Class 3-E was known as the End class or the class for kids who had failed in society. That, of course means that students in other classes mocked the E students because of their ranking and achievements. And it was especially strange for a Class A student to interact with a dull girl like Manami Okuda from class E.

"Okuda-san!" shouted a new voice after the girl. Her first instinct was to hide because she recognized his uniform. He was from the main building and she didn't want to get bullied again.

"Y-yes?" she replied meekly, hiding behind her chemistry books. The boy chuckled.

"The name's Yoshitsugu Yuuki." He flashed a smile at her. Definitely class A she thought. "Um….you see Okuda-san, I've always admired your chemistry skills. Would you like to hang out with me tomorrow?" EHHHHHHHHHHHHH?! Manami was freaking out. Her mind went blank.

"U-um….um….s-sure!" she cried and ran off, face hot and red. Her glasses fogged up as she crashed into someone. "Sorry!" she yelled, almost on the verge of tears. She was just so confused.

"Oh, hey Okuda-san," said a tauntingly familiar voice. She looked up, relieved that it was none other Karma Akabane.

"Karma-kun!" she cried. He looked at her peculiarly, "How long were you there?" She suddenly became worried about if anyone had saw her screw up. Karma's grin suddenly disappeared telling her that he had saw everything.

"Such a silly girl," he mused tugging at one of her classic braids, "You should be more carefully around Class A jerks."

"But what should I do?" Okuda panicked, pulling her braid back and tugging at it on her own, "I've already told him yes!" Karma thought for a minute, then suddenly, a smirk crossed his face.

"If I can make Nagisa a girl, I bet I can make you look cute."

X

Manami rarely went to the mall. It was so crowded and she was wasting her time. She wasn't cute like her classmates or anyone else that shopped for clothes. She'd rather be spending her time after school at class or her room working on new mixtures. But here she was at the suggestion of Karma.

"What do you mean exactly by look cute?" she asked shyly, tugging at his sleeve for protection from incoming people, "and what for?"

"It's a simple plan," said Karma airily, "We'll make sure that you'll look so adorable that the Class A guy can't pick on you just because you're in Class E." As unsure as she was, Manami wasn't able to refuse because of his logic and well…she wanted to spend time with him.

"This is the store I usually go to when I'm verbally abusing Nagisa! Let's go in here!" said Karma excitedly. Manami, not knowing what to do, followed obediently.

"Anything look interesting to you?" he asked her. She shook her head.

"I don't shop a lot," she said, rather embarrassed.

"I see," mumbled Karma, "Then leave it to me!"

X

When the two left, they ended up with quite a lot of bags…At first it was harder than they thought but Karma realized that she just had to take her braids off. At first reluctant, Manami complied.

"What about my glasses?" she asked him still tugging at his sleeve. The train was a busy place with lots of strangers.

"Keep them on," replied Karma nonchalantly, "They're a major turn on. Trust me." Manami's face grew red. Karma noticed but didn't press the subject further. He only smirked.

"What if," Manami suddenly asked, "just what if…Yuuki-san hadn't meant any harm?"

"I doubt it," lied Karma. Truth to be told, he hadn't thought of that possibility.

X

That night, Karma lied in bed, pondering about this Yoshitsugu Yuuki guy. If he hadn't meant any harm….then does that mean that he really does like Manami? The thought of it made him grimace with regret. Imagine someone taking away Okuda-san away from him…that's a shocker.

When he first arrived in class E, he had no intention of making friends but unknown to him, they had all found a place in his heart slowly but steadily…especially Manami. During the first exam, he scored the highest out of the whole class but failed chemistry. Minami had offered to help. How generous. At first, things didn't go so well but each day, Karma had grown a closeness to her, fending off anything that scared her as she hid behind him, clutching his jacket. She had unknowingly become one of the closest people to him.

X

The next afternoon, Karma hid stealthily in the bushes, spying on Okuda and Yuuki. It was downright embarrassing he had admitted, but he had learnt too much from his unwholesome alien teacher, Koro-sensei. But in this case, it was worth it. His surprisingly attractive friend wore the outfit he picked out specifically for her: a yellow spaghetti strap top with white lace, a simple white skirt, and brown sandals. Her hair had been down that day, which reached her back and her glasses were kept on. The nervous face she was wearing made Karma chuckle. Her date however looked shocked but pleased.

Karma followed the two throughout their "date". It was normal: they ate, they talked, they went to the park, and they laughed. Karma was getting nervous as time passed. Not nervous that he'd be caught but nervous that he was wrong about Yuuki. Maybe he actually did like his friend and maybe she liked him back. She wasn't nervous for nothing.

The couple turned a corner as Karma checked his watch. It was 5. He had been following them the whole afternoon for no reason at all. It was probably best for him to leave. Just when he turned around, a shriek filled the air but there was no one around but Karma to hear it. To hear that it was Manami's. He ran into the empty street to find a cruel scene.

Yuuki had pinned Manami to the brick wall, pushing her forcefully and refusing to let her go.

"I must admit, I was planning to embarrass you but I didn't know you'd show up like this," Yuuki remarked, rather satisfied, "So why don't you reward me now? No witnesses are around." Manami whimpered in fear.

"Let her go," Karma interrupted. He was acting calm but really, he was raging on the inside. The Class A scum had hurt his very dear friend.

"You're in class E too, right?" asked Yuuki, "Well, I guess we do have a witness." He pushed Manami to the ground, dirt staining her skirt. "I guess I'll just have to remove it." Yuuki pulled out a pocket knife and stepped toward Karma, unmoving.

"You, stab me?" asked Karma in disbelief, "I think I've been horribly underestimated." Karma proceeded to throw a bicycle at Yuuki, causing him to fall back. Karma stepped on him, mercilessly grinning. The sadistic beast inside him had awoken. "You keep quiet about this or next time, I'll kill you." Yuuki, who said nothing, scrambled up to his feet and ran. Karma was sure he got his message.

"Karma-kun!" shouted Manami, running to embrace him tightly, "Thank you so much!" Karma was surprised. Even the greatest assassin wouldn't have expected that.

Her face was pressed into his chest as he slowly wrapped his arms around her. She was warm and comforting.

"Silly girl," he mused, teasing her, "Next time, don't follow guys into empty streets." Manami simply nodded, adjusting her glasses. Now that turned Karma on. "Since you're already dressed up, why don't we grab a bite to eat?"

"Sure!" said Manami smiling at Karma. He gently picked up some of her black, silky smooth hair.

"You know what'd turn me on even more?" asked Karma.

"Do I want to know?" asked Manami a bit frightened. Karma chuckled and started toying with her hair, his fingers moving through gently braiding it.

"If I had a cute looking girl like this with glasses and braids."