Chapter 34

Akari

I sigh as I watch the growing smug on Karma's face.

The redhead taps his chin absentmindedly; his smug is the sign of triumphant joy. "Should I wear a tuxedo, then?"

I blink while imagining him in a tuxedo. "I think it would be exaggerating."

"Of course not. It's a formal event, after all," he retorts. "Should I wear black or navy blu—"

Karma and his wardrobe disaster fantasy is interrupted as I launch a fist at his face. He swiftly dodges with ease. His leg hooks my leg in an attempt to trip me. I fall and he immediately pulls me up, contradicting his previous action.

"Sorry, I forgot about your head inju—"

I forgive him by giving him a punch in his face—which he barely avoids within an inch from his face. A left high kick follows, aimed at the area beneath his chin. He jumps backwards and I lurch forward with a low right kick. His feet dodges the attack.

Taken aback by the ferocity of my attacks, Karma says, "Whoa. Calm down. I know we're supposed to have a small training but it's still paused."

I crack my knuckles and move the muscles in my neck. "I need to exercise my muscles. They're been dormant for too long."

"Fine. But try not to overdo yourself—"

The third time I cut him off with a punch. Karma looks genuinely pissed. He has seen through my attack and dodges for another time. My speed must have been too slow for him.

"Third time, Akari. Third time. Stop cutting me off," says Karma, though his anger is not convincing with that enjoyable smirk on his face.

I swing my left leg in the air, aimed at his face. When I miss, I spin my body around with my right foot on the ground to gain momentum for another kick. This time, my speed heightens and Karma would have been hit if not for his excellent kinetic vision. His strategy is the defensive stand because he cannot — and would not want to hit me due to my injury.

"Don't hold back," I warn. My punch hits the air next to his face again.

"Am not," he retorts. "Can't you see my success in avoiding all your attacks?"

Angered, I raise my leg high in the air but a surge of pain shocks my calf. I screech as my butt lands the ground painfully. I reach out to my right calf, realizing that I am experiencing a cramp.

Karma instantly drops to his knees and inspects my right leg. His fingers delicately touch the skin of my leg. "Cramp?" He asks.

I nod. As he tries to move my leg to rest on top of his knee, my calf muscle retorts in pain. It feels like needles poking at my frail muscle.

Karma massages my calf as my face distorts in pain. I inhale sharply, trying to bear with the pain that bites at my calf. Slowly he increases the pressure on my calf to relieve it.

"Better?" He asks in a gentle tone. The pain in my calf ebbs a minute later and I finally relax.

"Yeah," I mutter. "I should have warmed up."

Karma offers a hand to lift me up. I try to walk, feeling uncomfortable with my leg. It feels numb as I limp around.

"Come," says Karma as he squats down before me. I am confused at first, but finally I understand.

"A-are you sure?" I stutter, acknowledging the heated blush on my face. Karma has never did something like this before. I expect the blushing and the accelerated heartbeat would stop occurring with the frequency of his affection. He has been displaying his affection by taking care of me, doing chores, making me food, giving me surprise kisses occasionally, shoving me titbits etc. Sometimes I fail to suppress the blushing and the fluttering of my heart because everything he does made me fall in deeper love with him.

"Yeah. Can't watch you limping home."

I jump onto his back, almost causing him to tumble. He regain his footing and holds onto my legs. Then, he begins the journey home.

My arms hooks around Karma's neck and press my head to his. Half the journey home we are silently enjoying each other's company. I begin to wonder if he is burdened by my weight—not that I am that heavy.

"Hey…" I whisper.

"Hmm?" He hums gently.

"Are you tired? You can let me down if you want…" My voice trails off as I sense the stares from onlookers and bypassers. My face blushes an even redder red.

"Nope," he rejects my offer. "I'm perfectly fine. You're much easier than fighting off some high schoolers."

Fight off high schoolers?! I sigh. Karma and his habit.

"Thanks…" I mutter. "I love you." Then I kiss his skull; his sweaty hair plasters onto my face.

I feel a shudder spreading from Karma and he almost trips himself. I thought he is going to faint from exhaustion. "Karma?" My nerves become panicky.

