-Akari .-
When I went home after the results, of course, my father was able to smell Karma on me and that night didn't end well for me. A few weeks later something new gets brought up, a class trip to Kyoto. So here we are, all gathered outside in our P.E. uniforms, sitting on the ground.
"Everyone's aware next week is our big overnight field trip to Kyoto," Mr. Karasuma, our P.E. teacher with spikey black hair and black eyes, starts. "Not to put a damper on the fun but, you're still on the clock," he adds.
"So, are we supposed to try to kill him there?" Hinata Okano, a girl with short brown hair and pink eyes, inquires.
"That is the idea," Mr. Karasume answers almost instantly. "Kyoto is a very large city. For your safety, you'll be touring the city in designated groups. Koro-sensei will divide his time between you. We plan to have sharpshooters posted just about everywhere. Lead your target into their crosshairs and the reward money will be split between you and the lucky marksman. So stick to the sniper-friendly routes and keep your eyes peeled," He instructs dutifully.
The rest of the class gives a dejected 'yes, sir,' in response. The bell rings, signaling that it's time to change classes. We all file inside to get changed, I linger just outside of the boys changing room, as the other boys go in. Karma stops in front of the door, shooting a devious smirk in my direction.
"Why don't you come in, Akari? You afraid we might find out something about you?" He asks, purposely trying to provoke me.
I just give a simple shrug in response and lean against the wall, making it clear I wasn't going in until everyone else was done.
"Suit yourself, I'll get you to lower your guard one of these days," He adds before disappearing into the changing room.
After a while, the other boys, including Karma, come out and I finally enter. I waste no time getting changed, just in case someone accidentally walks in. Once that's done I exit the changing room and make my way to the classroom. By the time I join my classmates in the classroom, they've already formed groups and are talking about the trip.
So we're going in groups. It would be nice if I could get in a group with Nagisa and Karma.
I glance over at the blue-haired and red-haired boys. Standing with them are Kayano, Sugino, the class favorite girl, Yukiko Kanzaki, and the super intelligent Minami Okuda. Kanzaki is a pretty and polite girl with long, straight, black hair and light brown eyes. Okuda is a shy, quiet, scientifically minded girl. She has long black hair, usually done in two braids, and purple eyes.
Well, I guess that ruins those plans, they already have six people. I guess I should try to find a different group to join.
I look around the room to try to find a group that might need an extra member, to no avail. I sigh, unsure of what I should do in this situation.
"Hey, Akari," Nagisa calls out to me.
I stroll over to the group of kids.
"You don't have a group yet, right? Why don't you join us?" He asks, a smile taking over his face.
If everyone is ok with it.
I hold up my reply for everyone to see.
"Of course! You can't just be left out, silly," Kayano pipes up enthusiastically.
"Yeah, man. It'll be way more fun with you around," Sugino chimes in.
Alright, then I'd love to join you guys. Thank you.
I hold up my reply while flashing a smile. I feel genuinely happy that I get to spend my first overnight field trip with the people I'm closest to. For once in my life, I'm actually looking forward to something.
"Now that's settled, where do we wanna go in Kyoto?" Kayano asks cheerfully as we all take a seat around Sugino's desk.
I'm fine with doing whatever, as long as I can try sweets made with matcha during our trip.
I set my whiteboard on the table for everyone to see.
"Sweets? That's strange Akari, I didn't take you for the type to like sweets," Karma says with a sly smile.
I quickly erase my words away and scribble down new ones.
I don't get to eat them often, plus I really like matcha.
I hold the whiteboard up in front of my face to hide the slight blush that has developed.
"I totally agree, we definitely have to try lots of sweets while we're there," Kayano announces happily.
The rest of the group chatters happily about which sights they want to see and what places they want to visit. The classroom door opens and we all turn to look as the yellow octopus approaches his desk, large, heavy-looking books in hand… or hands.
"What are those, sir?" Isogai asks on the behalf of all of us.
"They're field trip guide books," He answers in a jovial tone before using his Mach 20 speed to hand them out to each student in an instant.
The book is as heavy as a suspected, making a thought briefly cross my mind.
You could knock someone out with these.
"They're more like dictionaries!" Hiroto Maehara, a boy with orange-brown hair and matching eyes, shouts in irritation.
The octo-man starts rambling about what's in the book, clearly excited about the trip as well. After a minute or two, we go back to planning our trip, Kanzaki writing down a detailed itinerary for us to follow.
