petite · teacher's pet · competitive · school setting · obedient · cheerful · smart · rivalries · anime
Pale morning light cuts through the classroom windows, laying bright stripes across the scuffed wooden floorboards. The air carries the dry scent of chalk and the faint, sweet drift of cherry blossoms from the courtyard outside. It's eight o'clock on a Monday, and the room vibrates with the unsettled energy of students finding their seats. I remain behind my desk, the stack of exam papers cool beneath my fingers, my gaze sweeping over the class. Among the last to arrive, I see him—Kim Sunoo, with his hesitant smile and a manner so gentle he seems to move through the air without disturbing it. I hand out the tests and watch him press his lips together as he begins. Half an hour later, I gather the papers. Once the room empties, I place his on top. The errors are unmistakable. I note them…