a/n: ahhhHHHH I can't believe I finally published this! (you don't have to read this note it's not important) So I've been writing for years and never published before, this is my first story so I'm sorry if it's bad or sucks lol I don't usually get the opportunity to get feedback! anyway I plan on doing each chapter in both Oikawa and Suga's pov, happy reading!! (also I'm not sure if I'm allowed to use this photo or the cover one, I found them both on pinterest but if someone knows the artist please share or let me know if I can't use it!)
"aaahhhHHHHHHH I HATE MATH!" I screeched, practically tearing my hair out and throwing my pencil across the room. Iwaizumi looked up at me unimpressed. "If only you had listened to me and opted out of a math class." He said dryly.
I moaned and went to retrieve my pencil. At least we were at his house and not in public. I could lose my cool around Iwaizumi, but not many other people. And math definitely made me lose my cool. It's not that I was...bad at it, per se, no no, I just...sometimes struggled to grasp the overarching concepts, which resulted in extreme confusion on my part–
"Trashykawa, you couldn't let go of your pride. You insisted on taking Calc AB, AP no less, because you are, and I quote, a 'mathematical genius.' How's that working out for you, huh? Are you...jealous, of my free period yet?"
I glared daggers at my best friend, willing him to spontaneously combust. No such luck. "So mean, Iwa-chan~" I spat out, not having a decent comeback prepared. While I went back to work, Iwaizumi got up to stretch.
"I'm done with my homework you know." I ignored him.
"I'm getting a bit tired, good thing I don't have to worry about any unfinished work tonight though." I ignored him some more.
"In fact, I have so much free time, maybe I'll go see that new movie with the aliens, what's it called, Arri–"
"NO!" I shot up. "You CANNOT see that without meeeeee! Iwa-channnnn," At that point, I kind of just crumpled into a ball on the floor, letting out low moans like a wounded animal. How dare he taunt me like that, when I had so much to do.
Iwaizumi sat down next to me. "Sorry. But you really should've listened to me." I turned my head away and kept groaning. He continued, "You know, what if you got a tutor?" I stopped and turned to face him.
"Iwa-chan! Are you insulting my intelligence by implying that I need–"
"I'm saying that if you want to keep up your volleyball performance and social life, you should get a tutor so you don't spend an ungodly amount of time doing calculus several hours a day." Iwaizumi got up and got his phone from his bed.
"You know, one of my friends knows a really good tutor, their reviews were so glowing it made me want to take a hard class just so I could be tutored. I have their number, why don't you try texting them and just, consider it, okay?"
My phone pinged next to me on the floor, signaling I had a text. I gazed at it mournfully. Before I could respond though, I was unceremoniously pulled up, and pushed towards the door. "Iwa-chan, what's the big idea?" I demanded furiously, trying to at least get my stuff.
"It's late Oikawa, my family's having dinner soon, and you said you didn't want to stay for dinner, so, time for you to go." Iwaizumi pushed me all the way from his room to his front door. And then out the front door. I think he was enjoying himself a little too much.
"Goodbye." He said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, and slammed the door in my face. I sniffed and raised my head in the air indignantly before walking off, backpack and volleyball bag in tow. I didn't live too far from Iwaizumi's house, just a few blocks, but it was getting dark so I picked up the pace.
During my walk, I was completely lost in thought about the idea of a tutor. I'd never had one before, and giving in now, in my third year of high school, felt like I was losing somehow. It's not like grades were that important to me anyway. Sure I did pretty decently, but that was because I had the ability to and took advantage of it, not because I particularly enjoyed it. Besides, if I was gonna be a pro athlete one day, I wouldn't need to know calculus...
...but I did need to know, or at least pass, calculus if I wanted to graduate and get into a good college, which would help me start my pro-career. Therefore, I needed to do good in math, which didn't seem to be working out.
I arrived home and went inside after unlocking the door. "Hey Mom, I'm home." I called out instinctively. I could smell food, so I assumed she was in the kitchen, and almost done. She must not have heard me, so I walked to the kitchen to go see her.
Sure enough, there she was, standing over the stove; it looked like she was frying shrimp. I said hello again, and immediately she turned around and smiled.
"Tooru! I was starting to think something had happened and you weren't coming home." I smiled and rolled my eyes, walking forward to hug her. My mom wasn't quite as tall as me, but she was still taller than most other women at almost 6'0.
"Dinner will be ready in five, why don't you go set your stuff in your room and come back down?" She said sweetly before returning to the food. I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. I paused at the entrance though and turned back around to face her. I stared at her for a while before deciding that I would broach the subject, when she interrupted my thoughts and said, "What's the matter Tooru?"
I made a noise at the back of my throat, amazed she still knew I was there when I had been silent. "Hm?" She prompted again, taking the shrimp off the stove. She wasn't looking at me, but I knew I had her full attention.
"Umm...I was wondering...you know, you know how I've been kind of, struggling, a bit, with um, math class?" I finally choked out. My mom didn't say anything, just kept plating the shrimp, waiting for me to go on.
"Well, I was thinking that...maybe I could...um, get like, a tutor? For the class?" I scrunched up my eyes, waiting for my mom to shoot me down. My sister had been an amazing student, she'd graduated a while ago but had never once needed help from family, friends, or tutors. I wasn't brilliant like her, but I certainly got by. I was scared that my mom would–
"That's a great idea, honey! I'm glad you're prioritizing your studies with your already busy schedule, very proud. If you have someone in mind, why don't you set up a time to start? I'll pay for them, it's the least I can do with how hard you work." I stared at my mom in shock. Of course she was a really nice person, but I hadn't been expecting that good of a reaction.
I finally stuttered out, "Yeah, uh, sure. I do have someone in mind, I'll go text them now and see when they'd be available." My mom looked up and smiled at me as I dumbfoundedly trudged up to my room. I slung my bags on the floor and then flopped on the bed, leaning back and closing my eyes for a few seconds before taking out my phone. I then unlocked it and went to messages.
I had one new message from Iwaizumi (and a ton of Instagram and Snapchat notifications); I opened it. There was one contact, reading Sugawara Koushi. I bit my lip, my finger hovering over the contact before finally tapping it and going to messages. I started typing.
After perhaps too much deliberation, I sent, "Hi, is this Sugawara Koushi? My name is Oikawa Tooru, I was wondering if you tutor for Calc AB, and if you have any openings?" I was getting ready to toss my phone away and head back downstairs for dinner, when I saw that they had already read my message. Who left their read receipts on these days?
Well that was fast, I thought. I peered suspiciously at my screen as I saw a bubble disappear and reappear several times before anything was actually sent. The much deliberated text read, "Yes, this is Sugawara Koushi. I do tutor in Calc AB and have availability. I usually do a first session free so you can see if I help, would you wanna do one this week?"
I hurriedly wrote back, "Sure, is tomorrow too soon? I have volleyball practice until 6:00, so how about 6:30, and if so where should we meet? (I go to Aoba Johsai)" I reread my text and frowned, it sounded so cringe. God, I hated texting adults, I felt restricted, like I had to be so formal. Like, that's not what texting's supposed to be like?
My tutor either didn't notice or care. Their next response read, "Perfect, how about 6:30-7:30 at the library a couple blocks from your school?" I breathed a sigh of relief and sent, "Great, see you then, thank you!" Sugawara loved my message, and that was that.
I put my phone away and went downstairs for dinner. I think I had somewhat come to terms with having a tutor, and if all went well and they were helpful and knowledgeable then my grade should be back up in no time, and I could be rid of the stuffy old tutor in a matter of weeks.