Chapter Text
Karma and Nagisa had been an item since the first year of high school. Sure, it took a whole convoluted mess and some immature love games before they finally got together, but their relationship had been totally solid after that.
They spent all their time together- it helped that they had a lot of the same interests- both in school and out of school. Playing the sonic Ninja games, watching movies, going out for food, or to the arcade. For Karma, it was like having a best friend who he also liked to kiss.
Things were perfect. Being with Nagisa made Karma feel like he was a better person, after all, if someone as sweet and innocent as Nagisa liked him, then maybe there was some good in him? Karma hadn’t exactly turned into an angel, but he was trying to be more careful; getting into less unnecessary fights, arguing with people less, keeping his mean side more under control.
Karma had started imagining his future with Nagisa. He didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, but he knew he wanted to be around Nagisa. When they graduated, they talked about moving in together. It all seemed like a perfect dream, the thought of the two of them together in their own little apartment, without Nagisa’s crazy mum hanging over everything.
But that dream shattered, and all because Nagisa cheated on Karma. With Maehara of all people.
_______
Because he was known as a delinquent, everyone at school assumed that Karma was at house parties all the time, but the truth was he didn’t particularly like them; a crowded room brimming with people that could hardly be heard over the generic pop music blasting over the speakers wasn’t Karma’s idea of fun.
So that was probably why he was so late to Maehara’s party. It took a while to psyche himself up to leave his house. The only reason he was going was because Nagisa, for some unfathomable reason had wanted to attend, and the thought of leaving his boyfriend alone at such a lecherous place made Karma feel sick.
It was already dark by the time Karma arrived there, the predictably bland pop music could be heard from outside the house. Nagisa had text him half an hour ago asking where he was, but hadn’t replied to any of his messages since. Taking a deep breath, Karma walked inside.
It was packed in here, tons of bodies pressed against each other, sat on the couches and leaning against the wall. The hun of countless conversation merged with the music until it blurred into a hellish cacophony.
“Where is Nagisa?” Karma asked the first person he recognised- Rio Nakamura- she looked to be at least a little tipsy.
“I think I saw him go upstairs.” She giggled with an impish knowing look in her eyes. Karma wasn’t sure why that made him uneasy.
He made his way upstairs, dodging the kids sitting haphazardly on the steps. It was at least quieter up here, the music slightly quieter. Everyone was engaged in very serious-looking drunken conversations.
“Nagisa?” Karma called out, eyes scanning the corridor for that familiar blue hair. He was met with a sea of strangers looking back at him.
He walked into the bathroom, only to be greated with the sight of Terasaka being violently sick into the toilet while his friends sat around semi-comforting him.
No. Not here.
He tried the next room and was met with shrieks as he walked in on two unknown people embracing on the bed. He quickly made his exit.
Next room.
Nothing could of compared Karma for what he saw in that moment. It was Maehara, and on his knee was non other than Nagisa.
The two where kissing in what was clearly a consensual moment. Karma felt as if the floor had fallen out underneath him and his heart had broken into a million pieces.
Without even waiting for a response, Karma slammed the door shut and ran as fast as his legs would carry him. He didn’t stop running until he was completely out of breath and ready to collapse.
He was outside now, on some street he didn’t recognise. His heart was racing and his breathing was uncontrollable, sneaking into hyperventilation territory. Unable to stop himself, he vomited onto the floor as the image he had just seen seared itself onto his mind.
Nagisa, his perfect innocent Nagisa had betrayed him.
Nagisa had cheated on him.
———
Karma couldn’t remember much about the next few days only that he was brimming with rage and sorrow.
Part of him was furious, a righteous, white-hot anger burnt through him.
Another part was just hurt, and hard himself for actually believing someone would love him. His own parents didn’t even want to be around him, spending half the year travelling the world, why would anyone else?
But the anger was easier to feel, so he dealt with that. Normally when he was pissed off he wanted nothing more than to beat the offender to a pulp, but no matter how mad he was with Nagisa, he couldn’t imagine ever hurting him.. that was a line he could never cross.
Karma had kept his phone off the whole weekend, and didn’t bother showing up to school Monday, so he was half expecting it when he heard a knock on his door that evening.
Sure enough when he opened it, Nagisa was standing there.
