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Nagisa was currently sitting at his desk doing some self directed studying.
Sitting across from him was Karma, who was leaning back in his chair. Meanwhile, to his left sat Kayano, and to his right sat Nakamura.
Something important had come up that Koro-sensei had to go and deal with, so, instead of their usual class, they had a study hall.
Kayano and Nakamura had moved their desks up against Nagisa's, forming a singular large desk, and Karma had wandered over from the back of the class to join their makeshift group.
Despite the fact it was supposed to be a study hall, it appeared that very little studying was actually getting done.
At least at their table.
“You got that question wrong, by the way, Nagisa-kun.” Karma said, taking a lazy glance over Nagisa's work sheet. “Just thought you might like to know.”
Nagisa's pen froze as he let out a resigned sigh. “...Well, I had a feeling it was incorrect, but I still don't know where I went wrong. Still, it's impressive that you're able to tell, even from the opposite end of the desk.”
“I don't know, Nagisa. Maybe he's just making it up just to mess with you?” Nakamura added with a grin as she rested her chin in her hand.
“Oh? Doubting me, are you?” Karma asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he turned his attention to Nakamura. “What do you think, Nagisa-kun? Would I really be the type to just mess with you for the sake of it?”
“Well, you do enjoy messing with people, Karma-kun,” Nagisa replied with an awkward smile.
“Do you want us to answer honestly?” Kayano added.
Karma let out a theatrical sigh. “I can't believe you all think so low of me. I'm not lying though, you did get that last question wrong.”
Karma got up and dragged a chair beside Nagisa.
“Come on. Move,” he said, nudging Nagisa's chair with his foot and sitting down next to him.
He pointed to the question. “See, you used the right equation, but you put in the wrong numbers. Simple mistake, really. Feel free to thank me when you pass the next exam.”
“You know, you're sitting… awfully close to Nagisa right now, Karma,” Nakamura said, a teasing lilt in her tone.
“Hm? And what of it?” Karma replied. “Can't exactly tell him where he went wrong without sitting next to him, no?”
Her smug grin widened. “Oh, sure, sure. You're only sitting next to him because you have to. Of course.”
“It sounds like you're trying to imply something, Nakamura,” Karma began, his voice taking on a teasing edge. “Is sitting next to someone considered scandalous these days?”
“Implying things? Me?” Nakamura replied with mock shock, before returning to her casual demeanor. “I'm just… surprised.”
“Surprised? About what? That I'm willing to help my fellow classmates with their homework?” Karma scoffed. “Believe it or not, Nakamura, but I'm not a complete jerk.”
“No, no, you're completely right, Karma. You aren't a jerk,” Nakamura closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat, pausing meaningfully before opening one eye back up. “But you are a tsundere.”
The whole table fell silent in response to Nakamura’s curveball declaration.
Even Karma's confident expression fractured, instead replaced with… confusion?
“...I'm sorry, what?” He replied a moment later.
“You're a tsundere,” Nakamura replied with confidence. “Sitting awfully close to Nagisa, while pretending that it's totally an inconvenience for you, and how you definitely don't actually want to be there? 'It's not like I want to help you or anything, but let me help you anyway'. Classic tsundere behavior, really.”
Karma turned his attention to Nakamura. “Ok, firstly, it's not that I don't want to help him, because I clearly am helping him–”
“You're acting like it's an inconvenience though~” Nakamura interrupted with a sing-song tone.
He flinched ever so slightly.
“So, let me just make sure I'm following you correctly, Nakamura. Helping Nagisa with one question makes me a tsundere now?” Karma turned to face Nagisa. “Are you hearing this, Nagisa-kun? I think Nakamura's lost it”
“It does when you do it. I mean, look at the two of you! Would it kill you to tone down the flirting when in the company of others?” Nakamura replied, before turning to face Kayano. “Don't you agree, Kayano?”
“I, um… well,” Kayano stammered. “I mean, Nakamura does have a point, you two can be a little distracting at times. Especially you, Karma.”
