Lesson Learned

You have to try

"HEY!" Mitsuko yelled. "You know what!? You're the worst kind of bitch. In fact, you don't deserve the title of a teacher—You're a, you're a TRAITOR-BITCH!!"

But, Bitch-sensei had gone, leaving them all locked up.

"Uh..." Rio and her classmates looked on uncertainly. "Not sure about—"

"She's a Traitor-Bitch!" Mitsuko snapped, turning to her classmates. "She doesn't deserve to be our teacher anymore!" She kicked the bars. "Stupid bitch!"

"Mitsuko, that's enough," Koro-sensei reprimanded calmly, sitting down on the ground. "While I'm disappointed in Ms Irina's decision as well, she is still your teacher and deserves a manner of respect." He rubbed his chin. "That being said her behaviour is a high level of bitchiness."

Kurahashi sighed, sitting down on the ground. "I knew we should have gone after her when she stormed off that day..."

Yada nodded, looking sad. "Who knows what the Reaper did to convince her to join him?" She looked over at Mitsuko. "I'm upset too, Mitsuko, but we have to try to understand it from Bitch-sensei's point of view as well."

Mitsuko scowled, crossing her arms stubbornly. "Doesn't make her less of a traitorous bitch..."

Rio wrapped her arms around her, kneeling down. "It's okay."

That made her a relax a little, sighing. "I just..." Mitsuko grimaced. "I thought we were friends..."

"I know." Rio sighed, giving her a squeeze.

"I'll try the radio," Koro-sensei said after a moment of silence. "We need to be available if Karasuma needs our help!"

Her classmates nodded in agreement, most of them watching as their teacher fiddled with the communication radio to get it to work.

"...I think Bitch-sensei is just insecure about everything," Kurahashi said quietly. "She seemed really hurt after what Mr Karasuma said. We don't know how bad her past really is. She probably has a good reason for not letting people get close..."

Mitsuko's brow furrowed, staring at the ground.

Insecure...

Her thoughts drifted to all the small hesitant smiles and the looks Bitch-sensei had let slip out throughout the months.

Then the memories of her reaction to the gift she'd given her came back; she'd looked so surprised.

I guess she doesn't have many real friends...

"She told me she grew up in a dark place," Yada said softly, keeping her gaze low. "I don't think she's ever really felt safe." She frowned. "A life like that...it would make it hard to trust people."

Mitsuko grimaced, feeling something twist in her stomach.

An explosion from the distance set them all on high alert.

"What was that?!" Kayano exclaimed, looking around worriedly.

Kurahashi rushed to her feet and grabbed the radio.

"Mr Karasuma!" Kurahashi shook the radio. "Mr Karasuma!?"

"Can't he hear us?" Nagisa asked worriedly.

Itona frowned. "Keep trying, the signal should still work."

Mitsuko stood up as the rest of the class gathered around the radio with Koro-sensei.

"Mr Karasuma?" Kurahashi repeated desperately. "Karasuma! Are you alright!?"

"What is it?" Karasuma's voice finally came through, sounded broken up in places.