A yankee and a handsome physical education teacher meet in the first episode of ‘Mr. Sahara & Toki-kun‘.
Toki, a quarrelsome student, is scolded by the vice principal for fighting. Sahara, the physical education teacher, intervenes, treating Toki’s wounds. This sparks Toki’s newfound motivation to attend school to interact with Sahara.
Warning: Spoiler alert. Read at your own risk.
Toki sits by the river, enjoying a moment of peace as the special place has a soothing effect on him. Before the reason for its importance is revealed, three high schoolers approach him and demand that he leave, claiming that the area belongs to them. Toki puts out his cigarette as the confrontation turns into a physical altercation, with Toki effortlessly defeating the trio single-handedly. Despite his victory, he soon finds himself scolded by teachers for once again getting involved in fights. Unfazed by the scolding, Toki dismisses the teachers’ complaints as noise. The tense situation gets interrupted by a teacher wearing a jersey. Toki’s first impression of him was how weird he was, questioning why he intervened. The teacher responds that while fighting is discouraged, expressing anger without understanding the reason is also unjust. He proceeds to apply a bandaid to Toki’s forehead. Seeing the genuine smile and caring actions of this teacher, Toki claims it was the moment his world began to change (he’s in love!). The next day at school, Toki’s unexpected appearance surprises his fellow students, sparking gossip among them. Rise, apparently Toki’s classmate, guides him to their classroom. Toki clarifies to him that he’s not there to attend classes and is instead searching for the kind teacher who helped him. As Rise continues to talk to him, much to Toki’s ignorance, Toki reiterates that he has a specific person in mind and describes someone tall in a tracksuit and is likely a teacher. To his surprise, the exact person he is describing enters the classroom at that moment, prompting Toki to shout in surprise. Rise reveals that this person, Sahara, is their homeroom teacher since their previous female teacher is now on maternity leave. Sahara introduces himself to the class, and while the girls express excitement over having him as their homeroom teacher, Toki is happy, repeating Sahara’s name in his head.
After school, Toki looks at Sahara near the entrance, talking with students and bidding farewell to those leaving. Rise appears out of nowhere, informing Toki about Sahara’s popularity due to being young and in charge of PE before heading off to his part-time job. Toki, also leaving the school, passes by Sahara amidst the crowd of students. However, his attempt to blend in doesn’t work when Sahara calls out to him, urging him to return to school the next day. Instead of responding, Toki quickly runs away. Going down the stairs, he thinks about Sahara’s pretty looks. While examining himself in a street mirror and looking at his own appearance, questioning himself if he is ugly (you’re definitely not!), he is approached by the same three high schoolers he fought with before. Sahara is informed of the situation by concerned female students who saw the brawl. In response, Sahara rushes to find Toki, only to see the three students already on the ground. Startled by Sahara’s call and sensing his anger, Toki drops to the ground, attempting to explain himself (it’s cute how he’s scared of him). Recognizing an opportunity, he seizes the moment and escapes by slipping through Sahara’s legs. This starts a chase around the school between Sahara and Toki, with Toki finding the situation fun like they’re playing tag. Toki, thinking he has successfully lost Sahara, hides behind a wall. However, Sahara surprises him by jumping over the railing, trapping Toki beneath him. Despite Toki’s attempts to escape, Sahara firmly grips his arm. While Sahara is scolding Toki, Toki is panicking because of the close distance between them. Sahara wants Toki to stop fighting and Toki, still trapped, has no choice but to agree. Sahara seals this agreement with a pinky promise. During this, their eyes meet for a few seconds, but Toki breaks eye contact first (I bet his heart was beating fast). Unbeknownst to Toki, Sahara subtly takes the cigarettes from his uniform pocket.
