When Karma wakes up, the sky is painted orange. The only reason he knows that it's a sunset instead of a sunrise is because of the huge analogue hanging on the wall, each tick so loud it drills holes into his skull. The headache probably shouldn't come as such a surprise really, considering the concussion Karma suffered, but he's not quite awake enough to remember that yet.

Another thing he notices is the soft mattress he's lying on as well as the blankets he's neatly tucked into. He feels like a baby swaddled in its crib and wishes for nothing else but to slip back to sleep.

Except then the memories flood his brain.

Right.

The forest. Takaoka. Gakushuu and Nagisa-kun.

His eyes shoot wide open once again, this time more alert. The fact that he's still alive and in one piece (is he though? he can't tell) is a good thing for one, though he has no idea how he achieved such a feat. But one proper look at the room he finds himself in reveals some clues.

The lights on the ceilings are identical to the ones in his room. And in Gakushuu's room. Just like in each and every room of their hotel. To Karma's left, by the open window, a fresh breeze makes the curtains dance to the sound of the sea.

So he's probably back. Karma guesses that they got rescued after he passed out. Not that he cam make out much from the final moments - just flashes here and there of beating up Takaoka and then getting slapped by Gakushuu, but the rest remains foggy.

Well, that's fine too. He doesn't want to strain himself trying to remember when others can simply tell him later.

Oh, wait.

The others! Where are Gakushuu and Nagisa-kun?

This one question distresses Karma enough to sit up despite his body's protests. It takes him some time but he peels himself off the bed and detangles his legs from the sheets. Moving them exerts a lot of effort and his ankle is wrapped in a thick bandage, but they seem to work fine enough to walk, even if they do shake with each step.

Karma heads out of the room, supporting himself on the wall. Following the familiar hallway, he hopes to walk far enough to meet someone familiar before his knees give out.

And luckily, he does.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be resting." Karasuma-sensei appears in front of him, brows raised. Despite the stern tone, the teacher's expression mellows in worry.

"I woke up and found myself alone in a room that wasn't mine," Karma pants. The hallway starts spinning and he forces his eyes shut and open repeatedly in an attempt to dispel the dizziness.

Karasuma-sensei seems to notice and he closes the distance between them immediately, supporting the redhead by the shoulders. He leads him back.

"Your room is second floor and rather than hauling you all the way there, we thought it would be better to just take you to another room."

"Makes sense," Karma nods and immediately regrets it when the action sends a pang right through his skull. It's only now that he fully realizes that he did hit his head pretty badly and perhaps shouldn't be moving it too much.

To mask the discomfort (because of course he still can't show any weaknesses), Karma clears his throat and asks: "Where are Nagisa-kun and Asano-kun? Are they okay?"

Karasuma-sensei opens the door to Karma's temporary room and then puts him back in the bed. He pulls a chair next to it and sits down, explaining the aftermath: "Just like you, they didn't go unscathed, but apart from a few bruises and cuts, they are alright. Nagisa-kun is still resting, Asano-kun woke up about an hour ago and returned to his room."

At that, Karma lets out a sigh of relief.

"What about the class? The gas wasn't dangerous, right?"

"The class recovered five hours after the attack, the effects were short-termed."

So just like they predicted. Good.

However, one thing troubles Karma: "What did you tell Asano-kun? And the A-class?"

Karasuma-sensei doesn't seem to be surprised by this question at all. Instead, he sighs heavily as if the mere idea of that topic already exhausts him (which it probably does) and rubs his temples.

"Class A was very disoriented so we told them there was a mixup at the bar and the barista accidentally put some alcohol into their drinks. And as far as Asano-kun is concerned, I held a personal conversation with him. I had to disclose some information to appease him but didn't mention anything about the assassination. He won't be talking about any of this to anyone."

Karma waits for more but Karasuma-sensei resolutely stares back, done with his version of the story. Months of experience under this man tell him that there's little point in trying to wring any information out of someone as methodical and rigid as Karasuma-sensei, so Karma drops it.

"Fine. And what do I tell him if he puts a knife to my neck and demands answers?"

"Simply act like you're just as clueless. I doubt he'll do such a thing though, considering you two never meet anyway."

Ha, right, except for about every other day in the afternoons or evenings at his house and about almost every day through texting. Not that Karasuma-sensei is supposed to know that, but Karma worries just acting clueless won't cut it for his brother. Not after everything Gakushuu witnessed and went through, especially not after it concerned Karma too, the mother-hen that the strawberry blond is. Besides, how is he supposed to divert from the topic if his injuries remind them both of it each time Karma as little as tries to stand up?

As if sensing this concern, Karasuma-sensei states: "How are you feeling?"

