I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

The question caught her off guard. She blinked, her mind scrambling. Was this a test? Did he expect her to choose something based on… what? Fashion sense? Professionalism? Personal preference?

Her eyes flicked over the colors, then back to his face—sharp jawline, perfectly symmetrical features, that cool, distant expression that somehow managed to make her nervous even when he wasn't trying. For some reason, the answer slipped out before she could overthink it.

"Green," she said softly.

His eyes narrowed slightly, studying her as if committing the choice to memory, then he gave a small nod. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the side door that connected to his private quarters.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Alina let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her shoulders sagged in relief. It wasn't that she was afraid of him—well, maybe a little—it was just that being in the same room as Dante always felt like trying to keep a straight face while standing next to a thunderstorm. One wrong move and…

She shook her head at herself, glancing toward the now-quiet space where Shadow had been standing. Between vanishing horns, eye color potions, and casually summoning demons like personal assistants, she wondered how on earth she was going to survive a shopping trip with him without losing her mind.

When the side door finally opened, Alina glanced up—and for a second, her brain forgot how to function.

Dante stepped out looking… different. Not in a bad way. In a dangerously distracting way. The white shirt he wore was crisp and perfectly fitted, the fabric clinging just enough to hint at the well-defined shape of his shoulders and chest without being tight. The black pants were tailored and sharp, falling neatly over polished shoes. His dark hair framed his face in that effortlessly perfect way, and those eyes—no longer glowing red, but a striking, realistic shade of green—were so vivid they almost look real. The color softened his usual intimidating aura, but somehow made him even more magnetic.

"Is that alright, Miss Alina?" he asked, his tone carrying the faintest trace of uncertainty, as if he wasn't quite used to asking for opinions on his appearance.

Alina's mouth parted slightly, and she just… stared. For one horrifying second, she was sure she was about to drool. Oh my god. This was unfair. Completely unfair.

"Miss Alina?" he prompted again, his brows pulling together. The truth was, he felt strange in these clothes—lighter, less like himself—but the way she kept staring was starting to make him wonder if something was wrong.

She snapped back to life, blinking rapidly. "Yeah, yeah, sir! You look… okay!" she said, nodding much too quickly, like a guilty child caught daydreaming in class.

"Okay?" he repeated, one brow lifting slightly.

Her lips twitched, and she let out an awkward little laugh. "Haha—more than okay, sir. You look… great."

The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and for a moment, Alina couldn't tell if he was amused or simply filing her reaction away for future use.

"Let's go?" Dante said, already lifting his hand as if to summon a portal.

"W-wait, sir!" Alina blurted, stepping forward. "How about we go in my car?"

He paused mid-motion, tilting his head slightly. "Why? A portal will get us there much faster."

She waved her hands quickly. "No, sir! That's… suspicious. People might see. And anyway, my car needs a little, um… start-up exercise."

For a second, Dante just stared at her, clearly trying to process why anyone would choose a slower method of travel. But in the end, he gave a single, measured nod. "Fine."

They walked out together, and Alina hurried ahead to unlock the passenger door for him. Dante's eyes flicked to the seat, then to her, as if silently debating whether this was truly necessary. But he said nothing, simply pursed his lips and lowered himself into the car with the kind of elegance that made even sitting look regal.

Alina quickly rounded to the driver's side, slid in, and turned the key. The car coughed like it was waking up from a year-long nap. "Come on, don't embarrass me now," she muttered under her breath, glancing sideways at Dante—who was watching her with that calm, unreadable expression.

When the engine finally grumbled to life, she shot him a quick, awkward smile. "See? Works perfectly."

The heavy gates opened on their own as she rolled forward. Out of the corner of her eye, she couldn't help noticing how much space he took up in the small passenger seat—broad shoulders practically brushing the door, long legs folded neatly yet still looking cramped.

He had a phone in his hand, but he didn't seem to be using it. Instead, he just sat there quietly, gaze moving out the window. She found herself wondering what he did in his free time… and then immediately decided she probably didn't want to know.

Dante noticed the subtle tension in Alina's shoulders as she gripped the steering wheel, her posture a little too upright for someone on a casual drive. His brow furrowed slightly. Is she… scared of me? Typical human, he thought, already deciding it was probably because she still hadn't fully adjusted to his presence.

"How is Lucien doing in class?" he asked suddenly, his deep voice breaking the quiet hum of the car.

Alina blinked and glanced at him, the stiffness in her shoulders easing just a little. "He's doing very well," she said, a smile forming. "He's good at studying, especially math, and he's very hardworking. I think he's gotten along with Felix really well too."

Dante's eyes softened at that. "So Felix is his friend?"

"Yeah," she said with a small laugh. "They sit next to each other. Sometimes they even share snacks—well, more like Felix shares, and Lucien just pretends he doesn't want them at first."

A faint, almost unnoticeable curve appeared on Dante's lips, and the atmosphere in the car shifted. Alina relaxed further, the tension melting away as they continued talking.

The more she spoke, the more Dante listened, actually leaning slightly toward her without realizing it. And for the rest of the ride, the stiffness that had started their journey was gone, replaced with a comfortable flow of conversation—one that seemed to interest them both far more than either expected.