Cherry (Currently in hiatus, but still active) @cherrylovelycherry - Tumblr Blog

Nov 18, 2024

Hey cherry, I just came to order an Éclair au chocolat, and maybe (pls pls pls pls pls) an Tarte aux fraises. Specifically something like strict teacher x soft teacher trope. With Ratio because I love him too.

- 🐇 anon

.note. heyy, that's a good idea, I know what to do, thanks for ordering 🐇 anon! ◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜

𓂅new order. "éclair au chocolat and a tarte aux fraises."

Rumors and denials

pairing. Dr ratio x gn!reader cw/genre. fluff, angst, friends to noting , rejected before declaring. synopsis. Your students and staff started rumors about the two of you. That was not a good idea. full menu

You looked at a blank dot on the director's desk, begging your eyes not to get teary.

Ratio nodded. "I assure you that this situation won't happen again,"

His voice was stoic, giving away nothing of what he really felt.

During one of Veritas' periods without a class, he came across you in the breakroom. With a passive scoff, he made his way over and placed down a coffee for you. He was not kind to many of his other co-workers, but it was difficult to rain on your lovely presence.

"Here," Veritas grumbled as he placed down the latte, moving to take a seat across from you. "I made it since I am quite certain that no one else would." He seemed to stare you up and down for a brief moment, but you weren't sure why.

Your face was worthy of a question mark. Carefully, you moved aside, settling in the seat. "Oh, how attentive on your part, thank you," you gently let go, as you grabbed the latte.

By the time you moved and he sat down, he managed to see in full that on the table you were sitting on there was not only a coffee, there were like four different ones. All intact, it seems.

So, clearly, Ratio's words were not the most accurate. Ratio's eyes widened, before he huffed as he leaned back against his chair, arms crossing over his chest "Oh?" He raised a brow at you as you took a sip of the latte, before continuing.

"And here, I thought they would have all been already picked up by now… I suppose there are kind staff that roam this university, then."

"Mhm, I guess that's right," you added, calmly as you took a sip like him to the latte.

He repressed letting out a sigh.

"So, how is your classroom doing, then, if you're not out being given gifts by your darling students," he continued, but it was not a full question, rather a rhetorical one.

Even a blind man could see how your students loved you. Not that he was jealous, of course not. You let out a slight laugh at his words. You weren't really trying to start the conversation, because he sometimes had the face of little friends. So today you were surprised that he's talking to you this way and even taking the trouble to prepare a latte for you.

"Is it a sign of jealousy, Mr. Ratio?" You said in an attempt to joke lightly.

He almost choked on his saliva, his body flinching at your words. He was not jealous. He was not envious of your way of teaching, nor how you managed to win the hearts of your students.

He was not envious of that, ever.

As much as his mind denied, his heart beat slightly faster for some reason, so he quickly covered it up by scoffing. "Jealous? Me?" He said incredulously, acting as if this was a funny joke you just told him.

"Please, spare me."

You let out a slight laugh. But what a funny reaction. "Whatever you say, Mr. Ratio,"

Ratio's face flushed slightly at your teasing, but was quickly covered up by a cough. He was not blushing. Nope. It was simply a reaction due to the heat of his drink, and he was not embarrassed at you calling him out.

In fact, in his mind only, he totally hated the way your words for him rolled out of your tongue.

Not in a good way. At all.

He took a sip to buy time, eyes locked on you.

"How are you doing in your classes?" You asked him.

Now that he had particularly started talking to you, you wouldn't miss the opportunity to make a friendship with him. Or at least you'd try.

"They are…" Ratio trailed off, looking to the side for a moment in thought before looking back at you, "…well, exasperating. Not a single brain in those empty skulls." He continued with a sigh. "And here I was, expecting at least a handful of competent people. But it seems, even that was an overestimation of my part."

He leaned back against his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, but he found some of his gaze lingering on you as he did so.

You carried a finger to one of your lips, putting on a thoughtful pose before you spoke again.

"I've heard from my students that you're very hard on them," you said, always with the characteristic softness in your tone. The difference that now sounded somewhat worried.

Hard? Him? Of course, he could be called that, but coming from one of the nicest professors in the academy, it was a bit surprising.

"Of course I am. How else would they learn properly if I am not hard on them? Even you must understand that to be true,"

He spoke matter of factly. He did not tolerate idiocy, much less that of a student. The students that he taught either accepted his teachings and gained knowledge, or they simply…failed.

"Mhm," you let go, as an understanding of his words.

You didn't agree with his way of teaching, but you wouldn't say you hated it either.

You were going to say something else, but the sound of your phone caught your attention. You had set an alarm to know what time your rest was over.

He was about to say something again when your alarm went off. He raised an eyebrow and waited to see what you would do.

When your hand moved up to check the time, his eyes moved, unintentionally, to your face.

He was, for the first time, looking at you closely and taking in your features. Again.

"Rest time over?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer, and it also seemed that he was slightly saddened that the conversation was apparently going to end soon.

"Ah, yes," you answered, with a slight disappointment in your voice.

The two of you had been talking for 15 minutes.

Surprisingly, more time than you had expected to spend in his presence.

You quickly turned off the alarm and stood up as you took the latte in your hand.

You looked at him, not entirely sure what to say.

"Thank you for the coffee," you said sheepishly, offering a smile.

His heart skipped a beat when he heard you thanking him, for once in his life, he felt a sense of satisfaction within himself for making a coffee.

"Oh, of course," he responded, trying hard to keep his face impassive.

He didn't want you to pick up on the fact that your smile made him feel a bit happy, and he didn't know how to deal with it either.

"Well, see you, luck with your students," you said, firing you with one hand and leaving the teacher room for your classroom.

And there you left, leaving behind a perplexed teacher.

He had a habit of not letting his emotions overtake him, he never allowed them to. But there you were, somehow managing to make him feel…strange while being your usual pleasant self.

[…]

The class had come to an end. Many of the students quickly left, but a few stayed behind to ask the teacher some questions, which he answered in his usual manner.

Once the last student was gone, he got up from his seat and began to gather up the papers that were laying on his desk.

His mind had managed to focus on the papers, leaving behind the previous interaction he had.

That was, until, the classroom door swung open and he looked up. For some reason, he had expected you to be behind there.

Instead, he saw a young woman, he believed she was a college student who was taking one of his classes this year.

"Professor Ratio," she said, as she approached his desk.

He was mildly annoyed to say the least, he wanted to finish up and leave.

"What are you still here for," he asked, placing the papers back down and looked up at her sternly.

The female student looked slightly nervous, he was a strict professor and she was aware of that.

"Well, I wanted to…" she started, but seemed to hesitate.

She took another step towards his desk, as Ratio leaned back in his chair, wondering what she could possibly need from him.

"Go on," he said, raising an eyebrow as he placed his fingers over his nose.

"I do not have all day. State what you need from me and be quick."

Woah, it had been some time since the classes were initially finished.

He spent more than 30 minutes explaining to his student what she didn't understand.

And at all times, he didn't know how to recognize why he felt like that was taking a long time away from him.

Once he finished saving everything, he set out to leave the classroom, closing the door behind him.

He hesitated on his feet, wanting to pass by the door where you were classing.

His mind and his heart were at war.

He didn't want to admit it, but he found himself feeling strange around you that day. He found himself feeling something when you smiled.

He didn't understand what was going on, and quite frankly, he didn't like it that much.

His mind told him to go on with his way, so he did, not allowing his feet to take a single step in your direction.

It had been two days since that talk he had with you.

The day was coming to an end, and Ratio found himself walking in the hallway to the break room, but he found himself stopping when he saw the door to the room you were in to teach.

He couldn't help but stand outside, hearing your voice from the inside. From time to time, he could hear the small laughs from the students.

It was irritating him.

As if it were a reflection, you turned your head in the direction of the door, seeing Ratio through the small glass in the door.

Your eyebrows raised as you saw him standing on the other side, and Ratio's eyes widened, and he cursed himself for standing there in such a manner.

He quickly composed himself, but it was too late, you had already noticed him, and the eyes of a couple of your students were on him now as well.

He saw how you said something to your students, before you approached the desk next to the board and grabbed something.

You came over and opened the door, extending a folder.

"It's good that you passed by, Mr. Ratio, a teacher said that you forgot this in the teachers' room. ," you said, once you went out the door and closed it behind you so that your students wouldn't be gossipful.

"Oh," he said, looking at the folder, slightly surprised. He took it, although he didn't completely remember having forgotten it anywhere.

He also tried not to pay attention to how close you were standing to him, and he tried not to take notice of the light scent of your perfume.

"I see," he spoke, clearing his throat, "Thank you," he added.

You responded with a cheerful smile that made his heart skip a beat, but he didn't show it, keeping an neutral expression.

"Of course," you said. But then you gave a small and short laugh, "Although I would say that it surprises me that you, of the most organized, forgot something," you joked.

