A/N: Happy Holidays! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas :D

Disclaimer: Ansatsu Kyoushitsu is not mine.

NOTE: ITALICIZED CHARACTERS ARE FLASHBACKS

Flashback

"You know, it does not really take a genius to know what you're doing."

Manami peered at Karma, who was currently lying on one of their schoolside benches, hoping for a well needed sleep. She stared reprimandingly, with her hands on her sides, at Karma and made it a point to position her face directly in front of the boy's in order to show her seriousness. It lasted for a while, since no response was taken from Karma, but once he did Manami straightened up so fast, it got her stumbling a few steps back. She was vaguely aware of the sharp eyes watching her actions, but did she notice the brief smirk his lips formed.

"Hmm… So what am I doing then, Okuda-san?"

Manami watched as Karma straightened himself on the bench then patted the space beside him, offering it to Manami. This, however, was politely declined, moreover, once they both heard the bell ring, signaling 10 minutes before the end of their lunch break.

"Ka-Karma-kun should stop skipping classes."

Karma shrugged. "Why should I? It's not like I fail any of my classes. As far as I know, I'm still up the class standing."

Involuntarily, Manami sighed as a pair of sly, gray eyes was directed at her. Looking back, she remembered fearing those eyes whenever they even slightly pass her way; but now, those pair of eyes only carries the mischief Karma to never seem to lose. It was like being together for almost 2 years gave them the ability to read what was on to each other's mind without even hearing what they had to say. This was proven effective since Karma liked to pick up fight, and he gets into one whenever he likes it. But one look at Manami's worry-filled eyes, and it was enough to ignore his previous intentions.

"I know you don't, as much as I know you are one of the best students in our class. But Karma-kun, your lack of attendance will pull you down. "

Karma raised one eyebrow. "I'm sure I haven't surpassed the limit of absences."

"Yes. But would it hurt you to save those remaining number for the times of emergency?"

" No?"

"Then let's go to class!"

"Don't want to."

"E-eh? "

"Why won't you join me, instead?"

"Jo-join you? But I'm here to convince you to go to class!"

"Uh-huh. In which I'm not going."

Manami sputtered defeatedly, losing all hope of convincing Karma for the number of times she can't now remember. In didn't help that in every attempt she made, it only seemed to provide entertainment to Karma, as his eyes looked at her interestingly. Plus, he seemed delighted on every butting argument they had. In every single time, Karma would raise his one brow, and ask her why he needed to go, in which every single time, he won't.

She needed to make him go to class, in any way she can, as the sole purpose was to associate him to their classmates. Even if she hasn't associated herself with all the people in their class, she wanted at least for Karma to open up to their other classmates, which he deliberately refuses to do.

"But Karma-kun, I think you need to know our other classmates", Manami replied, eyeing one particular yellow leaf that landed on Karma's hair. Lifting one hand, she swiped said leaf, not aware that she took a step closer, positioning herself before Karma, their knees touching.

"But I do."

"Oh yeah? This one time you forgot what our class representative's name was and called her Karen, which is our landlord's name."

Karma chuckled, hands placed suddenly on Manami's waist. "Did I? But she did look a lot like her."

Manami laughed in return, patting Karma's shoulder lightly. "No, she did not!"

Unbeknownst to Manami, but not to Karma, students from inside the school corridors interestedly watched their brief conversation, peeking through the windows. They exchanged opinions, the topic being how close they both were to each other and Karma's unusual behavior towards said girl.

"Since when did Karma talk to a girl?"

"Don't you know who she is? That's Okuda Manami. She's the only girl Karma-kun talks to. "

"How come she gets all the attention?"

"I heard they were dating."

"She's so lucky!"

"It's true! I saw them together last Sunday!"

Different opinions were shared and heard by both the subjects, however, one particular opinion from one guy, whom Karma made a mental note to approach later, stood out of the rest. It was said as low as possible, seemingly done in order to be covered by the much louder female voices, that if not for both their trained ears, they wouldn't have noticed. It was proven effective once hairs on Manami's nape stood and her face burned, while Karma's former mischievous eyes turned murderous. In her embarrassment, however, Manami noticed the look Karma was giving the said guy and quickly shifted her body, blocking his line of vision. She placed both her palms on Karma's cheeks, and forced his head to look up, making him face her. It didn't miss them how the noise behind became even louder but decided to ignore it.

"I-I'm sure he didn't mean that."

Karma rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm sure he did."

Manami's eyes narrowed. She pushed both her hands and mushed Karma's face. "Stop that. You know that's all that he can do to you."

"Calling me a show-off? That's practically nothing to me. He can insult me all he wants, but he has no right say anything about you", Karma replied, his eyes staring straight at Manami's, unwavering.

