Love Is Hard - Karma X Reader

chapter 21

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Y/n's POV)

"This is ridiculous."
Rio muttered through clenched teeth, clearly on the verge of combusting. Her eye twitched as she shot Kayano a look—who, by the way, was blissfully munching on pudding like we weren’t all mentally unspooling here.
“It’s honestly disturbing how that thing controls you,” Rio groaned, flopping down on the couch beside me. She folded her arms, lips jutting out in a sulky pout. “And I was so looking forward to a showdown too…”

Nagisa and I locked eyes with that awkward, guilty look—like two people who just watched a bomb fizzle out instead of explode. We knew exactly where Rio’s mood was coming from.
Unfortunate really, I was looking forward to her rage. Not for any sadistic pleasure, just curiosity.

Because not even five minutes ago? Kayano had been fuming. Like, rage-of-a-thousand-suns fuming. The way she slammed the car door? I’m not joking—it looked like the poor thing might just unhinge itself, bow to her, and ask for forgiveness.
And now? …

Now she was sitting there like nothing ever happened, spooning pudding into her mouth with this look of blissed-out serenity
She looked so at peace—like the storm had just... vanished. Completely unbothered, like she hadn’t been seconds away from launching someone into orbit.

Nagisa stared at her like he couldn’t quite process the switch—his expression a weird mix of affection, regret, and mild whiplash. Like he was trying to figure out if he should apologize for something he probably didn’t even do... or just let her be for now.

Meanwhile, Rio sat stiff beside me with her arms clamped tight across her chest, a scowl still carved into her face looking like she’d just been robbed of a dramatic TV finale

…But none of that really registered. 

My chest felt tight, like someone had stuffed it with cotton. My fingers curled into the fabric of my jeans without me realizing it. Everything around me felt distant, like I was hearing it through water. 

Because none of it mattered. Not after what what i heard. . How could it? 

One thought kept looping in my mind, over and over, like a broken record. 

Karma was sick. 

A fever, apparently. 

That’s what Nagisa said, at least… but *how*? 

He was completely fine yesterday when he left my apartment with them. … What changed overnight?

The more I thought about it, the more it didn’t sit right with me.

But everyone else looked so chill.

Were they just… not worried? Was I the only one spiraling here?

Maybe I was overthinking it. If it was serious, Nagisa would’ve said something, right? He’s not the type to sugarcoat stuff.

My gaze flicked between Rio—still brooding—and Kayano, getting more and more intimate with her pudding. Then finally, my eyes settled on Nagisa

I didn’t mean to blurt it out. But the words kind of slipped before I could catch them.

“How’d he even get sick so suddenly?” I asked, trying to sound casual, but probably failing. “I mean… he looked completely fine yesterday.”

"That’s what I'm wondering too," Rio mused, stretching her arms lazily over her head. "Because last I checked, he had more than enough energy to pummel someone." , she smirked, shooting Nagisa a meaningful look.