LONG AUTHOR'S NOTE ALERT!

Okay, so as you might have twigged from plot summary, this is an SYOC, and the characters submitted will form the majority of the Class 3E in the year this story is set, which is three decades after Assassination Classroom. Although this prologue is from Karasuma's viewpoint, the rest of the story will be from my own OC's POV.

As I have another multi-chapter story that needs finishing, this won't be regularly updated for a while, but I am gathering the OCs now because it'll make it easier for me when I do start updating regularly. WHICH WILL HAPPEN, I promise. Also, I am spreading out character introductions so that they are not all clumped into one or two chapters, although the majority will be introduced when the focus shifts to inside Class 3E. In all cases, there will be an author's note at the end stating which characters are submitted characters and who they belong to, so as to avoid confusion.

But of course, I need to have OCs first. To strike a balance between a diverse class and making sure I don't have too many class members to juggle, I will be looking for 22 characters with similar amounts of both genders , although I am not fussed if I get slightly more boys than girls or vice-versa. The OC form will be at the end of the prologue, with a few rules about who you can submit. I will also put the form (but not the rules) on my profile page. There is no limit on how many OCs you can submit, though.

EDIT 18/05/15: Like an idiot, I forgot to tell you HOW to submit. So if you have already left me a review asking, then it's probably best if you PM me an OC since I am fairly sure you cannot leave reviews twice on the same chapter. Otherwise, you can submit by either review or PM depending upon what is convenient for you. Apologies for not clarifying this yesterday!

So, I hope that you'll enjoy this prologue in the meantime- I can't wait to see the characters that get submitted ^^

Tadaomi Karasuma was no stranger to funerals, but this one hit particularly hard. Perhaps because the one who had passed was, in the grand scheme of things, relatively young. Perhaps because she was leaving behind children who still needed her, even if they still had their father, their other relatives, and himself. Or even because he had been watching her decline over the past year, helpless. But, most likely it was because once, a long time ago, she was a middle school student called Hinano Kurahashi, and he had been her teacher.
Now she was known as Hinano Kitakawa, married to Mamoru Kitakawa, with whom she'd had two children-Tadaomi and Chihiro( known simply as Tada and Hiro) , both in their second year of middle school. His godchildren. It had been a honour when Hinano had sought him out just before the twins were born and asked him to taken that role, and he was even more honoured to have one of the children named for him. The times that had followed were happy ones, ones that had kept him busy, even as a retired person. Until Hinano had fallen ill. Then everything had changed, again.

As he stood in the corner of the hall in which the wake was being held, Karasuma thought about those times. He scanned the groups of people, looking for Tada and Hiro. More than ever, he would have to be there for them, and he fully intended to do so, starting from now. He knew them well enough to know that the twins would be fairly overwhelmed by all of this, and it would be the kind thing to go to them and find them.

Or maybe not.

Karasuma spotted them with one of their aunts, who seemed determined to engage them in conversation with their young cousins. Except that it wasn't really working, because Tada looked like he was getting ready to punch one of the cousins, while Hiro's face had the same blank expression on it that suggested she'd turned off her hearing aids. Neither of these were a good sign, so with a sigh of annoyance, he started to walk towards them, hoping to defuse any situation that might occur.

"I've got it, Karasuma-sensei." Rio Nakamura breezed past him, somehow managing to look nonchalant even in her dark funeral clothes. The strain of losing a friend was clearly there for all to see, but she still managed to flash a devilish grin at Karasuma, a flashback to who she had been almost thirty years ago.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked. He had a feeling that Rio, being one of Hinano's closest friends, was likely to clash with the twins' aunt, and a scene was the last thing anyone wanted. Rio stopped and rolled her eyes, taking the opportunity to tuck a stray lock of blond hair back behind her ears.

"Pfft, I can deal with Chiyo and her brats. And I don't think even she'd be so low as to make trouble, no matter her opinions on Hinano. But I'll direct them to ya later, Sensei, 'kay?"

Karasuma nodded, and Rio went off. To his satisfaction, once Tada and Hiro were with her, they seemed to relax visibly. After watching his godchildren for a moment, he decided to go to the food table.

"Karasuma."

