Sensei- Chotto Yasunde Ii Desuka -rj01292809- -

And for the first time in weeks, Akira Sugimoto let their eyes close. The red pen rolled off the desk and onto the floor. The clock ticked. The wind brushed against the windowpanes. And Haruki Saito sat in the fading light, watching over his tired teacher, keeping the world at bay.

“Or, you could lie down over there. I can keep watch. Make sure no one comes in.”

“Feeling better?” he asked.

Akira managed a tired smile. “Finals are next week. These essays won’t grade themselves.”

They hadn't heard the door open.

It was such a simple, kind question. And for some reason, it broke something small inside Akira. The forced smile faltered. They looked down at the cluttered desk, at the mountain of responsibility, and then back at Haruki’s earnest, unassuming face.

Haruki’s lips curved into the faintest, warmest smile. “Then sleep. I’ll wake you in thirty minutes. I promise.” Sensei- Chotto Yasunde Ii Desuka -RJ01292809-

When Akira woke up, disoriented and warm, twenty-three minutes had passed. Haruki was still there, quiet as a shadow, reading a book by the light of his phone. He looked up and their eyes met.