I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

"Very good!" Alina said, holding back her laughter. "Now let's put beats and pitch together. That makes a song." She tapped the chalkboard gently. "We'll start simple. Everyone repeat after me: 'Hello, teacher, hello!'" She sang it lightly in rhythm.

"HELLO TEACHER HELLO!!" the babies screamed back, completely off-tune but full of enthusiasm.

Her heart swelled. They weren't making proper music yet but their sparkling eyes, their energy, the way they tried, it was more beautiful than any perfect choir.

She took a deep breath and smiled warmly. "That's it, little ones. That's the magic of music. It's not about being perfect—it's about expressing yourself. Making your voices dance together."

The babies looked at each other proudly, as if they had just conquered a mountain. Boo spun in midair and shouted. "Boo is music king now!!!"

After that, she let them explore all the instruments one by one, though it was no surprise that Drake was drawn to every shiny thing he saw.

When five minutes were left before class ended.

Alina clapped her hands softly. "Alright everyone, music class is almost over. Let's line up so we can go back to Class D."

There were a few whines and groans, but the babies slowly obeyed. Boo tried to balance a tambourine on his head, Luna sniffed every instrument like she was testing prey scent, and Felix hugged a flute as if it were a peach.

But then—Alina blinked. Where was that sound coming from?

Boom. Boom. Boom.

She turned and her heart nearly stopped. There was Drake, waddling proudly at the back of the line with a shiny silver drum almost as big as his belly, his tiny arms wrapped around it like treasure. His amber eyes sparkled with victory.

"Drake," Alina said gently, crouching a little to meet his eyes. "Sweetheart… what are you doing with that drum?"

The little dragon blinked innocently. "Teacher, I like this. Can I take it home?"

Alina shook her head with a smile. "No, darling. The drum belongs here. But you can come back anytime and play with it whenever you want."

The words had barely left her mouth before his lip wobbled. His little wings drooped. Then— "Waaaaaaahhhh!!" Drake let out the loudest wail, hugging the drum tighter as if she'd threatened to take away his whole heart.

"Nooo! I like this one!! Mine!!" he cried, stomping his chubby feet, tail twitching like an angry kitten's.

Alina was startled, blinking as the entire class froze. Boo floated back dramatically. "Oh nooo, the shiny curse has taken him!" he shouted, clutching his head like it was the end of the world.

Vlad Jr. pinched his nose in irritation. "Pathetic. Crying over a drum. Do you not have any dignity?"

Sable frowned. "Teacher… maybe he really likes it?"

Rocky, already nervous, whispered, "He looks like he's going to set the drum on fire if you take it away…"

Drake sniffled loudly, his voice muffled against the drum's shiny surface. "If I don't take it, someone else will… and… and they don't love it like me!!"

Alina's lips twitched despite herself. She crouched lower, softening her voice. "Drake, sweetheart… the drum will always be here. No one else will take it away. It's waiting for you every time we come to music class. But if you take it home, the other children won't get to play with it."

His big amber eyes blinked at her through tears. "Really? It will wait… only for me?"

"Yes," she said, smiling warmly. "Because the drum knows its little dragon loves it."

For a moment he hesitated, then finally, with a great sigh that sounded far too dramatic for a small baby, Drake let go and placed the drum back down.

"Fine…" he mumbled, wiping his nose with his sleeve. "But it's still my drum."

"Of course," Alina chuckled, patting his head. "It will always be your drum, waiting here."

Boo immediately floated down beside Drake and whispered loudly, "Don't worry, I'll guard it with my ghost powers!"

That made Drake perk up a little, and soon the whole class was giggling again.

Alina sighed in relief once everyone had lined back into Class D without any more drama. She decided to let them have a short break before the next subject, giving them time to settle down.

Drake sat at his desk, chin resting heavily on his chubby hand, eyes still sparkling with faint longing. He tapped his fingers on the desk in the same rhythm as the shiny drum, clearly lost in thoughts of it.

Vlad Jr., who was pretending to polish his little handkerchief like a noble prince, finally noticed his friend's unusually quiet mood. He frowned and leaned over. "It's just a drum, Drake. Why are you sulking? You look ridiculous."

Drake puffed out his cheeks. "You don't understand. It was shiny… and round… and it boomed just for me. I love it." His voice was so dramatic that Boo nearly rolled off his desk laughing.

Unable to watch his lively friend so gloomy, Vlad Jr. finally sighed. His crimson eyes softened ever so slightly. "It's alright. Teacher said you can go back anytime to play with it. So… stop looking like that you know."

Drake blinked, then tilted his head. "Really? Anytime?"

"Anytime," Vlad Jr. repeated firmly, though his lips twitched as if he regretted giving such comfort.

Drake pouted one last time, then finally nodded. "Okay…" he said, though his voice was heavy with tragic acceptance, like he had just agreed to let go of his greatest treasure.

Boo floated above them with a smirk. "Don't worry, Drake! If anyone dares touch your drum, Boo will haunt them forever!"

"Promise?" Drake asked, perking up slightly.

"Cross my ghost heart and hope to vanish!" Boo declared, spinning upside down dramatically until Sable giggled.

And while the boys were making a dramatic scene over a single drum, Luna simply rolled her golden brown eyes and crossed her little arms.

As she sat quietly, her thoughts drifted to home. What would her mom say when she told her she had played an instrument in music class? Serafina would probably smile that proud, warm smile that made Luna's ears flatten with happiness. And her dad—oh, her dad would puff out his chest and howl with pride, maybe even scoop her up and call her his "little song wolf." The thought made her tail twitch even though she was in human form.

She imagined herself standing in the middle of their den, holding a tiny drum or flute, announcing, "Look Daddy! Look Mommy! I can play music now!" Her father's deep voice would boom, "That's my pup!" and her mother would clap her hands, eyes glowing. Luna's lips curled into a grin at the picture in her mind.