Disclaimer: I do not own Assassination Classroom.
VI.
Skipping down the street happily with my hair in a ponytail I hummed a song under my breath. Today was one of the rare days that I had actually looked into the mirror and wore some pretty clothes. I had now pretty long hair. It was about five or seven centimetres longer than my shoulder blades. I liked it. I had put on some shorts and a nice top with a short jacket. I was going shopping for books without my parents. I let them a day for themselves and told them that I wanted to go alone. I was currently in the fifth grade, so they had let me go alone under the condition that I was taking my phone with me.
I was going to a shopping district in Tokyo. I had gotten quite a bit of money from my parents and was going to use it to the fullest.
Just when I had bought myself some Takoyaki, I saw a familiar red head sitting before a store. I approached him from behind.
''Karma?''
He jumped.
''Sayo?'' I could hear the surprise in his voice.
''Jup, it's me.''
''Wow, you look... nice,'' he sounded genuine.
''Thanks, what are you doing in front of this store?''
It was a accessory shop for women. I thought a moment about the possibility of Karma getting earrings and then discarded it again. He may like getting into trouble and fought sometimes with some deliquents (I sometimes helped him. It wasn't a big deal, as long as he didn't get hurt.) but he wouldn't want to be marked as a troublemaker through his looks. Fighting was a different thing. Karma was violent and I held no illusion that it was right what he did, but this wasn't a perfect world. As long as he had morals with whom he was fighting and didn't get hurt too badly he could do it. I would watch out for him if he would get stupid.
''Ah, yes. I wanted to buy something for someone,'' he replied vaguely.
''Who?'' This was new. I wondered if he befriended a new person. Did he have a crush on her?
He looked away and stared at some spot behind me.
''Ehm, I wanted to buy something for a girl I know and thought she would like some jewelry.''
''Should I help you?'' Well if he didn't want to tell me it was fine. He was probably just embarrassed that I caught him doing this.
''Ah, no need. I have to go somewhere later anyway. Just resume your shopping. Don't let yourself get distracted by me.''
I blinked. That was new.
''Okay, if you are sure?''
He nodded.
''Then I will be going,'' I said and walked away. I was now somewhat sour about that.
Normally he told me everything. Well, except that time when he wouldn't tell me his birthday. I had to look at his medical file for it. His birthday was the 25th of December. He probably hadn't wanted to disturb my family on this day, but I had told him that he wouldn't. He was almost family after all. My parents hadn't minded either. So on that day we had celebrated his birthday and the day before Christmas. It had been fun, I had given him a photo of the two of us and some nice headphones. We both liked to listen to music quite a lot so I just went with that.
Speaking of birthday, mine was in a few days. I was born on the 14th of March. It was the White day in Japan, where the guys gave the girls their thanks for the chocolate from Valentine's Day in form of sweets. I liked my new birthday but I could never remember it. I always thought mine was still on the one from my first life. On that day I usually skipped school or just went somewhere to burn some incense. I had found out, that it had been the day that I had fully awakened in the body of Sayori. It was my little secret. I still didn't know if I should tell it Karma one day but for now I would just remain silent. I wasn't really ready to talk about that.
I wondered if Karma was maybe buying a present for me. It could be, but at the same time it could be just as well for another person. I shouldn't expect to much. That just led to disappointment. I continued to shop a few books in a bookstore where I often bought new books. It was a nice store. The assistants where nice and the shop itself had a homey feeling.
''Ah, Sayori-chan!'' greeted me the shop assistant. ''Welcome. Do you already need new books again?''
I had been here so often that most of the workers here already knew me. It was nice. I could talk to them about the themes that interested me and they would recommend me some books. Or we would simply chat about some irrelevant things.
''Good afternoon, Sayaka-san.'' Sayaka-san was a kind woman in her thirties. She worked at this shop fulltime and saw me regulary. ''Yes, I've read those from last time already. Do you have some books in Vietnamese?''
''Huh, that's going to be difficult. Wait a moment, will you?'' with these words she vanished behind the counter. Mostlikely to check the books in their computer archive. The most books I ordered were in a different language than Japanese, so they had quite many in stock.
She appeared a few moments later.
''I'm sorry to disappoint you, Sayori-chan, but we don't have books in Vietnamese. We still have some French books if you would like to read some and if you want I can order some Vietnamese ones for you.''
''Ah, a pity. Yes, that would be nice. Then, I'm going to take a look at the ones in French. Is the order of my German books there?''
''Yes, it was delivered yesterday. Do you want to take them with you already?''
I thought about it for a moment. I had ordered quite many and they were going to be heavy. But then again, I needed new books.
''Yes, I'm going to take them with me.'' My home wasn't that far away and I wasn't that weak.
''Sure, Sayori-chan. Do you still want some other books?''
I nodded and began to look at the displayed wares.
After a while I selected four books, one in Japanese and the other in French. After paying I said goodbye, took all my purchases and went on my way. I still had some money left and wanted to buy something to eat.
When I passed the same shop again where I had seen Karma, he was buying something. I waited in front of the shop.
When he saw me he reacted a bit unexpected.
