Sensei- Chotto Yasunde Ii Desuka -rj01292809- Apr 2026

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.

Akira managed a tired smile. “Finals are next week. These essays won’t grade themselves.” 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. When Akira woke up, disoriented and warm, twenty-three

Haruki tilted his head, observing the empty coffee cups, the faint shadows under Akira’s eyes, the way their hand trembled slightly as it reached for the next paper. The air in the library felt thick and lonely. Akira managed a tired smile

“I… I don’t have time, Saito-kun.”

Title: Sensei, Chotto Yasunde Ii Desu ka?

Akira nodded slowly, the knot in their shoulders loosened to a dull ache. They pulled the cardigan tighter, not yet ready to return it. “Thank you, Saito-kun.”