Disclaimer: I do not own Assassination Classroom

VII.

The first time I met Karma's parents was at the beginning of the sixth grade. Karma had invited me over for some peaceful environment. My dad was home and that meant that he would continuously check on us. I really didn't know what he was thinking, but after the amusement that I felt in the beginning came the irritation. Karma and I were just friends and he wouldn't develop a sudden crush on me. That would come either later or never. I wouldn't be interested anyway. I was 25 years older and didn't have any interest in 12-years-olds. Of course my father didn't know about my mental age.

Karma and I were coming from school when we saw a sleek, black car in the garage. That was unusual. Normally it was empty. His parents were financial day traders and earned well from it. They didn't spend a lot of time with Karma and were mostly travelling around the world.

''Karma, are your parents home?'' I questioned.

''Maybe? I didn't get any message, but sometimes they come home without an announcement.'', he answered. Nonchalantly, he opened the door and took of his shoes. I followed his example. We heard some noise in the living room.

''Daiki, have you seen the charger for the laptop? I have to transfer the money to the company,'' came a feminine voice.

''I thinks it's in the drawer,'' answered a smooth baritone tone.

Huh, they were really home. Now, what to do? I looked at Karma. He shrugged and motioned to the kitchen. He wanted to do the same as always. Well, they were his parents, so I was going to follow his wishes. We went into the kitchen where we had stored some ingredients. I could cook and so could Karma. He out of need and me from my former life. I hadn't been the best but I could put together a decent meal and had taught Karma that what I knew. It was humiliating, but he was getting better than me. At least I was getting good food.

Today was his turn to cook. When my mother had to work she either left us some meal to warm up or we would cook for ourselves. We took turns in cooking or would do it together, but Karma and I were most of the time too lazy to help the other. I placed myself on a chair.

''So, what are we going to eat today?'' I asked flippantly.

''Saa ne, we still have some pasta noodles or I could make some hamburger steaks, '' he offered. ''I'm in the mood for some meat. I'm doing the steaks.''

And there went the offer. That was so typically of him.

''Got it, need some help?''

''Nah, leave it. I can do it alone.''

He continued to take out the needed ingredients and rolled up his sleeves. I took out my book and began to read. I had taken more books in different languages. While reading in Japanese greatly improved my skills in that language it got boring after a while. In my old life I had been a Vietnamese living in Germany. I had learned Vietnamese and German. Later in school I took up English and French. It was somewhat difficult not to get them rusty, but Karma had seen my multiple knowledge in languages and had bothered me to teach him. He learned English quite fast but his pronunciation still lacked. He thought it would be a great idea to learn German and was now studying it with me. The grammar was a drag. If you didn't grew up with German it was quite difficult, but Karma was really a genius. At least we could now hold conversations in three different languages. Even if I had to correct him in two.

My current book was in French. It was the language I was least fluent in, so I had to improve.

''Hey, Sayo!'' I looked up. Karma was almost done. Wordlessly I laid my book down and began to set the tableware.

It seemed that Karma's parents had finally noticed us. They came into the kitchen when I had set the last dish down.

''Ah, Karma. Why didn't you tell us that you were home?'' asked his mother.

She was a beautiful woman with high cheekbones and purple colored hair. Her eyes were in the same color as Karma's, a piercing yellow. Her stature was quite small but typically Asian and she had curves. His father was a tall man with strong features and red hair. His eyes were a normal brown hue, but despite that he was attractive. I could see where Karma got his looks from. When he grows up he's going to be a lady killer.

''You two seemed busy, so we didn't want to disturb you,'' Karma answered easily. I looked at him. His face had a neutral expression and was no longer as playful as when he had spoken to me.

''Ah, I suppose.'' She shrugged elegantly. ''I believe we don't know your friend. Who is she?''

''Yes, you believe right. This is Sayori.'' He turned to me. ''Sayori, this are my parents.''

''It's a pleasure to meet you two. I'm Kitani Sayori and go to the same class as Karma,'' I introduced myself and bowed to them.

''The pleasure is on our side. I'm Akabane Shirota and this is my wife Akane. It's nice to see that Karma has befriended such a nice and polite lady,'' Karma's father answered just as polite as I had been. ''Is that your book there?''

He pointed at my book.

''Yes, it is.''

''Ah, so you speak French. Do you know any other languages?'' he inquired. My, wasn't this a nice beginning?

''Yes, I speak additionally to Japanese and French English, German and Vietnamese.'', I answered. I know this was petty but I liked bragging about my knowledge. Not that I had anything else to brag about.

''Very nice. Karma, I see you have befriended a very fine lady. Keep an eye on her.''

Now I my face was in total deadpan. I could very well take care of myself and did he imply that what I thought? Karma's face didn't look very different from mine.

''Yes, thank you,'' responded Karma. ''Have you two eaten already?''

''Yes, we ate already at a restaurant,'' his mother was looking at our food. ''We will be in the living room if you need anything.''

They moved out of the kitchen.

Quietly Karma and I began to eat. We usually talked a bit during lunch but today's was engulfed in silence.

