SLIGHT NSFW!
1st Day of High School
The night before your first day of high school, you and your mom were arranging supplies and packing your bag together-made sure that among the stack of notebooks, your lucky pen was inside, too. You were nervous but pretty relaxed, knowing a lot of your childhood friends would also be there.
The next morning, Mom dropped you off in front of the lively school. You took a deep breath and, upon entering, saw your friends: Nakamura Rio, Kayano Kaede, Naomi Tanizaki, and Lucy Maud Montgomery. None of them were different than you, practically bouncing up to you as they ran. The energy was filled with chatter as everyone caught up.
Rio elbowed you, her eyes fixed on something-or rather, someone-approaching your group. "Look! The redhead's coming over here!" she whispered excitedly. You turned and there he was: a boy, strikingly red-haired, in casual wear of a white shirt and gray jeans. The confident, friendly smile on his face really set him apart.
"Hey girls!" he greeted with a grin. "Do you know where the principal's office is?"
Kayano quickly jumped in, "Yeah, follow me. I'll show you the way!"
"Thanks a lot!" he said with a wink, following her and leaving the rest of you standing there. You couldn't help but stare after him, coolly, or at least trying to. Rio obviously noticed immediately and smirked.
"(Y/N), I saw that look. You think he's cute, don't you?"
You blushed, trying to play it off. "What? No… I mean, he's… yeah, he's cute, but that's all."
She raised an eyebrow. "Right. Sure." But finally, unable to hold it in, you admitted, "Okay, fine! He's cute and hot and everything, but please, don't say a word!"
"Promise!" they all chorused together, their grins only getting wider.
Your first class that morning was Math, and your mouth had dropped open in surprise to see the redhead from earlier-who you later came to know as Karma Akabane-in that class as well. Rio flirted with you, and just the grin sent you blushing away.
"Lucky you, huh?" she whispered, her tone making your face go red as you looked away.
Day Two: A Chance Encounter
While on your way home, the very next day, you suddenly saw Karma again. He was standing by the bus stop with headphones in, scrolling through his phone with an effortless casual posture, a slight grin on his lips, making him exude coolness with so much ease. The rising heat in your cheeks only made you look down for a second, breathing in heavily to cover up and pick up that lost courage to approach him.
"Hey!" you called out, trying to sound casual. He looked up and took out his earphones.
"Hey," he greeted you with a grin. "Waiting for the bus too?"
"Yeah… um, would you want to go to school together tomorrow?"
He looked faintly taken aback, then his face brightened. "I'd love that!"
The bus came, and you found yourselves sitting next to each other, the soft hum of the road filling in the gaps of your questions. "So… what's your name?" you asked, though you already knew.
"Karma Akabane. And you?"
You stated your name, and he nodded, a soft smile on his face. "Nice name, Y/N."
"Thanks," you replied, cool as ever. The ride to school seemed to pass by too fast. The second you stepped off the bus, your friends swooped in.
"Morning, ladies," Karma greeted them all, though Rio and company were too distracted with you to bat an eye at him.
"Later in class, Karma!" Rio chattered, almost dragging you from him before you could say a word.
The moment he was out of earshot, they exploded with excitement. "(Y/N)! You and Karma came to school together?" Rio squealed.
You laughed and shrugged. "Yeah, but it's not a big deal…"
"Oh, it's a big deal!" she teased.
Unexpected Trouble and a Hero in Red
Later, during History class, you found yourself glancing at Karma across the room. Unfortunately, your teacher noticed. She leaned in close, smirking as she whispered, "Got a little crush on the new kid, huh?"
Your cheeks went red as you stammered, "Uh, no, I just… I dropped my pen, and he gave it back…
Karma, ever so cool, replies, "Nah, I just gave her a rubber-no biggie." And the teacher's all, "Okay then."
As class got out, you were surrounded by these boys with oddly sharp streaks about them. The others leaned in and said, "If you don't want anyone finding out about your crush, then maybe you should be 'dating' one of us for a while."
Before you could even respond, Karma appeared out of nowhere. He held up his phone, indicating he'd recorded them saying all those things. "If you don't want trouble with the principal, I'd leave her alone," he warned; his tone was cool, yet serious.
The guys stepped back, still muttering, before they vanished down the hall. Karma took your hand gently and guided you out of the classroom, away from the lingering stares.
"Thanks," you whispered once you were alone again. "That was so rude of them. I don't… I don't like it when people talk about me like that."
He gave your hand an assuring squeeze. "No problem. People shouldn't treat you like that."
Then from that time on, you were taken by the silent strength of his, and soon enough, he became your best friend.