"I'm fine." His reply eases down my jittery nerves. He continues walk on firmly.

"But you almost tripped…"

"Well… I was just shocked by your little… affection display."

The kiss? I blush even harder.

"Why?"

"It took me by surprise. I didn't expect you to do that. You'd usually hate doing things like this in public."

"W-well…" I stutter. "Y-you are my boyfriend."

I hear his tiny snicker. "You're just too cute."

"W-what?" I think I hear wrong.

"Oh nothing."

"Karma!" I screech. "What did you just say?"

"Hmm… maybe ramen for dinner sounds nice." He mutters to himself as he ignores me.

"Justice?"

It came to me as a surprise when Kimura's name is pronounced as 'Justice' instead of 'Masayoshi'. Kimura dislikes his name because people always made fun of it.

Kimura is not the only one who is having problems with their names. A good example would be Hazama Kirara. Literally, 'Kirara' means 'glittering pretty'. In reality though, Hazama is not the brightest person around. She has a gloomy dark personality, accompanied with gothic black makeup that turns her into a witch. Her hobbies consist of witchcraft, curses, dark novels etc. Definitely not glitteringly pretty.

"Well, you have a nice name, Akari. At least better than mine," Kimura says as he looks at me with sad puppy eyes. I wonder what I can say to cheer him up.

"Ermmm… I don't think names define the person wearing it so… don't get too upset, Kimura," I reply, trying my best. But I am certain that I do not sound convincing at all.

"Akari's a nice name, just like Itona's," Kaede chirps joyfully. She smiles at me.

I want to smile back but something stings my mind. I try to search deeper within my mind to find out the cause but is unsuccessful.

Maybe I'm just tired. That's all.

I try to smile back at Kaede and realize I could not. I avert my eyes from Kaede and the sting ebbs, vanished without a remedy.

Before I can recollect my mind to figure out the weird situation, Karma's voice resonates from behind me. "You guys must have got it rough with such weird names."

Says the guy with the weirdest name!

"Then what about your name?" I ask. "In a way, it's weird."

"Oh, me?" He says nonchalantly. "I actually like my name. Probably because I inherited the weird tastes of my parents'."

Probably. But I quite like his name. It sounds special to me.

Better keep this to myself or he'll go all high and mighty about it.

"Sensei… doesn't like my name as well," Korosensei interlopes our little conversation. "Till now, there's two people who still refuse to call me by my name."

I can imagine which two people. I glance at Karasuma-sensei and Bitch-sensei, who overheard us. They both look genuinely shocked.

"Karasuma still calls me with 'hey' or 'you there'," sobs the yellow octopus. "It's not like we're some middle-aged married couple!"

Bitch-sensei for sure would never go 'Korosensei!' all over Korosensei like us students do. Her pride does not allow her to stoop so low. As for Karasuma-sensei, he is a man. Men do not do such stuff.

As the discussion heats up, Yada suggests that we create our own codenames just like the assassins back at the island. It sounds like a great idea. Since we are rookie assassins, we do need a cool codename to go with. I for one agree with Yada. Korosensei asks us to decide codenames for each other and he will pick the codenames from the box for each person just like a lucky draw.

I just hope I will not get some weird or lame codenames.

"Hmm…" Karma's voice draws my attention. I sneak a glance at him. He is pondering for a good suggestion while fanning himself with a piece of paper.

I continue to stare at him blankly until an idea pops up in my head.

Cute devil.

I stifle a laugh. This is meant to tease him. Not that he is actually cute.

Okay, fine, he is cute.

I catch Karma's stare at me. His smirk makes me realize that…

Shit. He was thinking the same treatment for me.

After a round of 'Catch The Densest', aka Karasuma-sensei, everyone plops on their desk, breathless. They are physically tired, but also mentally, thanks to their lame codenames. Instead, the codenames poke at their vulnerability for the purpose of teasing.

For me, I am granted 'Karma's maid.'

My friends keep calling me that codename throughout the training. This has almost caused my brain to explode.

