Love Is Hard - Karma X Reader

Chapter 19.1

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(Karma's POV)

"You ruined everything!" Kayano snapped, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

We had been walking in silence since leaving Y/N's place, and I could feel the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. Even the receptionist at the apartment complex had given us a curious glance. But I couldn't care less.

I shut my eyes for a moment, clenching my jaw as another sharp throb pulsed through my skull. My fingers pressed against my temple, trying in vain to ease the pain. **Why does this keep happening?** Every damn time Y/N's voice rises, it's like someone's jamming a knife into my brain and twisting it.

"I know, right? Why did you have to shit-talk like that?" Rio muttered, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, that's right. Keep blaming me. It's totally not like shit didn't hit the fan the second you idiots barged in like a bunch of stray dogs chasing a bone." I hissed through clenched teeth, barely reining in my irritation. Initially, I planned to ignore their jabs, but damn it-I already knew I messed up. No need to rub salt in the wound.

I exhaled sharply but kept my mouth shut. No way in hell was I admitting anything out loud.

Kayano and Rio huffed and exchanged a knowing look before stepping ahead, wisely putting some distance between us. **Smart move.** I wasn't in the mood to argue.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Nagisa watching me, his expression too damn perceptive for my liking. His lips parted like he was about to say something, but I wasn't about to let him start analyzing me.

"So, Okuda, how's that project coming along?" I cut in smoothly, throwing her a smirk.

What I needed was a distraction- anything to pull me out of this spiral. This whole thing with Y/N... it's getting worse. This feeling of knowing her, of remembering something just out of reach-it's clawing at me. And after what happened earlier, it feels like I'm finally about to grasp it. Whatever the hell *it* is.

I waited for Okuda's response. And waited.

"Okuda?"

"Yes!" she gasped, as if snapping out of a daze. "Sorry, I spaced out." She forced a polite smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

I frowned. Something's off. Her posture was stiff, her hands wringing together in front of her. Even the way she glanced at me felt hesitant.

"Did you need something, Karma?"

I hesitated. Something in my gut told me to ask what was wrong, but instead, I shook my head. "Forget it. It's nothing."

I considered telling her not to overthink Y/N's outburst earlier, but before I could, she spoke first.

"I'm just really worried about Y/N."

Yeah, no shit. The moment she said it, my body tensed. My hands curled into fists inside my pockets, but I forced myself to keep my expression neutral.

"I think she's going through something," Okuda continued, hesitating as if unsure whether to say more. But after a brief pause, she quietly added, "I think... I think her life is in danger."

My blood ran cold.

"What?" The word ripped out of me before I could stop it.

Nagisa and Okuda flinched, and I immediately tried to reel myself in, but **too late**-Nagisa's hand was already on my shoulder.

"Karma," he said firmly, his voice steady but cautious. "I know you're mad, but I'm afraid Okuda's speculation isn't completely off the mark."

My heart slammed against my ribs before picking up an erratic pace.

I wasn't just **mad**-I was pissed now.

I stopped walking, roughly shaking off Nagisa's hand, and turned on him. Before I knew it, my fingers had a fistful of his collar yanking him closer.

"If you're trying to be funny, Nagisa, then think again." I growled, my voice dangerously low.

From the edge of my vision, I caught movement-Rio and Kayano shifting into defensive stances, prepared to intervene. I could hear Okuda's alarmed voice somewhere in the background, but I tuned it out. My grip on Nagisa's shirt tightened, my fingers trembling with the force of it.

But Nagisa didn't even flinch.

His expression remained calm-**too calm.** His blue eyes burned into mine, unwavering, unreadable, like I was the one blowing it all out of proportion.

"You know I'm right, Karma," he said evenly. "Stop lying to yourself and move forward. We need to figure out how to help her."

I clenched my jaw so hard I swore I could hear my teeth grinding. My pulse was a roar in my ears, and for a second, I debated throwing a punch. But after a long, tense beat, I sucked in a sharp breath and shoved him back, releasing my grip.

Nagisa barely stumbled, just adjusted his collar and kept looking at me.

Damn it.

He was right. And that pissed me off even more.

Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I turned around , catching the small team of girls letting out a sigh in relief and relaxing into standing positions.

"Something wrong?" I asked innocently, raising an eyebrow at them. As if I hadn't just been five seconds away from beating Nagisa into a bloody pulp.

"What? We were being cautious," Rio said, crossing her arms. "You looked like you were about to commit murder."

Kayano, meanwhile, had taken her rightful place glued to Nagisa's side, fussing over him. She was patting him down, checking for injuries, but then-her hand landed **somewhere.**

Nagisa turned bright red.

A pause.

And-was that a **moan?**

"God, you guys! Get a room!" Okuda squeaked, her face nearly matching her red ribbon.

Rio and I burst into wicked grins, exchanging glances and wipping out our phones, clicking and collecting 'material'

Despite the dark cloud over our heads, the tension in the air lightened considerably. Maybe it was a small thing, but it helped. Afterward, we focused on strategizing-figuring out the best way to get Y/N to talk, considering how today's interaction had utterly crashed and burned.

When we reached the intersection, we parted ways, each heading off in pairs - Rio and kayano & okuda and nagisa.

Fitting really.

And then, Finally, I was alone.

The night air was cool against my heated skin, but it did nothing to settle the unease crawling beneath it. The sound of crickets and the occasional passing car filled the silence. But my thoughts and the ringing in my head was too loud.

I raked a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.

Then-pain.

Sharp, brutal, clawing at the inside of my skull. Like all the nerves in my brain came to life and were crawling around.

I stumbled, catching myself against a nearby lamp post as my vision blurred.

Fuck.

I gritted my teeth, **clutching my head**, fingers digging into my scalp as if I could physically rip the pain out.

I could feel it. That familiarity again. That missing piece.

I was so damn close.

But it still refused to surface.

"Y/N," I muttered under my breath.

**Who the hell are you?**

And why does it feel like I already know you?

~~~~~to be continued~~~~~