''Aaah, Sayo ehm, what are you doing here?'' He quickly hid his hands behind his back.
''I was coming back from shopping and wanted to eat something now. Care to join me?''
''Sure, ehm, where do you want to eat?'' he asked.
''How about some ramen? Around the corner is a nice ramen restaurant.''
''Yeah, why not. Could you go first? I still have something to do.'' I was getting slightly suspicious of him, but well, he would tell me eventually.
''Sure.'' I went first.
Karma joined me after a few minutes. We both ordered some ramen and waited. I was really curious about the thing he bought.
''Karma, what did you buy?''
''Sorry Sayo, I can't tell you now. Could you wait a bit?'' Woah, Karma sounded never like this. He seemed really sheepish about it.
''Yeah, I'll wait if you want.''
He nodded in thanks. We both ate our meals and said goodbye to each other. I had to go home and Karma seemed to have to do something too. When I came home I was still thinking about Karma's present. If he had found a new friend I wanted to meet her. After all I had been his first friend and I wanted him to be in good hands. It could be that I was overthinking this. The present could have been for his mother or mine. I tried not to think too much and took up a new book. He would tell me, he had promised me that.
The next days I thought about my behavior. The morning of my birthday I came to an conclusion. I was getting anxious and wasn't that strange? The last time I had felt like that had been... in my teenage years... Oh, damnit! I was getting through puberty again. This was depressing, but I should have expected it. I was 12 now. Wonderful, I was going to deal with mood swings again. Oh my, and my period.
This were the thoughts I awakened with on my 12th birthday.
''Happy birthday, Sayo-chan!'' were the words that greeted me when I came down.
The living room was decorated with some ballons and confetti but overall it didn't look so dolled up. On the table were a cake and some presents. It looked great. My mom, my dad and Karma were standing around the table and looked at me.
I smiled. The day was getting better.
They sang 'Happy Birthday' to me and we ate breakfast. After that I opened the presents. My mother gave me a new bag. It looked really nice and wasn't in a childish style but more in one that would suit a woman in her twenties.
My dad gave me a new cellphone. He had bought one of the newer models that were a more expensive. I was really grateful for that.
Next was Karma. He just tossed the present at me and looked to the side. I laughed at his antics. When I opened it I saw a bracelet. It was made out of chains and in between were single snowflakes. Each of the snowflakes had a different design. It looked really cute. I looked at the brand. It was from the same brand shop that he had visited last time.
''Thanks, Karma. I like it.'' I smiled at him. I had really thought too much about it.
''Yeah, no problem.'' He rubbed his neck. He seemed so awkward.
''But Sayo-chan!'' my dad butted in. ''Isn't my present better than his?''
I looked at him in total deadpan.
''You are trying to compare with a fifth grader, tou-san.''
''But Sayo-chan!'' my dad whined.
''Sayo-chan is right Yu.'' Now was my mother's turn. ''Karma-kun was so nice and bought something for her even if he doesn't earn money. Be ashamed Yu!''
''Kana, you know, you are stabbing me from behind! I just wanted to know which one she likes better,'' my dad wailed now.
''And Sayo-chan likes my present the best anyway, don't you Sayo-chan?'' asked my mom sweetly.
''Of course, kaa-san,'' I replied in a bland voice.
Karma held back a snicker.
''See, Yu? No need for you and Karma to argue. Sayo-chan likes mine the most anyway.''
My father grumbled something, but I couldn't hear it.
''Should we go to school, Karma?'' I asked.
''Yeah, let's go.'' We fleed from the scene.
On our way to school I decided to share my thoughts with him.
''Karma, have you been at that shop last Saturday for this bracelet?''
''Ehm... yes, to be honest I was.''
''You know, I thought you had found a new friend. I thought you were hiding her from me. I was a bit miffed that you wouldn't tell for whom it was.''
''Eh? Why would you think that? You are my best friend. I wouldn't hide it from you if I got a new friend. You would be the first person that I would tell.'' He was really surprised.
''Yeah, I guess I was stupid. I guess you are just so important to me. I just don't want to lose you,'' I said the last parts quietly to myself. I didn't really know if he had heard me. ''Let's go. We're getting late.''
He stood there and didn't move.
''Karma?'' I looked behind me.
''Yeah, I'm coming.''
Maybe I imagined it but his smile seemed brighter.
Chapter 6 out! Seriously, I'm only able to write such cheesy scenes with the two of them. I think I'm going to write two more chapters about their life in grade school and then they are going to Kununigaoka Junior High School. Puh, what a complicated name...
Again, I thank everyone who has read, followed, favourised or reviewed to this story. I'm too lazy to put in all your names, but if you want them to be in, just write a review xD
Guest - They will meet Nagisa just like in canon, but they will be only friends with him for a short time. After all Karma distanced himself from Nagisa. I don't know if I'm still going to let Sayori and Nagisa be friends after that. Karma is more precious to her after all.
This chapter was as always betaed by my dear Shiki, but sometimes we still make mistakes. Please forgive us *bows*
Wish you a nice day!
-Yuki
Edited: 03/25/2016
