Twinning Jealousy

Chapter 6: Late Night Feelings

Okuda's POV:

It's now Wednesday, March 2nd, three days ever since Nagisa and I made up and agreed to not speak about what happened on Friday. It was also two days since Karma had called and told me that he had some time off that night. He also told me that he wanted to spend his free night with me at some fancy restaurant. To be honest, I would be just fine being with just Karma, but I respect his choice. It has been a while since we have done something like this and I appreciate his slight dedication to our relationship. I am now waiting at my place to be picked up by Karma. I was just wearing a simple, soft dark green turtleneck sweater with a black skirt. To add on, I wore a small jacket since it's still chilly around this time. I didn't do anything special with my hair as I kept it as a side braid. I was debating whether to put contacts in tonight, but I decided to just keep my glasses. I then looked at the clock, waiting for Karma's arrival.

It was 6:30 p.m..

I gave a quick sad sigh. The time reminds me of how Karma and I got together.

//Flashback//

It is the month of August. We are in my lab. It's 6:38 pm. Takebayshi had left early that day to celebrate Muramastu's birthday at his ramen shop with the other members of the Teraska gang. The reason why Karma is here is that he had finished all of his work early and decided to spend the rest of his day with me. I'm just cleaning and fixing my work area for the night before I leave home.

"Hey Okuda," Karma addressed me as I was handling some empty flasks and vials.

"Y-yeah, yes Karma," I answered right away.

"Do you enjoy my company," he asked as he spun in a chair, sipping on a carton of strawberry milk. I flinched a bit at his question.

"Of course I do, you're my friend," I smiled at him as I said that, "I feel like I can be comfortable with you and I can say anything confidently to you." I looked at his expression and he seemed a bit surprised.

"Really?"

"Of course! I felt like that ever since junior high, remember." I continued cleaning my workspace as I tried to explain my reasoning, "I was able to talk to you about anything chemistry-related and you wouldn't mind."

"Yeah, chemistry was basically your life," I heard Karma comment on my obvious love of chemistry back in junior high. I turned quickly towards him to see his smug and smiling face.

"Hey! Chemistry was the only thing that I was confident in and Koro-Sensei made me realize that developing my communications skills were also important in a job like a chemist.," I tried to defend my chemistry obsession.

"True, and you did become a wonderful researcher, Okuda," Karma said with a proud smile. I felt a slight brush cross my face.

"T-thank you, Karma," I said shakily. "You're also a wonderful bureaucrat, Karma."

"Why thank you, Okuda," Karma said as he spun around in his chair again as I continued cleaning. After a few spins he stopped and looked at the ceiling. "Hey Okuda."

"Huh, yes Karma," I responded quickly as I dried off the beakers and flasks.

"You would always be on my side right," he said plainly. I was a bit shocked when he asked me. I wasn't used to this Karma. He seemed vulnerable.

"O-of course I would! I know how hard you work and how you do things out of goodness," I replied with a reassuring smile. Karma continued to look at the ceiling with his straw still in his mouth.