"I have something new planned for today!"
New? Maybe I should skip then.
"I know it's nowhere near exam time, but it's better to start early than late, so for that reason, I will be assigning you all study partners!"
...joy.
He stands up abruptly and makes for the door. "Koro-sensei, I hope you don't mind. I'm skipping today."
"Ah!" In a burst of speed, an octopus is suddenly blocking his way.
"I was hoping you wouldn't today, Karma-kun."
He lazily whips out a knife. "I can do whatever I want."
Koro-sensei holds up his many tentacles in protest. "Please, stay for a while. It is my duty as your teacher to try my utmost to prepare and educate you for -"
"Right, right," he quickly changes tracks. If his teacher's going to those lengths, it must be important. A little more studying never hurt anyone. "You can stop with the speech."
"Phew," his teacher looks relieved and hastily returns to the front of the class. Everyone laughs to some degree.
"I have already picked out your study partners."
Groans and complaints are heard around the classroom to these words.
"I have based them off of what I observe during my lessons and assignments. Whoever you have as your partner will be able to work well with you and greatly complement your strengths and weaknesses." And with that, he takes out a piece of paper and begins rattling off names.
"Nagisa-kun, Kayano-san."
Well, it was a given, he thinks as the two exchange excited glances.
"Sugino-kun, Kanzaki-san."
"There seems to be a pattern," Hinata Okano duly notes.
He's matchmaking again…
...which is proved correct by the pink colour displayed on his face.
That means I'm most likely to get…
"Karma-kun, Okuda-san."
He breathes out, keeping his visage expressionless.
His unkillable teacher continues to list names, Hayami-san and Chiba-kun, Kataoka-san and Isogai-kun, the list goes on and on, but it doesn't register in his ears. Unprecedented anger rises up, much like it has of late.
He gets up yet again, hoping to stir up mayhem. "I don't want any part in this matchmaking. I've stayed long enough."
He tries to ignore his "study" partner's semi-hurt look. That's right, if he leaves, she'll be alone.
Just as he had planned, his classmates begin adding their own opinions on the matter.
"Don't meddle in our love lives!"
"Yeah, you creepy octopus!"
"Give us real study partners!"
Just as noted previously, one of their teacher's weaknesses is pressure. He flinches humorously at each and every one of the outbursts. It doesn't take long for him to crack.
"Agh! I'm sorry, class!"
He seats himself with a satisfied smirk. Too easy.
His teacher bows embarrassedly, over and over. "Please, forgive me!"
Rio Nakamura, who may be having too much fun, flips out a BB gun. "This is the second time you've meddled in our love lives! We will never forgive you!"
She looses the bullets on him, a few students following suit.
"Wait! Wait! I can explain!"
Karma can only laugh at the show going on before him. Their teacher is hunched over his desk, tentacles on loose paper. BBs hit the blackboard and clatter to the ground.
"They really are your study partners! You work well with each other!"
"Don't give us that crap!"
"We all know you just want to see romance!"
This continues for the rest of the morning. Karma's almost glad he didn't skip.
Then lunchtime rolls around. He's mentally debating whether he should vault out the window or go through the door like a sane person when she eliminates both options.
"Karma-kun?"
"Mm?" He's getting pretty good at hiding his feelings by now.
"Will...will you study with me?" she stammers, holding out a mathematics textbook. A bag hangs on her forearm.
He sizes her down. "You didn't really believe what that creepy octopus said, did you?"
"N-no!" She shakes her head rapidly. "I just thought that…" Her hand falls limply to her side. A smile appears on her face. "N-never mind."
I turned her off, he realizes as he sees her back.
Appropriate measures must be taken, of course.
He slides in front of her and holds out his hand.
"Would you like to study with me, Okuda-san?"
He may be violent, but he's never been one for losing comrades.
She blushes and smiles shyly. "Oh, y-yes!"
He allows himself to smile back briefly. Right, now that's settled. This is the perfect opportunity.
Once they are both seated, she opens it to a marked page. She reaches inside the bag she brought, bringing out a container. He's so caught up in the moment he forgot it's lunch period.
"Um, do you mind if we start with this formula?"
She's doing a better job with not stuttering. It's Karma, after all. She can be comfortable around him - he's very easy to talk to.
"Sure - we can start anywhere you like," he says easily.
"Make sure you eat your lunch while studying, Okuda-san," her teacher suddenly calls, breezing through the classroom. She jumps a little, startled.
"Okay, Koro-sensei," she replies, adjusting her glasses.
"You would almost think he's like our mom or something," Karma comments.
The image of a Koro-sensei wearing a dress and a long wig suddenly floats into her mind. She shudders. "That would be…"
He shivers as well. "Weird."
She nods in agreement, opening her lunch. It's the usual, rice, boiled spinach, fish. She inwardly grimaces, recalling how difficult it was to eat with her left hand.
I have to do it this time. Everyone can see it.
"So you want me to test you?"
"Yes, please."
She picks up the chopsticks, pleased that her hand's at least not trembling like it was before.
