The staff room felt like it had shrunk ten sizes. Aiko stood frozen at the edge of Professor Haruki's desk, clutching her notebook like a life vest. Her eyes flitted from the shelves to the dusty trophies, desperate to focus on anything but him.
But all she could see was Haruki. He looked up, eyes unreadable, pen halted mid-spin. He didn't smile. His gaze pinned her in place like a moth under glass.
"I—I'm here," she mumbled, barely audible. The clock on the wall seemed to tick louder than usual, each second dragging its feet through awkward silence.
Haruki leaned back, crossing his arms. "You've been avoiding me," he said, his voice calm but with a quiet edge. Aiko blinked, caught off guard.
"Huh?" she replied, too surprised to think. He raised an eyebrow. "Don't 'huh' me. You know exactly what I mean."
"I haven't really—I mean, I've just been busy. With equations," she muttered, avoiding his eyes. The excuse sounded pathetic, even to her.
Haruki didn't laugh. He stood and walked slowly around the desk until he was standing barely a foot away. Aiko's heart started hammering.
"If I've made you uncomfortable… with anything… I'll stop," he said gently. The tone in his voice was sincere, not teasing like usual.
"No!" she blurted, then quickly softened. "I mean… you didn't. It's just… my father's strict. He doesn't like distractions. And people already talk."
Her eyes dropped to the floor. "You're my teacher. This… isn't how it's supposed to go."
"Romantic?" he asked, watching her reaction. Aiko looked up, startled. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the silence grew thick again.
Then he chuckled, a soft, unexpected sound. "It wasn't supposed to be. But here we are."
"I didn't mean it like that—" she began, cheeks heating. He took a half-step closer, the air between them shifting.
"But you're blushing," he said, almost fondly. His cologne lingered in the air—coffee, pine, and something dangerous.
Aiko instinctively stepped back, bumping into the desk behind her. Her balance tipped, hands reaching out—and landing on his chest.
She immediately recoiled, mortified. "Sorry! That was—!"
Haruki didn't flinch. He watched her quietly, his expression softening into something far more dangerous than a smirk—tenderness.
"I didn't plan this," he said. "Not the seat change. Not the way you laugh. Not the way your eyes go serious when you're focused."
Aiko's breath caught. "And definitely not how I feel when that tall transfer guy sits beside you like it's fate."
"You're jealous of Jun?" she asked, disbelieving. Haruki scoffed. "I'm not jealous." A pause. "Maybe a little."
Aiko laughed, awkward and unsure. "You're ridiculous."
"And yet you're still here," he said, tilting his head. Her phone buzzed, saving her from answering.
She glanced down, smiling at a message from Yui. Haruki noticed immediately. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said, tucking her phone away. He stepped closer again, lowering his voice.
"Want to know a secret?" he asked. Aiko swallowed hard. "What?"
"I told myself I wouldn't talk to you today," he whispered. "But I couldn't help it. You're distracting. More than you realize."
Her breath caught in her throat. Just as she turned to reply, she caught the edge of the desk and stumbled forward.
Haruki reacted instantly, catching her. But the motion brought them far too close.
Their faces met in a heart-stopping brush. Not a kiss. Just contact. But enough to make the air vanish between them.
Aiko froze. Haruki stared. And then they jumped apart like they'd been burned.
"I—you—" she stammered. "That was—"
"An accident!" Haruki said quickly. "Definitely!"
"Yes! A physics accident!" she blurted.
"…Physics accident?" he echoed, then laughed despite himself. Aiko backed toward the door, flustered.
"I'm going to go die now. Thanks."
She was gone before he could stop her, the sound of her retreat echoing in the hall. Haruki blinked, still stunned.
"…Physics accident," he murmured, a slow smile forming on his lips.
That evening, Aiko collapsed onto her bed with the energy of someone returning from emotional battle.
The phone rang almost immediately. "What happened?" Yui screamed before Aiko could even breathe.
"I kissed him," Aiko whispered. "I mean—accidentally. Or maybe it was his chin? I don't know."
There was silence, then Yui declared, "It's fate. I'm buying a wedding sari."
Aiko groaned and buried her face in a pillow.
Across town, Haruki sat at his own desk, fingers resting on his lips. That moment played again in his head.
"Physics accident," he whispered, still smiling like an idiot.