I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 328 Sable’s New friend?

From where she stood, Alina noticed instantly. Her smile softened as she watched Sable run toward her and tug uncertainly at the hem of her white dress. She crouched down so their eyes met, her voice gentle and warm. "What happened, Sable?" she asked, brushing a soft hand over his hair.

Sable’s lip quivered. "I... I don’t know how to make friends," he whispered, his small voice trembling like a bubble about to pop. His big eyes glistened as he looked at the others laughing together, and Alina’s heart ached.

"Oh, sweetheart," she said softly, rubbing his head in slow, comforting circles. "Don’t be scared. Making friends starts with just one little word—’hi.’ That’s all you need to say. The rest will happen naturally."

He blinked up at her, hope flickering in his expression. "Just... hi?"

"Just hi," Alina confirmed with a smile.

Gathering all his courage, Sable turned toward the little mermaid playing behind the slide. She was small and delicate, with long silver hair that shimmered like moonlight through water and soft pink eyes that sparkled innocently when she noticed him. Her tail was silvery-white with pale pink at the tips, and she was clutching a large pink pearl that glowed faintly in her tiny hands.

Sable hesitated, his shadow rippling faintly behind him. Then he took a deep breath, stepped forward, and whispered shyly, "Hi."

The mermaid blinked in surprise and then smiled so brightly that Sable’s whole world lit up.

"Hi!" the little mermaid said, her voice lilting like bubbles rising to the surface. "My name’s Arielle! What’s your name?" She blinked her wide pink eyes at him, her words carrying a soft ocean accent—light and sing-song, as if every syllable danced.

Sable’s fingers twisted together, his shadow curling protectively around his legs. "I... I’m Sable," he whispered shyly. "I’m a shadow demon."

He peeked at her face nervously, his heart thumping like a tiny drum in his chest. What if she got scared? What if she thought he was strange? He was already regretting saying it when—

"Wow!" Arielle gasped, her tail flicking in delight, the end of it sparkling pink. "That’s so cool!" she said, her accent stretching the words into soft waves. "You mean those shadows? They listen to you?" Her small hands pointed at the rippling shapes that were gently playing around his feet.

Sable blinked, startled. "Y-yes," he said quietly, his cheeks turning pink. "They... they move when I want them to."

Arielle’s eyes sparkled like pearls. "That’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen! They look like soft clouds underwater!" she said dreamily, twirling her little pearl in her hands. "My papa says shadows are scary, but yours look sweet."

Sable’s heart skipped. No one had ever said that to him before. He felt something warm bloom in his chest, melting away his nervousness.

He looked at her and, with all the courage he could gather, asked softly, "Can we... be friends?"

Arielle grinned, showing her tiny sea-pearl teeth. "Aye! Friends we be!" she said cheerfully, her words bubbling with joy as she extended her small hand toward him. "But only if you teach me how your shadow dances like that!"

Sable smiled for the first time that day—small, shy, and glowing. "Okay," he said, his voice a whisper of happiness as his shadow swirled playfully around them both, wrapping her pink tail in soft ripples of light and shade.

Alina’s heart warmed as she watched the children playing through the shimmering bubble—so full of laughter and light. Seeing Sable giggling beside the little mermaid Arielle made her eyes soften even more. There was something so pure about the way these little souls connected, as if the world had no walls at all. She couldn’t help smiling, her chest swelling with a quiet, glowing joy.

"They’re safe here," Lady Maris said softly beside her, her voice warm and musical. "The palace guards and sea spirits will keep watch. Come, Miss Alina. There’s something I’d like to show you."

Alina turned to her and nodded, trusting her words. "Thank you," she said gently before following the elegant Queen of Thalantis toward the coral hall that glimmered like sunlight through water.

At the same time, Dante had already been invited away by King Corvus, the two walking side by side through the arched doorway that led to the upper halls. Their conversation turned naturally toward security, the currents around the palace, and the visiting domains—though Corvus soon noticed the small, rare ease in Dante’s eyes whenever his gaze flicked back toward where Alina had gone.

Meanwhile, back inside the children’s play bubble, chaos had found its rhythm.

Drake, bold as ever, had already made two new friends—twin shark boys who were just as loud and mischievous as him. The three of them were chasing each other in circles, splashing and bumping into the coral slides. Boo was cheering from above, spinning like a tiny cheerleader ghost.

"Go, Drake, go! Bite them before they bite you!" Boo shouted dramatically.

"I don’t bite friends!" Drake yelled back before tripping over his own tail and face-planting into a pile of soft seaweed toys. The shark twins howled with laughter, bubbles rising everywhere.

Luna rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smirking, and even Felix, who tried to act mature, was quietly laughing behind his paw. The entire bubble was filled with giggles and chatter.

"Let’s play in the sand!" Arielle squealed, her voice bubbling with excitement as she grabbed Sable’s hand and tugged him toward the sandbox. Her tail shimmered behind her like a pink ribbon as she pulled him along with surprising strength for such a tiny mermaid.

Sable stumbled a little, nearly tripping over his own feet, his cheeks turning rosy as he followed her obediently. Inside the big bubble-shaped sandbox, two other little mermaid girls were already building a wobbly castle of shells and pearls. They looked up curiously when Arielle arrived.

"This is Sable!" Arielle announced proudly, gesturing to him as if introducing royalty. "He’s my new friend! He makes shadows move, and they dance!"