He felt a small sense of embarrassment when you said that. It was true that he was organized, and he never forgot where he placed something. He could count the times on one hand the times where that has happened.

He found it quite strange, again, that you didn't seem to be intimidated by him like the other teachers.

Well, of course, you were the only one who smiled at him everytime you saw him.

Although well, you smile at everyone.

"One forgets things from time to time," he said.

"Oh, absolutely," you added as you brought a hand to your waist, "I understand, it happens to me a lot of times, too," you said with a slight laugh.

He was quite impressed at how you found a way to keep a conversation going every time.

"How is your class going?" He asked you.

It was strange how he was having the desire to keep talking, and of his free will with you.

That made you go back to reality.

"Oh, my class," you said, as if you had forgotten because you were talking to him.

"It's going well, thank you for asking," you said, somewhat quickly, before taking a quick look back, looking at your students.

That to your surprise, instead of talking to each other, they seemed more attentive in your interaction with Ratio.

"It was good to see you, Mr. Ratio, but I have to continue with my class," you said, turning your eyes to his face.

"Ah, I understand, yes," He didn't want to admit it, but he got slightly disappointed when you said that.

His mind was telling him that it was better this way, and he quickly agreed, as he cleared his throat as said in an indifferent tone,

"Good to know your class is going well," he paused for a bit, before he added, "and thanks again for this," he added, raising the folder he was holding.

"I hope you have a good class," he said, even if he would rather keep talking to you.

You smiled at him in response before re-entering your classroom and closing the door behind you again.

He stood there, for a few seconds, as he placed the folder below his arm.

For the umpteenth time today, his mind and his heart were at odds with each other.

One half of him was telling him to go on his way and continue with the day as normal, the other half, was telling him to go back to the classroom so he could-

He did not want to finish that thought.

He shook his head gently, as if that would make the thought disappear from his mind, and he started walking again.

[…]

You entered the teachers' room, accompanied by another teacher.

You were talking happily with that teacher, who was just going to the teachers' room to leave the uncorrected works of his students.

You, for your part, were just going to rest for a while, or well, talk to your coworkers and have a coffee, until your next class shift.

The other teacher greeted you before turning to take a seat to correct their students' works.

As you walked in, you began chatting with some of the teacher who were there.

One of them was a woman. She was your friend for several years, so both of you got along quite well.

"So, how are your students," she asked, as she filled the cup of coffee, with the warm liquid steaming lightly.

"They're doing good," you said, and then you smiled, "well, except for one, but he tries to do well," you said, as you received the cup from her.

You didn't notice a familiar pair of eyes looking at you from across the room, from the couch.

Ratio's eyes were fixed on you, as you chatted with some of your coworkers and laughed at a small comment that one of the teachers said, which sounded funny.

He saw you in the most concealed way that existed.

He was strange to see you smile, he felt strange. The other teachers continued to ask you questions.

One of them asked you about how was the last exhibition that you organized at the local museum, another one, asked you about a drawing that you had sent to a contest.

You responded cheerfully and happily at every question or comment.

Ratio found himself being completely captivated as he saw you smile, laugh and chat with everybody, and it was strange, really.

He never paid attention to people, but he found himself focusing on you and only on you.

Until, he was forced to continue reviewing some of his students' works.

Yes, he had concentrated for a long time on that.

That's why when you approached him and sat next to him, he didn't even notice.

He found himself immersed in reviewing one of his students' works, not having heard you as you approached him.

Not until he heard a slight chuckle on his side, which made him slightly startled. He looked up to see you sitting, right next to him.

He felt a slight pang of his heart when he looked into your eyes, but he hoped it didn't show on his face.

"Hey, Mr. Ratio," you said, trying not to laugh, "did I startle you?" you asked, as you took a sip from your coffee.

"Absolutely not," he said, straightening his back again.

"What are you doing here, may I ask?" He inquired, even though he knew you were there to rest and chat, but he just couldn't help but ask why you sat next to him.

"Well," you said, as you took another sip of coffee, "obviously I was going to sit down and rest, and to chat, you know," you explained, although it wasn't as if he didn't know.

"I didn't want to disturb you, of course, but the rest of the couches are already occupied," you said as you tried to give an explanation why you sat right next to him.

He should have told you that it irritated him. He should told you that he did not want you to sit right next to him. He should have told you to go sit somewhere else.

But he didn't.

"Well, then, I suppose there was no other choice," he said, slightly moving to give you just a tiny little more space.

You nodded, while you sipped your coffee that you had in both hands.

Then you looked forward for a while, until you looked back at him.

"I saw you looking in our direction," you said, giving him a soft elbow in his arm.

"What," he asked, as he moved his gaze from some of the papers he was holding, to you, as you slightly pushed him.

His heart slightly dropped, had you noticed him watching you? All the time?

You didn't leave him any more time to answer, because you spoke first.

"Yes," you said smiling. "So, Mrs. Amelie?" You added, in a somewhat funny tone and in a somewhat low voice.

His heart skipped a beat at your words, and for a slight moment, he felt a little panic, before he composed himself to speak again.

He was extremely relieved that you didn't have noticed him watching you for a long time.

"What are you talking about," he asked, raising an eyebrow, acting casual, or well, that's what he tried.

"Oh come on," you said, as you slightly pushed him once again with your elbow, "you know what I am talking about," you continued, with a slight smile.

This situation, in any other case, would have annoyed him.

The fact that you were so cheerful and you would come and poke him with your elbow everytime you spoke would have annoyed him very much.

But for some reason, right now, it didn’t.

"You totally have something for Mrs. Amelie," you said. He gave a scoff, and rolled his eyes.

He did not had anything for Mrs. Amelie.

Sure, she was the other math teacher, an excellent one, one who didn't have any idiots in her class, but that was the only quality of her.

"Of course I don't, don't be ridiculous," he said, in a somewhat exasperated tone, as he looked back at the papers.

You let out one more soft laugh, as you sighed before you finished drinking your coffee and placing it on the small table in front of the couch.

You didn't like it very much that he told you 'Don't be ridiculous', but you knew that Ratio could express himself like this sometimes. Maybe you shouldn't bother him too much.

"Okay, if you say so," you said. Then you put your elbow on the back of the couch, resting your chin on your hand while you look at your phone, completely entertained.

Ratio felt a little bit of relief when you left the topic aside.

He was absolutely sure he had no interest in Mrs. Amelie.

Sure, she had great qualifications, and she was the 'only one' of his co-workers who never angered him, and they had a certain similar way of thinking when it came to education, but he didn't feel anything when he was next to her.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt that you seemed to be distracted using your phone.

He glanced at you, in a subtle yet inquisitive way. You were completely oblivious to his gaze, as you had your eyes fixated on the screen of your phone.

You were completely entertained on whatever you were looking at there.

Ratio thought that it was a good moment to return to his work, it was good to be able to concentrate now.

But the moment he tried to return to his papers, you looked back at him, your eyes slightly moving from the phone, catching his gaze.

"Yes?" You asked, a little confused, but you still had that soft smile on your face like always. His eyes widened ever so slightly when you looked back at him.

Right, right, you had probably caught him staring again.

"What time is it?" That's the first thing he came up with. It was almost lunchtime, if we were being really specific.

You looked at your phone, before seeing him again.

"Lunch time," you said bluntly, before you smiled softly, "do you want to eat together?" You asked, completely innocently.

His mind went blank for a moment, he was completely unprepared when you asked that.

It's not that he didn't want to eat with you, of course he did, but his mind had already convinced him that it wasn't possible.

He was tempted to immediately say "No," but of course he couldn't say that to you.

"Oh, well, sure," he answered, in a somewhat calm tone.

Until the feeling of paper in his hands made him remember.

"Uhm, I was actually thinking about eating here, I have to finish reviewing this," he said, raising up the papers he had in his hands.

The papers he had in his hands were a test for a different student.

He actually had to finish that, and actually had to eat something, as he was also hungry from having spent almost three hours reviewing papers.

But this time it wasn't an absolute obligation, it was optional.

He looked at your face again, seeing the soft smile of yours, and he might have changed his mind.

But before he can say anything, you interrupted him.

"Oh, I understand absolutely, no problem," you said, as you got up from the couch calmly.

The disappointment was almost obvious on his face when you said those words.

He, at that moment, wished he had something more compelling to say, something better, but he had nothing.

He was both incredibly disappointed and glad that you understood, it was a weird feeling inside him, a strange feeling of disappointment that you accepted his excuse, that you were going to leave.

He watched as you stood up from the couch calmly.

"Thank you," he said.

[…]

You came very carefully through the door of the teacher's room, holding a tray with food with your hands.

You were not surprised to see the empty room, as most professors were also eating in the respective university cafeteria.

Even being careful, you headed to the big table, where Ratio was there.

