DarkSakura159 is finally back! The finals were really nerve wrecking and could only pray that I did a good job! I'm sorry if this chapter is really late but if any of you read my profile, I already explained that it might take me a week after my finals to recover my muse and motivation back! Because honestly, studying and exams are a sure way to kill my ideas! So again, really sorry I took longer than I thought so I'll try to update the next one as soon as possible, okay? *grins sheepishly* Now, onwards with the reviews~!

BlueSkyBlue : Awww~! Thank you! And I hope you have fun with your work!

Amaya Kuruta : Glad you like! I dunno why but I think Karma being an overprotective brother to poor Nagisa makes me squeal so much because it's just awww~!

Tanoshii. sekai : Thank you! I'm really glad my exams are over! *cheers happily*

Yuzuriha Kaizen : Really sorry I couldn't update sooner! *bows apologetically* I hope I'm not too late! *hides under a blanket*

relenasuka : I don't know what you just said but I'm betting on 'poor Nagisa and please continue' so if I'm right, here is the next chapter!

ynius : Dude, you never fail to make me smile with your reviews! XD

KuroCiel : Am I mean when I say your review makes me smile? *grins happily*

Jose97 : Hey! I'm happy to hear from you again! :D Sorry if I took too long to update _'

Sparkle9510 : Don't worry you didn't review the other chapter because your reviews really makes me happy because you took the time to tell me your opinion! And for that, I really appreciate it! Good luck with your life and I hope you like this chapter!

Juliane662 : I know right?! I dunno why but I think Hiromi in my story makes me really angry! Even though I'm the one that made her that way!

Nagisa was left alone in his room with a throbbing cheek. He stared blankly as his hearing picked out the sound of the front door slamming shut.

His mother was going for grocery shopping and she practically ordered him to stay in his room, locking the door from the outside to make sure he didn't leave. Nagisa didn't care since he knew he could easily climb out through the window.

But truth to be told, all he wanted was to scream and rip his hair out from the frustration of these past weeks. And it was made apparent with the dress massacre that recently occurred in his room. Horror wasn't even close to describe the expression on his mother's face when she saw the state of his room.

If it was another time, Nagisa would snicker sadistically in his mind at her face. But now, he only felt hollow at the seemingly childish victory. Especially when Hiromi had left a nice throbbing pain in his scalp. Breathing out a wary sigh, he fell face first onto his bed. The necklace was still around his neck. He just couldn't find the energy to take it off, no matter how repulsed he felt by it.

Just when he felt his tense body going lax, there was a knock.

Nagisa's head moved so fast that he almost got a whiplash. His eyes searched wildly at the source and it didn't take ten seconds to find it.

There, casually standing on the branch outside his window with his usual grin was Akabane Karma with Asano looking as if he wanted to be anywhere but there.

And right then, Nagisa felt the same way.

With movements similar to a robot, Nagisa got up and neared the window, still unable to comprehend that the number one delinquent and chairman of the student council were standing outside his window.

When he was in front of the window, Nagisa stared blankly at Karma's grin for a few seconds before he reached out and pulled the curtains close.

'This is a dream this is a dream, this is a dream, this is a dream, this is a dream, this is a dream,' he repeated the words over and over again in his head like a mantra.

But alas! Karma simply slide open the unlocked window and pulled the curtains apart to reveal Nagisa still staring blankly at the spot. Nagisa cursed himself for not locking the said window when Karma stepped inside followed by Asano. Having no other choice, Nagisa stepped back to make room for the two intruders but not enough for them to go deeper inside his room.

Nagisa was very self-conscious about the yellowing bruise on his cheek that Karma no doubt saw at first glance. Humiliation roared inside of him when he realised that they could see the carnage of dresses behind him. Minutes too late did humiliation was replaced with horror when realisation finally struck him.

They could see everything.

In his panic, Nagisa plastered on the fake gentle smile he had been using lately and became 'feminine Nagisa' when he asked,

"Karma-kun, Asano-kun, what are you doing here?"

Nagisa mentally cringed when he heard how strained his voice sounded. However, Karma's grin only grew at his attempt of calm and immediately warning bells rang in Nagisa's head.

A smirking Karma was never a good thing. Especially when you know you were in huge trouble with him.

"Nagisa-kun~! I just saw something very interesting a few minutes ago. Asano and I saw you and your mom arguing at the garden~! And she even hurt you~! Maybe you can explain what's going on, ne, Nagisa-kun~?" Karma playfully drawled out his words. Too bad Nagisa could easily see the dark fury beneath that relaxed and playful exterior.

Karma was absolutely livid.

All colour was drained from Nagisa's face when the words finally sunk in. He knew Karma was a genius despite his rebellious streak and judging from the hidden rage beneath his words, it left no doubt in his mind that Karma had figured out everything.

The shred of calmness that he so desperately tried to maintain was gone in a blink of an eye as panic set in. Meanwhile, Karma was internally chuckling with sadistic satisfaction as he watched his best friend having a mental breakdown.

Although he would never admit it, he was still sore when Nagisa refused to tell him the truth. From his years with Nagisa, Karma had already an idea about how Shiota Hiromi treated his son. But never in his dream that the Nagisa who he secretly admired for his skills was mentally and verbally abused by his own mother.

Maybe it was his guilt but Karma couldn't help but feel ruthless pleasure in seeing Nagisa panic from having his secret out.

Asano wisely said nothing. He knew this problem was between the two friends so he didn't even have an inkling as to why Akabane Karma would go as far as to blackmail him to force him help Nagisa. As far as he could see, he was no use whatsoever. The red head was more than enough to think of a plan himself.