Manami fought down the blush threatening to form on her cheeks, but realized they were futile judging from the slight twitch on the side of Karma's mouth. Due to this, the hands on Karma's cheeks unknowingly loosened, seemingly there to caress his face.

"I'm sure that wasn't what he meant. Forgive him?"

It unnerved her that Karma's face did not show even a bit of remorse. Instead, it dug its own towards one of Manami's palm but Karma's eyes stayed on hers.

"Karma."

"At my house later?"

Manami blinked. "What for? I thought your parents would be home tonight."

"Even so. "

Manami silenced, but then sighed. " Alright."

Effectively, it made Karma grin widely. He finally let go of Manami and stood up, towering himself over her.

"Then it's a deal."

Their homeroom teacher sweatdropped as he can still feel the tension on his back. He figured it happened since the certain fiasco his glasses girl and red-haired students made on their school grounds yesterday. Of course it did not miss him throughout his entire month of being their class adviser that those two were certainly closer than what he expected. Nobody can blame him if he initially thought that Manami would be incapable of approaching his top of the class student. She was too shy and the boy liked to keep his list of associations minimal .time. But the unthinkable happened and to say he, Katsuo, was surprised would be an understatement once he saw with his own eyes, the supposed-to-be-shy girl affectionately and intimately holding and being held by was quite a scene. If the subjects weren't Akabane and Okuda, it would've have been somewhat ordinary. Who would have thought that Karma, who most of the time had no response to anything happening around him, will show this much emotions in public, nonetheless. And his supposed-to-be-shy student will be approaching him so closely, that is, with no hesitation, whatsoever. He must have said that out loud, he realized, once he felt pair of cold mercury-colored eyes went his way. Gasping, he attempted to flee, but was frozen in place as he watched those same eyes, turned from cold, to with killing intentions. If not for Manami's body, suddenly blocking Karma, he wouldn't have any chance to escape those eyes, and will probably haunt him for the rest of the day. Once he found the chance, he fled away from the crowd, missing the shared negotiations and Karma's eyes on his back.

"Noda-sensei, have you heard about Akabane and Okuda of Class D?"

Noda, their school nurse, passed him a passive look before focusing back to her papers, "What of them?"

Katsuo faltered, hesitant to ask, but then answered, "Well, you know, that they're in a relationship?"

"Hmmmm? I guess I caught other students talking about it. Why?"

Katsuo pensively palmed his forehead. "It's just, they're both exceptional students especially Akabane-san, however, he refuses to attend classes, wherein Okuda is the exact opposite. Never missing any class and even acting as class representative."

Noda nodded. "So? It's not like Karma's failing."

"The exact opposite. I'm just worried if he keeps on hanging with Okuda, her grades may be affected. To be completely honest, I'm somewhat surprised they're together."

If not for his mastery in the art of evading flying chalks at high speeds from none other than his most favorite red-haired advisee, he wouldn't have survived the incoming fist directed to his head. Eyeing frantically the suddenly enraged school nurse in front of him, he backed on the wall, and shakily whimpered. "N-N-N-Noda-s-sensei?!"

Said Noda-sensei tensed for a while, before her eyes direct themselves on Katsuo's threateningly. "You will not talk, ask, and definitely not bother those two. Kar- Akabane is starting to stabilize now, so if you do anything, anything at all, to destroy that relationship, you will see me. Not only will I break your face, I will personally ensure that your sorry butt will leave this school. You hear?!"

It tremendously surprised Katsuo, but hearing the words left her, he cannot help but wonder, "What's wrong with Akabane?"

Noda raised one eyebrow, "Why would I tell you?" She stood up, picking the fallen papers due to their escapade.

"I-I'm their homeroom teacher. I would like-"

"That depends on them. "

Katsuo gulped.

Noda sideglanced the teacher, then sighed. This teacher is proving to be more and more annoying.

"Just know this, if you want to live, never and I mean never, give Karma a reason to kill you cause I swear to you, he will. For your own safety, I'll let you know, those two have been in a rollercoaster life in their past school. Something happened that left both of them emotionally unstable, primarily Akabane. They don't deserve that but they're thankfully recovering, together, that is. That's why I can tell you that if anybody can subdue the monster, it's Okuda. That relationship you're talking about, hell even more than that."

Suddenly realizing that their relationship was not what he thought it was, Katsuo said lowly, "Like a support?"

Noda passed him a pained glanced, "I'm afraid, yes."

"Karma! Karma, wake up!"

"Wh-what?", Karma groaned, his eyes blinkingly focused on Manami who was seated beside him with her clothes already on.

