บท 8: Tutoring

I knocked on sensei's door and walked in when given permission. Currently, sensei was busy eating while looking over some papers. I glanced at the silver nameplate on her desk. I never questioned it til now, but I guess sensei is not just a regular teacher. The title, "Faculty Advisor," was engraved along with her name, Hiroko Sato.

"Suzuki-kun, you're early." Sato-sensei absentmindedly commented as she shuffled a few pages on her desk.

"I thought I should probably come a bit earlier than Yamamoto-san to prepare beforehand." I casually replied as I headed to the table in the corner of the room.

"My, what a diligent tutor! I knew you were the right choice." Sato-sensei boasted as she placed down the paper she was looking at. "Do you need any help or clarification from me?"

"No. I've tutored before." I sat down in one of the chairs at the table and pulled out the folder she gave me. "You prepping all this is really helpful, though."

"Of course. I know I pulled you into this forcefully, and that Yamamoto-kun isn't exactly the most well liked peer. I thought this was the least I could do to ease the load off you." Sensei actually seemed a bit guilty as she said this. I was caught off guard.

"...Sensei, how long will I have to tutor Yamamoto-kun? Or is this a forever thing?" I changed the topic as I laid out the sheets from the folder on the table.

"If Yamamoto-kun manages to keep steady and passing grades, I'll relieve of your duty." I perked up. "However, if his grades fall again or he insists he needs your help, I may have to keep bothering you." I dropped back down.

That's not fair! Why does my recess time depend on his grades!?

"Sensei, you do realize how unfair this is, right?" I spoke my thoughts as I started gazing at the lesson.

"I know. I know. I'm sorry. I'll try to find someone else if his grades do fall. However, I can't say anything about if he wants you to tutor him himself." Sensei seemed stress as she rubbed her temples. "I promise you I will help you in anyway I can if that does happen, but I ultimately have to respect his decision."

"If he does, I'll just have to add a fee." I smirked. Ryuu wouldn't have money to spend on a tutor.

"That's fair, I suppose." Sensei sighed.

After a few minutes of silence as we both did our own work, the bell rang for recess. I unconsciously tensed up and looked to the clock. I watched anxiously as the clock ticked and tocked. It had just passed five minutes when a knock resounded in the quiet room.

"Come in!" Sensei looked relieved.

Looks like she wasn't sure if he was coming or not, too.

A familiar blonde head appeared as the door slid open. Once his silver eyes settled on me, I couldn't help but look down to avoid him. I heard him "humph" as he closed the door, and then his footsteps came closer.

"I'll keep quiet over here, but feel free to ask me for help at any time." Sensei amiably smiled and gave me a quick "good luck" ("ganbatte" in Japanese, which can also mean "Do you best!") clenched fist before diving into her work.

"Whatever. Let's get this over with." Ryuu muttered as he slumped into his chair across from me. I nodded in agreement.

Honestly, the lesson wasn't that bad.

It started off iffy, but when I saw Ryuu was serious, I focused as well. While Ryuu had a bad temperament and cursed here and there, he was earnestly trying to learn. When I spoke and gave examples, he listened and asked questions. I never dared to get to close to him, so I couldn't hover behind him. I had to wait until he finished the practice problems on his own and handed them over to me before I could tell him what he got wrong and why. It went back and forth like this, like a regular tutoring session, and next thing we knew, the bell rang to signal the end of recess.

"Good job, boys! You both were so diligent and made this sensei proud!" Sato-sensei clapped happily with glistening tears at the edge of her eyes.

Hearing sensei speak broke me out of my tutoring mindset. I glanced at Ryuu who also happened to be looking at me at the same time. I flinched before focusing back on Sensei.

"I hope you'll keep this up! Suzuki-kun, come here so I can hand you the next lesson." Sensei beckoned as she fiddled with a desk drawer.

I grabbed the old folder and walked up to her desk to exchange it for the new one. Along with it, sensei slipped in a lollipop. I stared at it with confusion.

"This is your reward. I'm grateful you taught him properly." Sato-sensei whispered, so Ryuu couldn't hear. I simply nodded as I stuffed it in my pocket.