I glare at Karma, who sits on his chair smugly, seemingly pleased with his codename, Chuunihan. I knew it. I knew from the moment Korosensei picked my name from the ballet, it had to be Karma's idea.

After Korosensei/The Octopus of the Idiotic Perverted Chicken gave us words of wisdom, the class is dismissed. His words are well imprinted in my head: There is nothing grand in the name our parents gave us. What's meaningful is what we so named, accomplish in our lives. Names do not make a person. They are merely left behind in our footsteps as we walk through life.

Rio, English Lass, comes to me with a depressed look. She sighs as she plops onto Manami/Poison Glasses' empty seat before me. "This codename is stupid."

I glare at her. "Are you pouring salt on my wound? If your codename is stupid, what's mine supposed to be?"

She stares a me for a moment, then laughs. "Oh yeah. Yours. Karma's Maid. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"If you're the one responsible, I'll strangle you right now."

"Oh please. It's not me." Rio dismisses me. "Karma's Maid is good. But mine's better."

Judging from that devilish smug on her face, it must be worst. "No. I don't want to hear about it—"

"What is it, English Lass?" says Karma who abruptly appears beside us on a chair pulled from his desk. I can see the striking resemblance of evil genes within these two.

Rio snickers. "Karma's Wife."

Suddenly, Karma's Maid does not sound that bad anymore.

"GOD!" I shout, rising from my seat. "Megu! Can't you do something about Nakamura Rio?!"

Megu shrugs and shakes her head. "I tried to stop her from writing that."

Rio turns her head around. "You wrote Akari as Airhead Girl, anyway."

"What the hell?!" I shout.

Megu's turn to shoot a deadly glare at Rio. The blonde cringes in fear.

"Can't you guys write something like Supergirl or Rock Star? Something that's actually positive?"

Maehara drags a chair and sits beside Rio. "I did wrote something positive for Okano, but she doesn't seem to appreciate it."

Hinata immediately slaps the back of his head. "Amazing Ape is not positive!"

"But you move like an ap—"

"Shut up!" Maehara earns another slap on his head.

Maehara inhales sharply from the pain in his head. He waves his hand at Yuuma who approaches us. "Hey, Poor Committee Member!"

Yuuma sighs loudly, exasperated with his codename.

"I actually gave Yuuma the codename Mr. Ikemen. Too bad," I blurt. Everyone laughs at Yuuma's misfortune except Karma whose laser eyes train on me with jealousy. Yuuma lights up a small smile, feeling better.

"What did you give me?" Karma asks me with an unfriendly glare.

"Stalker Redhead," I lie. Of course there is no way I would tell him the real codename I gave him.

Unpleased, the redhead clicks his tongue and diverts his attention away from me. He must be brewing some revenge plan in his mind to get back at me.

Saturday evening. A few more hours till the dinner gala my Uncle has invited me and Karma to.

I have been standing before my closet for quite some time, pondering on which outfit deem perfect for tonight. There are a myriad of outfits in the tiny wooden closet, from skirts to dresses in different colours. Each of the dresses I own look nice and pretty, but I did not feel the spark to choose any of them. I touch a blue dress and stare at its satin cloth blankly.

The ringing of the doorbell snaps me out of my daydream. I open the door and find Karma in his casual wear, carrying a bag on his back. He is too early, I think, as I glance at the clock. I haven't pick an outfit yet.

Karma stares at me with widened eyes, seemingly surprised by my look. "Hmm… housewear to a gala seemed a little…"

I roll my eyes. "Don't be foolish. I'm not wearing shirt and pants to a gala."

He smirks. "I thought so. Having trouble picking a nice dress?"

I nod, though reluctantly.

"Need my help?"

"Nooo. You'll probably suggest me to wear some maid costume."

Karma lets out a hearty laughter. "Of course not. You in maid costume is for my eyes only."

"Pervert." I stare at him, my eyes trailing from his handsome smirk to his fiery red crown. Suddenly, an idea sparks up and blooms like a beautiful red blossom.

I know what I am going to wear.

