July 26/Challenge/PG/Ended

[haru]

Character(s): Haru Soshirou and Akio Kajima
Time: 12pm
Location: The Office of Guidance

Haru placed his hand on the cold metal of the door handle and turned it. First the wrong way, and the wrong way again, and finally he caught on and turned it the other way. "Damn door," he grumbled, pushing it open. In the room, there was a young man seated at a desk with a blank expression on his face.

"Sup, Kajima-san?" he greeted, taking a seat in front of a nameplate. "So, I'm here about my uhm, learning issues. Think you could help me out with that?" he asked shyly. As he looked closer, he noticed that this counselor wasn't much older than he was.

"Wow, Kajima, are you even old enough to be a teacher? I mean, that Max Kimori kid looks older than you. Do you shave or can you just not grow facial hair? My dad used to have that problem, but then he left. Maybe he can grow a beard now! Oh wow, is this getting too personal?" Haru finally hushed himself, cursing the fact that his mouth had a high-tendency to run when he was nervous. With all the questions, he hoped to avoid how bad his learning problem was.

Out of the blue, Haru slammed his face on the desk. "I'm sorry, Guidance Counselor-sensei-sama-san. I'll just make this simple; I'm a third year student, I still can't tell the difference between M and N, I can't count past 30, and I put my shoes on the wrong feet up to three times in a row." He lifted his head and quivered his lip dramatically. "Help. Me."

[hibari]

After a long day of being lost, Akio finally was able to finish setting up his office the way he wanted to. As he glanced up, he heard someone trying to come into his office. "Oh?" He said quietly as he sat down, wondering why the door knob was moving so many times. Was opening the door that difficult?

"Sup, Kajima-san?" Akio blinked a few times and waved, confused as to why such an energetic teenager like himself was in such a depressing office like this one.

"So what brings you-"

"So, I'm here about my uhm, learning issues."

Akio widened his eyes - "Learning Issues? How could someone possibly have learning issues at such a quality school like this?" He thought to himself, nodding. "What exactly do you have trouble with? I mean, that problem is pretty vague. Be more specific for me will you?" Akio said with a bright smile on his face.

And then before he knew it, the kid started going on about his age. "E-excuse me?" He said as he continued to listen to this boy ramble on and on. "I - well.." Not knowing where to start, Akio sighed. This kid was just one ball of energy wasn't he?

"I'm sorry, Guidance Counselor-sensei-sama-san. I'll just make this simple; I'm a third year student, I still can't tell the difference between M and N, I can't count past 30, and I put my shoes on the wrong feet up to three times in a row. Help. Me."

Akio shook his head in disbelief - "Was it possible for a kid to be this stupid?" Putting his rude thoughts aside, Akio chuckled a bit. "Well, alright. We can start if you tell me your name first, stranger." He smiled again.

"How did you get into a school like Aozora with your... learning abilities?" Akio asked shamelessly as he flipped through his student files, hoping to find his.

[haru]

A bit embarrassed about his loud, anxiety-induced outburst, Haru straightened up and stared at his lap, glowing bright red. Every time he'd meet a new person, he would go to such lengths to keep them from knowing about how truly stupid he was that they'd find out a few seconds into it. This was yet another one of those times.

After a few seconds of the usual "My god, this is the dumbest kid I've ever met" silence, the counselor chuckled stiffly. "Well, alright. We can start if you tell me your name first, stranger." Haru looked up just to catch the tail end of a smile, and so he matched it, still a bit hopeful that he hadn't ruined his first impression.

"I'm Haru!" he said cheerfully. "Haru Soshirou."

"How did you get into a school like Aozora with your... learning abilities?" Mr. Kajima asked, searching through a drawer of files.

Haru's eyes widened. While he was expecting this, he had really hoped to avoid it as long as possible. "Uh, well, I...I don't really mean to brag but, I'm a really good dancer, so I got a scholarship." he said, the blush fading a bit. "U-Unfortunately, that's all I'm good at." he added, shifting his eyes back to his lap.

[hibari]

"Ah, well hello, Haru!" Akio said as he managed to find his file. "Mmm, you're a dancer?" He started smiling, both amazed and envious that he held such an amazing talent like that. "I'm pretty sure you're great at other things," Akio stated as he continued to read his file, and soon, his grades.

