After about half an hour, the person I had been waiting for finally arrived.
"Yo," I greeted with a smile, raising my arm.
"What are you doing here?" she questioned immediately, narrowing her eyes.
"What? Can't I come say goodbye to one of my dearest senpais?"
She moved her head from left to right and allowed her backpack to fall to the floor next to her baggage. She took a step closer, crossing her arms.
"You're not one for charity, Karma. What do you want?"
"My, how cold," I laughed, raising my hands in surrender. "Relax, I just want to talk."
"Be quick, my dad's waiting for me," she signalled to the entrance of the school campus where a man was waiting, leaning against his car.
I shrugged. "He'll have to be patient then—"
"Karma..."
I laughed softly. "Fine... I didn't expect you to sacrifice yourself for your class."
"It was the best course of action."
"It was foolish." I retorted bitter. "Whoever convinced you of doing it manipulated you completely."
"Perhaps."
I blinked.
"You agree?"
"I do. It is possible that I was just used to thwart your plans or Nagumo's. Nevertheless, I'm convinced it was the right choice."
I blinked again.
How could she arrive to that conclusion? If it was obvious to her that she was being used, then why follow along? She was one of the best students in third-year, without her, there's no hope for her class to defeat Horikita-senpai.... not that there was much hope anyway.
She chuckled, seeing my face.
"It must sound ludicrous for someone like you: self-sacrifice."
You can say that again.
"But this is the best shot we've had since we started our first year."
"They have no hope without you."
"You overestimate me. Besides, there's still Ishikura-kun. He isn't like Horikita-kun, of course, but he is a capable leader."
We glared at each other for a few seconds. Then, I sighed and brushed the matter off.
"Well, I guess it's no business of mine what happens with that class of yours... but will you be okay?"
She cocked her head slightly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Whatever happens with Class B, you won't be a part of it."
She seemed puzzled for a moment, but as she understood my words, a tender smile formed on her face.
"I accepted that fact when I agreed to not use the revocation of expulsion the school allowed."
"Hmm." I shook my head. "I truly can't understand why you would accept such a thing, but if you're fine with it..."
"You know, I'm almost starting to believe you're worried for me," she chuckled humorously.
"I just wanna make sure you'll be fine on your own."
"I'll be fine."
"Are you sure? I know you're quite capable but an expulsion in your register isn't exactly the best thing to have."
With a smile, she took out a letter from her coat and handed it to me. I smirked as soon as I saw what it was.
"A recommendation letter? Who signed it?"
"My homeroom teacher. I have three others signed by the first-year homeroom teachers except yours, of course."
I laughed.
So, this is the true reason you agreed to your expulsion, you sly fox! Hah! Pretending to have done it selflessly.
Yet, I couldn't help but wonder how Kiyo got four recommendation letters for a student that had been expelled.
I know that if I wanted I could get one either from the school treasurer or from Chie.
But, for Ikari, despite her expulsion... to have four teachers from Advanced Nurturing High School to recommend her; she should be okay.
I handed the letter back to her.
"That's reassuring."
"Your kindness moves me, Karma," she snorted. "If that's all then, I'll be going now."
"Well..." she smirked, her eyes shining with amusement. "I would like you to deliver something for me."
"Oh?"
From my coat, I took out two letters and handed one to her.
"You want me to send a letter?" for some reason, my request seemed to amuse her.
"To hand it personally."
"And who should I hand it to?"
"Did you see the boxing match last night?"
"No, I just saw the winner this morning, why?"
"Well, that's the person I want you to hand the letter to. Shishio Tsukasa, the one that won."
She stared at me blankly for a few seconds. Then, for some reason she began to laugh frantically.
I couldn't help but be staggered at her attitude.
What was so funny with my request?
I decided to wait for her to calm down, but my patience ran out after the third time she somewhat calmed herself, opened her mouth to speak only to start again with her laughter.
"Are you done?" I spoke cuttingly.
"Sorry, sorry," she said between laughter, wiping a few tears. "It's just your request. Like, you want me to hand over a letter, in person, to the guy that just defeated the world boxing champion?"
"Yes?" I affirmed, although it sounded more like a question.
