Chapter 48

Class E's design for the school festival was nice, simple and perhaps the complete opposite of the grandiose class A.

Where they brought a theme of royalty, class E brought out their wilderness, their close relationships with the beauty of nature was highlighted.

With the constant stream of students, animals were scarce, and the number of wooden tables set out for everyone wasn't much. And yet, the slow wind that brought the gentle scent of food and nature to the customers, the greenery that was a relief to everyone's eyes and the smell of ramen and delicious food that could be served for a variety of people was perhaps the best condiment.

Their first day was slow, even Irina was hard at work to ensure maximum expenditure from their customers, or at least the ones who could afford it.

Nagisa served Sakura and the rest of the kids, until he was distracted by an unwelcome distraction- a boy with a crush.

The mischief makers jumped on it, taking advantage of the boy for themselves but fortunately for Nagisa, he wasn't the only one.

Gakushuu had arrived to look around and tease Karma by eating someone else's cooking. He had heard Karma was on gathering duty instead, the class was wary of his wasabi force-feeding ways.

There were surprised glances his way from the class E students, but annoyingly, Karma seemed far more involved with getting Nagisa to make the boy spend more.

Instead of taking a seat, Gakushuu approached Karma who was rummaging around for something suspiciously and grabbed it from his hands the moment he made a sound of victory.

He smirked.

"Oh, were you going to dress up into a maid outfit for me?" Gakushuu threatened with a smile.

Karma startled, then he looked at the outfit then at Gakushuu.

"Maybe…you can model for me first though," Karma said, a sly smirk on his lips. "I think you'd make a very pretty girl."

A few of his classmates stifled a giggle.

"I think you brought the wrong size," Gakushuu batted his eyes, "or was this not meant for a public appearance?"

Karma snapped his mouth shut with a click. He stared at Gakushuu, a slow blush started to form on his cheeks.

"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to it if you are," Karma whispered. He took a step closer, the window being the only thing that separated them. He put a hand on the side, leaning forward.

"But," he said a little louder for their audience, "I'm sure you came to actually try out our food, right?" Karma gave him a knowing look.

Gakushuu smiled blandly.

"Of course, I heard you have some hard to find ingredients being used for your recipes. I was curious, since I cook too," Gakushuu said. Karma stifled a laugh.

"Oh, you cook too? How interesting. I didn't expect that from you, prez," he teased.

"Yeah," Gakushuu smirked, "I always get to eat such delicious food, I need to be grateful sometimes right?"

"Hm?" Karma hummed, sitting Gakushuu down. He loomed closer, stepping in far too close for it to be the casual conversation it sounded like. "Gratitude can be shown in many other ways than just cooking for them."

Karma's eyes lingered on his lips. Gakushuu's lips twitched up.

"Oh?" He asked, "like what?"

"A gift maybe?" Karma murmured, his hands reaching for Gakushuu's collar. He straightened it, letting his fingers briefly brush against Gakushuu's pulse.

Gakushuu got flustered. Karma smirked.

"I'm sure he'll appreciate anything you offer, love," Karma murmured lowly, his voice so soft, even Gakushuu had to focus to hear. His lips barely even moved.

Gakushuu flushed, his eyes distracted by the way Karma's expression became unbearably smug, his lips curled up into a knowing smirk and Gakushuu wanted to punch him.

On his lips.

With his.

Maybe one with a little bite so it would hurt to make that expression again.

And the blood would be such a perfect match for his hair too. What a shame.

Karma took a step back and Gakushuu blinked hard, a few times, because wow, he had almost lost control there.

"So what would you like to have?" Karma asked almost politely. Gakushuu felt a shiver run down his spine.

He loved the way Karma switched roles like that. Gakushuu licked his lip, then he tugged it between his teeth.

"Suggest me something good,'' he said, "I'm feeling a little hungry."

Karma swallowed.

Even better when Gakushuu could make him break character.

"Right away," Karma said, voice slightly husky. Gakushuu gave him his best 'I won this round' smile.

Karma looked like he was far too horny to be doing this with him, but he left after narrowing his eyes at him.

Gakushuu waved at the numerous watchful eyes on him.

"He was totally trying to seduce Karma, right?"

"Oh yeah, did you see that lip lick? If he did that to me…phew."

"I think it was that face though."

"You mean, the godly face that only scares the living shit out of me because of how similar he looks to the Principal?"

"Shhh. Are you crazy? President has ears like the devil when people compare him to the Principal, and then you'll feel guilty for all of eternity for making the comparison in the first place."

"Yeah, but the Principal isn't like, half as pretty as Asano,"  Hinano inferred, looking at her classmate and the Student Council President speak far too intimately. "Wasn't Karma with a girl?"

"Yeah, he blushed and everything too," Maehara cupped his chin looking at Karma.

"Maybe he left her?"

"He'd find it far too bothersome to cheat so…"

"Maybe it's a three way?" Nagisa asked curiously (read: mischievously).

"No way."

"I mean, it's Karma!"

"How did TWO PEOPLE end up liking Karma at the same time?" Okajima complained.

"They're both insane."

"I can't believe they liked him so much to actually go together," Okajima murmured pitifully, lost in his own imaginary relationship.

"I mean, it's Karma."

"And it's not like it'd be a bother for the girl to date both Karma and Asano. They're both eye candy."

"Looks like Asano has it hard, huh?"

Karma started walking back towards them with a dazed expression.

"Maybe it's Karma who has it tough," someone murmured.

"Yeah," a few more agreed, amused.

The school festival overall, was a huge success.

There was a minor scuffle in one of the other junior classes but it was easy to deal with.

Gakushuu spent hours on the second day helping out his classmates. The third day was dedicated to making sure everything was perfect.

He could already see some classes shutting down early, even. Class E shut down at half day when they had apparently finished their ingredients, which was a lucky coincidence. Or not.

But either way, it was time.

Time to put on a show.

Gakushuu nodded to his accompanist, and she smiled back.

They had already been through thick and thin, and getting to come as a request was already becoming pretty hard to do seeing as she was becoming famous.

Though, most people in school wouldn't know her as anything more than his friend, unless they were interested in classical music. And it was just the way she liked it.

Gakushuu started first, a slow lilting tune, which was joined by her enchanting music. He smiled.

He always loved her music.

She was creative, she had a way with music that Gakushuu didn't. Oh, he loved it, sure. But she lived with it. She breathed music and danced in beats.

She knew exactly how the music would sound. The atmosphere it created. She chose artists, the song selections and even part of the decor.

Gakushuu was just the one who turned her vision into reality.

When they finished, they stepped down the stage, and as if on cue, Karma stepped up. He smiled and extended a hand to Gakushuu.

"First dance?" He asked cheekily. Gakushuu and her shared a look and she smiled and stepped back.

"Go for it," she winked. Then she gave Karma a look over with an impressed raised brow. Gakushuu shot her a glare.

He accepted Karma's offered hand.

There was music, dancing, lights, and almost no focus on them.

Gakushuu had a warm hand on his back, his hands on strong shoulders and a smile on his face.

It was a really, really good night.

(Halfway through Karma pinned Gakushuu against the wall behind the stage and kissed him senseless, and well, that was just a part of being a teen in love, right?)