Red Yarn (Oshi No Ko > Aqua X Kana)

End of Winter (3)

After a long trip, circle the department store. Eventually Karma and Aqua meet again with the four girls at a western a la restaurant.

They booked a private room as it contained many actors, actresses and idols as well. The relaxed looking Karma just ordered some food for her. Akane did not stop grilling the meat assisted Ruby.

"You've been shopping a lot? Is that for your brother?" tanya Mem, she wants to lure Karma to tell her about her brother. Because Mem was very curious who Karma's sister was.

"There's for me, for my brother and our village children as well. Aqua's the one who bought it for a gift she said." Karma glanced at Aqua who was eating grilled meat casually.

"Village boys?" tanya Mem again sat facing Karma.

"Yes, my village has few inhabitants, but because of a little so we're like family." Karma answered. "Yesterday Aqua helped them a lot, so this is a gift for them" he said."

Mem glanced at Aqua who had no intention of answering Mem's questions to Karma.

"Then the rest have your brother?" 

"One shopping bag full of this for her, another bag for me and dad. And another one for Aqua's beloved horse." Karma answered while reaching for her drinking glass.

"Horse?" ask Frill. "Oh, so you're riding practice there too?"

"Yes, I trained riding there." Aqua answered and went back to eating her flesh. "His name is Black, it's jet black and very dashing."

Akane did not stop cooking the meat and gave it to Aqua before her. It was because Akane was happy that Aqua ate meat quickly.

"But, Aqua-kun. Your acting was very good in yesterday's drama with Frill. I didn't believe it. And I followed every episode without missing a single one." Akane smiled looking at Aqua.

"Yes, thank goodness.." Aqua responded briefly.

"Who trained you there?" tanya Mem full of probing.

Aqua glanced at Karma beside her. "There's someone training me there."

"Yeah? He must be very expert. Your abilities have increased a lot." Akane commented.

"Yes, he taught me a lot." Aqua ate her flesh, standing up to grab the meat clamp and scissors. "You can eat now, I'll bake it."

Akane sat in her chair, looked at Aqua and smiled. He grabbed a glass and drank it. Akane ordered salad and ice americano. He does not eat meat like the others, because he is a vegetarian.

"You don't want meat, Karma?" ask Aqua.

"I've bought chicken, so the meat's for the others." Karma answered while tidying up the rest of her meal. He stood beside Aqua. "Let's all spend it!" 

There was still one plate of meat that was burned by Karma and Aqua. Karma is very adept at cooking meat, flipping it and cutting it. Aqua was only helping Karma who looked more expert. Even the seasonings made with Karma taste better than the condiments from restaurants.

"It turns out that you are good at cooking." praise Aqua after tasting one roast of Karma.

"When I was a kid I helped my mom in the kitchen, made food for catering." Karma answered while remembering her childhood. "Every day after school I would accompany him in the kitchen until the afternoon. Handing out food to the workers in the fields and farms as dinner."

"Are you a chef?" minami asked Karma.

"No, I'm a student." Karma is back to grilling meat. "I'm not that smart to be a chef. So, I took another path."

"But your brother can't cook." Aqua recalled Kana who always fought with Karma just because of food.

Karma laughed softly. "If all the things he could, wouldn't that be cheating?" ask Karma to Aqua. "He can do everything he can because he is determined and hardworking. But, cooking doesn't seem like her specialty."

"He practiced every day, until his hands were full of plaster, did you know?" ask Aqua to Karma.

Karma nodded slowly. "I know, he just lacked confidence. You also understand he's too pessimistic about what he's holding. Once he was sure, he could do very well. One day he can cook good food, I'm sure."

"What does your brother do, Karma-kun?" tanya Mem interrupted the two men.

"He only works on the farm every day" Karma replied with a faint smile. "He was the one who helped Aqua during her time in the village. Learning activities in the village, getting into the animal enclosure was done with my brother."

Nodding his head slowly. Ruby glanced at Aqua who was helping Karma, Aqua's face was indeed handsome. But, it turns out that Karma is no less handsome. Glasses that adorn his face look geeky but still look cool.

"You're all actresses? Won't there be any rumors about you guys going out with men?" ask Karma.

"It's just the same, isn't it? Being famous is like torture. There are always negative comments and insults to death." Karma looked back at Akane seriously. 

"Yes indeed, that's one of the consequences for a famous person. So, ready or unprepared they have to accept it."

Karma turned her gaze to the grill again. "Like dead too huh? Can you guarantee you're safe from fame?"

