The Tutorship

“Absolutely not.”

Kaizen leaned back in the chair like the Vice chancellor’s office bored him physically.

Stuck in the same room as Kaizen Arclair while faculty deens discussed his failing grades like it was a national emergency.

Kaizen looked completely unbothered by the entire conversation, like he’d rather be literally anywhere else…

I sat across from him trying not to lose my temper.

The VC adjusted his glasses carefully.

“Mr. Arclair, your grades are collapsing.”

“I’m surviving.”

“You’re failing.”

“Same thing.”

I almost laughed.

Almost.

The VC turned toward me instead.

“Miss Nyra is currently the highest scoring freshman in Blackthorne Heights.”

Kaizen sighed dramatically.

“Congratulations to her.”

“She will be tutoring you privately.”

Nyra stared blankly.

Meanwhile the Vice Chancellor kept talking. “With your academic record, we believe you are capable of improving his grades significantly.”

The words barely registered properly.

Kaizen?

Her tutor assignment?

No. Absolutely not!.

The same arrogant menace currently turning my life into campus entertainment???

I just had to let out a nervous laugh. “Sir, respectfully, I don’t think………”

“You were specifically requested.”

That stopped her instantly.

The silence that followed could’ve killed someone.

Kaizen stared at the principal.

Then at me.

Then laughed softly.

“No.”

The principal’s expression hardened.

“Your father personally requested academic intervention, else….” he paused abruptly.

That got his attention.

Barely though. 

Kaizen’s jaw tightened slightly.

“I don’t need help from her.”

“Unfortunately,” the principal replied calmly, “this is no longer optional.”

“I don’t want this either.”

Kaizen looked at me for the first time since entering.

Careless expression But underneath it was something exhausted, 

Something angry,

“Then refuse,” he said.

My stomach twisted.

If only it were that easy.

The principal folded his hands together.

“Miss Nyra, your scholarship renewal partially depends on this assignment.”

There it was.

The trap.

Kaizen noticed my silence immediately.

His expression shifted slightly.

“You’re forcing her?”

“Your father heavily funds this institution,” the principal replied. “This arrangement benefits everyone.”

“No,” I muttered quietly.

“It benefits the university.” I replied almost soberly.

The principal ignored that.

“Tutorial sessions begin tonight or tomorrow after classes, do not skip a day”

Kaizen stood abruptly.

His chair scraped loudly against the floor.

“I’m not doing study dates with a girl who hates me.”

I grabbed my bag.

“Trust me, I’d rather swallow broken glass.”

His eyes flickered with amusement.

“There’s the internet warrior.”

I stepped closer before I could stop myself.

“You think being rich makes you untouchable.”

“And you think grades make you important.”

The room went silent instantly.

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.

That tiny movement sent heat straight into my chest.

Annoying…

Very annoying.

Kaizen leaned closer.

“So we’re doing this?” he asked softly.

I lifted my chin.

“Try passing your exams first.”

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then the principal cleared his throat awkwardly.

Kaizen smirked faintly before walking toward the door.

“I’m done here.”

“You walk out that door,” the principal warned, “and your suspension review becomes permanent.”

Silence followed immediately. 

Kaizen’s jaw tightened before he looked away sharply.

Interesting!

So the campus king actually had limits.

I gathered my books quietly, already regretting this arrangement. The V.C stopped me before I reached the door.

“One more thing, Miss Nyra.”

I turned reluctantly.

“Your scholarship renewal will partially depend on Mr. Arclair’s academic improvement.”

There it was, the knife.

My stomach dropped instantly, Kaizen looked at me immediately.

And for the first time since entering the office, he stopped looking amused.

“You’re threatening her?” he asked coldly.

“Don't let my grades ruin what she has worked so hard for”

“Please”

His toned softened a bit, he cares.

“The university is investing in both of you.”

No.

They were trapping both of us.

Outside the office, I walked quickly down the empty hallway trying not to panic.

If Kaizen failed, my scholarship could disappear too.

I heard footsteps behind me seconds later.

“Scholarship girl.” I ignored him.

“Nyra.”

I stopped unwillingly.

Kaizen stood a few feet away with both hands inside his pockets.

His expression looked strangely unreadable now.

“This arrangement isn’t my idea,” he said.

I laughed bitterly.

“Well congratulations. Your disasters are officially affecting my life now too.”

He stared at me quietly for a second.

Then unexpectedly….

“Sorry.”

I blinked.

Did Kaizen Arclair just apologize?

Before I could recover, his phone rang loudly.

The second he saw the caller ID, his expression changed instantly.

Cold again.

Guarded.

He declined the call immediately, then another message appeared.

Something dark flickered across his face before disappearing again.

“You okay?” I asked before thinking.

 That was a Big mistake.

His eyes lifted slowly towards mine, 

“Why would you care?”

I hated how attractive he looked when his walls slipped slightly.

“I don’t,” I lied quickly.

A faint smile tugged briefly at his mouth.