Karma shrugs: "Headache, my shoulder and ankle hurt too but it's much better than yesterday. Or today. What time is it even?"

"Around 7 p.m.," comes an answer. "You were cleared by a medic - thankfully, you suffered no serious injuries but you do have a concussion. We're leaving tomorrow anyway so until then you should rest. After that, you're on sick leave for three days and excused from training for at least 10. We'll take you to a doctor once we're back in the city and they'll explain more. For now, take it easy."

Ah, what a pain. Not only does he hurt, he also has to suffer alone for days?

"Do I have to?" he whines.

This amuses his teacher if the way the corner of his lips tugs up says anything. What a thing, Karma of all people begging to not be excused from school.

"Yes, you do. Koro-sensei insisted on checking up on you himself, but is someone home to take care of you the first few days?"

Normally, Gakushuu would be the one who'd come to mind. But something tells Karma that this won't be an option anymore, at least not for as long as the results of this incident linger and remind them of the huge question mark regarding class E. Karma has been feeling queasy about keeping such a secret from his brother for some time now and he's not sure how to approach it at this point anymore.

Karasuma-sensei waits for an answer.

Karma pulls a reassuring smile.

"Yeah. No worries."


"Do you really think we got drunk? Like seriously, we? The elite and pride of Kunugigaoka? Drunk?" Ren paces back and forth in their room, his rant already going for about half an hour.

Gakushuu grits his teeth in an attempt to keep his temper down. Sure, this is his best friend (or the closest he has to a friend, anyway), but he wanted to shoot the guy right now. There's nothing Gakushuu wishes for more right now than absolute silence.

Though to be fair, Ren does have a point about how shit of an excuse that was. After all, what a strange coincidence that a barista would accidentally mix just the right amount of alcohol in every cocktail which then made everyone inebriated enough to forget what happened. So yes, he knows that's sketchy.

He also knows that he looks distracted and in pain. He is.

No need to fucking remind him, Ren.

"You heard them. They even apologized. I don't really feel like dealing with this and I don't even care anymore, this trip is proving to be nothing but a waste of time and an incredible strain on my sanity. This is the maximum amount of stupidity I can withstand. Any more of their uncultured faces will result in numerous deaths by my own hands," Gakushuu grumbles, the petulance in his voice unfamiliar.

It doesn't escape Ren's attention. His jaw drops at the open display of hostility.

"Do you... have a hangover?" he suddenly asks, earning himself a piercing gaze from the student council president. Ren flinches a bit, quite a natural reaction frankly, but it seems other than that, his life is spared. Gakushuu sighs and lets himself fall on the mattress face down. His bangs hide the cut on his forehead well and most of his injuries comprise of bruises hidden under his clothes, but he still looks too battered to risk showing himself in full view.

"My head hurts as hell," he muffles into the pillow.

Ren sounds dumbfounded: "Ah. Oh. Sorry," his voice lowers in volume. "Might be because you never drank alcohol? I've had a bit here and there before so I suppose I built some tolerance?"

Gakushuu doesn't even amuse him.

"Right. Sorry. I'll... I'll give you space. I'll go. Sorry." Ren quietly taps out, closing the door behind him.

Gakushuu waits. One minute. Two. At the third, he finally sits up although still a bit wary of any sounds of footsteps in case Ren changes his mind and decides to return. Thankfully, that doesn't happen.

Sometimes, the ease with which Gakushuu can fool his pawns truly leaves him stunned. He obviously has no hangover because they never drank any alcohol in the first place and yet Ren ate it up the moment Gakushuu played the part. Astonishing, how foolish even these geniuses could get.

It's a good thing though, he supposes. He does need some time for himself. After sleeping the whole morning and afternoon, his body almost shakes in pent-up energy, although rather than it being a good thing, Gakushuu feels anxious.

Or rather, perplexed. When the class E teacher - Karasuma Tadaomi - came to talk with him, he expected some kind of clarification. Answers, which Karma never gave me. And looking at how confidently the man walked in, the professionalism with which he opened the conversation, there was no doubt the man knew everything Gakushuu wanted to know.

Yet he gave away close to nothing.

"My name is Karasuma Tadaomi. I know you may still be in shock because of the things that took place, but I need to discuss this matter with you." The man sat down by the bed, catching Gakushuu's gaze. "I am 3-E's P.E. teacher, but that's merely an excuse. Truth is, I am an agent from the Ministry of Defense."

At that, Gakushuu's eyes widened. Ministry of Defense? Just what did they have to do with Kunugigaoka, let alone class E?

"I'm currently investigating a case that may have something to do with what happened yesterday evening. What you experienced seems to be a terroristic attack tied to the case."

