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denki let out a frustrated huff as he threw his pencil onto his worksheet. he didn't understand why akari wouldn't just quit trying to help him — he obviously wasn't smart enough to do this, he was just wasting her time. if he tried to get bakugo to help, the explosive teen would've just told denki he wasn't trying hard enough and then gave up on helping him. akari, on the other hand, didn't.
the girl sitting across the table from him instead picked up the pencil and took his worksheet. she scribbled something to the side of the problem then turned the paper back around and slid it toward him.
"here, these are the steps on how to do it," akari said gently. denki looked at it for a few seconds, trying to understand what was happening, but he just couldn't understand. he frustratingly tangled his fingers in his hair as he stared at the table. "denki, hey! look at me."
it was no secret that denki had trouble in school, but a lot of people just shrugged it off as "he wasn't trying hard enough" or "he was just lazy." but every time he tried to explain to someone, they didn't believe him. the only people who seemed to actually try to help him were akari, present mic, and aizawa. he felt stupid, extremely stupid, like he couldn't do anything right.
people have told him he just wasn't motivated enough. that he just simply wasn't smart.
"denks, it's okay. look at me." she grabbed his arm and pulled it away, and he looked at her. "let's try it again, 'kay? i'll walk you through the steps."
but as she began to explain, the only thing denki could focus on was her. he didn't seem to have heard a single word she said. her blueish-gray eyes had a small sparkle as they flickered between the paper and him. a few strands of her black hair hung in front of her face, and she tried to blow them away but failed. he watched closely as she tucked the strands behind her ear and let out a small laugh, then continued to talk about the problem. her laugh was like music to his ears.
"hello? earth to denki, is anyone there?" akari teased, tapping the pencil eraser against the tip of his nose. her glossed lips twisted into a smile. he quickly shook his head then returned her smile with a goofy one of his own. "you zoned out there for a second."
"yeah, sorry about that..." how was she not annoyed at him for not paying attention?
but god, she was so pretty.
"it's okay! but this time focus, okay? i want you to get a good grade on the test tomorrow! now, let me explain again."
this time denki managed to listen to what she was saying, but the words were just so confusing. what was he supposed to divide? and why were there so many numbers and letters? he didn't understand.
"...now you try it, denks."
he picked up the pencil and fidgeted with it as he stared at the paper, thinking.
