(Karma's P.O.V.)
I wonder what they might be talking about. And why is she cooperating so much? I mean she looked so nervous back then, which is understandable as we are all strangers to her after all. But it seems weird how she is willing to just to talk with a BOY who she barely met, almost alone.
…..ughhh !! Or maybe I'm just thinking too much….
Anyways, it turned out that she was new around here and didn't know the way to her place. Although we escorted her there, it made us all question...if she didn't know her way around, how did she manage to get into the forest so deep, which is an off limits property nonetheless. Even a normal lost person would ask for directions in a walking street...not a forest. I mean that's a common logic.
…..still i wonder….what did Nagisa and that girl talk about back there…..
…
"Fucking hell it hurts!", I grunted in pain. What the hell did she do that for?
"Kar…ma? Oh my god karma i am so sorry! Are you ok?", She asked, apology clear in her tone but I was having none of it 'cause afterall, DAMN it hurt!.
"What's your problem huh?". She stepped back a bit due to my sudden outburst, "i didn't know it was you and-i am sorry!" She quietly lowered her head.
"it's fine i guess", i sighed standing up, "so anyways, what are you doing out here?" . And on Q she flinched.
Hmm, this is interesting. I crossed my arms in front of me and leaned in a little with a smirk, "and as you are new here and don't know the area that well, you shouldn't roam around this far from your complex eh?".
"Uh well! You see I was thinking of having a look around and know my surroundings well and um…yeah!", She said with fluster. Either she is. A Bad liar or a really bad explainer because she is totally awkward.
"Hmm…so correct me if i am wrong but you are lost, aren't you ?"
"Huh? What makes you think that, I perfectly know where i am of course.? Ha ha …yes i am lost"
I couldn't help but smile. Man, I can't believe someone could be this awkward.
….
After a quiet walk to her complex, I was about to walk away as there was nothing else to do but to my relief she stopped me.
"Hey karma? I still feel pretty bad about what i did you so..", she started and i looked at her tilting my head, "i um…how about dinner? At my place. As an apology."
Ok well, that wasn't what i expected but this would work too i guess, "well as i was gonna resort to a take out for dinner anyways, might as well take up on that offer".
For some reason her eyes lit up with what seemed like joy and was that blush?
"Great, then come on in!"
….
It wasn't a Japanese dish but it was so damn tasty and not to mention spicy. Putting the spoon down I asked with a raised eyebrow, "the dinner was great and all, but did you know I like spicy food?"
"Wha- how would I know that! And thankyou for the compliment. but no I definitely didn't know that, i mean don't be silly!"
I was just kidding, but now I think she did know about it…but how?
"Umm..just curious", she said, grabbing my attention, "why did you ask that, i mean that question didn't make any sense."
"Duh because I am suspicious of you obviously". I jabbed and her stunned reaction was priceless. "You say that you got in the forest hill accidently but frankly it's close to impossible for someone to trespass without the owner noticing."
She looked confused for a second before a knowing look covered it. So I assume she knows about it being private property. "So tell me.." I leaned forward with my one arm resting on the table and the other propped up, resting my face in my hand, "what's the story here and what's with you and Nagisa?"
She looked lost, "what about him?, She asked quizzically. This made me a little annoyed. Why the hell is she lying? I can't stand liars.
"Don't play dumb, I saw that little exchange between you and him at the campfire and later when we were leaving.". I guess she sensed my discomfort and sighed. "Well he seemed like someone I could ask for help. I wasn't ready for any sort of interrogation session. And about the small exchange on the way back, he was just conserved about my well being that's all-"
"Liar", I commented with a bored expression.
She scowled but before she could retort the doorbell rang, interrupting our little benter.
I glanced at my watch, it was 11pm, wow it has surprisingly gotten so late but more importantly who could be at the door this late. I shifted my eyes to her who was staring at the wall clock hanging near the door.
"Were you expecting someone?", She looked at me and shook her head, "no"
The doorbell rang again. "Guess I should answer it", stating that she stood up and walked to the door. She softly rested her hand on the doorknob. I could tell she was nervous and I will admit, I kinda was nervous myself.
When she finally opened the door, "jeez finally!" A voice echoed from the silent apartment and I knew exactly who it was.
…
"Huh? Rio? What are you do-?"
"Yeah yeah...wait what the hell are you doing here!?", Rio practically screeched at me and j winced. Ignoring- …that girl? Hold on, what's her name? Jeez, since when I've become so careless. I sighed and lazily slumped back into the seat.
"Ummm..? Hello..?", that girl…jeez i need a name! How long will I refer to her like that. Ughh what a pain.
Well 'that girl' tried to get her attention but by then she was already onto my collar, shaking and yelling at me.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN A GIRL'S APARTMENT THIS LATE AT NIGHT!! You scumbag!! I swear if you tried something funny-"
"I assure you I didn't. For god's sake i am not a fucking hook up trill and what's up with you girls since yesterday. Get off of my back, and you from my collar, wouldya?
