I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

"Wake up…" The gentle voice floated into Sable's ears, soft and warm like sunlight brushing through a curtain. For a moment, he didn't know where he was. His little body shifted under the blanket, and he covered his eyes with both hands, shaking his head stubbornly. Whoever was calling him, he wasn't ready to let go of sleep yet.

Alina chuckled softly at the sight, her heart melting at how childlike he looked. It was already late afternoon, and she had quietly prepared something light for them.

"Hey, sleepyhead," she whispered again, brushing her fingers gently against his hair.

On the other side, Lucien stirred as well. His crimson eyes opened halfway, still misty with sleep. He blinked slowly at her, dazed, his face soft and unguarded in a way that made Alina's chest tighten with affection. "Teacher…?" he murmured, his voice still raspy.

"Yes, Lucien, it's time to wake up," Alina said with a smile, giving his shoulder a light shake.

Then she leaned toward Sable again. "Hey, Sable," she coaxed, her voice playful now.

Finally, Sable peeked out from under his blanket, still hiding most of his face. He stuck out two tiny fingers and wiggled them in protest, as if showing her a sleepy signal for "just two more minutes."

Alina gasped dramatically, covering her mouth. "Oh no! Two fingers?? What does that mean? Two more hours? Two more days?" she teased.

Sable's cheeks turned pink as he quickly buried himself back under the blanket, clearly embarrassed but too sleepy to fight back.

Alina couldn't stop her laugh. Too adorable… she thought, her heart swelling until she almost wanted to steal these precious babies away from Dante and keep them with her forever.

Sable finally stirred, his small lashes fluttering as he peeked out from the blanket. For a second, he forgot where he was, until his eyes landed on Alina sitting nearby. The realization hit him like a wave, he had actually fallen asleep right beside the teacher. His chest tightened and his little face turned pale as his thoughts spiraled.

Oh no… what if teacher thinks I'm lazy? What if she thinks I'm not obedient?

His tiny hands trembled as he clutched the edge of the blanket, half-hiding his face while sneaking nervous glances at her. His eyes grew glossy with anxiety, the corners turning red as if tears might spill. He shifted uncomfortably, caught between wanting to hide forever and wanting to prove himself.

Alina, who had been watching him with soft eyes, immediately noticed his trembling fingers. She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a gentle whisper. "Sable? What's wrong, sweetheart?"

Sable ducked his head further, his horns peeking out from the blanket while his lips wobbled. "Teacher… I-I slept too much," he mumbled, almost too quiet to hear. "I wasn't being good. I should've… stayed awake like you." His eyes shimmered as guilt filled his little face.

Alina's heart squeezed at his words. She reached out and gently pried his tiny hands away from the blanket, cupping them in her own warm palms. "Oh, Sable…" she sighed softly, brushing her thumb over his knuckles. "Do you think I would ever be upset because you rested? You were tired, love. Sleeping when you're tired doesn't make you bad—it means you're taking care of yourself."

Sable blinked up at her, his lips parted in surprise, as if he didn't expect that answer at all.

Alina smiled tenderly, leaning closer so he could see the sincerity in her eyes. "You were so brave yesterday. You didn't cry even when things were scary. You helped your friends. You were strong. So if your body wants to rest after all that, then it's the smartest, bravest thing you could do."

His breath caught, and the redness in his eyes softened as tears welled up, not from shame now, but from relief. With a tiny sniffle, he threw himself forward, hugging her around the waist. "Teacher… really? You're not mad?"

Alina stroked his hair, laughing softly. "Not at all. I'm proud of you, Sable. Very, very proud."

Finally, Alina gathered the two boys to the dining table. The afternoon sunlight poured gently through the window, painting the wooden surface in soft gold as she placed steaming bowls of porridge, freshly cut fruit, and warm bread before them.

Lucien sat quietly, his hands folded neatly on his lap as he waited for her. But his crimson eyes kept drifting to her face, lingering on the way her hair fell against her shoulder, the way she smiled as she poured milk into his cup. Something about the moment struck him differently. The warmth of the teacher blanket, the safety of her thigh as his pillow, the gentle way she had woken him~it all left a mark on his small heart.

This feeling… he thought, his chest tightening in a way that was both painful and sweet. It's like… like what it would feel like to have a mother. His brows furrowed faintly. He didn't have one, never did. But if he ever imagined it, he was sure it would be like this: soft laughter, gentle scolding, the smell of food prepared with care. He lowered his gaze, afraid she might notice the way his eyes shimmered. Wouldn't it be good if teacher could be my mom…

Across the table, Sable's cheeks were glowing pink as he clutched his spoon with both hands. The food tasted wonderful~not just because of flavor, but because of the way it was served. At Nightshade Court's cold shelters, he had always woken up alone, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he dragged his little body to the kitchens to scavenge what was left. No one had ever woken him gently. No one had ever waited with food already set for him.

He swallowed hard, wanting to memorize every detail, the warmth of the chair beneath him, the smell of fresh bread, the sound of Alina humming softly as she buttered a slice for him. Don't forget, he told himself. Don't forget this, because maybe you'll never get it again. His little heart trembled at the memory of the whispers he'd overheard at Nightshade Court: that he would grow up alone, that his fate was only to become a shadow demon, to fight and fight until there was nothing left.