Karasuma Tadaomi talked smoothly and his demeanour betrayed no signs of lying, but that was something to be expected of government officials. So Gakushuu didn't buy it, at least not the terroristic attack part. After all, the two men who attacked them made it quite clear that they were searching for something (a 'monster', if he remembers correctly) while Takaoka was also fueled by personal revenge. For what, Gakushuu had no idea, but it all tied itself to class E.

Shiota Nagisa.

Karma.

Karma has been acting strange for some time now. Gakushuu never mentioned it nor did he push, but he did notice the way his younger brother tensed ever so slightly at mention of some topics. And how he suddenly started being more careful about what he said.

Gakushuu is missing something.

To begin with, what monster? Their father? Wouldn't be untrue, though the idea of the chairman being somehow involved with the government...

Wait. That also isn't so unlikely.

"You can probably understand that the details are classified. No one knows about this."

Lie. They knew. Both Shiota and Karma were well aware of what was going on. Actually, it seemed like everyone apart from him and his class knew what was going on.

"You're legally bound to keep silent. There will be consequences, should you break it."

It didn't come out as much as a threat rather than a matter of fact.

"Your father knows about us and we will make sure to notify him about your and others' well-being as well as explain what led to this commotion."

Oh. So the chairman is involved. Well, that shouldn't come as such a surprise anyway since his father probably doesn't give a single crap about what happens to them.

"Any treatment you require after this will be covered-"

"I don't care, are they safe?" Gakushuu interrupted him with little shame. Money was the last thing that he, an Asano, son of the probably mightiest man in this town, needed.

"Excuse me?" the teacher (or fake teacher) paused.

"Are the students in danger?" he specified, "because if yes, then this whole situation is unacceptable. And were something to happen, my father would have to take the blame."

Not that Father's reputation nor standing held any significance to Gakushuu personally, but it made for a good argument. A man such as Asano Gakuho would be a terrible enemy to make, even if the government stood behind Karasuma's back. And Gakushuu's caring about his classmates played into the narrative since he as the student council president shouldered the responsibility for all students, including class E.

"Yes, this time was an absolute exception. We make sure not to involve innocent students and to protect them."

That better be true, because the last thing he wants is for Karma to be caught up in any similar situation again. God knows the little shit already finds himself enough trouble, heaven forbid any terrorists or murderers become part of that. Gakushuu isn't exactly in the mood to be laying his baby brother into a coffin any time soon. Or ever.

"Are you going to talk about this with Shiota Nagisa and Akabane Karma as well?"

"Of course."

"Do I have to keep quiet around them even if both of them went through the same?"

"It would be wise not to dwell on it."

Gakushuu didn't even attempt to manipulate the man. Karasuma Tadaomi made it clear where his loyalties and boundaries lie and rather than risk appearing on the government's radar, Gakushuu decided to simply play along.

That being said, he didn't intend to do nothing about it.

The moment Karma wakes up, Gakushuu will confront him about it. And maybe check if the little shit's somewhat capable of cognitive functions after the scare he gave them.


His brother never returns to his room.

Gakushuu doesn't find the chance to talk to Shiota either, nor to ask anyone about his brother's whereabouts.

The only proof of him being alive is the simple answer to a text Gakushuu sends him later that evening. Even that doesn't still the worry inside of him.

The next morning, each class occupies its half of the train and doesn't mingle since. There are no traces of Karma either.

Where are you? Gakushuu sends.

Five hours later, when they're already being driven home separately, Karma replies:

Sorry, was sleeping. Going home now.

It sounds plausible, considering that Karma should be resting after the things he went through, but it almost feels like he's avoiding Gakushuu now.

I'll come. You need someone to take care of you, don't you?

Again, the answer comes a bit too late for his liking.

No need. I'm good. Nagisa-kun already got me stuff. Good night.

Gakushuu stares at the text.

It's eight in the evening.


The afternoon of the next day, he comes by with a cooked meal. Karma hasn't answered his text yet, which in itself shouldn't be bugging Gakushuu as much as it does, but the uneasiness makes him buckle.

His brother is definitely home though. He knows because the door is locked. And Gakushuu can't get in even with the spare key hidden in the garden, because there's already a key jamming the hole from the inside.

He feels like a train just hit him. Heart racing, palms sweating, he forces it into the keyhole again and again, yet to no avail.

This never happened before.

Even when Karma was angry at him, even when they didn't talk for days, he never downright locked Gakushuu out like this. What happened? What was the meaning of this?

He couldn't call out for his brother without causing a commotion and attracting attention from the passersby or neighbours. He can't get in either.

What was going on? Did he do something wrong?

Karma doesn't pick up his call either.

With no other choice left, Gakushuu walks back home with an uneaten bento box and too many questions tugging at his heart.


You thought this had a happy end? Fools.