Fade Away My Memories Chapter 29

ME: I love music

Lise: me too

Yusei: -shrugs- music and me kinda don't agree

ME: you can still like music even if you're terrible at it

Yusei: gee thanks

ME: Didn't imply anything there, swear.

Lise: -laughs- I'll take him anyway

Yusei: -blushes-

ME: here we go! Don't own 5Ds but own my OCs! Proceed!

/

Sasaki-sensei ran a hand through her brown hair tiredly. "Yusei, I know you just started this year. That's hard, I get it. But the school year is almost over and you haven't received any grade in this class over a C and you need at least one proficient essay by the end of the year."

I played absentmindedly with my hands. She was right, and that was the reason I was stuck in this dumb position; sitting in an uncomfortable chair after school with my English teacher. "I know… It's just writing doesn't come easy to me and I don't wanna trouble anyone and…"

"It's okay, keep going."

"I just… asking for help makes me feel stupid…"

"That's perfectly normal, Yusei. We all have strengths and weaknesses. You're fantastic at math and physics obviously, while Elizabeth is just as wonderful at art and writing in general."

"Sasaki-sensei!" someone shouted as she, definitely female voice, opened the door with a bang.

Sasaki-sensei raised an eyebrow. "Speak of the devil…" she muttered, smiling. "What can I do for you Kururugi-kun?"

Lise came in quickly and she paused in front of Sasaki-sensei's desk. "I just wanted to say thanks for the letter of recommendation."

I raised an eyebrow, curious.

What? I can apply for more than one scholarship ya know. College is expensive.

I bit my lip ad resisted the urge to shake my head. Lise was always so weird.

"My pleasure, and am I the only teacher you're visiting after school today?"

"Nope but you are the last. Gotta save the best for last… I also wanted to ask about what I should do…"

"Problem?"

"Well yeah kinda… I um… I'm kinda failing physics and half failing math… Should I get a tutor or what?" Lise said slowly and then blurted all at once.

Sasaki-sensei smiled, completely amused. "Interesting; I think the two of you should tutor each other."

Lise and I blinked disbelievingly at Sasaki-sensei n then at each other. "What?"

"Look at it this way guys; Elizabeth you're failing in math and physics and Yusei is good at both while Yusei is failing in art and writing which Elizabeth is good at. Coincidence? I don't think so. You two need to work together to be ready for finals in two weeks. You both want to graduate right?"

"Yeah," Lise sighed.

"Yes," I said quietly.

"Use your resources then," Sasaki-sensei grinned suddenly, leaning closer to us over her desk. "By the way the Talent Show was the best I've seen yet at this school." She leaned back and turned to her computer, waving us out. "See you two later then!"

Lise turned and high-tailed it out as quickly as possible. I knew her face was burning because mine felt like it was on fire. She was biting her lip hard and speed walking.

We finally stopped when the school's front doors closed behind us. Lise suddenly started to laugh nervously. "She wasn't serious was she?"

"She was," I laughed a little too. Despite the practicality of the idea, it did seem a tad stupid.

"You think we can manage it?" Lise raised a doubtful eyebrow. Her fingers went to her hair to twist it.

"We can try," I amended, taking her hand and beginning the short walk home.

"Okay, we'll try," Lise agreed, turning a slight shade of pink.

I managed a small smile and laced my fingers between Lise's. The pink in her cheeks deepened significantly.

"Hey, your hair," I blurted suddenly.

Lise looked confused. "Is there something wrong with it?"

"Uh no…" I trailed a finger down one of the little braids that swooped across the side of her head and tied together at the back of her head. She was also growing out her bangs a little. "It's just different, everything's a little longer."

Lise's fingers went to her hair, still blushing furiously, she started twisting again. "I'm trying to grow it out a little. I had it cut shorter after I started martial arts so it wouldn't get in the way."

I nodded teasingly. "Very sensible."

She laughed and shook her head. "Come on science geek, we've gotta get home." Lise pulled me forward, moving faster towards home.

/

"You're finally home!" Mom greeted when I opened the door. We were obviously later than usual because we'd stayed after school.

"Yep, and apparently we need to hit the books big time," I told her grimly. Truth be told I was not looking forward to going over physics and some math problems for several hours…

"Study session?"

"And drawing lessons," Yusei added.

"I'll get started on dinner then and let you two have the table." Mom grinned, winked, and wheeled herself over to the kitchen.

"All right here we go…" I sighed, setting out my textbooks and sitting down.

Yusei sat across from me and sifted through the textbooks. "So… let's see… do you understand how to calculate work?"

"I can work hard!"

"No, I meant the actual equation of work as in friction and force?" he pushed the textbook over to me, pointing at the picture of the box moving across the page. The equations and numbers meant nothing to me.

I sighed. "Boring! Who cares how much friction or force and crap is on a box?"

"Well if you can't do even that… this was from the beginning of the year," Yusei smiled awkwardly, and looked at the ceiling, sighing. "This is gonna take longer than I thought…"

/

"So um… if I multiply this across these and this across those as well…" Lise muttered as she worked out the problem. I'd finally got her to remember some of the physics equations, remember and understand what they're actually for.

We had switched to math after about 45 minutes. Lise wasn't failing that class per ce, but she needed a little help with the more complicated stuff.