“Karma! Where have you been! I’ve been so worried.” Nagisa said. “You were meant to come Maehara’s party but then you didn’t show and I’ve not heard from you since- what’s going on?”
Nagisa attempted to step around Karma to enter the house like he always did, but Karma blocked him.
It wasn’t fair, despite Nagisa committing the ultimate betrayal, he still seemed to genuinely worried. Why couldn’t Karma just hate him? That would make things so much easier…
“I did go to that party. And I saw quite enough.” Karma hissed at him. Nagisa’s face crumbled, clearly surprised and upset by Karma’s sudden hostility.
“Karma, what are you- “
“I saw, okay Nagisa? I saw you making out with Maehara!” Karma said, finally snapping. He was unable to stop himself from shouting now. “Don’t try to deny it!”
“What! Make out with Maehara? I didnt- I would never- “ Nagisa stuttered. It was almost scary how genuine his shock and denials seemed. If Karma hadn’t seen it with his own two eyes he would of believed him.
“Oh, are you trying to gaslight me now? I know what I saw.” Karma growled. “I thought you were so pure and innocent, but really you’re just a lying little slut!”
Nagisa’s eyes widened, tears forming in the corners. “Karma, I don’t understand.” He sobbed. It really wasn’t fair that it was working and making Karma actually feel guilty. he was the one who had been betrayed.
“I don’t want to see crocodile tears from a traitorous little snake. Goodbye Nagisa!” Karma said, slamming the door shut forcefully. He pretended he couldn’t hear Nagisa knocking at the door and demanding they talk it out. He’d talked out things enough.
Karma switched off his phone and stayed off school for another few days before he returned, unable to face Nagisa. The anger was starting to burn out and the pain was coming back. Was that it? The end of the relationship? It was the best thing that had ever happened to Karma, did he really want for it to just be over?
——-
Being one of the top scoring students in the school, Karma was expected to attend all sorts of extra circular events. He normally avoided them like the plague and had become quite the expert at dodging them. But right now, helping the students council vet revision sheets for the year below seemed preferable to having to sit in the same classroom as Nagisa.
Damn. They’re relationship really was crumbling if Karma was picking mindless school-work over his boyfriend… maybe things where really over? But that wasn’t what Karma wanted. As mad and as betrayed as he felt about Nagisa’s infidelity he didn’t want to leave him for good. At least he didn’t think he did..
“Akabane, if you think you can use this hour as an excuse to cut class you’re sorely mistaken.” Asano Gakushuu said, he was sat at the opposite side of the table, because of course, if there was extra curricular busywork he would be there. “The work we’re doing here takes far more concentration than sitting in the classroom. So if you want to slack off then leave.”
“Yes great leader.” Karma chuckled, with mock reverence, falling into an exaggerated bow. “I won’t let my mind wander off this oh so important task.”
“You better not.” Gakushuu huffed. His cheeks where a little red. A sudden increase in blushing had been a nice addition to their interactions ever since Gakushuu had confessed his feelings to Karma, high on pain meds all those months ago. Karma had shown remarkable restrain when it came to teasing him about it, but today he was feeling angry and frustrated and he wanted to let it out on someone.
Karma got up from his seat, walking around the table until his was stood behind Gakushuu. The other almost jumped out his seat when Karma put his hands on his shoulders. Karma found himself pushing the other back down into the seat.
“Relax!” Karma commanded.
“What the hell are you doing?” Gakushuu hissed. Karma smirked.
“I’m just trying to read your work so I can have some inspiration.” Karma said with faux innocence. Gakushuu batted him away.
“Then just ask to see my laptop like a normal person!” He said, annoyed. He was doing that thing again where he couldn’t look Karma in the eyes. Karma once again had to commend himself for the restraint that he’d been showing all this time. He had the power to make the perfect Gakushuu Asano loose his composure and he hadn’t really used it at all. Maybe it was because he had been so happy he and Nagisa where together that had took all his attention away from anything else. Maybe because when he was with Nagisa he could lie and tell himself he was a better person than he was. After all, Nagisa was so good, Karma must have some moral fibre to earn the love of someone like that.
But that was all lies now.
Going back to his own seat so he was out of hitting range, Karma carried on the conversation.
“There’s no need for you to be so uptight.” Karma said with a shrug, the other glared at him. “Is it because you still like me?”