…
After a few more minutes of yelling, explaining and calming down. Finally Rio explained her unexpected visit.
"Well...i was hoping to talk this out with ONLY you but… *sigh* guess it won't hurt if he knows too…*.
She gestured to 'the girl' to sit down in front of her across the table and as the table was kinda small for two people to sit in front of someone, that made me and her sit really close. And when I saw a pink hew on her cheeks tickled my sadistic side that's why I could help but brush my knee against hers once or twice which in turn made her blush worse.
"Oh before you start your rambling miss fake blondy" , Rio's eye twitched and I smirked. "I was hoping for this lady over here to bless us by telling her name".
Her eyes widened, "oh j am so sorry! My name is y/n, y/n l/n. I am really sorry, it just slept my mind to tell you guys"
"It's ok, No harm done", Rio smiled at her.
"So miss fallen detective , what are your findings' ', I teased, trying to tick her off. To my boredom she just sighed and started with her talk.
"Y/n.."
"...Yes*
"Are you perhaps somehow immune to poisons...even the deadly ones?"
"Huh…."Her question left y/n dumbfounded. What was she saying? Why was she asking that?
Y/n tried to think for a bit before shaking her head mumbling "no?" with a frown on her face.
Rio hummed.
I felt a little left out and instructed, "just get to the point already Rio…"
She sighed, "in the forest where we first met you, and karma pulled a prank on you and you fainted…"
Now this was getting somewhere…. She nodded and Rio continued. "Did you feel anything? Like...before you passed out"
Now I too was looking at her. She frowned and thought before something clicked in her, "yes! I felt some kind of sharp pain at the side of my neck.*
"Wait isn't that where…", I mumbled with uncertainty.
She looked at both of us, slight panic overtaking her features. "Would you guys please tell me what is going on and what do you know?"
Rio looked hesitant before opening her mouth to say something but got cut off by my actions before words. I mean someone needs to keep things light, it was getting too serious.
I lazily draped an arm around y/n's shoulders and while doing so, came really close to her face. I heard her breath hitched where Rio mumbled some inaudible things in annoyance.
"So miss clueless here, long story short, 'someone' tried to physically harm you by hitting you with a kind of stun dar-"
"Are you done? Thank you. So we found a needle stuck at the place where you felt pain and apparently it had 'poison' on it", Rio said.
"Whatever she might be immune to some lowly poison, big deal. Why are you making a fuss?", I commented, my hold getting a little more firm.
"No you idiot! This is a big deal because the chemical stuck on the needle was- it was.. 'cyanide'!!"
Now THAT made both of mine and y/n's eyes go wide and mouth drop open.
I guess the shock was too much for her as she quickly got out of my grasp which I just realised and stood up nearly shouting, "WAIT WHAT!? 'THAT' !? WHAT THE FUCK!!?"
"Calm down, I am confused too...but the most shocking thing is that the needle was in your flesh deep enough to get in contact with your blood tissues. Surprisingly, that deadly chemical was just able to merely make you unconscious. You can call it a good thing as you are still alive after that…"
"And kicking", i grumbled which made her let out a nervous chuckle. Rio looked at us weird but shrugged it off.
"But anyways, how did you find out about the chemicals and stuff?", I asked, getting serious. Rio told us about okuda's assistance she took and continued, "i was going to tell her about you but as i said earlier, something in my gut was telling me not to. And it looks like others feel the same…"
"Why would you say that…?"
"Well...when I was in the park with okuda, an hour or so earlier. I was gonna tell her when i received a conference call from Nagisa and Kayano, advising me to not discuss this matter with anyone yet"
I hummed, holding my chin in a thinking way, while Rio continued, "I've already told them about the needle"
"What about kanzaki and sugino? They were also there with us, didn't you tell them too?", Karma asked to which she replied with all seriousness, '' I think, the less people know about this the better….for now. Besides, they seem to be not giving this situation much thought, maybe they didn't notice the strangeness."
"Hmm i see, alright then...looks like we all five are into this for now huh. Not bad~". For some reason, glancing at her I smirked while saying that. She blushed and stood there,switching her eyes between both of us as the conversation went.
…
After a few more minutes of back and forth between me and Rio, we finally took a breather and sighed.
"So….am i...gonna die..? Or something?...", Y/n mumbled in a very timid voice.
"Uhh...i don't know-". "Of Course not! You ARE alive aren't ya?", I quickly cut Rio off. That…comforted me in a way and the fact that it came from me.
I don't know why I said that, but when she smiled and thanked me for saying that, I couldn't help but inversely smile.
Rio just deadpanned.
"So, well looks like we should leave now, it's past midnight already and tomorrow we have college too"
So after all that good night and take care crap we went our separate ways and yet, i wasn't able to get the answer of my question earlier and after all the pain i went through.
….man that sucks….