Manami sighed then smiled albeit sadly, "I remember, you really are a heavy sleeper, aren't you? Come on, it's 45 minutes to 8. We should start preparing for work if we- wah?!"

Manami was interrupted once arms were wrapped around her waist, and Karma buried his face on her lap. She would have pushed him on reflex if not for the sudden tears she felt from Karma. It stunned her that she seated rigidly.

Never had Karma showed any sign of distress when they were together. She knew full well he covered it up with smirks and teases, as she does the same. It was more of for both of their sakes. But before that, was a different story, in which she can relate well, however on a very different level. Nonetheless, this dream might be too hard to actually make Karma this agonized, she thought as she watch his hand gripped the white sheets. The death of their sensei was a big impact to her, too much that she still dreamt of those times. She can't what it would be like to Karma. She knew he idolized the man so much. Hugging the trembling head on her lap, she fought the tears threatening to fall. It really had been too long.

"It's okay."

She figured she could blame their age, their past lives, even their relationship. But really, she thought, it was her.

"Sorry."

Manami gasped, the tears finally rolling down her cheeks. She shook her head, all the while placing light kisses on his hair; one of her hands caressing his back, "No, no. Don't be sorry, please. It was not- it was my fault. I'm sorry." She then used both her hands to shift Karma's head up, facing her but still lying on her lap. "Don't- Don't cry, please."

No response was taken from Karma as he gazed thoughtfully at the face above her, letting her tears fall on his face. He watched as Manami continued to wipe the tears- his and hers- from his face, all the while continuing to say her sorrys. He watched his ex-girlfriend of 5 years cry her heart out in front of him, not wondering why (that was long pass them) but when did she learn to express her emotions freely. It was never her forte, and Karma did have a hard time helping her overcome it even when they were together.

"You're telling me to stop crying, when you yourself can't."

It proved effective when Manami's eyes widened by a fraction, her tears seizing. Their eyes connected as she smiled slightly and Karma chuckled. Silence filled the room for a while, Manami threading her fingers on Karma's hair.

The silence was broken by Manami as she whispered, "Was it the same dream?", her eyes keeping its contact with Karma's. Due to that, she did not miss the sudden steeling of her gaze.

Manami did not receive any verbal answer only that Karma suddenly gripped the wrist on the hand she was using on his hair. It was subtle, but she felt the slight nod of his head. And through their eyes, she read fear and loneliness.

"I-They won't get out of my head."

The arms around Karma tightened, as he felt the light kisses on his face his girlfriend continued to give him, hoping to ease his sadness and the tears. He hated showing weakness, but the dream this time completely ate him. It was bad enough that he had to dream every time how he witnessed their teacher killed, his team too late to do anything to stop it. But to witness his classmates' disappointed look at him was-

"Shh. Don't think about it."

Karma hesitantly nodded. "It looked and felt too real, it was like-"

Pale hands gripped his cheeks.

"It's okay," Manami interjected, "I'm here."

"It's okay. I'm here."

Karma's eyes momentarily widened, his mouth gaped open and his hand losing its grip.

Manami stared as various emotion passed through his eyes. She watched as Karma's stare probed her own.

"I love you."

"I.. I'll always be here for you."

A/N: YEY AN UPDATE

YA KNOW I WANTED TO GO FOR DRAMA SO I DID BUT I REALIZED I SUCK AT IT. HAHA. FAILED ATTEMPT BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW I CAN PUT THE EMOTIONAL PART OF THEIR PAST IN A COMEDIC WAY(CAUSE IN MY OPINION THAT'S HOW I NORMALLY WRITE) SO YAH, DRAMA IT IS. CRAP.

PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

PEACE! BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARMA BOOOY

EDIT: I indicated the flashback from the present scene cause I think people are getting confused :) But, that's okay. I guess it just means I have to write clearer and is a worthy critic for my writing :D Thanks for that!

In case somebody's still confused, the "present" is the second part (Karma and Manami crying) and it is connected to the first chapter. It did not change scenes whatsoever, and they're still in the same room and situation. Remember the "it's 4:00" thingy form the first chapter? I presumed it was understood that they slept and this part in this chapter was when they woke up for work. Same place. Same situation. :) Sorry for that. To note, they are coworkers, and are not in school in the "present". And more importantly, they are not in a relationship anymore. Why? Will be explained later :)

The "flashbacks" part in this chapter (and in the upcoming chapters) pertain to when they were in a relationship, hence the "girlfriend" reference of Karma to Manami. In this chapter, notice that Karma used "ex-girlfriend" that is because it is in the present.

VERY SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION AND I HOPE THIS CLEARS THINGS UP. If not, DON'T hesitate to PM me. :D

Cheers!