"Okay there! The answer is 12x to the 18th power plus 15x to the 16th power plus 50x to the 15th power plus 55x to the 13th power plus 22x to the 12th power!" she said all on one breath, pushing the paper towards me.

I scanned her work and quickly did the problem on my head. "Yep that's correct."

"Yay!" Lise squealed. "Now on to writing. It's been a while, and you seem to need the practice."

I scowled disapprovingly. I knew I needed to write an essay to pass, but that didn't mean I had to like it.

"So what do you have to do to get a proficient essay?" Lise asked.

From the papers on the table I handed her my essay draft and the prompt. "The essay isn't due until the day of the final and Sasaki-sensei told me she wanted my drafts done early for revisions."

"Oh okay good, initiative instead of procrastination. I like it," she got out a red pen and started correcting. Her eyes burned through my paper in seconds, covering it with red markings. "Wow… you really do suck," she concluded when she had finished.

I rolled my eyes. "Gee thanks."

"But you're smart so it's fixable."

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You really think so?"

Lise smiled. "You taught me some physics and math. I think you can learn how to write and draw."

"Thanks…" I felt my cheeks warming up.

"I always say you can fix laziness but you can't fix stupid!" Mayoko called from the kitchen.

"Then let's fix it," I said, attempting a smile.

"Okay," Lise got up and sat in the chair next to me. She pointed at specific parts of my essay. "First off your thesis is really unclear right off the bat. I have no idea what the heck you're trying to say or persuade me to think. Also you say 'you' and 'we' a lot. Don't address your reader. It's unprofessional. Before I can do anything else, I gotta know what your argument is. By the way, you misspelled dog too…"

"Seriously?" I looked; she was right. "Okay so the topic I chose was the effect of technology on an environment in today's society."

"Yes, so what's your argument and why should I care?" Lise pressed.

"Oh um…well…"

"Exactly; I'll let you figure that out and correct what you can until I edit the second draft kay?"

"All right…" I scowled and pulled my laptop over to edit my paper.

After a few seconds I realized Lise was staring at me. "I didn't know you could type. That's weird…"

"You can't?"

"I can at least write even if I chicken peck it!" she replied defensively.

"At least I can type!"

"At least I can write and I have my level 5 papers required for graduation!"

I glared at her, knowing she had me there. "Whatever…Lemme finish editing…"

"Lesson number one in a relationship, SHE is always right," Mayoko commented, smirking.

"Thanks…" I muttered grudgingly and quickly got to work.

Lise was sketching something beside me. She finished quickly and I snuck a quick peek before I wrote the last three words.

"While I edit what you just fixed, try to draw this. It doesn't have to be perfect. Art class is generally about effort, so usually if it looks relatively similar the sensei gives you credit."

"Oh joy…" I sighed and pulled a piece of paper over to start drawing. She'd quickly sketched out Korra from Legend of Korra. It was just a rough sketch so it wasn't as good as it could've been but it was still way out of my league. I had to try though.

After 20 minutes Lise had finished editing and I had accomplished a very wrinkled circle. I glared at it fiercely as Lise saved and pushed the laptop away to evaluate what I'd done.

"Just say it; I know I suck…"

Lise shook her head. "No I just think you're too focused on making it perfect eight off the bat. The circle, or beginning, of the drawing isn't going to be the biggest part of the finished product." She took the pencil from me and drew a careless circle. "We're drawing Korra right? So I only use part of my circle to make the curve of the top of her head, then I make lines that come down slightly rounded for the sides of her head and they curve down to join together to make Korra's chin. Now we just make curves from the base of her face to create her neck."

Lise gave the pencil back to me. "You try drawing Korra's hair. It's a little messy so don't worry about it being perfect."

"Okay…" I stared at the blank face on the paper. "How do I start it?"

"You could start from the top of Korra's head. I usually draw from top to bottom. It's easier for me."

I nodded and pulled another blank piece of paper over. I quickly wrote physics and math problems on it. "While I work on this stuff, you've gotta do some work too."

Lise grumbled moodily and took the paper. She pulled out her calculator and another pencil and got started.

"You two are so cute," Mayoko smiled encouragingly as she slid cups of ramen over to us. "You've been working for hours now. Time for a break."

"We can agree on a break," Lise nodded.

My stomach chose that moment to growl loudly. "Food sounds awesome."

"I have no doubt that at this rate you two will pass your finals."

/

"Are you scared?" I asked Yusei quietly.

"A little yeah," he admitted, taking a deep breath.

"At least your best subjects are first. You don't have much to worry about…"

"Hey," Yusei turned and put his hands on my shoulders. "We both studied our asses off for a whole week. We can do this."

I took a deep breath. "Yeah, you're right! Bring it on!"

"Everyone, our final exam for your classes is starting," a random sensei announced when he opened his door. "Everyone file in and take a seat. All your finals will be taken here and yes you will have breaks. Your test materials are on your desks. The test will last until noon. Good luck."

I flipped over part one of my exam. The first part was physics, just like I predicted. I read through the first question, trying not to sweat.

What is the formula for a measurement of force known as work?

I smiled and bubbled in my question. Yusei was right. We could do this.