he doesn't exactly know how long it had been since he started solving the mathematical problem in front of him but he couldn't seem to get the equation right nor the answer. sighing inwardly, he glanced at his tutor who was sitting next to him with legs crossed.

the guy was on his last year in university but working as part time tutor to help izuku with his homeschooling. hiroto pushed his glasses in place, eyes not leaving his own textbook. "you have spent more than 20 minutes in that single problem," he commented. izuku winced.

"it's an intermediate problem at that," he added and izuku could feel his words sank deep in his skin. he couldn't help but think of katsuki's words ringing in his head. /you're really stupid, deku./ izuku felt his throat tightened. maybe he was really stupid?

his only comfort was despite him being stupid, katsuki accepted him. /but it's okay, it doesn't matter because you have me./ izuku wanted to say something only for his alarm to start going off on his phone. he quickly reached for his mobile device to turn it off.

izuku quickly closed his workbook but before he could do it, hiroto stopped him. "where do you think you're going?" green eyes looked at the older guy in panic, "b-but... i have to—" "i don't care, you are not standing from that seat unless you finish that problem."

izuku gripped his pants tightly. he can't stay there. he has to get up. hiroto tapped the book with his pencil, "remember what i taught you and finish this, midoriya." no, he needed to get up and leave. izuku stared at the numbers on his workbook, slowly they became —

— blurry as tears welled up in both his eyes. his heart was thundering in his chest, somehow it was starting to get harder to breath. dread clung into his skin, pulling it hard. "you know crying won't get you anywhere," hiroto sighed. "children these days are really spoiled."

izuku turned to him now fully crying, "it's not that, sens—" "izuku," hiroto firmly said. the kid was now crying, wiping the fat tears that rolled down his freckled cheeks. his shoulder was shaking. "stop crying and try to solve the problem and you can leave."

izuku turned to his workbook, his shaky hand picked up his pencil. he was inconsolable at this point but he tried so hard to solve the problem. hiroto pinched the bridge of his nose, moving closer to him he then offered help only for them to be interrupted by a knock on the door.

"izuku," the kid turned to look at mitsuki leaning by the door with arms crossed over her chest. "why are you still here?" hiroto quickly stood up and bowed down to mitsuki, he tried to explain how izuku was having a hard time moving on from a single problem.

mitsuki didn't even look at the guy and just kept her eyes on the 14 year old, izuku who was on his seat, sobbing. "fix yourself, he's going to be here in five minutes," mitsuki said and izuku quickly stood up, thanking mitsuki before leaving the room.

as soon as izuku was out of the room, mitsuki turned to hiroto who just stood there awkwardly in silence. "if i were you, i wouldn't really make izuku cry." "it's a misunderstanding, mrs. bakugou," hiroto replied as he explained how izuku was just frustrated about a problem.

"alright," mitsuki nodded. "how about you stay for dinner, hiroto? my husband will be home from a business trip and we have quite a feast." the tutor delightfully accepted the invitation after all one of the reasons he decided to tutor izuku was to build a connection with the —

— bakugou's. the family had been in various businesses for years, owning massive corporates. with the family owning the biggest chain of malls and department stores, hiroto knew they're a connection that would help him in the future. mitsuki lead him to the lounge area.

the moment izuku left the room he went straight to his room and washed his face. he also changed his clothes. lately, katsuki liked it whenever he was wearing silk white shirts. after dressing up, izuku fixed his hair and put on the perfume katsuki got for him.

izuku wasn't really a fan of perfumes but katsuki bought him a perfume and taught him how to properly put it on and it just became part of his routine. once, he was satisfied with how he looked, izuku rushed to the main door and stood there, waiting.

the relief that flooded izuku's heart when the door opened after three minutes of just waiting was immense. he would have been late if mitsuki didn't interrupt them. the door opened, revealing katsuki clad in his school uniform. the blond raked his hair and looked exhausted.

"kacchan," izuku welcomed him with a bright smile. the blond walked to him, hugging him close, burying his nose in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. "did you miss me, stupid deku?" katsuki asked. "hmm!" izuku eagerly nodded. "you know i will always miss you!"

pulling away, katsuki looked at izuku. his hand then caressed his green curls before traveling down to his freckled cheek. wordlessly, he was scrutinizing every detail. katsuki looked pleased seeing izuku had fixed his hair and was wearing the clothes katsuki liked on him.

izuku felt himself flinch the moment katsuki's thumb brushed on the skin below his eyes. his expression changed, and so did the air that was surrounding them. izuku could feel a lump forming in his throat. "what happened?" katsuki's tone was cold. "n-nothing," izuku stuttered.

katsuki just stared at him coldly, his hand lowering to izuku's jaw and then finally to his neck. izuku froze in his place. "i'll ask you again and i don't want to hear a fucking lie, deku." izuku could feel his lips wobbling before he finally told katsuki what happened.

"it's my fault," izuku sobbed, katsuki pulled him closer. "it's because I can't solve the problem and sensei said it wasn't even that hard." katsuki cupped his face, wiping his tears away, "is that so?" he trailed small kisses on izuku. "i promise, i will do better."

katsuki sighed, pulling away, "deku, you have been asking me to attend school but if you are having a problem right now, how can you attend school?" "b-but kacchan, i promise, i will work harder," the other boy cried. "what's the use of working hard if there's no result?"

izuku swallowed hard at that. katsuki sighed, "stop crying, i know you are pretty crying but stop crying. i will help you with your workbook later." "aren't you tired already from school and maybe you have homework?" izuku sniffled. katsuki ruffled his hair, "it's fine."

"i told you i will take care of you and that's what i am doing," katsuki added. he then held izuku's hand, fingers naturally slipping between the gaps of izuku's fingers. "let's eat some snacks." "okay," izuku replied, wiping his tears. they then walked to the garden.

when they got in the garden, the table was already filled with snacks and drinks that were freshly prepared for them. izuku settled down on his usual seat, completely distracted with his favorite pastries while katsuki just watch him smile happily. "how's school?" mitsuki —

— sat down on one of the vacant seat. "same old," katsuki replied, eyes still on izuku. "boring as fuck." "i see," the lady lifted a cup of tea, sipping from it. "hopefully you learned something new." "not really," her son stood up and ruffled izuku's hair who looked up to him

"i'll change my clothes first," he said and izuku nodded, stuffing his mouth with his favorite fudge bar. katsuki turned to his mother who placed down his cup of tea. their eyes briefly met before katsuki left, jamming his hands inside his pockets. mitsuki turned to izuku —

— with a smile, "izu-kun, you really love chocolates, don't you?" "hmm!" izuku happily replied. "it's one of my most favorite things ever." "that's good to hear, how about we bake some chocolate cake tomorrow?" izuku was completely engrossed with the plan. too happy about it.

katsuki walked past his room, darting towards the lounge area near izuku's study room. he was welcomed by a sight of a man reading a thick book with a metal framed glasses nestled on his nose. hiroto looked up and met katsuki's eyes. the guy quickly stood up and greeted him.