Here to Stay

A day full of fun and awkward encounters

Chapter - 4

A day full of fun and awkward Encounters

Nagisa smiles when he sees the famous Cake shop on his way to Kayano's. Knowing the love for sweets that both Karma and Kayano share, Nagisa does not hesitate to buy one. As he enters the shop, he is graced with the sweet and heavenly aromas of freshly baked bakery. He heads over to the display and finds himself in a dilemma. The strawberry one? Or the tooty-frooty? Or the black forest? Or the Chocolate?

"Oh God. What have I gotten myself into?" he groans to himself.

…

Karma softly whistles, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. A part of him is hardly able to hold the excitement of meeting the closest people to him together and spending time with them for a few hours. He turns around the corner when someone almost bumps in him. Though he sidesteps the person quite easily.

But he immediately recognizes the panting guy in front of him. His brows shot up in surprise, "Sugino?"

Hearing the familiar voice Sugino's head lashes up, "Karma? Long-time no see, huh?" he grins brightly.

Karma smiles a smile which leaned towards a genuine side. He had always liked the guy. In Karma's eyes, Sugino was a kind person. The boy despite having immense talent and athletic potential never boasted about it. He was a simple person. No hidden agendas, no sly motives, just a plain honest drive to win. And Karma being Karma liked to stay in the company of simple people.

"Yes, good to see you, buddy." Karma replied smiling.

But then Sugino straightened up and looked around, "Have you seen Nagisa, yet? He told me he was just here."

Karma tilted his head to a side, "Nope. I have yet to meet him." Just as the words left his mouth, they heard a familiarly distinctive voice calling them out.

"Karma! Sugino! Wait up for me!"

Nagisa was at the other side of the road, clutching a large paper bag to his chest with one arm. As soon as the traffic lights flickered and changed shades Nagisa caught up to them.

"Hey, you two." He was slightly out of breath.

"What's that?" Karma moved forward to grab the bag in Nagisa's arms, but the little blue boy moved away swiftly.

"Not telling you!" Nagisa yells out, his stance slightly defensive.

Karma grins devilishly before attempting again but the buzz of the phone stops him in the tracks. The screen displays 'Okuda-san' in bold letters. He taps the call icon to accept.

"Karma-kun?"

"No, this is Akabane's kidnapper speaking." He smirks wide, replying in a nonchalant way.

Both Nagisa and Sugino look at him with stupefied horror. There is some silence on the other end of the line. Before he hears her dead-panned voice, "That was a stupid joke Karma-kun."

He laughs at her response but then hears her ask, "Are Sugino-kun and Nagisa-kun there with you?"

He gives a side glance to the mentioned people and gives her an affirmative reply.

"When will you all reach here? Kayano-chan's being on edge currently."

"We're on our way. Be there in a few minutes, okay?" his voice softens, he hears the distinctive click of end call and removes the little device from his ear.