Chapter 23: Preparing

                                    

                                          

Nagisa's POV 
                          
Midterms start next week, so we're going to study from here on out. 
                          
Karma's gonna come later. I've already suggested to go to a public library instead, but he said it's okay.
                          
There will be no clubs this week, in order for us to study. "We won't have a meeting next week! Midterms are coming up, so study hard, everyone!" Nozomi-senpai's voice echoed in my head.
                          
We were now walking to the rooftop, as usual. "So we're studying after school, right?" Arisa-chan asked. 
                          
"Yep." Sasahara-kun replied. "I hope Akabane won't be late."
                          
Chiyuki-chan clenched her hands, "I want to focus on math the most..."
                          
"I want to focus on science." I said. 
                          
"Don't slack off, Tanaka! You're the one who needs to study the most." Sasahara-kun stated. 
                          
Arisa-chan pouted as she walked ahead. "I know!" 
                          
I smiled at them. 
                          
Hm... Is Karma allowed to be in the school library? I'll have to ask a teacher later. 
                          
Karma's POV 
                          
"And then, and then!" Hasegawa smiled. "He actually got first place! Who would've thought?" 
                          
"W-with a technique like that?" Hiro asked. 
                          
"I know, right!?"
                          
I put the straw in my mouth and started drinking my milk. As I was about to close my eyes, a group of familiar people came in the class. A group of five, to be exact. 
                          
A guy with strawberry blonde hair said to me, "I look forward to competing with you again, Akabane."
                          
My eyes shifted at him, "Really? Well, I'm not. It's already clear who the winner is going to be, Asano." I smirked. 
                          
Asano grinned. "Don't be so sure, Mr. 85."
                          
He reminded about that one particular memory. "And what can Mr. Second Place do about it?" I shot back at him as I stuck out my tongue. 
                          
His grin faded, "That was just mere bad luck."
                          
"Riight~ You'll have to beat me if you want some info about Korosensei~" I stood up and leaned closer to his face, starting to make fun of him. 
                          
"You mustn't be too confident, Akabane." Sakakibara said as he swiped his hair back. "They will come back and bite you later on."
                          
"That's right, that's right!" Koyama laughed. 
                          
A smirk appeared once again on Asano's face. "It seems that I don't need you for information of the alien teacher anymore. Shiota-san has already told me many things." 
                          
My brows furrowed and my eyes narrowed a little. The smile stayed, however. "Oh? And what were you doing with her?" I glared at him. 
                          
"Nothing so important. She told me some quite interesting stories about your alien teacher." He crossed his arms. 
                          
"We went out for a little coffee while we're at it." He added. 
                          
I clenched my fist, "And I suppose you haven't done anything to her?" I glared daggers at him. 
                          
He scoffed as he looked to the side. "Don't be so foolish, Akabane. I'm already taken."
                          
Oh?
                          
Asano has a girlfriend? 
                          
"Oh, I see." I smiled. "Then you better not get too close to Nagisa, or else your girlfriend will get upset."
                          
"Don't take me for someone so careless." He scoffed.