Author's Note: Happy Birthday Mary! Sorry I can't give you the whole story, but I…may have ended up going a bit overboard, so this story is a bit long, and I had to split it up into parts. I hope you enjoy the first chapter, as well as the rest of the story, soon to come! I hope you have an amazing birthday and week and month and year 3 A huge thanks to Bekki for beta reading this!
—
You had met Koganegawa Kanji in your third year of high school. At that time, you just saw him as a very tall, very large, and very, very, excitable boy who needed your help. You really never could have imagined how offering to help one boy would have completely changed your life.
It had all begun a few weeks after third year started. You were working hard on your studies every night, doing all you could to get good grades and ace the entrance exam of your preferred university so you could get in. Although it had been a long and tiring process back then, all your studying did have some benefits. You soon became well known for doing very well in school, achieving some of the top spots in the last second year exams, and your teachers were very optimistic on your chances of getting into your dream school. So, even if you sometimes missed the more carefree days you'd shared with your friends, you'd reminded yourself that soon your hard work would pay off. Still…still, you couldn't help but miss hanging out with people instead of textbooks.
And that's when a friend of yours approached you, asking for help.
Your friend was also close friends with Moniwa Kaname, the captain of the boys' volleyball team, and they had a bit of a problem.
They had a very promising new first year setter, and Moniwa was hoping said new setter could become a starting member of the new team once the third years retired.
There was just one problem: this incredible first year was working so hard at practicing his volleyball skills that he had ended up neglecting his studies. He'd only been at school a few weeks but his current grades were so bad that he was at risk of being thrown off the team if it continued. His parents and teachers were very unhappy with him starting his high school career like this, so this was the deal: if this first-year wanted to stay on the team, he needed a tutor.
Someone who did well in their own studies, so there was no worry of their grades falling while they were helping him, wasn't in a team or club that took up all of their time, and would be willing to spend evenings and the occasional day of their weekend helping this troubled first-year.
Well, hey, why not? You spent the majority of your time studying anyways, and doing it with someone else would be a nice change of pace! Not to mention it would feel good to be able to help someone out, maybe even make a new friend…
In fact, you could feel something warm in your chest, and you couldn't help but think this was…meant to be.
So you and your friend went to meet Moniwa, and you agreed to tutor his new setter, much to the captain's delight. He asked you to meet the setter after school, just before their practice started, to arrange a time for your first tutoring session. You agreed, trying to hide how excited you were to meet your new student. And when Moniwa told you the boy's name, you felt that strange warmth in your chest once more.
Koganegawa Kanji. Your future student's name was Koganegawa Kanji.
Just when your high school career was coming to an end, you found yourself at the beginning of something special.
—-
"Shit shit shit! I'm late!" You cry, as you run down the hallway. You see a teacher turn the corner and you quickly drop your pace into a harried fast walk. The teacher stares at you oddly as they pass, but the moment they're out of sight you immediately get back into a run.
You hadn't meant to be so late! In fact, class had ended a few minutes early, and you were happy that you'd be able to leave with plenty of time. But your English teacher had stopped you just as you were about to exit the classroom, wanting to congratulate you on what he called one of the best essays he'd ever read from his students. You'd worked hard on that essay for weeks, so you'd been happy to receive his praise and thanked him enthusiastically. But as he continued talking, you couldn't help but get a bit jittery. Time was ticking by, and while you didn't want to interrupt a teacher, you really needed to get going. And by the time you'd managed to delicately extricate yourself from the conversation, you were already a few minutes late.
Continuing to curse under your breath, you finally skid to a stop just as you nearly miss the corner to the hallway leading to the gym, the hallway you were to meet Koganegawa. You inhale desperately, trying to catch your breath, smoothing down your rumpled uniform to look as presentable as possible as you walk down the hallway.
"Well, at least I'm not the only one late." You breathe a sigh of relief. There's no one in the hallway but a tall third year, looking around anxiously and probably waiting to see if the girls' volleyball team was going to walk by, as was a particular hobby of many of your classmates.
You lean against the wall opposite the gym door, panting slightly as your heart slowly stops beating like a drum in a dryer. You push your hair back, trying to smooth it down before meeting him. You're about to pull your phone out to check the time, when you suddenly feel a tap on your shoulder.
You look up, and suddenly see the large third-year towering over you.
Now, you're not exactly short for a girl, but this boy? He's so tall the top of your head doesn't even reach his chin. Not to mention he's got a large body, with a broad chest and well-muscled arms. He'd probably look intimidating if it weren't for his shy expression, cute face, and tuft of black hair just above his forehead which reminds you of a baby bird for some reason. You're beginning to wonder why you've never noticed this fellow third-year before, when he speaks up.
"Uh…excuse me, but are you waiting for someone?" He asks timidly.
"Oh! Yes, sorry. I'm waiting for a first-year student who I'm going to tutor." You reply sweetly. "I was a little late, unfortunately…" You pause suddenly, looking up at him in alarm as something occurs to you. "Did you see a first-year boy here? He didn't already leave, did he!?"
