Akari

"I should have at least talked to you or call you back or reply your messages. I'm sorry I ignored you," says the redhead as his golden orbs look at me with conviction.

I clench my fist. My legs tremble.

"I needed some time alone to think—'

"To think if you want to break up with me since I'm some suicidal freak?!"

Karma silently looks at me.

I'm seething with rage. Pain pierces a huge hole in my fragile heart. My cheeks feel wet. "I thought you hate me for always breaking the promises we made. I thought you want to break up with me. So I kept telling myself that it's fine if you leave me. I can leave on without you. but I couldn't. I couldn't!"

I went back home after school one day. I opened my door just as usual.

"Say, what you're going to cook for me today?" I spoke. But there was no reply.

There was no one in the dark apartment except me.

I had forgotten that he was no longer here anymore.

He left.

"You were everywhere in my life! You were in the kitchen, the living room, on the sofa, by the study desks..."

I saw him everywhere I go in my apartment. I saw him everywhere I go in the city. I saw him in the classroom. I saw him in the 40th floor of my sanctuary.

Akabane Karma was everywhere. Everywhere had the memories we made together.

"How am I going to forget you and live on?!"

You... are everything in my life.

"I didn't want to leave you," he says gently.

"Then why weren't you with me?!" I shout.

His hand stretches out to touch me but I slap it away. "What happened...

...what happened to the promise you made to me? You said you would stay with me forever! What happened to that?!"

I'm probably the least qualified person to talk about promises. But I'm hurt. I want to protect myself.

"I don't want to talk anymore. I'll go the other side of the hill to get mushrooms."

"It's not really a talk if I haven't say my part," he says.

I don't care! I don't care!

But my legs couldn't move. My back faces him because I don't want to see him. If I do, I might cry worse.

"I did some really long thinking by myself and got a conclusion. Ok, my fault. It was really, really long because I avoided headbutting the problem. But, upon hearing you might leave for England in less than six months, I finally realize, I couldn't let you leave."

I cover my ears. Shut up shut up!

"Because you're everything to my life too."

I stay silent for some time, refusing to look at him. Lots of thoughts race through my mind. I couldn't grasp a solid idea of what should I do next.

Should I say something? But my mind is empty.

All this conflict starts because of me.

"Don't you hate me?" I mutter without looking at him. "After what I did?"

"You're probably afraid that if I said yes, you'll be hurt. So that's why you avoided me and waited for me to act, right?" Karma doesn't wait for an answer as he continues. "Well, I did get angry after that incident. I want to hate you. But I love you too. So it's very contradicting. I also hate myself."

"You... hate yourself?"

"After such a long time, I couldn't protect you, even though I'm the strongest person in class. I also should have known that no matter the circumstances, you'd still stand up and get yourself injured. But I didn't because I took that promise for granted. I should have well known no promise will tie you down."

my heart aches. "But it's all my fault in the beginning—"

"Yeah I know that. In the end, it's both our faults."

Then what, Karma?

What's gonna happen to us?

"Will you give me another chance to stay by yourself and support you no matter how dangerous your choices are?" says Karma. He advances a few steps to me.

"Why... why should you be asking me that? You're the one who got angry. It's supposed to be me to ask you that..."

He chuckles. "Technically since I asked you first, so my answer to your question is obviously 'yes'."

"No. 'No' is my answer."

I tremble.

"Huh?!" Karma gasps with disbelief.

"I don't... sometimes I just don't understand what's going on in your mind. I don't know any deep dark secrets you've kept in your heart. You never tell me anything. When you were mad at me you didn't tell me that you were mad. You didn't even bother to tell me how you feel so that I can understand you better! You just left! I'm not a mind reader! I can't read your mind!"

I thought I'd feel better if I said everything out. But it feels dead inside me.

"It's like... I'm just some stranger to you. You don't trust me enough to tell me. Then... what's the point of being with you again?"

That's it. We're breaking up. I'm going to lose him. Forever.

My legs move and take me far away from him. It's a slow and painful process, as if I still want to be with him.

Stop conflicting my heart, legs!

I really hope I'm far from him. I don't want to look back and disappoint myself.

"Mushrooms... I need to find mushrooms."

Karma.

"Not colourful ones. Those are poisonous."

Karma.

"Hmm... where are they hidden anyway?" I mumble to myself.

Stop thinking of Karma. He's no longer someone important to you. He will only be a normal friend to you from now on.

"I'm... afraid of Nagisa," says Karma abruptly.

I failed in refraining myself from turning around. Karma's face is impassive.

"I'm the kind who fights head-to-head with my opponent. Direct attacks make me feel reassured because I can see them in the light," he continues as he fidgets. He nervously bites his fingers. "Nagisa's attacks are unpredictable. He hides in the dark, waiting for a perfect moment for an ambush. His assassination skills are what made me afraid of him. I'm scared that he could kill me and I wouldn't even know I'm dead.

"And I'm scared of losing you. It's as if you're as fragile as a paper that will crumble away if I touched you.