I rush to my closet in large strides, eyes scanning for the dress like a hawk's. Not a moment later, I spot the tell-tale red hem tucked safely within the dresses. I take out the dress; it gleams like a red ruby gem, as if it is happy that I have chosen it. The sleeveless dress reaches up to my knees with round neckline. It is completely woven with a pattern of intricate laces. I remember this dress as the one I bought on my birthday.

I check myself again and again before the mirror. I want to show my flawless self to Karma. As I step out of my room, I fake a cough to draw Karma's attention. The moment he sees me, his pupils dilates with surprise.

"Karma, how do I look?" I ask, looking for his response. I really hope he likes how I dress.

Karma gapes silently for a while. It takes him a few seconds to comprehend my question. Usually, being the smartest in class, he is rarely slow and rather quick-witted. I guess I caught him out of surprise.

"Umm… you look gorgeous," he replies softly. A faint blush dusts his cheeks.

In response, my cheeks simultaneously blush as well, as I realize that this is one of the few times he has ever said that I am gorgeous. I nod weakly, unable to give a response.

"I… should go get changed too," Karma says. He picks up his bag and dashes past me to the bathroom.

I release a breath that I did not know I was holding. As the reality sinks deep in my mind, I finally realize something.

This is the first time I am going out on a gala date with Karma.

Honestly, I have been with Karma on multiple casual dates, but never one this formal. Jittery nerves began to make my heart race. I try to sit on the sofa to calm myself down but sweat pools on both of my hands. I inhale and exhale a few times to slow down my heartrate. When I finally able to calm down, the bathroom door opens to Karma in an entirely new appearance.

Karma's fiery red crown is slicked back to show his entire forehead that magnifies the flawlessness of his perfect face. He dons a black suit and pants with a white button-up shirt and a red bowtie. Whenever he moves, light bounces off of his black suit, transforming it with shades of dark blue. Karma looks perfect, flawless, handsome, just like he always do. He bows down before me in a gentleman's fashion.

"How do I look?" He asks.

"You look very handsome," I reply honestly, consciously realizing the heat on my face. "Except a little…" I move to him. I hold him firmly by his arm and use my other free hand to sweep his hair down. Luckily he did not put too much hair gel. After a while of fixing his hairdo, Karma's fiery crown returns to normal. I look down from his hair and reaches his eyes.

And I realize we are dangerously close.

I can feel his hot breath on my face; smell his subtle smell of cologne; feel his heartbeat beating against my chest. Butterflies fluster in my stomach; my heart fluttering against my ribcage.

His golden mercury eyes are like magnets; I cannot avert my eyes from them. I see a fiery passion burning within them, of love and lust.

"I think I need a comb for your hair…" I mutter. My legs try to move but Karma's arms wraps around my waist like a pair of snakes.

"Hands will do," he suggests. I obey and continue to fix his hair, but my eyes are glued onto his.

Abruptly, without any notice, Karma presses his lips against mine and retracts a second later. It is a gentle display of affection, but it only makes me hungry for more.

I dive in for more, pressing my lips on his for a while longer. We are whisked away in our own fantasy land, lost in the drift of time, only conscious each other.

If only this moment stays a little longer.

An abrupt doorbell ring breaks our concentration on each other. Our lips break apart, gasping for air from the heated make out session.

"Okumura-san, I'm here to pick you and your friend up," says a raspy male voice from the other side of the door.

"Too bad…" says Karma. He smirks triumphantly, though dissatisfied with the interruption. "Maybe he can wait for five more minutes?"

I glance at the clock. "We're late," I say while adjusting his bowtie.

He shrugs as his attempt fails.

I grab my bag from my bed and wear my ballet flats by the doorway. Karma patiently waits for me to get ready and gives me his arm when I am done.

"Let's go, love."

I hook my arm through his arm loop and feel a feeling of safety being close to him.

I should have known my uncle would tease me the moment we hop onto his silver Toyota Camry.

Uncle's eyes gleam in interest as he stares at us for quite some time. "You two look splendid!" He clasps his hand together in excitement. "Just like a couple!"

We are a couple, I silently correct him in my mind.

