Sorry for the long wait~ :3 Haven't been too active here~ Enjoy! - Moonfire, 12 MARCH 2018

CHAPTER 3: FALLING FOR EACH OTHER

Nagisa and Karma waited for Yuuki at the school gate. She was a bit late that day, but Nagisa assured Karma that everything was fine. Yuuki came running up to them with a smile on her face. Karma kept his eyes on her.

"Where have you been?" Nagisa asked.

"Class duty…" Yuuki sighed.

Her cousin nodded. "Okay then, let's get going…"

He walked on ahead of the two. Yuuki heaved another sigh. She noticed that Karma was still looking at her. She forced a smile.

"I'm really fine. Don't worry," she said.

"And the bullying?" he asked straight.

Yuuki fixed her hair and replied, "Still happening but some teachers are keeping an eye on me, so they really don't have much of a chance to do anything…"

"Then, reporting them was a good idea…" Karma muttered.

The girl nodded. They ran to catch up with Nagisa. They didn't stop anywhere and waited for the train together. Yuuki received a phone call but she refused to answer it. Karma and Nagisa wondered who it was.

"It's my father. He…wants me to return home for the weekend," she explained.

"Then, you should," Nagisa said.

Shaking her head, she said, "I have plans…"

The train arrived and the hopped in. Nagisa busied himself with a book. Yuuki took a seat with Karma standing right in front of her. She kept her smile on in hope that he didn't ask more questions. Yuuki was reading a few text messages in her phone. Karma kept his gaze on her. The more he looked, the cuter she was in his eyes. He shook his thoughts away. Yuuki caught him looking away.

Concerned, she asked, "Are you okay?"

Karma snapped. He replied, "Yeah, I'm good."

Yuuki nodded to him. She went back to reading her text messages.

"Karma, I'm going to head back to class now," Nagisa said to him.

"Yeah, okay. I'm gonna get some drink from the vending machine first," Karma replied.

His best friend nodded. Karma made his way to the nearest vending machine. He stopped when he saw a familiar pink haired girl surrounded by three seniors around her. Karma sighed to himself as he approached them.

"Come on…go out with me already," one of them said.

Yuuki looked away when he inched his face closer to her. The other two chuckled mischievously. Karma passed by them. The three seniors watched him. He started to browse the drinks in the vending machine. Yuuki took a deep breath. She pushed her way out of their trap. Karma looked at her, holding his arm and hiding behind him. She was trembling.

"Akabane…what are you doing?" the one who was flirting with her, growled.

"Ah…senpai. I was just coming to buy a drink, but…" he glanced up at Yuuki and then, turned to look at them. "It seems like you upset my friend…"

"You can't beat us alone," another one said.

Karma smirked. "Eh…I don't think I should do it in front of her," he muttered.

Yuuki held onto Karma's arm tighter. "Please, don't…" she whispered.

The redhead nodded. "I'll send you back to class," he replied.

He held her hand as they passed by the seniors. One of them grabbed hold of Karma's shoulder. The boy flipped his arm around. The senior cringed in pain. Yuuki watched as they ran away from him. Karma heaved a sigh.

"I'm sorry…" Yuuki muttered.

Shaking his head to her, he took her hand and escorted her back to class. Yuuki kept her eyes on the hand that was holding hers. She took a glimpse of Karma. Her lips curved into a smile.

"He sent you back to class?!" Midori exclaimed.

Yuuki tried to calm her friend down. "Shhhh…you don't have to be so loud."

"Man, you should just be his girlfriend," Midori teased.

"I don't think he likes me that way. He took care of me because he's Nagisa's best friend…" Yuuki muttered.

"But he always knows when you're in trouble. I'm sure he cares because he does…" her best friend said, nodding.

The pink haired girl smiled at Midori. Midori smiled and nodded again. Yuuki took a deep breath.

Determined, she whispered, "I'm going to tell him."

Meanwhile, Karma was back in his classroom. The teacher scolded him because he was out too long. He ignored him and went back to his seat. Nagisa turned to look at him.

"Where were you?" he asked.

"I'll tell you on our way back," Karma replied casually.

It was evening and Nagisa had to stay for his club activities. Karma waited for Yuuki alone that day. The seniors that he met glared at him when they passed by. The redhead ignored them, keeping his eyes close and listening to his playlist. He had his earphone one so he didn't notice that Yuuki was already in front of him. She pulled the hem of his shirt. He opened his eyes and caught the girl staring at him. Their eyes met. Yuuki avoided his gaze immediately.

