Assassination Class: Deadly Duo

09 | Colorless

<Sarumi>
The following day before I headed to school, I drove over to Kagi's house to explain everything. Well, if she was willing to hear my side of the story in the first place. Of course, she'll be passive aggressive like always about the whole ordeal.

"She left already." Uncle said. "Something about meeting with someone." He shrugged.

"Someone?" I questioned as if I could guess who it was. Perhaps it's Nana and if I'm lucky I can kill two birds with one stone. I need to have a talk with her about what happened because she ignored the problem during the mission.

"Thanks, I'll be going now." I said bye to Uncle but before I left, he stopped me.

"People can lie as if it's like breathing for them. Don't worry too much about it, I heard about what happened and I know you're not that type of person." He smiled and threw something in the air.
I caught it and noticed it was Kagi's uniform tie.
"She's so forgetful when she's mad."

"T-thanks. Bye now."

When I looked back to wave once more, I noticed how lonely Uncle looked. Karma stood partnerless, his lover no where in sight. The anchor of the family that had kept the family stable was gone as of right now.

I really want to see Kagi now.
•••••
<Kagi>
I thought I could avoid Nana and Sarumi but to think that Nana would want to discuss about teams and missions with me. A girl like her really needs a smack to the face.

In her hands, she had her phone on and kept looking at it every second I exchanged glances with her. Like she was waiting.

"What do you want Nana?" I asked while taking out my notes for class.

"Sarumi." She bluntly said, "I'd like it if you broke off your partnership. If things continue like this, you'll become a hindrance to Sarumi."

"How do you know if I'm hindering him?" I crossed my arms and glared at her.

"Think and use your brain Akabane. If you were to be in danger, Sarumi leads and with all efforts would save you." Nana said, "what does that do to Sarumi? He has to stop with the plans just to save you."

"Any partner would save their own." I confronted her, "if you and him were partners he would save you if you were in danger." I pointed out.

"You and I are different." Nana walked closer, "I wouldn't get myself into trouble unlike some people." She whispered sharply.

I glared at her and she sighed.

"Ask yourself. How many close calls have you had? And then think how it happen." Nana giggled, "makes sense huh? You may be the prodigy of our class but you're not special."

Even though I didn't want to admit it, it was true for the most part. Sarumi is always worrying about my wellbeing when I do something risky. What if I am a burden to him?

"I have no intention of giving him up to you." I battled with her words and she raised a questionable brow.

"Isn't it selfish to keep him all to yourself? You know with him working with others, he'll learn to be compatible with other skills and kinds of situations." Nana explained. "Besides, didn't Sarumi abandoned you yesterday? That mission of yours, he left to carry out an assassination with me." Nana's words stung and I almost let her have her way.

I want to believe in Sarumi, I want to hear it from him and not her. Even if it is true and he hates me now, I want him to say it to my face.

"You're so persistent."

We turned towards the voice and a few other students took notice. However, they were quick to turn away and proceed with their own conversations.
Sarumi walked into the classroom with his blazer in his hands, my tie slipping out of the pocket.
I glanced up at him and he kept his glare at Nana.

"I wonder how you were able to change my schedule like that." Sarumi confronted her.

"You still worked with me either way didn't you? You could of left with Akabane in the end and break protocol." Nana tilted her head. As if she had a reason to make me lose Sarumi. "But you decided to stick to the rules, that's the person you are evidently." She pointed out.

Sarumi stood silent and I could understand not being able to say anything back to counter. He is that kind of man after all. In any case, he would of been penalized for not attending the mission.

"Nana," I called to get her attention, "why are you so fixated on Sarumi. Aren't there other assassins that are more skilled?"

Nana sighed and darted her eyes at me, "a girl like you wouldn't understand. It's a waste that-"

"Do you love him?" I interrupted her.

Sarumi's head turned and Nana's expression changed abruptly from evil nonchalantness to conflicted anger of sorts. Embarrassment?

"T-that's nonsense!" She shouted at me.

"You think that a person like me has no reason to work with Sarumi. How dare I have him all to myself, right?" I exposed her, "unlike me Nana, your reason is pitiful. You've been caught in his web."

Sarumi stayed silent the entire time and I got up from my seat, walking over to Nana who was furious.

"Another thing..." I patted her shoulders, "crossing paths with me, you're looking for some kind of death wish aren't you?" I slightly giggled, "I am a prodigy for a reason."

It wasn't long before Nana left after losing the battle she thought was in her favor. Sarumi scratched his head and looked at me with an apologetic expression.

I hate seeing this side of him. It's because I'm the one who makes him look so hopeless.

"Kagi, I'm sorry that-."

"There's no need to explain yourself. I knew that Nana was behind all of this when she stated her jealously. Just tell me that I looked cool." I joked, nudging his arm.

Sarumi chuckled, "the coolest."
Sarumi handed over my tie and patted my head, "you left this at home."

"Thanks." I took it.

<Sarumi>
I watched as Kagi popped her collar and tied the tie around her neck. Taking her time, she finally finished and fixed the crease of the collar. Though, it wasn't fully neat nor presentable.

"Here." I helped her finish off and she flinched slightly.

"Stop treating me like a child." Kagi playfully pushed me away. "Hurry and get to your class, the bell is going to ring soon." Kagi slightly shoved me away from her desk. Though, when she did, she held her arm and made a painful expression.

"Did you hurt yourself?" I wondered, reaching for her but she inched back with caution.

"How did it happen?" I asked. "was it during the mission?"

"Tsk. Mind your own business." Kagi snapped.

"You know that I can't." I said back.

"I'm fine. Just a graze." Kagi waved her arm. "Go to class already." She said as more students started entering the classroom.

"You have to stop being careless. What? Did you just stand there?" I raised my voice.

"I'm not dead." Kagi barked back and even the teacher raised his head from her sudden loudness.

I turned around and bowed my head,
"sorry for distrusting the class, I'll be leaving soon." When I shifted towards her, she sat down ignoring me.

She looked up with her iced blue eyes, frigidly caustic and spoke.

"I may be a child to you, but I am not weak."