Akari

The next day.

"Akaaariiii-chaaann!" Korosensei bawls as his tentacles grasp my shoulders, furiously shaking me back and forth while a curtain of mucus pours down his face. "Sensei didn't know you had such a paaaast!"

I turn my face aside to avoid the mucus attack. "Calm down, Korosensei..."

"You almost gonna kill yourseeeeeelf!"

"Am not..." I mutter. But the octopus wails louder.

"Sensei... Sensei should have been more concerned of my students' welfare! Sensei promise to take good care of Akari-chan toooo~ Don't worry, Akari-chan's parents~~"

I sigh. Is he trying to send a message to my parents in heaven?

Karma snickers as he leans against the wall, a dagger ready in his hand. "If you care about our welfare, let us kill you already." He throws the dagger at Korosensei's head which, as expected, dodged by the Mach-20 creature.

"Karma-kun! Sensei is depressed right now!" The mucus continues its heavy downpour from his nostrils which resembles his eyes.

After coaxing and consoling the big octopus infant, lessons resumes. When recess arrives earlier because Korosensei still couldn't manage to get over his depression, I finally got some time to contemplate on important stuff—love.

What is love? What are the signs that I'm in love with someone I failed to notice?

I am determined to find the answers. Since I have the entire class here, I can ask anyone about their different opinions of love. Then maybe I can draw a conclusion and get some clues on whether if I am in love with a certain redhead. This is the only way I can think of. After all, I am, as suggested by everyone else, not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to love.

"I'm gonna assassinate this love problem!" I mutter. I notice Karma raising his eyebrows at me. Before he can ask I quickly walk away.

After some time, I have finally asked some friends. I sit at a corner outside of the class; a smug covers my face as I pore at my findings.

*****

1. Kurahashi Hinano

Kurahashi: Love, you ask? Love is... love is like a stag beetle!

Me: S-stag beetle?

Kurahashi: Yes! I mean, wild stag beetles are so rare nowadays. Just like love! It's not like you get to meet love every day! And love is definitely pricey! You can't buy love or sell them that easily. Isn't it like stag beetles? Karasuma-sensei~

Me: Umm...

*****

2. Kayano Kaede

Kaede: Love? Hmm... I define love as pudding!

Me: Pudding?

Kaede: Well, puddings are so sweet and delicious. Isn't that how love works? Sweet and delicious and tempting and alluring. You fall for it before you know.

Me: Eh?

Kaede: Simply say, love is happiness. When I eat pudding, I'm happy! I'm in love with it! So, to know if you're in love with someone, you must ask yourself. Are you happy whenever you see him? Whenever you talk to him?

Me: Umm...

Kaede: Don't worry... I can see you're happy with him.

Me: W-with who?!

Kaede: Figure it out yourself!

*****

3. Maehara Hiroto

Maehara: Love.... Is having multiple girls at the same time! Love isn't for one only. My love is as great as the vast sea; it can contain plenty of girls at once!

Me: I swear you hit on any girls in class and cheat on them you're dead.

*****

4. Okajima Taiga

Okajima: Love is perversion! Every man loves perversion! And all girls are just so lovely—

Me: I asked the wrong person.

*****

5. Kanzaki Yukiko

Kanzaki: If you're asking about love, I can't really tell you much...

Me: It's ok. Just tell me anything you know.

Kanzaki: Hmm... I believe love is wishing someone happiness. You would want him to be happy no matter what. You would do anything for him just to see his smile. It's like... his smile is the only thing that keeps you going on. Even if he likes another and you're sad, you still wish him happiness because his happiness is your happiness.

*****

6. Sugino Tomohito

Sugino: L-love?

Me: You do realize you look like a tomato now, right?

Sugino: Hehe... oops...

Me: So... what makes you believe you love Kanzaki?

Sugino: (coughs) W-what?

Me: Spill it. It's just you and me. I am very desperate now and I can't guarantee you can walk out of here in one piece.

