Responses
Yeah, it's a bit more than Karma, it's Naru and Kousei essentially re-enforcing his [Masatos] personal belief that he is unlovable. I honestly don't think Ashai is apart of this, I think he was ok in meeting Masato and judging him for himself, but I don't think he was in on this "taste your own medicine" plan.
I know this will probably lead up to a "taste of your own medicine" kind of karma. "If you're love is true, then power through," will probably be what the author is leading up to. But it's a little difficult to support any of the background characters because this is sabotage, not betrayal.
Poor guy. It's like a slap in the face that came out of nowhere screaming "bitch you thought!"