Makoto sat at his desk, slightly slumped in his chair. A slight flush adorned his usually ashen cheeks, and his hair looked uncombed. He pressed a hand to his mouth and stifled a soft cough, not wanting to draw attention to himself. He looked at the clock and realized there was still a half hour of class left, then after class ended he always stayed for an hour to tidy up, and then he could go home and take a nap. Scratch that. After tidying up, he would have to go to his second job, which he really didn't want to have to go to that night.

A sigh passed his lips as he watched three boys approach him, all of them carrying their back packs. "Tanaka-san, we have to go to the bathroom," the one in the middle said, a sweet, innocent smile on his face. Makoto looked at all of them and nervously shook his head. Their shoulders slumped, and Makoto smiled softly and waved his hand in the air with a small chuckle.

"No, you can go! You just have to go one at a time!" he said, handing the one in the middle the pass. The three looked at eachother and smirked briefly before the one with the pass left the room. Suddenly, the two other boys started groaning and holding their stomachs. Makoto's face twisted with worry, and he stood up, his own sickness forgotten.

"I think it was the salmon we ate at lunch. It tasted funny," one of them said, dramatically clutching onto the side of the desk. Makoto gave them each a handwritten pass for them so they could go to the nurse, and once they were out of the door, they started running off, yelling 'loser' at the top of their lungs. Makoto's face fell and took the tests off of the boys' desks, writing F's on them. It always hurt him when he had to give a student a bad grade.

Makoto sat back in the uncomfortable chair at his desk, and he started grading the homework he had collected that day. When there was only fifteen minutes of class left, he stood up in front of the class. "If you aren't done with your test, then don't worry. There's still fifteen minutes left of class, and if you need more time, then I'll be staying here for an hour after. So that means if you want to go to the bathroom or get a snack before you come back to finish your test, I will be okay with that," he said. "For those of you who are done with your test, you may read or start on your homework, which is written up on the board as usual." He gave a half-hearted smile before going back to the horrid chair, ready to continue grading.

He looked at his test, still it looked like another F or perhaps a D- if he got lucky this time, he tapped his pencil against the desk and wrote down the next answer. He looked up when Makoto had spoke, "who's stupid enough not to pass this test?" one of the girls that sat be hide him giggled. "I sure the hell am" he thought in response erasing his last written answer and begun to rewrite it all over again, "So you know Rebbecca? Graduated last year, its rumored that she's dating that guy" the girls begun giggling, he wished that they would shut up but he wasn't feeling like causing any issues.

He shifted to the side a bit and wrote the answer, He looked out the window at the Autumn day, "I wish I had time to enjoy the day" he thought. He had to get the test done, go to work, come home, do his homework while listening to his parents perversion and try to sleep to repeat the same routine. "I really need a new life" he thought and heard the bell buzz and watched everyone file out of the room to leave, "Wizard having a hard time with the test" one of the girls laughed exiting the room.

"bitch" he thought, he looked at his test and kept rewriting the same things over and over. "why can't I get this?" he thought trying to hold back tears about now, he hated this his first his emotions would spiral out of control and shortly after his control.

OoC: What class is it XD

((OOC: It's English class, silly. ^_~ In the character profile I sent you, it said his occupation was an English teacher. Did oyu just skim over it? Haha, no, I'm just playing. I see how you could have missed that.))

Makoto watched as all the students but one left, and he let himself rest his head on his desk. After a few minutes of silence, he lifted his head and looked at the student. A wave of sympathy washed over him, and he walked over to the teen's desk, placing a hand on the male's shoulder. "U-Um, excuse me, Mirson-san, but it looks like you're having a bit of trouble," he said softly. He kneeled down so he was eye level with the teen, and he smiled reassuringly.

"Mirson-san, you seem to be struggling in this class. If I'm not teaching well enough, I'd like some suggestions on how to help you understand better," he said, patting his shoulder. "But if you really just don't get it, then I'd be happy to tutor you. Of course, if you don't understand it from me, then you probably would want someone smarter to tutor you...But then again, maybe you wouldn't? Oh dear, I'm afraid I'm rambling again..."

He turned his head to the side and coughed twice, placing a hand over his mouth. "Excuse me," he said, turning back to face the other. He looked at the door and then back to Merlin, smiling softly. "I'm not supposed to do this, but if you want, I'll help you on your test." He chuckled and winked. "Of course I won't give you the answers, though I'll see how I can help, but you can't tell anyone. I don't do this for all my students, you know."

"I just...I think you're trying so hard," he said softly. "I know that English is a tough subject, though with extra practice and time, I know you can get a good grade in this class. I promise." He tilted his head to the side and smiled, his eyes slightly closing as he did so.

((no I must have missed it X.X I do skim but I do it unintentionally sadly its a habit my English teacher got me into Ironicly))

He looked up at his teacher, "But I couldn't forgive myself if you got into trouble" he frowned, "I do try really hard, but I still seem to struggle not only with tests but home work as well" he said, "to be really truthful my home life sometimes conflicts with both my work and school life" he said but trying not to sound like he was bumping his emotional baggage on his teacher. "Sorry Sensei" he said, "I know you deal with a lot of crap from other students, especially those kids who called you a 'loser'. I don't want to be a burden" he said putting his pencil down.

