Chapter 12

The final exams were almost upon the school and Koro occupied himself preparing Class E for it. Having got the basics down from the mid-terms, he did not just wish for all the class to get into the top 50. Instead, he motivated them with a goal. Whoever reached the top spot in any of the subjects got the right to shoot off one of Koro's tentacles. As previously demonstrated, each tentacle that is cut decreases his speed by 10%, making it easier for the class to kill him.

Just when the class thought they can get into top 50, and had some hope, Sugino received a call from his friend from the main campus and informed them about the situation. The top five students of the school known as the Big Five, led by the prodigy son of the chairman, Asano Gakushu were holding special study sessions. He informed that in order to enter the main campus, Class E has to defeat Class A first. But, Sugino spoke everyone's minds.

They were happy in their own section, and not hoping to move.

Y/N was studying harder than she ever did, and with the help of Koro she was getting better and better. She even decided to keep aside her stupid crush and focus on her studies. Karma on the other hand looked chill and while others were busting their ass off he was slacking off and actually thought that he had it all under control.

Slowly the exams arrived, and according to what Rio said, Class E had more reasons to worry about their marks. Apparently they met the Big Five in the library oneday and they challenged them. Whoever wins has one request to order the losers around, which comes with 50 other clauses. Gakushu was as expected, really good when it came to motivate the students to study harder.

When the results arrived, everyone was...shocked. Well they didn't expect to top in some of the subjects. Rio topped in English while Y/N topped in Psychology. For the first time ever, she was eager to go home and show her marks to her parents. They'll be pleased right? Well, atleast she hoped so. But while everyone was rejoicing, a certain red-haired guy was quiet the whole time. He wasn't even in class when lunch break started.

Although Y/N thought of spending more time with him shamelessly, she decided to leave him alone. Koro was going to give him a "pep talk" and she was sure, he wouldn't want her anywhere near him at that moment. He returned during the next class and sat behind her quietly.

He noticed a juice box under his desk with a label saying, "Cheer up devil!" He looked around the class and noticed the girl who sat before him. She was already staring at him, and immediately looked away when she noticed him looking at her. A small smile formed on his face. After a moment, Y/N blushed and looked back at him slowly. She tried to hide her smile but her eyes were directly on him, and those eyes spoke a lot of things that her mouth didn't.

Thump.

Karma's expression changed into a one that felt like a deer in headlights. This feeling. He was just having fun right? He was supposed to have fun. But that's it. For the kind of a guy he was, he knew there was danger in the path he's walking and his attitude could harm others. And ofcourse, he didn't want any kind of distraction. Bloody hell, he can't afford any distraction from now on. He came 10th for fuck's sake.

He couldn't understand it. He knew Y/N was incredible in psychology and anything related to that but what was she playing? What was she doing to him? It pissed him off. He knew she liked him more than a friend. She made it very clear. It was a smart move from her when she expressed her feelings to him. He became so distracted, it made him fall down the ranks. Well, he wasn't the one to back off. He decided to play the game whatever Y/N was playing.

He would continue observing her reactions like he did before. Just like today he saw her caring side. Nothing has changed.

Except now, he was aware of her intentions, and he wanted to make sure to know every single side of her, and use it as an advantage. An advantage to blow her off and make her lose in her own little game. Oh, he would forever remember this day and his embarrassment.

And he would make sure that she remembered hers.

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Before entering the school's end of term closing ceremony, while Koro was arguing with the students about Home Economics being a secondary subject and shouldn't be taken into account in their challenge, Isogai requested that the assassination be delayed for the time being, as he and the class had agreed to use the prize won in the bet with Class A for their attempt.

When they reached the school assembly, every other section's face looked a bit sullen. Most of them looked bitter. And yes, just like expected, Terasaka and his gang were waiting outside to flaunt their marks and rub it onto the Big Five's faces. Y/N never saw how the chairman's son looked but she has heard about him being absolutely perfect - academics, physical strength, deduction power, appearance, behavior, personality - you name it, he has it all. She wanted to see how much of it was true. He couldn't be better than Karma, right? Well, except for his sadistic violent side, Karma was almost the same as him.

But then again, Gakushu did topped overall since the longest time she remembers. Obviously, he's good.

Hearing some ruckus outside, she observed the students stepping in. The Big Five entered, as Y/N heard a voice, "....I don't have time to indulge with likes of you."

"Woah, what's the rush?" Terasaka stopped them.

Isogai stepped up and turned to the Big Five, "We had a bet. And last I checked, you lost. We don't wanna rub your faces in it, but that's just how it is. Our demand was sent to you via email. I assume you can make that happen."

Terasaka said, "If you even try to play like none of this was for real, that's it. We'll throw at Home Ec. and sweep you off the floor in that too, not that anyone's keeping score. Oh! wait a second, yeah they are." Yep, even if it felt unreal, Terasaka and his gang topped in the said subject.

Karma, for once, attended the ceremony but only because everyone would think that he was running away. Rio took immense pleasure in watching him feel embarrassed, and finally decided to forgive him.

"Listen, I've finally got my hands on teasing material on Karma for the rest of my life, so I don't care about his little mistake. Besides, you forgave him!" she said.

"I think I've explained to you a million times that it was a misunderstanding."

"Yeah whatever, but you got hurt and he found it funny so fuck that guy."

The sections stood in respective lines as the ceremony started. The anchorer who usually talked about Class 3-E in a demeaning manner, today found it difficult to set an example for the rest of the sections. And for once, all the students of section E stood with their head held high among the other sections of the Kunugigaoka High School.

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Y/N waited with her bag near the gates.

Yeah, for the same red-haired boy she developed feelings for. But it has been fifteen minutes and he was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, why are you still here?" Sugino asked and then sighed, "Wait, nevermind, ofcourse. You're waiting for Karma."

Y/N blushed but nodded her head.

"Yeah, he has already left. Sorry dude, I guess he was a bit bummed out," Sugino said and left after watching her for sometime.

"....he left?" Y/N stood looking at the ground. Usually he came around and teased her for amusement but...he left early today. It affected him more than she realized.

She heard footsteps behind her as she started walking towards the nearby bus stop. She hoped maybe it was a classmate but it wasn't. It was the prodigy son of the chairman, Gakushu. He looked pissed.

"Dang you really hate us huh," she muttered. She didn't expect him to hear it.

"I do," he told calmly, "You're one of the students from class E."

"Sorry, but...we won the bet fair and square."

"I know. I've the self respect to be graceful in defeat."

"Well, good to know."

"What do you mean?"

"You aren't that bitter like the rest of your class. I guess," Y/N said, "you are kind of nice."

Gakushu chuckled hearing her words and said, "You don't know me at all."

"Hey, it's just a hunch." Y/N smiled and continued walking towards the bus stop.