Helloooo! Here is the new chapter! I actually had most of this written pretty soon after the last update, but the last 400 words were murder. I couldn't get what I wanted completely right. But I think it's pretty good now, so here we go!

"My mother did this."

Nagisa has no idea why she opened her mouth to speak. She's never wanted anyone to know about her mother—she's never wanted to burden anyone when she could have it much worse; in her mind, it just isn't worth mentioning—and she doesn't like to admit that her mother controls her life; not even to herself. Who would like someone who can't even stand up to her own mother? It's not like she gets beaten up or anything, but she just gets so scared when her mother gets angry and has this dark look in her eye and starts screaming. She can't help it.

It's just terrifying.

And even if her mother controls her, forces her to be girly and try on dresses and hairstyles and make-up that Nagisa doesn't really like, she's still her mother and she loves her. Her mom wasn't always like that; while she was always controlling, she got worse when her dad left them. But it was her who decided to stay with Hiromi instead of leaving with her father, because she was worried about her mother. Because she knows that despite Hiromi's controlling nature, hurtful words, and strictness, she loves her and would be completely destroyed if Nagisa were to leave her too.

Even though she made it hard to believe, sometimes.

Still, she never expected to tell anyone, including Karma. Why is she, though? Perhaps because she knows that, if Karma wants an answer, he'll stop at nothing to get it? Perhaps it is because he seems worried? He seemed to be growing distant and Nagisa had not known what to do about it, but seeing him so worried about her made her heart warm.

To be honest with herself, she's probably telling him because he's the person she trusts the most.

"Your mother…?"

Karma looks taken off guard, like he never expected it. He probably didn't; after all, Nagisa had not told him anything about her mother, until now. But he's starting to look furious, and Nagisa's starting to feel guilty—why is she feeling guilty? Because she's speaking up against her mother, even though it's in private?—and she feels the need to clarify.

"She didn't mean to!" Well, she doesn't know that, but she's choosing to believe that her mother was too caught up in her rage to notice what she was doing. "We'd gotten to a disagreement because she wanted me to try on this dress I really didn't like, and she got angry and accidentally grabbed my wrist too tightly. That's all!"

"…And she did those bruises," he points to her wrist, a look of disbelief on his face, "simply because of a fucking dress?"

Nagisa flinches a little. When he puts it that way... "Y-Yes, well… Her parents made her study and didn't allow her to dress up and all that, and she wants me to have the opportunity to do what she couldn't. You know, dress up, use make-up, be lady-like, get into the university she couldn't go to… She thinks it's the best for me, but… She just—she doesn't want to understand that it's not... what I want…" Her voice sounds flat, defeated, and her eyes are dull. She hates how her mother makes her feel like this. She wonders if her mother realizes it. Honestly, Nagisa thinks she's too caught up on what she wants to notice. "I don't mind, really. I'll be okay as long as I do what she says."

"Nagisa-chan, that is not okay." Nagisa looks up in surprise to see Karma, the fiery look he has in his eye. "She's living through you… She's forcing you to be her—to be what she wanted to be. That's fucked up." Silence reign over them for a while, until he speaks up again. "Other than those bruises… does she hurt you?"

"No! I mean… when she's too angry, she grabs my hair sometimes or slaps me—but that's as far as she's ever gone, I swear! She's never beaten me up or anything! She does say hurtful things sometimes, but that's her anger speaking. It's not that bad, honestly. It could be worse."

"…Why are you defending her?"

"H-Huh?" Why am I defending her? Perhaps the answer is too simple, but it works for her. "Because she's my mother! I love her. I know she can be bad, but she's never done anything to seriously hurt me! That last time was my fault, anyway. I shouldn't have defied her since I knew how she could get…"

"It wasn't your fault!" Karma says fiercely, the passionate look in his eyes startling Nagisa. "Don't you dare say you're at fault, Nagisa-chan. You shouldn't think that."

"But it is…"

"It's not! She has no right to treat you that way and hurt you just because you refused to try on a fucking dress! You're not her; she has to accept that!"

"I-I know," Nagisa says quietly. "But it's not as bad as it seems! She's high-strung, but she's just doing what she thinks it's best for me. She mostly just makes me wear the clothes she gets for me, and that's pretty much it. And I do get to be myself… When I'm with you…" Her cheeks turn red from embarrassment. Why is she even blushing again? But she feels the need to thank Karma, for being there, even if he hadn't known until now how much his friendship had helped her. "Y-You've… helped me more than you could ever imagine, just by being my friend. So thank you, Karma-kun." Nagisa smiles the biggest, most genuine smile she can muster. "And don't worry about me. I'm fine, honest!"

There's silence, and then… "Nagisa?"

"E-Eh?!" Nagisa turns a bit red, her eyes widening in shock. This is the first time Karma has ever talked to her with no honorifics—ever.

"You don't ever have to fake around me," Karma says, his eyes serious—no mischievousness or mocking in them. He really means what he's saying. "Your mother is a fucking basket case and she has no right to force you to be someone you're not. You have the right to be yourself, no matter what she says."

"…I know, but…" Her voice grows smaller. She knows he's right—she does have the right to be herself. Why would her mother have the right to force her to be someone else? But it's her mother; the woman who raised her—she can't go against her that easily. She can't… she can't… It's her mom! She loves her…

Karma seems to notice her distress because his eyes soften before letting out a sigh. "…Nagisa," he says, "even if you don't get to be yourself at home, you can always be that with me. I want you to know that."

"I know," Nagisa says, sounding more confident in her answer. Because she does know that. She's always been herself around him; Karma's always accepted her. And she's glad that he seems to still accept her, even after finding out… She's just so glad to have him. "I know that, Karma-kun."

"Drop the '-kun'."

"E-Eh?!" Once again, Nagisa's taken off guard and her cheeks can't help but turn a bit red.

That seems to amuse the redhead, letting out a small laugh as he patted her head gently. The atmosphere around them suddenly light, and Nagisa's glad the tension's gone. She's been feeling like they've been drifting apart these last couple of weeks, and now it's like they're becoming close again. Actually, even closer than before.

It makes her happy.

"Drop the '-kun'. Just call me Karma," he smiles. "And also… Nagisa," his face turns serious again, "if you ever need to vent out and talk about… this, just tell me, okay? I'll be there."

Nagisa nods, and her eyes suddenly sting. She closes them to prevent tears from coming. She honestly doesn't think she's ever been this relieved in a long while.

"Okay, Karma."

Aaaaaand they've dropped the honorifics! Way before their time in canon, but who cares! XD

You can expect my boy, Hiroto, in the next one~

Thank you for reading and until next time! :)