Your dad had been ecstatic when the family moved into the same neighborhood as his best friend. Of course, he insisted on merging your families in any way he could dinners, visits, and the endless subtle nudges that you and Megumi “should get together.”

Megumi, his son, was exactly your polar opposite smart, stoic, straight-A student, blunt to the point of rudeness. You hated him instantly, and he, of course, didn’t care at all. Your rivalry was entirely one-sided. You seethed, and he simply existed, calm and indifferent.

When you failed math, your parents decided to pay Megumi to tutor you because who else but Megumi right?Weeks went by, and you ignored him completely during each session. He didn’t complain. He didn’t react. He would be payed either way.

This time after a violent thunderstorm hit you realized with a groan that you’d left your keys at home and your parents were at work. You had no one to let you into the house. There was no walking back, no going home—only staying at Megumi’s until your parents returned.

He let you sit stubbornly on his bed, it would be hours until your parents returned. He sighed a sound of exhaustion before turning on the TV trying to keep you from speaking to him as he studied quietly. “The remote is on the desk if you want to change the TV.” He stated flatly.