You smiled for yourself when you saw it with a frown, he looked focused. Sitting there, reviewing the papers of the students.

His eyes were fixed on the papers and he was somewhat concentrated.

He was not thinking about anything in particular. He was only focused on the papers.

Until, you, entering through the door of the room, made him lose his concentration for a second.

His eyes moving to your figure, with that tray in your hands.

For a moment, he didn't know how to react, but he quickly regained his composure.

"You came back?" He said, as he slowly lowered the paper he had in his hand.

"Who would have guessed," you said as you smiled at him.

"I told you I was going to eat with you," you said, as you moved carefully to the table.

He stared at how you walked towards him, your body moving carefully, until you arrived at your destination.

He could easily understand that you didn't want to drop the tray.

His eyes moved, from your body to the tray with the food.

You placed it on the table without making much noise, as your eyes looked back to his face.

"I brought you lunch," you said with a soft smile.

A somewhat strange feeling of happiness appeared in his chest.

He felt that he was staring at you for too long, so he just looked at the tray of food that was in front of him, instead of looking like an imbecile.

That you had come back to eat lunch with him.

He tried to shake that feeling from his head.

He placed the papers on the table, one by one, one on top of the other, before giving you his full attention.

"Oh? How kind of you," he said, his voice, despite it's usual cold and somewhat rude tone, having a hint of genuineness.

He looked at the meal you had placed in front of him.

It was not bad, you had brought him a sandwich, some fruits, a piece of cake and water.

You smiled at his words and how he looked at the food.

"I didn't know what you liked," you said, before you sat down in the chair next to him.

"No, no, this is fine," he said, a hint of surprise in his voice, and he hoped that you didn't notice.

"I like almost anything, I'm not picky," he reassured, as he picked up a slice of the sandwich with his fingers.

False.

He was certainly demanding with his food.

He lied to you for good reason.

You smiled as you heard him say he wasn't picky.

You knew that was very false, at least you had heard his rants of how he was usually not satisfied with the food in the cafeteria, or the rest of the things he said about his taste.

You saw him take a bite of the sandwich, and you smiled again, seeing him eat the food you had brought him.

Then you took your phone out of your coat pocket and began searching for… something, in it. He was grateful that you hadn't noticed that he had lied to you.

He thought that he had a good reason to lie, not to sound like a snob, even more if you had brought him this lunch that you had bothered to bring.

Noticing that you were fiddling with your phone, he looked at you.

He couldn't help but wonder what you were doing, but he obviously did not want to be rude and pry.

So he just sat there, slowly eating, watching you glance at your phone.

You of course had noticed his gaze out of the corner of your eye.

"I was telling Mrs. Lia that she didn't need to keep a seat next to her," you said, as you finished writing on the phone, in a soft voice.

The way you noticed his behavior and expressions and how you responded to him, it seemed like if you were treating him like your students.

He felt somewhat nervous after you spoke.

Of course he had noticed the way your body moved in the chair when you spoke to him, he had noticed the slight change in your voice, the way you had caught him looking at you, and had responded to him like you had done that morning.

He let out a small scoff to try to hide that he was embarrassed.

"You didn't have to, really," he replied in a somewhat casual way, while he finished eating the sandwich you had brought.

He took a sip of his water, to wash off the taste of the sandwich in his mouth.

On your side, you had also grabbed an extra fruit bowl that you placed on the tray, for yourself.

"Eh, it was no problem," you replied, with the slight smile that you always seemed to have.

Your face was pleasant to look at, it was not difficult to see that your soft features combined with each other wonderfully.

You were, however, blissfully unaware of the fact that you had a somewhat oblivious effect on him. And also, blissfully unaware that he was staring at your face every time you were too distracted looking at the screen of your phone to notice, or any other time.

You put your phone down to concentrate fully on your food.

"So, how's it going with grading…?" you asked, trying to start a conversation with him. He suddenly almost choked on his water after hearing your question.

He put the glass down on the table before he was able to control himself.

Once he was finished coughing, he spoke.

"Very… good," he said, in a somewhat forced way.

He had not expected you to initiate a conversation with him, he was not really prepared to answer that question.

He looked down at the table, trying to avoid the intense gaze of your eyes that looked at him with a slightly smile.

You saw him almost choke when you asked him the question.

You laughed a little when he was coughing, but you also had a hint of concern on your face, so you leaned forward.

"Careful with the water, Mr. Ratio," you said, before moving back when you saw that he was okay.

"Surely they're going well?" You dared to ask, considering his reaction.

It was quite evident that he was not used to being the target of this type of concern.

When you leaned forward, a slight feeling of surprise appeared on his face, he was not used to being cared for, it was always the other way around.

Once after you finish clearing your throat, I let out a slight sigh.

"No, it was horrible for everyone," he said.

It was Friday, and Ratio's class was taking a test.

He sat in his chair, waiting for his students to finish.

As far as he remembered, there were about fifteen minutes left before the period was over.

The silence was quite deafening from the class, he could not hear anything other than slight murmurs and whispers, pens writing, and the occasional cough.

He could see the students moving with concentration at their desks, probably trying to finish the test within those fifteen minutes.

A few of students had already finished.

He was watching quietly how the students were struggling to answer the remaining questions with the time they had left.

A few seemed desperate, some seemed confident, and of course, there were some of them who had already given up.

He watched his students quietly and carefully.

His gaze moved carefully from one of the students to another, watching them write, some quickly, and others, slowly.

It was clear that some of them had already finished, and they just looked around, bored, waiting for the test time to end.

He saw how some students were desperately trying to answer the remaining ones, they only had around 10 minutes left.

"Five minutes left," he announced loudly, in a cold, yet firm voice.

The sound of the pens writing on the sheets increased.

In his mind he could not help but cross a thought that was not expected at all. You.

What would you be doing with your students now? It was an intrusive thought.

After all, he shouldn't be thinking about you at a time like that.

And yet, he was.

His mind couldn't help thinking about you, even if he was busy watching over his students.

He wondered what you would be doing at that moment, how you would be handling the test situation.

He imagined that you would be sitting at your desk, quietly, watching your students finish the test.

Or if you would be walking around the classroom, just watching and… giving your students a smile of encouragement, if they needed it.

He could imagine that very clearly.

He let out a silent sigh, when he finally came back from his thoughts.

Time ended, giving notice to their students, who were gradually approaching his desk to leave the tests there. Students approached him one by one to give him their tests.

He took the test, and looked at them one by one.

Some looked decent enough, and some didn't, but of course, he just gave them his usual cold look, and placed the test on the desk.

Some of the students tried to talk to him, he of course, just answered in monosyllables.

He could not help but remember again.

Now he wondered what you would be doing, after that your students had finished the test.

He really should not be thinking about you at that time.

"Yeah, of all the teachers, with them he gets along better,"

"Do you think they have anything?"

"Aw man, I hope so,"

"What? you're crazy? They shouldn't be with a bitter like him,"

"Do you talk about the professor Ratio and the professor Y/n?"

"Yep, on how they would make the perfect…"

What.

What was it that he was listening to?

How it was possible for their own students to talk about those things.

He could not believe what he was listening.

The words that one of the students said made him stay still, just listening to their whispered conversation.

He should have said something, but he just stayed there, trying to process what he had heard.

Of course, what else could he have expected? They were talking about two adults like if they were discussing a romance novel.

And those two adults were, coincidentally, him and you.

There it was again, the thought of… you.

He knew that his students sometimes joked about nonsense, but he thought that what they were saying was on another level.

He sat down in his chair after putting down the papers the last students had given him.

There he was, sitting there, with what his students had just said.

He knew very well that he shouldn't give it too much importance. After all, it was just the stupidity of their students.

…

And yet, he could not help but think about it.

The thoughts started to manifest in his brain, and he could not do anything to expel them from there.

[…]

You left the room in a hurry, you were leaving late and all to help one of your colleagues take several piles of exams to the teacher's room.

Almost as a regrettable thing, the sound of rain echoed in the almost empty corridors of the university.

You frowned a little, begging for umbrellas in the place where they always had.

But by the time you arrived and had in your hand one, some students, two to be exact, they couldn't grab an umbrella.

Those two students were in a hurry because of the rain. They had gone to retrieve their umbrella, but to their bad luck, there was not one.

Before they could complain and despair about the situation, you saw them and kindly stopped them.

"You need an umbrella, don't you?"

They looked at you, nodding softly with sadness, and perhaps a little shame.

You smiled slightly.

"Oh don't worry about it," you said, as you handed them the umbrella. "You can use mine,"

The students looked at you with surprise, but also with gratitude.

They were surprised by the gesture you had had.

"But… Professor Y/n, aren't you going to use the umbrella?"

One of them asked you, still looking puzzled and confused.

You smiled again.

"Don't worry, I'll be just fine," you replied, in a reassuring tone.

