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Karma and Nagisa met in their first year of junior high. Honestly, they were starkly different; Nagisa was quiet and kept his head low, and Karma was outspoken and looked down at any so-perceived obstacles in his way. Karma always noticed Nagisa in class, always knew he existed, he just never bothered to talk to him until he noticed that Nagisa was reading a comic made by a producer he really liked. Of course, Karma just strolled up to Nagisa like it was nothing and started a chat. Only then did they really become friends.
During that time, Karma really grew to know and like Nagisa. His soft spokenness and easy going demeanor really gave Karma a calm feeling, like he could relax around him. One particular moment Karma remembers is when he beat up a couple of high school kids in an alley. Nagisa mentioned that he was useless at fighting, and would probably only try to throw a punch if it was really necessary. Karma vowed, since that day, that Nagisa wouldn't need to throw a punch ever in his life—Karma was there to protect him. Always.
An ironic moment to reflect on as they face against each other, the last standing ones in the paintball battle.
To save or not to save. That is the question.
Honestly, there's something about what started the fight with Nagisa that really pissed Karma off to his breaking point.
Nagisa wants to save Koro-Sensei. Ha! Easy for him to say. He's the most talented assassin in the entire class—he doesn't seem to feel the need to work his ass off at a class like this so he wants to look for another situation, as if assassination is getting too boring. But Karma's ego had to be struck back down to Earth. He had to learn humility the hard way, and had to keep his academic skills intact on top of that. Karma may also seem incredibly talented, but it only took him so far. Most of his assassination skills are from hard work and mulling himself over just to manage to stay on par with the rest of the class. Even when it looks like he's excelling. Nagisa is so selfish. He doesn't recognize his talent that makes him better than everyone else at the class, then claims that he envies Karma's abilities? What the hell??
It’s why it pisses him off immensely for Nagisa to say he's not as good as him. Are you fucking serious? All this hard work Karma had put in to support himself, just to see Nagisa do leaps and bounds better, then say that Karma's better than him? Karma would rather Nagisa look down on him than deny his own skill. It all makes Karma want to beat the absolute shit out of Nagisa.
And he absolutely plans to.
"Nagisa, come out!" Karma yells. "Let's settle this with blades." Yes, Karma is entirely banking on the fact that Nagisa will see this through with honor. Yes, he'll make Nagisa play Karma's own game. Beat him to a pulp strategically, just to make a point.
The point being that he’s just as good as Nagisa. He worked so hard to get this far. C'mon, Nagisa, use those murderous techniques that you worked oh so hard, just as much as Karma, to cultivate.
Nagisa steps out of the bush. He looks so. . . regal. Posture perfect, expression unreadable, eyes like clear blue pools of water with a python's bloodlust behind it. In some twisted way, it makes Karma swoon. Nagisa looks like a true top notch assassin. One who could kill him in his sleep.
Haha. Those words remind Karma of the time he first felt on edge around Nagisa. The reason he started putting distance between each other.
It was lunchtime, first year of junior high. They had been friends for a few months already. Karma, unsuspecting, called out to Nagisa. “Nagisa, where are you?”
Only then did Karma feel like a knife had been stabbed through his lungs, stealing his breath, and his life. Karma gasped quickly and sharply for air, and he turned around, on guard, when it turned out to be Nagisa all along.
“I was here the whole time. You didn't see me?” Nagisa smiled, as if it was all a game. As if he wasn't aware that he could, if he wanted to, literally kill Karma in his sleep. Since then did Karma feel on edge about Nagisa every time they hung out together. The stifling air Karma felt around Nagisa was overbearing. Karma couldn't take it anymore and put distance between them, slowly going back to just classmates who know of the other's existence.
Karma, staring Nagisa down now, knows full well Nagisa probably hates him for what he did. He had no sound reason to do that; they were friends, why would Nagisa ever kill him?
Still, it was a relentless uneasy feeling that would ruthlessly eat away at Karma whenever Nagisa was near. Seeing Nagisa take down four people at once a bit earlier took Karma’s breath away. Femme fatale much?