You don't even attempt to hide the panic in your voice, as you stand up straight. But as you look back at the third year, you see him breathe a sigh of relief, and give you a smile so bright you're momentarily broken out of your panic. Then, he says your name, bending down slightly to look you in the eye, and you're back to stunned surprise.
"How do you know m—" You pause, as realization slowly dawns on you. Slowly, unsurely, you continue. "K—Koganegawa Kanji?!"
"Yes! That's me!" He cries out exuberantly, pointing his index fingers at his joyful face excitedly. "I'm Koganegawa Kanji! Call me Koganegawa-kun!"
You're trying not to stare at him in disbelief but it's difficult. He was a first-year?! He was huge! Even though he had a cute face…
"Senpai! It's so great to meet you!" He says, almost yelling in his excitement. You blink, trying to recover as he snaps you out of your thoughts, and try to sputter out an answer.
"Y—Yeah! It's nice to meet you too, Koganegawa-kun." You stammer. You hold out your hand, a gesture as you're about to start a proper introduction to yourself, and Koganegawa misunderstands as he grabs and shakes it so enthusiastically that your entire body wobbles. You wonder if this if a by-product of his very sport-centric life, maybe hand-shaking with the senior volleyball team members after practice games is something he got so used to he does it automatically now. Even when he stops shaking your hand, his warm, strong hands continue to grasp yours tightly, so excited he looks like he's shaking.
"Senpai—Senpai is going to be my tutor!" He beams. "I'm going to work really hard! I promise, I'll do my best and improve my grades with Senpai!"
You take a moment to take his words in, and then you begin to laugh. You give him a bright smile of your own.
"I'll hold you to that, Koganegawa-kun." You say playfully. You give your hand a short tug, and Koganegawa lets them go immediately, his entire face turning red as he tries to sputter an apology.
"With your scores, you're going to have to work very hard." You wink at him, using your free hand to shoot him a finger gun, making his face turn an even brighter red. "But your Senpai is going to help you, and make sure they go up. And stay there." You promise him seriously.
"S—S—Senpai!" He splutters. He looks so happy; you can see the beginnings of tears at the corner of his eyes. "T—Thank you!"
"W—well…" You run your hand through your hair, suddenly feeling a bit bashful. "I'm your tutor, so I'm here to help you." You pause, and smile up at him. "And this way, you can stay on the volleyball team, and, someday, I can watch you play."
It's like you lit a fire under Koganegawa.
"Yes! Senpai! I'll work really hard so I can play, and you—you'll cheer for me?!" He cries out. Well, looks like you didn't have to worry about not getting along with your student.
"I sure will." You smile happily. When he looked at you with that cute face, there was no way you could ever say no. "But! Before that, you have to improve your grades. So, worry about that first!"
Koganegawa nods excitedly. "I will! I'll work really hard Senpai!" He declares.
You laugh, and from the corner of your eye you see Moniwa's mop of black curls pop out from the gym door. He looks a bit shy, like he's not sure if he should interrupt but he really needs to.
"Ah! Sorry, sorry!" You apologise, waving at Moniwa. Koganegawa jumps as he catches sight of his captain, immediately sputtering out his own apologies.
"I'm sorry, I was late, and I kept him here." You put your palms together in a praying motion, asking for forgiveness. "Just one more minute, and I'll return him to you, I promise."
Moniwa nods, looking relieved, and thanks you again before he pulls his head back in.
You turn back to Koganegawa, who's still staring at you with wide eyes.
"Are you free tomorrow? I know it's the weekend, but we'll need some extra time to go over all your classes and see where you need help the most, and where your problem studying areas are." You tell him, quickly going into 'business' mode.
Koganegawa nods, trying to match your seriousness. "Yes, of course, for however long you need me!" He states.
"Good! You can come over to my house." You say, giving him the address. He's staring at you with wide eyes, and you repeat it again, slower, in case he missed it. "Come at around lunchtime. Bring all your homework, notes, and textbooks."
"S—Senpai's house?" He says nervously. Suddenly, he looks anxious, the tips of his ears turning red.
"Would you rather your house?" You shrug. "It doesn't matter to me, personally, but my house is pretty quiet, and well-equipped for studying."
"S—Senpai's house is fine!" Koganegawa yells suddenly, making you almost jump at the unexpected noise. His face is definitely very red now, but you need to leave so you decide to let it go for now.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, Koganegawa-kun." You say kindly, as you turn to leave, waving goodbye to him over your shoulder. "Have a good practice!"
"Th—Thank you Senpai!" He calls out behind you.
You're just about to round the corner when you hear him calling your name, and you turn.
"Senpai…" He stares back at you, his hands balled into fists as he gives you the most determined expression you've ever seen.
"I meant it! I'll work really hard, improve my grades, and become part of the starters! So—So please cheer for me when that time comes!" He cries out.
You blink in surprise, and then give him your bright smile again.
"I look forward to it, Koganegawa-kun." You say affectionately. His face turns red again, and you just laugh as you turn the corner and leave, already excited for tomorrow.