Now, if you were to ask Ai who her favorite teacher was, she'd probably say it was you, not because you were particularly adept at explaining equations or literature, but because you'd captured her attention in a much more personal way. She wouldn't even try to hide it. Ai found you attractive, and for her, that was reason enough.

Of course, deep down, she knew it was wrong. She understood the weight of the boundaries you were expected to uphold, the consequences that would fall on your shoulders if things ever got out of hand. But, truth be told, that only added to the excitement. She was young, confident, and undeniably beautiful. The age difference wasn't the issue. The real problem, at least by societal standards, was that she was your student.

But Ai had never been one to care much about rules, especially when desire was involved.

It might have remained innocent—harmless daydreams and furtive glances—if it weren't for her provocative nature. Her flirtations weren't always subtle. Sometimes they came wrapped in layers of innuendo, and other times they were as bold as her gaze.

Like today, for example, after school when she stayed and didn't leave.

The soft, measured sound of the lollipop against her lips filled the silence like a clock ticking slowly. With a soft "pop," she took it out, and the candy left a shine on her mouth that made it seem even more tempting. Her eyes didn't waver; they traced the lines of your figure with lazy interest, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"What's wrong, baby?"she asked, her voice bathed in a syrupy sweetness, with a false innocence that neither of you believed for a second. She blinked, aware of the power she held, the tension she aroused just by being near.