Mischievous Meetings | Akabane Karma X OC

CHAPTER 1

Two weeks after the deal aside from the occasional public interactions, Emi and Karma hadn't done anything "couples" do. They were supposed to be pretending to date, after all. Yet, most of their time together consisted of playful banter and dramatic entrances rather than the typical outings one might expect.

Emi often found herself glancing at the couples around campus, observing the little gestures—shared laughter, casual hand-holding, and stolen glances—that seemed to come so naturally to others. Each time she caught sight of a pair sharing a moment, a twinge of something—longing, perhaps?—flared in her chest. It was amusing and frustrating at the same time, knowing that her arrangement with Karma lacked any real intimacy.

That was until one day, as Emi was walking to school, she was rudely yanked behind a tree, leaving her stunned and fuming.

Emi's reaction was immediate. With a swift and assertive motion, she pushed Karma away, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Hey, hands off," she snapped, her voice laced with irritation, shortly forgetting her language. Why would she be conscious of her language?

Karma, unbothered by Emi's warning, greeted her with a grin. "Hey there, princess. How are you doing?"

"First," Emi replied, "I don't appreciate being shoved and pushed, thank you very much." She adjusted her hair and brushed off any dirt from her clothes. "And second, as you can see, my day has been ruined by a certain redhead shoving me into a tree."

"Aww, don't be like that." Karma teased, leaning against the tree with an air of casual confidence. "I actually have a reason for pulling you away from sight."

"Oh? And what could that possibly be?" Emi asked, crossing her arms, her curiosity piqued despite her annoyance.

Karma's expression shifted slightly, becoming more serious. "I've been thinking about our little arrangement. It's fun and all, but we should step it up a notch. You know, make it more believable."

Emi's heart raced at his words, a mix of excitement and anxiety swirling within her. "What do you mean?" she asked, hesitant.

"I'm suggesting we actually go on a date," Karma said, his tone light but with an undertone of sincerity. "Let's ditch classes today and have some fun. It'll make our pretend dating look less... well, pretend."

A wave of unease washed over Emi. "You must be joking. I can't simply skip class," she replied, her arms tightening defensively around herself. The thought of breaking the routine made her anxious, and part of her worried about the implications.

"Come on, it'll be a blast!" he urged, his casual demeanor unwavering. "You really think sitting in class with those fake friends is better?"

Emi sighed, feeling the tug of obligation and the thrill of his invitation. She glanced down the hallway, half-expecting to see her friends waiting for her. "I have to attend my classes. But... I may consider going out after school," she conceded, trying to maintain her composure even as doubt flickered in her mind.

Karma's smirk softened into a more genuine smile. "That's all I ask. Just think of it as a reward for surviving the day."

"Fine, after classes," Emi relented, though a part of her still felt uneasy about what she was getting into. She couldn't shake the nagging doubt that maybe they were crossing a line, stepping into territory that was more than just a game.

"Great! I'll hold you to that," he said, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he leaned in a little closer, making her heart flutter despite herself.

Emi shot him a glance before resuming her journey to school.

With a playful smirk, Karma sauntered off toward the direction opposite the school, leaving Emi to shake her head in bemusement. As much as she hated to admit it, there was something undeniably intriguing about the troublemaker with a penchant for dramatic entrances.