Chapter 16

The following couple of weeks has been silent. Neither of them spoke to each other. Y/N decided to ignore his existence and sit on her seat like the way usually did. Nothing that happened in their private lives should come in between when they start their classes. Well, atleast that's what she wanted to believe.

But, everytime, every single time, Karma came in front of her, she couldn't help but remember the words he said to her in the island. Rejection was in no way hurting her more than what he labelled her as.

A misfit.

And it was bothering her more that whatever he said was all true. They were all facts. It was true that she didn't help in anything important like the others did. She was kind of a burden all those times. She did feel like she can take anything that comes in her way, and that she was protecting others. But in real, it was the other way round.

They were the ones protecting her instead.

There was no time to dwell on it and be sad about what happened so she decided to focus on her studies and extra curricular activities instead. Besides, if she started to think about him, it would just end up in tears. Karma was acting like the way he usually did - except this time he was avoiding her completely and nowhere near her.

It was fine to her, but it created some tension among their friends too. They had to make plans separately, and if it was some necessary task, they only talked about the mission but that was it. Y/N started jogging. She wanted to be of some use when the time comes. Even if it meant running away and not being a total burden.

Both of them looked fine, but they weren't.

Rio was completely pissed off. She was pissed enough to ignore Karma too. But only for a limited amount of time. Y/N knew some of these days she was gonna burst and well, she wouldn't stop her best friend. It was none of Rio's business but if she were on her shoes, she would make the other guy feel so ashamed that he would never be able to face them again. Rio decided to give Y/N some space as promised after she broke down in front her one day. She decided to come back on the topic of relationships and love later when Y/N was good enough to talk about it. Y/N was aware that ignoring to talk openly about the topic was putting a strain on her emotions but it wasn't something she couldn't handle.

She did it way back before getting sent to E section, and she can do it now too.

School started again and after trying to kill Koro three times, Itona joined Class 3-E although it took some convincing.

The day was over, no one was waiting for her near the gate. Not that he ever did.

Waiting near the bus stand, she looked down at her feet and started noticing the small details about her shoes. Something she didn't do earlier because of having some company. She could pretend nothing was bothering her and go out, have fun with Rio and others or she could take her time to become stable and find solutions slowly. She decided to do the latter, obviously.

"Sorry?"

Y/N turned hearing the voice. Gakushu was standing behind her with a mocking smile on his face.

"You never struck to be the kind to apologize," he scoffed, "who hacked you?"

"Look, I apologized so can you just freaking drop it?" Y/N said, sighing and looking towards the road, "I don't have the energy to deal with you. I don't have brains or skills as good as you so I've to work extra for it everyday. I'm tired, leave me alone."

"Why?" he asked, "Are you hurt, cherry?"

Y/N's head whipped at his direction. She had the most pissed off look on her face and anyone who knew her, would completely be on guard if they got to see her face. She stormed towards him and held him by his collar, "Look dude, I don't care how you got the information but if you don't fucking leave me and this topic alone, trust me I'll make it hard for you to even breathe anywhere in the school."

"Hit a nerve, didn't I?" Gakushu laughed, "You aren't as scary as you think. You are tiny."

He removed her hands and in a minute, got her into a headlock, "You are as scary as a bunny."

Y/N struggled and kicked his leg, trying to get out. She started screaming and hitting him, "What's your problem?!"

"Take your time, I can do this all day."

After struggling for some time more, she stopped and pulled on his hands weakly, tears forming in her eyes. She whimpered and said in the smallest voice she ever did before, "Leave me alone..."

Gakushu slowly let her go and awkwardly pat her head. "Stop making me look like a villain weirdo," he said.

Y/N looked at him, trying her best to control her tears and said, "And stop trying to interfere. It has nothing to do with you."

"I'm not missing my fun because some kid broke your heart," he said, "You're gonna have to obey me for a week if I win this fight."

"Only if you stay fucking alive till the end."

"Fine, I need your brains for something."

"My...? You are more than capable-"

"No."

"...Then what's in it for me?"

"The whole school won't be calling you cherry. It should be enough," he smirked.

"One of these days I'm gonna make you cry too, wait and watch."

"Okay, sure Ms. have-to-use-a-chair-cause-i-can't-reach-top-shelf."

______________________________________________________

"....why did you think I'm gonna make all the right choices in the game?" Y/N asked after they finished playing a bit of Until Dawn.

"Because you know how emotions work," Gakushu said after taking off his headphones.

"And you don't?"

"Not as good as you. Although, not every choice you made was...involving emotions."

"Cause sometimes you just gotta think rationally and make the right choice rather than acting on your emotions," Y/N said smiling.

"Exactly," he said looking at her. She realized his intention and said, "For the last time, I know what I'm doing. I'm not stupid enough to make bad decisions."

"I didn't say anything, did I?" he smirked.

"Then why did you bring me here? To make you win this game?" she chuckled, "yeah good luck on making me believe that crap."

"You have a foul mouth for someone so small."

"I am not small."

"Oh yeah?" he said standing up.

"....I'll grow taller. Just wait and watch."

"Come on," he said, extending his hand.

Y/N looked at it for a moment and said, "Uh, where?"

"To eat? You don't think I'm civilised enough to offer you some food?"

"Food?" she said excitedly, "What are we having?!"

Gakushu didn't exactly make her eat at his home, obviously because of his issues with his...dad. So Y/N decided not to push him to talk about it. He was clearly avoiding it anyway. They went to a nearby cafe and Y/N ordered whatever she wanted, and he paid for it. No, it wasn't a date but she decided she deserved to be treated after being threatened to be called cherry by the entire school.

"So..about the new teacher-"

"Forget it," Y/N said sipping on her juice, "you aren't getting that information out of me."

"Worth a try," Gakushu said, "I'm gonna make you reveal it someday."

"Nah, I trust you," she said, and chuckled, "didn't work that well last time."

Gakushu stared at her face for sometime. He realized that there was something about her. Something that made him physically reach out to her and make her stay. He never had...friends before. Ofcourse he has a lot of people around but he felt they were only there because of his father.

But her. She was here knowing she wouldn't get anything out of him or his father.

"God...do you like me or something?" Y/N laughed, "You're staring at me a lot."

"Would you accept me if I did?"

"Heck no," Y/N chuckled, "I would give you a chance though....I think."

"Really?" Gakushu smiled, "Good to know."

"Wait, you aren't serious, right?" Y/N stopped eating and looked at him with concerning eyes.

"What the- no. I barely know you."

"You did call me to help you win a game so.."

"....it irks me if I don't get it right the first time."

"Well, sorry to burst your bubble but you're gonna have to deal with a lot of those firsts."

After finishing their meal, they sat awkwardly for sometime with each other. "We don't have a lot to talk about without getting our school involved huh?" Y/N said.

"Didn't think we are going to have that problem," Gakushu sighed, "I mean, we do fight all the time."

She shoved him playfully and got up, getting out of the cafe with him following her behind. "We don't hate each other, I don't atleast."

"You aren't worth enough to waste my hatred on," Gakushu said.

"...dude you just don't know how to talk normally with me, do you?" Y/N said laughing.

He chuckled and looked on both sides of the street and then at her. She had a smile on her face, although it looked like it was coming off slowly.

"Thank you," she said and hesitated for a moment, probably thinking of saying something more but decided against it, "Uh bye."

With that she crossed the street and walked off to the nearby bus stop. Gakushu just watched her walk away with a smile. It felt good, to get a genuine comment from someone, who had no other intentions. Who appreciated his efforts alone.

This was a start of a friendship. It was kind of weird but, felt nice for a change.