When I turned around to pack up, Ryuu was still sitting in the same spot and staring at me. After I noticed him, he looked away like he wasn't just caught and stood up nonchalantly. At first I was planning on taking my time to pack and head to class, but when I saw Ryuu hadn't moved an inch when I reached the table, I realized he was waiting for me.

Oh God, did I do something? Is he gonna do the same thing as last time? Why!?

I hurriedly stuffed everything in my bag and swung it onto my shoulder. I peered up to meet Ryuu's gaze. He turned to look at sensei and gave a slight bow before heading to the door. I jumped and quickly did the same and followed behind him. As I shut the door, I mentally prepared myself for violence.

"Oi." Here it is!

"Y-Yes?" I stuttered as I turned around to face him. Ryuu's eyes were narrowed as if he was regarding an insect.

"What's your name?" The question came out more like a threat with his intimidating aura. I gulped.

"I'm Haruka Suzuki." I introduced myself again, but I guess this time he actually paid attention.

Ryuu silently observed at me for a minute. I had to look away after a few seconds and started fidgeting out of discomfort. Those silver eyes were poking me as if they were real silver! I was just trying to find patterns on the floor to distract myself when I saw Ryuu's shoes turn around.

"You better remember what I told you last time." Ryuu glared at me over his shoulder. I sharply nodded a few times to show I did.

With one last click of the tongue, Ryuu walked away. My shoulders slumped as the tension left my body. I placed a hand on my racing heart as I sighed in relief.

I feel like Ryuu's shortening my lifespan with how much he scares me.

After gathering my scattered brain cells, I rushed to class.

When I walked in, I seemed to have attracted four pairs of eyes. I quickly glanced around to figure out who was staring at me. As I realized it was the four potential capture targets, I couldn't help but internally groan. I understand why Yuu and Akira are looking at me. They were probably searching for any sign of trauma from Ryuu. But, why Ryuu and Tatsuya?

I passed Tatsuya's desk to go to mine, but he grabbed my wrist. I jumped in surprise and looked at him with bewilderment. However, before he could open his mouth, the teacher slid the door open. Tatsuya huffed indignantly and let go. I then scurried to my desk.

Whatwhatwhawhawhahwah-What does he want? Tatsuya, someone who finds physical contact disgusting, touched me! Touched me!!

"Did class rep. just grab you?" Akira whispered to me when I sat down. His eyes flickered back and forth between me and Tatsuya.

"Yeah." I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.

"Why?" Akira tilted his head as he studied at Tatsuya. "I didn't think he even knew you existed."

"Uh, well, we talked once at the library." I admitted and then realization dawned on me.

Maybe he was expecting me to appear at the library? He probably figured out what he wants me to do and waited for me in the library...

Oh no, he waited for me?

Tatsuya, the spoiled rich heir who always gets what he wants as soon as he wants it, waited for me?

Goosebumps appeared on my arms as I thought about how irritated he must be and how he'll probably take that out on me later.

"You okay there, Haru?" Akira flicked a piece of paper at my cheek. I winced before rubbing where the paper poked me with a pout.

"Yeah. I just remembered something." I growled as I flicked the paper back. Akira caught it and lightly chuckled.

"Oh, what?" Akira asked with a raised eyebrow.

"None of your businuess." I answered before paying attention to the teacher and ignoring Akira.

"Rude." I heard Akira mumble with fake grief.

When the bell rang to end the school day, I took my time packing. Akira was excited as he had joined the swimming club and spewed enthusiastic babble like, "You have to come watch my competitions!" and, "I'm gonna be so cut." Not too long after I finished packing, two other people stood by my desk.

"Suzuki-kun."

"Haru!"

Oh, boy.

*** Omake (Extra) ***

That pipsqueak was obviously scared of me, but why wasn't he when he was tutoring me? It was like he became a totally different person. He looked like he didn't even care about what I did to him before.

At that time, he was the teacher and I was the student. Nothing more. Nothing less.

...

Hmph, not bad.

[ Respect +1 ]