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“However, there's one condition on your search for a way to save him. You have until the end of the month.”
“So promise me that no matter how January turns out, February and beyond will be spent giving your all to assassination.”
Those were the words spoken by Karasuma-sensei after the 3-E class' team deathmatch reached the decision to save Koro-sensei.
There were only 64 days left to kill Koro-sensei. In such a short time, it was certain that many efforts would be made by various parties to truly eliminate the creature that labeled as a threat to Earth.
However, Karasuma-sensei’s hope is Kunugigaoka Junior High School’s Class 3-E to be the one to kill their teacher and no one else.
That was surely Koro-sensei’s hope, too.
“See you tomorrow!”
The sun had completely set when that farewell echoed through every corner of Class 3-E’s room. The classroom lights shone down on the two people who remained behind.
One of them began packing up their belongings, accompanied by a drawn-out sigh. That sigh was difficult to describe. It’s like disappointment, relief, acceptance, and determination blend into its tone. That person probably didn’t even realize that, but it was a form of honesty searching for its way toward another person.
And the other person walked towards the source of that sigh.
“Karma-kun.”
The one behind the sigh looked up from their bag, turning toward the voice.
“Ah, Okuda-san. Good work today,” the boy paused for a moment before finally realizing something, “Congrats that Koro-sensei’s save team has won.”
The tall boy now faced the girl in front of him, her figure much smaller than his. His closest opposite sex’s classmate in this assassination classroom. The person he trusted the most.
“With Okuda-san in this class, I’m sure we’ll quickly find a way to save Koro-sensei."
“Yes! I’ll do my best if it means helping a lot of people!" The girl looked up at the boy in front of her with her sparkling eyes.
“Ahaha! That’s just like you, Okuda-san.”
That kind of laugh was typical of him. There was no mockery in it. It’s just a sincere response from his heart, because the presence of the girl made all his wariness disappear.
“Are you going home now?” As Karma picked up his bag, as if to show he was about to leave, Okuda quickly grabbed one of Karma’s hands that wasn’t holding the bag.
“Ah—”
For a moment, silence accompanied the two of them.
What Okuda did was to stop Karma, and that was obvious. The reason behind that spontaneous action was—
“... Karma-kun, there are a lot of wounds of your face,” Okuda spoke carefully, “May I treat them first?”
“... Eh?”
There had already been many unexpected things today. Too many, in fact, that Karma's mind felt incapable of processing yet another one, like this. Stopping him from going home just to treat his wounds? Even though not long ago, they had been fighting against each other to decide Koro-sensei’s fate.
Okuda, snapped back to reality, released Karma’s hand. She lowered her head, as if cursing herself for her own embarrassing spontaneity.
Karma continued their conversation, “Oh, these wounds? It’s fine, I’m used to these kinds of injuries. I can—”
“No, you must not leave that many wounds untreated for any longer!”
“I can treat them myself” was what Karma had intended to say, but the girl in front of him seemed determined to treat him right then and there. To Karma, Okuda’s behavior felt unusually unpredictable and that surprised him. Come to think of it, the possibility wasn’t zero that Okuda would go this far if it was once again her way of trying to feel useful to others.
Karma gave in and chuckled softly, “Alright then, I’ll accept your kind offer,” and he sat back down in his seat.
“Please treat me with all your heart, Okuda-san.”
After saying, “Leave it to me!”, the girl in front of him turned to get her bag and pulled her chair over in front of Karma. She took out several first-aid items and placed them on Karma’s desk.
Curious, Karma looked over at the items Okuda had taken out, “You always carry all of these items around?”
“Only when I plan to do experiments after school, just in case.”
Heeeh.
Okuda slowly sat down in front of Karma. She exhaled, as if to encourage herself. Karma chuckled at her behavior.
Cute.
“Well then, I’ll start now.”
With her steady hands, Okuda started treating Karma’s wounds properly using the medical supplies she had. Her tiny hands that probably about the size of Karma’s face moved quickly, but Karma could feel that she was treating him with great care.
The red of Karma’s sharp eyes met the purple eyes of the girl in front of him. The red that usually radiated passion and power now seemed less intense than usual. Even though their heights weren’t equal due to the difference in height, Karma could clearly sense the strength in Okuda’s purple eyes.
As if, the red in Karma’s eyes couldn’t withstand the greater strength behind Okuda’s purple, leaving him with nothing but the warmth of her care.
Until just a while ago, today’s events had been gnawing at Karma’s thoughts. And at this very moment, the girl who was skilled in making poisons was intervening those unstable thoughts. Her presence was not in form of a poison, but an antidote that harmonizing Karma’s thoughts.
“... Actually, there’s something I want to say to Karma-kun.”
That sentence brought Karma back to reality. Okuda said it after finishing treating the wounds on Karma’s face and placing bandages on certain spots. The pain from the untreated wounds that Karma had felt now felt much better, thanks to Okuda.