Mamoru stopped him in his tracks, looking tired and haggard. Although Mamoru often wore suits to work, the one he was wearing now looked more like a death sentence than mere clothes. Karasuma didn't blame him for that, though. If he had been in Mamoru's position he supposed the same would have happened to him.

"Mamoru. Are you holding up?" a stupid question, but one that needed to be asked. Although understandably Mamoru had been suspicious when Hinano had introduced them, the two men had cultivated a friendship, of sorts, bound together by the children, but also by respect. In a different way, Karasuma would look out for Mamoru also.

"Mhmm. You're coming back after, aren't you? The kids need you."

"I'm aware." Karasuma said, letting just a hint of scolding creep into his voice. Mamoru nodded, chastened.

"I know, just….sorry."

"Don't apologise. I promised them that, anyway. That, and I hear your fridge is still a little full." He added, trying for humour. It worked, because Mamoru chuckled drily.

"Yes, yes it is. "

…

"Karasuma-sensei? Can we spar in the garden while Dad's dealing with the food?" Tada asked as they entered the house. Karasuma paused from where he was taking off his shoes and looked at Mamoru, who shrugged.

"Okay then." He'd had a feeling that one of the twins would ask for that. He had been teaching them just a little of what he knew since they had been nine years old. They would never have any need for assassination skills, but they would be useful for self-defence. And Tada and Hiro enjoyed their lessons immensely, which is what really mattered.

"Cool. " Hiro smiled slightly. "I'll go get the knives." She ran upstairs while Tada and Karasuma went out into the garden. She was back in a few moments, carrying the green rubber knives that had long been stripped clean of any logos, but were still identifiable to Karasuma as the same knives that his class had wielded, all those years ago.

"So", he asked when the twins were standing in front of him, holding the rubber knives. "Who wants to go first?"

"I will." Hiro said, her voice sounding thicker than usual. She rubbed her eyes slightly, and then smiled at Karasuma. "Don't go easy on me." She added.

His response was to hand her the rubber knife and get into his starting stance. Hiro flew at him, fierce and nimble, yet almost completely silent. Although he was careful to not damage her hearing aids or hit too hard, he did what she asked, and didn't go easy on her. So, in the end, although her youth and agility gave her the upper hand, he was the one to win. Then, she sat down on the grass to watch her brother as he had his turn.

Tada was altogether more aggressive in his attacks, and a lot more vocal than his sister, and was soon running Karasuma ragged. Soon, he looked to be winning, but Karasuma felt something was off. Tada was just as skilled and speedy as Hiro, but he was usually more controlled. And as the sparring stretched out, his feeling was confirmed.

"Tada! You need to stop now." Karasuma ordered, holding up a fist to fend off the next attack. Tada ignored him and lunged. Karasuma grappled with him for a moment, and then after a futile few moments, restrained him. Tada seemed to rage for a while, and then loosened.

A few moments later, Karasuma realised that Tada was sobbing. Letting him go, he could only watch as Tada sat down heavily on the grass and buried his face in his hands.

"Tada!" Hiro got up and rushed over to her brother, sitting down next to him and rubbing his curly mop of black hair while murmuring things Karasuma couldn't make out. Awkwardly, Karasuma went to kneel down in front of Tada and put a hand on his shoulder, saying nothing. It reminded him of Hinano and the other members of that class. Class 3E. It had been almost three decades since that fateful year, and he still felt the impact of all that had happened.

Maybe I should tell them about it, about what their mother was involved in. He thought. Perhaps it would do the twins some good. He knew for a fact he still had the knife-case that Hinano had decorated with Rio, and thought that if he was able to tell the story behind it, both Hiro and Tada would treasure it. But he knew that he probably wouldn't be allowed, and being retired he didn't really want to be going back to his old bosses, so he put the thought aside, and focussed on his godson.

Tada was starting to calm down, the sobs fading into sniffles. Eventually, he removed his hands from his face and looked up, blinking tiredly. Hiro handed him a tissue silently, and Tada took it, thanking her in sign language. He wiped his face and then looked at Karasuma.

"Sorry." He said, starting to look sheepish. "I think I got carried away."

