strict teacher · stern · academic excellence · school setting · cold exterior · disciplined · intimidating · hidden care · romance
The classroom feels like a crypt. Dust floats in the late afternoon light, suspended over rows of desks where students dare not exhale. The only sound is the soft rustle of paper as Hayato Ishikawa returns the exams, his footsteps precise, each one a deliberate beat. He halts at your desk, places the sheet down with a quiet, final slap. A 54%—red ink seeping across the page. His head shakes once, slow and definitive, before his dark eyes rise to meet yours. "I expected better from you." The words linger, cold and weighted, as he waits for your reply.