"I'm always the lone wolf everywhere I go. My parents weren't there when I need them. I have no one to talk to. I thought I can handle everything on my own, even my own fears so I shut myself up from the world. I did all the decisions on my own. But then you came.

"You came and brought life into my own life. You made me felt so happy. But I took you for granted. I thought I can still do things all on my own but I've forgotten that when two people come together, they share their everything including fear."

Karma looks up at me. His eyes glow with sincerity, apologies...and fear.

I say nothing.

My legs move.

I walk towards him and out of surprise, I hug him.

"Then change," I murmur. My arms squeeze him tight. I feel his warmth, his heartbeat. "Change into someone who can depend on people all the time. And, I will, always be with you, no matter what my identity is. Girlfriend, friend... "

His arms move, hesitating to hug me back.

"Oh come on. I know you're emotional and you need a big hug."

Karma rests his head on my nape and finally, his arms wrap around me. "I'd prefer a kiss, you know."

"Don't ruin a good moment, will ya'?"

Karma's body shivers as I feel the nape of my neck wet with tears.

"Yeah."

"Aww are you crying?"

He raises his head and looks at me. "No."

But his eyes are tinged with red. My fingers reach out to wipe away the tears. "I like it when you're vulnerable in front of me. It makes me feel that I'm someone that you depend on; someone you show your weakness to."

"That's... supposed to be my line." His face is red as well.

"You can keep on depending me, you know. I won't tell anyone." I wink. "Promise."

"So... you're my girlfriend again?"

"I need to reconsider that."

He sighs, looking disappointed. "Ok then. Whatever you want to be to me, I'll still stay by your side. I'm not going to break this promise anymore. Just depend on me sometimes, ok? I want to be able to protect you."

Thank you for being so sweet, Karma. I stretch out my little finger. "I too promise not to be too reckless anymore. I'll count on you to get me out of murky situations. Pinky swear."

Karma hooks his finger with mine. "Pinky swear promise."

I smile when he smiles too.

"So... everything's done?" Rio asks when she sees me and Karma walking side by side again.

I nod. "But we're... not together yet."

"That's better than not talking to each other, you know," says Megu who appears with a basket of fruits.

"If you're destined with each other, you'll get back with each other." Rio smirks. "But I won't interfere you guys anymore. I'll just watch by the side lines."

"That sound like a hopeless romantic story." Megu rolls her eyes.

"What am I supposed to say then?" Rio pouts and spits her tongue.

"After this, let's go get something nice to eat. My treat." I put my arms over their shoulders and pull them closer. "Thanks, guys."

"No prob, bestie." "You're welcome, Akari."

Rio grins as she looks at me. "Where for lunch then?"

"The ramen place near my apartment."

"EHHHHHHH?! That's it?! I thought at least a 4-star hotel's café."

I smile. "I'll even bring you to a Michelin 5-Star."

Rio's eyes gleam with happiness. "Reeaaaally?"

"15 years later," Megu adds sarcastically. She gives me a high-five as we snicker.

Rio glares at us. "Evil duo."

"Good morning, what do you like to have?"

"Give me two bowls of ramen and a dish of fish."

I scribble the order on the notepad. "Thank you! Your order will come soon!" My legs carry me to the kitchen immediately. Yuuma is by the counter, taking orders and giving food.

"Kayano-san, take this ramen to table no.18. Nagisa, this food goes to table no.10." Yuuma gives out the orders to the waiters and passes them the food.

I pull out the order from my notepad and give it to Yuuma. "Yuuma, another order." Sweat beads drip from my face and my neck. I wipe them off with my handkerchief.

"Yeah," Yuuma says as he drinks a sip of water and passes it to me. "Here, drink some."

I reach out to take it but someone else is faster. Karma drinks the entire bottle empty, sighing of happiness. "Oops, bottoms up."

I glare at him.

"Here." A bottle of cold water appears before me. "You can drink this," says Rinka as she drinks from another bottle. She's also in the same waiter team with me.

"Thanks, Rin." I greedily finish half of the bottle. She gives me a small smile.

"Isogai," Megu calls. "You can rest. 10 minutes. I'll take over here." She looks out from the counter window. "Oh you guys. You can rest too. 10 minutes. After that, call the rest of your team to take a rest too." She calls out to Nagisa. "Nagisa, hold for 10 more minutes okay?"

Nagisa shows an OK sign in the air. So did Sugino and Kaede. Chiba leaves his last order with Megu and sits on the ground, beside Rinka. Megu throws a water bottle at him.

I take another sip of water. "I can't believe this place is packed."

"It's all because of that blog," says Yuuma. "Nagisa's special friend did a very good job and impressed him."

"He's not my special friend!" Nagisa exclaims as he passes an order to Megu by the counter.

"Come on, we know what you did." Sugino snickers. He returns empty dishes to the counter. "You sacrificed yourself for the greater good. Good job!" He puts a thumbs-up.

Nagisa's face pales as he facepalms himself. "Please... just stop."

