Mischievous Meetings | Akabane Karma X OC

CHAPTER 2

It's been about two months since the deal began. A week after their first "date," Karma asked Emi to go on another one—and then again the following week, and the week after that. It quickly became a routine. Each week, without fail, Karma would invite her out, and every time, he found some way to stir up trouble, picking fights seemingly out of nowhere. Emi would always end up scolding him afterward, frustrated that he dragged her into his antics yet again.

However, Karma always ensured that Emi was never in any real danger. It seemed that after their first "date," he had learned to balance his chaotic tendencies with a certain level of care, making sure she stayed safe while still getting to "experience the fun"—fun that Emi had absolutely no desire to experience.

Emi's hope in life was simple: to be kept out of harm's way and to lead an easy, peaceful existence. She always made it a point to avoid groups that were prone to starting fights or stirring up drama, though she never fully managed to escape them. Her dream was to live a life free of conflict, but she knew that achieving that kind of ease meant working hard and navigating through the chaos she so desperately tried to avoid. And now, she had to contend with the genius troublemaker, Karma, who seemed determined to turn her life upside down—keeping her constantly on edge and far from the peaceful existence she longed for.

On one of their dates, they spotted two students from their school in a narrow alley. One appeared to be bullying the other, shoving him against the wall. Karma, fully expecting Emi to tell him to stay out of it, was caught off guard when she turned to him with a calm yet stern expression and said, "Make sure you teach him a lesson."

While Emi preferred to keep herself out of trouble, she never said she didn't care about others being in harm's way. This was especially true when it came to Karma—she had seen him jump into enough brawls to know he wouldn't hesitate. So, when she encouraged him to intervene in the bullying, she made sure to remind him, "But don't get too reckless," her tone firm yet laced with concern. It wasn't just about teaching someone a lesson; she didn't want Karma getting hurt either.

With that, Karma leaped between the two students, quickly taking control of the situation and delivering a swift punch to the bully. The sound of the scuffle echoed through the narrow alley, but Karma's precision and efficiency were clear. Meanwhile, Emi stayed out of sight, her gaze scanning the surroundings to ensure they wouldn't be caught. She wasn't directly involved, but she kept watch, making sure that Karma's chaotic intervention went unnoticed by any wandering eyes.

When the one-sided fight ended and the bully fled, Emi quietly approached the scene, her composed demeanor returning as if she hadn't just been hiding moments earlier.

"Here's your notebook," Karma said, casually handing the male student his belongings as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

The boy, still shaken, reached for it hesitantly. "T-Thank you."

Karma's eyes flickered toward the front cover of the notebook, where the student's name and class were scribbled. "You're from class 3-E, huh?" he remarked, his tone nonchalant but with a hint of curiosity.

The student nodded, still too nervous to fully process what had just occurred.

"Do you know the student from earlier?" Emi asked, her voice calm but with an edge of curiosity.

The boy shook his head, still rattled. "No, but I think he's from 3-A. He kept talking down to me like I didn't belong." His voice trembled slightly, the fear from the encounter still fresh.

Emi's eyes narrowed. "I see," she said softly, exchanging a quick glance with Karma, whose smirk was growing.

Karma, still unfazed, looked down the alley where the bully had fled. "Looks like someone from the 'elite' classes thought he could have some fun," he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm.