Kill Me With Love (Karma Akabane)

XIX.Don't Say No

"Ha?"
"What are you saying? Ever since this started,
I've always been
serious--"

When he finally realized what he was about to say and
that he lost himself for a moment, Karma covered his
mouth with his own hand, his eyes widened and his
cheeks slowly turning red.

Achlys stood there, same facial expression like usual.
However, her heart paused for a second, she secretly
hoped he was about to say something she wanted
him to say.

"I-I mean, what are you talking about?" Karma turned
around and looked away, having a frustrated look on his face.

Achlys tries to get a view of his face that he's trying so hard
to hide. "You didn't take the exams seriously" she says in
her casual tone of voice.

"Oh really?" Karma turned around with a forced smile on his
face. "You know what? Let's go home." He says and then walks
on, Achlys follows him just like always.

Without intending to irritate him more, Achlys silently walks
behind him with a content smile on her face.

"I'll be happy to study with you.." Achlys says in a soft tone of
voice and only him was able to hear her words.

Karma stopped walking for a second.. and then walked forward
once again. It was as if he wanted to say something, but decided
not to do so anyway.

But this time.. when he walked away, he had a smile on his face.

Meanwhile..

"If it weren't for your little bet with the E-Class, I would be
kind enough to congratulate you for maintaining your top
position. However, you lost the bet. What would you do then?
Do you want the school to protect you?" With a mocking smile,
the principal, Asano Gakuho spoke to his very own son.

"No thanks." Insulted, Gakushu turned him down without a second
thought.

"Having the girl you like taken away from you as well..
How pitiful is that..?" Gakuho stands up. "I believe you said
you would put a collar on me and keep me as a pet. You sure
talk big.. for someone who can't even win a bet with his peers."
He stood next to his son and tilted his head while gazing at Gakushu
in a horrifying manner.

Gakushu stood there, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth in anger.

The next day...

The end of term ceremony was held and the E-Class is attending as usual.
When everyone else went ahead, Achlys was like before, left behind again.

"Karma?" She calls out to him who was standing next to her.

"What?" Karma looked at her.

"...You're coming to the ceremony?" Achlys asked him with a curious face.

Karma suddenly looked away and walks on. "Yeah, got any problem with
that?" He says as he walks on.

"No problem, honey!" Achlys giggles happily and calls him 'honey' as she
runs after him and they both follow everyone else to the main campus.

As they all arrived in the gym.. the E-Class awaited for Gakushu's arrival.

"Oh, here he comes, Mr.Student Council President!" Terasaka with his
friends stood with triumphant smiles on their faces.

"What? I'm too busy for the ceremony. I've no time to deal with the
likes of E-Class." Gakushu says and walks on with the other virtuosos.