Sensei- Chotto Yasunde Ii Desuka -rj01292809- May 2026

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.

“I… I don’t have time, Saito-kun.” Sensei- Chotto Yasunde Ii Desuka -RJ01292809-

Haruki didn’t comment. He simply moved his chair, positioning himself between Akira and the library door. A silent guardian. He took off his own cardigan – a soft, grey thing that smelled of laundry soap and old paper – and gently draped it over Akira’s shoulders. And for the first time in weeks, Akira

He picked up the fallen red pen and placed it carefully on top of the unfinished stack of essays. Then he stood, bowed his head once, and walked silently out of the library, leaving Akira alone with the lingering warmth of a grey cardigan and the memory of being seen. The wind brushed against the windowpanes

He just smiled that small, private smile. “Anytime, Sensei.”

The words hung in the air. Is it okay to rest a little?

“Sensei,” he said again, quieter this time. He reached out, his long fingers hovering just above Akira’s wrist but not touching. A question. A pause. “Chotto yasunde ii desu ka?”