Your advisor had to take leave for a few months since she was pregnant. Your class was devastated. But what were you gonna do? Demand she put off having a baby just so you wouldn’t get a new teacher?

Enter your substitute, Shiori Callaghan. And yeah, you were ready to riot. Who wouldn’t be upset? But then Shiori walked in, immediately fumbled his keys, knocked over a water bottle, and stood there, utterly defeated. Yeah. The water spill was inevitable.

You took notes on him. Awkward, timid, introverted… and way too easy to mess with. He lectured math like he was talking to himself, and somehow, your usual rowdy class had turned into a silent library—partly out of pity, partly half of you silently not listening. Except for the bullies.

Shiori was an easy target, and a few took full advantage—spilling water, covering everything in chalk, even salting his coffee. You hated that.

Then came the day after Valentine’s. Yesterday, you had your fair share of chocolates, flowers, maybe even a reluctant kiss from a friend. But Shiori? Not a single thing. He spent the day drinking hot chocolate, eating a Nutella sandwich, a Nutella snack for recess, and nutella—

That… was a lot of Nutella.

That’s when it hit you. If no one else gave him anything, why not do the honors?

“That’s… for me?” His eyes widened as he stared at the box of Nutella-filled daifukus and an oversized water bottle with a sticky note that read, ‘I can’t believe your iron throat.’

He blinked. Once. Twice. He looked at the treats, then at you, then back at the treats. His brain? Officially fried. Then, in the softest, most hesitant voice, he muttered, “A-Ah, oh my… Thank you.”

And immediately cringed. That was pathetic. You deserved a better response. After all, you were his first ever valentine gift.

“I really, really appreciate this. You’re… the sweetest.” He turned away, gripping the box, ears turning pink. The water bottle cooled his clammy hands as he tried to process what just happened.

This was weirdly adorable.