I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 433 Happy Shadows (2)

Dante watched her with a softness he didn’t bother hiding. "I don’t know," he admitted. "They’re just happy. And they like holding you."

Her heart skipped at that.

She stopped, hovering there, shadows curling protectively around her legs, her waist, her back. "What else can they do?" she asked quietly, curiosity sparkling in her voice.

His smile deepened, darker now, almost fond. "They can cradle you when you’re tired," he said, one shadow lifting slightly beneath her as if demonstrating. "They can keep you warm when the night is cold. They can wrap around you when you’re scared, or pull you close when you don’t know how to ask."

As he spoke, the shadows responded, drifting nearer, cocooning her gently, not trapping her but holding her gently. Alina’s breath softened, her shoulders relaxing as a strange sense of safety washed over her.

"They listen to emotions more than words," Dante continued quietly. "That’s why they moved on their own. You make them feel... calm."

She swallowed, emotion swelling in her chest, her breath still a little uneven. Slowly, carefully, the shadows lowered her back to the floor, setting her down as gently as if she were made of glass. They lingered for just a second longer than necessary, brushing past her calves and ankles before slipping away, dissolving back into the corners of the room. Alina stood there stunned, one hand pressed lightly over her heart, the other resting against her side, as if she needed to ground herself in something solid before she forgot how to stand.

She looked at Dante again, still wide-eyed, disbelief and wonder tangled together on her face. "That... was so sudden and unexpected," she said softly, a breathy laugh escaping her as she tried to calm herself. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly a little caught off guard himself. "Sorry about that," he admitted honestly. "This is the first time they’ve acted like this on their own." He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "I didn’t even understand what was happening at first. I guess they got excited when they saw you." He paused, then added more quietly, "I don’t really know why either."

"Really?" Alina asked, her curiosity winning over her lingering nerves. She tilted her head slightly, eyes bright. "They... like me?" she asked, almost shyly.

Before Dante could respond, the shadows stirred again. They slipped out from behind him, smooth and playful, gathering in the air between them. Alina gasped softly as they twisted and curved, forming a clear, unmistakable heart shape. Her eyes widened in pure surprise, heat rushing to her cheeks as she realized what they were doing.

"Oh..." she murmured, completely flustered. "That... that’s so pretty." She smiled without even trying to hide it. "Thank you."

The heart shape wobbled slightly, then pulsed once, as if pleased, before breaking apart into soft spirals that drifted lazily around her for a moment. Even though they were nothing more than shadows, Alina could feel it. There was emotion there. Joy. Affection. A kind of innocent happiness that made her chest feel warm.

Dante watched her reaction in silence, something unreadable flickering through his eyes. He had commanded shadows his entire life, but seeing them respond to someone else like this, so openly, so warmly, was new even to him.

"They don’t do things like this," he said quietly, more to himself than to her.

Alina looked back at him, still smiling, her voice gentle. "Then... I’ll take it as a compliment."

The shadows curled once more at her feet, almost bashful now, before settling back into place, leaving the room calm again.

Then she yawned, the sound soft and unguarded, and without the slightest hesitation, he calmly claimed one side of the bed as if it had always belonged to him. Alina stood there for a second, staring at him in pure disbelief, her mouth slightly open, her thoughts scrambling to catch up.

No hesitation at all.

She narrowed her eyes, then huffed silently to herself.

Fine.

Instead of arguing, she turned and went to freshen up, taking a quick but calming bath that washed away the long day clinging to her skin. When she returned, dressed in comfortable clothes that smelled faintly of soap, the room felt quiet. Dante was still awake, sitting against the headboard, his broad shoulders relaxed as he scrolled through his phone, and he looked a bit happy... actually?

She switched off the main light, leaving only the soft glow, and climbed onto the bed, careful not to disturb him. Curiosity tugged at her as she leaned closer, resting her elbow on the mattress. "What are you doing?" she asked quietly, her voice low and sleepy.

He tilted the phone slightly without locking the screen, letting her see. It took her a second to realize what she was looking at, and then her heart melted.

Photos.

Pictures she had taken randomly without much thought while staying with them, and she had sent them to Dante too.

Sable laughing with cookie crumbs on his cheeks. Lucien sitting seriously with a toy in his hands. One blurry picture where all three of them were half-laughing, half-moving, caught in an imperfect moment that somehow felt more precious than anything posed.

She stared at the screen, warmth blooming in her chest.

He didn’t look away from the screen as he answered her, his voice quieter than before, softer in a way that felt almost private.

"Looking at photos," he said simply. His thumb moved slowly, brushing the screen with a care that felt almost reverent, as if he were afraid even a careless swipe might disturb the moment captured there. "They look more perfect each time." His lips curved into a faint, honest smile as his gaze lingered on a picture where the babies were pressed close to her, messy and bright and completely unguarded. "Every day I look at them... I feel they are becoming more and more beautiful."

Alina felt something twist gently inside her chest. She hadn’t expected this side of him. She hadn’t expected him to sit awake like this, late at night, looking at photos as if he were trying to memorize every detail, every expression, every small trace of joy.

"They’re just normal photos," she said lightly, though her voice turned soft.

He shook his head slowly, still not looking at her. "They’re not," he replied. "It’s happiness." He paused, then added in a low voice, almost thoughtful, "Each time I wish I could store every memory inside my heart. This device..." He lifted the phone slightly. "...is doing a good job for now."

Alina swallowed, emotion swelling quietly, and she lay there beside him, watching the glow of the screen reflect in his eyes.