Although, for a brief moment, one of the students made a comment that caught your attention.

"I guess you are not gonna use the umbrella, because you know…"

What?

You looked at the student puzzled, for that comment.

That comment caught you off guard.

"How come?" you asked, feeling even more perplexed.

The student looked at you hesitantly, as if they weren't sure how to respond, and then they spoke.

"Well… we have heard that… well…"

They stumbled over their words, clearly feeling a bit awkward.

What?

What had they heard this time? you asked yourself. You watched the students hesitate before speaking.

There was something that seemed very strange about their behavior.

It was as if they were reluctant to tell you something, and even that they were quite embarrassed by it.

You tried to hide that you were nervous, and gave them a reassuring smile.

"What have you heard, exactly?" you asked, trying not to sound too worried.

The students exchanged a quick glance before speaking.

"Well… some of us have heard that you and Professor Ratio…"

One of them spoke.

"That the two of you…"

The other continued.

"That you and him…"

They trailed off, clearly hesitant to speak the words fully.

You could feel your heart beating faster, wondering if they were going to say what you fear they would.

But, in this case, you wouldn't let them continue to talk about that issue.

"I already get a sense of what you're trying to tell me, guys, don't believe everything you hear. Come on, go home now," you said, in a soft but almost scolding tone.

The students looked at you, a little surprised by your response.

It was almost as if they had expected a different reaction from you, but instead, you were brushing off the rumors that they had heard.

They looked at you with puzzled expressions, but before they could say anything further, you spoke again.

"Go on, go home," you said, a bit sternly. "Or you'll get soaked in the rain."

The students then nodded reluctantly. "Yes, okay, sorry, Professor Y/n," they said, before they began to leave.

It was clear that they were a bit bummed that they had ruined their opportunity to gossip with you.

But, you were grateful for that.

As you watched them go, you couldn't help but shake your head. The students were notorious for their gossiping, and it seemed that this time, their target had been you and Ratio.

You wondered what kind of rumors they had heard this time. You shook your head slightly again, trying to push those thoughts away for now.

Now there was another thing that you had to worry about: the rain.

You glanced around, looking for a place where you could shelter.

As you looked around, you realized that there was not a single person left in the halls, probably everyone had already left due to the sudden rain.

You were in an isolated part of the university, and the rain was pouring down hard, almost as if it was taunting you. With a sigh, you started walking towards your home.

You just hadn't brought your car, because in the morning it was a sunny and pleasant day.

But, as you walked, you saw a familiar figure walking in the distance.

Wait. Were you seeing correctly? Was it… Ratio?

You squinted your eyes, trying to make sure it was him.

And sure enough, as the figure moved closer, you could see the distinct outline of Ratio's frame.

What was he still doing here at this hour? you thought. You watched as Ratio walked, seemingly deep in thought.

You were mentally grateful to see that he had an umbrella in his hands.

Anyway, you'd wait for him to get to the entrance of the building to ask him. Because he didn't even seem to have noticed you were there.

Which was fake, he obviously had seen you, he was just doing the one he hadn't seen you.

Ratio had felt your presence, even though he wasn't close to you. He knew that you were there, but he tried to keep his expression neutral, as if he hadn't seen you, as if he was engrossed in his own thoughts.

But, of course, that was just an act, he was quite aware of your being there.

As he continued to walk, he could feel your gaze on him.

He wondered why you were still there at that time, and why you hadn't brought an umbrella with you.

"Oh, Mr. Ratio," You once said that he came near you.

He heard you call out to him, and he tried to look nonchalant, as if he had just now noticed you were there.

He turned in your direction and looked at you with his usual stern expression.

"Oh, Professor Y/n," he said in his usual tone. "What are you still doing here? It's almost night, and it's pouring outside."

"I was just about to ask you the same question." You responded.

Ratio let out a low sigh, before looking away.

"I was just taking care of some paperwork that I'm behind on," he said.

He was lying, and you both knew it.

The truth was that he had stayed behind thinking about… well, you.

You knew that his answer was not entirely true.

He was obviously lying to you, and you wondered why he would do that.

But, Ratio was not going to confess that he had stayed because he had not been able to stop thinking about you.

There was a moment of awkward silence, before he spoke again.

"You don't have an umbrella, I suppose," he said, looking out at the rain.

"Ah…" you let go, as you scratched your cheek. "I gave it to some students who didn't have one," you said, somewhat embarrassed to have done that instead of thinking about yourself.

Ratio let out another low sigh, shaking his head slightly.

He wasn't surprised that you had given your umbrella to some students, it was in your usual nature to be kind and helpful to others.

But, he also felt annoyed that you had left yourself defenseless against the pouring rain.

"You always put others first before yourself," he said, almost in a scolding tone.

You managed to let out a soft laugh.

You were going to ask him to share his umbrella, but he interrupted you.

"Don't even ask me to share my umbrella," he said, knowing what you were going to say.

Instantly your face decayed a little bit.

"But it's pouring outside," you retorted.

Ratio gave you a look, as if to say: don't think you were not going to receive a scolding.

"Just because you were foolish enough not to bring an umbrella for yourself, doesn't mean that I should share mine with you," he said his expression stern.

You let out a small sigh, knowing that he was right.

It was your own fault for not bringing an umbrella, and you shouldn't expect him to share his.

"Well, you have a point," you said, surrendering.

Ratio was pleased to hear you admit that he was right.

He knew that he was being a little tough on you, but he couldn't help it. He just didn't like seeing you in uncomfortable or annoying situations.

You stopped looking in his direction, to see how the rain soaked the ground.

Well, if he wouldn't let you share his umbrella, you'd stay a while longer here to wait for the rain to calm down a little.

After all, you weren't in a hurry. Ratio watched you look at the rain, and he knew what you were thinking.

He was not going to say it, but he didn't like that idea.

"You're going to stay here?" he asked you.

You looked at him and gave him a soft nod, as if to say: "yes."

Ratio let out another frustrated sigh.

He couldn't believe that you would rather stay in the cold and wet than go home.

"You realize that waiting here won't do any good, right?" he said, trying to make you see the absurdity of it all.

But hey, what other option did you have?

...

"Just come here," he grumbled, gesturing to you to get under his umbrella.

You were taken aback by Ratio's unexpected order.

He was actually offering to let you share his umbrella?

You looked at him, not sure if you had heard correctly, but Ratio's expression was a clear indication that he had said what you thought he had said.

Slowly, you took a few steps towards him, moving under the umbrella he was holding. He held the umbrella over you, making sure you were completely covered from the rain.

Ratio could feel the heat coming from your body now that you were close to him.

It was strange, having you so close to him. He wasn't used to being so physically close to another person, and having someone else occupying his personal space was something that usually bothered him.

But, for some reason, having you so close didn't bother him as much as he expected.

However, one common thought grabs both of you.

'Wouldn't this generate more rumors?'

Oh, but there was no one on campus to see you anymore.

Okay, you don't really know how it happened, but it happened.

After that afternoon almost night, you ended up going home with him almost every day.

It was strange if you started thinking about it a lot, but it started to be comforting. It had been days since that rainy day.

You had found a routine in which you and Ratio would go home together after their classes had ended.

The first few days, it was a little uncomfortable, given the natural stiffness of Ratio, but over time you had both gotten used to it.

You were walking next to him, or even in his car, with a comfortable silence filled the air.

It was a little strange to think about it, but you got used to have Ratio by her side every day.

You were beginning to appreciate him, perhaps even too much.

~Maybe too much to consider him just one more coworker.~

As you walked or rode in the car in comfortable silence, you couldn't help but steal glances at Ratio.

You had grown used to constantly being around him, so you had come to appreciate his quirks.

For example, the way he walked, as if he was constantly trying to maintain proper etiquette.

Or the way he always held his chin slightly higher than normal.

Or the way his hair always seemed to be so well-groomed.

Wait.

...

Why were you even noticing those details?

Don't be weird.

"Well guys, 15 minutes off, remember to stay silent," you said, as you sat at your desk, watching your students talk to each other.

The students acknowledged your words and began to chat amiably.

It was during these 15 minutes that you usually did some paperwork, or simply looked out the window, waiting for the break to end and resume the classes.

But, today you felt different.

Suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, you saw Ratio cross the door frame that separated your classroom from his.

He looked at you for a brief moment, as if waiting for you to notice.

You got up from your desk for a moment, taking advantage of the fact that your students were at their break.

"Yes, Mr. Ratio? Does something happen?" You asked with your typical softness in your tone.

Ratio stopped in front of the doorway, looking at you with a passive expression.

He cleared his throat softly before speaking.

"The principal is waiting for you in his office. He says he needs help on some of your students' documents."

That caught your attention quickly, if it was that, you'd definitely have to go now.

"Ah…but," you said, looking back, where your class was, talking to each other in a low voice.

