I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 569 Late?

"I never got a chance to admire nature this way," Alina continued. "I never watched stars so peacefully. If I saw stars, it was from a window while doing dishes. Or walking home tired from work. A quick glance, then back to worrying about tomorrow."

She exhaled slowly.

"But here... lying on a mountain with you... the stars are just there. Existing. Being beautiful. Not asking anything from me."

Dante nodded against her hair.

"It’s strange, isn’t it?" she murmured. "Nature just exists the way it always has. Before us, after us, it will still be here. And every time we see it, it amazes us. Like we’re seeing it for the first time."

She gestured vaguely at the sky.

"I’m in awe of this beauty. Genuine awe. Like my heart is too small to hold it all."

Dante’s voice was quiet when he spoke.

"That’s because you’re seeing it properly for the first time."

She tilted her head to look at him.

"What do you mean?"

He considered his words carefully.

"When life is busy, you look at things to survive. To check, to verify, to move on. But when you’re still, when you’re at peace..." He paused. "Then you see things to feel them."

Alina blinked.

"That’s very wise."

"I have decades of practice."

She laughed softly.

"Show-off."

He smiled.

They lay there for another long moment, the stars wheeling slowly above them.

Then Alina whispered, "I’m glad I’m seeing this with you."

Dante’s arm tightened around her.

"I’m glad you’re here at all."

She smiled against his chest.

"Me too."

Above them, the universe continued its eternal dance, indifferent and beautiful and completely perfect.

***

The next morning arrived quietly.

Soft sunlight slipped through the curtains, spreading a gentle warmth across the room as Alina stood near the mirror, getting ready for kindergarten. There was a lightness in her movements today, something calm and content lingering from the night before. Every now and then, a small smile would appear on her lips without her realizing it, a quiet reminder of stars and mountain air and warm arms around her.

She adjusted her dress, smoothing the fabric with careful hands, then reached for her things, humming faintly under her breath. A soft, happy tune she didn’t even know she knew.

Just as she was about to leave—

Her phone buzzed.

Alina glanced down and picked it up.

A message.

From Drake’s mother.

Drake will not come to kindergarten for three or more days. His scales have started falling more. He is very uncomfortable, so I will keep him home until it settles. He is very grumpy about it.

Alina’s expression softened immediately.

She could almost picture him...grumpy, itchy, probably complaining loudly to anyone who would listen, wings drooping miserably, but also secretly wanting to come back and play with his friends. Wanting to run and argue and steal biscuits.

"...Poor baby," she murmured quietly.

She quickly typed her reply.

It’s completely fine. Please take care of him. Let him rest properly. Shedding is hard for little dragons.

She paused for a second, her fingers hovering over the screen, then added—

Tell him everyone will miss him. Especially Luna. She will have no one to argue with.

After sending the message, she held the phone for a moment longer, her thoughts lingering.

The classroom was going to feel different without him.

Less noisy.

Less chaotic.

Less... lively.

No one would argue with Luna about who was faster. No one would ask a million questions about snacks. No one would dramatically declare that math was "suffering" and then fall asleep anyway.

The room would be quieter.

Too quiet, maybe.

She let out a small breath and placed the phone aside.

***

Class D felt a little different that morning.

There was no loud voice filling the room, no wings bumping into chairs, no sudden bursts of excitement that usually followed wherever Drake went. The space felt... quieter, even though everyone else was present. The usual energy was there, but it was like a song missing its loudest instrument. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Boo floated near the window, his tail swishing back and forth anxiously as he kept peeking toward the door every few seconds.

"Has Drake not arrived yet?" he pouted, his voice carrying clear disappointment. "He is always the loudest arrival. Always shouting something. Very dramatic entrance. Where is the drama?"

Vlad Jr. sat properly at his desk, posture perfect as always, but his attention kept drifting toward the entrance as well. Every time footsteps passed in the hallway, his eyes would lift slightly, only to lower again when it wasn’t who he was expecting.

"...He is late," he said calmly, though his fingers tapped lightly against the desk in a way that gave him away. "Very late. Unusually late."

Luna sat with her arms crossed, her expression carefully neutral.

But her ears kept twitching toward the door.

She glanced at it.

Then looked away.

Then glanced again.

"...Maybe he is just late," she muttered, as if that explained everything. "Maybe he’s saving energy for running later."

No one pointed out that she had been checking the door more than anyone else.

No one needed to.

On the other side of the room, Rocky and Kelpie were sitting together on the floor.

Rocky was holding a large stone carefully in both hands, examining it like it was something precious. He turned it over slowly, studying every angle. Kelpie hovered close, tiny droplets of water floating gently around him as he sprinkled them lightly over the surface of the rock.

The water made the stone shine softly, bringing out colors that had been hidden under dust.

Rocky quickly took out a small handkerchief and began wiping it with careful, gentle movements, polishing it as if it were a treasure.

"Thank you," Rocky said quietly, his voice soft and sincere.

Kelpie smiled and nodded, water droplets spraying gently.

"It looks better when it is clean," he said. "Rocks like water. Water makes rocks happy."

Rocky nodded seriously. "Yes. Stones should be taken care of. They are good friends."