Chapter Twenty-One – Apparently I Have Nice Skin
It's been a week since the forehead kiss incident that happened when I first moved in with Karma, and to be absolutely honest, I'm confused.
Karma is making my head spin. It's hard to place it. It's hard to stop my gaze turning towards him during assassination practise. It's hard to stop feeling like a million butterflies are fluttering in my chest whenever he looks at me, when he smiles or when he laughs. I'm not sure if his laughs is something I'll ever truly get used to… They freak me out a bit.
He scares me, though. I can't read him like I used to be able to. Not anymore. I can't sneak up on him during practise, he's the only one who's managed to catch me out, much to my shock. I can't level with him. I wonder if my own feelings are beginning to disrupt my abilities. I need to start writing these things down, just so I can figure him out.
I flipped open my notebook, tapping my pen on my lip. Stretching out a little on the shared desk as Kayano went to the bathroom. Right, so from living with him so far, I know that he absolutely loves to cook and gets cross if you don't make your side of the bed in the morning. I guess he has a strong liking of designer clothes, except he's a doofus and collects crappy Hawaiian shirts. He's got a nice butt. Then… From class, he's really good at maths, struggles with English…. Oh, and he is frightened of moths…This list is pointless. What is it going to tell me that I don't already know?
Oh no wait, one day I can charm him into falling in love with me by frightening away the moth gangs that chase him relentlessly. I slump in my chair. He's not an assassination target.
"What's that, Nagisa?" Kayano's questioning voice rang in my ear. When the fuck did she get back from the bathroom?! I quickly flipped the book shut.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." For all you know it could contain military secrets, or a dangerous experiment, or my past… Or my doodles of me and Karma. Does it matter to you? No. Sit the fuck down in your own seat.
"Sure, cause every time someone says that they totally aren't hiding something." She tossed her hair to the side, scoffing. "Come on Nagisa, there's got to be something great in there if you are so intent on hiding it" She slunk into her chair, an evil glint in her eye.
"Nope, this isn't the important one, this is just a doodle book." I said, like a liar. No way is she going to get her hands on it, nope, nah uh. "Honest, there isn't anything of interest in here!" She gave me a doubtful look, reaching over to the book in an attempt to snatch it before I could do anything.
All of a sudden, the classroom doors slammed open, causing her to swiftly retract her hand.
"Why can't we just ask? We are all friends here!" Okajima sulked over to his chair and swinging his feet up onto the desk. Isogai was hot on his heels, a dusting of embarrassment present on his features.
"It's not something you can simply admit to! It opens up a world of uncomfortable conversation!" He waved his hands in front of him quickly, trying to waft away the discussion. This in turn, caught the attention of current room occupants and only succeeded in riling up more interest as we began to slowly gather around Okajima.
"To be honest, Isogai… It would seem as though you are hiding something from everyone!" Okajima swept his feet from the desk, taking an inquisitive lean towards the slowly roasting Isogai. A taunting grin expanded over his face, his eyes taking a more teasing glint as he glanced around the group and back to his victim. Isogai let out a flustered meep, crumbling underneath his interrogator. Okajima drawled "I suppose I'm not surprised, a handsome guy like you wouldn't really be one now."
What on earth are they talking about?
Isogai covered his face, groaning as a mixture of shame and humiliation overwhelmed him. "I only told you cause you asked, if I knew it was going to be this big a deal I would have kept it to myself!" I stared at the pair in complete confusion, getting out of my seat to stand next to them, putting a comforting hand on Isogai's shoulder.
"I'm sure it's not a bad thing… Whatever it is you aren't?" I say in a soft voice, attempting to be consoling. Isogai squawked, batting my hand away, giving me a look of utter betrayal. What the hell was that…? I guess answering from rough context wasn't a great idea. He melted to the floor, unable to stand with the weight of his shame. Oh dear. Someone will have to clean that up later.
"Well, I love chicks. You know, you just have to handle them just right and then they become putty in your hands!" Terasaka's loud voice came from outside the classroom. Okijama snorted, calling out into the corridor.
"Ah! Terasaka! Aren't a virgin either?"
Instantly, my sixth sense started tingling… This is going to be painful, for me. Not that I in person have anything to confess to… I think it's pretty damn obvious what my status is. I can just feel that this is going to end in embarrassment. I looked at Isogai, who was currently crawling on the floor towards his seat. I don't want to end up like that. Terasaka poked his head around the door, holding in his hand a juice carton, an arrogant look on his face.
"Of course not! Fifteen and a virgin? That's a little sad don't you think?" He entered the classroom with a swagger, high fiving Okajima as he went passed. I didn't feel self-conscious about it until now… Is it really that bad a thing, being a virgin? From the amount of cheers and laughter circling the class, I guess losing it is something to be applauded. I want to know where these people got relationships from, let alone... Bedroom partners. Terasaka clapped the shoulder on the burnt out Isogai, who currently had his face welded to his desk. A small cough came from the back of the class. Itona, situated at his desk, back to the class group, relaxing with a motor magazine in his hands. Slowly, he span around to us, on his recently modified swivel chair. Of course he would have a swivel chair.
