Project: Karma

05 | Meeting Karma

<Nagisa>
The next day after school, Mrs. Yukimura offered to drop me off at the facility as she was visiting Koro-Sensei. I guess you could say that it was way better than the trains to commute.

"How's it been going? I understand it can be boring and such." She asked.

"Well, as an advisor I do find it lacking. However, I'm planning to become a scientist as well. So once term ends, I'll sign up for more classes at school that can accommodate with what I'm doing." I explained.

"But isn't just being an advisor enough? Why get your hands dirty?"

"Well, I'm a hands on kind of girl." I giggled,
"babysitting really isn't my thing. I want to be able to experiment and-"

Then I remembered that Mrs. Yukimura was a person that I couldn't blurt senselessly to. Instead, I just said I wanted to be able to do much more than taking notes.

"If you need any help, just ask me." She insisted.

"Thanks." I smiled.
•••••••
Once I made it inside and signed in, I found the bitchy scientist watching Karma at a distance. She was standing besides my desk as Karma was sitting on his bed.

"Ah, Nagisa." She waved, "your boy here is as boring as watching paint dry." She joked.

"What? You've stared at paint for fun?"

Irina clicked her tongue and brushed back her hair.

"Why don't you have fun with Death or something. Always living life on the edge right?" My words acting like a double edge sword to what she had said previously.

"Karma is still the runt of the family, but I believe with my specialties-"

"Specialties? Of recording bullets?" She scoffed.

"If you would stop being a bitch and let me explain." I came back.

"Gosh, he picked up a rather rude advisor."

"Anyways, what I meant is that once I get myself certified and what not, I'll be running the programs for Karma."

"Huh? Is that declaration of war?" Irina grabbed my chin.

"What war is there to declare when Death is obviously the most destructive project." I questioned. "If anything, you're just conceited."

Irina folded her arms and with her tall heels, she excused herself from the department. Wow Nagisa, you've become so insulting lately.

With the usual, I took the journal from my desk and made my way over to Karma. To my surprise, he came over as I had made it to the glass.

"Hello Karma." I gleamed, "same old same old?" I questioned.

Of course, no words projected from him and it was understandable. Though it did feel like I was talking to myself.

It didn't give me much motivation to keep the one sided conversation going. So I headed back to my desk. However, before I could turn fully. Karma's hand was on the glass wall. I could see the lines on his palm, very detailed like ours.

"Karma?" I faced him again and examined his expression, but I couldn't get through what he wanted it wanted to say.

My hand moved on its own accord and I found myself placing my hand on the glass wall as well. If the 8 inch thick glass cage didn't separate our hands, we would be touching.

"Hey, can you actually hear me?" I asked.
Karma opened his mouth but no words had seemed come out.

"My name is Nagisa." I properly introduced. "Nah-gee-sah." I tried to be as helpful as I could.

Karma dropped his hand to his side and I watched him stroll back to his bed. He crawled upon it and sat up straight, again as he stared at the ground.

I thought to myself for awhile, of how far I could take this project into my own hands. First, I would have to prove myself worthy. Honesty, I don't know if I have the confidence, but I know for a fact that Karma has the potential, I want to bring him to the top.
••••••
And so with the limited time I had to secure, I made sure that I spent my days wisely. In order to achieve what I want, I must be committed. Completely.

Weeks after weeks of taking classes outside of the school and some at the facility after working hours, I've enhanced my knowledge greatly. I even took it upon myself to read all the documents regarding Karma's history and what his old advisors commented.
Maybe my diligence had blinded me on this journey but I couldn't help but feel needed.

However, my school and social life started to slip when I became more immersed. I skipped out during vacations and relied on online classes recommended by Koro-sensei when I started to fall behind in school.

Soon I participated in labs with Koro-sensei and his subjects.
For me, time was withering as I went and I'm pretty sure that weeks turned into months and then the months turned into two years.

All I could say is that it was time consuming and stressful. Even my mom questioned my motivation for all of this. From late night studies to balancing school with my other opened hours.
Practically, sleep was an opportunity rather than an essential thing for me.
•••••
"Nagisa, wake up."

I was shaken awake by Kaede who had braided my hair as I slept.

"What did I miss?" I asked rubbing my eyes.

"Lunch. Now hurry up, the bell is about to ring in couple of minutes." She propped me up straight and shoved a sandwich into my hands.

"What? Late nights?" Rio raised a brow. Even the others were intrigued by my sluggish energy.

"Yeah." I yawned, "it'll be over soon." I assured.

"You've been hitting the books ever since you've gotten that job two years ago. You've practically wasted your high school life and we're graduating soon." Rio sighed in disbelief. "You're something else."

"Hey, ease up. Nagisa just wants to make sure after graduation, she'll be able to support herself. She's going to be a scientist."

"I'm not doubting that she won't be. But the fact that you're ruining yourself over this." Rio looked me dead in the eye. "Are you enjoying it?"

I unwrapped the sandwich from the film and took a few bites before replying. The answer was quite obvious, even for them if they really figured it out by now.

"Yes, I enjoy it a lot!" I gleamed.

Rio sighed and patted my head and Kaede of course was content with my answer.

It'll all be worth it. I am doing it for my pride after all, even for Karma.