Work Text:
Touko sighed angrily as she set down her tablet. Despite trying all of her girlfriend’s advice for studying, even putting the text she needed to read in a more accessible format wasn’t helping her to keep focus. Even on her medication, she just felt like switching over to Instagram and-
“Kirigaya-san?” Sayo walked in right as she was about to pull out her phone. “How’s studying going?”
“Oh! H-hi, Sayo!” Touko said nervously. “It’s going just fine, trust me!”
Sayo raised an eyebrow. “Alright then, how’s your reading going? Are you making good progress with the book?” After a few moments of uncomfortable silence with Touko trying desperately to come up with an excuse for herself, Sayo sat down next to her girlfriend. “Is there something that’s bothering you? Do you want to try and study somewhere else?”
“No, it’s just-” Touko took in an angry breath, then sighed. “I just can’t focus at all today. I thought I did everything right, I moved everything away that would distract me, and even now I can’t get it right.”
“Deep breaths, Kirigaya-san.” Touko took a few breaths, then paid attention to Sayo. “ are you starting to feel better now?“
“Yeah, kinda…”
“It’s fine if you don’t. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this before, but did you know that I had, and to some extent still have, a hard time studying?” The gyaru’s eyes went wide with attention. “It took me a lot of work, and much encouragement from Hina and others, but eventually I started to figure things out for myself.”
“I… I never knew, wow.”
“Believe it or not, it’s really not easy despite what others say. Perhaps what worked best for me isn’t working best for you, Kirigaya-san.” Sayo started to think while Touko tried to do the same.
“C’mon, just call me Touko.” The blonde guitarist moved in for a hug, which Sayo reciprocated. “And you know you don’t have to do this all for me, right?”
Sayo shook her head. “The thing is, I want you to have a good academic future. You’re really bright, Touko, and I want to see you succeed.”
“Even if it takes me a while?”
“If it takes you forever, I’ll stand by your side forever, Touko. Again and again, and even after you succeed. Really, I think you can do anything.”
Touko gave her trademark confident smile as she fixed her posture. “Hey, I think you’re right. I can do anything. And it starts with… uh, remind me how this formula works?”
Sayo groaned, but there was no frustration in her voice. “Don’t worry, math was always a struggle for me, too.”