This was unbelievable - looking at them made him cringe, and he realized that Haru needed his help more than he thought. "I hope you realize that if you don't get your grades up soon, they can kick you out of the dancing program..." Akio said sheepishly as he closed the folder that held Haru's files and grades.

He sighed, wondering how he was going to help this teenager. "Have you ever thought of getting a tutor?" He pried as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, trying to think up of ideas.

[haru]

"I hope you realize that if you don't get your grades up soon, they can kick you out of the dancing program..." Suddenly, the counselor looked serious.

"E-Ehh?" Haru whined, sitting up straight. How the hell was he supposed to do that with an IQ as low as his? Especially with a mental capacity as small as his. It wasn't that he didn't tried, but... that he couldn't.

"Have you ever thought of getting a tutor?" Mr. Kajima offered, leaning back pensively.

Haru hung his head again. "I actually asked that smarty pants kid Daisuke Kudo to, but he kind of...couldn't do it. If someone as smart and learny as Daisuke couldn't teach me how to numbers and letters, how am I going to be able to stay here?" he asked, rubbing his forehead.

Well, regardless of what Daisuke was able to do, he knew that he had to get his grades up somehow. Years of tutoring, special classes, summer school, none of it had helped. But he knew that there had to be something that could. He sighed and slumped in his chair miserably. "I might as well just go start packing now." he mumbled.

[hibari]

Akio nodded as he listened carefully to the troubled boy, making sure not to miss a single word. "Daisuke Kudo?" He repeated as the name didn't ring a bell. Well, obviously not - this was his first day here. "Well, I don't know how smart this Daisuke Kudo is," he said while giving him a reassuring smile. "But I can tutor you if you'd like." He offered as he took out two lollipops out of a drawer from his desk and threw one at him.

"Don't lost hope! I've tutored many students before, and I'll make sure you'll stay in Aozora!" He popped the lollipop in his mouth and just grinned widely - looking forward to these series of events.

[haru]

Just when he was about to get up and head back to his dorm to pack up, the man across from him perked up, tossing a lollipop at him. He caught it, a bit bewildered. "Don't lost hope! I've tutored many students before, and I'll make sure you'll stay in Aozora!"

Haru's eyes lit up. "W-Will you really, Kajima-sensei?" he asked, his face reddening again. Tears came to his eyes. ''Aw, Sensei! I don't know what normal people do to thank someone that does something great for them, but I want you to know that I'll do the best I can to be a good student. I'll try my hardest, and I promise you I won't let you down!"

He stood up and leaned over the desk, handing the lollipop back to him. "I'm sorry, but I really can't accept this. The last time I had hard candy I almost choked to death, but I really appreciate it. Just as much I appreciate you putting aside your time to help me." he said, matching guidance counselor's grin.

[hibari]

Seeing the boy brighten up made him as happy as he was. "A-anytime, Haru! No need to cry, now!" He said with a nervous laugh as he waved his hands a bit, not sure what to do. "I'm glad to have such a great student!" Akio said genuinely while giving him a thumbs up. "If you try your hardest, I will as well!"

"You almost choked...?" Akio blinked a couple of times, taking his own lollipop out of his mouth wondering how on earth that could happen. He shook his head, trying to clear his head. "Alright alright, where should we start? Shall I help you with your homework?" Akio offered as he put the lollipop that Haru didn't want back in his drawer.

"I have time, I don't think anybody else is going to come in.." He sighed heavily.

[haru]

"You almost choked...?" The counselor asked, examining his own lollipop curiously.

Haru chuckled and waved his hand. "Long story, Teach." he said, remembering the day fondly. It was terrifying, but at least it was good.

"Alright alright, where should we start? Shall I help you with your homework?" Mr. Kajima asked, replacing the lollipop Haru couldn't have. "I have time, I don't think anybody else is going to come in.."

Gulping nervously, Haru reached into his bag and produced a notebook and a few text books. "Well, I'm supposed to be practicing my "Romanized characters"--" He paused to do the finger motions. "but that's a bit difficult when I don't even know what that means." he said flatly. "I don't know how to write in Roman, Sensei, why can't I just do this in Japanese?"

[hibari]

Akio blinked a few times, staring at his blank papers and sighing. "This is going to take a while." He said a bit quietly while he took out a pen out of his bag. "This is Japanese..." Akio explained as he pointed to the characters that were listed on his sheet with his pen. He shook his head a bit and tried the best of his ability to explain what exactly these characters were, and what they represented.

