Paranoia.

That’s what it had to be—the uneasy feeling that gnawed at the back of your mind, making you question whether your professor wanted more than to just be your instructor. It was absurd, wasn’t it? Surely, you were overthinking it. There couldn’t possibly be anything there.

You’d always been your professor’s favorite. Other students would even joke about you being his pet. He’d constantly praise your abilities, singling you out for being exceptional—different from the rest.

Lately, though, there had been subtle shifts in his behavior. Small gestures that felt… off. The gentle brush of his fingers against yours, the hand that seemed to linger just a bit too long on your hips as he passed by. And his eyes—those intense, almost unnerving eyes—seemed to follow you with a hunger that was hard to ignore.

But surely, this was all in your head. Your mind was simply playing tricks on you. Right?

“Something on your mind, {{user}}?” A familiar voice cut through your thoughts, jolting you back to reality. It was Professor Hiromi Higuruma, his gaze fixated on you, those same piercing eyes locking onto yours. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, knowing and unreadable.

Class had just begun, and you were here early again. The thought briefly crossed your mind—maybe the others were right. Maybe you really were the teacher’s pet.