"have you ever been afraid to disappoint someone?" he asked finally, he looked up at his teacher.

((Haha, it's totaly fine. I skim through things as well.))

Makoto shook his head and smiled. "Don't worry, I won't get in trouble. It'll be our little secret," he said softly. He nodded, showing that he was listening to the teen. "O-Oh, no! Don't be sorry! It's really alright! But Mirson-san, I don't want to cause trouble for you, but maybe I should give you study hall. Not at all because you're a bad student! Just to focus more on your homework, you know? Would that help?"

His eyes widened at the question, and he nodded profusely. "Oh, of course I have, Mirson-san!" he said. He frowned slightly. "Do you think you're disappointing someone, Mirson-san?"

He thought a moment and nodded, "yeah, I feel I disappoint many people, my father mainly but its on a whole different level of disappointment. I also feel I disappoint teachers sometimes because I don't get the grades I try hard to get" he said and looked at his teacher, "I feel I'm a disappointment to you a lot since I seem to have most problems with your class" he said tears begun to stream down his face now.

He wiped away at his tears with the sleeve of his shirt, "I don't mean to Sensei" he said, "I just-" he tried but it couldn't come out. "Sensei must think I'm some type of emotional wreck now" he thought only making matters worse for himself.

"O-Oh, Mirson-san! I'm not at all disappointed in you!" Makoto said. "I'm proud of you for working hard! English isn't an easy subject for a lot of people, so don't feel bad!" He reached forward and gently wiped the teen's tears with his sweatshirt sleeve. "Please, don't be so upset. Sometimes it's important to cry." He smiled reassuringly and ruffled the teen's hair. "You're letting out your feelings. I do not think you're an emotional wreck what-so-ever."

He wiped his own tearing eyes now, chuckling softly. "Look, now you have me all teary!" he said, sniffling a bit. "Now, how about we figure out how we can get your grade up, okay? I can tutor you, if you'd like. I do have another job after school, though it doesn't start until two hours after school ends, so I would have plenty of time to tutor you. Or on the weekends I could tutor you at the library or my apartment. Also, if you feel uncomfortable with me as a tutor, I can look around for a good tutoring place for you."

He nodded and put his hands together, "I would like the tutoring, I would rather something away from home...My father is kinda weird about people coming over, although tomorrow he is at work doing something that would keep him away from home and my step mom isn't there to rat me out" he said thinking aloud to himself, "what are you doing tomorrow?" he asked feeling a lot better. "can you keep my emotional out burst a secret as well?" he asked already worried, he already had a reputation that made him look terrible being a ex of Rebbecca and in his mind a victim.

"sorry for making you feel bad as well" he frowned, "I try to suppress a lot of my emotions, especially in school" he said.

Makoto nodded. "Well, I can certainly tutor you!" he said. "Where would you like to meet? I could walk to the library, though it's rather far...But I am capable of doing so, so if that's the best place for you, then I'd be okay with that! And then there's my apartment, though I'm afraid I can't provide you with transportation to my place and back...Though if you'd like me to walk to your house and lead you to my place, then I would be okay with that." He tapped his index finger on his chin for a moment. "Or if you have a, um...A car, then I suppose it wouldn't be a problem with you to drive over, would it? I'm sorry, I know that sounds terribly rude of me, but I don't drive."

"Here, I'll write down my adress and my number, so you can call me if you need anything!" he said, writing down the information on a piece of paper. "And of course I'll keep it a secret." He frowned slightly and sighed, patting the teen's head. "I know sometimes it feels like you have to suppress them, and this is a bit hypocritical coming from me, I must admit, but you shouldn't do that. I'll be here for you to talk to no matter what, alright? It's best to let your emotions out."

"thank you sensei, this means a lot to me" he said, "well my house is free tomorrow, my dads at work and my step mom is at her mothers and my little sister is more then likely on a date or with her friends" he said, "I could pick you up unless you want to walk to my house" he said reading his address, "it would be quite a bit aways" he said writing his address and number down for him and handing it over, "A way that you know its my house is its a robin egg blue...My step mom likes us to be different" he rolled his eyes.

Makoto waved his hand and shook his head, a small smile on his face. "Don't mention it. Really, I like it when my students want to learn!" he said. His eyes widened as the teen offered to pick him up, and he shook his head almost violently. "N-No, thank you! I'll be able to walk!" He nodded and looked at the paper, and he laughed softly, the sound almost like a giggle. "Oh, this isn't too far. Obviously you're not used to walking around everywhere." He winked and pocketted the piece of paper. He tilted his head to the side and laughed again at what the teen said. "Well, different is always nice!"

"Now then, what time should I be over?" he asked. With a smile, he slowly stood up. "How about I help you finish your test and you can be on your way?" he asked. "I don't want you to miss out on anything fun for your Friday because of me!"