Ratio observed the way you turned your back and saw your class, noticing the slight concern on your face.

"Don't worry," he intervened. "I can supervise the rest of your class for a few minutes," he said, his demeanor as serious as always.

Your eyes widened a little bit.

The idea of having Ratio in charge of your class was…strange, to say the least.

But it was better to leave them unsupervised.

You nodded, like thanking him, before you spoke out loud to your students. "Guys, listen to Professor Ratio, I'm coming back in a moment,"

The students let out small murmurs of acknowledgment, looking at where Ratio was standing.

They were a little surprised by the situation too, it was the first time that they were going to hear Ratio's class.

You let out a tiny chuckle, before walking to the door where Ratio was.

"Well, I'll be back in a few," you gently said, as you walked past Ratio, and he also moved to the side to allow you to pass.

"Take your time," he said softly before you left the classroom.

Ratio watched you go, closing the door once you were outside.

He stood in front of the class for a few moments, looking around at the students.

They all stared back at him with expressions of curiosity and a little bit of concern.

He was not exactly one of the most "beloved" teachers on campus for his attitude, and it was not surprising that his students feared him a little.

"You may continue your conversation," Ratio said stoically, taking a seat in your desk.

The students listened to his words and nodded before resuming their conversation.

However, they continued to watch him out of the corner of their eyes, trying not to annoy him.

Ratio let out a subtle sigh, before he took a look at the documents you had left scattered on your desk.

He moved a few papers, and his eyes landed on some student grades.

Oh… You were quite generous with those grades, he thought.

The walk was quite short, but you managed to think a little bit about why the principal of the university had asked for your presence.

After a few minutes, you finally reached the principal's office and knocked on the door.

A moment, his tone of voice was soft?

[…]

When you came back to your classroom, you let out a sigh, feeling more relaxed at last. you felt like you spent hours reading the same document over and over again.

But what you expected to hear; whispers and mild laughter, was the opposite once you took a step inside the classroom.

Pure silence.

Your students looked tense and when you noticed, the blackboard had physics theory.

You were speechless.

Of course, you knew that your students were a little afraid of Ratio and would do pretty much anything he asked, but you didn't expect that.

He look somewhat exasperated sitting at your desk, watching your students struggle to understand and solve basic physics exercises.

How was it possible that in less than a few minutes Ratio was lecturing physics?

"Ah, Mr. Ratio," You said, approaching him.

Ratio looked up from the papers in his hands as he heard you speak.

"Ah, you're back," he said.

"How did things with the principal go?" He added on.

You stopped by the desk, looking at him for a moment before looking at your students.

You found them trying to concentrate on his physics theory.

"How did this even happened?" You asked looking back at Ratio.

The students in the class were carefully watching the conversation between you and him, still somewhat nervous that his strict demeanor would pop out again at any moment.

However, they were surprised to see how casually you and Ratio talked.

Ratio noticed your surprise at the sight of the class focused on his Physics lesson.

"Well, I had two options," Ratio said. "One, stand there looking at them, or two, give them a Physics class."

"And it seems obvious that I chose the second one."

He didn't take his eyes off you, observing your expression as you looked at the students and back at him.

You felt somewhat worried about the tension caused in your students, but, this is a good anecdote.

You sighed, while you're smiling. You'd rather take it with a joke or calm before you get upset.

He got up from your desk, before he went to the door, where you too went.

"Thank you for taking care of them," you said, putting a hand on his shoulder somewhat confident but soft.

Before you go back to your desk and tell your students that they no longer needed to try to make sure by solving the blackboard thing.

Ratio felt a small shudder as soon as you put your hand on his shoulder. He didn't expect that simple gesture, but he didn't dislike it either.

He nodded in response to your thanks, before he went back to the teachers room.

He took a seat at his desk and went back to his paperwork.

But his mind wasn't completely focused on the papers in front of him.

He couldn't help but recall the feeling of your hand on his shoulder.

It was… strange.

Your students had asked you if you got along with Ratio, among other questions, since you always talked like this with them.

It was a shameful thing for you, but you clarified that it was just your coworker.

This time, you hadn't been able to fall asleep, especially since you stayed late correcting exams.

In the teacher's room, you collapsed at the table, lying in your arms, to try to rest a little until your next class.

Ratio observed you from his desk.

He knew you had stayed late correcting papers, and you were obviously tired.

He took a look at the clock on the wall. Almost time for your next class, and you looked about to fall asleep on the table.

Ratio let out a soft sigh before getting up from his desk and walking towards you.

He stood next to you, looking down at you.

"Don't fall asleep here," he stated in a firm but soft tone.

Suddenly, you opened your eyes when you heard Ratio speak.

You stared at him, bleary-eyed, a bit disoriented, but then you remembered why you were lying there.

You let out a soft sigh, and sat up from your previous position.

"I wasn't going to," you said, rubbing your eyes.

You looked at the clock on the wall and groaned. Class would start in about 10 minutes.

Ratio crossed his arms, looking at you closely as you sat up.

"Sure you weren't," he said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "It doesn't look like you got any rest."

He could see the bags under your eyes and the look of exhaustion on your face.

You remained silent, your eyes closed, without answering him. You were falling asleep again.

Ratio's expression softened a bit. You were really tired.

He leaned his hip against the table, before lightly tapping your head with his hand.

"Hey, stay awake," he said, gently tapping on your forehead.

You were almost asleep when Ratio tapped your head.

You quickly opened your eyes and looked up at him.

"I'm awake," you said, rubbing your eyes again. Ratio let out a small huff, seeing that you were still slightly dozy.

He decided he needed to do something to keep you awake.

He reached out his hand and lightly pinched your cheek, pulling it gently.

You felt a mixture of surprise and irritation as Ratio pinched your cheek.

"Hey-!" you exclaimed, swatting his hand away from your face.

"Don't do that," you grumbled, rubbing your cheek.

Ratio smirked, watching you become a little more awake.

Well, at least he can wake you up a little bit more.

After that, you went to give your class, which fortunately was only 1 hour.

When you finished class, you left, and oh, you were still too sleepy.

You walked quietly through the corridors of the university, which were still passed by more students.

Until you get to the exit, where you were walking to the parking lot.

You stood next to a car, waiting for Ratio to arrive, because, as you used to do, he would take you home.

You stayed there, holding the strips of your bag with one hand, while with the other you tried to keep your eyes open after rubbing them.

Ratio walked out of the university, noticing your figure standing next to the car.

As he approached, he observed how your eyelids were half-closed and you were struggling to stay awake.

He let out a soft sigh as he approached, not saying a word.

Once he was in front of you, he stood still for a moment before speaking. "You look worse than earlier."

That made you laugh a little bit.

You instantly recognized his voice and forced yourself to open your eyes at that moment to see him.

Without waiting for him, you felt his hand take yours, before gently pulling yourself to walk.

You frowned a little bit, where was he taking you? if his car was next to you.

Almost as if he knew what you were thinking, he spoke.

"That's not my car, mine is here,"

Your frown faded as he spoke.

You were a bit slow to understand things at the moment given your tiredness, so it took a few seconds to register his words.

"Ah..." you mumbled quietly under your breath, following him blindly.

But it made you laugh anyway to have made a car mistake.

He never took his eyes off you, he was making sure you didn't end up in a wall or something.

He didn't say anything, just kept walking, and you following him.

When you reached the car, he quickly opened the passenger door and helped you into the car.

Once you were inside, he closed the door behind you before going around to get into the driver's seat.

You sat in the passenger seat, finally resting on a comfortable surface.

You closed your eyes for a moment, relishing the feeling of the seat beneath you.

You heard the sound of the driver's door closing, and soon Ratio started the car.

He started to drive, and the hum of the engine and the quiet music playing from the radio were the only sounds in the car.

Ratio occasionally glanced at you through the corner of his eye, watching as you tried to fight against the tiredness that threatened to overtake you.

He could see how your eyelids were heavy and how you struggled to keep your eyes open.

"You can sleep for a bit," he said, his voice soft. "I'll wake you when we arrive."

You heard Ratio's voice, and opened your eyes a little, looking in his direction.

You considered what he said for a moment, but then closed your eyes again.

You let out a subtle breath, realizing that perhaps sleep was not a bad idea.

"Alright," you muttered. "Just… wake me up, please."

"I will," he reassured you. "Don't worry."

The car continued on its way, the hum of the engine and the quiet music lulling you into a drowsy state.

The passing scenery outside the window slowly began to blur together, as you gradually fell asleep.

[…]

You opened your eyes somewhat startled.

The first thing you saw was that you were still in Ratio's car and on top of it you had something that looked like his clothes.

Aeons, how much time had passed? As you tried to sit up, you realized that Ratio's vest had been placed over you like a makeshift blanket.

Looking out the window, it seemed that the car had parked in your driveway.

