He felt cold. He couldn't understand why, but it was just how he felt. His eyes felt heavy and his limbs were numb. It was like he had been drugged and doused in an ice bath for too many hours.

Maybe he was dead.

The thought unconsciously caused his lips to twitch upwards. Oh, so maybe not all of him was numb after all. Though the thought – however absurd it sounded – actually sounded nice right about now. It was certainly something Karma had thought about many times but never tried to experience first-hand (it was ironic and funny, thinking about how he of all people was afraid of something as measly as death while he nearly inflicted it on every one of his victims). It wasn't like he could do anything as he was right now; sure, he got excellent grades but what good it do you if nobody acknowledged it? Even so, his grades weren't what got him in the 'End Class', more-so his behavior of all things.

He always had trouble with controlling himself.

Or maybe it only started after being dropped so low.

'Damn, did I really just think that?' he thought, blearily opening his droopy eyelids only to stare into the darkness. 'Thinking that my own classmates were the cause my behavior?' Great, now he sounded like those assholes from the main campus. Better fix that.

Yet doubt still crept into his mind. Maybe his classmates were the cause of his violent behavior. Hell, maybe even the whole school was the cause of his behavior. Sometimes he wondered why he even went to Kunugigaoka in the first place but then remembered that there was no smarter school for him. It really was lonely at the top.

Maybe that's why he never got along with anyone; he was always too smart for them. But every child craved attention, and Karma even went as far one time to literally play dumb for an entire school year back in elementary school, just so he could have some friends to talk to. Suffice to say, his parents were not pleased in the slightest.

"I can't believe these grades young man! A 'C' in math?! A 'D' in science?! What do you think your education is for?!"

"We spent countless hours hiring the best tutors for our son, and all you do is throw all of that hard work down the drain! You ungrateful piece of shit!"

"I hope you've said goodbye to your 'friends,' because you're leaving."

The next day he had transferred schools where he proceeded to catch up on his studies and make no friends whatsoever. Even when going to a prestigious school like Kunugigaoka, he never had any friends except...

Nagisa.

Nagisa; just the simple mention of his name brought another smile to Karma's lips. Nagisa was the only person he had found an interest in, in his bleak world. The boy's kind smile was enough to bring a soft warmth to Karma's heart.

But then he started to drift away too.

He frowned, the warmth disappearing and only leaving a cold feeling lingering behind. He never wanted to leave Nagisa behind, but the boy...he was dangerous. He threatened Karma like no person had done before. His blood lust was damn nearly uncontrollable.

And it scared him.

Nagisa Shiota scared him.

So he put a distance between them. He excelled in his studies to distract himself and to force himself not to run over to the bluenette and hug him and chat like they used to. He never missed the hurt looks Nagisa would give him when he left class early or ignored him, but he had to keep strong. He couldn't be hurt again, he couldn't go through that emotional and physical trauma.

Even if it meant giving up the only friendship he had.