"Karma-kun, I believe we need to have a small talk," Uncle implores—or rather, orders, as he ushers us into the car.

Thus begins the most torturing 20 minutes of my life.

Uncle keeps asking a lot of questions about our relationship. Questions that makes me feel embarrassed. At first, Uncle puts up a serious face, which I guess he is going to interrogate Karma harshly about the way he treats me. But slowly, the direction of the conversation changes from serious to laughing faces. I am next to them, for God's sake, as they discuss about me. For example, my bad habits, character….anything that makes me look bad. I cannot believe it actually excites them to share a common topic.

I bang my head on the window as I regret my choice on bringing these two people together.

"She is always reckless. Always," Uncle emphasizes.

"I know. A pain. I have to look after her all the time," says Karma as he nods in agreement.

Oh god make this stop.

Uncle clears his throat. His laughter ebbs as he puts on a serious face. "So, Karma-kun, did you think of a future for yourselves?"

I choke at the abrupt question. You can't be serious, Uncle!

Yes, I am. My interpretation of Uncle's serious tone.

No matter how quick-witted Karma is, he is taken aback by the question as well. I can see that from his dilated pupils and his abrupt silence.

I stare silently at Karma, concentrated at the words he is about to speak.

Karma's eyes train on Uncle. Then he glances at me. I see a brilliant colour of gold in his eyes.

"Honestly, I did think of the future for both of us."

Surprised, I choke once more.

"It might sound too early for us at this age, but I did imagine how it would be like 5 or 10 years later. I don't believe in marrying early. I want to let both of us to have some time to do what we like before marriage ties us. I also want to have some time to think clearly if this is really what we want. But lately, I'm having second thoughts," Karma pauses for a while.

I am too anxious to hear what he has to say next. Heat surges up to my cheeks.

Karma stares at me, just like the way he did just now. I feel his affection, his love and his passion.

"Himura-oji-san, I love Akari. I will do my best to protect and care for her, and put her in my topmost priority. I cannot guarantee that I'll be her last, but I will do what it takes to ensure that she will always stay happy, even if some time in the future I'll have to let her go."

Let me go?

This is absurd. There is absolutely no way that we will break up.

…right?

Fear finds its way to cause panic within me. My stomach churns, threatening to puke its contents. The dizziness in my head is torturing me.

But all of them are cured with his remedy as Karma's hand grips mine reassuringly.

I look up at Karma with fear. Fear that this is just a dream. Fear that he will vanish the next moment.

"Oh. We've arrived!" Uncle's voice draws me back to reality. He exits the car quickly, as if to leave me and Karma some privacy.

I try to voice out my fears. But I could not. I am still too afraid.

As if he senses my fears, Karma pulls me into a warm embrace and gently kisses my forehead. An abrupt sense of calm and safeness spreads upon the touch of his lips on my skin. "I love you. I'm sorry what I said scared you."

"Don't…" I finally make out one word. My hands tremble as I grip onto his shirt. "Don't… leave me…"

I feel his smile spreading over my forehead. "Who knows? Maybe you decided that I'm too clingy for you taste and you want to dump me."

Karma chuckles as I punch him hard in the shoulder. "Not funny."

"Just to ease the tensio—stop punching me. You're going to crease the suit. Ouch! Easy on your boyfriend."

I pout and stop my flurry of punches. I lean myself against him and whisper, "Promise?" I want to hear him say it again. To ease my little heart.

"Promise, Okumura Akari."

And we make a pinky swear.

Sorry guys for taking this chapter too long to finish! It's the second week of the new semester and I have a writer's block. Please enjoy this new chapter!

I'd like to recommend a new anime for you guys. It's Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Grimgar of Ashes and Fantasies). It is one of the animes that has the most beautiful background art. The style is a watercolour style that makes the anime unique and special. I'm too lazy to type out the summary so you guys should just go check it out. And of course: it's superb OST! I love the songs by Know Name. Go try it out! My fav songs from the anime: seeds, harvest, knew day, and rainy tone.

As usual, Akarma wishes to see your love by likes, comments and reviews. Thanks! :DDDDD