Project: Karma

16 | Man Who Challenges Me

<Karma>
Like a staring contest. This was getting nowhere. I really need to get back.

"Looks like I'm late for an appointment." I stretched out my arms. "If you'll excuse me-"

My environmental sensors screamed. Usually when my body is under some sort of threat, the built in detectors can sense them and they send a siren to my brain.
Like red flashing lights.

"Whoa, that can hurt someone you know."
I had caught his fist in my hands and tightened my grip. "Watch who you're punching." I threw his arm in the other direction away from me.

"Tell me. Who are you?" He approached aggressively. "Or I'm going to call the police."

"Don't need to get riled up. I'm just a really good friend of the one who lives here." I assured. "I just ended up staying the night-"

Those red flashing lights erupted again.

"Can we talk normally without you throwing punches?" I had caught his arm this time.

"Yeah, like I believe that." He scornfully replied. "If you're not going to tell the truth than-"

Nagisa's apartment door creaked open and she stood at the entrance.

"Huh? Karma I thought you left already?"

"I was on my way." I spoke.

Then her eyes laid upon the guy in front of me.
"S-Sugino! W-what are you doing?!"

"Nagisa, you know him?" He shoved me aside and shielded her from me.

"Y-yeah..." She nodded her head. "Sugino, let him go now. He needs to leave." Nagisa protested. "I'll explain-"

"There's nothing to explain. Is there?" I questioned.

"Hey, you. Guy with the baseball bat. Yeah- the one who keeps swinging at me. What are you to Nagisa? Shouldn't I take this as a threat? Why are you pestering me?"

"Y-you!"

"Sugino!" Nagisa shouted.

"You're practically just a neighbor aren't you? A friend? I can tell. Close? Possibly." I brought up.

"Why does it matter to you?" He crossed his arms.

"Well. You're this so-called guy who pretends to be brave. Especially in front of her. I can clearly tell Nagisa and you have connections of sorts."

"And?" He looked impatient.

"Well. Close friend of Nagisa's. Presumably more important that me. How come you didn't notice that she was sick for 3 days?"

His eyes widened. "Is that true?" He asked her. Nagisa slightly nodded her head and glanced over at me.

"She couldn't even eat, not move. If you cared enough, wouldn't you have sensed something was up? Talk about biting more that you can chew. Pathetic really."

The cool act he was trying to pull vanquished in seconds. He had no right to degrade me. Especially when he and I are more and less the same.

"K-karma. That's enough." Nagisa discontinued my words by covering my mouth with her hands. "It's best that you go before you get caught."

"I'll see you tomorrow then." I pinched Nagisa's cheek and she blushed instantly.

Before I left entirely. I glared at the man. You better know what this facial expression means.
••••••
<Nagisa>
"S-sorry Sugino. He's not a bad guy." I lowered my head, "other than my dad. He's the only family I have." I lied.

"What is he to you then?"

"My cousin."

I'm pretty sure he knew I was playing with him. The fact that it's obvious that Karma and I didn't even look related. More importantly, he's not human.

"So you've been sick all this time?" Sugino questioned. "And you didn't bother to tell me?"

I looked away.

"I didn't want to burden you."

"Nagisa."

Sugino placed his hand on my cheek and cupped it so gently. His eyes sparkled in lost hope. Lost love.

"You know how I feel. Did you refuse to tell me because you don't care?"

"N-no! That's not it!" I rejected.

"So you're not avoiding me?"

I shook my head.

"I can't say that either. However, I'm scared of what might happen to us. Our relationship as neighbors. As friends." I confessed. "I don't want it to change."

Sugino wore a grim expression and took his baseball bat in his hands and slightly nodded his head. He walked passed me and before he began to descend down the stairs.

He said, "Even if you don't love me now. I'll make you fall head over heels for me. I'm going to take your heart. Eventually, you entirely."
Then he left.

Come on Nagisa. You've never dealt with boys like this before. And now experiencing it first hand, this is more intense than I thought!
However, I know that my existence is the cause of Sugino's heart decaying. I simply can't return his love. I hate myself for knowing that.
••••••••
<Sugino>
I wouldn't have suspected that Nagisa would lie to me. It makes me think that she doesn't want me to get involved. It's passive, but it stings me. My heart is aching. Burning. Rotting.

But seriously. He was in her home. She was casual about it. Like it was normal. For a friend of Nagisa's, they seem to be much more than that.
I don't want to suspect that he's her boyfriend. Or maybe that is the case...and why Nagisa can't return my feelings. He's the one I'm competing with.
••••••
<Nagisa>
When I went back inside. I found myself in front of the mirror. A reflection of my soul. How depressing it was. How selfish I was.

Sugino loved me back in high school. Am I the same from then? If so...what is it that keeps him bound to the past? What makes him see me and trigger it the that love?
My hands shook my when I had the idea. Raising my hand at a slow pace. Combing my fingers through my blue hair. Soft.
I have kept it the same length, if not longer. That was because reconnected me to those high school years. The precious years I surrendered, in order to become a scientist for Karma.

Sadly and truly. It must go. These Rapunzel's stands that reminded me of high school. It also made Sugino suffer. It reminded him too...of how I used to be.
It must go.
I rummaged through the drawers in the bathroom and found a pair of scissors.
The blades glittered beneath the lights.
I took my left hand and pulled my hair away from my head and took the scissors in my right hand.
The sounds of snipping was satisfying. Satisfying because I knew. I was parting and finally leaving the past, I wish I could go back to.

So long, old Nagisa.