Chapter Text
The door to Karma's office had swung open, and there stood Kataoka. A very furious Kataoka. Her green eyes narrowed in on the redhead who was casually sitting by his desk.
"Your fiancèe just left!" She stormed over to his desk.
"Oh, good morning, Kataoka-san." Nagisa politely greeted. She noticed Nagisa crouched on the floor, with a dustpan and cleaning what appeared to be a shattered vase.
"She ain't my fiancee anymore." He lazily tossed the sheet of paper he was reading onto the desk. "Besides, she had a boyfriend already."
"Even if she didn't, you would have still toyed with her!"
"Kataoka-san, did you really want that girl to be my bride? She tried to throw a vase at me before she left." He pointed at the mess that Nagisa was cleaning.
"And it was a gift from Akari." Nagisa sighed, looking solemnly at the broken pieces, feeling disheartened about throwing a gift out.
"Lucky for us, she's still out of the country," Karma grinned.
"She is so going to kill you when she comes back." Nagisa sighed.
"If you didn't like the girl, then cancel the engagement and pick another girl!" Kataoka argued. "You have a list of girls for a reason!"
"Now, where is the fun in that?"
Kataoka was about to yell, but instead clammed her mouth shut and closed her eyes. Why is she even bothering to argue with him? Huffing out some air, Kataoka gave a hard look at the Devil.
"Pick another girl. And if you don't like her, then simply cancel the engagement." Kataoka began to turn her heels. "You'd better change your behaviour when the next girl comes!" Just like the way she came in, she stormed out.
"She's overworking herself." Karma sighed, merely brushing off whatever Kataoka said.
"All done," Nagisa announced, dumping all the shattered pieces into the small trash. "Should I call Akari and tell her about the vase?" The blue-haired male set the dustpan and the brush aside.
"No, that's fine," Karma assured him, his legs leaving his desk. "We'll just be bothering her. She'll find out when she visits us again. Anyway, go ahead and pick the next girl on the list."
"Sure." Nagisa took his phone out. After a minute of looking for the right email, he scrolled through the names. A list of names of girls who are daughters of a Yakuza boss in the city, along with information on how to get hold of them or their parents.
"The next girl is... (L/n) (y/n)-san." At your name, Nagisa pursed his lips at how your last name sounded familiar. "Didn't you go to her piano recital?"
"Huh?" Confusion took over the Yakuza boss's face, but only for a moment. "Oooh. Yeah. But I didn't stay for long. I got called in for something. The only reason I went in the first place was 'cause I was bored."
"Um... She's from a small Yakuza family, I believe." Nagisa stated. "Is that okay?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" Karma uncaringly shrugged. "It's not like she's staying for long."
Nagisa's shoulders fell just a tad, followed by a soft sigh. "Fine, fine."
For the time being, Nagisa was letting Karma have his fun. He'd figure the Yakuza boss would eventually get bored by all of this (as he tends to do when he does play any game), so Nagisa does go along with it. From experience, it was better to let things play out rather than have him tell Karma what to do.
If he does let things play out, maybe he'll eventually get bored, and or he might just end up warming up to one of the girls. There has to be one of them who is able to put up with him.
-😈-
"Isoagi..." Nakumara tugged the brunette's sleeve, who was just ending a call. "What's up with the boss? He's a lot quieter than normal."
Ever since yesterday, everyone seems to have caught on about Karma's shift in attitude. It wasn't anything drastic, but subtle enough for everyone to pick up. One example would be how little invested he was in Kataoka's scolding. Well, less invested than normally.
"Not sure," Isogai said, then started to ponder. "I wonder if it has something to do with (y/n)-san."
"He's probably mad that he hasn't gotten her to crack yet," Nakamura grinned humorously.
For the past three weeks, she, along with everyone else who worked here, was aware of how frustrated Karma was about you and your lack of reaction towards the redhead's pranks and provocative jabs. It was rather amusing to witness since it is rare to see their normally cool-headed boss all worked up like that.
"Maybe." Isogai simply agreed with her. "Though I don't get why that would make you so happy. Wouldn't this mean you lost the bet?"
Nakamura's smile completely faltered at Isogai's words.
"Shit!!"
-😈-
You flipped through the next page of your book. Your eyes caught every word that was written. You have never been a big reader. Nor consider yourself to be one. Sure, you have read books back when you were in school, but the ones the school gave you were just a yawn fest. However, ever since living here, it has become a hobby after picking up a book from a genre you like and starting to get invested in it. It was a good way to pass the time after all.
Also, it was a good way to keep your mind off things. And by that, you mean it was a good way to keep your mind off of Karma. You haven't seen him since yesterday. Specifically, you haven't seen him since he hugged you. It was weird. The person who has been harassing you for the last three weeks was the same person who managed to calm you down.
Once you stopped crying, Karma did as he said and left you alone without saying or doing anything. You immediately went to your room and stayed there for the rest of the night. Nakamura did eventually check up on you a little later, but all you told her was that you weren't feeling well and said to do a rain check on the lunch thing.