The effect was instantaneous. Gakushuu turned bright red and looked like he was choking on air. Karma wished that he had a camera right now. This was the first time he’d directly brought up Gakushuu’s confession since it had happened, and now he wished that he’d done it sooner.
“I know what you’re trying to do.” Gakushuu said accusingly, once he’d stopped spluttering enough to actually breath. Karma gave him a mock-innocent look and shuffled his seat closer.
“I’m just trying to have a conversation. Nothing wrong with that.” He said. “I’m just curious. Do you still like me?”
“I’m not engaging with this.” Gakushuu said resolutely. He kept his eyes fixed to his laptop screen like it was a life raft in a stormy sea. But Karma wasn’t done yet; he was still feeling angry and frustrated and he wanted to see Gakushuu squirm.
“Come on, just answer my questions then I’ll leave you alone. Promise.” Karma said, with a wolf-like grin. “Surely you’re grown up enough to do that much. Or are you too scared to answer a few questions?”
“Trying to appeal to my sense of pride now, are we?” Gakushuu retorted, his gaze scathing. It was sort of amusing, that Gakushuu could look at the person he apparently loved with such hate.
“Is it working?” Karma asked, not waiting for an answer. “Can you at least tell me when you started liking me? And why?”
Gakushuu sent him a withering look, then glancing around the room to confirm it really was just the two of them. “I don’t know. Maybe back in middle school.” He said after some hesitation. “Lord knows why though. You were a constant thorn in my side, always breaking the rules and causing havoc. But I suppose you are at least clever, and I didn’t always dislike the challenge you posed, and sometimes our arguments could be fun and- “
He cut himself off before he descended into full-on gushing about Karma. He went back to staring at his laptop screen like it was lifeline.
“There. Can we go back to doing work now?” Gakushuu huffed, flustered. But that was the last thing Karma wanted to do; he felt a rush of excitement he hadn’t felt in a while at the thought of the power he held over his rival.
“So. When I asked you out all those months ago where you secretly happy at all?”
“Oh. Yes. So happy. I love being blackmailed into fake relationships.” Gakushuu said, rolling his eyes. “Being made to play a part in other people’s love drama is actually one of my favourite things.”
“Okay. That’s fair.” Karma laughed. He wasn’t a complete monster, part of him still felt a bit guilty about that. But not enough to stop himself from saying what he was going to next. “You told me back at the hospital that you think you like me because I’m always so mean to you. So are you some sort of closet Masochist?”
Karma was sort of expecting it when a fist flew out towards his face. He grabbed Gakushuu by the wrist and didn’t let go. Both of them where stood up now, their chairs clattered to the floor.
“Seriously, fuck you Akabane.” Gakushuu hissed. His face was bright red and his eyes wide, like he was coming undone. Karma decided to push further.
Still not letting go of Gakushuu’s wrists he stepped closer. He was very much playing with fire now.
“You really need to work on your temper.” Karma said practically into the other’s ear. “But come on. I lied to the police about your involvement with Nagisa’s kidnapping. You can answer a few of my questions. You owe me.”
He could sense Gakushuu freeze on the spot, and a tiny voice in the back of Karma’s head was screaming at him that he was stepping into very dangerous territory. He could feel Gakushuu’s pulse beating quickly under his grip.
“You’re a complete psychopath sometimes.” Gakushuu said to him, now finally making eye contact. His Violet eyes were full of contempt and… something else.
“That’s you’re type, isn’t it.” Karma teased. The space between them was practically non existent now. This wasn’t the direction he had intended when he first started messing with Gakushuu, but here they where. Karma was still feeling angry at Nagisa and he had a burning curiosity about how far Gakushuu would let him take things.
“Get off me.” Gakushuu spat, but made no effort to move away despite easily being able to. “I won’t let you use me as some sort of rebound because Nagisa was unfaithful.”
“Oh. You wont?” Karma challenged. It felt like there was some sort of strange electricity between the two of them right now.
Gakushuu wasn’t someone Karma had ever thought of romantically. ‘Enemy who is fun to mess with’ was as far as he had considered their relationship. But even he had to admit the other was attractive. And something about this power he yielded over someone normally so unattainable was intoxicating. Despite everything, Gakushuu liked him. Karma wasn’t a good enough person to stop himself from using that.
When he leaned forward and kissed Gakushuu, the other didn’t resist