Following Day

Sugino and the others walked up the hill to school. They had spent the last evening talking to each other on the phone, discussing the assignment and how things had changed after Karma's announcement the day before.

"I am still not convinced he is not just playing with us," Sugino said. "It is Karma after all"

There was the sound of footsteps behind them and Nagisa appeared next to them.

"Morning guys, ready for another day at the mad house?" Nagisa laughed.

"You're in a good mood." Rio said.

"Huh? No more than normal." Nagisa said.

"Thought maybe you had managed to figure your assignment out," Rio said. "You seemed happy about something."

"Pfft I wish, I seriously have no idea what that stupid assignment is about. Have you guys worked out how to go about yours yet?"

"Yes" they all answered at once.

Nagisa looked at them, "Seriously, all of you? Wow, I am going to get really left behind here."

"Did Karma say whether he had sorted his out when you were walking home last night?" Kayano asked innocently.

"No, we did not really talk about it. We mainly talked about manga and stuff. We discussed the whole boy x boy stuff more. It is interesting what people think about that sort of stuff. I never really thought about it before." Nagisa said.

Rio raised her eyebrows at Sugino behind Nagisa's back and grinned.

"Maybe we could all meet up after school again," Rio suggested.

"I can't sorry," Nagisa said, "I have to go shopping with my mum." He looked a bit unhappy about the idea but the others knew his relationship with his mum was hard so did not press the subject.

"OK well maybe another night then, we can ask Karma as well." Rio said.

"Sure," Nagisa said.

They reached the classroom and took their seats, waiting for Korosensei to arrive and the

morning lesson to begin.

"So, children, it is day two," Korosensei said and so far, not one of you has completed your assignment. I am disappointed as I expected better from some of you!"

There was an assorted chorus of shouted complaints around the room. But Korosensei just smiled.

"No excuses children. So, to make things even more tempting, I will add a prize. The first person or persons to complete their assignment, a chance to try and take me out without using my speed or tentacles for 30 seconds. Get to it kiddos!"

The class looked around at each other. Suddenly passing their assignments just got even more interesting.

Staff Room

Irina walked into the staffroom and was overwhelmed by the overpowering smell caused by the mountain of flowers on her desk. Karasuma was sat at his desk, just staring at it.

"What the hell Irina? We a florist now as well as a dating agency?"

"It is the damn Octopus," Irina said. "I made one comment about flower arranging yesterday and he does this. There is something wrong with him!"

Irina pushed flowers out of her way and sat down. She had been up all night thinking about how she could let Nagisa know what he needed to do to pass his assignment. It would be so much harder now that the Octopus was watching. She needed to be subtle and that was not exactly her strong point! She looked across the table at Karasuma. Why was she so obsessed with the man? Oh yeah, cos he is stunning, she laughed to herself. She would have to think of some way to push Nagisa into Karma's arms cos her own love life depended on it and one way or another, she was getting her man!

"Hey Karasuma, what do you know about Nagisa outside of school?" she asked.

Karasuma looked at her, "Why?"

Irina shrugged, "Just wondering, I heard Rio and Sugino mention he was going somewhere with his mum after school and I just got the impression something was, well, off. Can't I care about my students?"

"They have a complicated relationship," Karasuma said, looking pensive, "You ever wonder why he has his hair like he does? It is not a fashion thing. His mum wanted a girl and she does not want to accept her child is male and Nagisa seems to just want to keep the peace, hence his hair. In her eyes, Nagisa is her precious little girl. It is not at all healthy!"

"What the hell? That is messed up! Wow, you have to feel for him."

"Yeah well, not a word Irina, I told you that in confidence. Teacher to teacher." Karasuma warned.

"Sure, no problem," Irina said but her mind was working overtime. This may be something she could use.

Lunch time

Karma was sitting on the steps outside the school when Sugino and Isogai sat down beside him.

"What do you losers want?" Karma asked.

"Yeah nice," Isogai said. "Just wanted to talk about Nagisa. He told Sugino and the others he had to go shopping with his mum later and he looked really fed up about the whole idea. I had an idea, maybe you could go save him from his mum. Meet up with them 'by accident' and help him out. Ask he to go somewhere with you. Karma saves the day!"

Karma raised an eyebrow, "That is actually not a bad idea."

Sugino added, "We could all go with you to start with so it looks like we were just hanging out and we happened to come across them. It won't look weird then but if you go get him, he will associate you with saving him from his mum."

Karma nodded, "Ok I am up for this. We will meet at the mall after school."

Leaning against the wall, just inside the door, Irina smiled.

'Thanks kids, you just helped me work out what I am going to do next." Smiling she walked back to the staffroom to make plans.