You turned to look at Ratio, who in that moment seemed to be reading something. Ratio looked up as soon you turned to look at him.

He didn't say anything, just looked at you with a blank expression.

"You drooled on it." He said as he pointed to the vest. You let out a small chuckle, noticing the wet spot on the vest he was pointing at.

"Sorry," you said, trying to rub the drool off the fabric. "I'm going to wash it."

Ratio shook his head, a small smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"It's fine, don't worry about it."

He closed the book he was reading and put it on the dashboard.

"It's not like it's the first time it's happened."

You raised an eyebrow at his statement, a bit intrigued by what he meant.

"What do you mean, it's not the first time?" You asked. "Someone else drooling in your clothes?"

Your face was pure, literally, like a sign of interrogation. 'I screwed up.' was the first thought on Ratio's head.

"No, maybe, yes, no,"

"Huh?" You let go, not understanding what he said.

So, yes or no?

He looked at you for a moment, watching you trying to wrap your head around his previous answer.

"No, it's never happened before," he clarified.

"I meant that this is not the first time it has gotten dirty." He dded. Just in case.

Your mouth opened in the form of an 'o', now understanding its words.

"Ohh," You said, nodding.

"Right‐, you didn't wake me up, how long has it been since we arrived?" You asked, something worried.

Ratio checked the time on his phone, which was on the dashboard.

"About two hours," he replied, before locking the phone and turning his attention back to you.

Your eyes widened slightly in shock when you heard Ratio's answer.

"Two hours?" You repeated, feeling a pang of guilt for sleeping for that amount of time.

Ratio nodded in response to your question.

"Yes," he said. "You were really tired."

"Oh, aeons, I'm so sorry," you said quickly.

You felt sorry, as he spent two hours waiting for you to wake up.

Ratio shook his head, waving off your apology.

"It's fine," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "You needed the sleep."

He paused for a moment, his gaze studying you closely.

And as he looked at you, you took out your phone, watching how late it was already.

Even though he told you he was okay, you still feel the shame.

"Your house is far from mine," you muttered as you calculated the time with your fingers, according to the time you saw on your phone.

"You can stay at my house until tomorrow," you said without much thought, "you're probably tired too," you added.

Ratio was surprised by your invitation. He hadn't expected you to offer him a place to stay.

He considered your offer for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

"Are you sure?" He asked, his voice laced with a hint of hesitation. "I don't want to impose."

"I'm definitely sure,"

He hadn't expected you to invite him over, but the thought didn't seem unpleasant to him.

"Alright," he said after a moment of consideration. "If that's alright with you."

[…]

Ratio took a deep breath, trying to ignore the slight flutter in his chest.

He had never stayed at your house before, but the thought of spending even just a night there didn't seem to bother him.

"Uhm," you let go, something insecure to say.

"You can sleep in my room," you said, as you brought blankets to the couch and a pillow.

Ratio watched as you brought blankets and a pillow over to the couch.

He paused for a moment before speaking, his voice soft.

"Are you sure you're not going to be uncomfortable?"

He said, when he saw that you made a makeshift bed on the couch, where he assumed you were going to sleep.

"Of course," you said, with a small smile.

"It's fine, I'm not that uncomfortable," you added, waving off Ratio's concern.

"But… are you sure you're okay with it?" He hesitated for a moment, before adding, "You'll be sleeping alone on the sofa while I have your bed?"

"Yup," you said, finishing fixing the makeshift bed.

Ratio had to admit that the idea of sleeping on the couch made him uneasy.

Although the couch was comfortable, it wasn't built for sleeping comfortably.

Without saying a word, he walked over to you and gently took the blankets from your hand.

"You're sleeping in the bed," he said, his tone firm.

You opened your mouth to protest, shocked by Ratio's adamant demand that you sleep in your own bed.

But Ratio was unshakeable.

"I'm not going to let you sleep on that couch," he said firmly. "It's uncomfortable."

"But…"

Ratio stood in front of you, holding the blankets in his hands. He was determined and unyielding in his decision.

"You'll be sleeping on the bed, and that's final."

You raised an eyebrow at his uncompromising tone, feeling a mix of surprise and amusement. It was a bit out of character for Ratio to get this adamant about something.

"You'll be uncomfortable." you protested weakly.

"You shouldn't worry about it, go to sleep," he said, placing the blankets he had in his hands back on the couch.

You let out a sigh and went to your room, muttering a silent 'good night'.

And, as Ratio sat on the couch so you could lie down, you left your room.

[...]

"We'll both sleep on the couch," you said, firmly, and sitting next to Ratio.

You didn't think it was fair that you slept in your bed. Ratio was taken aback as you sat down next to him on the couch.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his eyes widening in surprise. "Are you serious?"

He couldn't believe that you were willing to give up your own bed.

"This is ridiculous," he said, a hint of irritation in his voice. "You're the one who needs sleep the most."

"And so did you." you said more calmly, settling on the couch, that fortunately it was big enough for both of you. Maybe you and he got too attached to each other.

Because now it didn't consist of being together when you came home, but even staying to sleep in each other's house.

Sometimes in your house and sometimes in his.

At first you two went from being only on the couch, to the point of confidence where you could sleep together in the same bed.

Of course, you never crossed limits, just some conversation and maybe embarrassed looks and that.

You couldn't believe you even took his hand when you slept.

It was sudden, but very pleasant.

The feelings involved were too obvious. But not a single word was ever said about it.

It had become a routine now, almost like a habit.

Whether it was your house or his, you would find yourselves in the same bed. There was a sense of comfort and familiarity in each other's presence.

The touch of his hand in yours, the way you both held onto each other's hands in your sleep—it spoke volumes without either of you uttering a word about it.

Despite the obvious presence of feelings between you, neither of you dared to express them aloud.

It was a strange and complicated situation. Both of you were aware of the feelings that were blooming between you, but neither of you had the courage to say anything about it.

The touches, the looks, the way you slept in each other's arms—all of these were like a silent language, a silent understanding between two people who were too afraid to speak.

The silence in the darkness seemed almost deafening.

The only sound breaking the quiet was your soft breathing and Ratio's steady heartbeat.

In the dim light, you watched his profile: the slope of his brow, the sharp angle of his nose, the firm line of his mouth. Even in sleep, Ratio's features held that aura of intelligence and aloofness.

Your eyes traced the shape of his lips, a thought lingering in your mind: what would it feel like to press your own against them?

Your heart raced as the thought crossed your mind. The image of pressing your lips to Ratio's, the sweetness and tenderness of the gesture, both excited and terrified you.

You felt your cheeks grow hotter and your breath quicken slightly.

'What am I thinking?' you scolded yourself silently, feeling both embarrassed and intrigued.

After a few more turns in bed, you managed to fall asleep.

[…]

The light coming in through the window of your room made you move a little in bed, letting out a slight whimper for waking you up.

Your eyes fluttered open, taking in the familiar surroundings of your bedroom. The morning sun poured in through the curtains, casting a warm glow over everything.

As you moved slightly in bed, you felt a weight against your back and something around your waist.

Suddenly, the realization hit you: you were not alone.

Ratio was there, his body pressed against yours, his arm around you like a protective barrier.

You lay still for a moment, processing the sensation of Ratio's body against yours.

His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his breathing slow and even. His arm was tight around your waist, as if he was holding onto you even in his sleep.

A strange mix of emotions swirled within you: surprise, contentment, tinges of joy, and a hint of confusion.

'How did we end up so close?' you wondered, feeling Ratio's breath against the back of your neck.

You moved as you could, coming face to face with him.

You were still sleepy, your eyes were still getting used to daylight.

The sight of Ratio's profile, up close and bathed in the morning light, was almost too much for your still-drowsy mind to handle.

His features, so often set in a stern expression, were relaxed and peaceful.

But before you could continue to admire his face, he frowned a little, also feeling the light that fell on his face after you had moved.

Ratio began to stir in his sleep, his arm around your waist tightening for a moment before he slowly opened his eyes.

He blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the morning light, before he focused on you.

Ratio found himself face to face with you, their bodies tangled together and closer than usual.

He could tell that you were still half-asleep too, your eyes slightly glazed and your body drowsy.

For a moment, he simply watched you, his gaze lingering on your face. It was a sight he had grown accustomed to over time. But there was something about this moment, with the soft sunlight bathing your features, that felt almost intimate.

And, as if it were his way of saying 'good morning', he came to your face a little bit closer and gave you a soft kiss on the lips.

The surprise of Ratio's unexpected gesture left you momentarily stunned.

It was a soft, brief kiss, but it left a warm and tingling feeling on your lips. You couldn’t help but stare at him dumbfounded, your mind still trying to grasp the early morning.

You felt your heart race in your chest, but you couldn't move or even think about reciprocating.

As Ratio pulled away from the kiss, he looked into your eyes. His gaze was softer than usual, and a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

For a moment, neither of you spoke. The silence was only broken by the sound of your mingled breaths.