After a few minutes of talking at an understandable pace, he wondered if Haru got any of this. He simplified it so much that even a ten year old would understand this high school levelled work.

His sudden silence scared him, so he looked up, "Do you understand so far, Haru?" He asked in an innocent tone, his pen still touching his notebook.

[haru]

Mr. Kajima swiftly moved his pen across the paper, running the capped end down the column of scribbles and characters. It made sense, of course, but Haru already knew that he would forget it the instant he finally understood. But as not to let him down right after being nice enough to tutor him, Haru continued to follow the pen with his eyes like a cat with a lazer pointer.

"Do you understand so far, Haru?"

Snapping from his trance, the redhead looked up, a dizzy from spacing out. "O-Oh!" he exclaimed, rubbing the back of his neck. Suddenly, he felt warm, like all the blood in his body just started to boil. He had to come up with something to say... "Yeah, I--Wow, is it hot in here or is it just you, Sir?" he asked, winking. "...Oh. Wait, damn, that's the female tutors, pretend I didn't say that! Uh, have you been working out, Sir?"

[hibari]

Akio furrowed his eyebrows. Just what was he doing? Did he really just wink at him? Akio sighed and placed his pen down on the table, his lollipop still in his mouth. "Are you alright, Haru? Do you really understand everything I just said about your homework..?" He asked, sort of worried. "Whether I work out or not is kind of irrelevant -" He let out a small chuckle and stared at the flustered boy. "Right now what's important is your homework - and most importantly, your Dancing scholarship." he said with a serious tone this time.

If he learned anything about Haru, it was what he loved most; and it was dancing. And he wanted to help him achieve his dream of becoming a professional one, just like any other kid would want. He wouldn't let an obstacle like this stop him, and from now on, he was going to try his best to help him overcome this flaw.

"You don't want me to get all strict on you, now do you?" He sighed, frowning a bit at the thought. "Now, what did I just say about these three questions you have here?" Akio asked as he pointed to them gently with his pen.

"Patience is key, Akio. Patience is key."

[haru]

Realizing that his wall was not just knocked down, but completely obliterated, Haru sighed and gave up. This was one tutor that wasn't going to give up, and so he truly decided that he wasn't going to distract him this time.

"You don't want me to get all strict on you, now do you?" He sighed, frowning a bit at the thought. "Now, what did I just say about these three questions you have here?"

"N-No sir!" Haru answered, grabbing the pen. "You said that... uh. That's... japanese?" His eyes were watering and his head was spinning. Everything just looked like scribbles to him, but he couldn't just say that, could he? He sighed and put the pen down. "C-Can you explain it again?" he asked quietly, rubbing the sweat from his hands onto his pants.

[hibari]

Akio started to feel really, really bad for Haru. He could tell he was trying his best just by looking at his face. This kid wasn't joking when he said he had learning issues. "Now now, no need to cry... again." Akio added as he handed him a couple of tissues. "Of course I'll explain it to you, don't hesitate to ask me. I'm here for you, Haru." He said simply as he started to think of how he could explain it again - but simpler than before.

He got out his glasses from his drawer and put them on gently, getting serious this time. He threw out his lollipop and got out another one, and began to explain. Although Akio knew this was going to be very time consuming, he didn't mind. He hasn't necessarily dealt with this kind of problem, but he tried his best to confront it properly. The way a Guidance Counsellor should.

After saying so much words, he took a deep breath, hoping - no, praying that Haru understood just at least the first question.

"How are you keeping up?"

[haru]

After nearly twenty minutes of explaining just one character, Haru had finally learned to write it, and translate it. Feeling accomplished, he began to write faster, trying to retain as much as he could. Was someone finally getting through to him?

Mr. Kajima seemed to be noticing his progress too, catching a smile out of the corner of his eye. If learning would make them both happy, then he decided that he'd do everything he could, no matter what. He'd stay up for full nights if it meant he could stay at Aozora.

After a few more minutes, the counselor spoke up again. "How are you keeping up?"

"Y-Yes," Haru said, suddenly flustered. "I mean good. I am keeping up good!" he said, finishing up the first question. So far, he was doing well, but that was because he had so much help. He wouldn't be able to have Mr. Kajima with him for tests and essays; those he'd have to do on his own, and he wasn't sure if he was quite ready for that yet. But for now, he'd just work on homework, and take things in baby steps, and not leaps.