me as hard as he can.

'Sensei, I'm a bad person. No matter what I did, I was always dragging everyone down, and I couldn't even save Utsurogi-san and Koganei-san this time. If only I, if I had been stronger...!
'No, no, I don't think Serena's firmness in this matter would have helped...?
'But!　If I were stronger...!
Anyway, Serena's a human, she's weaker than a monster, right?
'But!　Me!　What kind of a knight's apprentice are we if we can't save our people from danger!　No matter how much he tries to talk big or show off his fighting spirit, at the end of the day, he's just a big-mouthed big boy!　I'm a useless person who can't even do the bare minimum as a fellow human being, that's who I am!

　This guy must have been listening to our conversation earlier.
　When I glanced at Sugiura, she was boiling water in a pot while humming something.

　You son of a b*tc*.

　Well, you knew this was going to happen and you brought Serena with you. Someone who has the exact same problem as me is beyond difficult to handle. No matter what words of comfort you try to give him, it will only sound like you're trying to justify yourself.
　If you don't put your heart on it, your words won't reach them. That's my credo as a teacher. That's why, when I respond to a student's concerns with sincere words, I have to believe those words from the bottom of my heart. This one is quite a challenge.

　But that's just my situation. I, who Serena is relying on, shouldn't take such circumstances into consideration.

Okay?　Serena, what's the least you can do as a companion?
'What?　Um, that's, uh......... Rescuing a friend in distress or something like that...
You know what? He thinks there's no such thing as a minimum standard of behavior.
Eh....

　Serena is confused by my words. It was pretty hard to lie to my own mind, but I still had to spit out some words that were pleasant to my ears.

''In the end, that's just a framework someone has applied from the outside. Everyone is different in what they can do. No one can fit perfectly into that framework. Serena has worked hard, and the doctor knows it well.
But...... It's no good, it's useless!　And I'm so bypassed and incompetent!
'You think that way because you think in a framework. Serena, you need to be more free. And believe in yourself.
What part of me do you want me to believe?

　Mmmm, tough guy. That's as good as it gets. Now that's exactly what I am. There's no way I can convince her with words I don't agree with.
　But I'm a teacher nonetheless. I have a duty to help her with her problems.

　If I can't save even one student, I can't save myself.

　This is the last thing we need.

"Sugiura, cut me down!
Okay.

　Sugiura took the knife and placed the blade against my body as if he had been waiting for it. With his expert hands, he produced one, then two thin shavings. I let out a scream.

''Gwaaaaah!''
Sir?
Don't turn away, Serena!　Listen!　Even I couldn't do anything about Soraki and Koganei's plight!　There was nothing we could do!　If you're powerless, I'm powerless!　It's the same old shit!　But... oh!　Hey, that hurts!　Something seriously hurts!

　The pain is so intense it almost makes me cringe, as if my nerves are being directly scraped away. But I don't have a body flexible enough to wriggle.

'But!　But, Serena!　There's something I can do about that!　There's only one thing I can do!　It's tiny, but I'm sure it means something!
You call that what it is?
Yes!

　Sugiura threw my shavings into the pot. The kitchen was gradually filled with the fragrant aroma of the bonito broth.
　Sugiura scooped up some of the broth with a ladle and served it to Serena.

Drink, Serena. It's the broth from your teacher.
Yes, yes....

　Serena took the bowl and gently put her mouth on it. The bonito broth that was removed from me slowly entered her mouth and was carried down her throat and into her stomach.

''Delicious........''

　Serena muttered a word to herself.

''Delicious, is........''
I know.

　I nodded, my voice gentle.

'It's the least I can do. But you drank it and said it was delicious. I'm sure that's worth it. I'm not able to save my dearest friends, I'm a helpless and helpless man, but it will mean a lot to me.
Sir....
Serena, you have it in you, too. First, you have to try everything you can do, everything you know, to find that unique broth. You have to find the unique dashi that only you can produce.
''Yes......... Thank you..........

　Serena bobbed her head with a slight tear in her voice. The drops that spill down her cheeks add a salty taste to my bonito broth. That's good, too. The more tears I shed, the more the soup tastes different. And so we arrive at a taste that only Serena can produce.

"Who's going to cry, Serena? Now, let's race to that sunset...
Sir!
Whoa!

　Serena, as if she was finally impressed, hugged me tightly. From the side, the scene would only look like a girl holding a wooden sword.

''Sir!　Thank you very much!　I'll do my best........
Oh, yeah. Oh.......... But no, this is, um........

　No, it's not quite.... That's pretty good. Serena seems to have been the type of person to dress thin. I don't know what the average is in this world, but if it's this at the age of 16, I think it's very promising for the future.
　I wanted to gently stroke her head as it was, but of course I didn't have the means to do it. Well, if she did this to me when I was human, I think I would have been lectured by the vice principal again.

　What a waste. Like this was a good thing.




　After that, Serena seems to have told Ryuzaki and the others everything. I heard that Ryuzaki and the others also told Serena everything.

　A few more days later, I was moved with Honno-san to the heavy duty galley kitchen, which was in the middle of refurbishment. The engine and caterpillar were installed. And after the refurbishment of the ship's hull was completed, the ship could be moved for the time being. I was surprised to hear that a heavy cruiser was being converted to a land-based battleship, though. There's a limit to the extent of over-technology. I heard that this is the result of Kurumori's (Gremlin) race ability being fully utilized.
　So we arrive at Serena's hometown. I found out that Serena is actually a princess, and I also had a three-way conversation with her mother, but I'll talk about that next time when I have time.