You looked back at Ratio, unsure of how to react. You couldn't tell if he did it without thinking because after all, he had just woken up.

But the fact was that he kissed you. Ratio broke the silence first, his voice low and deep.

"Good morning," he said, his eyes still fixed on yours.

You could feel the heat rising to your cheeks, the kiss still lingering on your lips.

"Um," you muttered, not quite sure what to say. "Good morning…"

He stayed silent for a moment, his arm still around your waist.

There was a palpable tension in the air, a silent communication between you. The intimacy of the moment, combined with the unexpected kiss, had transformed the usual early morning quiet into something almost electric.

You managed to stick your head to his chest, almost as if you wanted to hide your face.

And as you did, you let out a soft laugh.

You were grateful for what was going on in your life. Ratio heard your soft laugh, the sound slightly muffled by his chest. He felt your body relax against his, and a strange feeling of relief and warmth washed over him.

He could feel the heat coming off your face as you tried to hide it against his chest.

After a few moments of silence, Ratio spoke again, his voice soft but firm.

"I can't see your expression like that."

You felt his hand began to slide up and down your back in a slow, soothing motion. The gesture was both comforting and intimate, his hand warm against your skin.

It was as if Ratio was silently acknowledging the change in atmosphere, the strange but pleasant electricity in the air.

"I know," you said quietly.

Ratio's hand continued its slow, soothing path up and down your back, the contact warm and gentle.

You could feel his breath against your hair, the rise and fall of his chest as he inhaled and exhaled.

There was something soothing and intimate about being so close to him, about feeling his body against yours.

Ratio, on the other hand, was also silently relishing this moment of closeness.

He had woken up to find himself tangled with you, and the kiss had been completely unexpected.

But he didn't regret it.

[…]

You walked with a smile on your face, which despite being something characteristic on your face, this time it was for one more reason.

Him.

Oh, aeons, you really liked that man.

Maybe it's time for you to tell him your feelings, even though they're obvious.

You gave your first two classes of the day with much better attitude than other days, and of course, your students were more than happy about it.

Ratio, for his part, also noticed that you were more radiant than usual.

The usual kindness and patience you always put into your classes were heightened today, and your warm aura seemed to touch everyone.

Even his most rowdy and reluctant students were unusually attentive and behaved during his class.

There was a sense of peace and tranquility surrounding you, and it clearly had a positive effect on everyone around you.

Throughout the day, Ratio found himself stealing glances at you everytime he could, the memory of the morning fresh in his mind.

The students in your classes today couldn't help but notice the change in your demeanor. You were more energetic, more animated, and more engaged than usual.

Word was quickly spreading that you seemed happier than usual.

By lunchtime, many of your fellow colleagues had come up to ask you about your mood.

"You seem strangely more happy today," a colleague commented during lunch.

"Something good happened?"

"A secret lover, perhaps?"

You could not hide the small, almost embarrassed smile that formed on your lips as your colleagues teased you.

Their comments weren't far from the truth, after all.

"Maybe," you replied, trying to brush off their suggestions with a casual laugh.

But deep down, you knew the real reason behind your elevated mood.

Ratio. He was the reason.

After that, you just had to teach a class and you would end your working day, you were already looking forward to returning home with Ratio.

But strangely, just as you were going to start teaching the class to your students, a knock on the door rang out.

You curiously approached quickly, only to see Ratio there.

You instantly smiled, something you couldn't help.

However, your smile disappeared a little as you noticed the frown on his face and look somewhat tense.

Before you could ask him what was going on, he spoke first.

"The principal is waiting for us in his office,"

Your heart sank a little at Ratio's words. The principal summoning both of you could mean nothing good.

A thousand thoughts began to race through your mind. Had you done something wrong? Had there been a complaint about your classes?

You tried to remain calm as you spoke.

"Do you know what it's about?"

Ratio shook his head, his expression still tense. But as he gestured for you to follow, his eyes met yours for a brief moment.

You could see a flicker of concern in his gaze, a hint of the same emotions you were feeling.

"Guys, if you're going to talk, do it quietly," you said out loud, without your tone of voice faltering from the tension that grew inside you, before closing the door behind you.

The walk to the principal's office was filled with a tense silence. Ratio's face was unreadable, his usual stern expression giving away nothing.

You walked slightly behind him, trying to keep up with his long strides.

Despite the distance between you, you could almost feel the anxiety radiating off him. It was unlike him to be so visibly unnerved.

You could feel your heart beating faster with each step, your palms slightly sweaty.

As you reached the principal's office door, you felt Ratio's hand gently touch your elbow, a silent gesture to make you stop.

You turned to look at him, meeting his gaze.

For a moment, he stared at you, his eyes studying your face. It was as if he was trying to read something from your expressions.

Ratio's eyes seemed to linger on your face a little longer than necessary, but you couldn't tell if he was reading your concern or something else.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low.

"Whatever happens in there," he muttered, his gaze still firmly locked on yours. "Stay calm. Try not to say anything unnecessary. And—let me do most of the talking."

His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

You nodded, swallowing heavily. Ratio's words did little to ease your growing anxiety.

In this case, it only made it worse.

Ratio's words echoed in your mind as you watched him knock firmly on the principal's office door.

The silence that followed seemed almost deafening.

After a few moments, the principal's voice called out.

"Come in,"

Ratio pushed the door open, gesturing for you to go in first. You stepped into the office, your heart hammering in your chest.

The principal was sat behind his desk, a stack of papers in front of him.

His expression was serious, his eyes moving from Ratio to you.

With a brief greeting, the director told them to take a seat, even without changing their tone of voice or facial expression a little.

You sat down, your legs seeming to turn slightly numb.

Ratio took a seat beside you, his hand brushing against yours for a brief moment.

The principal looked at both of you, his gaze lingering on you for a few seconds, before finally speaking.

"I suppose you know why you're both here," the principal began. "I need to discuss a…delicate matter."

Your anxiety heightened even more.

Ratio, on the other hand, merely nodded, his face stoic.

The principal leaned back in his chair, studying you for a moment.

His expression was still stoic, but there was an edge to his gaze that you couldn't quite read.

"I'm going to cut to the chase," he began, shuffling through the papers on his desk. "There have been some concerns about… certain rumors about you two."

Your breath caught in your throat. Rumors? What rumors…

Oh, fuck.

The principal's words were like a punch to the gut.

Rumors.

You'd known the students have been speculating about the two of you for a while, but you hadn't realized it had gotten this far.

As the principal continued to speak, you could feel Ratio tensing beside you.

Your palms were sweaty, and it took all your will not to clench your fists too tightly.

"There have been reports," the principal said, "of… improper conduct between you two. Spending excessive time together, leaving and arriving at work together…"

The principal continued, his gaze shifting between you and Ratio.

"Apparently, there have been some… rumblings among the students and staff." He said, his voice stern. "Concerns about a… romantic… relationship between the two of you."

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

"I'm more than sure you both know about the code in this university about relationships between professors," he added again, intertwining his hands at the desk.

Your heart sank even further as the principal's words sunk in.

So it had gone that far. Rumours amongst the students and staff…

This wasn't good.

Your eyes flicked to Ratio, but he was still stonily silent. His face was impassive, but you could see the muscles in his jaw clenching.

"Of course," Ratio spoke up for the first time since being in the office. His voice was as level as usual, betraying nothing. "We are both aware of the rules in place."

The principal's words hung in the air like a death sentence.

Your heart was beating so fast, it felt like it was going to burst out of your chest.

Beside you, Ratio's body was taut, his expression still a blank mask.

The code was strict. Professors were forbidden to date each other—it was a rule that came with the job.

The principal's gaze rested on Ratio, his eyes sharp.

"Ratio," he said, "I've known you for a long time. You're an excellent professor, but—"

Ratio cut him off, his voice cold. "Excuse me, but what? You're going to lecture me about the code?"

The principal's expression didn't change a bit. "Yes," he said, "as your boss, it's my responsibility to remind you of the university's regulations."

Ratio's jaw tightened. "I'm well aware of the regulations," he said, his voice taking a more defiant tone. "But do you really think I would risk my career for… for something like a romance?"

Your mind was racing. The principal's words had struck a nerve, but Ratio's response was almost… defensive.

The principal, on the other hand, was unimpressed.

His gaze remained steady on Ratio. "I'm not questioning your professional integrity," he said, his tone unyielding.

"But I need to make sure that these rumors are… unfounded."

Ratio's face darkened, his eyes narrowing. "These rumors are absolutely unfounded," he replied, his voice sharp as a blade. "Our relationship is… strictly… professional."

Your heart ached. Strictly… professional?

He saw the director leaning on his chair, before letting out an audible sigh.