"That's what a bodyguard is for. And don't trust others too easily. Even if we are familiar, going alone without a manager or bodyguard would be very dangerous. Because we don't know what danger lurks." Akane remembers the nature of Kana who is very easily influenced by others, even she went alone to meet Director Shima who turned out to be Hikaru Kamiki.

Karma glared, staring at Akane's face who was casually saying the sentence. The sound of soft laughter from Karma was heard. There was a sense of annoyance at hearing the sentence from Akane, Karma felt he offended Kana who was always easily influenced and trusted others. Although not sure it was for her brother.

Just like Karma, Aqua was uncomfortable with Akane's words just now. Although Kana had a rough mouth, she was easy to sympathize with others. And easily trust others. Seeing Karma's reaction, Aqua immediately stood beside Karma, she was worried that the bespectacled man threw something nearby towards Akane out of emotion.

"Yes, don't easily believe that others are right. Considering you're all equally rotten role-players huh?" Karma looked at Akane coldly while grinning. "I like your words very much, may you live a long life."

Akane stared fearfully at Karma. It turned out that the easy-to-smile man could give a terrible expression like this. Akane answered correctly, but Karma was overreacting.

"Yes, a little more of the meat's gone. So, we can go home!" Frill exclaimed to melt the sudden gripping atmosphere.

Karma puts the rest of the meat on the grill onto the plate. Tidying up the groceries he bought. Aqua tried not to reprimand the Karma that was already visible from her face that she was very upset.

All continued eating them, while Karma had already stood to retreat. Think of Karma as too sensitive and excessive. He also reasoned that later tonight there is still a lot to be prepared for tomorrow home.

"Karma-kun's..." Akane called out to Karma who had already stepped away from their table with Aqua. Karma's steps came to a halt, he stared at Akane coldly. "I don't know if you're uncomfortable with my words. But, I'm sorry. And I think you should know that entertainment is so evil."

"I know, so you don't have to explain that to me. I saw the victim in front of my own eyes. He's the one who died because it was easy to manipulate in the entertainment world." Karma's face began to turn red, she held back her tears.

Her shadow drifted away when Kana was first found bleeding and unconscious and crazed for months. Not speaking for long and smiling after a year.

"May you live a long life." Karma turned her body, her tears had already dripped. He knew he was a crybaby, so he stepped out of the restaurant to avoid the girl's gaze.

"Did I say it wrong?" akane asked with a worried face looking at Aqua.

"He's sensitive, so you don't have to worry." Aqua calmed down and stepped out of the restaurant chasing after Karma.

The man was already squatting beside the restaurant. Subduing his face, rubbing his wet cheeks. The young man with red hair and a slightly rosy face was indeed a young man who easily cried, as Kana said. But, Aqua did not understand how she could cry, just because she remembered Kana.

As Ruby's twin sister, sometimes Aqua is just emotional but not to cry if someone hurts and insults Ruby. While Karma who is not the sister of one mother with Kana can cry when Kana is insulted even though it is not as direct as before.

"You're a crybaby?" Aqua stood beside Karma.

"Yes, you won't know what Kana suffered two years ago. So, you won't understand my feelings." Karma replied as she stood up, carrying her shopping bag. "After meeting you, I actually saw him alive again. Before meeting you, he rarely spoke, and only worked like there was no soul there."

"I thought he'd always been like that a long time ago." Aqua followed Karma's steps.

"I'm glad you came to my place, because I could see she was happy."

There was a strange thump and feeling that Aqua felt after hearing the expression of Karma. I don't know what Karma means, but Aqua feels that she still has a chance to get close to Kana. Yes, even though Kana said many times that they were just friends.

"Give it to Kana." Aqua pulls out the latest phone box on Karma.

"He must have rejected it." Karma replied while glancing at Aqua. "He doesn't want to accept this. I assure. Dad repeatedly offered it but he always refused."

"It's a reward because the drama I played was a success with his help." Aqua pulled the Karma shopping bag, but Karma held Aqua's hand and shook her head slowly. "Come on, he's been a big help to me."

"Here you go, I know he's helping you. But he must have rejected it, I'm sure. My father will give this back to you, too." Karma stopped at the station door. "Where to help you because you want to help, not to receive rewards."

Aqua's face looked disappointed, she wanted Kana to have her own mobile phone so she could send a message at any time to Kana. Or make a video call, not just a gift as a token of gratitude. All his intentions were not to be clearly mentioned to Karma.

"Yosh's... Jaanee!" Karma entered the station waving her hand.

Aqua simply replied with a faint smile.

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