Love in the Times of the Crescent Moon

Chapter 16

In the chaos of the past week, Karma had almost forgotten his own problems. It all started when Karasumasensei forgot Bitch-Sensei's birthday. Despite their date on the Okinawa Islands, he still didn't seem to realize she had genuine feelings for him. He'd made it clear that their time together would end in March. And while everyone thought Bitch-Sensei was sulking in her loneliness, she had temporarily switched sides and joined an assassin called the Reaper, who was also targeting Korosensei. But when things got really dangerous, and Karasumasensei risked his life to save her, Bitch-Sensei decided to return.
Somehow, she really did belong in Class E, thought Karma, even if she was a bit eccentric. Maybe that was why she fit in so well with them.

Only two days had passed since these incidents, but in that short time, Bitch-Sensei's mood had swung from one extreme to another. At first, she seemed thrilled by Karasumasensei's rescue, but now she was moodier than ever.
"What's up with her?" wondered Nagisa, who had escaped the classroom right behind Karma. "I thought she'd be ecstatic, but now she's scarier than ever."
"Well," Karma replied with his arms casually behind his head, "she'd hoped for more. Think about it: she's been waiting for him to reciprocate her feelings. He heroically saves her life, gives her a rose, and then... nothing. I haven't seen them together even once since we got back."
"Now that you mention it... Poor Bitch-Sensei, dealing with Karasumasensei is no joke. Then again, with all her dramatics, it's hard to tell when she's serious."
"But this time, she really is serious."
"I think so too. Speaking of serious matters, Karmakun," Nagisa began, and Karma already knew where this was going, "how serious is your fight with Kitsan? You guys haven't even talked in nearly four weeks..."
"Let it go." Karma cut him off with a firm gesture. "Honestly, it's beyond fixing."
"But you like her, don't you?"
"Stupid question. Of course, I like her, but that's not the point."
"Yes, it is the point," Nagisa insisted, unusually firm. "If you want to be a good friend, sometimes you have to swallow your pride and take a step forward."
"Maybe I don't want to!" Karma shot back. "Did you think of that? Maybe I don't want to be a good friend, or to take any steps. Everything's fine as it is."
"But... that's not true, Karmakun."
Nagisa had stopped walking, but Karma continued without turning around.

That evening, Karma lay on his bed, deep in thought. Being a good friend as Nagisa put it was a tough job, and it involved a lot of pain. After Korosensei's speech about missed opportunities, he'd felt differently, but seeing how easily Kit could shake his foundation had made him keep his distance. He didn't want to be angry at her anymore, and most importantly, he didn't want to be angry at himself. Besides, he had to stay realistic. It was October, meaning he had less than half a year left. After that, either the world would end, or the class would scatter in all directions. Either way, it was pointless to dwell on something that soon wouldn't even exist. He'd be better off focusing his energy on making it through the next year.
On a whim, he decided he'd skip the first two periods with Bitch-Sensei tomorrow - who needed French conversation anyway? - and instead plow through Korosensei's stack of books. Somehow, they'd take down that octopus, and if Karma wanted his pick of universities, he'd need to ace the upcoming exams. He quickly texted Nagisa, asking him to excuse him with Bitch-Sensei due to a doctor's appointment. That was progress - Karma would never have dreamed of getting an excuse before, but right now, Bitch-Sensei was unpredictable, and he kind of felt sorry for her.
For a while, he pondered how even adults struggled to manage their relationships, then finally drifted into an uneasy sleep, only to wake up tense and groggy the next morning.
"What a day," he muttered to himself, secretly relieved that he wasn't expected at school for the first two hours. "Coffee and breakfast."
By the time he got back to his room, he'd showered, dressed, and, thanks to the coffee, regained his energy. He drank way too much coffee for a seventeen-year-old. He quickly glanced at his phone and saw a message from Nagisa. He must've caved and told Bitch-Sensei the truth. Impatiently, Karma waited for the chat window to open.
"Karasumasensei is in the hospital. Heart attack."
He read the words. Then he read them again, hoping he'd misread. But there was nothing to misunderstand.
Karma dropped everything. As he opened the front door, he texted Nagisa, asking for the hospital address and looked up the quickest route. He probably would have gotten there just as fast by bus, but he couldn't stand waiting at a stop. So he ran, only stopping when he passed the hospital's main entrance, where he could hear his classmates even before he saw them.
Terasaka was having a loud argument with a staff member, trying to get them all into the waiting room. Instead of stepping in, Karma planned to slip past unnoticed, but Kayano spotted him and was about to say something when Nagisa, beside her, covered her mouth with his hand. Karma nodded his thanks, and Nagisa smiled. It was comforting to have a good friend who always had his back. Karma realized painfully that he hadn't been that kind of friend himself. But he'd change that now.

Kit sat in the waiting room, staring at the clock without really seeing it. She felt nothing. Not a single tear had fallen, so deep was her shock at the possible loss of her father. They were a team. He couldn't leave her.
Irina stood next to her, casting an unusually anxious glance at the door whenever anyone came or went. Kit had always thought she'd prefer to be alone in a moment of panic, but right now, she felt infinitely lonely. She was grateful that at least Irina was allowed to stay with her - and only because Kit had introduced her as her father's fiancée. Irina hadn't even been in the mood to complain about being mistaken for the stepmother of a seventeen-year-old.
He had just collapsed. He'd come to the classroom that morning to deliver a message to Irina from the government, then suddenly lost his balance. After that, everything happened fast. Someone called an ambulance. A paramedic murmured something about a heart attack. And since then, no one had shared any further information.
Of course, Kit had known her father was stressed. They were all tense, but it seemed the strain of the last few weeks had been too much, even for someone as resilient as her father.
"I'm so sorry," Irina whispered, and Kit wasn't sure if she was talking to her or herself. "I shouldn't have been so foolish. Why couldn't I just be satisfied with what I had?"
"It's not your fault."
"You don't know that."
"But neither do you."
At that moment, Kit was suddenly certain that Irina really did love her father. And although Irina couldn't offer her immediate comfort in her own grief and despair, it was reassuring to know they were both waiting for someone they loved.
The door to the waiting room opened again, and Kit watched as an older woman with graying hair entered, looking exhausted but determined. As she moved aside, a familiar figure was revealed behind her.
"Karma?" Kit's voice came out louder than she'd intended. But here, everyone was wrapped up in their own worries. No one paid her any attention.
"Sorry it took me so long."
He took a step toward her and stopped, but he didn't need to go further; Kit had already wrapped her arms around his neck, her face close to his cheek. Everything was forgotten. No matter what he'd said or done, he was here now, just when she needed him.
Relieved, Kit allowed herself to lean into Karma's embrace. He was her anchor; she could rely on him. With her head resting on his chest, Kit felt tears streaming down her cheeks.
"He can't leave me alone," she sobbed silently.