Sugino: ...fine. I'll tell. Just... don't kill me?

Me: No worries.

Sugino: Ok then.... (gulps) Kanzaki-san is pretty and c-cute in many ways. And she always has this gentleness and charisma. She doesn't stand out in class, but she has a way of making people to befriend her. And she is so brave. She's weaker in physique but her guts makes up for her weaknesses. I've never seen a girl so gentle yet so brave. In conclusion, love amplifies the strengths you see in that certain person and makes you think that his/her weaknesses look cute in comparison. You overlook his/her past mistakes and weaknesses and always accept them, no matter what.

*****

7. Shiota Nagisa

Nagisa: You're asking me of love?

Me: Yeah... like the kind you and Kaede have.

Nagisa: T-t-t-that's not love! It's more like the platonic friendship thing!

Me: Fine~~ then tell me what you know. And don't tell anyone else I asked. Especially your best friend.

Nagisa: Oh. You mean Kar—

Me: Don't mention his name! He's everywhere!

Nagisa: .... Ok then. I believe love is to be with that person all the time. You want to hear his voice so you talk with him. You wanna see his smile so you always make him happy. You don't want to see his tears so you cheer him up. You want to spend more time with him so you use plenty of excuses to make him stay. You want to know more about him so you ask him a lot of stuff about him. You enjoy his company. You like it when he is so close to you, almost touching you. When he touches you—like a hug or stroking your hair or a comforting caress on your back, it's not sexual harassment. It's something you yearned for. You like his touch. It's nice and comforting and warm.

*****

8. Nakamura Rio

Rio: Y-you're asking me? MY AKA-CHAN!

Me: Calm down.

Rio: Here goes! How you know you love him? Simple. He is the only thing that stays in your mind. You think of him ALWAYS. When you're happy, you think of him. When you're sad, you think of him. When you're angry, you think of him. When you're scared, you think of him. Whatever you do, you think of him and him ONLY. Because he is the first and probably the only person you wanna share your feelings with. And also.... You think he is like the most handsome guy on Earth, probably a fallen angel sent from heaven just to be with you.

*****

9. Okano Hinata

Hinata: Hmm... love?

Me: Can you tell me something about it?

Hinata: You know you love him when you notice him a lot. More than any other boys around you. You'll see the little details in his every move. How his eyebrows knit together when he thinks. How he smiles when he gets something he likes. The food he likes, the music he loves, the little things he adores. Also... you get jealous whenever you see a girl talking to him, too close to him, even though he probably doesn't like her. Jealousy is a very important element to prove that you like him. Do you get jealous when you see that redhead talk to other girls?

Me: What redhead?!

Hinata: It's not like there's two redheads in this class. But don't worry. You're probably the only girl who interacted with him the most. And I believe no one else will go for him anyway. After all, he's kinda scary. But you are actually one of the rarest to think that he's not. And you can actually say that his way of mischief is his way of socializing. You made his devilish character into a frail weakness like's he's shy or antisocial. But you shouldn't be slacking. You like him; go for him. Or else he'll give up on you.

*****

10. Kataoka Megu

Megu: Love? You still haven't figure out? Unbelievably dense.

Me: (sighs)

Megu: Okay. So I'll ask you a few questions. Does Karma ever make you blush?

Me: W-why K-KARMA?!

Megu: An example. Though I believe it would be more than just an example soon.

Me: ...

Megu: Seriously, anything he did—flirting, teasing, being too close to you in any other way, et cetera... makes you blush so badly you swear you wanna just dig a hole in the ground and hide your face in it? What he does make your heart thump wildly you thought it might explode. Even though Isogai has confessed to you, he didn't even make you blush that much as compared to Karma. I know, maybe it's just some stupid reflex, but do you really think it's just reflex? I mean, Karma is good in stuff like this—embarrassing and humiliating people with words. Maybe he really is good at flirting too. But, Akari, really, blushing can mean more than just reflex. It's probably a way your body tells you that you like him.