"Why aren't I there to see it?" I wonder, teasing the boy.

Karma sighs. "I missed a chance to get some money. What should I do with all the clothes I bought for Nagisa?" He smirks as he looks at Nagisa. His vision shifts to me; his smirk looking eviler.

Don't even think about it! I stomp his foot but he retracts his foot and I almost trip. Stupid Karma.

"Well, I think a large crowd is better than no one coming to visit us at all."

"Welcome, beloved guests!" Bitch-sensei's high-pitched feminine voice greets every male customer she meets. The blonde is acting as feminine and as nice as she can. But she did manage to 'trap' a lot of people with her seduction.

"Oooi!" Maehara shouts from a table away. "How come you guys are resting?!"

"Because we need to rest."

"What about me then?! I need rest too!"

Megu rubs her temples. "10 minutes break over. Nagisa, Kayano, Maehara and Bitch-sensei can rest. he others continue your waiting jobs."

"OK BOSS!"

"B-boss?"

We continue doing our jobs as diligently as we can, spending every ounce of our energy. I feel tired after working for a few hours, but when I see the guests who loved our food and others who are eager to eat more, I'm motivated to do my best so that they would be happy.

"Ok, that's enough for today!"

Korosensei, the shape of an acorn, stops our progress right when we're about to finish the food reserves. "It's ok if we can't win class 3A. Anymore foraging will destroy the mountain's ecosystem. The actions of all creatures contribute to our deeper interconnection." His tentacles form a huge circle over his head. "Did you sense all the connections fate has blessed you with?"

"A lot of the assassins showed up," I say. "Like Grip and Red Eye. Even Lovro-san came too."

"All the people that failed to kill Korosensei, huh?" says Terasaka.

"Even Matsukata-san, Sakura-san and the other kids came too," Nagisa adds.

"Those who've taught you, those you've helped, those you've caused trouble for, those who've caused trouble to you, those you've fought as rivals... these are all the connections you've made." Korosensei's grin widens.

I nod in agreement. Whatever the situation is, Korosensei still managed to teach us life lessons. I sneak a glance at Karma and realized something.

I'm glad fate has blessed me a connection with him. No matter what will happen to us, I'll still cherish our connection.

"Let's go home together," says Karma.

"Huh? Why should i?" I ask sceptically.

"Because you're going home and me too and we stay in the same neighbourhood?"

"No. Don't act like a big baby, Karma."

Karma slightly pouts. "But..."

"Bye!" I wave at him and run off.

"OOOI! OKUMURA!"

I run till the bottom of the mountain, huffing and puffing. After I'm sure he's not following, I walk to the station slowly, enjoying the view around me alone by myself.

My stomach growls, disrupting my attention. Oh god, I'm hungry already?

It growls once more but it doesn't sound like it comes from my stomach.

I turn around.

Asano. Gakushuu.

I glare at him spitefully.

Are you stalking me, you little piece of shi—

Stomach growls again.

"I'm sorry if my stomach bothers you. And, for the record, I'm not stalking you. I'm just going somewhere in the same direction as you do."

I'm still wary of him. "Did a beast reside in your stomach now?"

A faint blush colours his face but disappears a few seconds later. "It's just hunger. You don't need to pity me."

I should be mean at him. Instead I take out Muramatsu's ramen—that Rio packed for my dinner—and pass it to Asano. He looks at the ramen with surprise and looks at me sceptically.

"Oh this? It's our award-winning ramen," I explain sarcastically. "Feel its greatness that shall overwhelm you and you'd regret for never coming to try because it's the very last ramen of its kind that will exist in this world." I'd like to add a final evil laughter, but I cough pitifully instead.

His gaze suddenly softens. A small smile appears on his face.

It's not an evil smile; it's a warm appreciative smile.

Appal draws over my face. How can he smile such a smile like that? It's this some trick?!

Maybe deep down he's a good person after all.

"I'll try. If I'm poisoned, I'll sue you till you're bankrupt." That small smile evolves into an evil smirk.

I take my word back. You're EVIL!

"Give. It. Back." I clench my teeth. "That ramen is the last of its kind!"

"You can't take back what you've given. Bye, Okumura."

I watch him walking down the path and disappear after taking a left turn.

"Brat."

On second thought, he had this sour look on his face. Maybe his class didn't do as well as 3-E did? If we didn't stop in the afternoon, we could have won. Oh well, at least we got some valuable lesson.

Hmm...if Asano didn't win, does that mean the principal might get mad? He kinda' hates our guts. Fingers crossed, he doesn't do anything to obstruct us.

"Well... With Korosensei around, there's nothing to fear anyway."

Hi everyone!!!! I'm sorry I havent been active on fanfiction for a long time because it was blocked in my country.lately I've downloaded the fanfiction app so i can finally continue to post!!! Sorry for the delays.FYI this story is still continuing in wattpad because it's the only fan fiction sites that i can access.I'm so glad to see people enjoying and loving this story even though it's not being updated here for some time. Thank you all :)