Fated Goodbye

➳ First 24 hours

Finally, the class was dismissed by Koro-Sensei and he rushed off to lord knows where. There was lots of rustling as everyone packed their belongings. Somehow, the topic that kept leaving their mouths was her. Gossiping and making up scenarios or theories. It was starting to irritate Phoenix. Luckily, they seemed to leave her alone, for now.

Ultimately, she decided to stay behind. The few hours in this strange new world were quite overwhelming.

It was nice. The quiet stillness was something she wanted to stay in for a bit. The sky was painted orange while the sun shone through the window. There were no voices, no lessons, and no questions. It was a very enjoyable quiet. Taking in a relaxing deep breath, she was finally able to breathe for once in the hours she's been here. These people felt suffocating. This world felt suffocating. Her bones still rattled with the feeling of something wrong.

The peace was short-lived, though. A particular classmate had stayed back in the classroom as well. He made it just a bit less empty. It was the same boy who sat next to her desk, the one who made a rude comment right before she sat down. She wasn't sure of his intentions, but it might just have been annoying her out of existence. She was surprised she could even feel something so strongly.

The second he started, his mouth hadn't stopped flapping. He made many comments and kept teasing the new girl. It was unexpected of the boy she sat by to be so talkative. She assumed he would keep to himself, especially since their classmates had, but the current situation showed otherwise. After his rude comment, she wouldn't have expected him to speak to her at all. Yet, here we are.

"Why'd you transfer so suddenly? Where out of town are you from? Are you perhaps an assassin? Or maybe you're a lab rat with special abilities to fight our teacher! Is that your real name? Are you not from the main building?"

The questions just kept coming, but she chose not entertain any of them.

"Are you not going to answer me? Why won't you show any emotion? Come on, I know this must be getting annoying," he continued.

Sighing, she decided to finally shut the boy up by answering—tightly-lipped to the only question she could. "Yes, Phoenix Oceana is my real name."

Doing her best not to seem irritated, she let out a breath. It seemed her one answer shut him up because the boy then introduced himself, "Well then, pleased to meet you, Phoenix. I'm Karma."

That was an interesting name. Then again, she didn't even know why her name is the one it is.

"It'd be nice if you could at least look at me when I speak to you," Karma added on.

Sighing loudly this time, she reluctantly turned her head to meet his eyes. Once she did, immediate regret began to fill her. Upon making eye contact, an unfamiliar warmth filled her body. It contrasted the cold she didn't realize she felt.

The sensation was indescribable. It was like finding the next puzzle piece that fit perfectly. The rattle of doubt that shook her core melted away. Immediate clarity came to her and the information dump from earlier. She didn't know why, but Karma was going to help her in one way or another.

Karma spoke once he saw her expression but his voice trailed off, "What? Am I that handsome..."

Acting out of pure impulse, she slowly rose from her seat. Their bodies only inches apart as her hand began to move of its own accord. Karma's hand twitched upon the contact but didn't pull away—his curiosity overshadowing his judgement. His eyes trailed between her eyes and their connected hands, a small smirk on his lips wondering what will happen next.

Karma opened his mouth but closed it again—mischief dancing in his eyes while his ears turned pink. Taking a step, she began closing the gap, intertwining their fingers in the process.