I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

Chapter 599 Hug

The group rushed toward her, a wave of red uniforms and worried faces.

Drake got there first, his tail streaming behind him as he skidded to a stop in front of the bench. His eyes were wide, scanning Luna from head to toe, checking for injuries.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice urgent, almost breathless. "Does it hurt? Can you walk? Do you need anything? I can get water.. I can—"

"Drake," Luna interrupted, looking up at him. "I’m fine."

"You fell hard."

"I fell. I’m fine."

Boo floated in circles around her, his torn banner forgotten, his cap slightly askew. "You were very brave! Very heroic! Very dramatic fall! The most dramatic fall I have ever seen!"

Luna’s ear twitched. "It was not dramatic."

"It was very dramatic!" Boo insisted, spinning faster. "I saw it from the air! You went down like a warrior! Like a hero! Like—"

"Boo."

"Yes?"

"Stop."

Boo stopped spinning but kept floating, his eyes still wide with admiration.

Felix stepped forward then, pushing through the group with his usual measured calm. He stood in front of Luna, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"I got third place," he announced.

Luna blinked. "You?"

"Yes."

"You?" she repeated, as if needing confirmation.

"Yes." Felix’s tone was flat, but something underneath it flickered. Something that might have been pride. "I got third place."

Luna stared at him. "How?"

"I ran consistently."

"That doesn’t make sense."

"It worked."

Luna stared at him for another moment. Then her lips curved into a sad smile.

"That’s good, Felix," she said quietly. "I’m glad."

Felix nodded once and stepped back, his job done.

Drake sat down on the bench beside Luna. Not too close, but close enough that their shoulders almost touched. His tail curled around his feet, and he stared at the ground for a moment before speaking.

"I didn’t place," he admitted quietly.

Luna turned her head to look at him.

"You ran fast," she said.

"Not fast enough."

"You ran faster than me."

"But I didn’t win." Drake’s voice was soft, almost hollow. "I ran and ran and ran, and I still didn’t win."

Luna was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "You still ran fast."

Drake looked at her.

"So did you," he said. "Before you fell."

Luna looked down at her bandaged knee. At the white wrap peeking through the tear in her red pants. At the small spot of blood that had seeped through.

"I fell," she said quietly.

"You ran fast before you fell," Drake repeated.

Luna didn’t answer.

Boo floated between them, his little body hovering at eye level.

"This is very emotional," he whispered loudly to Kelpie, who had crept closer with the others.

Kelpie nodded, his water droplets stilling mid-air.

Meanwhile, Alina watched them all from where she stood beside the bench. Her arms were crossed but loosely, and her eyes moved from face to face. Luna’s brave but hurting expression. Drake’s forced smile. Felix’s awkward pride. The worried faces of the others gathered behind them.

Her heart felt heavy.

Luna was sitting on the bench with her bandaged knee, her eyes still red around the edges, though she hadn’t cried. Drake stood beside her, trying to smile but not quite managing, his tail still and his wings drooping. The others were gathered around, cheering and encouraging, but Alina could see the disappointment hiding behind their brave faces.

Her babies were sad.

And she couldn’t fix it. She couldn’t go back in time and make Luna look where she was running. She couldn’t make Drake run faster. She couldn’t give them the wins they wanted.

But she could give them something else.

"It’s okay, Luna and Drake," Alina said gently, stepping closer to the bench. She crouched down so she was at their eye level, her voice soft and warm. "You can win again next year. And today, there are more games. Many more games. This was just the first race."

Luna’s ears perked up.

Her eyes lit up, the sadness fading into something brighter, something hopeful.

"There will be a race next year?" she asked, her voice small but eager.

"Yes, yes." Alina smiled, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind Luna’s ear. "Every year. You just have to practice more. There is a long way to go in learning. This was just your first step. Who knows? Maybe in the future, you will win many races. Maybe all of them."

Luna stared at her, her golden eyes wide.

"All of them?" she whispered.

"Maybe," Alina said softly.

Luna’s whole face changed. The red around her eyes disappeared. The droop in her ears lifted. The tension in her shoulders melted away. She looked like someone had handed her the sun.

And then she stood up on the bench.

"Be careful, Luna!" Alina said quickly, reaching out, her hands hovering near Luna’s waist. "What are you doing? Your knee—"

Luna ignored her.

She spread her arms wide, her face suddenly turning bright pink, her eyes looking everywhere except at Alina. Her ears flattened against her head in embarrassment.

"Hug," she said quietly.

Then she lowered her head, her cheeks burning, her voice barely audible.

"I want a hug," she mumbled into her collar.

Alina’s heart melted.

She laughed softly, the sound warm and bright, and stepped forward without hesitation. She wrapped her arms around the little wolf and held her tight. Luna froze for half a second, surprised, then melted into the embrace, her small arms wrapping around Alina’s neck, her face pressing into Alina’s shoulder.

"Thank you, teacher," Luna whispered, her voice muffled.

Alina held her tighter, one hand cradling the back of her head.

"You’re welcome, sweetheart."

When they pulled apart, Luna’s face was still pink, but she was smiling.

Then the chaos exploded.

"Me too!"

"I also want a hug!"

"Teacher! Teacher! Me!"

Kelpie rushed forward, his water spraying everywhere, his arms already open. Rocky hurried behind him, his stone clutched in one hand, his other arm stretched out. Sable bounced on his toes, tugging Lucien with him, both of them moving toward Alina with bright eyes. Even Felix stepped closer, though he pretended he wasn’t, his arms still crossed but his body leaning forward.

Alina laughed helplessly, stepping back to make room.

"One at a time! One at a time!"

She hugged Kelpie first. His small body was damp but warm, his water soaking into her red outfit. "Thank you, teacher!" he said, beaming.

Then Rocky, who hugged her carefully, gently, like he was afraid his stones might hurt her. "You are the best teacher," he said quietly.

Then Sable, who wrapped his shadow arms around her so tightly she almost couldn’t breathe, his small face pressed against her stomach. "I love hugs!" he declared.

Then Lucien, who hugged her quietly and said, "Thank you," in his calm voice, and stepped back with a small smile.

Then Felix.

He stood in front of her, his arms stiff at his sides, his face redder than his uniform.