Project: Karma

42 | Erased

Project Karma
Serial Code: 735
Name: Karma Akabane
Alterations: 167
Errors currently: 5
Request for reprogramming: permission granted.

Processing time left: 8 hours

Status: Rebooting and cleaning up programs. Deleting 3 alterations. Erasing current memory card.
25% processing.

Processing time left: 6 hours

57% processing. 78% processing

Processing time left: 20 min
98% processing...100% completion.

Status: Reboot and clean up 100% Erased memory card 100%
Errors currently: 2
•••••••
<Koro-sensei>
I didn't dare to walk into the laboratory while they had began to reboot Karma. I saw Nagisa on her knees, the lonely back of hers. I didn't know whether I saw a face that suffered, or a face that was relieved.

"Do you think she'll make it?" Irina asked.

"The human brain is a special thing, we can predict what will become of her but, it might not be accurate." I explained.

"Do you regret ratting her out?"

I turned over and had to think about how to answer her question. I shook my head with a sigh.

"I'm guilty of submerging her in evident pain and sorrow however, it's for her own good. She'll know why I did this for her when the time comes. If anything I'm worried about here." I rubbed my stomach.

"Don't tell me you-." She gasped, "you're crazy! Your motives are always unreadable. Don't you fear that she'll misunderstand it all and hate you forever?" Irina crossed her arms.

I tapped my head.

"You see, the mind has its way to know. Eventually at least. If Nagisa misinterprets my goal, then that means she doesn't have the capacity to understand her affection towards Karma. It's just pretend love."

"Your years of being a psychology professor really paid off huh?" Irina laughed. "If only we were able to see the world you did. How much easier it could be."

I started walking back to the Project Death department. Irina who followed behind me.

"You're lucky humans, being able not see the world through my eyes. How free they must be, I envy it."
•••••
<Shizuka>
We both gazed at the Karma we once knew. The scientists from the MD packed up their things and left in no time. The lab was empty. It was just the two of us now. Like it had been in the beginning however, one of us is now broken. It won't be the same anymore.

Nagisa gave air, like her heart had been hollowed out. She didn't look like she could cope with Karma losing his memories normally. Was it bad to suggest her to leave?

"Nagisa." I helped her back up. "Nagisa, look at me please." She raised her head and held eye contact with me.

The love in her eyes had vanished. I swallowed back and choked on the words I was about to convey to her.

"I think it's best that you leave for now. Take a break from Project Karma." I insisted. "You need the time to deal with this, I know and you know, that it's the best option."

Nagisa hung her head. She knew I was right. Nagisa opened her mouth to say something but, she didn't and instead held my lab coat sleeve.

"Alright." She agreed.

"Take as much time off as you want. Whenever you're ready to come back, I'll be waiting for you." I wrapped my arms around her. I really never thought about it before as much but, I knew Nagisa was a sister to me. I mustn't drag her down, I have to support her.
••••••
<Sugino>
The coach let us off 2 hours early because of the heavy rain that was approaching very soon. My teammates began to pack up equipment and made sure to lock the bags into the baseball shack.

"We're heading to get dinner, wanna come?" My senior who was a year older draped his arm around my shoulder. "The others are coming too."

"Nah, I'm going to head some. Get some rest." I refused his offer, "sorry guys, go on without me." I apologized.

"Sleeping beauty." My other friends started laughing. "That's what you do when you aren't playing baseball."

"Make sure to watch your health." My managers came up to me.

"Of course." I bowed my head to him.
•••••
Ah...great
The moment I arrived to my stop from the train station. The rain was already showering. Tsk, I thought I would make it back in time. Should I gun it, or should I wait till it clears up?
I decided to wait under the roof of the train station entrance. Watching the multifarious umbrella tops twirling in the streets. The rain pattering loudly on the concrete.

"I wonder when this will let up." I sighed as I glanced over my watch. "I need to take a shower-"

Something sparked my interest suddenly, like a zombie in the pouring rain. She must of been crazy, that woman walking without a jacket nor an umbrella to begin with. Wait, that's Nagisa! I bolted out and tried to reach her. The rain streaming down her clothes and her soaked hair.

"Nagisa!" I called her as I turned her around. "What are you doing? You need to cover up-"

The window to her soul was lacking presence of light. She didn't look well, nor did she have the energy to notice me.

"A-are you alright?" I shook her.

Spontaneously, rain had even rivered down her cheeks. The loud showers had cancelled out the cries in her voice. The suffering.

"Nagisa? Are you hurt?-"

"He's gone!" She exclaimed, holding her hands up to her face. "He's gone..!"

"Who?" I questioned and shook her more.

Nagisa turned around and started walking again. Her mindset was no longer present. Her emotions had taken root and now that's the only thing she relies on.

"Nagisa!" I grabbed her arm.

"Why is the world so cruel? Why can't God be generous enough to make us happy?" She wailed out.

"Nagisa! Look at me!" I shouted. "Look at me, get ahold of yourself! I don't know what you're saying!-"

Nagisa's eyes punctured my heart beat and froze it in an instant. I never seen such a despondent side of hers. Not to this level.

"Why..." She sobbed out and fell on her knees and started to bang her tight fist into the concrete ground.

"You'll hurt yourself!" I knelt down and held both her hands, so that she wouldn't harm herself anymore. The abrasion on the flesh of her palm. The blood spurring from the skin.

She laid her forehead onto my chest. I've never seen her grieve so depressingly, it's not right.

"I love him, I love him..." Her voice began to trail off, even her eyes. She had passed out in my arms.

I raised her up as I took off my coat and covered her. Her touch had become quite cold and her lips had become tinted blue. I carried her back to the apartment. My apartment.
Nagisa mentioned him. Does that mean he's gone?