Chapter 8

"Karma? Can you help me with my science homework?" Nagisa called to his red headed friend. He was greeted with more silence.

This was how the rest of his day was going since the agreement with Asano.

Nagisa looked up to stare at a stressed Karma. He was furiously chewing his nails, a habit he picked up and could not stop since no one ever told him it wasn't healthy. His hair was messy and tossled from running his hand through his hair.

Nagisa set down his pencil and climbed on the couch to a criss-crossed Karma. He climbed into his lap, something he knew would help the taller boy. Karma always calmed down when he was holding something that meant a lot to him.

Once comfortable in his lap, Karma snaked his arms around Nagisa and dug his nose into Nagisa's neck, inhaling his scent. The blunette learned that from earlier confrontations that Karma loved it when people played with his hair. Nagisa grabbed a lock and twirled it around his finger before scratching his scalp in a comforting way. Karma's eyes squeezed shut and he sighed, finally at rest.

"You know how to make me talk," Karma croaked. He hadn't talked since the agreement. Nagisa chuckled. "I try."

Karma massaged Nagisa's sides. "What did you want to say?" Nagisa sighed in pleasure. "I wanted you to help me with my homework. But you're not in a good state. Are you okay?"

Karma opened his eyes looked at the blunette. He was surprised. No one's ever asked if he was okay. No one but Nagisa. How could this boy make him so happy and content?

"It's the agreement. It's bugging me."

Nagisa nodded. Karma's reaction to his secrets being spilled was like telling him that his parents died in a plane crash on their way to Hawaii.

It seemed like Karma could guess what was in his folder, but Nagisa couldn't think of his. There was a lot of stuff he would consider 'secretive,' but could a school file hold so much information about one kid?

"I just don't want people to find out..."

Nagisa was caught off guard. Find out? About what? Asano said something about Karma's parents, but he never finished. Was there more to Karma that met the eye?

Of course. He's been secretive his whole life, even when he was younger. The only difference is now he's secretive of his emotions too.

Nagisa wanted in. He wanted to break Karma's wall. Karma was that cool looking door that was always locked, and Nagisa wanted the key.

"To find out about what?" Nagisa said gently as he stroked Karma's hair.

There was a long pause. "About my past."

The blunette could relate. He didn't want people to know about his past either, in fact, he didn't even fully understand why he told Karma his. It just felt like the right thing to do at the time. Did Karma feel the same way?

"What about your past?" Nagisa pushed. He knew he was being nosy, but right now he wanted to comfort Karma.

"My parents, my childhood, and... her." He said it with so much venom, Nagisa shivered.

"Do you want to share with me?" Karma looked at him with a guilty smile. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can."

Nagisa smiled, trying hard to hide his hurt. Even Karma didn't trust him with his past, he must not trust him. He shook those thoughts away. No, he was being selfish. It was like when Nagisa first came to his house, Karma sat patiently and waited until Nagisa was ready to tell him.

"Alright. Now, will you help me with my homework?" Karma laughed lightly before looking at Nagisa's sheet of problems.

~~~

"Oi, hurry! We're going out to eat!" Karma screamed as Nagisa grumbled. The house was empty and the two boys were going to a restaurant.

"I'm coming!"

Once Nagisa was right in front of Karma, they set off. "Are we taking the train?" Karma nodded and the two set off into the cold night.

Once they got to the station, the two got on the train headed to a large mall. They waited, seeing trains blur and people chatter.

They finally found their train and got on, heading to the two seats available in the back. They waited patiently as the train huffed and puffed.

"Okay, this is our stop. Let's go." The two set off into the mall and found many restaurants.

"Wanna eat there?" Karma pointed to a curry place. Nagisa nodded and they walked into the small restaurant.

It wasn't too crowded but there were a lot of people. They heard a 'welcome!' and looked at the menu. They ordered their food and sat down in a quiet booth.

"What do you think will happen if we told Koro-sensei about our problem?" Karma's face darkened. "I don't think we should get him involved, or any of the teachers. I mean, when have we not won against Asano? Plus, whatever their doing is probably somewhat similar to what we're doing. Asano is true to his word. Since he knows we're doing a restaurant, he'll probably want to make it as even as possible."

As they discussed, their food was brought to them and they both gobbled it up without a word. Once both were stuffed, they paid. Nagisa insisted he pay for himself but Karma simply declined his offers.

Walking with full bellies, they wandered around the mall. Karma stopped at a few stores, making Nagisa try on a few things. It wasn't until the two stumbled upon a costume shop that Karma got excited.

He ran inside with a baffled Nagisa and started to run his hand through the many costumes until he found the perfect one. "Ah! Here it is."

He picked out a revealing maid costume. Nagisa became flustered. "If you think I'm trying that on, I'm not."

Karma quirked his eyebrow. "I'm only getting this for the restaurant, but if you insist on being the person to wear it, I'll put in the word."

Nagisa glared. "You wouldn't dare." What was he saying? Or course Karma would do it.

Karma winked. "I can't wait to see you in this."