"I don't think it's that big a deal, to be honest, Terry." Itona peered over the top of his magazine as he turned. Terasaka huffed, stabbing his straw through the box and taking a sip. He calls him Terry? That's new. I guess they have gotten a lot closer recently. Terasaka rolled his eyes.
"What would you know, virgin. You're just missing out on a good time." He spoke in great confidence, if he had longer hair, flip it would go. Itona sighed, smoothing down his magazine on the desk. With a perfectly angelic expression, he said in the sweetest voice.
"But Terry… You told me you was a cherry boy"
There are days in which I wish I had the gift of hindsight. I would have gotten my camera ready and taken the world's greatest picture of the most shocked expression ever to grace Terasaka's face. Then, I would wish for a Hollywood film crew to capture the juice being expelled from his nose, and the noise of a thousand cat's drowning as Terasaka choked on his orange juice, His eyes bulging as he leaned forward to spit some out. Itona smiled, picking up his magazine and continued to read, now ignoring 'Terry'.
"I TOLD YOU THAT IN CONFIDENCE" Terry the Cherry blurted out, wiping away some of the liquid which clung around his mouth with the back of his hand.
Itona nodded smartly, turning the page as he said dismissively; "and I am telling the class in confidence. Really, you can't just lie about these things, it's not that impressive."
If Itona was a closer friend to me I would have hugged him, no way would I be brave enough to say something like that to Terasaka.
"I AM GOING TO BEAT YOUR ARSE, BANDANA FREAK" Terasaka yelled at Itona. Itona put a hand on his chest, looking up to Terasaka with a faux-hurt expression, looking much more offended than anything else.
"If you are trying to hurt my feelings, try and pick something more creative. My experiences with the tentacles is an open book. I'm disappointed." Oh Itona how I wish I could marry you. I'm sorry for not trying to be your friend earlier, we could have tag teamed this sass-ination. Itona continued; "besides, you bought me this bandana, if anything you are hurting your poor choice in fashion statements."
"I swear to God I am going to-"
"I know how you can tell if someone leads an active sex life!" Kayano quickly interjected, standing next to me with a hand in the air, grabbing the attention away from Terasaka and my new favourite person in the class.
"Oh really?" Enter Karma, who had just returned from the vending machine. "Go on then, what is it?" He walked over to me, handing me a carton of strawberry milk before leaning against the desk I was perched on. Strawberry milk? It's not my favourite but the gesture is nice. Hey now, it's not that unusual for Karma to get me a carton, he does it every so often.
"Alright! According to 'Girls Gossip', you can tell if someone leads an active sex life if they have a glowing complexion! So we know for a fact that Terasaka is a virgin, he's as grimy as a sunbathing rat!" Kayano point at him, laughing as Terasaka chucked the juice box on the floor, stamping on it and sending juice flying. He stomped towards Kayano, fist raised to beat the shit out of her, only to be held back by Itona holding onto the back of his jumper.
"Sit the fuck down, Terry, you're embarrassing me." Itona flung Terasaka back into his seat, causing Terasaka to cry out in pain as he hit his funny bone on the corner of his desk. "Oh look, a new line of crankshafts and spark plugs have been introduced for the 2016 series."
He didn't even look up from his magazine to stop him. Colour me impressed.
"Okay, okay, but then who else?" Rio nudged her, returning the conversation to the pressing topic at hand. Her eyes sparkled as she went back to observing the class with an excited expression.
"Well, you aren't a virgin, but I don't want to give away too much" Kayano tapped her chin, to which Rio snorted, slapping her playfully on the back.
"You are far too observant!"
Glowing complexion eh? I looked around, sipping on my straw. I can pick a few. I'm not going to name and shame out loud, that is just far too mean. I'll let Kayano be hated for that, I won't be throwing myself under the bus for a simple class topic. Let's see… Now I know what on earth Okajima was bullying Isogai about now, it's clear as day that the statement is true. Yes Isogai, no matter how much you are trying to hide your face now, your radiance shines bright. Just accept it.
Maehara, rather unsurprisingly keeps the trend going, he is a bit of a ladies man after all. It's just occurred to me that the potential un-virgins all trying to avoid Kayano's eyes. Its glowing complexions not glow in the bright eyes. Terasaka is glowing… With rage. Poor Itona, having to put up with him all the time. It's sweet. I wonder if they have something going on underneath it all. I mean, since Itona re-joined the class full time, Terasaka has kept him firmly under his wing, whilst Itona has kept him tightly wound around his little finger. I heard a rumour that they spend most weekends together… Do I ship it?
Yes I do.
"Ah! I knew you two did the deed!" Kayano, now directing her finger at Chiba and Hayami. Now there's a surprise. I think they are the only official couple in the class, from what I remember, they've been together for around six months or so? Sounds reasonable enough. The couple exchanged a side glance, communicating with each other with that weird stare thing they do. Chiba shrugged, turning his attention back to Kayano, in a rather matter of fact voice he confirmed her suspicions.