"Under the circumstances, it's understandable. " Karasuma replied, simply, patting him on the shoulder. Getting up, he held out a hand for Tada to do the same. He took it, and Hiro got up by herself.

"That was a good session, both of you. Your mother would be proud."

"Thank you, Karasuma-sensei." Tada said, smiling genuinely for the first time in a while. Hiro smiled too, and nodded. Then, the sound of Mamoru calling them in drifted across the garden, and the three of them went to eat.

…

Time went by, and life gradually went back to normal for the Kitakawas, and as usual, Karasuma continued to see them. During their sparring sessions, Tada's anger eventually levelled off, and his attacks went back to normal, which was heartening. He also spent time with them doing the things they usually did together as godparent and godchildren- homework, family dinners, sparring, and the occasional visit to the cinemas. He also had many deep discussions with Mamoru, who seemed to appreciate the company of his late wife's old teacher. Mamoru had loved Hinano deeply, and having her stolen away by cancer had left him bereft.

So, when he was out shopping for groceries one Tuesday afternoon and saw that Mamoru was driving around aimlessly, he didn't hesitate in calling out to him. Mamoru parked the car in front of the shop Karasuma had just left, and rolled down the window.

"Karasuma. Do you want a lift?"

Karasuma considered it, and shrugged.

"If it isn't any trouble. I'm in no rush though. "

Mamoru just laughed, thinly. "It's fine, really. I'm not in any rush either."

Karasuma got in the car, and Mamoru began to drive just as aimlessly as he had been doing. The silence was comfortable for a while, as they'd known each other a long time, but soon it became stifling, and Karasuma's instincts pricked up. But he stayed silent, simply watching Mamoru's demeanour as they drove. Then, finally, when there were alarm bells ringing in his head, Karasuma spoke up.

"Mamoru, shouldn't you be in work right now? You went back three weeks ago?" Mamoru simply gave him a sideways look. Then, he shrugged.

"I think that maybe I should let you out." Mamoru's voice seemed oddly detached, and cold. It made the alarm bells ring louder. Suddenly, the car felt like a dangerous place.

Maybe I'm wrong. I hope that I am wrong.

"Is there something wrong?" Karasuma asked, carefully. Mamoru continued driving, even despite what he had just said. Karasuma studied the set of his face, and suddenly realised what Mamoru was thinking.

He can't! Not now! What will that do to Tada and Hiro?

In one swift moment, Karasuma reached over to take control of the steering wheel. At the same time, Mamoru sped up the car, and there was a desperate struggle, Karasuma trying to steer the car and Mamoru trying to stop him. The car veered dangerously through the roads, causing other drivers to panic and traffic to pile up. Karasuma ignored it though, because he was too busy trying to save Mamoru, trying to prevent tragedy. He was tired of seeing children grieve.

And then the car spun around and hit a lamppost, and everything went black.

Yep, it's a cliffhanger. , time for the rules.

1-The characters should be Japanese, with Japanese names. That being said, I don't mind if they are mixed race or if they spent some years in another country, but the Japanese names thing still applies.

2-I DON'T want any of the characters to be the children or other relatives of the characters in the original anime/manga. Partially because I have Tada and Hiro to fulfil that role, and also because some of he original anime/manga characters will have their own appearances or mentions throughout the story.

3- If you submit a character, I am assuming you are okay with them being shipped with other characters. Depending on who I get, this might not even happen, but just in case, do keep this in mind.

4- This isn't necessarily first come first served. If I like your character, or I can find a good role for them, they'll be accepted.

5-They are middle schoolers, so their age should reflect this, and there is a note in the form to remind you.

And that's all, haha. If you submit a character, I hope you have fun doing so. Here's the form:

First Name:
Nickname/Name they prefer to go by(optional):
Last Name:
Gender:
Age(are they 14 or 15?):
Physical Appearance:
How they wear their school uniform:
Casual clothes(general description, specifics not needed):
History:
Reason for being in Class E(if this is explicitly linked to their history you don't need to repeat yourself):
Best Subject:
Other Strengths:
Worst Subject:
Other Weaknesses:
Personality:
Honorifics they use when addressing others:
Other details I may need to know: