I R O H A I N U K A I
犬飼 彩葉
student no. 29
season 2 episode 20
The disadvantage of keeping secrets, was the dread of it being found out.
"Uwah, so cold!" Kayano shivered at the sight of snow.
Our breaths turning white dew the temperature, each of us wearing our own coats or jackets, I was particularly enjoying the warmth of the scarf Karma gave me during Christmas.
"The octopus went crazy today huh?" I laughed recalling how he attempted to celebrate all the year end events he missed out on.
"Easy for you to say, Iroha-chan. You didn't play along at all" Nagisa sweat dropped .
"Right, right, once you got in costume, you immediately changed at once" Sugino pointed. "It's unfair!".
"Oi! I only did that once!" I defended, referring to how the octopus made us change into Santa outfits.
February dawned upon us. It was now 32 days before Korosensei's deadline, and speaking of which, entrance exams were finally up as well.
We were heading home from another typical day, despite the weather being colder than usual. We were on the way that is, until our group decided to stop by the road intersection, Maehara's squad talking about future plans and such.
It was then that Nagisa decided to bring up the topic as well.
"Where are you headed, Karma?".
"Ah, I'll stay at Kunugigaoka" the redhead, standing beside me, answered casually.
"Huh?!" Kayano, Sugino, Okuda and Nagisa exclaimed at the thought, yet I remained unfazed.
He already told me once, and being the sadist he is, I kinda knew where he's coming from.
"You mean you'll take the entrance exam all over again?" Sugino clarified, and Kayano added in as well.
"I figured you for something better. I mean, you could get into the best high schools around" she pointed out.
"Put yourself in the main-campus students' shoes. The guy they thought they'd chase away is back--- and standing head and shoulders above them" Karma smiled demonically, "What could be better than seeing those punks' humiliated mugs for three whole years?".
"Such a winning personality" Nagisa deadpanned.
"Leave it to the spawn of the devil to take joy in people's misery" I remarked.
"Besides," Karma added, "there are better schools for average academic ability, but only Kunugigaoka has students who'd be fun to take on in one-on-one academic showdowns".
"I'll have no problem getting the job I'm after. I figured I can take this time to just enjoy a battle or three" he continued, and I smiled inwardly.
He was most likely referring to Gakushu at this point.
"That's so you, Karma" Nagisa smiled in agreement.
"You've got your dream school, right, Nagisa?" the redhead turned to him.
"Uhuh" the boy nodded. "And Kayano, Sugino, and everyone else...".
"Ah, speaking of which" Okuda turned to me, "Iroha-chan if Karma-kun's going to Kunugigaoka, you will too, right?".
"Oh yeah, I kinda overheard you made that kind of agreement before when you were having trouble with your survey" Sugino remembered.
I knew that question was coming soon but I didn't think it'll be this soon.
"Ah.. well..." I trailed off. "There was a change of plans and---"
"Eh? Where are you heading then?" Kayano asked, curiously, but at that point I couldn't bring myself to give an answer.
"Iroha, you promised to go to me to that arcade today, right?" Karma changed the conversation after the overwhelming silence.
"Huh?", even I was confused.
When did I ever make that promise?
I looked at him, and gave me a knowing as if to say that I didn't have to answer.
"Right?" he repeated, pulling my wrist, ready to drag me to the opposite direction before I stopped him.
"It's fine Karma...They'll find out eventually" I told him, attempting to pull up the most assuring smile I could muster before I faced the four.
"Iroha-chan..." Nagisa mumbled my name. "Is something up?".
"I won't be going to high school" I admitted.
"What?!" The other three exclaimed.
"I talked about it with Korosensei, as well. You see, ever since winter break, my body's feeling sluggish" I explained. "The cells they implanted in me are dying out and the disease is spreading through my body".
"Then---"
"They found a cure in America, so I'll be living there for surgery and after that would be a couple years going through rehabilitation. At most, I'll probably be homeschooled and all. But that's that" I laughed sheepishly.
They all had grim expressions on their faces even as I attempted to lift the mood.
"Come on, don't give me that! Pretty soon, we'll all have to part ways. It'll be way more sad if you start feeling down now".
"W-when's your flight?" Okuda asked me.
"Ah...the day after graduation, I think?"
"Then, we'll see you off as a class, okay?" Nagisa suggested.
"You're not allowed to leave without seeing us!" Kayano declared, and soon enough everyone was laughing.
✖︎︎●✖︎
"Are you sure it was best for us to leave it at that?" Karma asked me when we were the only two left alone.
"Yeah... It's better than having them figure out later" I told him, laughing it off, and not tearing my eyes from the game I was playing on our walk home.
"That's not what I meant" he sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"Hm?" I gave him a quick glance.
"Are you okay?".
I smirked, and grabbed his arm teasingly. "What's this? What's this? Is the sadistic demon, Karma Akabane, actually concerned for my wellbeing?".
"It's because you tend to force yourself, stupid" he flicked my forehead.
"I'm fine, I'm fine" I told him. "It's better this way. I finally have things off my chest and I don't have to keep hiding it from them"
"Hmm" he hummed. "You actually matured this year didn't you? I almost thought it was a miracle".
I jabbed his side.
"It's your fault isn't it? You always scold me if I do otherwise. And don't even forget about that skull-breaking flick of yours" I stuck my tongue out, covering my forehead in defense.
That's right, if I wasn't put into Class E, I wouldn't turn out like this.
I wouldn't be able to meet Nagisa and the others. I wouldn't be able to mess around with Nakamura, or enjoy the simple things with Okuda. Most importantly, that octopus wouldn't have taught us all the things that would change our lives from here on out.
Right.
And I wouldn't be able to meet the problem child, Karma, who's always faced me head on.
"Hey, Karma" I called him.
"What?" he looked at me, asking nonchalantly.
"Thanks for everything"