I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

Luna's golden eyes flared as she whirled on him, her wolfish growl rumbling low in her throat. "ARE YOU DOUBTING MY CAPABILITY??"

Drake flapped his arms wildly. "Of course I doubt it! No way you hunted it fresh!! It smelled rotten!!"

"Take it back!!" Luna shouted, her cheeks puffing like a furious cotton ball.

"Never!!" Drake shouted right back, his cheeks puffing too.

They both lunged at the same time—Luna halfway shifting into her wolf form, fur bristling, while Drake's baby fangs peeked as smoke puffed from his nose. It looked seconds away from a dragon vs. wolf clash.

"Stop!!" Vlad Jr. stood up dramatically, pulling out his silk handkerchief like he was some noble referee. "This is embarrassing. Do you really want to lower yourselves to brawling over… a squirrel corpse?"

"YES!!" Luna and Drake both barked at the same time.

Kelpie flailed, spraying water everywhere. "N-no fighting!! Not near me!! You'll ruin my hair!!"

Rocky panicked so much he rolled off his chair and froze into rock form again, his little stone body thudding across the floor until it bumped under Felix's desk.

Felix just sighed, holding his head. "Great. Teacher leaves for five minutes, and suddenly we're an arena."

Boo, however, was having the time of his life. Floating above like a commentator, he yelled, "Dragon versus Wolf!! WHO WILL WIN?? Place your bets now!! Boo accepts cookies as payment!!"

Luna growled louder, crouching low, while Drake's cheeks puffed with smoke. The whole class held its breath—

And that was the exact moment Alina returned, pushing the door open.

She froze at the sight of her babies mid-duel: wolf fur bristling, dragon smoke rising, Vlad waving a handkerchief, Boo spinning like a cheerleader in the air, and poor Rocky rolling helplessly under the desk.

"…What… is going on here?" she asked slowly, pinching her temples.

"Teacher!!" Boo zoomed down dramatically, pointing between Luna and Drake. "Wolf says she hunted! Dragon says she didn't! Their friendship is over forever!!"

"Not forever!!" Drake shouted, glaring at Luna. "Just until she admits it stank!!"

"IT DIDN'T STINK, IT WAS A GOOD GIFT!!!" Luna barked back, cheeks puffing angrily.

Alina sighed and clapped her hands sharply. "Enough! Both of you—sit down!"

The wolf and dragon froze mid-glare. Slowly, grudgingly, they both sat, though their eyes were still throwing sparks at each other.

Alina crouched between them, her expression softening. "Listen, Luna sweetheart… teacher knows you meant well. Your gift came from your heart, and that's what matters most. But dead animals aren't something we can keep. Next time, something like flowers or cookies would make me just as happy, okay?"

Luna's ears drooped, but she nodded with a small pout.

"And you, Drake," Alina turned to him. "Don't make fun of someone's gift. Even if you didn't like it, Luna worked hard. You should respect her effort."

Drake shuffled his feet, muttering, "But it did stink…"

"Drake."

He flinched, then sighed, puffing out his cheeks. "...Sorry, Luna."

Luna blinked at him, then crossed her arms. "…Fine. I forgive you. But only if you admit I'm a better hunter than you!"

Drake gasped. "WHAT?? Never!!"

"Drake…" Alina's warning voice came again, and the dragon quickly folded. "Okay, okay—you're a good hunter. Happy?"

Luna finally smiled proudly, her tail wagging a little.

The class exhaled in relief, though Boo still twirled above dramatically. "And so the great war of wolf versus dragon ended… with a peace treaty signed by Teacher Alina herself!!"

Everyone burst out laughing, even Luna and Drake, who couldn't stay mad when Boo was being so ridiculous.

Alina chuckled too, rubbing her forehead.

****

"Do you believe now???" Riccardo tone dripped with smugness.

Lyla stiffened, her brows furrowing as she turned toward him. "I already told you, Riccardo, my niece has work. She's not the kind of girl you're trying to paint her as." Her voice carried firmness, but deep inside, unease had already begun to spread.

Riccardo smirked, leaning lazily against the wall. "Work? Hah. That's the excuse she gave you? Then maybe you should open your eyes. She's not working—she's living off some rich tall guy."

Lyla's lips pressed into a thin line. "Nonsense. Don't speak ill of her when you don't know anything."

"Oh, but I do." Riccardo chuckled darkly, pulling his phone from his pocket. "I even have proof. Screenshots from the mall's CCTV—my friend works security there, so it was easy. Look."

He shoved the screen in front of her. Lyla's eyes widened despite herself. The photos were grainy but clear enough: Alina and Dante walking side by side, his tall frame impossible to miss, her smiling up at him. They were carrying shopping bags, standing close, looking—at least to anyone else—like a couple.

Lyla blinked rapidly, her breath catching. Lina… with a man? Really??

Riccardo wasn't done. He swiped to the next picture. A sharper one this time, clearly taken with someone's phone when Riccardo had clashed with Dante in front of the mall. Dante's towering figure and Alina's worried expression were unmistakable.

"If you still don't believe me," Riccardo said, slipping his phone back into his pocket with a triumphant smirk, "why don't you ask her again? I bet she won't tell you the truth."

With that, he turned and strode away, his shoulders squared, his face glowing with smug satisfaction. To him, the seed of doubt was planted and that was enough.

Lyla sat alone in the nurse's room after Riccardo left, her hands gripping the edge of the desk. Lina has always been so sensible, she thought, her chest tight. She wouldn't lie about her job. She wouldn't… unless…

Her mind went to the hospital bills, the endless expenses. She remembered the quiet way Alina always put family first, even when it hurt her. And suddenly, the thought stabbed her: Maybe… maybe she decided to sacrifice herself just to keep us afloat.

Lyla's eyes blurred with tears. No way… my sweet, thoughtful Lina…

The images Riccardo had shown her replayed—Alina beside that tall, frighteningly handsome man, the expensive bags in their hands. Maybe… maybe he's some rich man taking advantage of her. Maybe she's forcing herself to smile just to survive.

Her throat tightened. She wanted to scream, to deny it. But the doubt was eating her alive.

"No… no… it can't be true…" she whispered, but her heart clenched painfully.