After three weeks of hellish exams I am finally back with a new chapter! This is the chapter in which their first year officially ends! Whoop whoop!

By the way, I published another story, Lounge Act, that takes place in the same universe as this one. Remember Yuuji? Yeah, well, it's about him falling in love with Nagisa only to eventually find out she's dating Karma. Spoilers, though, I guess—since, you know, that story takes place when they're on their third year and yet here we're only starting the second one next chapter. XD

I guess it's kind of a preview about Nagisa and Karma's relationship. You'll see in this story how they get to where they're at in Lounge Act. :) Of course, you don't have to read it, but I would appreciate it if you did. :3

Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!

It's when they're about to finish their first year when he feels it.

He and Nagisa decided to go to a fast food restaurant after school. Holding their food, Karma begins to walk around, trying to find his blue-haired friend who is supposed to find them a table. "Where did she run off to…? Oi, Nagis—!"

All of a sudden, he feels like a blade went right through him. His instincts go haywire—he's danger; he feels the need to fight, run, get the hell away—but when he turns around he only sees little Nagisa smiling up at him like she usually does.

"I'm right here, Karma-kun," she says, not realizing his fear. "Didn't you see me?"

What… the hell?

Karma gives her a small smile, trying to hide the fact his heart is beating so loud he can barely hear himself think. "Sorry 'bout that, Nagisa-chan. It's just that you're so small!" His voice doesn't waver somehow, and he doesn't sound out of breath, even though he feels like the air was forced out of his lungs a moment ago.

I don't… understand. What I just felt…

Nagisa pouts. "Yeah, yeah, so I'm small. You don't always have to tease me about that…"

Karma smirks a little. "Oh, come on, you know how I am."

Did I… imagine that? I can't seem to calm down. Is this… what being afraid is like?

Nagisa laughs a little. "Yeah, that's true! Karma-kun always teases everyone!"

She's laughing, giving him a warm smile that a couple of minutes ago would've comforted him. But now… it only unsettles him. Even though he doesn't think Nagisa's weak, he's never thought of her as a threat—on the contrary, she's someone he can drop his guard with—but when she poked him, just know, he felt… he felt like he was about to be killed.

It's like a mysterious something is inside her. Something that could kill him in his sleep. Something that he wants to drag out and destroy, just to be safe. But that would mean, he would have to hurt her. He doesn't want to do that. He's terrified, but he still cares for Nagisa, the first person he allowed himself to trust in a long time. But if he can't hurt her…

"Karma-kun? Are you okay? You seem… kind of distracted right now." Nagisa's looking at him worriedly, and somehow knowing that makes him feel bad, despite his fear.

Why am I feeling like this?

"What, me? Nah, I'm totally fine, Nagisa-chan! I was just thinking about a strategy for this new game I bought." The lie slips easily past his lips. It's never been an issue for him to lie. "See, it's harder than I thought it would be, so I have to think how I'll be able to beat it."

Maybe I should keep away for a while… Spring break's coming soon, right? I'll think things through then.

"No more school!" Hiroto cheers. "Now that there's no more homework or whatever, I can date girls without any distractions!"

"Your priorities are really bad, Hiroto," Yuuma let out a laugh.

"Huh?" Hiroto turns to his best friend indignantly. "They're not! It's spring break, so I don't have to think about school anymore. So my priorities are bound to change from regular school year!"

"Speaking of school years, you should try to study more this second year. You know what happens when kids in our school have bad grades…"

"Ah, the E Class, right?" Hiroto nods. He's thought about it a little, but he isn't too worried. There's a whole year left for him to better his grades. He can do that, no sweat. "Don't worry about it, though, Yuuma! I know my grades aren't the best, but I'm sure I can save my ass! I'll just worry about it when the time comes, okay?"

"Birthday party?" Nagisa asks into the phone.

"Yes!" Yamamoto Misao exclaims from the other line. "I know you don't hang with us as much anymore, but you're still a good friend! So I wanted to invite Nagisa-chan, too!"

"That's really nice of you, Misao. And who else would be coming? Seiko?"

Akechi Seiko is Misao's best friend; they had known each other pretty much ever since they could crawl. Before she became friends with Karma, Nagisa hanged out with Misao and Seiko. They were always nice to her, and even after she befriended Karma, they still talked to her. Even now, they consider her a good friend. Nagisa's glad about that, because she does appreciate both girls and their friendship.

"Of course!" Misao exclaims happily. "Tanaka-kun and Takada-kun are invited as well, because they're friends, too."

"Oh, really? That's nice, I guess," Nagisa doesn't have any issue in particular with Tanaka Nobuta and Takada Chousuke. If anything, she admires their close friendship. They're good friends with Seiko and Misao, and that made them friends of Nagisa for a while. But after she began to hang out with Karma, they seemed to have an issue with her. Probably because she's friend with the guy they fear the most.

"Yeah. Oh, and don't worry about them saying stuff about your friendship with Akabane-kun! I honestly think they're just jealous, you know? Since Akabane-kun is so much cooler than them! By the way, how is he?"

"Well… He's good, I think. I haven't seen him since spring break started," she admits, sighing. She tried to hang out with him, but he told her he was busy and for that reason he couldn't hang out. "He says he's busy." She tries not to think too much into it, but her low self-esteem has her worried: what if he's already bored of her? Is he avoiding her? She doesn't want to think like this, but she just can't help it.

After all, why would a cool guy like Karma-kun want to hang out with such a bore like me?

"Well, I'm sure he's doing okay. You'll be able to see him when we go back at school, anyway!"

Nagisa smiles a little. "Yeah… So, Misao, this birthday party is when we go back to school, yes?"

"Yup! Since it's at the beginning of the school year, we won't have too much stuff to do, and a celebration will help us all relax."

"Yes, that's true. I'll see you guys when we go back to school, then, yeah?"

"That's right! Talk to you later, then, Nagisa-chan!"

"Bye," Nagisa says softly, sighing. Well, a new school year, a new start, I guess…

If I thought something while reading this manga is that Hiroto should be more appreciated. XD

Also, I figured those two bullies that always bother Nagisa in the manga/anime, Tanaka and Takada, were actually former friends of his. After all, Nagisa probably had more friends other than Karma. So, I wanted to work with that in this story.

Next chapter we're surely starting second year! What will happen to Nagisa and Karma's relationship now that Karma's felt Nagisa's bloodlust? The same in the anime/manga, or does this author have other plans? (I feel the answer's kinda obvious but whatever).

Oh, and we're seeing Gakushuu next chapter.

As always, thanks for reading, please leave a review! :)

Until next time!