Chapter Twenty: Tutoring

"Amazing…" Kotomi gasped at the number of books before her. "So many books that I have never seen before! May I…?" she asked, looking over at the Knights.

Michael looked over at Bonnie. "She checks out just fine…it's your call, babe," he said.

Bonnie shifted her gaze from her husband to my schoolmate. "Well…" she said, then squealed. "Oooooo, you're so adorable! Yes, yes, go ahead! I wrote most of them myself, but I can't say 'no' to that face!"

Kotomi whirled on me, her eyes sparkling. "Isn't this wonderful, Tomoya-kun? We can read together again!"

"I'm sorry, but…this really isn't my kind of reading," I said. "And what do you mean, 'again'? The last time I was there I just watched you read."

She averted her gaze and folded her hands in front of her chest as she blushed. "I remember that; it was wonderful."

What a weird girl. "I…guess I could watch you this time too, if you wanted."

"Not happening; not yet, at least," Michael said, tapping my schoolbag on the table. "Get this done, then we can talk about fun stuff."

I groaned. "Seriously? I can do this at home!" I saw KITT out of the corner of my eye and got an idea. "If KITT's willing, could he-"

"You're not using Knight Industry's best technology to do your homework for you," Michael said matter-of-factly.

"No sir, that's not what I was going to ask," I protested. "I was hoping KITT could teach me. He'd be the best tutor ever!"

"I, for one, would enjoy the challenge," KITT said.

Michael studied me for several seconds. "All right, since KITT seems to be willing." He looked over at his wife. "Wilton Knight's dream, now a high-school tutor."

Bonnie gave him an affectionate pat on the arm. "Think of it as investing in the future."

He gave me a lopsided smile. "Have fun, you two."

"I want to help."

I suddenly found Kotomi in my path as I turned toward KITT. "Huh?"

She stepped closer, almost in my personal space, and gazed into my eyes. "I want to help you, Tomoya-kun."

"Thank you, Kotomi-chan, but I'm sure KITT can-"

"I want to help you," she repeated in a trembling voice, stepping so close that I actually had to take a step back. She sounded like she was about to cry.

"Okay, okay," I conceded. "I guess it can't hurt."

"Two heads are better than one, as they say," KITT added, opening his doors. "Get in, you two…and behave yourselves."

"Oh man, I'm glad that's done!" I exclaimed as I flopped back in my seat and closed my eyes. Under KITT's tutelage, I finally understood not just how parabolas work, but why they worked. "Thanks a lot, KITT; I feel like I could ace my next test!"

"Be sure that you do, young man," he said in an admonishing tone. "Your performance is a direct reflection of my abilities as an instructor."

"Understood, sir," I said, giving him a salute; I hadn't felt this good about my academics in what seemed like forever. "I won't let you down."

"Did…Did I help, Tomoya-kun?" came a timid voice along with a gentle touch to my hand, and I looked over to see Kotomi with a worried expression.

"Your assistance was immensely beneficial, Ichinose-san. Your input helped me to customize the lesson to best teach Okazaki-san."

Kotomi didn't respond to the AI, but simply gazed at me.

I felt a blush creep over my face. "Well, like KITT said: you were a great teacher's assistant. Thank you."

Her face resolved itself into a relieved smile. "I am so happy, Tomoya-kun!"

"Okay!" I clapped my hands and leaned forward in my seat again. "How about history? Could we do that next? I'm fired up!"

"A history lesson would be acceptable, but first I would like you to take a few minutes to relax. May I recommend a short walk to help with your circulation?"

I groaned; he had a point, even if I didn't like it. "All right, KITT; I guess some fresh air would do me some good." I got out of the car and had to stretch; we had been working on my math for a little over an hour, and I was feeling cramped. I looked back at my tutor. "About how long? Would fifteen minutes be enough?"

"Thirty minutes would be ideal, but fifteen will suffice."

"See you later then," I said, giving him another salute before making my way down the ramp to the outside.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I nearly jumped when I felt something wrap itself around my arm. "AAUGH!"

Kotomi had taken hold of my arm, and she looked up at me with twinkling eyes. "I-Is this okay? I want to walk with you."

"I-I guess so." I wasn't sure what to think; other than the times Yukine had laid her head in my lap I'd never had a girl approach me like this. "I guess it's okay."

She sighed with a happy smile and closed her eyes as she leaned into me.

"K-Kotomi-chan? I can't keep my balance with you leaning on me like this."

"Huh?" her eyes flickered open. "Oh! I am sorry; you are out here for a walk!" she took her weight off me but still held my arm. "Let us go, then."

Wanting to take my mind off of school-oriented stuff I asked her, "Listen, Kotomi-chan… what's going on? You've been talking like we've known each other forever, but we only met about two, three weeks ago, right?"

"That is…partly true," she replied ambiguously. She slowed, turning me toward her as she released my arm before looking down between us and nodding, seemingly to herself, before looking back up at me. "I could never forget those eyes," she said as she rested her hand on my cheek.

"H-Huh…?" What had gotten into her?

"You came to Mommy and Daddy's backyard by accident. I was practicing my violin when you appeared rather suddenly…"

My eyes widened as my heart started to throb along with my head.

"…we introduced ourselves to each other. And from that day forward we played together every day. Tag, house…we would read together…"

My hand found my forehead and I gasped as a flood of memories crashed over me. "Oh my god…you had white chairs and a table in your backyard…"

"Yes…" Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"…and a huge sliding glass door, and a white picket fence…" My heart sank. "I promised to bring a bunch of friends for your birthday, but…I failed." I looked over to see her still smiling in spite of her tears. "I was too ashamed to show up, so… I didn't. And then your parents died, and…oh my god…" How could I have forgotten her parents like that?

"You remember me…" she said in a trembling voice.

I blinked, and felt a warm wetness spill over my cheeks. "Yeah…yeah, I do." I looked over at her again and chuckled awkwardly. "I'm so sorry. I was embarrassed, so I stayed away so long that…yeah."

Her lower lip trembled as she placed her hands on my cheeks. "I forgive you, Tomoya-kun. Can we be friends again?"

I gently placed my hands over hers. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that. Now that I remember you, I miss you. Funny, huh?"

She shook her head. "Mmmm-mmnn. I think it is wonderful. I have missed you terribly all this time."

As we headed back into the Bishop for more tutoring, I realized that I had already learned an important history lesson.