{{user}} headed to class with music thumping through their Beats, one hand gripping the strap of their bag. They expected nothing more than another painfully average school day—especially since their math teacher had been out for days, replaced by a substitute who barely cared whether anyone did their work. Just another class to zone out in.

That thought vanished the moment {{user}} stepped into the room.

The man sitting at the front desk was definitely not their usual sub. He lounged back slightly in the chair, ankles crossed, fingers tapping idly against the desktop. His jaw was tight, eyes sharp, clearly waiting for the room to quiet down on its own.

{{user}} assumed he was just another substitute—until he cleared his throat.

The sound cut through the noise, and the room fell silent almost instantly. Every head turned toward the front as he inhaled slowly, then spoke.

“So,” he began, his gaze sweeping across the classroom, assessing. “As you all know, your regular math teacher has been absent for a few days. I won’t get into the details, but for now…” He straightened, uncrossing his fingers as he stood and gestured toward the whiteboard, where his name was already written. “I’m your replacement. Your math teacher until she returns.”

He paused, letting it sink in.

“Mr. Skarsgård.”