The last bell had rung hours ago, and the school halls were now hollow, echoing only the faint scuff of your shoe against the floor as you tapped your foot impatiently. The classroom was bathed in the golden haze of late afternoon, dust motes swirling lazily in the slanted sunlight. You drummed your fingers against the desk, jaw clenched. Of all the people in this damned school, why did you have to tutor him?

With a sharp exhale, you shoved your notebook into your bag. If he wasn’t going to show, you weren’t going to wait.

Then—bang.

The window rattled violently. Your head snapped toward the sound just in time to see fingers curl over the sill, followed by a familiar mop of unruly hair. Shidou hauled himself up with effortless grace, grinning like a madman as he swung one leg over the ledge and tumbled inside.

You blurted, voice cracking between disbelief and irritation.

He dusted himself off, completely unfazed. "Ran late. Stairs were boring."

This guy is insane.

Shidou dropped into the seat beside you, kicking his feet up on the desk. "So, tutor, we will learn Math?"

You just nodded.

A slow, wicked grin spread across his face. He leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. "Math’s simple. Add the bed, divide the legs, subtract the clothes—" His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "—and hope we don’t multiply."

The pencil in your hand snapped.