Just one lesson || Kazuscara

Chapter 4

Thank you for 250 reads! I really appreciate it <3 Honestly I didn't think people would read this but seeing all the comments keeps me motivated.

Thank you Hai_Hail for convincing me to publish this in the first place and Estelle273 for being my beta reader <3

Scaramouche barely registers Ei's babbling as his mind is thrown into chaos. The memories that he desperately kept buried immediately bubbles to the surface at the mention of his name.

He forces himself to calm down. For all he knows, there's another Childe in Teyvat who doesn't have ginger hair or blue eyes.

But the likelihood of that is extremely slim, almost nonexistent. Childe is an exceedingly uncommon name in the entire Teyvat, let alone in Inazuma.

"Your first session will be tomorrow. Childe gladly gave me his contact information, so if you dare miss a session, I can always call him to find out." Ei warns.

"I thought we agreed that I will study on my own."

"Certainly," Ei replies, "But that was only because I couldn't find any more tutors nearby that could help you. It was also the opportune moment to test whether you are capable enough to hold your own, which we both know by now is not the case."

Scaramouche clenches his fists.

"I'll agree to take tutoring sessions with anyone, anyone but him."

"Oh?" Ei raises her eyebrows, "And why is that? Unless it pertains to his ability to teach, I won't hear it."

He grits his teeth.

"If you want me to improve, he's not the one you should look for," He insists.

"What evidence do you have to back up your claim?" Ei questions, "I read the requirements for math tutors in your school. All tutors must have at least an A- in their particular specialty."

Childe? Getting an A- in Calculus?

Impossible.

"If that's all you have to say, then you're dismissed."

"You know I have no reason to lie to you." Scaramouche hardens his jaw, "I don't want to be his tutee. It would only negatively affect my studies."

Ei squints her eyes for a moment, as though in contemplation.

"Fine. I'll cancel your session with this Childe guy," She relents, "But you must think of an alternative."

"There's a guy in my class called Kazuha who offered to tutor me. He's the teacher's assistant."

"...Good."

Ei turns around and slides the door close behind her.

After a light clack, a resounding silence fills the room. Tick. Tick. Tick. As the seconds tick by, he inches infinitely closer to the chilling realization he is just a plea away from crossing paths with him again. His body grows cold, seized by the raging dread that prevailed in his gut, churning his insides like a viscous mixture of Ei's revolting spinach soup.

In his reverie, Scaramouche's legs were somehow competent enough to drag him back to his bedroom. His arms shake as they close the door, twisting the handle behind him before he manages to heave a sigh. Scaramouche flinches, feeling a drop of cold sweat trickling down his back, which clings to his shirt like Ei clings to her delusional expectations of him.

By now, his body reaches a semblance of equilibrium, powered by the biological response of homeostasis. Even so, his mind meanders to a not-so-distant past, back when Childe's bloodlust-filled gaze was enough to render him immovable.