Me: But...

Megu: You have doubts. I get that. So I will explain to you what I see. The first moment you met him, when you asked him to train you, you are already impressed by him. But there's so many in class who can teach you—me, Rio, Isogai... but you chose him instead. You barely know him. Karma has profound abilities, yes, he can teach you well. But there's has to be a certain degree of affection to let you choose him. He's a complete stranger to you, yet you let him enter your life so easily. You let him in your house. You let him sleep next to you. That certain degree of affection has escalated into something more. Wow, Okumura Akari, you are so dense in romance. You take him for granted like he's just a friend. But if you actually delve deeper into your feelings and understand about them sooner, you'll realize he's more than just a friend to you.

Me: ...

Megu: I won't make some conclusion and faze you. Figure it out yourself. You're so close to that answer. Good luck.

*****

My conclusion: how many people know that I have a thing for Karma when I don't even know myself?!

God I am stupid in love.

Anyway, my investigation has been proven fruitful. I got a lot of information I need. So it's time to clear things up.

1. Am I happy with Karma? (Kaede)- I'm not sure about it but I don't hate his presence.

2. Do I want to see Karma happy? Do I wish him happiness no matter what? (Kanzaki)—Yes. I want to see people happy. Even if it's him. But it's just because he's my friend.

3. Do I see every strength in Karma as his unique trait? Do I see flaws as cuteness? (Sugino)—I think his mischievous trait is what makes him the strongest in class. He's not afraid to play pranks on anyone because he liked it and he's also capable of doing so. And despite being a delinquent, he is smart and strong.

4. Do I yearn to be with him all the time? (Nagisa)—Well, I do enjoy his company sometimes. He does cook well. But that doesn't mean he can come to my house uninvited with a duplicated key. And besides... I did like his hug. And his concern when I fell sick and got into trouble. And him being my savior for so many times. And his seriousness when he got absorbed in doing Math. And his jealousy and possessiveness when Isogai asked me out. And his forcefulness on me to get closer to me. And the way he compliments me in my cosplay outfit. And also the proximity when he almost kissed me. And the time when he got so worried sick that he thought I might commit suicide. And the way he blushed was the cutest rare phenomenon ever. Yes, I know, that's a lot of 'and'. I just realize so many things I like about that redhead.

5. Do I notice him more than anyone else? Will I get jealous if he talks to other girls? (Hinata)— I do know he's more arrogant than anyone else. He's unlike Isogai who has his own charisma to lead others forward; Karma prefers to pull the strings in the back. And he really likes Math. He's like the expert of Math. He also has a habit of smirking and snickering. He rarely smiles sincerely—the kind of smile you give whole-heartedly. I only saw it once, when he complimented my cosplay suit. It was nice. I wanted to see it again. For him to make such a smile, means he is kind and actually a nice guy on the inside. He just refuses to show it out because he probably believes it is his weakness.... Whoa. I did not see that coming. I actually noticed such furtive stuff of him? By the way, for the jealousy thing, nope, it hasn't happened yet.

6. Do I think of Karma every time? Do I want to share my feelings with him? Do I think him as someone very very handsome? (Rio)—Well... lately Karma is like 80% of my mind. It's like he dwells in there permanently. I don't know if he would be the first for me to share my feelings with. But he was there when I needed someone. When I couldn't fight because I killed someone. When I remembered my traumatic past. He was always there. Aside from that, Karma is acknowledged by the girls in class as the most handosme boy. Well... he is kinda handsome with that red hair.

7. Do I blush badly whenever he teases me? Even more when Isogai confessed? (Megu)—This is an obvious yes. I pondered on this once. I thought I got it figured out but damn... the blushing always comes back whenever he teases me. Megu is right. Even when Isogai confessed, I didn't blush that badly. I just felt awkward.

God. These answers... these answers are just going to one direction.

...

...

...

