Sensei | Sasaki Haise ✓

➵ |14| Jealousy.

A/N - A slightly longer chapter than usual. Also, I just wanted to take the time to thank you guys for six hundred reads already! I truly couldn't be more grateful, and I'm sure that Sasaki-Sensei is proud! ;)

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Ayato's grip on your arm slackened as your words hit him with unexpected force. His eyes widened briefly, betraying a mix of hurt and annoyance before his expression hardened once more. You could sense that your statement had affected him, even if only subtly.

The weight of your words settled heavily in your chest. Ayato was more than a mere acquaintance; he was like a brother, someone you had grown up with and trusted. The realisation of how your sharp retort might have wounded him made you blink back sudden guilt and regret. Before you could offer an apology, Ayato scowled, his walls going up again, shielding the vulnerability that had briefly shown through.

"Do as you please," he muttered, his voice low and tinged with resignation. "But don't come crawling to me when you get hurt."

An exasperated sigh escaped you, but the classroom filled with students bustling in cut off any chance of further discussion. You shifted seamlessly into teacher mode, greeting each child warmly as they took their seats, pushing aside the lingering tension between you and Ayato.

Ayato remained silent, his earlier hurt hidden behind a mask of indifference. Yet, his mind churned with conflicting emotions. You were more than just another human to him; you were someone he had cherished, admired, and perhaps even loved from afar. Despite knowing that a relationship between you two was unlikely, he had hoped you would heed his warnings.

He cursed himself for letting down his guard, for showing a side of vulnerability that now felt like a weakness. Ayato was the infamous Black Rabbit, a feared ghoul affiliated with the Aogiri Tree—a role that demanded ruthlessness and detachment. He had spent years building that reputation, only to find himself softening in your presence.

The thought gnawed at him. His jealousy towards Kaneki, now Haise, had once been fierce, but now he saw himself as superior. The Eyepatch, his former rival, was gone, replaced by a man living a facade orchestrated by Kishou Arima. Ayato sneered inwardly at the pathetic existence Haise now led.

His thoughts circled back to you, a beacon of warmth and familiarity in his tumultuous life. You were special, not just to him, but also to Touka. That's why he had tried to warn you about Haise, to protect you from the complexities and dangers of his world. But instead of gratitude or understanding, you had pushed him away.

If only he could reveal the truth, explain why he was really there, why Haise wasn't what he seemed. But Ayato knew too well the consequences of revealing such secrets. He would suffer in silence, watching you from afar, hoping you wouldn't fall victim to the illusions spun by others.

Ayato's gaze flickered towards you briefly, a mix of longing and frustration clouding his eyes. He had tried to do the right thing, but now he had lost your trust, perhaps irreparably so. As the day's lessons commenced, Ayato stood in the shadowed corner of the classroom, a silent guardian watching over you, his heart heavy with unspoken words and unfulfilled promises.

• • •

Class dragged on interminably. Despite your usual passion for teaching, your mind couldn't shake off the tense encounter with Ayato earlier. His presence had been a distracting undercurrent throughout the lesson, his brooding silence more unsettling than comforting.

The children, curious and innocent, occasionally stole glances at Ayato, their curiosity piqued by his aloof demeanour. You tried to deflect their attention, reassuring them that he was merely observing and not to be disturbed. Ayato's lack of engagement with the students, coupled with his cold stare, inadvertently intimidated them. When you gently suggested he smile or interact more, he responded with disdainful mutterings and eye-rolls, further isolating himself in the corner.