After that, Mukuro played with Mio while waiting for her family to arrive.
Finally, at around eleven thirty, a man ca to the kindergarten gate.
He was a middle-aged man in his forties, tall and thin. His plain suit was sowhat disheveled, and although his face had originally been fairly good looking, heavy dark circles under his eyes made him seem worn out and haggard.
For so reason, the mont Mukuro saw this man, she felt a little disappointed and uncomfortable.
"You… are Mio's father?"
"Eh…? Ah! Yes, yes! Here are my driver's license and business card."
Hearing Mukuro's words, the man first froze for a long while. Then he hurriedly took out his business card and driver's license from his bag and handed them to her.
"Tsukikawa… Hm. It seems you are not a suspicious person."
Hearing Mukuro's words, Mio's father nodded with an awkward, ingratiating smile.
"I'm very sorry. I've caused you trouble, Sensei."
"It is fine. It is within Muku's duty."
Mukuro shook her head. After quietly exchanging a glance with Mio, she asked Mio's father,
"More importantly, should you not first apologize to Mio?"
Hearing that, Mio's father seed to misunderstand sothing. He asked in a panic,
"No, I'm truly sorry. Did Mio cause so kind of trouble? Um, um… because of work, I really had no choice but to work overti…"
"Tsukikawa-san!"
Mukuro raised her voice slightly.
After waiting for him to calm down, she spoke seriously.
"Muku understands that you have your own difficulties, and she does not an to bla you. But to Mio, you broke a promise with her. What she wants is only an apology. Nothing more."
"This…"
Seeing the man at a loss for words, Mukuro sighed and continued.
"Muku's obaa-chan once said: 'A child's world is simple and pure. You cannot expect them to understand you by your standards. If you make a mistake, admit it. If you break a promise, apologize. Otherwise, when it is the child's turn to make a mistake, they will not accept your scolding either.'"
Hearing that, Mio's father froze for two seconds. Then, as though he had finally realized sothing, he let out a breath and smiled bitterly.
"Yeah… You're right."
With that, the man crouched down, looked at Mio, and said with sha,
"I'm sorry, Mio. Papa ca late."
Mio's eyes widened in slight surprise.
She peeked out from behind Mukuro. Then, without saying a word, she threw herself into her father's arms. (TL:Dawg...why I suddenly got Clannad after story PTSD....Ahhhhh I want to cry again)
Thank goodness.
Seeing that, Mukuro let out a quiet breath of relief from the bottom of her heart.
After watching father and daughter leave, Mukuro cleaned up the toys in the classroom, locked the door, and prepared to go ho.
"It is already this late…"
The phone showed that it had just passed midnight.
Cool white streetlights illuminated the sidewalk. Unlike the noise and crowds of the dayti, there were almost no people on the streets at night. Only the occasional car drove past the roadside.
Empty, cold, and a little… unfamiliar.
(Although Muku called ahead… returning so late, will obaa-chan be angry?)
A trace of nervousness and unease rose in her heart.
Rembering the scene of Mio throwing herself into her father's arms, Mukuro suddenly felt an emotion that was difficult to describe.
Before she knew it, Mukuro gradually quickened her pace, then broke into a slightly hurried jog back ho.
"Muku has returned!"
"Welco ho… Mukuro."
When she opened the door, the first thing that greeted Mukuro was Yumi's familiar and gentle face.
"Obaa-chan!"
Mukuro's eyes lit up. She did not even have ti to take off her shoes before she threw herself into Yumi's arms as if flying.
"You ca ho very late today."
"Sorry, obaa-chan. Muku…"
"Don't worry. Obaa-chan is not blaming you… It is just that late at night is not safe. Even if the kindergarten is not far from here, rember to take a taxi ho."
"…Mm. Muku will rember."
Mukuro nodded obediently, then buried her head into Yumi's chest as if acting spoiled.
"Honestly, just like a child…"
Yumi stroked Mukuro's head and spoke helplessly.
"Hm. Muku is already a proper grown-up!"
Mukuro raised her head and puffed up her cheeks in protest.
"Yes, yes… Dinner is still ward up for you. Go eat quickly."
Hearing that, Mukuro cheered and ran excitedly toward the kitchen.
"Hm, hm… Obaa-chan, today Muku helped bring about a tale worthy of praise."
"Be careful not to choke while eating… What happened?"
"Muku t a child nad Tsukikawa Mio after work…"
"…"
"Obaa-chan?"
Yumi smiled and spoke in a slow, steady voice.
"It is nothing… Go on. Obaa-chan is listening."
…
Before they knew it, almost two years had passed since Mukuro beca a kindergarten teacher.
Although Mukuro could not say that everything had gone smoothly with this job, she had gathered a fair amount of experience.
Even so, Mukuro still had not quite grown used to goodbyes.
Graduation. Transfers. Whenever the kindergarten reached that season, Mukuro's mood would sink greatly.
Just like that child nad Mio from before. Not long after she and Mukuro had t, Mio was forced to transfer schools again because of her parents's job relocation. Mukuro had cried about it to Yumi obaa-chan for a long ti.
However, even if her heart was filled with reluctance, Mukuro still chose to say goodbye with blessings and a smile.
She knew very well that kindergarten was not these children's ho. It was only a harbor near the starting point of their lives, where they could take shelter from the wind.
One day, they would set out on their journeys, see a far wider world, and then find a place where they belonged.
Just like Mukuro herself once had.
"Muku has returned!"
"Ara! Welco ho, Mukuro-chan~ You finished work early today~"
"Welco… ho."
As soon as Mukuro returned, Yoshino and Yoshinon, wearing aprons, ca out of the kitchen to greet her.
"Today was not the official start of the term. Once the miscellaneous work was done, Muku was allowed to leave."
As she spoke, Mukuro placed her shoes in the shoe cabinet.
Then, before she had taken more than a few steps down the hallway, an enticing fragrance reached her nose.
Noticing Mukuro's reaction, Yoshino said shyly
"Today's dish… is nikujaga."
"Ha ha, you can look forward to it, Mukuro-chan. Yoshino-chan's nikujaga has completely inherited Yumi obaa-chan's teachings. Both the flavor and texture are flawless."
"Hm. Then Muku shall wait in great expectation."
Mukuro nodded, sowhat expectant.
Then, after looking around the house, she asked with slight confusion,
"Is obaa-chan not ho right now?"
"Mm… Obaa-chan went out for a walk early this morning… She should be back soon." (TL:ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)
"I see…"
Hearing Yoshino's answer, Mukuro felt a little disappointed.
She had originally planned to co ho early this ti and give obaa-chan a surprise.
However, she quickly adjusted her mood.
"Yoshino, is there anything Muku can help with?"
"Thank you… But it is almost finished already."
"Then, please help set the tableware later, Mukuro-chan. Also, call Natsumi-chan out of her room too. Until then, relax properly."
"Muku understands."
Seeing that she had nothing to do for the mont, Mukuro could only sit on the balcony and stare blankly at the scenery outside while resting.
In this peaceful little town, each day seed almost like a repeat of the day before. There were differences, but they were small.
Perhaps so people would dislike such a life, but Mukuro deeply hoped that this quiet everyday life could continue forever.
"When will obaa-chan co ho…"
Mukuro lightly swung her legs.
While counting the interesting stories she wanted to share, she waited with a heart full of anticipation for her family to return. (TL:obaa-chan shall not return ahhhhhhh)
Original Author's PS: Ah… for a single ass like who has neither raised nor looked after children, writing childcare-related content is painful in all kinds of ways.
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