"As the authority of this university, I dare ask both of you. Are you having, starting. thinking about having an external relationship to being coworkers, rather, a romantic relationship?" He questioned, with total seriousness and firmness.

The room was silent as the principal's question hung in the air.

Your chest was constricting, your gut clenched.

You stole a glance at Ratio. His jaw was so tight, you thought it might crack.

He was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the principal.

The seconds felt like hours before he finally spoke. "No," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "There is no romantic relationship."

"…"

"We do not and will not, have, any sort of romantic relationship."

The principal was silent for a moment. His gaze flicked over to you, his eyes seeming to search your face.

The director was going to talk, but Ratio interrupted him.

"And even though something happened or hasn't happened between us, that was and would be purely a mistake. Something that in any case got out of hand. Only that, nothing else."

The room was silent once again.

Ratio's words echoed in your ears, each one like a stab to the heart.

His words stung.

A mistake. That's all what had happened between the two of you was… a mistake.

You felt that ugly feeling where you felt a pain in your chest and throat, which left a slight shudder spreading throughout your body.

After a few moments, the principal spoke again. His voice was still firm, but there was a hint of resignation in it.

"And you, Y/N? Do you also think the same way?" The principal's question forced you out of your thoughts.

Your heart was pounding.

You swallowed heavily, trying to steady your racing mind.

The words stuck in your throat. You could feel Ratio's gaze on you, but you dared not look at him.

For a moment, you didn't know what to say. Your mind was a jumbled mess.

Your heart was breaking.

Finally, you found your voice. "Yes," you said, trying to keep your voice steady. The word felt like sandpaper on your tongue. The room was so quiet, you could almost hear a pin drop.

Ratio remained silent, his expression unreadable.

The principal was watching you, his eyes studying your face intently.

You could feel yourself wilting under his gaze. Your chest was tight, your head spinning.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the principal spoke.

"I see," he said, folding his hands on the desk. "In that case, I trust that both of you will ensure these rumors do not continue to persist. We do not need such… distractions at this university."

You looked at a blank dot on the director's desk, begging your eyes not to get teary.

Ratio nodded. "I assure you that this situation won't happen again,"

His voice was stoic, giving away nothing of what he really felt.

Ratio.

You had no idea what he felt in that moment.

But his words… still echoed in your heart.

A mistake.

He looked very firm in saying those words.

The principal nodded, seeming satisfied enough. "Good," he said, "that's all I needed to know."

He pushed his chair back, signalling that the meeting was over.

"You both may leave now."

You felt your body moving, but you were on autopilot. You understood that he would not deny, after all, he could lose his job. But a small part of you hoped he would defend what little you two were beginning to have.

Everything around you was a blur, your thoughts were all over the place.

Ratio stayed silent as well as both of you walked out of the office.

It wasn't until the door closed behind you that the world came back into focus.

And despite being outside, you didn't look at him.

For a few moments, both of you remained there in tense silence. Ratio's expression was unreadable, his gaze fixed on some point to the side.

Your heart was still in your throat, your mind still racing.

Finally, Ratio spoke, his voice low. "You should go back to your class."

Hearing his voice felt like another twist of a knife.

You nodded, not able to bring yourself to speak. You turned and walked away, your heart heavy.

You could feel your hands trembling, your chest constricting more and more with each step.

As you entered your classroom, your eyes were blurry, and your vision was slightly misty.

The students glanced up as you walked in, but you barely noticed them.

You made your way to your desk and sank into the chair.

For the rest of the lesson, you taught mechanically.

Your mind wasn't really there.

The hours passed, but the lesson seemed to last an eternity.

Each moment felt like a blade against your heart. Ratio's words were etched in your heart, and the image of his stony face refusing to leave.

The students were starting to notice that something was wrong. Some asked if you were alright, others exchanged whispers.

You made it through the period on autopilot, hardly paying any attention to yourself or the class around you.

Once the bell rang, you watched as the students filed out of class.

You were left alone in the empty room, the silence deafening.

Once the door closed behind the last student, you slumped back into your chair.

Your body was trembling, and your heart was beating painfully in your chest.

You felt like you might burst into tears at any moment.

But you sat there, frozen, staring at the wall in front of your chair.

You took a few minutes to calm down as best you could, before you left the classroom.

You walked through the hallways, your eyes unfocused and your heart still aching.

The corridors were empty as you made your way to the break room.

You wanted—no, needed—a cup of coffee. It was more of a physical need than a mental one.

As you reached the small break room, you walked in and closed the door behind you.

The room was not empty, but it was not too full either.

You made your way over to the coffee machine and began to make yourself a cup.

As you did, you tried to relax with the sound of the clock on the wall and papers being signed and corrected. The coffee started to brew.

The rich scent of caffeine filled the air as you waited patiently, hoping it would soothe your aching heart somehow.

You were still shaken from the meeting, and the cup of steaming black liquid was the only thing you could find any comfort in.

The warmth it gave you, more than anything.

As the coffee finished brewing, you were about to pour it into a cup when a voice startled you from your thoughts.

"That's a lot of coffee."

You turned to see who had spoken.

Ratio was standing next to you, looking at the coffee you were about to pour into a cup.

You froze, your heart lurching in your chest.

Seeing him suddenly was a surprise, and a reminder of the conversation and how it ended.

"Ah…yes" you muttered, trying to make your voice come out soft and calm, as always.

Ratio's expression was unreadable, his gaze fixated on the coffee pot. For a moment, he said nothing, only remained there in silence.

The desire to cry took hold of you again. And to think that today you were going to declare and affirm your feelings for him.

Ratio's voice broke the silence, low and measured as usual. “I didn’t know art teachers could drink this much caffeine." His words were a weak attempt at humor.

You didn’t know what to say, staring at the cup you were about to fill. "Hah," you forced yourself to let go of that slight laugh.

Ratio's gaze flicked to yours, studying your face for a moment.

His expression was calm, but his eyes seemed to cut through you.

You knew he was looking at you, but you couldn't bring yourself to look back at him.

The tension in the air was thick.

"You shouldn’t drink that much,” Ratio spoke again. You knew he was going to keep talking. But at that moment you didn't want to hear him.

You couldn't help it.

Before he could continue, you finally looked at him, forcing yourself to look straight into his blank face.

The words came out of your mouth before you could even catch them.

"Why? Are you worried?" Your voice was sharp and cold, surprising even yourself.

A defence mechanism.

Ratio was caught off guard, but his stoic expression didn't falter. He didn't immediately reply.

After a few moments, Ratio's gaze flicked over your face, searching for something.

You didn't know what he was looking for, but you knew that you hoped he didn't see anything.

His voice was a little softer when he finally replied. "Yes, I suppose I am."

Your heart ached at the answer, your chest tight.

He was concerned?

And yet…

His words in the director's office echoed in your mind.

"A mistake.."

You tore your gaze from his, staring back at the coffee pot. You could still feel his eyes on you and it was suffocating. So you forced yourself to speak.

"The best thing will be that you don't worry about me again, Mr. Ratio," you spoke, adding the formal title to his name, almost like before being close to him.

Ratio was silent, and you could feel his gaze still on you.

He was trying to read you, trying to understand the change in your attitude.

You could sense that he was at a loss for words.

After a moment, he spoke again, his voice still calm but with a slight edge to it.

"Did I say something to upset you?" he asked.

His question was a dagger to your heart, your mind instantly going back to the memory of his words in the director's office.

You forced yourself to stay calm, to keep your voice level and emotionless.

"You didn't say anything that wasn't true, sir," you replied.

As you spoke, you slowly poured the coffee into the cup, trying to keep your hands steady.

Ratio was silent, his eyes still on you.

You knew that he knew the weight of his previous words. He knew it perfectly well.

"We are and will not be anything, what happened when we were together was a mistake," you said, using the same words as him.

However, when you spoke, you lowered the tone of your voice, so that only he could hear it and not attract the attention of the other teachers who were in the room.

Ratio's expression didn't change. He remained still, his eyes fixed on you, but a flicker of something passed through his gaze. Whether it was hurt, guilt, or something else, you couldn't tell.

When you finished speaking, he was silent for a few seconds, his eyes still burning into yours.

Finally, he spoke again, his voice a little hoarse.

"Is that what you really think?" His question felt like a slap in the face.

Was that what you really thought? You almost wanted to laugh, but the bitter feeling in your chest wouldn't let you.

"That's what you thought," you answered, not looking away from him. "I'm just repeating what you said."

Ratio's jaw clenched tightly, his jaw tensing as you spoke.

"It was a mistake," he repeated what he had said before, his voice a little more firm. There was something else in his voice. A pang of regret or doubt.

You tried to keep your composure, but his words dug into your heart again.

"That's right," you agreed, your voice low. "It was a mistake. Nothing more. Nothing less." After that, you didn't bother to see him again. All you heard were his footsteps and the teacher's room door opening and closing.

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