Karma was simply content to wait until Nagisa finally realised he was cornered and pleaded for him to help but his thoughts were shattered when he heard the sound of the front door being opened. Instead of alerting the teal haired teen, he decided to keep silent and waited how the scene would play out. If he was lucky enough, the crazy woman would do something that would be solid proof of her abusing Nagisa and Nagisa wouldn't have any excuses after this.

Too busy to think of a plan to escape his predicament, Nagisa wasn't aware the source of his problem was already home until he heard the door to his room open. He immediately went stock still he when sensed the very familiar wavelength. He didn't have to turn around to know she was standing at his doorway and with the way her wavelength spiked, it was too late to even think about hiding the two uninvited guests.

"Nagisa-chan, why are there two boys in your room?" came the dreaded question.

He knew all too well her hatred for Karma and nothing he will say will soothe her anger. His only saving grace was Asano but if he didn't say anything right now, nothing to stop her from her next pain filled rampage when they were alone. When Nagisa's mind came up with nothing believable, he blurted out the first thing he could think of,

"Asano-kun is my boyfriend and Karma-kun is here because Asano-kun doesn't know the address so he's just showing the way."

There was a very heavy pause. Nagisa didn't dare to face Asano, instead, he focused his stare at his mother reaction. Surprisingly, Hiromi's anger changed into suspicion as she silently eyed Asano.

"What is his name?" she asked Nagisa but her focus was still on Asano. For his part, Asano was completely baffled by the sudden events but his proud personality refused to let him gaping and spluttering in indignation like a fool.

"Asano Gakushu. He's the chairman of the student council and he got first rank in almost every exam! He's really polite and I'm sure you will like him!" Nagisa told her with a nervous enthusiasm. He really felt bad for dragging Asano into this but desperate time calls for desperate measures.

From his point of view, Karma could see Asano opening his mouth, no doubt to deny his non-existent relationship with the other male but Karma instantly shut him up by patting him on the back with no little amount of force that almost knocked Asano off his feet.

Inwardly, he snickered as he put on a falsely sweet smile,

"Asano really cares about Nagisa-kun, right Asano?"

Whatever protest that he had thought of died on his lips when Asano received the warning glare that was sent his way from Akabane. Even knowing that he was not intimidated by subtle threat in the slightest, Asano wisely shut up and instead give a polite smile to the older woman.

"Pleasant evening, Shiota-san. I hope we were not disturbing your quality alone time with your family. Pardon my sudden visit but I forgot to tell Nagisa about a school-related work that must be submitted by this Monday," Asano lied smoothly.

Nagisa was shocked when Asano had called him 'Nagisa' instead of 'Shiota' and without any honorifics on top of that! He was a little ashamed that he addressed Asano by his surname. They were supposed to be a couple so it made perfect sense that they would call each other by their first names now! Mentally, he cursed himself for not thinking of such things.

Little did Nagisa know that the actual reason was because in this situation, Asano had no idea whether to call him 'Nagisa-kun' like Karma or 'Nagisa-chan' like his mother. Asano was observant enough to see that Hiromi's expression visibly darkened when Karma had called him 'Nagisa-kun' and he felt too awkward to call a boy '-chan', no matter how cute and petite the boy might be.

The sudden smile on Hiromi's face took him by surprise. He wasn't expecting the approval clearly made apparent in her eyes.

"Oh, Nagisa-chan! Why didn't you tell me you have a wonderful boyfriend! Mommy is so happy that you 're finally like other girls! And your boyfriend is a gentleman too!" Hiromi exclaimed happily. She threw a not-so-subtle dirty look at Karma's direction before she clasped her hands on Asano's shoulders. Asano was mentally inching away when Hiromi shoved her face closer to his and examined every inch of his face before she nodded in satisfaction.

"Come, Asano-kun! Let's have a talk downstairs! Nagisa-chan! Can you please direct Asano-kun to the living room while I prepare some tea?"

Hiromi didn't even wait for a reply and she instantly left the trio alone. When the sound of her footsteps was gone, Karma snorted. Typical of the woman to completely ignored him.

"Asano-kun, I'm really sorry for dragging you into this!" Nagisa was red with embarrassment when he bowed in apology to the said teen. He glared slightly at the snickering Karma but immediately turned apological when he turned back to Asano.

Asano let out a sigh and ran his hair through his hair, something that Nagisa thought that was a very unAsano-like gesture. He tried to give Nagisa a reassuring smile but it came out strained. Again, the guilt came rushing back tenfold. After seeing that his smile only served to further cause the petite boy to blame himself, Asano dropped the smile with another sigh.

"And may I ask how the sudden turn of event came to be?"

Nagisa visibly cringed at the question and even Karma was looking expectantly at him. It was clear to the three of them that Karma demanded Nagisa to confess everything, and Nagisa had no way to escape this time. Nagisa was saved, however, when they heard the feminine voice that called them from downstairs.

"Nagisa-chan! Bring Asano-kun downstairs! Mommy already prepared some tea for the both of you!"

Nagisa gave them a strained smile before he mouthed, 'Later,' and proceeded to answer the woman's call. It didn't escape Asano's notice that he had pitched his tone so that it matched his usual soft and feminine tone when he used during school. And judging from Karma's expression, neither did he.

As they made their way to the living room, Karma gave Asano a look before he returned the gesture. Silently, an agreement was made between them albeit, a bit grudgingly on Asano's part.

You aren't allowed to back away from this situation anymore.

I will continue to help you only because of your blackmail.

But both of them knew the hard cruel truth.

If they didn't work together to help Nagisa, then he will break.

And Asano never did have a grudge against the teal-haired teen.