Project: Karma

22 | Lovely Nagisa

<Nagisa>
"W-what?" I shook my head. "I can't."

"Nagisa what are you talking about? Take this opportunity with him and be happy. Instead of lodging yourself deep into work." Kaede said. "You need time for yourself too."

Where was this suddenly coming from?

"Kaede, please understand that I don't have any feelings for him. I can't force myself into a relationship that is one sided."

Kaede seemed like she was going to burst into tears. However, she managed to contain it.

"Nagisa. You don't understand how it feels when you turn away from the only person that loves you. We all look for love, but when we reject the ones who choose to love us, why do we insist on finding other love?"

She placed her hands on my arm and squeezed it hard.

"Please don't make a mistake you'll regret."

Even if Kaede was right. I couldn't accept it entirely. My love doesn't grow from pity. Love is genuine and I can't find myself loving Sugino in that romantic way.

"Kaede-"

"It's fine, Nagisa." Kaede slightly smiled but it faded not long after. "I said too much didn't I? Well, I have to get home and start unpacking."

She waved and began walking in the direction she had come from before. Not too far ahead, she turned around.

"At least I'm kind of happy with your choice."

And this time, this smile of hers wasn't masked by her emotions. The pure and innocent one of them all.
I'm sorry Kaede. Even I am hurting you.
••••••••
You could say that I dragged my gloomy weight back to the official first day back from vacation.
With the meeting in the morning to work in the afternoon. I wasn't complaining.
All I wanted was to see Karma back.

"Yo, Nagisa." Koro-sensei walked by with other scientists at his side. "I'll be expecting the same work as usual? Maybe even better?"

"Of course!" I bowed my head. "It's good to be back."

"Alright alright. Oh, Karma was shipped in this morning. He's here." Koro-sensei pointed down the hall, in the direction of my department.

I relished in the moment and nodded my head.
Karma's back! I can finally see him after these five long months apart.

I scanned my card and right away. My eyes had caught him right before he was led back into the dome by Shi.

"Karma!"

He turned around and he looked well. Maybe greater than he was before. I could feel it. Shi moved aside and sighed, smirking.
My arms wrapped around him, like a ribbons to a gift. I tried to collected all that I had missed from him. This is real.
I grew more inane when Karma had lovingly hugged me back.

"Nagisa, how's it going?" He asked.

"Good. I'm fine. Now that you're back at least." I spoke in relief. "D-did you get taller?"

He nodded his head and laughed.

"Long story short. Some of the specialist at the MD added a few inches on me." Then he grabbed my waist in closer to him.

"I missed you." Karma planted a kiss on my forehead and I drew back a little. Startled from that, but I didn't hate it.