4 Blossoming

The next day during lunch break...

"Did you hear?" one guy said. "Shirohana was with Karma yesterday."

"Oh my god," one girl said. "Are they dating?"

There was a rumor that floated through the school that Karma and Shirohana were on a "date". Everyone was talking about it.

*Oh my god. Why is everyone talking about that? We were just hanging out...* Karma thought, annoyed.

"HEY FUCKER! COME HERE!" Someone shouted. The class grew silent and looked at who was shouting. Karma slowly turned and saw the guy who warned him not to get close to Shirohana. Everyone looked at Karma.

"M-Me?" Karma asked, nervously.

"WHO ELSE WOULD I BE TALKING ABOUT?!" The guy shouted. He stomped over to Karma and grabbed him by the collar.

"I warned you to not get so close to her. Yet, you did," The guy exclaimed angrily and raised a fist.

"Josh! Stop that!" A girl shouted. Shirohana was at the door, heavily breathing. "What are you doing?!"

"S-Shirohana?" Josh said, nervously. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that," Shirohana said angrily. "What are you doing to Karma?"

"I-I can't let a repeat of that incident. I won't let it happen. That's why I need to take care of this guy," Josh said, turning back to Karma and raised his fist. Shirohana quickly ran to them and stepped between them, arms stretched, facing Josh.

"I won't let you. Karma saved my life and I owe it to him to stop you," Shirohana said, sternly. Josh slowly dropped his fist.

"Tsk," Josh mumbled and left the classroom. Shirohana sighed and turned to Karma.

"I'm sorry about Josh. He's just very overprotective of me," Shirohana said. "It's all because of an incident that happened a long time ago. I'm sorry you were dragged into this."

"It's alright," Karma replied. "I sorta get what he was feeling." Shirohana smiled.

"Come with me for a bit," Shriohana said, lightly pulling on Karma's hand. Karma allowed himself to be led out of the classroom. They headed for the school courtyard and found themselves an empty bench.

"Here I made this as thanks for yesterday," Shirohana said, pulling out a bento box. She opened it to reveal a wide variety of meat, vegetables, etc.

"This is all for me?" Karma said, amazed.

"Yep. You saved me from that speeding car. The least I can do is give you this," Shirohana said, handing Karma the bento. Karma readily accepted and took a bite of the meat.

"This is so delicious," Karma said.

"Thanks," Shirohana said sweetly. "I tried my best."They ate and talked until the bell signaled the end of lunch break. Classes went on as usual, with some quick glances and small gossip because of the incident with Josh.

"Sighh," Karma sighed as the last bell rang. He packed up his things and left the classroom. It was cool outside, breezes of wind blew past Karma. As Karma was walking, someone knocked him out. Karma fell on to the ground. As his vision faded, he saw a bunch of men in black suits looking down at him.

Then everything was black.

"Ugh...," Karma groaned in pain. His head was ringing and he was really dizzy. He sat up and realized he was roped up.

"You're finally awake," a boy's voice said. It was Josh. Beside him were men in black suits. They were in a dark room.

"Why am I here. What are you going to do to me?" Karma wearily asked.

"These men are going to teach you a lesson. So you won't ever dare get close to Shirohana ever again!" Josh said. "Men, get him." He then walked out of the place and slammed the door.

"W-wait," Karma said. "You don't have to do this."

"We're getting paid for this. You don't have any say in this," The men said. They advanced on him.

One guy punched him in the gut.

"AGH," Karma screamed in pain. The other men threw punches at him too.

"It's relaxing to get paid huge sums of money for an easy job like this," One man said while punching Karma.

"Sure is. This guy is a weak-ass punk," Another man said, laughing.

*Weak...Weak...Weak...* The word echoed in Karma's head. He then felt a sharp pain in his head.

"No... I'm....turning....", Karma mumbled, as he struggled to keep the demon inside of him. It was no use. He falls to the ground.

"Man, he's out cold," One man said. "This ain't fun enough."

"Fun? I'll give you fun!" Karma said suddenly, springing up and uppercutting the guy.

"AGHH," The guy groaned in pain.

"HAHAHA. What's the matter? Can't handle some pain?" Karma said devilishly.

"YOU BRAT," Another man screamed in charged at Karma. It was no use. Karma easily dodged and struck the man's solar plexus. The man fell to the ground, holding his stomach.

"I thought you guys were supposed to be tough?" Karma snicked. "Guess I overestimated you guys."

"Don't get cocky, kid," One man said. "Guys! Let's charge him together." The men dashed at Karma.

"Man," Karma said. "Can't even fight by yourself." Karma, in his heightened state, easily avoided the men and beat them senseless one by one.

"That's all you got?" Karma said condescendingly. "Man, you're not even making me break a swe-" Before he could finish, Karma was attacked by a man, who body slammed him to the wall. Instead of groaning in pain, Karma laughed.

"Yes. YES. That's it. Give me more of a thrill!" Karma shouted and dashed at the man. He kicked the man in the side and punched his face. The fight continued for quite a while, both the men and Karma taking blow after blow. After about an hour, Karma had defeated all the men. The adrenaline was still strong, so Karma still hadn't turned back. He stood up and saw a knife near a fallen man.

"You guys were going to use this on me?" Karma said. "Since you guys didn't get to, maybe I should use it on you and on that Josh kid that set me up." Karma picked up the knife and felt a great sense of excitement.

"Ugh..." One man groaned in pain. Karma stood up and walked over to the man. The man sat up and saw Karma walking towards him with a knife. He scurried back.

"N-No. Please don't hurt me!" The man said. "I don't even care about the money or the job. Just let me go and I'll never show up again!"

"You are all the same," Karma said. "When the circumstances don't favor you, you beg for your life. Pathetic." Karma grabbed the man by the collar and point the knife at the man's eye.

"How about I take an eye?" Karma said, smiling. "So, you will remember this moment forever."

"N-No! Please!" The man cried. Karma drew the knife back and advanced it toward the man's eye.

"'Stop!" A girl's voice shouted. Karma, without warning, was grabbed by the arm and held from behind. It was Shirohana.

"Please Karma. You already did too much. Don't turn yourself into a monster," Shirohana said, tears dripping. Somehow, Shirohana's voice reached the Karma trapped inside the demon.

*I have to get out* Inner Karma thought. The demonic Karma pushed Shirohana to the ground.

"Bitch. Do you want to get it first?" Demonic Karma said. Karma pinned Shirohana down and held the knife above her eye and started to move the knife toward her eye.

"Please. Karma. Wake up!" Shirohana shouted. "This isn't you!" The knife stopped just before it reached Shirohana's eye.

"S-Shirohana?" Karma said, confused. He dropped the knife in confusion.

"Karma! You're back!" Shirohana said and hugged him. Karma blushed.

"S-Shirohana? What are you doing?" Karma said, embarrassed. Then he looked around him.

"No...I did it again..." Karma said, shocked. He plopped down on the floor.

"Karma..." Shirohana started. She stopped when Karma entered his depressed mood again. She embraced him to comfort him.

They sat there in silence.