In the evening, Noah took you to the ice skating rink. Nagisa ended up sick because of Karma's penalty, so he was sneezing all the time, giving you regrets for what you did to him.

"Alright kids!" Noah told you and Asano's team. "I will come back in two hours. Have fun till then! There are also teachers if you need any help."

All of you wore the ice skates and entered the rink. Asano kept his promised and immediately moved his team away from yours without bothering you, but he glanced at you before doing that.

Karma noticed and glared at the boy, but didn't attack any further. You saw the red-haired finally being able to take part in an activity. You smiled at him being happy.

"Y/N!"you heard Kayano's voice. "Where have you been before coming here? After saving Nagisa from his penalty, you disappeared without saying a word."

Yukiko nodded. Isogai was next to her, but Maehara, Karma and Nagisa were further.

"The truth is, I wanted to think about some stuff..."

You told them about what Asano told you at the skiing competition, and their faces immediately frowned.

"That Asano... when will he stop bothering our lives?" Kayano asked and everyone sighed.

The rest of the boys came to you. The weird fact was that only the boys knew how to skate, but you, Yukiko and Kayano could only fall if you weren't holding onto the bars around the rink.

"How do you guys even know how to stand on these two irritating blades?!" Kayano asked and Maehara laughed.

"It was on last year's Christmas that we went for ice skating together, and Karma taught us. It was boys night only" he said and winked.

You glanced at Karma and he smirked.

"What is it, Y/N? Amazed by my skills?"

You shrugged.

"Maybe"

He could sense it. Not only him and you, but everyone felt a change in the air.. everyone knew that something between you and him had changed.

"Lets begin teaching classes guys. These ladies don't know anything" Maehara said and the pairs were immediately formed: Kayano and Nagisa, Yukiko and Isogai, you and Karma.

Maehara was left behind, looking at you surprised.

"I bet Asano and his friends would appreciate me more than you!"he shouted at you, but Asano was the one to answer from the other side of the rink.

"Hell no!"

You couldn't really pay attention though. Karma was holding your hand and brought you to the center of the rink. He was gently leading you.

"Be careful. This time, don't stop holding onto me no matter what, okay? I wouldn't want another accident happening again, I may break my head this time."he told you and you smiled at him, nodding.

"I won't let you this time..." you murmured and he smirked.

For the next two hours, the private tutoring was going on. You were embarrassed to admit that even though you could stand alone, you pretended to still need help so that you could hold Karma's hands. And he was staring at you at times, as if he wanted to find out the secrets behind your behaviour.

They were two precious hours without much talking, but instead, your moves were your way of communication.  You tried to dance, to run, to do other tricks and both of you laughed. He wouldn't let you get hurt no matter what, and you would make sure he wouldn't hurt his back again. You were holding his strong hand tightly and the one with the bandages softly, gently, just like the way he was treating you.

When your time finished, you two were the last ones to exit the rink. You sat on a bench to untie the ice skates, but Karma kneeled and began doing it for you. You observed his caring and focused eyes as he was taking care of you. Your heart was beating so fast you were afraid you would pass out any time soon.

"You know..." he said in a low charming voice "I noticed you had been avoiding a certain question, but I want to ask you again. About your one-week ..."

You cut him off by putting your finger on his lips. He was surprised by that little move of yours, and even more by your gentle smile.

"Before saying anything, you need to know... the reason I am avoiding it is because... the next time you ask it, I won't be able to reject you..."
---

In the night, there was everyone's favourite activity: hot bubble bath. You were standing outside, waiting for Asano's team to finish. Since you, Kayano and Yukiko were the only girls in the whole trip, you could enter the girls' ones, but you chose to also wait for your boys. You felt sick in the idea of having Asano and his friends on the other side of the bathroom.

"Maehara... when was the last time I said I love you?" Isogai asked and Maehara looked weirdly at him.

"Never?"

"Really? You know I love you?"he said and hugged his friend but Maehara just pushed him away. The rest of you just laughed with their behaviour.

"Hey, do you remember that you love me only when there is bubble bath for you thanks to me?"he asked and Isogai laughed awkwardly.

Right then, Asano's team finished the bath and came out. Asano was shirtless and surprised to see you and your friends waiting there.

Automatically, his eyes turned to you, dying to see your reaction. However, you didn't lay your eyes on him not even once. Instead, you laughed at your friends' endless fooling around.

"Don't you dare to peek at our bathrooms!" Kayano said to the boys and Maehara stuck out his tongue at her.

"As if we would want to look at you bathing!"

"Nagisa is the only safe and serious one. I can't say the same for the rest of you..." Kayano murmured and Isogai pointed at himself surprised.

"Me too? Excuse me, I think of myself as a very serious person!"

"Oh yes, but who knows what you will do if your girlfriend is having a bath in the room next to yours..." your friend continued.

Yukiko and Isogai blushed to death, Nagisa tried not to listen to their talking, Maehara laughed really loudly, Kayano was still serious and you and Karma smiled at each other, silently deciding to stop your friends' little fight.

"Alright, alright, let us pervs go take a bath then..." Karma said, pushing Nagisa, Maehara and Isogai inside boys' baths. You dragged your two friends with you in the girls' one.

The whole time Asano was standing there, looking dumbfounded by the fact that you hadn't even glanced at him.

His expression was priceless.

Who needs a shirtless Asano when there are such amazing friends to have fun with?!
--

Inside the bathroom, there was a giant pool with hot water and many bubbly soaps to chose from. The four boys entered the hot pool, enjoying the warmth.

"With so much snow in this place, we really needed this... Nagisa, are you okay?" Maehara asked.

"I think my cold will be better after this" Nagisa said and sneezed again.

While the two boys were talking, Karma laid back and relaxed under the water.

He was feeling amazing. He was feeling..  as a champion. Before, he was unprepared when you told him that the next time you would accept the challenge, and he didn't ask you. He wanted to do it at a more suitable moment, and prepare himself properly. He was... unbelievably happy. Nothing could ruin that mood of his.

At least that's what he thought.

"Karma" Isogai said and came next to the red haired boy. "I have to tell you something I heard from Y/N..."

Isogai was taking very seriously the relationship between you and Karma, that's why he couldn't stop himself from telling Karma things he knew about you. This time, he seemed kind of worried.

"What is it?" Karma asked.

"When I was with the girls at the ice skating rink, Y/N told us that... during her competition with Asano, he stopped her during their skiing. He told her that he was sorry for what happened in the past, that he was wrong and that grades didn't matter to their relationship. In the end, he told her that on Monday, if she manages to take first place in our class on exams, that is a sign that she is at his level and should consider his apology... and if she has good news, she must go and find him. I don't really get it... what does Asano have in mind? How is first place even related to his apology and them getting back together? I wanted you to know because I am really worried about it..."

Karma gasped. What the hell did Asano want?

"What did Y/N answer him?"

"She said that she couldn't say anything back then... she trembled even while telling this at us. She also said he sounded sincere...Her relationship with Asano is pretty weird, but I don't like the impact he has on her." Isogai said.

Karma was moved by how much Isogai cared, and at the same time, his heart sank into darkness and sadness. He was suddenly... afraid. Afraid of what you would do, and of what Asano would do.

Just then, he realised something. He realised what the his purple eyed enemy had in mind. He just had to put the pieces together, from past to present.

He got out of the pool, dressed and went to find Asano.

--
A/N: to those of you who wonder"Hey, what the hell happened to that phone call from the previous chapter?" all I have to say is...

...Just wait and see~

The important question is: Why the hell was Asano shirtless in the middle of the winter with the freezing cold? XD