"There are worse things we could have done." What does he mean by that?!
Kayano, seemingly pleased with her results so far, swept her gaze across the remainder of the class. I think everyone is giving off the vibe for her to not mention them. That's fair. I took another sip of my milk. That was surprisingly painless for me. Of course, as I have reminded myself previously, I have nothing to confess to. I did once get into a tight spot with that rich kid from the island… I think his name was Yuji? Anyway, that was a close call and I'm glad that the girls saved my life. That's not exactly a secret, so I'm fine. No dirt on me. I relaxed, finally able to enjoy the taste of strawberry milk coating my tongue.
"Karma is looking rather radiant, don't you think?" Rio stared at Karma, who appeared to not be listening. She bit her lip and frowned. "I can't think of who it would be with… Unless…" Her eyes darted to the rather un-florescent Okuda, who shook her head so violently I swear I thought it was going to be flung out the window. Rio frown deepened.
Karma smirked, his chin up in the air with his over confidence shining through.
"Me? I wouldn't want to say either way, that's my own business." He stared at Rio, his eyes challenging her to question him further. She didn't get the hint to stop.
"Hey now, we are all friends here. You must have lost it. No way has someone as confident as you still have a V card" Rio snorted. Kayano took a step forward, examining his face. Karma was loving this attention. The class began throwing questions left and right, most of which consisted of when, who and why it wasn't Okuda. I groaned, squeezing my way out of the ever tightening crowd of Class E to get to the bin. I chucked away my milk carton, and sighed.
"Did it happen whilst you was suspended?"
I highly doubt it, he was like… Fourteen when he got suspended, and no one gets that lucky at fourteen... I have lead a sheltered life, if anyone hasn't guessed yet. I stand by my judgement that Karma isn't as big of a bad boy as everyone thinks.
A rustle from the bush outside the classroom made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, someone was listening in, and I bet you my entire stamp collection I know exactly who it is. Why does the feeling of impending doom seem to be flooding my belly?
"Nfu nfu nfu nfu!" An evil giggle came from the bush.
"STOP EAVESDROPPING YOU CREEPY OCTOPUS!" Rio screamed at the offending hydrangea.
Suddenly, Koro-sensei shot out from his hiding spot and leaped behind his podium, the ruckus causing the crowd to whip their heads round to stare. Koro-sensei, unable to contain his love for a good natter, started speaking excitedly, tentacles flailing in all directions.
"Allow me to insert my own knowledge of class gossip!" His face flushing pink as he envisioned his gossip. "Recently Karma and Nagisa have been spending huge amounts of time together, I see that they have changed their routes home from school to nearly always end up back at Karma's home." He held up a tentacle pointing at me and another to Karma.
Please let me die. I looked at the bin, maybe I can just throw myself away and end it now.
Koro-sensei giggled excitedly as he rambled; "Though, I assume from all the sleepover's Nagisa has been having around Karma's, it's very unsurprising that Nagisa has been smelling more like Karma everyday!" Koro-sensei flailing intensified. "You know, I was very shocked when I smelt two Karma's. Just like how I smelt two Chiba's, not so long ago. How scandalous."
The silence that followed was the killer.
The class, turned to look at Karma, who simply shrugged. Thank you for throwing me a safety line Karma, we could have worked together to get out of this mess, but never mind.
"You know, you do have great skin Nagisa…" Kayano peered, jiggling her eyebrows at me.
I wonder if god was looking for a great place to build a new sink hole. I highly recommend the land underneath my feet. For just one simple human sacrifice, you too can have a sink hole built underneath you, I am willing. Please. Do it. I do not want to be in my body at the moment. How can I ascend to be by the lord's side if I have to live in this embarrassing body? The class's penetrating stare was extremely unsettling, and I can actually see Kayano covering her mouth in excitement and looking ready to wet herself. Maehara slowly put his hands over Okuda's ears and curls her protectively into his chest, protecting her from the horrific rumour of her crush banging this small blue toad in front of her. It's not true! We aren't banging!
A loud sniff brought me out of my thoughts. A sniff?
I turn my head right, and was met with the nose of Chiba, who was currently making himself very well acquainted with my shoulder. I froze. Oh no. He's checking. Electric purple eyes shocked me from underneath his fringe, rooting me to the spot… He knew. The corner of his lip curled into a malicious smile. Surely I don't smell that strongly of Karma, right? It's not like a week or so of using his soap, living in his house and sleeping in his bed would make me smell just like him… Right?
Chiba backed away from me, and slowly turned on Karma. He suddenly didn't look so smug. The crowd of students waiting in crippling anticipation parted to allow the detective through. Chiba stalked over to Karma, nose first. The unshakeable Karma stood incredibly still, allowing Chiba to take a good long sniff of his arm. Chiba sniffed once. The class leaned forward. Chiba sniffed twice. The class gritted their teeth, desperate for an answer.
The third sniff.
"THEY BOTH SMELL LIKE GRAPEFRUIT!"
The class went fucking nuts.