After school Kayano, Nagisa, Karma, and I, all walk home together as usual. Nagisa and Kayano still happily chattering about the field trip tomorrow. Eventually, it's time for me and Karma to break off and head down our street. We wave farewell to the other two before departing.
"You seem pretty excited for this trip, I never pegged you as the type to enjoy trips like this," Karma says, sounding somewhat pleased for some reason.
There is a lot you don't know about me, Karma. Plus I get to spend a night away from my dad, what's better than that?
I hand over my whiteboard for him to read. After reading it, he hands it back to me.
"Is that so? Why don't you go ahead and tell me everything you're hiding then," He pushes, leaning closer to me.
I lightly, playfully whack him with my whiteboard. I smile contently, happy enough just to spend my time like this, not wanting the happy moment to pass. However, moments can't last forever. We get to my house, I linger outside for another moment, preparing myself for what I know what's going to happen. I give a nervous smile and a small wave of goodbye before walking up the steps of my house. I enter my prison with a long sigh.
"Akari, you're home. Good, get started on dinner," My father says from the couch, not looking away from the television.
"U-um, Dad," I start gently, trying not to anger him. "We have an overnight field trip tomorrow. We're going to try to kill that thing with a sniper,' I add, my voice barely audible.
My father's gaze snaps from the T.V. to me in an instant. He narrows his eyes at me, clearly suspicious of my words.
"Are you sure this 'field trip' isn't just an excuse to go sleep with that boyfriend of yours?" he accuses, venom dripping from his voice.
"N-no! No one even knows I'm a mistake, they all think I'm a boy," I quickly respond, not even sure why he would think that.
"Really? So you're gonna tell me that boy who walks you home every day is gay? I see the way he looks at you, Akari. Who do you think you're trying to fool?" He asks, now standing up and approaching me.
I take a couple of steps back and put my hands up in defense.
"Please, he really doesn't know dad. It's just for one night," I toss out desperately, trying to calm him down.
It doesn't work, I feel the stinging pain of a slap across the right side of my face. I instinctually bring my hand up to cover my cheek.
"I'm not fucking stupid, Akari. Go on your stupid fucking field trip. If you show any sign of sleeping around with that boy, I'll make sure you'll regret it. I didn't raise a fucking whore," He spits back, before plopping down on the couch. "Go make dinner, and bring a beer while you're at it," He demands, anger still clear in his voice.
I hastily grab him a cold beer from the fridge and hand it to him before starting dinner. After dinner, I pack some stuff for the trip and do my homework before turning in early.
Early the next morning, we all meet up on the train platform. A small group of E class is gathered, watching other students from our same school enter the first class car.
"Man, look at those lucky jerks getting to ride first class," Sosuke Sugaya, a boy with medium-length grey hair and black eyes, points out, clearly jealous of our peers.
"And, as always, we're stuck in coach. Yay for us, right guys?" Rio Nakamura, a sly girl with long, straight, blonde hair, and blue eyes adds.
An older man, clearly a teacher from the main campus, stops when he hears them talking.
"Now, now, boys and girls, try not to look so sour. Rules are rules, you know how this works," he says, a shit-eating grin on his face.
"The school handbook states those of us with the highest grade point average get dibs on school funds," A skinny, stupid, looking kid chimes in.
"Is that the putrid stench of abject poverty filling my nostrils?" a short, round, germline-looking kid pipes up as well.
Unable to control my anger, I stride towards the trio of smug bastards, ready to beat the ever-living shit out of them. Before I can enact my plan, I'm grabbed by the collar of my uniform, preventing me from walking any further.
"Normally I would be all for putting those idiots in their place, but it'd be a shame if you got sent home before going on the trip," Karma says plainly, clearly the culprit keeping me from beating the snot out of the three idiots.
Knowing that Karma is right, I instead throw up my middle finger, flipping off the three of them.
"Why you little… Who do you think you are-" The teacher starts on a tirade but is promptly cut off by our English teacher, Irina Jelavic, walking by.
"Pardon me, boys," she says in her sultry tone as she walks by the three of them.
The teacher, who also happens to be an Assassin as well, is all glammed up, looking like a celebrity. Still angry at the students from the main campus's comments, I turn and enter the coach class train car. I hear footsteps following closely behind me. I don't have to look back to know that they belong to Karma, he's the only person who follows me around constantly.
Where are our seats?
I hand my small, square form of communication to the person behind me. Pushing his way past me, he goes ahead, plopping down on one of the cushioned seats. I sit down across from him, holding my hand out waiting for him to give me my whiteboard back.