The next day, you didn't see Karma at all. No pranks, no crazy surprises. Nothing. Surely this is one of his tricks, right? If not, then what?
Just when you were about to flip the page again, someone grabbed your book.
"Hey," You sat up from lying on the couch. "I was reading that--"
The person who took your book was Karma Akabane. Standing before you with a cool and passive stare. You flinched upon seeing him. You knew you were going to have to talk to him sooner or later. Is he here to personally tell you to leave because there is no point in you being here if you weren't going to play his game?
"I'm giving you two options." Karma began. "One, you can go back home today and never see me again."
That for sure isn't an option. He should have figured it out by now.
"Or option 2, you can stay here and have a life with me."
You were about to go for the second option, but quickly stopped. You pressed your lips together and pondered or not if you can truly start trusting this guy. He was nice to you only once; that doesn't mean anything. He hugged you. That's it. For all you know, he could still be toying with you for his own pleasure.
Your eyes slightly narrowed. "Is this a trick?"
"Nope. No tricks."
He's really good at acting innocent, so you didn't want to fall for that again.
You sighed. "Karma-kun--"
"Oh, you don't have to use formalities with me." He interrupted you. "We're engaged. It'll be weird. Plus, I'm not so big on them anyway."
Okay, now you don't know what to think anymore. He's suddenly taking the engagement seriously? What does he get out of this? You know he isn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart.
"(Y/n), I swear I'm not up to anything," Karma said when he felt your hesitation. "I'm giving you a choice to either stay or leave. Though judging from what you said yesterday, I have a feeling that you're going to choose to stay here. No?"
You bit your lower lip, eyes not looking at him. At his question, you wordlessly nod.
"And why is that?"
"Why do you even care?" You asked, quite bitterly.
"Because if I didn't, I would have continued to try and get you out of here."
Okay, he's made his point. If he didn't care, then the torment would have continued, and he would have discarded everything you had said yesterday.
You took a deep breath. There has to be some sort of empathy hidden somewhere in this guy. He isn't heartless, that much you knew already.
"... My dad doesn't see me as his daughter. If I were to come back home with the engagement broken off, things would end badly for me."
"Badly as in...?"
Your body felt shrunken as your expression fell into an uncomfortable stare. "I'll... be sold off." You mumbled. The whole sentence felt off to you. It just sounded wrong within itself. "My family isn't doing very well, so he's been looking for a finacé for me in order to keep his job going."
"Hm." Karma barely batted an eye.
It's common for a Yakuza boss to sell off their daughters. Karma has heard these sorts of things before. For some girls, it's a curse to be blood-related to a crime boss. He's witnessed firsthand those who have been sold off. It ain't a pretty sight. Really, you poor thing.
And that does explain why you've been trying to get on his good side for a while. You were only trying to make the best out of your situation.
"You could have told me you know."
"Don't suddenly put the blame on me!!" You argued.
"Hey, hey," Karma waved his hands in defence, feigning a vulnerable look. "I'm not trying to point fingers. I'm just saying that it was an option to tell me."
That didn't calm your anger down. "You didn't give off this impression of someone I can trust. You acted like the devil's spawn around me!"
"You don't have to try and flatter me, I'm already letting you live here."
You twitched an eyebrow.
"Sorry to burst that bubble of yours, but I only flatter attractive guys. You're not exactly my type."
Alright, that was a huge lie. Even though you were still upset after everything he had put you through, you couldn't deny the fact that you found him incredibly good-looking. A few years ago, you would have been putty in his hands despite everything he has done to you.
You saw how Karma's poker stare broke from your words. It seemed you dented his ego for a moment there. Good.
"Jokes aside." Karma moved so he could sit down next to you. "Since you're going to be staying here as my cute fiancée, I promise I'll stop with my harassment."
"You don't even want me around, though," you said, acting cautiously.
"I never said that. I just don't want to be engaged, which is why I did all those things. Besides, the other girls didn't seem to be your ideal partner. But I guess I don't mind putting up with this arrangement. It will be bad news for you if I were to break it off, no?"
"Yeah," you said lamely, still convinced he isn't helping you only for the sake of being nice. "But I don't see how this benefits you?"
"It kinda does." He says. "Because maybe now everyone will get off my back about getting engaged." Karma grimaced, recalling the people who are urging him to find a bride already.
He's being pressured into getting married? Why?
"Why do you even need to get engaged?"
"You ask too many questions," Karma did a lazy smile, but decided to answer your question anyway. "I wouldn't say I need to; it's just a silly tradition my family follows. It's also a great way to get more allies and expand the clan by marrying someone who is in another Yakuza family."
"Oh..." You nodded.
So that's why. Arranged marriages are normally used for business at the end of the day for his family.
"But there are other ways to get more allies, which is why I found the whole thing ridiculous." Karma sighed annoyingly.