Then he stepped backward toward the stairwell instead of the main exit.

Weird.

“Where are you going?” I asked suspiciously.

“Out.”

“By this time?”

“That’s usually when night happens.”

I rolled my eyes hard.

“Are you always this annoying?”

“Yes.”

He disappeared down the stairwell before I could respond again.

***

I should’ve left it alone, I should’ve gone back to my room.

Instead, something about the exhaustion in his face bothered me enough to keep watching the hallway clock.

One hour passed.

Then two.

The penthouse stayed completely silent.

My phone buzzed violently, jolting me from watching the clock, it was the VC.

“Hello, how's the tutorial going, are you too getting along now?”

I was lost on what to say.

“Nyra” the VC called from the other end.

“Umm…tutorial sessions are going well, he just stepped out to enjoy the cool breeze”.

Realizing what I just did,

 I lied! 

To cover for him.

“Oh Wow, I knew you would never disappoint, Nice work”. 

“Thanks” I muttered, feeling guilty for lying to save this asshole. 

Tired of waiting, I finally went to bed.

*******

Blackthorne Heights library 

   Tutoring Kaizen Arclair was officially the worst decision of my life, not because he was stupid. 

Unfortunately, he was painfully intelligent when he actually paid attention.

The problem was that Kaizen treated concentration like a personal enemy.

“You’re not listening,” I snapped.

He spun the pen lazily between his fingers without looking up.

“I heard everything.”

“Then answer the question.”

“Too easy.”

I stared at him flatly.

“You failed the last test.”

“Details.”

I wanted to throw my textbook at his face. The private study room inside Blackthorne Heights library remained nearly empty around midnight except for us.

Rain tapped softly against the tall gothic windows while dim lights cast shadows across the room.

Kaizen finally looked up from his chair.

“You get wrinkles when you’re angry.”

“I’m nineteen.”

“Still tragic.”

I exhaled sharply through my nose. Jeez…..he was so exhausting.

Then unexpectedly Kaizen reached across the table and pulled my notebook closer.

His eyes scanned my handwritten notes quietly, the teasing expression disappeared completely.

“You made these for me? I frowned.

“That’s usually how tutoring works.”

Silence stretched briefly.

Then he muttered softly…“You’re weird.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“No one’s ever tried this hard for me before.”

His honesty caught me off guard instantly, before I could respond, voices echoed loudly outside the library hallway.

Kaizen’s expression changed immediately.

Sharp and Alert…

He stood abruptly and looked through the glass doors.

“What?” I asked.

Instead of answering, he grabbed his hoodie fast.

“We’re leaving.”

“What?”

“Now.”

The sudden seriousness in his voice made my stomach tighten.

Outside, three older guys walked slowly through the hallway wearing black jackets, not students.,...

they were definitely not students.

One of them glanced toward our study room, then froze after spotting Kaizen.

Tension slammed into the atmosphere instantly, the tallest guy smirked slightly.

“There you are.”

Kaizen stepped in front of me automatically, protectively…..that surprised me more than the strangers.

“You’re late,” the guy continued calmly.

“I said I’m done tonight.”

“You don’t decide that.”

I frowned immediately. What the hell was happening?

Kaizen grabbed my wrist suddenly.

“Go back to the dorm.”

“What?”

“Now, Nyra.”

The guy’s eyes shifted toward me slowly.

Recognition flashed there, then interest…an ugly kind of interest.

“Well,” he murmured. “Who’s this?”

Kaizen’s grip on my wrist tightened painfully.

“Don’t look at her.”

Every instinct inside me screamed danger.

The hallway suddenly felt too quiet and creepy.

The tallest guy smiled faintly.

“You’re getting reckless, Kaizen.”

“I said leave.”

The guy’s gaze stared at me another second too long before he finally stepped backward.

“Tomorrow night,” he said calmly, then the three men walked away…..

Heavy silence followed afterwards….

I turned toward Kaizen immediately.

“Who were they?”

“Nobody.”

“That didn’t look like nobody.”

Kaizen ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

“You need to stop asking questions.”

“No.” 

I almost shouted frantically…

His jaw tightened.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

For one long second, we stared at each other in complete silence.

I sighed tiredly…”Can we just go back to the lodge”.

“No, we have to learn something tonight, I might not be available tomorrow evening, please keep whatever you saw tonight a secret”.

“ No!! Only if you tell me what's going on with you”. 

I threatened him, like I had the guts to talk about it to anyone.

“Tell someone else at your own Risk!” 

 I could Sense the anger in his tone….

Not cocky anger but deep pain..

That sounded like a threat, he frowned slightly seeing fear written all over my face…..

“I'll tell you what's going on with me at the right time, for now… you shouldn't know for your safety”

Nyra t

rying to place everything together….but her brain couldn't handle his situation at all. 

She just sat down admiring Kaizen in deep thoughts, even in a worrisome state he’s still handsome asf…..she kept on drooling till she dozed off. 

The next morning she woke up in Kaizen's room, right on his bed.