Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these characters.

Kagome groaned in frustration as she stared down at the red score on the corner of the bane of her existence. 'Math, it is always math!' The one subject frustrated and confused her, and even occasionally starred in her nightmares. She didn't do too terribly on the quiz which was a good sign, but she knew that if she didn't get a jump on this quick it would run for the mountains and leave her struggling desperately to catch up.

She heaved a sigh and steeled herself in the knowledge that she was going to need help, and fast before the subject matter became even more complicated. It was only the end of the second week, so she had time to wrangle the difficult formulas into submission. As the bell rang and students began to disperse for lunch, Kagome approached her Math teacher before she could leave the room.

"Excuse me, Murata-sensei?"

"Hai, Higurashi-san?" she asked with a smile.

Taking a deep breath, she forged ahead, "Ano, I'm sure that you've noticed that Math is not my strong suit… Is there someone I can ask to tutor me?"

"Kozume-san would be the best person to ask."

"Thank you, Murata-sensei."

She returned to her desk glad to have a plan of attack in the battle against her arch nemesis. She would not lose the long-standing war, and her potential savior was thankfully near. He sat directly behind her, so she could ask him for help when lunch as over and he came back from wherever he disappeared to. 'I just hope he'll be willing to help me…'

After meeting Kuroo outside for lunch, Kenma made his journey back to his desk in 1-4, and sat down with a small sigh. Two weeks into the new school year and Kuroo is at this point, keeping his promise to monitor Kenma's late night gaming sessions. Kuroo seemed to call him at the most inconvenient moments of a level and Kenma was about to start checking his room for cameras at this rate. 'What a drag…' Letting out a deep breath, he knew he will have to concede defeat and start just turning off the games on his own at a decent time. 'The one upside to this strategy, it will take some of the fun away from Kuroo. However, the major downside to the strategy is that he will take it as a win and gloat.'

"Excuse me, Kozume-san?"

Consumed by his thoughts of Kuroo's impending victory, Kenma was startled to hear the soft voice of one of his classmates. Looking up at the source, he saw that it was the girl that sat in front of him, Higurashi Kagome, that called his attention. She was interesting compared to the rest of the class in the sense that he never felt like he could get a full read on her. The others were fairly easy, they were concerned about dating, who liked who, schoolwork, and what famous group was currently popular. Higurashi-san, as far as he could see, was popular due to her kindness and care that she showed towards their classmates. However, she also seemed to be somewhat disconnected from the rest in that she did not share the same interests, 'She's like an elder sibling in a room full of small children…'

Seeing her cerulean blue eyes looking directly at him, for that brief moment was more than he was really comfortable with. Quickly returning his view to the top of his desk, "Kenma."

"I'm sorry?"

"I rather be called Kenma, Higurashi-san."

"Ah! Then please call me Kagome." Glancing at the gentle smile she gave him, he nodded in acceptance. "Kenma, I am struggling a bit with Math, and Murata-sensei said that you be the best one to help me. Would you be willing to tutor me when you have time?"

He kept his eyes down while he nodded in agreement, and realized something important. Kagome was really good at History, he remembered catching a glimpse of one of her scores on his way back to his desk after collecting his quiz from Moriyama-sensei. That was a subject he was having some difficulty with, if she would be willing to assist him in return, that would be beneficial.

"Thank you, Kenma!"

"Ano, Kagome…?"

"Hai?"

"Could you help me with History?"

She looked at him in surprise, then smiled at him once again, "I have a better idea." Tilting his head in curiosity, wondering where her thought process was heading. "How about we be study partners? Sounds much better than tutors, don't you think?"

His lips curled slightly, "I would like that." They quickly exchanged phone numbers and planned for their first study session as the bell rang.

Kenma was not enjoying his high school volleyball club experience. He felt worn out, which he hated, and the third years were proving time and again that they were nothing more than bullies. How was this supposed to be a 'team' when they can't really rely on one another? The third years either targeted him the most out of the club or purposely exiled him, and for what reason did they have for their behavior? Maybe they perceived him to be the weakest that needed to be culled from the group? This was more pressure than he wanted to endure, and he wasn't sure how much more he could take.

He was grateful when practice was declared over, but the torment wouldn't end there, it never did. "Clean faster first year or we can't go home!" Was shouted at him as he ran across the gym with his arms full of volleyballs. Trying not to drop any of them before he reached the cart to place them in. In the corner of his eye he saw Kuroo frown in the direction of the third years, who were not exactly pulling their weight in the clean-up. They never did their share, and why should they? They saw themselves as the big and powerful upperclassmen. Being one to two years older than the rest of the club shouldn't give someone the right to act so big.

Finally, the gym was cleaned and locked up, he and Kuroo quickly changed out of their practice gear and started to walk home.

"Don't let them get to you Kenma." Kuroo, only getting only a nod in response, heaved a deep sigh knowing it was best to change the subject. "How are your classes going?"

"Classes are fine, History is a challenge as usual."

Looking down at his shorter friend, "Do you want me to help you study?"

Kenma moved his head back and forth slightly, "One of my classmates asked me if I wanted to be study partners. I'm going over to their house tomorrow morning so we can review for the tests that we have next week."

Kuroo's lips curled up, glad to hear that Kenma was branching out a bit. "Good." Turning down the street of their neighborhood and they waved goodnight and entered their homes.