Miya the Nerd (x Alucard? Claude?)

Six, contract in progress

"Subtract the caged numbers first, then you can multiply it with 8," I pointed the numbers with my pencil, showing Alucard on how it's done. But he groans, slumping to the table full of scattered books. I scrunched my eyebrows, "Alu, this is basic math, how can we advance if you can not understand this? What is it that you're confused about?" I rest my head to my palms, leaning to the table. 

"I can't multiply numbers bigger than 5, and this here, it's bigger than 5," He point with his pencil. 

It's 6. I'm speechless. 

"Fine, i'll help you with it. You can always put down numbers on the paper and count them manually if you don't remember. Here, i'll show you how." 

This is the day we promised to stay in touch for study as we agreed on 2 days ago. So far, he kept to his words, but to be honest, i'm waiting for him to break it so i can run far, far away. Also, yesterday we did geography. His memory is what keeping him back, but if we can get past that, he can even score a good mark. But not much more than i am.

"What are you smirking about? I know i'm dumb, but you look like you're about to put someone to a hospital."

I blinked, shaking my head a little bit,"Don't mind me, just focus," i tapped to what i write on the paper.

"Yeah, i get it, but is there a way much simpler than this? Time on exams is limited.." 

Oh wow, he's serious! He's making progress thinking of it till that end.

(You can skip this part if you're not interested)

"Well, here, follow me" i adjust my seat, showing my hands, the palm facing inwards. Which, he look with uncertainty. "Com'on." I urged him, so he held out his hands. 

"This is complicated, so listen carefully. It's for multiplying 6,7,8 and 10 multiplication. These fingers represent numbers, from bottom up, the pinky is 6, ring finger is 7 and so-on. Then if we try joining our left finger with the pinky on the right side, it's gonna be 7 x 6, right? We'll try multiply that. Got it?" He nod. "Look at these hanging fingers below the joined fingers, there's the pinky on the left side, right? We count them together with the joined fingers, which is 3. Each fingers is counted as 10, so it's 30. Do you follow?"

"Yes, now what?"

"Look at the fingers above then. The numbers on each fingers is reversed now. Thumb represents 1, the index finger is 2 and so on. Above our joined fingers, we'll get left middle finger and right ring finger. You multiply them. These mean 3x4." I waited for Alucard to swallow these long explanations. When his face showed he's ready for the next, i continue,"You'll get 12 from 3x4, right? then add them to the numbers we get before, which is 30. Now we'll get 42. The end result of 7x6." I put down my hand, looking at Alucard that looked to both of his palms, trying to figure it out.

"I get it. Then? what about nine multiplication?" 

"The method is simpler. Each of our fingers starting from our thumb is one and to the end of the other thumb is 10. For instance, you want to multiply 9 with 3, then you bend in your middle left finger, and count the fingers in the left side of the bend finger," I showed him my palm, "It's 2, right?" I ask, looking at him that looked at his hands. He murmured slow down, so i waited for him a little bit. After he nodded at me, i said the fingers left side from the bend number, 7. 27. Result of multiplication of 9 and 3. 

(It's done here, you can continue if you skip) 

Alucard looked at me in awe, his eyes looked sparking as he then back to the question sheet i gave him, practicing what he just learned. Moments later, i goes around the library as i'm working here with Cyclops, handling some students asking for certain books. Even though it's 2 months away from the exam, we can see that the numbers is already rising. As always.