What was I supposed to say?
"You're delusional," she decided with a nod, before placing the letter against my chest. "Have a good life, Karma." She waved.
"Wait!" I held her wrist, stopping her.
She grumbled and shook herself off my grasp before putting some distance between us.
"Stop doing that! It hurts, dammit."
Seeing this, the man leaning against the car, stood straight, ready to come and intervene.
I raised my hands in surrender.
"I know him, Ikari. That idiot and I grew up together. And he knows I'm studying here. You only need to tell him my name."
"Oh, do you now?" she derided.
"Yes."
"You seem to have grown up among geniuses then," she replied cynically.
Oh, you have no idea.
"Please, Ikari. I have no guarantee you'll do it, but I'm asking the favour anyway. Hand this letter to either Shishio Tsukasa or Tohsaka Rin personally. If you find yourself in front of a man named Ayanokouji, you give him this letter," I finished offering her the two letters in my hand and carefully indicating which one was destined to which person.
I couldn't risk Ayanokouji-sensei reading what I had to say to Tsukasa.
Ikari narrowed her eyes.
"Ayanokouji? Like that friend of yours?"
"Yes, he's Kiyotaka's father. If you think I'm awful then wait till you meet that man."
She looked sceptically at the two letters I was holding.
"How can I know you're not playing with me?"
"Ikari, at worst they'll refuse your request and make you turn the other way."
"It's illegal to contact the outside," she pointed out.
"I'm just giving a departure gift to a good friend," I forced a smiled, my eyes pleading for her to accept.
Slowly, she grabbed the two letters and I let out a sigh of relief. She chuckled at my attitude and relaxed a bit.
"Thank you," I said.
"Yeah, and what's—" she seemed to be about to ask something but then she bit her lip and moved her head sideways. "Forget it, I won't ask any questions. I don't wanna know."
Wise girl.
She took her backpack and her baggage before facing me once again.
"I enjoyed it here, you know? Despite everything, I don't think I'd change a thing of what happened these last three years."
"You say that today..." I trailed off.
"I know I may regret not graduating here, not making it to Class A myself, in the future. But it was my decision. I can live with that." She showed a wistful smile. "Goodbye Karma. Enjoy your three years, it'd be a pity if at the end of the road you weren't satisfied with the journey. And who knows? Perhaps we'll see each other again once you graduate."
"Perhaps."
I don't even know what will happen to me after I leave ANHS.
She chuckled. "You know Karma, you're an idiot and the way you handle things is pretty unorthodox, but I don't think you're a bad person."
"You do?" I asked genuinely surprised.
"I do," she nodded. "Don't misunderstand me, though. You're no saint. But your reputation of being the worst of the worst. Well, let's say is unfair... With that, I'm off. Have a good life, Karma."
That was new.
I was used to being the greatest bastard. I had had no need to craft a specific reputation, my personality and those around me were all that was needed for that particular task.
The ruthless, devil tyrant of first-year Class B, well, Class D now.
She was about to turn but I called out to her, causing her to look at me inquisitively.
"Hmm? ... What now?"
I bit my lip strongly, then, I let the words out. "You too, Ikari... Have a good life."
Again, she chuckled. "Oh, I intend to!" she laughed, resuming her walk, and waving her hand at me.
I continued to watch Ikari's figure as she joined her father who studied me carefully, his eyes full of a distrust that disappeared as soon as Ikari was in front of him. They greeted each other warmly, the reunion of a father and a daughter after almost three years.
Before getting in the car, and effectively leave the school campus, Ikari looked in my direction and waved one last time with a small smile on her face.
That's what receiving a compliment is like, then?
It hardly counted as a compliment, of course.
She only said I wasn't as bad as everyone pretended.
Still, it was better than what we were told in the White Room and the default praise from Ichinose.
I shook my head strongly to take those thoughts away.
Who cares for that anyhow?
You have no purpose.
Shut up.
That doesn't matter, right now.
No.
The important thing now was that I had managed to send Tsukasa my regards.
_______________________
Three SS left before the beginning of the next volume. The SS will be Ichinose's, Nao's and Ayanokouji's.
Thank you for reading.