AN: Sup peeps I have returned for yet another chapter, as usual thank you all for taking a moment to check out this story!

"I'll help you." That phrase was running through my head over and over. Nothing else mattered.

Hey!" Tsukishima was waving his hand in front of my face when I tuned back into reality (crap had he been talking the entire time?)

"No wonder you're failing, you can't even pay attention now," he said looking annoyed.

"I said I would help you but you're going to owe me."

"Okay." I agreed without thinking about any possible consequences, my mind was too busy running wild with many Tsukishima themed fantasies.

After talking with Tsukishima, I walked back to the gym feeling pretty euphoric. The gods were smiling on me for once in my life of awkward and moderately ridiculous situations. Back in the boys gym I was greeted by Natsumi chasing Hinata around the gym, as a few of the more energetic members of the volleyball team cheered her on.

"Someone looks happy. Were you right? Did you die?" Saya asked slinging her arm over my shoulder.

"Be honest with me Saya; how many people saw me crying?"

"Everyone," I scrunched up my face, "don't worry, everything's fine now."

We helped clean the rest of the gym before we all left for the night and went our separate ways. I waved goodbye to my friends and the volleyball team, I even waved to Tsukishima who barely responded even though his friend returned the wave with a smile. The volleyball team and most of my friends went down the hill while Saya and I headed in the opposite direction.

Time skip to Keiko's house:

"What up sweet cheeks?! Dinner's on the table already," Mizuho called out when she heard the door close behind me.

"Thanks," I answered and made my way to the kitchen. Mizuho entered soon after with her nose buried in one of her nerdy fantasy novels that were always piled up around the house (not that I was complaining, she had to put up with my overwhelming amounts of art supplies that I never got around to organizing).

"Did you learn anything at school?"

"Nope," Mizuho raised an eyebrow at me.

"What mom?"

"Spicy aren't we; must have gone better than yesterday."

"Maybe…"

"Don't play coy with me Keiko," Mizuho then started to wiggle her eyebrows at me with a cocky little grin on her face.

Now tell me did you use my pick up lines?" She asked.

"No you cheese ball."

"Don't knock it till you try it." I balled up a napkin and tossed it at her head, missing big time. We spent the rest of the night laughing and sassing each other until I begrudgingly went to my room to attempt homework. At 10:00 I got ready for bed (who am I kidding it was like 1:00 am) and curled up under my pillow and blanket fortress.

The next day:

"Crap crap crap crap crap!" My alarm was blaring some trashy pop song and vibrating all over my desk (it had been doing that on and off for a while, and I may have hit snooze a few times). Now I was running late, I pulled on a sock and a shoe, realized it was going on the wrong foot and started again. I pulled my hair into a descent-ish bun and secured it with what I believed to be a hair stick before rushing out of the house bag in hand and granola bar in my mouth.

I skidded to a stop one minute before the bell rang and then straightened my blazer and tie as I walked in. I got a few odd looks from my classmates. I worried for a second that I looked like a wreck; patting my hair I realized what I thought was a hair stick was really one of my paintbrushes (god I needed to organize that crap). Whatever, I rocked art supplies. I felt the urge to wave to Tsukishima before class started but decided not to when my hand was half raised. His friend Yamaguchi waved at me instead, he was definitely a sweet heart.

When class started I perfected the art of pencil spinning (between note taking). During break I put my head on my notebook and tried to rest a bit; my sleeping pattern really needed an update. I jerked up when someone slapped their hand on my desk.

"Can't even stay awake through break." I knew that voice, arrogant and moderately passive aggressive. I tilted my head to the side a bit more for a view that wasn't just shoes. Looking up at Tsukishima I stuck out my tongue, which earned me a frown. I sat up and gave him a small smile.

"I forgot to say thank you." Tsukishima looked a bit surprised.

"What, can't a girl be grateful?" I asked with a grin. There was something about bothering him that was a bit entertaining. He sighed and pushed up his glasses.

"Wait after class, we'll meet during lunch," he said then walked back to his desk.

After the bell for lunch rang I walked over to Tsukishima's desk. "Deep breath" I repeatedly whispered as I approached.

"Give me your notes," he said raising his hand.

"Why?..." I held my notebook closer to me.

"I want to see how much you pay attention." I backed away slightly.

"Just, give we a second." Tsukishima tsked but let me flip through my book before showing it to him. I was checking for drawings of him, but I was in luck, I had covered my tracks well. Once my skim was completed I handed the notebook over.

"This is pathetic. Is this a coloring book or a notebook?" He tossed the book onto his desk and faced me again.

"Your notes are incomplete at best; do you even listen?"

"I pay attention… Most of the time, usually." Not my most convincing moment. Tsukishima looked like he was going to berate me a little more, but he didn't get to because my savior arrived in the form of Natsumi.

"Kei-chan! Where are you-?" Natsumi quieted down when she noted who else was there.

"Oh, never mind," she smiled coyly. "You know where to find us."

It didn't take long for me to finish up with Tsukishima, it was mostly him pointing out the many things that I was doing wrong. The highlight came when he suggested we make plans for our first official tutoring session.

I found my friends' midway through lunch and the conversations was quickly turned to me.

"Did you have fun today?" Saya asked coming over and sitting down as I opened my bento.

"Depends on your definition of fun." I swatted away Saya's sneaking chopsticks from my lunch.

"You already know what I'm going to say, I don't know why you like that boy so much."

"You're too much of a sweetheart Keiko," Mai chimed in. I smiled and batted my eyes at her then shooed away another set of thieving chopsticks.

"Are you meeting during lunches?" Saya asked (thankfully she was now focusing on her own bento… For now).

"I don't know about lunch, but we're meeting on Saturday."

"Where!"

"When!"

"Saturday night at my house. It's because of his volleyball practice."

"Your house huh? Expect many a text message tomorrow night my sweet Kei-chan." Natsumi said with a cheeky little smile. Great I was going to in for a long Saturday night dealing with my crazy friends and probably dealing with my sister.

"Congratulations Keiko!" The twins cheered.

"And thanks for the food!" I looked down at my bento, noticing the missing dumplings and noodles, then back at my friends who were munching on their prizes with big smiles.

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