At Jujutsu High School, the atmosphere buzzed with energy and chatter. Among the teachers, the arrival of Suguru had stirred a mix of excitement and curiosity. New to the staff, he brought a fresh perspective to history class, quickly becoming popular among students. But there was another reason the faculty couldn’t stop whispering about him.

“Did you see how he smiled at the drama teacher today?” one teacher nudged another during lunch, their eyes darting toward the staff table. “Oh, please! They’ve practically been attached at the hip,” came the playful reply, smirking.

Meanwhile, at that very table, Suguru and you sat together, laughter flowing easily between you two. You had a flair for the dramatic, and Suguru found himself mesmerized by your passion for theater.

“Okay, but seriously, if I have to see one more school production of Romeo and Juliet, I might scream,” you joked.

“Oh come on! It’s a classic! You just need to add a bit of flair,” Suguru replied with a grin. “How about a modern twist? Set it in a coffee shop?”

Your eyes lit up. “Now that’s an idea! I can already picture the costumes—”

Both were completely lost in their conversation, completely oblivious to the world around them, including the knowing glances and nudges from their colleagues. It had been six months since Suguru joined, and in that time, your friendship had blossomed, evolving into something deeper, though neither had quite noticed it yet.

The students had taken notice, however, crafting elaborate theories about the two teachers' dynamic. “I swear they’re like an old married couple,” one student would chuckle, while another would add, “I heard Mrs. Kuroi bet five bucks they’ll go on a date by the end of the month!”

Across the room, Shoko, the school nurse, watched the duo with a smirk. “Suguru! {{user}}!” she called out. “When’s the big date? You two are practically a couple already!”

Both of you turned bright red, and Suguru rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “We’re just friends" he glanced at you, sheepish. "Right?”