Conclusion: I like him.

I like Kar—

"Akari-chan?"

I look up from my notes. I am so absorbed in them I don't realize Manami standing in front of me.

"Manami-chan? What's wrong?"

She fiddles with her fingers nervously. I pat the spot next to me and she sits. "Umm... can I talk to you about something? I don't know who else I can talk to."

"Go ahead. My ears are open."

She nods. "Umm... I think I like someone lately."

My eyes widen. "You like someone?"

A pink hue dyes her face. "I'm not actually sure about it. I just liked having his company. And I'm comfortable talking to him. I used to be scared of him but now I don't. I think he is so awesome and capable and brave. I don't need to hold back when I talk to him. He is actually nice and not scary as everyone thought."

I smile. For someone as shy as Manami to find someone she likes, it is cute. "That guy must be lucky to have you. Who is he?"

"Umm... Karma-kun..."

At that instant, it feels like my world is crashing down, breaking into tiny pieces. My heart doesn't hump wildly; instead it aches like it is being crushed by an invisible hand. I want to rip open my chest and put my heart out of its misery.

"I know Akari-chan has been really close to Karma-kun lately..."

It hurts.

"So I was wondering to ask you if Karma-kun is actually a good choice..."

I can't breathe.

"And I wanted to know if the relationship between you and Karma-kun are just friends... b-but I don't mind if you like him too... it's not like I wanted to be with him... I just like his company..."

Please... someone... kill me.

"Akari-chan?"

I snap back into reality. My breathing becomes heavy and sluggish. My heart continues to kill me from the inside. "We're... we're just friends."

Manami's eyes widen in surprise. Like she has expected the answer to be more than that.

I rise from the ground without looking at her. "I... I err... I needa use the bathroom. Duty calls."

Manami too stands. "Okay. Thanks for listening."

I wave goodbye without looking back. I walk slowly. Then my pace becomes faster. A few moments later I am running aimlessly. I am finding a sanctuary for me to lie quietly alone to ease the abnormal pain in my heart.

But I have to bump into him at a time like this.

Karma's steady arms grab hold of me as I almost fall. "What's the hurry?"

I lower my head so that he couldn't read the emotions on my face. "Karma..."He is quiet and lets me finish my sentence. "What... what do you think of Manami-chan?"

He raises his eyebrows. "Okuda-san? Hmm... She's easy to talk to. She's good in science and I admire her for that. I can make more mischief if I have her by my side. And sometimes I think she's... cute."

You think she's cute.

That is the trigger for the tears welling in my eyes. Feelings I don't recognize dwells in my chest, making the breathing difficult with each passing second. "Oh. Well... good then." I try to make it sound nonchalant but it comes out as a sobbing croak. He probably knows something is wrong because he calls my name in a gentle tone and his hands reach out to touch me. I run before he can make contact.

"Akari!" I hear him yelling from behind. I run faster. He can catch up to me any moment.

And he does. His hand grabs mine and I come to a halt. I try to shake his hand off but his grip becomes tighter. I use my free hand to wipe off the tears that streamed down my face before he can notice. He comes closer, adjusting his head to meet my face.

"What's wrong?" He asks. His eyes widen in surprise as he sees tear marks on my cheeks.

What's wrong? I ask myself the same thing too.

My heart aches. I almost laugh when I found the answer.

I am jealous.

I am jealous that Manami likes Karma. I am jealous that Karma says she is cute.

Ridiculous. Jealousy. Like Hinata has said. Jealousy can only happen if I have feelings for Karma.

So I do like Karma. So that's why my heart hurts.

Because it takes me too long to realize I like this guy, he has given up on me. He now probably likes another.

Oh god it hurts. Make it stop.

"I'm... fine," I lie.

He says nothing. Instead he pulls me into a hug. It worsens the pain.

"You're lying," he says like he has read my mind.