He didn't seem the type to be told what to do, so you can see why he was against this whole thing. However... as of right now, is he willing to put up with this engagement?
"So..." you fiddled with your finger, hesitant to ask the next question. "Just so we're clear, you're really okay with this arranged marriage?"
"No," he said as if it were the obvious thing ever. He never wanted things to end up this way. He never intended to find a bride. But what is he supposed to do? Things will endly badly for you if he doesn't go along with this. You were an innocent girl who got tangled up in all of this by a selfish man. He couldn't stand back and let you bite the dust.
"Though it's not like it isn't something I can't live with." He shrugs. It was easy to tell that he didn't want to be stuck with you. Can you blame him? "I trust you won't be a nuisance when it comes to my work, no?"
Immediately, you shook your head. "I promise I won't."
"Hm. Good... However, I can't promise that I won't be a nuisance to you every now and then." Karma grabbed your cheeks and playfully squished them all while giving you a cheeky grin.
Your expression fell. Yeah, you should have known it was too good to be true. Oh well. It sounded better than all those pranks he was throwing at you. At least you have a little hope of having a better life than before.
Karma's hands left your cheeks. "Since you're stuck with me, you might as well learn to get used to it. But I promise I won't be a boring partner. You probably still hate me, but give me the chance to prove to you I'm not some spoiled kid."
Is that his way of apologizing without saying the word sorry?
"Um... Sure." You nodded without questioning his odd attempt at apologizing. You don't even know whether or not if that was even an apology, to begin with. "And, I don't hate you, by the way." You admit. You didn't do a double-take on Karma, so you missed how his eyebrows arched at what you were saying.
You don't hate him? How can you not? You said so yourself that you hated him.
"Well, I hated the way you treated me." You cleared up. "I know that you only did all those things 'cause you were wary of me and didn't want to get engaged. Though, do I find it justifiable? No. But I get where you were coming from. Sorry for my outburst the other day. I didn't mean it when I said I hated you. In the beginning, I did, but slowly started to get why you acted that way."
"... Right." Karma acted as if he wasn't really paying attention. He didn't want to seem like he was enthralled by what you were saying. He wasn't expecting you to read too much into his actions or for you to be able to see through him. Nor was he expecting to hear an apology from you when you've done nothing wrong.
He's convinced that you have a few screw loose in your head. Then again, he doesn't seem to hate that.
"I know you're not a complete jerk." You gave a small smile.
Three weeks of dealing with his shenanigans, and yet you could still manage a smile at him? Honestly, Karma is expecting more of your outburst from yesterday. Not that he blamed you, of course.
"Don't paint me in a good light." Karma rested his chin on his hand with his elbow resting on his knee. "Good grief. I don't like how easy it is to gain your trust."
You furrowed your brows. "Are you saying to not trust you?"
Karma quietly stared back at you. Soon, he let out a lazy smile. "Eh, no, not at all." He lifted his head away from his hand. "I guess I should appreciate that you're not going to hold a grudge against me. I can't promise that you'll be happy with me, though."
"I know." You said plainly without hesitation, but flinched when you saw how Karma gave you an unamused stare. "D-don't take it the wrong way." You waved your hands hurriedly. "I came here knowing full well that I would most likely not love the person I'm being forced to marry. The only thing I was hoping for was for us to at least get along."
"I think we can," Karma says with a hint of a smile playing across his face.
For the first time in weeks, you felt a bit hopeful about your new lifestyle. Or was it too soon to be happy? You are engaged to a Yakazu boss after all. Someone who is involved with crime. Who knows what kind of problems that would lead to?
"Although I wouldn't say I'm the easiest person to get along with," Karma gave you back the book you were reading. "But never mind that. There are some things you have to learn if you're going to be my fiancée. Though I'm sure you'll learn along the way. I don't want to be engaged to someone who is completely oblivious to my work."
You watched Karma stand up before you could even answer back to his words.
"So, you're choosing to stay here, right?" Karma asked once again, his mercury eyes glazing over your eyes. "You can go back home if you want to, but I'll still keep the engagement up." You blinked at this.
You can go back home?
"Um... thanks for giving me the option, but..." You didn't need to go into depth as to why you didn't want to go back home. "It would be inconvenient for us to visit each other since my house is 2 hours away." You sheepishly smiled.
Ah, he gets it. For a second there, Karma thought you would prefer to be back at your own house rather than being under the same roof with a guy you barely knew. Though it appears that was a stupid request. Why would you go back to the man who will sell you off in a heartbeat?
"Alright." Karma shrugged and began to walk away. "See you later. Oh, by the way..." He halted in his tracks and turned back to look at you. He pointed at the book you are holding as a mischievous smile crept upon him. "The cop was the one who committed the murder."
"YOU LITTLE TROLL--!!" You were already standing up, ready to chuck the book at him, but Karma has now left the room. The only thing you heard was Karma's laughter fading away down the hallway.