So this fanfic takes place after Tsukasa's declaration of war against Tsukushi had ended and at the beginning of the tiny hint of hope for their love affair sprouts, enjoy!
It had been a nice day, a perfect day to take a power nap before classes after lunch began. Tsukushi figured there was nothing better to do than spend her lunch time taking a nap under a tree since Yuki wasn't in school to keep her company. But having fallen into a deeper sleep than she thought she would, Tsukushi woke up in just enough time to make it to class if she ran to her full-speed. She picked up her books and made a run for her class, on the second floor.
She rushed down the call, zooming past a bunch of upper and under classmen. She made a sharp turn around the corner for the stairs only to run into the F4. Not only did she just run head first into the leader of the group Doumyouji but even caused him to drop whatever beverage he was holding right out of his hand and onto his probably expensive shirt. "Where do you keep your eyes?" the already pissed off Tsukasa questioned. The rumors and reputation of the infamous Doumyouji Tsukasa was true.
He was truly an over-privileged, ungrateful, inconsiderate, narrow-minded, ignorant, definitely conceited and self-absorbed brat. She didn't know how to react, surely she was intimidated however she had too much pride to show it. "Ah! I am so sorry, I'll pay for the damage done; but I've got to get to my Literature class now!" she figured acting normal would be the best way, after all, they were both only human, right? "Do you even know who I am?" he raised an eyebrow "never mind that, if you didn't I'd report you for an illegal immigrant." Tsukushi was dumbstruck by this unreasonable comment. "I know who you are alright, and I am THE Makino Tsukushi, I need to get to class!" She slipped away from his powerful stare and continued running towards her class.
She didn't understand what caused her to stand up so bravely against the biggest figure in school. Even the teachers had nothing to say to their behaviors only because without their parents' contribution the Eitoku gakuen, the school would surely become mediocre as opposed to the elite status it holds now. Pushing that thought aside, she slipped into class and sat in her seat just in time for the bell.
"Ey, Tsukasa, what are you going to do about your disastrous test score in literature class?" asked Rui with eyes half open. "Rui, do I ever care about my performance in school? I go to school merely to make sure all the little hoodrats are in their place, where they are supposed to be, under my feet," Tsukasa answered as if there was no need to be answering to such a question. "I know but remember what your oh-so-feared mother had warned you about? If you don't graduate you will have to move back to the United States and marry Shigeru, that girl who looks like a dyke!" exclaimed Akira. This was true, although Tsukasa had so much power at Eitoku, he was so small compared to all the things his much-hated mother can do to ruin his life. "Plus, money never bought you any grades, it just made sure your tardiness and absences were clear," added Rui. "Ugh, thanks for bringing that up" Tsukasa sighed as he brought a hand to his forehead. "Hey! I've got an idea! I can help you Tsukasa! Follow me Soujiro!" Akira left the scene as he dragged Soujiro away scheming something.
"Tsukasa is never good with people, GIRLS especially, and I think that this a sign heaven is telling us. We are going to post an ad for tutors all over school and the only requirements are: Top 100 of the class and you have to be a girl! Sounds good, ne?" Akira explained as he clicked the print button for the flyers. "I really don't know Akira, I mean, how many people has been able to put up with Tsukasa? Not many... and sometimes even I feel like I've had too much of him!" Soujiro was a little resistant to believe that this plan was going to work. "Ok, well it's worth a try Soujiro, people can't always avoid him, he'll just become a bigger selfish brat than he already is!!" Akira gathered the flyers with a roll of tape. "You are going to help me post these up before the school gets out!"
"The flyers don't even say who they will be tutoring... it just says a very difficult, literatelly-chanellenged?! I'm not even sure if that's what he is! And how are we going to pay for this?? 10,000yen per HOUR?" Soujiro exclaimed as he put a piece of take across the flyer. Akira answered "ok, it's going to be a difficult job, we need VERY attractive incentives!"
School was finally out, Tsukushi cheerfully skipped down the packed hallway, making her way in and out of people. She noticed a crowd of people hovering around every bulletin board, what is this ruckus about? Maybe it's a new listing for winter vacation jobs? I better take a look at this, hopefully it'll be better than the dango shop! Thinking to herself, Tsukushi tried to squeeze her tiny self through the crowd. "Need Tutoring in Literature, 100,000yen per hour however very difficult literally-challenged student?!" She almost fell to the floor laughing at the last part. Alright sounds like a plan, I think I will be taking up this job! She quickly jotted down the number provided and decided to give them a call on her way to the dango shop.
The noise of Akira's cell phone ring has annoyed everyone, enough to leave Akira alone in the hallway as they chatted away in Tsukasa's room. "Hello? If you are looking for the tutoring job, you've come to the right place!" he answered every call cheerfully. "H... hello, I am interested in the job.. How can I apply?" a shy voice replied over the phone. "Well, I will be holding an interview tomorrow afternoon at the café across the street, I need you to bring and unofficial print out of your transcript to verify your class rankings," he answered back. "Oh, alright thank you!" and the conversation was over.
