Chapter 15

As soon as they came out of the cave, Karma joined the other boys while Y/N joined Rio. All of them started going back to the beach nearby their hotel.

"So?" Rio asked with eyes full of curiosity. Sure, Y/N was eager since it was her first time experiencing love but Rio wanted the tea more than her. She wanted to listen to every single thing they did, and every step they took, all the details. It's not that she's over protective. It was like Y/N was writing the first chapter of her love life, and with her own hands, without anyone's help. She wanted to be there to see how it turns out. She'll be here when she falls, and she'll also be there when Y/N gets up, on her own.

But Y/N felt like it was going nowhere. This whole thing she had with Karma. It felt like his teasing has no ending and if she didn't do something, it will remain this way forever. For one, if she wants something she has to make it clear to him. Karma was the kind who would only take a step forward if she takes one. Well, she hopes so atleast. But something felt off about him recently, like he was hiding something from her. If it was something good, it wouldn't bother her. But this was something that was making the old Karma appear back on the surface again. She wanted to know what it was but didn't want to cross the line.

"We had sex," Y/N said.

Rio sighed, "Really? Nothing happened? Man I really hoped something would happen there, atleast holding hands or a hug but..."

"Yeah, I have to step it up," Y/N said, "I think I'm gonna ask him out tonight."

Rio stopped on her tracks. She squealed and asked, "Wait, for real? YOU are the one taking a step?!"

Y/N chuckled as a blush covered her face, "Yes, not unless something is stopping it from happening."

"Oh my god! I can't believe you're doing it before him."

"Argh, wish me luck!" Y/N said, as they entered the beach. Everyone started undressing themselves, as they wore their swimsuits underneath their clothes.

"Time to show off baby!" Rio said and smacked her ass. Y/N blushed and looked at the red haired boy who took off his shirt and laughed, saying something to Nagisa.

"Hey, if you're gonna ask him out tonight, why not try to get his attention for now? I mean.." RIo said smirking devilishly, "..you already have his attention. Kind of."

"Here goes to nothing," Y/N said and took off her clothes, revealing her one-piece swimsuit. Yes, the one the prodigy said to buy. They've been talking to each other for sometime. Nothing much, just emails insulting each other while Gakushu tried to get out some information from her.

It didn't work.

But they enjoyed each other's company. Not exactly friends, but not enemies either.

She checked herself and straightened her suit. Looking up she saw Rio grinning at her.

She said, "Let me."

Y/N sighed, "Come on, just leave me alone for today. I don't want him to see you trying to get a feel."

Rio looked at her for a while and said, "Fine, because today's a special day. I can't believe there's gonna be a couple in our class! Oh, all the teasing you guys have to endure!!" She turned and started chasing Yada, who was covering herself and running around, trying to get rid of her. It was all fun though, she wouldn't do it to make someone feel uncomfortable.

"I don't know if you've heard this before, but if you date me-" Maehara started saying, walking towards her.

Y/N laughed and interrupted him, "You've told me this a million times Maehara."

"Just so you know, I'm a gentleman and as a friend, I will maintain distance for Karma's sake."

Oh yeah Karma.

Y/N looked at his direction, but he wasn't looking at her. Some of the students were playing beach volleyball, and he was trying to distract them and make them lose a point - outside the game.

He wasn't even playing.

Y/N quietly walked towards him and stood by him, waiting for some kind of reaction. "Oh hey cherry," he looked down at her outfit and said, "your nickname matches your swimsuit colour."

Her smile faltered a little. Nothing? Like legit, zero reaction?

"It's red. Not cherry."

"Cherry is red."

She felt a bit annoyed. Here, she was trying to get his attention and make his jaw-drop or something, but they were arguing about what now? COLOUR OF HER SWIMSUIT?

"Oh god," she rolled her eyes, furrowing her eyebrows, "I'm just gonna go before I lose my shit."

Karma chuckled watching her walk away. Oh walking away with her hips swaying to the left and then to the right. The sides of her waist was exposed. Her skin was exposed, thankfully it wasn't as deep down in the front. Yes, a bit of a cleavage but..that's it. She pulled off her hair band and brushed her hair, messing it up a bit. Smiling she walked towards Rio and Yada, who were sitting with their snow cones. He wanted her to get a red snowcone, matching her outfit and the blush on her face. Her lips would be red and her...tongue too right?

"Dude your mouth gonna start watering any minute now,"

Karma shot his head to the right and saw Maehara. The Maehara she has been having a good time with since this whole trip. He rolled his eyes and smirked at him, trying to get back at him with a comment, "You shouldn't be telling me that. You didn't even leave a chance and fucking walked right up to her the moment she undressed."

Maehara who was listening to him talked chuckled. No one ever managed to tease Karma right?

Oh, he was gonna love this.

He sighed and looked at her direction, making his voice deep he said, "Can you blame me?"