Karma sucked in his breath to prevent any more from getting quickly stolen from him.
I'm sorry, Nagisa, but I'm breaking my promise. I'm going to be the one to hurt you today.
Karma charges at him with an anti-sensei knife, but Nagisa blocks it. This becomes an attack pattern for the both of them; strike and block. Eventually, Nagisa knocks Karma's blade out of his hand, but Karma retaliates and body slams into Nagisa. Karma knows about that second blade; it's not going to be Nagisa’s trump card today.
Karma swings at him. “I'll knock you,” he knee-kicks him, “on your,” and gut punches him, “ass and take my sweet time delivering the final blow!”
Nagisa does throw a few punches at Karma, but both of them should know by now that they do no real damage and just cost Nagisa energy. All Karma has to do is wait it out.
Thinking back to when they used to be friends, Karma wondered. Nagisa is fierce. But also kind. He has this sweet smile that puts you at ease, and this attentive look in his eyes when you’re talking that’ll really melt your heart. He's also incredibly welcoming once you get to know him. Why did no one else want to become his friend?
Karma didn't ask Nagisa at the time because he was a greedy bastard who kinda wanted Nagisa for himself. Now though, it seems to be that others might have felt that same quiet bloodlust from Nagisa that Karma did when Nagisa stabbed him in his lungs.
After tanking a few punches, Karma gets the upper hand and axe-kicks Nagisa. Nagisa’s knocked out cold. Karma sighs. The fight is over. It’s finally over. He picks up the knife and drags it out on the floor a bit, being sluggish with his movements, relishing this moment.
I’m right, and you’re wrong Nagisa. Admit it. I’ve won.
If Karma had a vision of this before their fight, he probably would’ve gone easier on Nagisa. Nagisa looks so. . .innocent on the floor like this. Weak. But Karma’s not fooled. He worked hard to even be able to get this far. Only by gauging Nagisa’s skillset has Karma become the victor on top.
Damn. Even when he’s knocked out, Nagisa looks a bit beautiful. Yeah, he’s a bit banged up and laying on the ground, but that’s just how mesmerizing he is. It must be because of those python-like moves he has, clearly. Bewitching everyone must be part of his thing.
As Karma walked up to him, he sighs. He’s finally won. Good game, Nagisa.
Raising the knife to tag him, Karma goes in for the kill, only for Nagisa to stun-clap him. Shit. The only reason Karma is still standing is because he bit his tongue. Nagisa runs at him with a knife.
Come at me, Nagisa. I’ll block it, then I’ll kill you!
But he drops the knife.
He drops the knife?
Then Nagisa pulls Karma into a chokehold he can’t get out of, no matter how hard he squirms. “You are going to hear me out!” Nagisa yells. Damn it. Karma turns away from Nagisa’s close breath. This is supposed to be an intense battle; why does he feel a bit flustered at the closeness of Nagisa’s breath?
With a singular free arm, Karma desperately searches around on the ground, then finds a knife. The knife he must’ve dropped when Nagisa stunned him. Karma could end this. Karma could actually end this and win.
Except, that wouldn’t be very fulfilling, would it? At this very moment, it’s not Koro-Sensei’s life that matters, it’s Karma and Nagisa’s relationship. Karma would chuckle a bit if he weren’t slowly yet surely losing air. They’ve been drifting apart until this whole E class thing, and Karma’s fear for Nagisa’s innate assassination talent boiled over into anger. Anger that Nagisa was, intentionally or not, trying to up-end all of Karma’s hard work.
Maybe Karma shouldn’t think of it that way, but it’s hard not to when Nagisa probably feels mutual, probably even more hatred for Karma. Karma wastes his breath on a weak laugh. “Damn. You’d have to hate me to chokehold me this hard with your tiny body.”