"Oh, this? Yeah, you can have it back, only if you give me something in return," He says, an evil smile crossing his lips.
I roll my eyes at him and cross my arms. How am I supposed to communicate without it? What could this idiot possibly be thinking? What do I have that he would even want anyways? I then notice him patting the seat next to him, clearly telling me to move over. I quickly switch seats, still waiting for him to tell me what he wants.
"You have to stick next to me the whole trip," He finally answers, holding the whiteboard in front of me, not waiting for my answer.
I grab the white square, silently agreeing to his terms. There is no way he's going to actually be next to me the whole trip. The other students start to file into the car and our group members join us. We almost immediately notice an issue, there are seven of us in the group and only six seats per row on either side of the aisle. Rising from my set, I quickly scribble down that I can move before plopping down in a seat next to the window across the aisle. Karma follows suit, sitting down across from me.
You didn't have to follow me, you could've sat next to everyone else.
He gives me a smirk and leans in closer to me.
"You think I'd let go of our deal that easily?" He quizzes smugly, his eyes narrowing and his head tilting slightly.
I quickly avert my gaze from his setting my sights on the window. I didn't actually think he was being serious about sticking together. I guess… it wouldn't be so bad. Wait, what in the hell are you thinking about? You know you have to be careful around him, father is already suspicious. Subconsciously, I let out an annoyed sigh.
"You seem to get lost in thought a lot, if you're not careful someone could take advantage of that to catch you off guard," Karma announces matter-of-factly, an evil grin plastered onto his face.
The train begins to move and I roll my eyes at him.
I'd like to see someone try.
I hold up my whiteboard with those words knowing full well that I'm just challenging him. He laughs once he reads what I've written down.
"Be careful what you ask for," He warns, his tone almost sounding flirtatious.
There is no possible way he's flirting with me, he doesn't know… does he? I search his eyes for an answer, hoping that I'm wrong. My heartbeat speeds up as we look into each other's eyes. He smirks wider and leans back into his seat as if knowing what I'm asking, telling me my answer without words. This revelation hits me like a ton of brick.
How did he figure it out? Did I do something to give it away? When did he come to the conclusion that I'm a girl? Why isn't he disgusted with me? Why Doesn't he hate me?
All of these thoughts in my mind swirl together making me feel nauseous as my heart sinks into my stomach. I want to ask him all these questions invading my brain, but know I can't until we're alone. My blood runs cold with my next thought.
Does anyone else in the class know that I'm a girl?
That question alone makes my stomach lurch, bringing me to the verge of throwing up.
"I wouldn't worry too much, you haven't been caught," Karma whispers into my ear, startling me from my thoughts.
When did he get next to me?
"I told you that you'd get caught off guard if you weren't careful," He declares, clearly feeling victorious.
His attitude slightly pulls me from my panic-fueled state, making me feel more at ease. I flash a soft thankful smile in his direction.
"Hey guys, we're heading to the main car to get some drinks, do want anything?" Kayano butts in, putting an end to our, somewhat, awkward conversation. Standing with her are Okuda and Kanzaki.
A bottle of water would be nice if it's not too much work, of course.
I hold up the board for them to read.
"Of course not, what about you, Karma?" Kanzaki asks, shifting her gaze to the crimson-haired demon sitting next to me.
"Nah, I'm good," He replies cooly.
With that, the three girls head down the aisle towards the main car to get some beverages. Their departure causes silence to fall over Karma and I, leaving us to our individual thoughts. It stays like this until the girls return with drinks. I write a quick thanks before the girls return to their seats. I take a swig of my newly acquired water, my throat suddenly feeling dry. With the refreshing beverage washing away my previous anxiety, I try to clear my head for moment to help think about this situation objectively.
He clearly hasn't told anyone else yet and he said no one else has figured it out either. That means he can be trusted, at least to some degree. He has no reason to tell my father that he knows, though he's been obvious enough about it for my father to pick up on it. Despite knowing my dirty little secret, he seems to stick around me. Why is that? Morbid curiosity? I'll have to find a time where I can properly ask him the questions I have.
I let out a long sigh, trying to relieve the tension that has built up inside me.
We need to talk, I have questions for you.
Handing my white board over to him, Karma takes a moment to read the words scrawled across it. A smile crosses his face as he hands it back to me.
"Sure thing, I have a few questions of my own," He responds cooly, clearly unbothered by the strangeness of the entire situation.
I just give a silent nod in return, figuring that would be his response. The rest of the trip to Kyoto is pretty uneventful. Karma occasionally filling in the silence with small talk.