I push him away, thinking that my heart would stop killing me. But it doesn't. "Yes, I'm lying! So what?! It hurts so much here!" I clench my fist over my heart. "And you know why? Because I got jealous! I got jealous when you said Manami-chan is cute!"

Eyes widen in surprise, he stares at me, dumbfounded. His beautiful liquid-gold orbs shine brightly under the sun. "So... you think I like her because I said that?"

"Yes!" I shout. I want to leave this place. I don't want to see him. The sight of his face stabs my heart.

He closes the gap between us and in a flash he embraces me. I struggle. His arms tighten their squeeze on me. "I did not expect that. Jealousy. You're being possessive, aren't you?"

"Shut up!"

He smirks. "Just to clear things up. I like Okuda-san as a friend. I think she is cute because... well, she is cute. But you are cuter than her. You are like the cutest thing on Earth I wanted to get my hands on." His forehead leans on mine. His lips grazing my nose and without hesitance, he kisses it. I stiffen. The touch of his lips sends electricity throughout my nervous system and I paralyze.

My heart doesn't ache anymore. Instead, it beats in resonance with his. My blush returns, responding to what he has just did.

"Does this clear things up for you?" He asks, a victorious smug on his face as he lets me go.

I nod weakly. My blush burns my cheeks.

"Good. Now I'm parched."

He...

He just kissed my nose?!

My heart beats wildly; a kind of thrashing that I actually like. Butterflies flutter in the pit of my stomach.

He just proves that he likes me instead of Manami.

And jealousy also proves that I like him back as well.

*****

Nagisa

"Good job, Okuda-san!" Rio says as she pats the shy girl's shoulder.

Megu nods. "So we have finally proven she likes him. She just needs a little push."

Okuda sheepishly rubs her head. "I'm glad I helped out anyway."

Nagisa watches silently, sighing. So they have decided to drag Okuda-san into this and turning her into our accomplice as well... sorry Okuda-san. I tried to stop them. But then I thought Karma's happiness means a lot to me too so I have no choice but to agree to this plan. I'm a sleazebag as well.

Okuda smiles. "At least Akari-chan gets her happiness too right?"

Okuda-san, your concern is supposed to be whether Akari will get mad at you if she finds out. Since she confiscated my notebook, I'm afraid she might do something horrible to your science books. My notebook~~

Nagisa doesn't voice out his opinion because it might scare Okuda. She did it with a good purpose and karma shouldn't punish her by losing her science books to Akari's wrath.

"I just have to lie that I like Karma-kun. No big deal really," Okuda adds. Her smile is brilliant. "I hope both of them get their happiness."

Megu claps her hand. "Ok then, it's official. Our meddling—I mean 'helping out' is a successful mission! Jealousy really pushes that idiot forward."

Rio snickers. "I wonder what will happen next..."

The whole 'let's-make-Akari-jealous-and-she-will-realize-she-likes-Karma' mission was set into motion when Akari asks around about love. Thus Megu and Rio decide to put out such a plan and drag the most inconspicuous girl with them—Okuda Manami.

Megu knocks Rio's forehead. "That's enough for now. Our main objective is to get Akari a good boy, right? It's settled now."

"But..." Rio pouts. "I am curious of what's gonna happen next. Everyone loves gossip!"

"No more stalking! I don't wanna eat anymore wasabi."

"Karma-kun wouldn't just let us go with some wasabi the next time anyway..." Nagisa adds. "I bet he'll do something worse."

The four shudder.

"We'll just leave them for the time being," Megu commands. She pauses. "But I do want to know what will happen next..."

"See! Romance is the best gossip!" Rio cheers. Nagisa sighs.

I have a bad feeling about this...

*****

Here's the long awaited Chapter 16!!!!!!!!!!

Just to clarify things: Karma is 175cm tall. I set Akari as 165cm tall so Karma could kiss her nose. XD

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Thanks for voting and reading and supporting and adding to your reading lists! Love you guys!!!

I present to you~~ Korosensei as the cover!!!!