"So...there are three polygons -"
"Nyah ha ha!"
"You're back again?" her study partner says, a note of irritation present in his voice. "Just let us work in peace."
"I merely came to advise you. If you're going to study, you may want to do it outside."
"Outside?" Is this another one of his matchmaking schemes?
"This is another one of your matchmaking schemes, isn't it!" Karma accuses. She blinks in surprise.
"N-no! Of course not!" He's rapidly losing his composure and turning pink. "As your teacher, it is my role to make sure you have the best -"
The redhead holds up his hand. "Jeez, we've heard it all before. Let's go." He gathers up their things and stands up, throwing Koro-sensei a dirty look.
To their chagrin, he looks relieved.
She packs up her lunch and follows Karma out the door.
"What a creep…" he mutters.
"But - I know he only wants the best for us…" she adds, trying to balance things out.
"Eh, whatever," he waves a hand. "Now we can study alone."
Alone.
To her horror, she feels herself slowly getting hotter. As in, blushing.
Why? She doesn't think of him romantically...she's been with him alone before, too, in the "courage test"...so why?
She lets out a small squeak, which unfortunately catches his attention.
"Hm? Why're you so red?"
His gaze is simply one of concern. Nothing else.
She breathes out slowly. "Um, it's nothing."
I'm so socially awkward.
A breath of fresh air meets their next steps. There's no breeze and the sun is shining weakly through ribbons of clouds.
"Want to sit on the steps?" he suggests.
"Um...anywhere is fine," she answers, mirroring his earlier response.
He crouches down, getting comfortable. She attempts to do the same, however less graceful she is.
"I'm going to test you now, 'kay?"
"I hope I can remember how to do it," she tries to joke. He huffs and opens the book.
She's doing well. She correctly answered the questions regarding the formula so far.
As usual, she underestimated herself.
"Hmm, third one you've gotten right," he frowns at the book. "Are you sure you need to be studying for this one?"
"Oh - I guess I didn't have to after all…" she says.
"Um...sorry I made you do this with me…" she says quietly after a small pause.
"Ah, don't sweat it," he dismisses, putting his hands behind his head and laying down. "I'm just glad I was able to spend time with you."
But not in the way you think.
"I'm just glad I was able to spend time with you."
Now what are those words supposed to mean?
Does he like her?
Is he just being truthful?
"M-me, too."
No! Now does he think I like him?
Things were so much easier before she had friends. Not that she was complaining.
She hoped these things plagued every girl...she didn't want to be the odd one out.
"Well, now that we're not studying, you can eat your lunch." He points to her unopened container.
"I-I guess so.."
She doesn't want to show her weakness. Out here, it's away from everyone else. She was alone.
Now he's here.
Add that to her insecurities spawned earlier…
She opens the container, smiling on the outside, tormented on the inside.
I just have to go for it!
Still -
She picks up the chopsticks with her left hand, trying not to fumble them. She steals a quick glance at him - he's laying down. She still has a bit of time.
She quickly practices picking up - sloppy, but passable.
Now or never!
He sits up abruptly.
She stops unexpectedly.
They look at each other for an awkward moment.
"What's wrong?" he finally asks.
"N-nothing!" she squeaks.
His gaze flits back and forth. Then his eyes narrow. "You're right handed, aren't you?"
Oh, now he knows.
Who knew that eating would ever be this nerve-wracking?
He smirks when she says nothing. "I get it. You can't use chopsticks with your left hand."
Suddenly, she feels vulnerable. Defenseless. "D-don't laugh at me…"
The smirk disappears as quickly as it came. "I'm not laughing. It happened to me once, you know." He flexes his right arm. "I broke it in a fight."
Her hands - hand - flies to her mouth. "Oh - so -"
"Hey, can I see those chopsticks?" he interrupts, extending an arm.
"Oh! Um, sure. She obliges, handing them over. He takes them in his right hand, scooting closer.
What's he doing…?
She watches in bemusement as he picks up a clump of rice.
Is he going to eat it?
It's not his smiling mouth he brings it up to.
"Open up!"
Blush spreads all over her features. "W-what!?"
"If you can't feed yourself, I'll feed you," he explains, still smiling. As if it's the most amusing thing he's ever seen.
Does he like me is the first thing that comes to mind.
No no no no no!
"B-but…" She looks behind them, to the open hallway. "What if someone...sees?"
"Does it matter?"
He's still smiling. Smirking.
Be grateful and take his offer.
Hesitantly, she leans forward and accepts the rice. Her eyes cast upwards for a second - revealing the eyes of Karma Akabane staring intently back at her.
Too close!
She draws back, blushing madly. "I'm sorry!"
He recoils slightly as well, although not in any way fazed. "Did I jab you with the chopsticks?"
She peeks at him through her hand with a mixture of surprise and incredulity. It was Karma, for god's sake - there was no way he, the smart one, would be so oblivious to her feelings.
"It's just…"
The hilarity of the situation suddenly comes rushing in to her. The complete introvert, Okuda. Being hand-fed by a boy.
"N-nothing!" she manages to say before bursting into a fit of giggles.
