Chapter Text
“I love you.”
The words tumble from Karma’s lips so effortlessly, so naturally, and so completely unprompted that Karma isn’t sure it’s his own voice he’s hearing. It should be scary how much he loves Nagisa, how easy it actually is to say it out loud after the months of emotional turmoil for the redhead, but it isn’t. It washes over him like a wave of relief once his brain catches up and he feels the tension release from deep within his bones.
It’s risky, admitting such a thing right to his best friend’s face without knowing if there’s even a chance the feeling is reciprocated. He knows this and decides it’s worth it because he’s let Nagisa go once before and it’s the only regret he’s ever had up until the death of their teacher, which will take even longer for him to process, and it’s okay.
Karma has never cared for much in his entire life and it’s like all of his warmth and kindness has been stockpiling up in his heart to give to this short, blue haired boy with sadness and mystery behind his eyes who still sparkles like the sun.
He IS the sun, and Karma is just orbiting around him. It’s nothing like Nagisa had thought back then; Karma has never felt anything but fortunate to share the stage with him.
Maybe Karma is just growing up, maturing, making him feel like it’s worth expressing his emotions that are actually positive for the first time in his life. Maybe Koro-sensei had rubbed off on him, or maybe his death has triggered a change of heart. It’s probably not the right time to be reminiscing, considering he’s still got a malfunctioning Nagisa sitting right in front of him, but he’s feeling weirdly melancholic.
“What?!” Nagisa finally stammers out.
“I love you,” Karma repeats.
“Don’t- don’t say it again!” he squeaks, a trail of pink burning from ear to ear.
“Is that uncomfortable to hear?” Karma asks him, a little amused.
“No, I just- are you serious?”
“Never been more serious about anything in my life.”
And it’s true. Karma’s tone may be a little playful, because it’s so fun and so easy to tease Nagisa when he’s flustered, but he means every word he says.
“How can you say that so easily?” Nagisa asks when he finally recovers enough to pull his hands away from his face.
“Dunno. It just felt right, I guess,” Karma says like it’s no big deal (liar, it’s SUCH a big deal). “And your reactions are so cute I knew it would be worth it even if the feeling isn’t mutual.”
“Karmaaa!” whines Nagisa, so red in the face he looks like he’s going to explode if this continues any longer.
“Which, for the record, you haven’t given any indication about,” Karma adds with a laugh, nerves finally showing through.
“Me too.”
“You too what?”
“I do too. I just- I just can’t say it yet. The words you used. I will though, I promise, Karma, because I like you a lot. A lot. As a friend, my best friend, but also in a way friends don’t feel about each other. It’s just- I’m overwhelmed right now.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it, then. God, do you have any idea how much you stir me up?”
“Karma!”
“I’ll say it a hundred times, every day for the rest of my life if you want me to, Nagisa. Always.”