I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!
Chapter 81 Trial ends

Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Trial ends

However, just as Alina was about to help Kelpie with his upside-down numbers, she heard the door click open behind her. She paused mid-sentence, chalk still in her hand, her heart doing a tiny somersault in her chest.

Standing in the doorway were Principal Dante, tall and dark like a midnight storm, Gabriel beside him with his soft, radiant smile, Miss Kelly clutching her clipboard tight to her chest, and Professor Hobb peering in over his glasses like a curious old owl.

The babies all froze. Boo stopped floating mid-spin and squeaked, nearly falling onto Sable’s desk. Drake sat up so fast his chair screeched against the floor. Lucian, who had been writing neat tiny numbers, perked up the tiniest bit, his eyes softening when he saw Dante. He bit his lip, trying so hard not to smile too wide, but his ears turned pink and gave him away.

Alina quickly set pressed her palms together to stop them from trembling. "Sir, you’re... here?" she asked Dante, trying not to look directly into his sharp, unreadable eyes. Calm down, she scolded herself. It’s just the principal, your angel co-worker, the scary Professor Hobb, and Miss Kelly — calm down!

Gabriel stepped forward first, his voice so gentle it felt like warm sunlight after a storm. "It’s the sixth day, Miss Alina," he said with a kind tilt of his head. "Tomorrow is Sunday, so your trial period ends today."

Alina’s stomach flipped. Trial... the trial ends today? She hadn’t even realized how tight she was gripping her chalk until she felt the dust on her fingertips. feeNovelFire

She forced a shaky smile. "I... I see. I see," she breathed out, but her pulse was drumming loud in her ears.

Gabriel saw it, he always did. He reached out and brushed his hand gently over her shoulder. He looked so soft and bright in that moment, his smile glowing like an angel’s halo. "Don’t be scared," he said, his voice so calm that even the babies leaned forward to listen. "We’re not the ones judging you, Alina."

He turned then, his long hair brushing against his shoulder, and faced the little ones. "Your students will decide if you stay in this kindergarten or not."

Alina’s eyes widened. She blinked, her mouth parting in a tiny squeak. They... they decide? She looked out at her babies — each tiny face staring back at her.

Lucian’s eyes locked onto Gabriel’s. He pressed his lips together, sitting up even straighter, but his tiny fingers drummed on his desk. Boo’s mouth dropped open. "Boo can fire Teacher?"

Drake slammed both hands on his desk. "Boo! Don’t even think about it. Teacher stays forever. Or Boo sleeps in Vlad Jr.’s coffin."

Luna crossed her arms, letting out a low wolfy huff, her way of saying, Don’t even joke about it. Kelpie looked ready to cry at the idea. He hugged his pencil to his chest, his hair dripping onto his notebook.

Felix raised an eyebrow at Dante, flicking imaginary dust off his shoulder. "So we’re the judges?"

Rocky was so shocked he half-turned into a tiny stone pebble, then squeaked back to normal when Alina gave him her warmest soft smile.

Gabriel gave the whole class a charming grin that made Boo clutch his ghost heart dramatically. "So, little ones? Think carefully. Do you want your Teacher Alina to stay with you?"

Alina’s throat tightened. She pressed her palm over her racing heartbeat. What if they say no? she thought wildly. But when she looked at her babies, she felt the tiniest bit braver.

Then she risked a glance at Dante. He was watching only her with that same unreadable coldness in his eyes, his hands clenched at his sides.

Why did he look a bit angry?

She straightened her shoulders and gave her babies her warmest, most hopeful smile yet. "Well then... do you want your Teacher Alina to stay?"

The tiny classroom filled with soft squeaks, a few tiny claps, and Boo’s dramatic wail, "Teacher! Teacher stays forever! Or Boo will haunt everyone forever!"

Alina almost laughed and almost cried and nearly did both at once. Her heart felt like it could fly right out of her chest.

Just as Boo was about to start another ghost speech, Dante shifted where he stood, the faint rustle of his coat made every tiny ear perk up. His dark eyes swept across the classroom, steady and sharp.

The chatter dropped into a soft, tense hush. Even Drake, who had been bouncing in his chair, froze mid-wiggle. Boo floated slowly to hide behind Lucian’s shoulder, peeking out like a nosy ghost. Lucian sat straighter, trying to look calm but his fingers tapped his desk like tiny drumsticks.

Dante’s eyes lingered on Alina for the briefest heartbeat, that unreadable flicker that always made her breath catch, before he turned to address the children.

His voice was low and cold, yet every word curled through the classroom like silk and steel all at once. "You must understand something," he said, his tone smooth but edged with authority. "A teacher is not just here to hand you numbers and letters like sweets."

His gaze flicked to Drake, who quickly sat up straighter, cheeks puffed out. He kept going. "Your teacher is the first guide you will have in this world outside your family. The first voice that will tell you who you are and who you can become. The lessons you learn now..." He paused, his dark eyes sweeping over Luna’s frown, Kelpie’s shy blinking, Sable’s small shadows curling tight, "...will shape you long after you leave this room."

Boo squeaked softly, hugging Lucian’s arm. Lucian’s eyes stayed locked on Dante’s face, wide and thoughtful.

Dante’s voice dropped lower, impossibly calm yet it hummed with that dangerous warmth that made Alina’s spine feel like it was turning to water. "If your first guide is careless, you will be careless. If they are cruel, you will learn to be cruel. But if they care for you — if they stand in front of you every day, patient and steady, even when you do not see it, then you will learn what it means to stand for yourself."