In less than a year, the world could be doomed. When Karasuma brings his daughter Kit to stay with him, he has no idea that this decision will turn not only her world but his own completely upside down. While Kit settles into her new surroundings fa...
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"I'd like to know why you changed your mind," Karma said, looking at Karasuma, who stood beside him in the schoolyard, arms crossed. Everyone else had already left. They were the last people on the grounds, except for Korosensei, who seemed to have his eyes, ears, and tentacles everywhere. At the moment, he was busy decorating for the dance, putting in far more effort than any of the girls. That octopus is really something else, Karma thought as he glanced at him through the frosty window. Then his attention returned to Karasuma. "You didn't leave me much choice." Karasuma's expression was unreadable, and Karma sensed he wasn't done speaking. "Irina told me you were there for Kit at the hospital." Karma nodded. Karasuma nodded as well, lost in thought, then looked at Karma abruptly. "You're not good enough for my daughter." He paused, relishing for a moment the disheartened look on Karma's face before he continued. "No one is good enough for my daughter. Kit is the most precious thing in my life. Whenever we're together and find ourselves in danger, my first instinct is always to protect Kit. Like that time at the hotel, when that poisoner showed up. I knew he was dangerous right away, and my first thought was to shield my daughter. But when I turned to her, you had already stepped in front of her." Karma remembered that day vividly. He knew he had instinctively pushed Kit behind him when Smog unleashed his poison gas, but he hadn't realized Karasuma had noticed. He was pretty sure not even Kit had known whose arm it was that had moved to protect her; it all happened so fast. "Well," Karasuma continued, "I suppose I can't ask for more, can I? I'd like to, and I swear, if you hurt my daughter, you'll regret the day you were born." He realized he was beginning to get worked up again and took a deep breath. "Someone told me recently that I wouldn't recognize love even if it were standing right in front of me. Maybe that's true. But only because my heart has belonged entirely to Kit until now. Still, I have this vague feeling that she's given hers to someone else, and I think it's time to let her go." "Those were Irinasensei's words, weren't they?" Karma speculated, barely restraining a grin as he saw the vein on Karasuma's neck pulse noticeably. "That's none of your business! Just take care of my daughter!" "I will." He was serious. He would protect Kit. "Good. Then there's nothing more to say." "Thank you for your trust," Karma added quietly. "You're not making a mistake." "I certainly hope not."
The next morning, Karma spotted Kit from a distance as she approached the school building alongside her father. He stood by the window, staring off into the distance, as she walked beside Karasuma, chatting and laughing."About time," Kayano commented behind him. "Must've been a serious argument between them, but now it looks like they've made up.""Sure does," he agreed."What do you think they argued about, Karmakun?"He turned around, shaking his head. "Don't play innocent. You know exactly what went down.""Maybe, but I want to know how father and daughter are suddenly all smiles again. I'm guessing you had a hand in that, too.""Well." He shrugged noncommittally. "I felt responsible for the whole situation, so I did my part to help smooth things over.""And how did you do that?" Kayano pressed."I can't tell you.""Why not?" she demanded.Karma grinned mischievously. "Because I don't want to start the next argument right away. It's more of a girl thing, and I assume Kit will want to tell you every little detail herself.""I can live with that.""I thought so, Kayanochan."She gave him a playful nudge on the shoulder, then headed toward the entrance.As Karma's gaze drifted around the classroom, it landed on Korosensei, who seemed to be chuckling quietly."Good morning," a voice suddenly whispered in his ear, and from the corner of his eye, he saw Kit standing beside him with a broad smile."Good morning," he replied. "You look like it's an especially good morning.""It is."For a brief moment, he met her gaze, feeling his pulse race. He hadn't yet fully processed what all these recent developments could mean. His head was spinning with questions about the future, questions he would have to face. He felt her hand gently slip into his. When he looked over, Kit was staring out the window."Are you scared?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper."I'm nervous."He held her hand a little tighter, and she intertwined her fingers with his."Take your seats!" Korosensei clapped his tentacles. "We don't have much time until your Christmas party, and there's still a lot to do. But that doesn't mean you can neglect your studies."Karma felt Kit's fingers slip out of his.With a bit of regret, he took his seat and waited longingly for the sound of the bell. It took a lot of willpower to focus on class because, even though he was committed to maintaining his top ranking, his thoughts kept drifting. There she was, sitting at the front with her hair in a ponytail, whispering with Kayano. When she noticed him looking at her, she gave him a shy smile. He could have sworn that, in that moment, time stood still.Finally, the bell rang, and the world resumed. A minute later, Kit was walking beside him out of the building. She shivered, pressing closer to his arm."What did he say to you?" she asked bluntly once they were out of earshot of their classmates."Your father?""Who else?" She raised her eyebrows, her big caramel-colored eyes narrowing. "Come on, tell me.""You look cute when you're annoyed.""Karma!""I won him over with my charm," he said smoothly, putting an arm around her shoulders."Since when are you such a terrible liar?"Kit wrapped her arms around his waist, just as she had after they'd returned from the hospital."Irinasensei told him I was there at the hospital," he said after a moment."Looks like it changed his perspective."Kit was quiet for a long time. Lost in thought, they strolled around the hill where the school was situated. Then Kit seemed to come to a decision."If that's true, I think I owe her a favor.""What are you planning?""Christmas is coming up," she mused dreamily. "It's the season of love."Karma laughed. "Need some help with that, Cupid?"
