Hi! This is for our lovely Kaede Kayano's birthday, or better yet, should I say someone else birthday? No spoilers for those who have not seen the anime or read the manga etc. This is basically Kayano's struggle along the path of darkness. I feel like she must had moments of weakness especially on her birthday. Hopefully, it is okay!

Timeline: Before the whole Kayano Arc.

Pairings: Nagikae

Akari's birthday

"Ah, I need to retouch my roots." Kaede said as she examines her hair in the mirror. "How long has it been since I last did it?" She wonders as she grabs her supplies for coloring.

"Let's see." She mentions as she grabs her phone from her desk in the room. Noticing the date, she said out loud, "November 9th, huh?" She wants to the mirror and touches it. "Happy birthday Akari."

"What am I doing?" She mutters to herself. In the bathroom, she starts to touch up her hair. "This is the life I chose, there's no more Akari, we can't go back, for my sister's sake."

"If only...she was here with me today….my first birthday without her." She drops down in a sitting position, pull her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around her head. "Must kill. Kill. Revenge to him who stole your sister away. Kill. Kill. Kill." Kaede replies to herself over and over.

Help me. Save me. The unspoken words lifts into the air and vanish like they were never there.

"Good morning Nagisa." Kaede said when she got to her seat.

"Good morning Kayano." Nagisa looks up from writing in his notepad.

"What are you writing?" Kayano smiles and leans to look over his shoulder.

"Just some more information about Koro sensei as usual. Reviewing and everything. The closest we have been was during the summer." Nagisa notes.

Kayano smiles back and kept talking to him. Meanwhile, her inner self is having a fight due to her intense emotions. Kill. Kill. You will be the one to kill him. You're the best assassin in the whole class. Only you have the right to kill him. Die. Die.

"Kayano?"

"Huh? What's up?" Kaede said.

"Are you alright?"

Kaede put both her arms in front of her and waves. "Of course, I am. Why would you even ask that?" She laughs. " Are you okay? You have bags under your eyes?"

"Oh, you caught me. I was up all night trying to plan different tactics and I got too involved." Nagisa said rubbing his arm against his head.

"That's just like you! You have to take care of yourself." Kaede grins at him while she poke his arm.

Nagisa replies with a grin of his own. Good, it seems like he does not notice. Because today is today, I have to be extra careful. The tentacles are acting up more than usual. Kill. Kill. I think I need to avoid Nagisa.

"Kayano, would you like to eat lunch together?" Nagisa asks her.

"Ah, I would love to, but I'm going to ask Okuda san and Kanzaki san for lunch. Girl's talk. Next time though!" Kaede winks as she went to get her friends.

"Wa-ait." Nagisa tries to say, but she left before he could get another word out.

"Ka-" Nagisa tries again, but Kaede abruptly got up.

"Kurahashi san! Have you tried the new dessert place by the train station?" Kaede calls out to the blonde girl.

"They open a new place? I never knew! How is it? We should go together Kaede chan!" Kurahashi said excitedly.

"Yes! Their pudding is divine!" Kaede said with a totally blissful face. "You would love it! Yes! Let's go!"

Nagisa looks at the two in wonder. Maybe she did not hear him.

It is really pretty obvious that Kaede is avoiding him. Every time Nagisa tries to say something, Kaede would find a new person to talk to or run away.

"So, did you go something to make Kayano chan mad?" Karma asks him.

"Huh?" Nagisa glances at Karma.

"Did you guys have a lover's spat?" Nakamura adds into the conversation.

"Wait, no way! I don't know what I did! Is it that obvious?" Nagisa questions them.

"Well yea, you guys are like two peas in the pod, always together. So it is pretty obvious when one is avoiding the other." Karma said.

"Well, you should go apologize then. Then you guys can go back to being lovely-dovely." Nakamura teases making kissy sounds.

"Yea, then we can get some good blackmail." Karma grins with a devil face.

"Agreed." Nakamura said with identical devil face.

"Umm, thanks." Nagisa sweatdrops.

What's a long day. Kaede said as she stretch her arms and legs. I hope Nagisa did not notice anything too weird. I couldn't act normally. I'm so stupid. She sighs as she drops her head on the table. She faces the windows. Ah, I'm so tired, maybe a few minutes. I just close my eyes for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, Nagisa had stay after school for extra lessons with Koro sensei. When he walks into the classroom, he saw Kaede sleeping.