“Um, I'm a bit lost here, could someone explain?” Nagisa interrupted. “I know what a tsundere is, obviously, but… why are we calling Karma-kun one? Also I'm pretty sure Karma-kun isn't trying to flirt with me. He was just helping me with studying.”
Karma waved his hand dismissively. “Just ignore them, Nagisa-kun. They're being idiots. Oh, no offense, of course.”
Nakamura let out a fond sounding sigh as she crossed her arms. “Classic tsundere behavior, denying their tsundere nature when accused.”
“A classic catch-22,” Karma responded. “I am not a tsundere.”
Nakamura ignored him. “And, just for the record, Nagisa, Karma is totes flirting with you.”
“Sure, he isn't outright complimenting you or anything, but! It sure is strange how he just so happens to always be around you, isn't it?” She asked, an annoyingly confident smirk on her face. “Always finding some excuse to… oh, I don't know, sit next to you, get real close in your personal space.”
Karma scoffed. “Really? That's the best you got, Nakamura? Honestly, I'm a little disappointed, I expected more from you.” He stretched his arms up before bringing them behind his head.
“Hey, if the shoe fits, tsundere.” Nakamura rested her chin in her hand.
Karma's eyebrow twitched subtly as he leaned back in his chair.
“Come to think of it, Karma and I do hang out a lot together…” Nagisa said, musing aloud.
“Not helping, Nagisa-kun,” Karma replied.
Nakamura turned her attention over to Nagisa.
“Oh? How interesting,” she said, as though Nagisa's statement was new information to her, and not something she was already well aware of.
“Tell me, Nagisa, just how many of these… hangouts, does Karma instigate?” She asked with a knowing grin.
“Most of them, actually,” Nagisa answered a moment later. “Why?”
“That’s funny. It's just, for someone who keeps arranging to hang out with you, he sure likes to act totally and completely disinterested and unenthusiastic, doesn't he?” Nakamura replied.
Karma looked over at Nakamura. “Oh? And where are you going with this, Nakamura? Just because I invite Nagisa-kun to hang out with me doesn't mean I have to make a big deal out of it.”
“Mhm, that's fair, and if it was just that, I'd almost let it go.” Nakamura raised a finger. If it wasn't for the fact that you consistently never make it a big deal, ever! You always act like it's just coincidence, or a convenience, or like you're doing him some sort of favour.”
“Now that you mention it…” Nagisa began, his voice slowly tapering off.
“Nagisa-kun,” Karma interrupted sharply.
“See! That right there! You suddenly got all defensive. Classic tsundere behavior. Just admit that you want to hang out with him.” she asserted with a wave of her wrist.
Another eyebrow twitch, Karma's irritation was growing.
Nakamura turned her attention to Kayano “So, what do you think, Kayano? Is our dear Karma a tsundere?”
“I, well…” Kayano stammered before letting out a sigh of defeat.
“I have to agree with Nakamura on this one, sorry Karma, you do act a tiny bit like a tsundere at times. Not that that's a bad thing! Although… I do think that you could work a bit on letting Nagisa know that you do actually want to hang out with him… just a suggestion,” she said softly.
“Seriously, this is ridiculous,” Karma muttered.
Nakamura simply ignored him, and turned her attention to Nagisa next. “And, what about you, Nagisa? Would you consider Karma here to be a… tsundere?” She asked, shooting Karma a teasing look.
“Well, I guess he does fit the definition somewhat? He can be a bit cold at times but deep down he means well,” Nagisa answered thoughtfully.
Karma let out a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a sigh. “...Seriously?”
“Well, what do you say, Karma? That's three votes against one,” Nakamura said, staring at Karma with a smug grin.
Karma let out another sigh. “What do I say? I say that the three of you should start putting this sort of effort into actually studying.”
“Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get some fresh air,” he announced, pushing himself up out of his seat and walking towards the classroom door.
“And would you look at that? When confronted, the tsundere runs away,” Nakamura said, speaking loud enough for Karma to hear her.
“I am not a tsundere!” Karma exclaimed, before clicking his tongue.
“Idiots…” he muttered to himself, stepping outside the classroom before closing the door behind him.