Nagisa doesn’t reply. He just holds on with all his strength. Karma sighs (again). If letting Nagisa win meant repairing their relationship, so be it. He’d rather lose a fight than a friend. Karma drops the knife and pats Nagisa’s back. “Alright, Nagisa. You win.” It seems like Nagisa doesn’t hear him, so Karma gasps, “Uncle, uncle, Nagisa! Do you even hear me?!” As much as Nagisa’s body feels good next to his, Karma is way too tired to keep this up. Nagisa lets go when Karasuma announces that Karma admits defeat.
“So it’s over?” Nagisa finally looks up. “I’ve won?” Karma smiles at him.
“You’ve won Nagisa.” Nagisa’s eyes light up. Shit, they’re so pretty.
Ahem. Karma stands up and brushes himself off as Nagisa stands too. “You have the right to be mad,” Karma says, “but for me? That was the best fight I’ve ever had in a while. Right, so you wanna save Koro-Sensei. Let’s talk, I’m listening.”
“Are you really?” Nagisa gapes at him in disbelief. “No joke?”
Karma snorts. “Quit staring at me like that, you look like mouse trap cheese.” Nagisa stares at him harder, this time with a look of annoyance. Karma has the mind to practice the stun-clap on him now; if he’s thinking as intently as his gaze suggests, it’s bound to work.
“Wow. Even in defeat, you can’t bear to waste a single insult, huh?” Nagisa hmphs. Karma’s mouth twitches. Nagisa has a right to be on his guard around him, but still. It's not as if Karma’s gonna fight him over a harmless joke like this.
“Look, why don’t we just drop the back and forth. I’ve. . . missed you, Nagisa. I’m sorry I’ve been a. . bit of a dick,” Karma says rather slowly.
“If you say so,” Nagisa eyes Karma as if he’s still in disbelief. Karma’s at a loss for words, and Nagisa smiles hard and giggles a bit. Somehow, that smile worked up Karma more than the fight ever would have.
After things settle down a bit and everyone’s languidly hanging around each other outside, Karasuma sends Karma and Nagisa to the medical room inside the E class building. Karma’s injuries are minimal; only a few scratches that Karma can clean up and patch away. Nagisa, on the other hand, was beaten pretty badly. Karma winces internally. He probably should’ve gone a bit easier. Karma feels obligated to patch them up himself, and does so stubbornly even after Nagisa’s attempts to ensure that he can do it himself. Karma shakes his head defiantly.
“I ruined your pretty face and our friendship. You probably hate me now. I’ve gotta reconcile with you somehow, right?” Nagisa looks a bit flustered, but also confused after Karma says this.
“What are you talking about?” Nagisa asks. “I’ve never hated you. In fact, I’ve always really admired you. The way you’re so headstrong and resolute in your beliefs. I always thought that you were better than me because you were always so sure of yourself and had the strength to back up your beliefs. You’re just. . . so cool,” Nagisa sighs. It’s Karma’s turn to blush.
“Me?” Karma laughs for a moment, then goes silent for another, then finally, he meekly utters a simple, “I’m flattered.”
Ugh, what the hell, Karma! That’s so pathetic! Such a tiny, “I’m flattered,” really?! You sound like such a damsel in distress!!!
Yet, maybe that’s okay. At least around Nagisa. Maybe it’s okay to go back to being vulnerable around Nagisa again. Maybe there was nothing to be scared of, after all. Maybe now he can finally unwind. Karma’s heart beats quicker, like in the exhilarating way during the paintball fight. Except, this time, it feels all warm and fuzzy, like it’s about to beat out of his chest and hug Nagisa real tight.
Karma wraps Nagisa’s hands up. With them like this, Karma feels the urge to kiss them, as if he’s some knight in shining armor. An embarrassing and pathetic idea. He asks, “Do you have a plan? For saving him, I mean.” Nagisa shakes his head, ashamed.
“Eh. I was hoping we could all think of something. After all, several lessons in this class have taught us time and time again that doing things on our own around here will be impossible,” Nagisa explains. Karma nods his head understandingly.
“There.” Karma finishes wrapping up Nagisa’s hands. To hell with it, Karma kisses them gently, but the kiss lasts a few long seconds. “Good as new.”
From the courtesy of Karma, he won't comment on the huge blush blooming on Nagisa’s face.