based on this request: a-class reader ver!
HOW IT STARTED: nobody loves no one
• probably didn’t even know you existed at first.
karma was never a guy of romance, especially not when it came to his school life. during his time in a-class, he kept to himself, but loudly, causing havoc, whispers following in the halls (before he befriended nagisa)
statements, theories and ideas of his presence were spoken of under hushed voices, until a particular one caught his interest.
“i don’t quite care about his reputation, to be frank. a cute guy is a cute guy.” you were leaning lazily against your desk, unbothered by how tense the air turned when you spoke.
from what he could tell, you had no specific friend group. you just voiced your opinion when you were asked. his head turned to you, and you were already staring dead into his soul.
and to his surprise, you waved, grinning. he half-expected you to blush and look away, but you met his gaze straight on, as if you wanted for him to hear it.
HOW IT CONTINUED: it's strange what desire will make foolish people do
when word got to you that his weak subject was japanese, you approached him, notebook in hand. “i took my time making these, so treasure them. knowing you though, you might just burn them.”
“wow, i didn’t have you pawned as such a pleaser. you must really like me.” he responded, the same usual smirk on his face as he didn’t even bother to touch the notes.
your expression mirrored his, something that in the reputation of this school was rarely found. it wasn’t to intimidate him or to give him a taste of his medicine, but simply for your own endearment. “i don’t care what you are, akabane. i care about what you can do.”
• your answer only enhanced his curiosity as to who you actually are, finding familiarity in you.
at first, you simply began to tutor him, hang out in the library for study sessions. and you could keep up with him. not just with his intelligence, but with his quick wits and banter.
“i never did catch your name.” “well, i didn’t exactly throw it at you.” he knew right then and there that you weren’t normal.
• sharing became something casual between you two. at first, it was just notes. you got his maths notes while he got your japanese notes. then you began to share food, drinking from the same straw.
he would always walk you home, no matter in what mood you were, no matter how far away your house is, no matter how long the train took. he was always there.
so much to the point where, one day, he realized you occupied his whole day when you were sick once. for the first time, he felt a little awkward walking into class, holding his head up high either way.
he dismissed it as him growing attached as a friend. since no one had been able to keep up with him like you did, he clung to you.
• when nagisa joined your friend group, he thought nothing of it at first. you became a trio. a small, tight knit group of friends that were stuck in their own bubble. though, at first, nagisa mistook you as a couple.
“wait, so you’re not dating?” “what made you conclude that?” “yeah, y/n wishes she could date me— OW”
he didn’t cling to nagisa like he did to you. his eyes looked for you when he stepped into a room. he would wordlessly share his strawberry milk with you. he didn’t just enjoy your presence, but he started to enjoy existing with you.
HOW THE STORY UNFOLDS: the world was on fire, and no one could save me but you
• when he switched to e-class, you spent your days during his suspension with him. his behavior didn’t stop you long before, why would it now?
you would come over, give him a rundown of the day and any new conspiracy gossip that would turn up. and his endless teasing would still make your day, sitting side by side on his couch.
• you filled in the void that he didn’t know he had. the void of continuously coming home to an empty house, no one to greet him, no one to ask him how his days was. you came into his life. effortlessly, fulfilling and bright.
• at first, he unconsciously began to show you physical affection. a hand on your waist, fingers running through your hair, his blazer on your shoulders.
then, he began to do it with purpose. teasing when the light blush bloomed on your cheeks, his face getting a little closer than it should.
• he would ward of guys trying to flirt with you in public, but not in the way you might think. he does it by embarrassing you. “she snores as loud as a horn when she’s sleeping, so she wouldn’t be that great as a partner.” “KARMA—”
• the rest of e-class saw you after school once. with karma’s arm around your shoulders, his unoccupied hand housing both yours and his school bag, smiling. they immediately assumed the same as nagisa: karma has a girlfriend.
which wasn’t exactly wrong. as much as he hated to admit it, he found out sooner than later that he liked you. it was while his class was taking care of little kindergarten kids.
it was a stupid question, but one of the boys there asked “how do you know you like someone?” and karma began to list all his actions and feelings he has for you.
people would think, with what nagisa told him, you would be the one to calm him, but you fueled his fire. you were the spark for his ideas and methods, but also his place of uncomplicated comfort.
you existed so effortlessly yourself, so untouched by the ideologies of the main campus, and he couldn’t help but sink into your poison.
• he didn’t confess under a cherry blossom, he didn’t confess with a bouquet of flowers in his hands, but in the simplest way possible. just how he preferred it.
you met up after school, like you always did, sitting on a bench and munching on the dango he paid for. the sun began to set, and the orange hues danced across your skin, wind playing with your hair. then he said it. “i love you.”
you froze for a moment, which had him unsettled, but then you chuckled, holding out the last piece of dango on the stick to him. “took you a while.”
HOW IT ENDS: i never dreamed that i'd love somebody like you
• he shouldn’t have done it, it was against the rules, but he told you about koro-sensei.
the octopus he had as a teacher, how their first interaction went, and what he was like now as a teacher. you smile, setting a short kiss on his cheek. “as long as you’re happy, i won’t tell another soul.”
• word got out on the main campus that you were dating him, and that didn’t surprise you. he was stuck to you, uncharacteristically desperate for constant touch. or maybe not so uncharacteristically, simply because he didn’t do it when you first became friends, only when you got closer later on.
when the day would reach its end, he would be waiting for you, eyes lighting up ever so slightly when you reached his sight, pulling you closer.
• you didn’t let the rumors and words of your schoolmates bother you, instead simply focusing on your studies and each other.
karma introduced you to the rest of e-class, as well as koro-sensei, who wore a disguise and couldn’t resist meeting you after he heard of you.
you made more friends, hanging out with bigger groups, and you felt like your life has found its purpose. unbound by the chains of the system, instead working your way through it, and not alone.
• he didn’t let it show, but he was saddened at the news of his teacher’s death.
you saw it in his face, the way he slouched, the way his smile looked a little to forced. you comforted him, because you knew he was too stubborn to let his emotions get to him.
you helped him the way he always helped you: by simply staying. he slept over at your house for a week, lying on your chest with hollow breaths.
what finally got him back up again were your words. “if he was still here, i think we both know he’d scold you for bringing yourself to such a low state. do what he would’ve wished. graduate and be what you want, because the title scum of the school doesn’t mean you’re unworthy or untalented. you know that.”
• you stayed side by side. through the rest of school, graduation, job applications, sleepless nights and all above and below.
you fought, like any couple would, but you always forgave each other. your need to be with one another outweighed the thought of being alone.
in the end, you both got what you wanted. your dream professions, a cozy home to live in, and each other, both still full of life, banter and teasing.