He was curious to why he acted a bit weird, "he acted like i asked him to sit on a electrical chair" he thought but brushed it off, "I'm use to walking but many people I know rather drive and stuff, but I usually wake up around 9 so 10ish so it gives me time to shower and stuff" he said and thought of it weird, he worried what a teacher would think if he looked like a slob. "yeah the test" he said totally forgetting about it a moment there, "alright lets get it done" he said.

OoC: so do we skip or do we really learn a lesson X.X

((Haha, I'll definately skip it.))

Makoto nodded and smiled, patting his head again. "10ish it is, then," he said, laughing softly. He gave the teen some hints and explained a few things before leaving him to finish. He started packing up his stuff and tidying the room, wanting to get home as soon as possible in hopes for enough time for a small nap. After he was done with that and his own back pack was all packed, he looked outside, sighing as he saw it was snowing. He picked up his scarf from his desk and wrapped it loosely around his neck. He took a minute to stretch a bit and rub his slightly hurting back before looking over at the other male. "So, I'll see you tomorrow at around 10am, right?"

After he was done he could almost jump up and down cheering but decided he showed enough of his emotions to his teacher today, "Yeah, 10am. I'll make sure I got my alarm ready in case" he said, "thank you Sensei" he said leaving the room and heading toward his locker picking up his coat and exiting toward the parking lot, he didn't have to look since nobody was in the parking lot other then faculty, his car tended to stand out since it was a almost lime green Acura, it was ugly to most people and to him when he first got it but after awhile it grew on to him and not to mention it had character.

He soon backed out turning up the stereo to TATU and driving down the road home.

The next day, Makoto woke up at around 6am. He quickly took a shower and got dressed in a pair of jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a sweater that was rather thick compared to the ones he normally wore, though he was feeling chilly that morning. After spending two hours on grading papers, he went to visit his mother for a while. After about an hour he headed back home and packed a backpack full of previous lesson plans, some notes, paper, and writing utensils just in case and started heading for his student's house.

He definately wasn't feeling well that day, though he didn't want to flake on the teen. When he was halfway there, he looked at his watch and realized he had some time to spare. He stopped at a nearby park and rested on a bench, rubbing his back a bit. He coughed a few times and suddenly realized that he could possibly infect the teen. He sighed and pulled out his cell phone and the piece of paper with the student's information on it, and he dialed the teen's number.

When he heard the male pick up the phone, he took a deep breath. "Good morning, Mirson-san. It's Tanaka Makoto," he said. "I'm sorry, but it seems that I've come down with something. I'll still be willing to come over, as long as it's okay with you. I just hope I don't get you sick."

He woke up earlier then usual and took a shower and read the note on the fridge, 'dad wouldn't return until 7 tonight and Hillary won't be back until tomorrow, his sister was at her friends house getting ready for some upcoming school dance thing' he shrugged and crumbled the note and put it in the garbage right away, he took a shower and put on a pair of slacks and a black sweat shirt with a logo of some sort on it and heading to the kitchen to make something to eat until the phone rag. "Hey" he said and heard the grim news, "its alright, I can't get sick that easily" he smiled on the phone and begun messing with the cord on the phone, "just make sure you don't strain your self trying to teach me" he said.

"just make sure you ring the door bell, I'm in the kitchen so I may not you knock" he said looking out the window at the flakes falling on the ground and disappearing.

"Oh, alright! Thank you!" Makoto said. "I'll make sure to. I'll see you in a bit." He hung up and pocketted his cell phone before standing up, continuing the walk. Once he got to the house, he was a bit winded which was odd, though it was just his cold. He was about to knock on the door, though he remembered the conversation on the phone, and he rang the door bell twice. He turned his head to the side and coughed a few times to clear the congestion in his chest as he waited, and he winced at the slight pain.

Merlin heard the door bell and got up from the dining room table and opened the door, "Sensei" he smiled letting him in. "you don't look so good, are you sure about staying and tutoring me?" he asked curiously, "I don't want you to get sicker" he said feeling his forehead, "you feel a bit warm" he said. "My dad has some cough drops and syrup in the bathroom if you would like" he suggested, "I don't take them if i got a cough but its because they taste so horrible" he smiled looking around the house to see if everything was presentable although it was already too late to really clean anything up.

Makoto smiled reassuringly and shook his head. "Don't worry, I'm fine!" he said, blowing a whisp of pure white hair out his face. "Thank you very much, but I'm alright. I don't take medicine unless I absolutely need it." He cleared his throat and looked around, his smile staying present. "This is a very nice home!" He took off his shoes and set them by the door. "Now then, where will we be working?"

He shrugged, "I have no Idea where to work first, I'm so bad at all over it really" he said truthfully, "I guess making sense of periods and such, I think thats my hardest" he said thought it was most likely the hardest but he also had issues understanding other things. "well let me lead you to the study room" he suggested leading Makoto down the hall way to the study room, it looked more like a library but in place of books model cars and other antique looking stuff. "disregard my step mom and dads things they clutter in my opinion" he laughed going toward the couch and coffee table.