The next day, the café shop was bursting out with a pack of girls, transcripts ready at hand, interested in the interview. "Oh my! It's Akira from the F4!! Maybe one of them needs a tutor!!" one girl shouted as the other replied "it better me be! I can handle them!" The girls were swooning all over the image of Akira. Oh great, the F4 was who it was! Should I stay or should I go? The 10,000yen surely does sound so... useful right now... Makino was truly debating when she realized it was her turn for the interview.
"Well hello miss, may I have your transcript please?" Akira held out his hand and flashed his killer smile. Tsukushi handed him her accomplishments proudly and sat down. "Impressive, you are in the class top 10! Makino...Tsukushi?" Akira looked up from his papers as her name rang a bell. "Well this is just too much of an entertainment for me, you are the one who ran into Tsukasa earlier today right?" Hoping that he wouldn't remember, failed. "I supposed..." she coyly replied. "Well then, I guess there is no need to proceed further with my search! I've found the one, YOU! I will see you every weekend 9am SHARP at the Doumyouji residence for a tutoring session with none other than Tsukasa himself. Oh and bring all of yourself, you'll need it." With his last words said, he stood up, put on his sunglasses, and walked out of the café with the girls following behind him.
What? Just like that? I got the job? She felt a little uneasy however. She was confused on whether or not she should be happy about this or maybe even miserable. Ok, whatever I can do this! 100,000yen an hour will definitely make mom and dad happy and I can buy Christmas presents for everyone!! She got excited she thinking about the freedom she will have when she earns more money for herself. She can help out her parents pay for her tuition and reward the people who deserve the most around her.
"WHAT? You've arranged for a tutor every weekend?" Tsukasa jumped out of his seat in rage, ready to throw anything and everything that was within his reach from his position at Akira. "Yes, but listen! This one is interesting, she's on the top 10 of the class AND I think you'll like her, she can be feisty." Akira winked as he concluded. "9AM is too early for any to be awake, so we'll check up on you around lunch, don't miss us too much" Soujiro added as the remaining F4 stood up to leave the Doumyouji residence. "See you tomorrow Tsukasa" Rui waved as he exited out of the mansion.
What should I wear? Tsukushi tried to shake these thoughts off her head. "It's only a tutoring session silly" she said out loud and continued to get ready. She stepped out of the shower smelling like a fresh bouquet of roses, her new body wash. She pulled on a pair of dark denim and plain white long sleeve shirt layered with a thick gray hoodie. The weather seems a bit gloomy, maybe I'll snow since it's cold. She grabbed a bag to throw in her text book, some paper she had prepared, cell phone, etc. She walked out of the house and walked towards the subway station.
The cloud began to cover a majority of the sky. Should I have brought an umbrella? No, it's only a 15 minute ride to his house anyways. She hurried before the ill weather got any worse. However, she was right. When she walked out of the subway station near Doumyouji residence, it was pouring. Crap! What am I going to do? She took a deep breath and began to run, full speed, stopping to catch a breath under every overhang, then continuing.
She arrived at her destination looking like a street rat. I can't show up like this! I am SO embarrassed... Should I just go home today? She became humble at the greatness of his house. It was a gated mansion, probably more than two stores high, it would definitely fit her little apartment more than a hundred times and still have room left over she thought. No, this is irresponsible, who cares what I look, I'm just here to tutor. She swallowed her embarrassment and rang the door bell. She was greeted by a kind servant who led her up to an enormous room, filled with very decorative, golden furniture and a fireplace cracking with wood. She walked up closer to the fireplace in a small attempt to dry herself up before she meets the... you-know-who.
"How pathetic" a deep voice alerted her from behind. "Who are you to judge?" Tsukushi quickly turned around to rebuttal. She stopped only to realized how handsome he actually was. He was dressed in a zip up hoodie and a pair of athletic pants, very casual. She never noticed how tall he was and from her angle, he didn't look to shabby at all. She shook these thoughts aside and spat out "ok, mister literally-challenged, I've made a study plan for you to begin with."
"You smell like mildew," he made an awful face and turned his head. "Well that shouldn't be what you're worried around, what you really should be worried ab..." before she could even finish her sentence he walked out of the room. How rude!! What a jerk! I am going to teach this guy a lesson! But moments later he walked into the room with something in his hand. "I shouldn't even be doing this, you're the one who made me spill my drink all over my new Dolce and Gabbana suit. If you ever want to set foot in my house again, at least keep yourself some deficiency" he stated only to be stand corrected "um... you mean decency?" Tsukushi let out a little giggle and brought her hand to her mouth. Tsukasa turned bright red and tossed the bundle of clothes to her. She walked right past him to look for a bathroom to change.
As she walked by, he could smell a whiff of her new body wash, the moisture from the rain acting as a catalyst to bring back the faint smell back to it's full potential. He had to admit, it smelt good. He sat on a couch in front of the fireplace unconsciously leading his mind to lead back to Tsukushi. There was something about her, he wanted to know more of who she really was, but then again, she was probably a middle-class nobody.
Tsukushi changed into an oversized shirt and a pair of basketball shorts too long for her that it has become practically pants to her. She walked in the room a little unsure of what to do next. "Alright, let's get started" she cheerfully exhaled as she took big steps into the room.