Did I go too far?
"It's just...n-nothing!" she assures, then starts giggling madly.
I was just trying to get to know her better…
...maybe feeding her wasn't the best way to go about it.
("Ooh! He made her laugh!" Nakamura cheers.
"Why did you drag me with you!?" Rinkah Hayami exclaims.)
Then it dawns on him. How could he, the smart one, be so clueless? He's supposed to be "attuned" to the feelings of everyone around him - it's how he can read people so well, in fights or elsewhere.
If I can make light of this situation, maybe she won't think much of it…
"Haha, sorry," he says cheerfully, as cheerfully as he dares to go until it would be out of character for him to do so. Withdrawing the chopsticks and setting them down next to her.
Keeping that smile.
"I said it - hic - it was nothing, though!" she responds, hiccuping because of the laughing.
"I made you feel uncomfortable, didn't I?" he corrects, wagging a finger. He leans forward and rests his hands on his knees. This is not helping.
I wasn't worried about anything. Of course he knows.
She pushes her glasses higher up her nose, an action she notices Takebayashi repeats a lot but she rarely replicates. "W-well…"
She wants to say, I didn't mind it or something along those lines but she can tell - he's not listening anymore.
His new stance allows him to look over the field. His eyes are unusually unfocused - they don't have a purpose. Maybe he's looking into the horizon.
Solve a problem, then he's done with it, she reflects. He apologized to her, then refused her protests. I should be more like that, instead of mulling over every single little thing.
She briefly wonders what's going on in his head. His eyes are always so - hard. That unforgiving stare that she's grown to stand.
"It's important for you to eat."
She jumps a little.
"Lunch is almost over. I can feed you if you want."
Oh, what the hell…! She can't wield a utensil with her left hand anyways. Just one thing's been bothering her, though.
"W-what about you? You haven't eaten anything!"
"I'll take that as a yes, then?" He pick up the chopsticks again.
Just as he's about to bring it to her mouth -
"Y-you can share mine, if you want!" she bursts out.
"Hm?" He looks surprised at her offer. She's sweating, waiting for his reaction. She doesn't want to give him the wrong idea!
"I could never do that," he frowns, as if sharing food is sacrilegious. He proceeds with what he's set out to do in the first place.
She can't take this. This overbearing kindness with nothing in return?
From the one named Karma, no less.
"Give me those!" She snatches the chopsticks from his hand. His eyes widen. She knows she's being rude but she doesn't care. She's determined to give back to Karma.
She wields the eating utensils with more skill than she's ever before - with her left hand, at least.
"O-open your mouth, please!"
She's blushing like crazy now, there's no point in hiding it. It's hard to say what expression he's showing - disbelief, amazement, skepticism, it's all there.
He breaks out seamlessly into a smirk. "I didn't know how forward you were, Okuda. Why don't you show this side of yourself more often?"
She's starting to regret her reckless actions. "J-just eat it, please!"
"If you say so." To her complete and utter astonishment, he complies.
("Indirect kiss! Indirect kiss!"
"Ugh! I'm going back inside.")
She was expecting him to refuse, or make her eat it instead. He ate it.
Wait...didn't I use those exact same chopsticks?
She vaguely recalls an awkward conversation with Yukiko Kanzaki and Kaede Kayano.
"W-what's an indirect kiss, then?"
"Oh, Okuda-chan!"
"It's exactly what it sounds like. No real contact, there's a barrier of sorts in between. It has to be something that both your's and the other person's lips have touched. Like, a straw. Sharing drinks or food is where the most indirect kisses have come from."
I'm not going to blush.
I'm not going to.
I won't.
"Why, thank you," he expresses through a mouthful of rice.
"D-do you want more?" she manages to grind out before almost choking on her spit.
"Pass the chopsticks. You still have to eat," he counters, ignoring her offer.
She does, but there's a war going on in her head.
Calm down, Manami. It's just an indirect kiss.
Agh! What if he likes me!
Wait, why am I getting riled up about it?
She breathes in deeply, and out slowly before accepting her next bite.
I don't like him like that. I don't.
I'm nowhere close to even having a relationship with him.
She has to consciously stop her eyes from widening, lest her redhead friend find out.
Why am I thinking that far!?
Having friends is so complicated!
But I love my friends!
Is Karma my friend?
Karma is blissfully unaware of the banter inside her head. He continues feeding her until one of their fellow students has to call them in.
I thought it would never end…
"Thank you very much, Karma-kun." She bows and has to stop herself from toppling over, she's so light-headed.
"I can do the same tomorrow, if you'd like." He extends a hand to steady her.
She feels a shock at his touch. His hand is warm and rough - light as well.
"If it's not too much t-trouble…!"
This boy is influencing her in so many different ways.
So I'm not dead! yay
School started, so it's been pretty busy and hectic for these past few weeks. Which unfortunately meant, for me, that I was not able to get any writing done. And high school. That's also unfortunate.
Anyways I'm back online so, joy.
Expect fluff + revelations next chapter, btw.
Until next time!