After washing the dishes we went upstairs to Karma's room. The house of the Akabanes was grand. It was very huge, despite just three people living here. But at the same time it felt lonely. When Karma was at his house he was alone and on the most days he was at my house. I didn't like it when he was alone at his home so I either invited him over as much as possible or we went to his place.

Karma's room was quite big. It contained a grand bed, a desk and many book shelves. I had a field day when I had found them. He had a few posters of the movies his favorite director had directed and a few photos of the two of us.

We sat ourselves on his bed. I laid down and watched him from there. His face was unreadable.

''Are you okay?'' I asked.

''Yeah, I think,'' was his answer. ''It's just a bit disheartening. They are always like this. They use this house just like a hotel and leave me always here alone. I mean they don't have to stay here all the time but they could at least pay a bit attention to me. The last time I had voiced my opinion they just brushed me off! You know, there had been a time when we were just like a normal family. We used to do this whole stuff that family does.''

It was really sad to see him like this. I hugged him from behind.

''You know, I really can't do anything against it but I'm here when you need me. I'm not going to leave you all alone. You can rely on me. If you have problems talk to me. When you need help ask me. If you don't think your parents can be your pillar of support then I'm going to be it. Don't forget that.''

He leaned into my touch.

''Yeah, I'm going to remember that.''

After all he was my own pillar of support, even if he didn't knew it. He and my parents had dragged me out of that whole that I had buried myself in. I was trying to live this new life but it was difficult. Karma had shown me the path to it. I was guiding him through his life and I saw a sense of living for me. He was one of the brightest lights in the darkness that once had threatened to consume me.

I was getting tired of my position and sat up. Then I thought about that what just happened. Wow... that had been somewhat... embarrassing. I felt myself blushing. I couldn't believe that I had said and thought something so mushy and cheesy. Okay, I was mentally older but that had been still embarrassing. I buried my head in my hands.

''Hey, Sayo. What's up?'' Karma was most likely stunned by my sudden action.

''The sky,'' I mumbled into my hands. I could feel my face burning.

Karma blinked. I was probably getting strange. He turned around to look into my face...

And promptly saw the color of my face. I could feel the devil's ears that were growing on him.

''Aww, are you embarrassed? Weren't you going to be my pillar of support? I was so glad that you said that. Come on let me see your face. I want to see this lovely color,'' he was teasing me mercilessly.

I looked up and sent him a glare. Of course he was not impressed and just continued to grin at me. It was a devious smile. My face just resumed burning.

''Aaah, stop that Karma!'' I had totally lost my cool. And he was not getting away with that, so I pounced at him.

Surprised, he fell back from the force of my jump. Now he was lying on his bed and I, on top of him, staring at his face.

''Stop that, Karma!'' I continued in an embarrassed tone. ''Come on, that just now was so mortifying. I just wanted to cheer you up, so shut up. Don't tease me!''

''Ah, come on. Let me. You sounded so cute too. I want to hear that once more!''

''No! Shut up!''

''Are you pouting? You look so cute. And your face is still red. How adorable!''

''I'm not adorable!'' The heck?! I was definitely not adorable and I wasn't pouting.

He pinched my cheeks.

''But Sayo-chan, you are really adorable. Your face is totally red and you look like you are about to cry.''

He flipped our positions. Now I was beneath him. Annoyed, I looked to his face and suddenly he started tickling me.

''Ahahahahah, stoo- ahaha, stop it!'' I was laughing so hard that I was getting breathless.

''Only if you say it again,'' he warbled cheerfully.

''You are ev- ahahah, -il.''

''Now, now, that wasn't that what I wanted to hear.''

''Stop ahaha, it. I'm saying ahahahah, it. Please stop!''

''Ah this is better.'' He stopped tickling me. I took deep breaths. Unluckily, I was very ticklish and he was still above me.

''I'm going to be your pillar of support...'' I muttered.

''What? I can't hear you.'' He held his ear closer to me. I resisted the temptation to bite it.

''I'm going to be your pillar of support,'' I said in a louder voice. That sounded so cheesy, that I couldn't help but cringe at that.

''I still can't hear you~'' This was enough. I tackled him again and soon we found ourselves wrestling with each other. We stopped after a few minutes.

I stared at his face for a while as we rested on his bed and promptly started laughing. He stared at me as if I had lost it, just to join my laughter. It was really freeing to able to laugh so carelessly.

''You know Karma, I'm really glad I met you.''

''Yeah, me too.''

Aaaaand chapter 7 is out! I took a bit longer than usually. I think I'm encountering what you call a writer's block. I have ideas but somehow I can't write them down. I think I'm going to slow down with the updates, but don't worry my dear readers. I won't take too long.

I'm such a fan of fluff and you can write it so wonderfully with kids or teenagers. At least in my opinion. One more chapter and they will go to Kunugigaoka Middle School. It's goint to be so much fun to finally write chapters for the canon or at least with the cannon character.

I thank all my dear readers. Those who have favourised or followed it and those who have posted a review. I could hug you all, just I don't do hugs. ;)

Guest - Sayori is mostlikely going to be in class E. The question is just how. Any suggestions?

As always, my dear Shiki has betaed this chapter.

Wish you a nice day!

-Yuki