What is she doing in a place like this? He wonders out loud. He looks through his game and pull out his training jacket and places it over her shoulder. He will wait till she wakes up, he would hate to wake her when she is so tired and he rather not leave her alone in the school, just in case.

"Wow, I am so glad that is over." Akari sighs. "That drama shooting is so long., but what can I expect? I did got the main lead."

Akari started living alone when she earned her first main lead in the drama. This would allow her to have easier access to her drama shoot and won't bother her father or sister with her going and leaving at odd hours. Her manager lives in the same building plus with the all the security, her father allows her to do what she needed to do.

"I'm home." She calls out to the empty apartment. When she opens the door to her room, she was met with surprise.

"Pop! Happy birthday!" A blast of confetti surprises her.

"Huh?" She looks surprised. "Onee chan?! What are you doing here?" .

"Eh, Akari, don't tell me you forgot it is your birthday today!" Aguri said.

"Oh, it is?" Akari said, checking her phone. November 7.

"I can't believe you forgot!" Aguri said as she ushers Akari to sit down at the table that was already set with plates and cups. She then went into the kitchen to get the food she brought over.

"I have been so busy with the drama, I lost track. Don't you have work or something?" She calls out to her sister in the kitchen.

"I took the day off. I can't work on my sister's birthday!" Aguri said in shock. "What kind of sister do you think of me?"

"Sorry, sorry." Akari laughs at her sister. "Thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday. I totally forgot."

"Anything for my lovely sister. I even got a new shirt to celebrate. Do you like it?" Aguri said as she flash her shirt to Akari.

"Eh, I see your taste in clothing is still the same." Akari sweatdrops looking at the half eaten cake saying you want a piece of me. So embarrassing.

"Hey! I thought it is cute!" Aguri defends her shirt.

"Sure, for a grade schooler." Akari laughs.

The banter between the two continues as they ate their food. They share stories of the drama shoot and Aguri's teaching.

"Okay! Now time for cake!" Aguri said. She took the cake out and light the candle. "Make a wish."

Akari closes her eyes and smiles. She blows out the candle. May I celebrate my birthday next year with my lovely sister. That's all I want.

"What did you wish for?" Aguri asks.

"No way, Onee chan. I can't tell you!" Akari teases.

"Aw, come on." Aguri said.

"Nope!" She stuck her tongue out and laughs. Soon, Aguri joins in the laughter.

Onee chan. Kaede mutters very softly to herself and a tear rolls down from her eyes. Sensing someone was in the room with her, she quickly wipe off the tear. She took a brief second to compose herself in her act before officially waking up.

"Hmm." She said as she lifts her head up. "Huh?" He glances down at the jacket on her shoulders. When did this get here?

"Kayano."

"Huh? Oh, Nagisa! Did you watch the whole time I was sleeping?" Kayano said in surprise once she notices how dark it is outside. Oh no, this is the worst. Die. Die. Die.

"Yes, but it's okay. I finish up homework and just going over notes for the next assassination. I think I have a really good plan for next time to kill Koro sensei." Nagisa smiles at her.

"Yes! We definitely get him next time." No. No. No. I will get the one to kill Koro sensei. Kill. Kill. Kill. Die. Die. Die.

A silence before Nagisa spoke up. "Did I make you mad Kayano chan? If I did, I would like to apologize."

"No, no. You did nothing wrong. Why would you ask such a thing?" She asks him.

"Oh, it seems like you were avoiding me all day today." Nagisa comments.

"I'm so sorry. I just had a few issues to sort about with different people that I may have ignore you a few times. I'm so sorry!" Kaede said.

"Are you sure? If something is bothering you, I am here for you." Nagisa told her straight out. "You are important to me, so if I can help in anyway, I do anything."

"...Thank you, Nagisa." Kaede smiles. "Really, thank you."

"Of course. Want to start going home? It is getting late. I'm sure your family is worried about you." Nagisa said looking at the clock and failing to notice Kaede's face drop for a second before it went back to her mask.

"Of course! Thanks a lot!" She said.

They walk home together and once she got on her train station, she waves at Nagisa, who waves back. When she finally got home, she threw herself on the bed without even turning on the lights.

I'm so sorry Nagisa. Thank you, but I have to do this. For my sister. She thought to herself. Revenge. Kill. You must kill Koro sensei to avenge your sister. Die, Koro sensei. Die.

Help me. The same unspoken words floats into the sky with no one around to hear it, not even Kaede herself, as she mourns her sister and became even more part of the darkness.

A/N: Well...this came out to be a little more angst than I thought it be! Hope you guys like this chapter.