Chapter 5

Karma wasn't going easy on pranking Nagisa. And as for Y/N, he teased her on a daily basis, hoping to get different reactions from her. He succeeded most of the times like when she would immediately kill a cockroach with her shoe but then almost puke for feeling disgusted. Oh, let's not talk about when it starts to fly.

She didn't exactly hate Karma, but quite the opposite and everyone noticed the change. She was a lot more vocal than she was before. Karma managed to bring her out of her shell in his own ways. As much as she wanted to convince herself that he was nothing more than a friend, somewhere it felt different. It wasn't exactly that she was thinking about it all the time, but sometimes she caught herself doing things that she wouldn't do or feel around other boys. She was afraid of accepting it and almost forcing to have the same feelings for others. More than once a day, she would tell herself, "Maybe he's my best friend, rather than just a friend."

Midterms were getting close and Koro focused on Class 3-E students, making sure they're prepared for their exams. He made his period into a 'high speed enhanced midterm study hall' where he used his speed to provide special one-on-one attention, drilling everyone individually on areas where they needed improvement most. With each passing day, he taught the students better and made them understand why they needed to balance their academics along with being good assassins. He wanted all the students of Class 3-E to be on Top 50 in the whole school.

"I can tell you're way behind on math than any other subject," Karma said walking back home with her oneday.

"How do you know that? Koro sensei never talks-" Y/N asked frowning at him.

Karma chuckled looking at her expression and said, "You do know we are training to become assassins right? We should always have information about the other party."

"But...why do you exactly need to know about me?" she asked, "It's not like you're gonna kill me."

"Oh how can you be so sure cherry," Karma asked blocking her path. He bent down to her eyelevel and said, "Do YOU keep track on me as well?"

"N-No," Y/N stuttered backing away her head, a blush covering her face, "it's just that...we are friends right? I mean, it's a hunch that you won't. I..trust you."

"Trust?" Karma thought. That one word carried a lot of weight and he was perfectly aware of that.

"You shouldn't trust people so easily," Karma said, his smile wiped off of his face. He felt her eyes fixated on his face and broke down a smile. Yes, she was one very expressive girl. What kind of expression was she making now? Was she surprised? He looked at her way and she quickly turned away. He caught her though and she wasn't surprised.

She actually looked worried. Y/N was definitely someone interesting. Has she always been like this? Trusting someone so quickly and letting her guard down? Karma smirked.

"Cherry if you stare at me like that, I'm gonna misunderstand," He said.

"No it's just that you looked a bit different for a moment,"

"So she's observant?" He thought and looked at her, walking with her head down.

"I can help you with maths today if you want," Karma asked. He knew she would immediately agree on it, and she did. They walked to the nearest cafe and sat down on one of the empty tables. She immediately opened her bag and took out the books and copies.

"Woah, woah, calm down cherry," he said holding her hand, "let's order something first."

"Um, I don't have any-"

"I don't either," he said taking out some money, "but Korosensei was feeling generous. Order whatever you want."

"Um," she took a look at the menu and pointed out to a drink, "chocolate smoothie with fries?"

"Alright," he said and ordered a coke along with it for himself. When he came back to his seat with the food, he noticed her already staring at him. He decided to tease her a little, "Ooh you must be very hungry cherry."

"Oh I'm starving!" Y/N said with a huge smile plastered on her face and biting on the fries.

"Cute," he thought, but this wasn't the reaction he was looking for.

"Come closer," he pulled her chair towards him, "you don't expect me to correct your mistakes from so far."

Y/N's cheeks were red and she was feeling shy too look at him. So giving him a nod, she quickly opened the books and copies while Karma watched her with an amused face. This was exactly what he wanted to see. But it wasn't enough. If it was, he wouldn't make her come with him in the first place. He wants to know how much more he can tease her and get away with it. Where's the fun without some kind of risk right? He wouldn't do something right away. Oh he's gonna take his time and make it worth it.

Halfway through their study session, Karma watched Y/N form a moustache out of her drink after opening the lid and drinking it. He made sure not to make her feel conscious about him staring at her. Besides, it looked like she was too focused on the math problems to even look at him. Far too long for his liking.

"Boring," he thought. His finger moved to her face and she flinched, but didn't move away this time. He smirked at that, "Progress?" He rubbed off the smoothie from her face watching her eyes. She wasn't looking at him though. Her eyes were following the finger, and cheeks reddened on the realization that she was sitting with him the whole time with a moustache on her face. She looked at him, and he timed it perfectly, waiting for her to look him in the eyes. Karma licked the smoothie off his finger and muttered, "Sweet." He wasn't exactly loud, but loud enough for Y/N to hear.

Boom!

Y/N's face exploded to a deep red blush and she covered her face with her hands, while keeping her head down on the table.

"You keep distracting me Karma," she peeked at him looking through her fingers, "I take it back."

"What?" he asked, confused.

"I take it back. You'll kill me like this," she said hiding her face again.

"Fuck," Karma sighed thinking, "She's way too cute."

___________________________________

The one thing that Koro didn't take in account is that the principal didn't just come casually to see the teachers of Class 3-E and give them a talk about principles that should be followed. It was a warning and he was a step ahead. Asano himself taught the students of the top sections and took their classes. The ranks of class 3-E were no where close to Top 50 and as expected, Koro took the blame upon himself.

Karma though, got a 100 in almost all the subjects, just some of them were on 2 marks less. Everyone surely forgot about him and how smart he was. And for someone who was always teasing Y/N, he skipped on her ranks and marks completely.

Although relieved, she didn't like how the topic made him stop from sharing his thoughts. Even if he was being considerate, that was nothing like how Karma was. No one would've guessed, but most of the time Y/N's hunch on someone was correct. And she wanted to talk it out with him, inspite of how awkward it might feel.

"You know you can ask me about my marks. I won't mind," Y/N sighed looking down walking back home that day, "I never really do."

"But I don't want to," Karma said, "You can tell me if you want."

"Why?" Y/N asked looking at his face, confused, "Oh I'm on 148th position by the way. Even your tutoring couldn't help me.

"But you scored the highest in math right?"

"No,"

"Psychology was my highest. It's easy to remember some terms when I know some people facing it."

Karma stopped walking hearing it. For a moment, just a second, he felt a shiver down his spine. She scored on it just based on some information and symptoms? It was almost creepy.

He liked it. This was something totally different from all of her reactions. Something a bit evil than her other pure ones.

"What happened?" Y/N asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing cherry," he grinned, as she scoffed hearing the nickname with a blush on her face and started walking faster. Karma smiled and walked faster to catch up to her.

So that's how good it was. Her hunch.