Love Is Hard - Karma X Reader

Chapter 11

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As we approached the group, I did my best to keep my smile intact, even though my stomach was doing backflips. The steady hum of students milling around filled the air, their voices blending into a low, constant murmur. I could hear the occasional burst of laughter from nearby clusters, along with the shuffling sound of footsteps on the pavement.

Rio spotted us first and waved enthusiastically. "Hey, you made it!" she called out, her usual energy lighting up the area. Her voice cut through the ambient noise, drawing a few curious glances from other students passing by.

Kayano and Kanzaki turned, flashing warm smiles, but I caught Kayano's expression slip for just a second. She forced a cheerful grin, but her eyes didn't quite match. Something was off-was she worried about something? I furrowed my brow, noticing how her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her shirt as she glanced at Nagisa, her brow slightly furrowed. Now that I think about it, Nagisa did mention her being concerned about how I left the park yesterday.

Sugino gave us a casual grin, "Took you long enough!"

Wait, why does he-ohhh... Kanzaki was holding his hand; no wonder he's distracted. I glanced around as a cool breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees, adding a slight chill to the warm morning. And then there was Okuda, standing quietly off to the side, as reserved as always. She glanced my way for a split second before looking down, adjusting her glasses like they were the most interesting thing in the world.

I swallowed, feeling an awkward knot form in my throat. The faint scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the campus café nearby, but it did nothing to calm my nerves. Why was I so nervous around her? It wasn't like she'd done anything. I had no reason to feel this way-I mean, clearly it's not like Karma and her are... are they...? I zipped a glance between him and her, my heart squeezing painfully in my chest.

They were quite engrossed in each other at the park....

*Ugh! It's fine. You're fine.* I kept repeating it to myself, hoping it would stick, but my hands were already starting to get clammy, the cold metal of my phone slipping through my fingers as I clutched it tighter.

"First day vibes?" Rio grinned as we joined the group, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Nervous, excited, or both?"

"Nervous, definitely nervous," I said with a laugh, though it felt a little forced. Around us, the murmur of conversations mixed with the faint squeak of shoes on the polished floor as more students headed toward the entrance. I caught Karma smirking out of the corner of my eye, and my brain instantly flashed back to that humiliating moment earlier when I grabbed his arm. My face heated up again just thinking about it, and I felt my shoulders tense up.

*Ugh, Karma, you're such a bitch!*

Nagisa, ever the calming presence, gave me a reassuring smile. "You'll be fine. We're all here to help if you need anything."

I nodded, grateful for the support, but I still had this nagging feeling that my first day was gonna be anything but simple. With all the weird stuff that had already happened-the needle incident, those freaky photos, those doorbells, and empty halls-I shuddered inwardly, feeling a slight chill run down my spine despite the warmth of the sun on my skin. And that lingering feeling of being watched, even now...my skin prickled... I couldn't shake the thought that things could go sideways at any moment.

As the group started chatting about their class schedules, my mind began to wander. The distant sounds of lockers slamming shut and the faint echo of a bell signalling the start of class buzzed around me, but I forced myself to stay focused, trying to drown out the spiralling thoughts.