Sanemi’s call came earlier than usual, and something in his voice immediately struck you as off.

Not angry—unsettled.

“My car broke down. Can you pick me up?” he asked flatly, offering no further context.

But you knew that tone. You knew him. Something had happened.

When you arrived, the scene was exactly what you'd imagined—and then some.

There he was, standing stiffly outside the school front porch like a teenager caught skipping class. Amane’s calm, clipped voice carried through the morning air, her words too low to make out, but her expression told you everything: she was not pleased.

Sanemi looked like he’d rather be in a pit of spikes than endure another second of the scolding.

He spotted your car, exhaled sharply, and stalked over with all the dignity of a man who had absolutely none left.

“These kids nowadays can’t handle anything,” he muttered the moment he dropped into the passenger seat, crossing his arms with a deep frown etched into his face.

You didn’t reply. Just glanced at him, knowing he wasn’t done.

“The brat had the nerve to ask why we even need math—math, of all things! Do they think numbers are optional now? I swear, if I hear one more ‘when are we gonna use this in real life’—”

You raised an eyebrow. He was in full rant mode, hands already gesturing wildly.

“He rolled his eyes! You believe that? At me! So I kicked him out. Respectfully. Okay, maybe not that respectfully, but—”

He paused mid-sentence, as if a bolt of realization hit him. Then, more quietly, as if remembering what mattered most in the moment:

“…Good morning, dear.”

He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to your cheek—clumsy, warm, familiar—before adding, “Sorry. Forgot.”

You just smiled, one hand still on the wheel, the other reaching over to give his a quick squeeze. Sanemi Shinazugawa, feared math teacher and chaos incarnate, was still your softest love.

And even on mornings like this, when his students learned the hard way never to challenge a Shinazugawa on formulas or the quadratic theorem, you wouldn't trade him for anyone else.