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The teacher came by the desk and handed Kizumi the papers instead of me. I was a bit frustrated already from being stuck with him, so this didn't really help. I honestly didn't want any interaction with him at all. The teacher didn't step away after handing us the papers. Instead, she faced Kizumi and said,

"Kizumi, could you maybe put in a little bit of effort for this project? You've a got a great partner. He's very smart and I think you two-" She was cut off suddenly by Kizumi.

"If he's so smart, why can't he just do it himself?" He said. I still didn't look at his face. I didn't want to be shot with another glare.

"This a project for two people. Listen, Kizumi...I know you don't like to work with others, but you have to try. At least this once, okay?" She asked. He didn't reply, and she sighed. She walked away, and instinctively, my head turned his direction. He wasn't looking at me. Instead, he was staring down at the papers in his hands. It seemed like he was reading them, which surprised me. I honestly thought he'd just toss the papers at me and make me do all the work. I didn't get any of the papers though.

I waited while he read them over. After a bit, he turned to me. His expression wasn't exactly happy, which I expected. He slapped the papers down on my desk and shoved a worksheet into my hand, slightly crumpling it. He turned away again and began scribbling down words onto his own worksheet. I was tempted to request to work by myself, but instead I tried to work with him a little.

"...So, what was the essay-" I was cut off almost instantly.

"Just read it." He grumbled. "If you're so smart that the teacher can even praise you, do it yourself." He continued writing, almost furiously. I looked down at the essay, then picked it up and began reading it. I only paid attention to half of it while I read it though. I was too distracted by the thought of how unlucky I was to have been put with him for the next few weeks. He was so unbelievably rude and hard to work with. I really hoped working with him wouldn't be like this the entire time.

After the bell rang, Kizumi left without hesitation, or anything to say.I sighed in relief as I packed my things. Just as I stood to leave, the teacher called me over to her desk. I walked over, expecting to be in some sort of trouble, but she smiled.

"How was working with him?" She asked. For a moment, I remained silent. I didn't really enjoy it, but I wasn't going to say that. Especially not to a teacher.

"Um...it was okay, I guess. We didn't really...talk." I laughed a little. She sighed and nodded, glancing at her computer screen as she spoke.

"Yes...I expected that. I didn't expect him to accept it though. I'm actually kind of surprised he wasn't picking on you...a lot of kids complain he bothers them." She said. I remained silent and she continued. "You know, though...he's actually a very smart kid. He's got a record of A's and B's all through high school so far...I hoped that if I put you two together he might try to work with you, seems how you're both smart kids and hard workers...I guess I was wrong." She shook her head at herself.

"Well, there's still more projects to come, you know. He might warm up to me eventually..." The end of my sentence sounded a bit doubtful, but there was still a chance that it could happen...sort of.

"I really hope he does. It'd be a a good thing for him to learn how to do a little teamwork." She smiled at me and I nodded. I said goodbye and left the classroom.

I didn't believe Kizumi could do it. He was too stubborn.

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