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The rest of the room was silent, save for the scratching of pencils and turning of pages, everyone intent on studying for the English test next Friday. All, but you.
Cute, quiet you, sitting right next to the window in Hizashi’s 3rd-period class. Instead of reading past notes to get yourself ready, you busied yourself with rereading your favorite book. You didn’t even hide the fact you were reading well, it was quite obvious.
Hizashi walked up the isles, answering questions to those who had questions, but silently wished that they would just figure it out on their own. He wanted to talk to you.
He stopped at your little desk, reading over your shoulder. You didn’t even notice him until after he tapped the corner of your book.
“Now’s not the time, kiddo, see me after class.” He whispered over to you, sliding the book off the top of your English textbook. You swallowed and nodded silently.
A blue-haired boy sitting next to you snickered but was quickly stifled by his teacher’s harsh glare.
He slipped a slip of paper between the pages and tucked it under his arm. You stared down at your textbook, hands clenched and shaking in your lap.
The rest of the period was hell.
You tried to focus on your notes, whispering short English phrases to yourself and then restarting because it didn’t sound right. Moving onto another one that didn’t seem as hard, but still failing. Rinse, and repeat. Your hands grew sweaty, and no matter how many times you wiped them on your bottoms they would just grow damp again.
The bell rang 20 minutes later, signaling that all students could head to the cafeteria. You watched as your classmates filed out, talking and laughing while you were stuck with your overly loud blonde teacher.
The blonde pulled up a chair next to your desk. You avoided his gaze while you played with a little Present Mic keychain hanging from his bag. It made him melt a bit.
“What’s goin’ on, listener?” You used to be the best in my class, and suddenly you just dropped to the bottom.” He laid out an open manilla folder on your desk with some of your most recent essays laid out on top. All in fumbled English that didn’t quite make sense.
Your frown deepened at the sight of D’s, C’s, and even some Fs. The blonde’s heart cracked a little.
“I… I don’t know, it was just like, one moment I was getting it, and the next I wasn’t.” You explained as best as your could, still avoiding his eyes. “I just don’t get it anymore,” you shrugged.
Hizashi was silent as he slid the past assignments into the folder. You fidgeted with your hands while tears built up in your eyes.
“Ay! comeon now, no crying.” He smiled at you, bumping his shoulder with yours. “I’m not leaving until you smile at me.” He ducked down to your height, making ridiculous faces until you just burst into a fit of giggles.
“Okay, okay, you got me!” You smiled up at him, wiping your cheeks with the back of your hand.
“There they are! I knew my number 1 student was in there!” He reached up and ruffled your hair, winking at you. You pretended to be annoyed while you tried to fix your hair, but there was no hiding your smile.
“Back to the more serious stuff, I have a couple of ideas,” he stood up and walked to his desk. He picked up three books, all your favorites, of course, all in English.
You looked at the stack, one eyebrow-raising. You looked between him and the books, waiting for him to explain.
“You and I will have our own little book club! You’ll read a couple of chapters, and come down every two days to give me an update.” You perked up, hands reaching out to look at the titles. “In English.” Your face soured a little bit.
“And then you explain it to me the best you can, and we’ll get you some extra credit. Ya dig?” He smiled down at you.
You nodded, smiling so perfectly up at him.
“Thank you so much, I don’t even know what to say.” You stood up from your desk and hugged him tightly.
Hizashi chuckled softly, tucking your head under his chin.
“No need to thank me, just doing what a teacher should do!”
At that moment, he relished the feeling of you, his kid, being in his arms for the first time.