"Umm, where is Nagisa?" she changed the topic.

"Oh, he has club activities," Karma said, trying to keep his cool, "I should send you back first."

"Uh…okay…" the girl replied.

Yuuki followed Karma as they walked to the train station. Karma was listening to his playlist, keeping his speed at her pace. A bicycle was passing by them. The redhead gently pulled the girl to the side of the road.

"Thank you…" she whispered.

Karma hummed a song as he nodded to her. Yuuki recognized the song he was humming. She sang along with him. The boy turned off the sound of his phone and listened to her instead. She kept on singing even though Karma had stopped. He was amazed by her voice. Yuuki stopped and looked back at Karma.

"Is…something wrong?" she asked, confused.

He shook his head. "Was that you singing?" he asked.

She nodded once and replied, "Y-Yes… Was it bad?"

He shook his head again and said, "No! You have…the same voice as Yume-chan…"

Yuuki played with her hair. "A lot of people say that…" she sighed, whispering, "But I'm not her."

Karma saw the look on her face. He smiled at her. He reached out with his right hand and patted her head.

"I'm sure…you'll be better than her," he whispered in her ear.

Yuuki widened her eyes at his words. She bit her lower lip and nodded. He heart fluttered from his encouragement. She rushed to catch up with him.

Midori sighed as her best friend was once again greeted by a couple of seniors. She wanted to say something but they were flirting with Yuuki. Yuuki, on the other hand, was feeling uneasy as the seniors closed the gap between them. She met the wall behind her. Midori suddenly put a book between them.

"You don't really want to flirt with her, do you?" she asked them.

"What's your problem?" one of them asked.

"Uh…I have no trouble at all, but…Akabane-senpai will surely kick your asses," Midori blurted.

"What? Who does he think he is?" the other one asked, chuckling confidently.

"Her boyfriend," a voice was heard.

Yuuki looked to her side. She blushed at his words but he was acting casual and calm. Karma stepped in. The seniors glared angrily at him. He pulled Yuuki into his arms. Resting his chin on her head, he said, "Don't you ever touch my angel here, if you want to keep on living."

"K-Karma- senpai…" Yuuki's cheeks were redder in an instant.

Midori giggled at the sight. The seniors growled and huffed angrily. They walked away after that. Karma turned to Yuuki who was still overwhelmed.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.

She nodded without looking at him. Midori chimed in.

"She'll be fine. I'll take her back to class now. Lunch time is almost over," she said, pulling Yuuki with her.

Yuuki took her seat and so did Midori. She was quiet the whole day. Midori smiled at her best friend and nodded a few times.

"What?" Yuuki asked.

Midori hummed. "What he said…is already like a confession…" she chirped.

Blushing again, Yuuki replied, "No way. He just did that to save me."

Her best friend laughed. "I don't see any other guys as bold as that senior," she said.

Yuuki looked away, her cheeks were still read. Midori patted her back a few times as encouragement. The pink haired sighed, looking outside at the corridor.

"You should tell him how you feel," Midori muttered.

School time was over and Nagisa was waiting for his cousin with Karma like always. All eyes were on Yuuki as she made her way to the boys. Nagisa smiled when he saw her. Karma had his eyes shut, ignoring the cold stares from the other students. Yuuki wondered if her cousin knew what had happened. On their way to the train station, Nagisa glanced up at Karma a few times. Yuuki was fighting with her feelings and confusion.

Earlier, a few days ago, Karma and Nagisa were sharing their magazines when out of the blue...

"Nagisa…do you know if your cousin ever had a boyfriend?" Karma suddenly asked.

"Huh? What's with the question?" Nagisa asked and then, smirked. "You like her~"

Karma rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from Nagisa's eyes. Nagisa giggled at his behavior.

"I don't think she'll ever find a boyfriend with all the boys hogging over her," he said, glancing up at Karma to see his reaction.

Sighing, the redhead asked, "Would it be bad if I keep on watching over her with you?"

Nagisa smiled, replying, "I'm actually glad that you're here with me to look after her…"

Karma smiled. He heaved a sigh of relief because his best friend approved of his feelings to Yuuki.