I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!
Chapter 58 Playful shadow

Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Playful shadow

After all that racing, tumbling, and tiny arguments in the garden, playtime drifted into that soft part of the day Alina had grown to love most: nap time.

She gathered her sleepy little students back into the classroom, guiding them one by one to their favorite cozy spots. Luna did her usual little circle before curling up on her favourite beanbag, her tiny wolf nose tucked under her fluffy tail. Vlad Jr. shifted into his tiny bat form and hung upside down from the ceiling corner, his little wings wrapping around him like a velvet cloak.

Boo floated up near the window, drifting side to side like a lazy balloon.

Drake flopped on a rug with a sleepy "hmph," wings tucked close, while Kelpie found his soft corner and wrapped himself up like a pearl.

Rocky turned into his warm boulder shape, settled safely near the sunny patch of floor.

Felix was already fox-shaped and snuggled into the shelf nook where he liked to nap, tail covering his nose.

Lucian, of course, was curled under a blanket near the cubbies, looking more princely than ever even half-asleep.

It didn’t take long. One by one, little eyes fluttered closed, tiny yawns filled the warm room, and peaceful breathing settled the air like a lullaby.

Except for one.

Sable.

Alina’s soft gaze drifted to the quietest corner of the classroom, where a pair of big dark eyes peeked out from behind a desk leg. The tiny shadow demon sat hugging his knees, his shadows curling protectively around him, but his eyes stayed wide open, blinking at the soft light streaming through the window.

She knew by now Sable never really slept when he felt unsettled.

So, careful not to disturb the others, she patted the edge of her desk. "Sable, sweetheart, come sit with Teacher."

The little shadow boy hesitated, shifting on his small feet. His shadows twitched around him, like they were whispering Is it safe? Is it okay? But then his eyes met hers–warm and gentle and patient and he took one tiny step, then another, until he was perched right on the edge of her desk, his feet not even touching the chair below.

Alina didn’t rush him. She just pulled her diary closer, flipping through her pages while he peeked over her arm, curious. The faint scratch of her pen and the steady rise and fall of the babies’ soft breathing made the room feel so calm — almost like a hug.

"Sable..." she said softly as she wrote notes for next class. "how old are you, sweetheart?"

Sable’s tiny fingers fidgeted with the edge of her notebook. He didn’t answer right away, his baby mouth opening, closing, his shadows wrapping tighter around his shoulders. After almost a full minute, when she nearly thought he’d stay silent, she heard the tiniest whisper: fre/ew.ebnovel.c om

"Three."

Alina’s pen paused. She looked at him with the gentlest smile, warmth blooming behind her ribs. "Three," she echoed softly, like it was the sweetest number in the world. She brushed a lock of dark hair from his eyes, careful not to startle him. "Such precious little boy."

Sable didn’t say anything. But his shadows settled, curling around the legs of her desk like sleepy kittens. His little foot kicked against her notebook, eyes fixed on her neat handwriting as if every letter she wrote made him feel a bit less alone.

Alina’s pen scratched gently across the page, her thoughts drifting to lesson ideas. Beside her notebook, tiny Sable sat cross-legged, his big eyes blinking slowly — but his shadows seemed much more awake than he was.

They curled around her notebook like curious little tendrils, slipping over the edge of the page, tickling her fingers every time she tried to write. She giggled under her breath when one brave shadow flicked at the tip of her pen, making her line wobble.

"Hey, you..." she whispered with a soft laugh, tapping the page lightly. "You’re as naughty as Boo."

Sable peeked up at her, one small finger in his mouth, his lashes fluttering. He didn’t say anything. just watched, cheeks a little pink, as his shadows poked at her pen again and again like they were trying to play tag with her words.

She paused her notes, lifting her pen high like she was about to catch one. The shadows twirled and slipped away, then came back with a playful swish, tracing tiny shapes right over her handwriting. A tiny heart. A swirl. A silly little squiggle that made her lips curve into a warm smile.

"You’re good at this, you know," she whispered to Sable, who shyly ducked his chin, the tiniest ghost of a smile tugging at his soft mouth. The shadows danced at her wrist like they liked her praise too.

For a little while, it went on like that a game of gentle tap and hide-and-seek, her pen writing careful notes in between. Every so often, Alina would pause just to watch the shadows twirl across the page, like tiny inky ribbons playing in the sun.

But soon, she felt the quiet shift. The shadows slowed, curling tighter around Sable’s shoulders instead of chasing her pen. His little head started to nod, bobbing once... twice... until he nearly toppled forward.

Alina caught him with her hand, steadying his tiny body. He blinked at her, eyes glazed with sleep, a tiny baby sigh escaping his lips.

"It’s okay, sweetheart..." she cooed, brushing his dark hair away from his forehead. "Sleep right here. Teacher will keep you safe."

And with that, Sable curled up right on the edge of her desk, a tiny bundle of soft hair and shadows, his small hand tucked under his cheek. His shadows wrapped him up like a blanket, spreading out just enough to brush against her wrist, as if they wanted to hold her hand too.

Alina rested her pen down, watching his steady breathing, the smallest smile lighting her tired face.

She smiled to herself, tucking her pen between her fingers again. The classroom was so quiet now filled only with the soft breathing of tiny babies all tucked away in their warm nap spots. Outside the window, the garden trees swayed, and dappled sunlight drifted across her desk.