Karma just smiled in return. He was trying to tease him wasn't he? It would be better to see his plan backfire. "Oh yeah?" he said, "Why don't you go ahead and give it a try. Put your flirting skills to use?"

He knew very well that Y/N will shut him down. It would just be fun to watch him get beaten at his own game. Karma walked away towards Nagisa, making him his next teasing victim. Maehara just stood there dumbfounded. He expected something. Sure, it pissed him off how he didn't react at all but...this was not a good sign. Not at all.

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As night fell, everyone went to the festival held in the island. There were different kinds of stalls, some managed by Koro when the shopkeepers left because it's the end of the month and he needed money.

Karma and Y/N spent the whole evening together, playing different games, eating and basically spending time with each other. She did owe him a...date right? So far, it looked like he was enjoying. Currently, he was standing and with the evil brain of his, he has managed to take away a game console from a shopkeeper.

Y/N did feel a bit bad because this was the only means of earning some money, in case of the shopkeeper. But then again, he surely has scammed a lot of customers before and took their money. Karma was just giving him a lesson. Right?

Besides that, she knew the perfect moment when she wanted to do it. Ask him out.

When the fireworks starts? And they'll be watching it together right? It would be a perfect time to ask him out. She was a bit scared of getting rejected but the signs were all there. Him teasing her all the time? Changing partners with Maehara? Extra lessons on maths which he never gave to anyone else? Yeah, she felt a bit positive.

"Hey, look what I got!" Karma smirked, "Thought he could scam me."

"Ofcourse, he can't. But.." she looked at his hand, "...can I play?"

"Sure," Karma said, "Come on, the fireworks gonna start soon. You wanted to watch right?"

"Uh yeah," she said, and Karma pulled him by her hand. He tightened his fist, getting through the crowd. Y/N wanted to do this alone. She saw some of her classmates around but...they probably won't be able to listen right?

Soon the fireworks started, followed by many more, filling up the sky with lights. Y/N turned to look at Karma who was busy watching the sky. They were still holding hands. Her heart was pounding on her chest. She cleared her throat.

"Karma?" she said, "I have...something to tell you."

He turned to her with a smile and said nothing. His eyes were fixed on her and watching her carefully.

"Um, I know you are aware of this. Of my feelings for you, so I'm gonna...be straight about it. I've had a crush on you for the past few months so...I was um...I was thinking...uh, will you be my.." Y/N blushed thinking of the next word, "boyfriend?"

There was nothing but excited squeals and cheers from the crowd, along with the sound of the fireworks. But then it came. The moment she was waiting for.

"What the-" Karma started laughing, "Me? Your boyfriend? I mean, I thought this was just our thing - me teasing you and you reacting kinda thing? I thought it was a rumor. You like me?"

Y/N's heart dropped, as she looked up at his face. He was laughing, like a maniac. Like he did when he jumped off the cliff. "I-I thought you liked me," Y/N stuttered.

"You actually thought I liked you because I teased you? How old are we Y/N?"

She kept quiet as her eyes started watering.

"I really don't have any feelings for you dude. How did you even think we can be a match? With my physical and educational skills? How is it equal to what...you are?"

Tears streamed down her eyes, but she kept them fixated on him. She...was surprised. This was the same Karma that she liked all this time?

"I don't care if you find this offensive but you don't fit anywhere. You're not good in studies or physical activities. Or in something else like cooking or chemical stuffs. Think about it Y/N, what did you do to help when half of our class was suffering in this island? Nothing."

Y/N's hand slowly slid down from his hand.

"Everyone did something but you literally did nothing but running around and shouting about men approaching. And not just this time. How were you helping at any of those times our class was in trouble?" Karma chuckled, "I heard you sent an offensive letter to that prodigy of Class A. Did you even think how it's going to affect us? Man, even Terasaka is better than you are. You don't fit here among us. You're a misfit in Class E too."

He looked at her eyes, finally. His smile got wiped off his face. Sure, he liked to see all her reactions. It's part of why he did all this in the first place apart from his bitter memory of result day.

But this one was the worst out of all others. She looked broken. Completely broken.

It was him who named her 'cherry' for her blush and cute smile. But this? Did she even deserve this? Just because he was having fun? But it's what he wanted right? He looked around and realized people looking at them - including some of their classmates.

They heard all of it.

"Just a no would've been enough Karma," Y/N said, her voice quivering and she left.

He watched her run away towards their hotel. As she disappeared out of her sight, a smile covered his face.

Humiliation.

That's right. Now she's feeling what he felt back then. Oh, and she would never ever forget this, that's for sure. He should be on his way to play more games right?

Then why?

Why was he feeling like he was carrying a huge weight. Like he wanted too drop down on his knees and soothe this stinging feeling on his chest. He wanted to scream and shout.

And run after her.

But it's too late for that, isn't it?