“What is it?” This time, Karma tried to see Okuda with his full awareness, “ “I wouldn’t have minded if Okuda-san had been honest from the beginning.”
Okuda was surprised by Karma's reply that seemed to understand her motives well, so Karma corrected his words, “Just kidding. I’m sorry, I should be thanking you for treating my wounds. Thanks a lot.”
Okuda didn’t say anything in response to Karma. She didn’t look away and kept her eyes on Karma. The thing she wanted to say, the thing she had been trying to understand through her emotions and not through science, was stuck in her throat.
If she could tell the boy in front of her now, would it mean she had opened a new page in her understanding of human emotions? How should she choose the right words to say? Was there even a rule for that?
Scientific experiments she usually conducted had absolute rules and measures. But human emotions and conveying feelings through words were entirely different matters. The science girl still didn’t fully understand whether what she felt and expressed to others was right or wrong.
But there was no time to think about that.
Koro-sensei, Irina-sensei, and Karasuma-sensei were probably still in the teacher room right now. If they noticed there were still students in the classroom, they would definitely order Karma and Okuda to go home, especially after the long battle they had gone through today.
There was one and only thing Okuda was sure of.
She had to make sure her feelings were conveyed to Karma.
“... About today’s battle, I was truly impressed with you, Karma-kun.”
Okuda finally spoke, looking straight at Karma. The strong determination in her eyes and voice made Karma focus on listening to each word she said.
“Karma-kun, you prepared and executed your tactics so well. I was really amazed by your leadership in carrying out the plans based on each person’s strengths. I could truly feel the trust of our classmates who were by your side. Even the save team was overwhelmed because we didn’t have as solid a plan as the kill team. And when Karma-kun were about to duel Nagisa-kun, that was when I thought ...”
“... I really wanted you to win at that moment.”
Once again, the girl in front of him surprised Karma. Why would “Okuda-san” say that, when she was part of the team that wanted to save Koro-sensei because she believed science could do it?
The two figures facing each other were filled with confusion in expressing their thoughts to one another.
“Okuda-san, you were in the team that wanted to save Koro-sensei, right? At a decisive moment like that, you should’ve been cheering for Nagisa. There was no other option but to hope Nagisa would win so that the whole class would agree on finding a way to save Koro-sensei.”
“I know,” there was no hesitation in her voice when she said that, “But I couldn’t lie to myself.
Since Koro-sensei came to this class, I’ve seen how hard Karma-kun has worked to assassinate him. Even beyond that, Karma-kun has always worked hard to reach the top rank in exams and has always supported Class 3-E in achieving higher rankings as well.
You never gave up and kept working harder. That’s why ..."
“The hard work Karma-kun always shows is what makes me want to support you in achieving all your goals.”
Karma was still trying to comprehend Okuda’s words.
The moment the girl started speaking her thoughts to Karma, he could feel there was no single hesitation in her words. As long as he had known her, she always became passionate when it came to things she liked and excelled at.
So ...
This must be the same. Okuda must be absolutely certain about the feelings she was expressing to Karma.
“Ah, even though our goal this month is to find a way to save Koro-sensei, I’ll still support Karma-kun this time!” It seemed the science girl was starting to feel awkward because Karma wasn’t saying anything.
The classmate in front of her was usually hesitant to express her thoughts. But today, she spoke more than usual, yet never once mentioned Karma’s talents. She believed in the hard-working Akabane Karma, not the genius Akabane Karma.
And finally, Karma realized something.
The girl in front of him was more than just someone he trusted.
She was the one who understood him the most in this class.
“... I see. What Okuda-san just said has brought back my confidence. If Okuda-san believes in me that much, then I’ll keep working hard from now on~”
Karma slowly changed his expression into a smile—not just on his lips, but in his eyes as well. A little mischievous, like his usual self. Okuda returned Karma’s words with a smile that seemed to mark her victory in expressing her feelings to him.
“I’m glad I managed to say it!”
I never really thought much about it, but ...
When did I start being drawn to her beyond the silly and mischievous pranks I wanted to do? When did she step past the boundaries I built around others that I started confiding in her my fears and ambitions?
And she understood them well.
Okuda began packing up the medical supplies she had laid out on Karma’s desk. Karma watched the glasses girl, who was so skilled in science, from the side.
… Ah.
No wonder Karma felt confused from her words earlier, because he still saw Okuda that way. Even though today, Okuda Manami who was in front of him proved that she understood others’ emotions deeply.
At least, that was true for Akabane Karma.
Okuda’s existence was like a vast field where Karma could pour out everything in his heart. She cared deeply about what had been planted in that field and nurtured its integrity with great care. And then, that field became a pillar that helped Karma soar towards his goals.
As Okuda was about to return her chair, Karma grabbed one of her hands. That action was enough to surprise Okuda and make her sit back down in her chair, right in front of Karma, who now bowed his head low.
"Thank you. Okuda-san, you’re the first person who’s ever said those things to me."
Karma leaned his head on Okuda’s shoulder.