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YOU WIPE THE felt eraser over the chalkboard, rubbing away the scribbled-down equations. Light chatter fills the classroom. The last rays of the late afternoon sun cascade into the wide window, layered thinly with frost. You feel the grainy texture of the chalk press against your fingertips as you write down upcoming due dates onto the board.
"I know that it's hard to pay attention when school's almost over, so I'll give you guys some time to work on your homework," you say, beaming gently at your students, "Just stay in the classroom for the last few minutes."
They sigh in relief, and you pick up the stack of papers on your podium. Sauntering around the room, you hand out an assignment for every student in the room. Some wield their pencils and actually start the homework, while others simply stuff the piece of paper into their backpacks and continue chatting away about their days.
You don't call them out, though—today's lecture has been dense, and they deserve this break. It hasn't been a long time since you've been in school, so you understand how they're feeling.
You walk back to your desk. Slumping into your chair, you swing your leg over your knee and cup the palms of your hands around the mug of lukewarm coffee. You silently chuckle to yourself as you admire the cup's design: the porcelain is shaped and painted like a frog. It was Atsumu's parting gift for you when you went to America, along with a cute keychain that has a personalized pendant of you, Atsumu, and Osamu from when you were in middle school.
You take the last sip of your coffee, savoring its taste and letting the bitterness linger on your tongue. As you clean up, you reminisce about the past. It's been a wild ride.
The bell rings, and you dismiss your students. They begin packing their belongings, and you slip on your jacket, though there's a sudden knock. You turn your direction to the door.
"How's my favorite teacher doin'?"
Atsumu leans against the wall and waves at you. His sheer height makes the room seem small.
