Teachers pet (COMPLETE)

Chapter 69: The Gift of Silence

Aizawa’s POV

I hand her the gift, watching her carefully as she unwraps it. The scarf—similar to mine, but softer—rests in her hands, the delicate fabric catching the light. It’s more than just a gift. It’s a promise. A quiet, unspoken way of telling her that she’s never alone. That I’ll always be here, even when the words are too heavy to speak. Watching over her, protecting her from the shadows, like I always do.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the world narrows to just us. There’s something between us that I can’t put into words, but it’s there, undeniable, and it’s been growing stronger with every passing day.

She clutches the scarf to her chest, her fingers brushing against the fabric in a way that makes my heart ache. I shouldn’t have given it to her. I shouldn’t have let it come this far. But now, standing here, watching the way she looks at me... it’s too late to turn back.

---

Mailin’s POV

I hold the scarf close to my chest, feeling the warmth of it—and of his unspoken words. It’s not just a scarf. It’s a part of him, a piece of the man who’s been my guide, my protector, and... more. My heart pounds, thoughts racing as I look up into his eyes. In that moment, I understand what this means. It’s more than just a simple gift. It’s him, offering me a glimpse into something deeper—something we’ve both been avoiding.

The warmth of the party still lingers around us, but the quiet between us is charged with something heavier, something neither of us knows how to navigate. My breath catches as I take a small step forward, closing the space between us. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice soft but filled with meaning. “This means more than you know.”

The night winds down, the common room gradually emptying until the laughter and noise become little more than an echo. I find myself slipping into the quieter hallways of the dorms, clutching the scarf even tighter. Every step pulls me closer to him—to the conversation I need to have, to the truth I can no longer hide.

There’s no going back now.

---

Aizawa’s POV

I sit alone in the dim light of the staff room, the glow of the moon casting long shadows across the floor. The warmth of the Christmas party feels distant now, replaced by the weight of everything between us. Mailin. I feel her presence even when she’s not here. The tension between us has been building, and the way she looked at me tonight... it’s getting harder to ignore. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve crossed a line.

The knock on the door jolts me from my thoughts, and my heart skips a beat. I already know who it is before she speaks.

“Sensei... It’s me.”

Her voice is soft, uncertain, but it hits me like a wave. I hesitate, knowing that opening this door might mean stepping over that line. But I can’t help myself. “Come in,” I say, my voice quieter than I intended.

---

Mailin’s POV

I step inside, and for a moment, it feels like the air between us thickens, like we’re the only two people in the world. The room is warm, but there’s an electric tension between us that makes my skin prickle. He looks tired—more than tired. Like he’s carrying a weight no one else can see. And a part of me aches to lift that weight, to ease the burden, even if just for a moment.

“I... I wanted to thank you. For this,” I say, glancing down at the scarf in my hands, my voice barely above a whisper. “It means a lot.”

His eyes darken, softening in a way that makes my heart skip. “I’m glad you like it,” he replies, but there’s something else in his tone, something unsaid.

The silence stretches between us, heavy and filled with everything we’re too afraid to voice. I take a deep breath, summoning all the courage I can, and close the distance between us. “I made something for you too,” I murmur, holding out the blanket. My hands tremble slightly as I hand it over. “I hope you like it.”

---

Aizawa’s POV

She hands me the blanket, her hands shaking just enough for me to notice. My fingers brush against the soft fabric, and I can feel the effort, the care she’s put into it. But it’s more than that. This blanket is her—a piece of her she’s giving to me. And I’m not sure I deserve it. Not with everything I’ve been hiding, everything I’ve been feeling.

I run my fingers over the stitches, my heart heavy with emotions I’ve been trying to bury. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice betraying the storm inside me. “This... this means more than you know.”

Our eyes meet, and for a brief, heart-stopping moment, the space between us fades. I can see it in her eyes—the same thing I’ve been feeling for so long but never dared to name. The pull, the connection, the impossible need to be close to her. It’s undeniable now, too strong to push away.

“I shouldn’t be feeling this,” I murmur, my voice raw and filled with regret. “But I do.”

---

Mailin’s POV

His words crash over me like a wave, and suddenly everything I’ve been feeling comes rushing to the surface. The tension, the longing, the confusion—it all makes sense now. He feels it too. This... whatever this is between us, it’s real. And it’s not something we can ignore.

I step even closer, my heart pounding in my chest. “You don’t have to feel guilty, Sensei. You’re not the only one.”

His gaze softens, and for the first time, I see something raw and vulnerable in his eyes. He’s always been so composed, so strong, but now... now he looks uncertain. And that makes me want to reach out even more.

Without thinking, I take his hand in mine, feeling the warmth of his skin. “We don’t have to do anything about it,” I whisper. “But I wanted you to know... I care about you. More than just a teacher.”

---

Aizawa’s POV

Her hand in mine is like an anchor, pulling me into a moment I’ve been trying to avoid. Every rational part of me is screaming to pull away, to step back before this goes too far. But when she’s standing this close, looking at me like that... it’s impossible to resist.

“I care about you too,” I confess, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “More than I should.”

Her smile is soft, but it feels like a weight lifting off my chest. This connection between us—it’s real. It’s always been there, but now, in this quiet room, there’s no denying it. There’s no going back.

With one hand, I hold hers, and my other slowly rises to settle on her cheek, cupping her face. The softness of her skin under my fingers feels like a lifeline—a grounding force in this swirling storm of emotions.

---

Mailin’s POV

His words settle over me like a warm blanket, and for the first time, I feel a sense of peace. The tension, the uncertainty—it’s still there, but now we both know the truth. We’re not alone in this.

The warmth of his hand in mine is all I need right now. We don’t have to say anything else. The feelings are there, unspoken but understood. I smile up at him, my heart full, knowing that whatever happens next, we’ll face it together. I lean into his touch, his hand soft on my cheek.

Then something even more unexpected happens. I decide to be bold for once.

I hesitate, my heart pounding in my ears. And then, before I can lose my nerve, I surge forward and kiss him.