At first, Hoshimiya Mukuro had always believed that being a kindergarten teacher ant little more than happily playing gas with children, eating and sleeping with them, and then, after seeing them off when their parents ca to pick them up, leisurely enjoying one's free ti after work.
However, after she decided on her future path and formally began learning the relevant knowledge, Mukuro realized that becoming a kindergarten teacher required far more study than she had imagined.
Daily life managent. Safety supervision. The countless conflicts that could arise between dozens of children with different personalities. If one looked away even for a mont, the children might get lost or start making a huge fuss.
And aside from that, she had to communicate and coordinate with teaching staff, logistics, health managent, accounting, and all kinds of other departnts according to classes and activities. She also had to be prepared at any mont for unexpected tasks.
Her colorful, dreamlike imagination had been woken up by reality.
After experiencing the hardship for herself, Mukuro clearly felt how careless and childish she had been at the ti.
Even so, Hoshimiya Mukuro never once regretted her choice.
"Mukuro-sensei, bye-bye~"
"Take care on your way ho. See you tomorrow."
The evening sun was setting, and the glow of dusk dyed the streets red.
After seeing off the children in her class at the kindergarten gate, Mukuro stretched hard and prepared to go ho.
Suddenly, she noticed a small figure on the slide inside the kindergarten.
With a bit of curiosity and worry, Mukuro walked over to check. There, crouching on the slide, was a little girl who looked less than seven years old.
Mukuro vaguely rembered her. She was a new child who had recently transferred into the neighboring class.
"If Muku's mory does not fail her, you are a child from the neighboring class, correct?"
Hearing Mukuro's voice, the little girl raised her small head and asked in confusion,
"Who are you, big sister?"
"Muku is Hoshimiya Mukuro, one of the teachers here. And you?"
Mukuro sat in front of the child and asked.
"Mio."
The little girl answered simply.
"Mio…"
For so reason, when she heard that na, Mukuro felt a faint sense of familiarity and closeness.
After answering Mukuro's question, Mio turned her head in silence.
Though she said nothing, Mukuro still sensed unease and worry from her expression.
"Mio! So this is where you were."
Just then, Mio's teacher ca running over in a hurry.
When Mio heard soone call her na, her eyes first lit up. But after noticing who it was, she lowered her head again in disappointnt.
"Mio, your father called just now. He said he has to work overti, so he might co pick you up a little later. Please wait here for a bit."
"…Mm. I understand."
After hearing the teacher's answer, the little girl neither cried nor complained. She simply pressed her lips together, nodded quietly, and returned to her classroom.
"Is this the new child you spoke of the day before yesterday?"
Mukuro could not help asking.
"Yes, Tsukikawa Mio. She transferred here two days ago because her parents's work changed and they moved to this town."
Mio's teacher nodded and said with a bitter smile,
"It seems like their life and work still haven't settled down after the move, so her parents don't have much ti to pick her up right now. Maybe because of that, the child shows so mild signs of autism."
Hearing that, Mukuro frowned.
"She has no other family?"
"Mm… I heard she has an older sister in middle school. But apparently, her sister lives in a dorm and doesn't stay with the family." (TL:Hikari~)
At that point, Mio's teacher could not help letting out a sowhat gloomy sigh.
After all, if a child's family did not co to pick them up, the teacher in charge had to stay at the kindergarten and watch over them.
"Ah… What bad luck. I finally managed to get invited to a group date, and now I'll have to miss it."
"—Shh."
Mukuro made a quieting gesture, cutting off the other teacher's complaint. Then she gave a pointed glance toward the classroom.
Realizing her mistake, Mio's teacher hurriedly covered her mouth.
Mukuro sighed helplessly and turned her gaze toward the classroom.
Although Mio was absentmindedly fiddling with toys, Mukuro faintly felt that she had heard the conversation.
"…Forgive Muku. May Muku make a selfish request?"
"Mm? What is it, Hoshimiya-sensei?"
Mukuro smiled and spoke in a lively tone.
"Hm— Muku has taken interest in this child and wishes to speak with her. Could Muku watch over her in your place this ti?"
Mio's teacher stared blankly for a mont, then asked in surprise,
"Eh? Is that all right?"
"May Muku take those words as agreent?"
Mukuro calmly asked back.
Mio's teacher nodded gratefully.
"Of course! Thank you so much, Hoshimiya-sensei. I'll definitely find a chance to repay you later."
After watching the other teacher leave, Mukuro quietly walked to Mio's side and asked curiously,
"What are you playing? May Muku join you?"
"…"
Mio did not answer Mukuro. Instead, she pushed forward with both hands and knocked down the blocks she had stacked in front of her.
"Hm. Quite a refreshing demolition operation."
Mukuro, however, looked completely unsurprised. Not only did she not get angry, she even clapped in praise.
"…You're not mad?"
Mio asked in surprise.
"Why would Muku be? Are blocks not stacked so that they may be knocked down?"
Mukuro answered as if it were only natural.
After hearing that, Mio stared blankly for a few seconds. Then she hesitantly asked
"…Do you want to play together?"
"Gladly."
Hearing Mio's answer, Mukuro nodded happily.
And so, Mukuro first took Mio to eat a simple dinner. After that, the two began playing together. Blocks, origami, drawing, cartoons.
Little by little, Mio, who had originally worn the face of a wary little kitten, unknowingly began to smile and opened her heart to Mukuro.
"Your family appears rather poor at keeping promises."
Looking at the clock on the wall, which was already close to ten, Mukuro said with slight dissatisfaction.
Mio responded awkwardly.
"Mm… Sensei, you can go ho. I can wait here by myself— Ow!"
Before she could finish speaking, Mukuro lightly flicked her forehead and said helplessly,
"Muku does not approve of such pointless bravado. If Muku left you here alone, you would surely be frightened enough to cry."
"I wouldn't cry…"
Mio protested in a voice with no strength at all.
Mukuro did not expose her. Instead, she tried changing the topic.
"You are quite mature. If Muku's obaa-chan were late and broke a promise, Muku would have already beco furious."
"…It's nothing. My sister said grown ups are liars who don't like keeping promises… Even if I get mad… they'll only give so big reason and say I'm being childish…"
Mio shook her head and said that with an expression that seed used to it.
No. Rather than used to it, it was a little numb.
"Is that so? Muku believes that if you are not in the wrong, then there is no need to hold back your anger."
"But…"
Mio seed to agree with Mukuro's words, yet she still looked afraid.
Perhaps she wanted her family to apologize for being late, but she was also worried that if she was not careful, the relationship would beco strained.
Seeing that, Mukuro's expression softened slightly. She stroked Mio's small head and said,
"Be at ease. Later, Muku shall lend you her aid."
Original author's PS: Since the chapter order was adjusted, readers who do not know who "Tsukikawa Mio" is can check the short story collection chapter "Mukuro Adults." However, so details differ from the original setting, so please forgive it.
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