ic contact;

[orangehoodie]

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[orangehoodie]

[He'd wanted to argue with his father that it was unnecessary, but he couldn't explain that his low grades were because he wasn't trying -- that would be worse than just letting him believe he wasn't smart, or whatever. But he's really not enthused about this new arrangement, and his feet drag on the library floor as he slowly makes his way toward the table, one hand holding up his backpack and his head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone, strangers or classmates or librarians. He tightens his grip on his heavy bag as he finally rounds the last corner and raises his eyes to look for the senior supposed to be tutoring him... or, at least, for the table he was supposed to be at.

Part of him hoped the tutor would be someone flaky, who'll be late for the meeting or even miss it altogether, but he couldn't be so lucky (of course not) and sighs softly when he spots who must be his tutor, sitting at the promised spot. He at least tries to seem less unenthusiastic as he walks up.]

... Are you Matthias?

[pheromonecoffee]

[Matt looks up from his paperwork and stands, offering a hand.] You're Ken? [Obviously, but it doesn't hurt to check.]

[orangehoodie]

[He hesitates, looking uncertain and to an extent uncomfortable with the sudden greeting and response expected from him, but he holds out his hand and grips Matt's pretty firmly.]

That's me. Um... did I make you wait?

[pheromonecoffee]

Not long. I had homework, anyway. [Yes good. A handshake later, he gestures to the seat across from him.] So... do you have anything you need help with?

[orangehoodie]

[He'll take the seat, dropping his bag and pulling out textbooks and notebooks with the enthusiasm of an Arisato told to skip dinner.]

Um. My grades in pretty much everything is average... so I think my dad just wants you to watch me do my homework and point out anything I'm doing wrong.

[pheromonecoffee]

[He peers at Ken's textbook for a hint of what they're learning.] Shouldn't be too hard. Not a big math fan?

[orangehoodie]

[He has everything. Literally all his subjects. But he pulls out his math book and rubs at his shoulder now that the weight is off of it, shrugging.]

Not really. I don't hate it, but... here. [He opens his book to the assigned pages, showing Matt the questions he has to solve.]

I'm sorry, by the way. My dad just kind of sprung this up out of nowhere...

[pheromonecoffee]

I used to do it at my old school. It's not a problem. [It keeps him busy, and that's how he likes it.

Though he does know most kids don't like it, so he watches with mild interest.] If you get it right, is there anything you want to do after?

[orangehoodie]

After?

[Like, aside from nodding to being told he got it right and packing up his things and parting with this new tutor and going home to play some games and surfing that network again?]

What do you mean?

[pheromonecoffee]

[He shrugs.] There was a kid I tutored who wouldn't do anything unless I promised him coffee after.

I guess it's bribery, but he went from a D to a B+.

[orangehoodie]

... I'm.

[He would like to do something. Coffee just makes him think of hot sauce, but is there something he'd want? There are... but from a stranger?]

You don't have do go that far.

[pheromonecoffee]

[Not a stranger once you've met them.]

I know. But I like to stretch after tutoring, myself.

[orangehoodie]

I don't want to waste your time...

...

... Do you like games?

[pheromonecoffee]

Most games. Not dating sims. [Matt shut the fuck up you're p much from a dating sim. not to mention does ken even know what that is???]

[orangehoodie]

Well-- of course not. I don't play those either.

I have some games... that you have to have more than one player to unlock some things in.

[pheromonecoffee]

Want a hand? [It's totally not bribery.]

[orangehoodie]

... I don't want to be bribed.

But I do want help.

[pheromonecoffee]

Don't think of it as bribery. Think of it as something to look forward to. Or these things can drag on forever.

[orangehoodie]

[He pauses, and looks up at Matt, and opens his notebook up and copies down the first question.]

I don't actually hate school. I won't make you correct everything.

[pheromonecoffee]

Oh, good. It would make it hard if you did that on purpose.

[orangehoodie]

[He shakes his head.]

... Should I just start these first questions, then?

[pheromonecoffee]

Wherever you're comfortable starting. Remember to show your work, even on a separate piece of paper. Taking it one step at a time is the best way to do this kind of thing.

[orangehoodie]

R-right.

[He flashes Matthias a look, frowning a little in the way kids do when they feel bad about something, and he'll pull his book closer to himself and start working on the first question. He works at a consistent pace, and although he pauses once or twice to calculate something, he... really doesn't look like he has any trouble working out the problem at all.]

[pheromonecoffee]

[He watches across the table, chin in hand, ready to correct anything he sees wrong.

And he is very pleasantly surprised that he doesn't have to. He considers this situation momentarily, and thinks he knows what's going on.]

How do you find the volume of a cylinder, Ken?

[The basic kind of stuff you learn in eighth grade math.]

[orangehoodie]

[He raises his head to Matt at the question, paused in the middle of writing down the answer to the current problem.]

The radius squared multiplied by pi, multiplied by the height.