I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 382 Hug

"What did you read?" he asked softly.

Alina clutched the phone tighter, her lip trembling.

"Celeste and Riccardo... you already met them, do you remember the man and woman who blocked us after we finished shopping for the babies... they... they died," she whispered, the words fragile and uneven. "Their car fell into the water and... and I’m scared. What if... what if their spirits come here? They hated me when they were alive... what if they—"

Her voice broke.

"Miss Alina," Dante interrupted suddenly, firm but gentle. "Listen to me."

Her breath stilled. "...yes..."

"Turn on all the lights," he said, his tone dipping lower. "Sit on your bed. Keep the call on. Do you understand?"

Alina nodded even though he couldn’t see her. "Y-yes..."

"And listen to me carefully," Dante murmured. "No spirit, no creature, no shadow in this world or any other can touch you. Not while I exist."

Alina’s breath hitched.

"I am coming to get you," Dante said, his voice firm in a way that allowed no argument. "Maybe you are frightened because you are alone. Company will keep you calm."

Alina swallowed hard. "O-okay... sir."

Her voice sounded like thin paper. She felt embarrassed by how weak she sounded, but fear had wrapped around her tightly.

She noticed he didn’t hang up.

He stayed on the line, silent but steady, as if his presence alone stood between her and the shadows crowding her thoughts. That strange sense of warmth in his silence made her heart beat faster, a mix of fluster and comfort she couldn’t understand.

Alina wrapped her free arm around herself and stared at her small living room. Every corner felt darker, heavier. She hated how her mind kept replaying scenes from the horror stories she accidentally watched as a child—restless spirits, vengeful ghosts, cruel souls that lingered to torment the living. Now that she knew the supernatural world truly existed, those stories felt more real than ever.

Her breath hitched again as she remembered the headline.

Couple found dead inside car... unrecognisable... packets of drugs found...

Not a single part of her felt sad. Celeste had humiliated her again and again. Riccardo had nearly destroyed her life.

But fear didn’t care about justice.

Fear cared only about imagination.

And Alina’s imagination was running wild.

"Sir..." she whispered softly, unable to hide the tremble in her voice. "What if they come here? Their spirits... what if they’re angry...?"

She squeezed her eyes shut, heart pounding painfully. "They already hated me so much when they were alive... if they’re dead now... wouldn’t they..."

She couldn’t finish. Her throat tightened until it hurt.

On the other end, Dante inhaled slowly. His breath was steady, controlled, but his concern sharpened.

"Miss Alina," he said softly, with a seriousness that wrapped around her like a shield, "look at your door."

She blinked, confused.

Then—

Knock.

Knock.

Her heart jumped into her throat.

"Sir..." she whispered, her voice shaking. "Someone knocked..."

"It is me," Dante said gently. "Open the door."

Her hands trembled as she unlocked it. She pulled it open slowly—

And Dante stood there.

Tall, composed, his presence filling the hallway like a warm barrier against everything she feared.

The moment she saw him, her fear cracked. Relief washed through her so strongly her knees almost gave out.

He didn’t smile, but his eyes softened, taking in every detail of her frightened expression.

"See?" he murmured quietly. "You are not alone."

Alina pressed her phone against her chest, cheeks flushed, breath shaky. "Sir... thank you..."

Dante nodded once and stepped inside with quiet authority. Just his presence made the room feel safer.

"Fear grows when you face it alone," he said softly as he closed the door behind him. "But when I am here, nothing will touch you."

Alina lowered her gaze, overwhelmed by how protected she felt.

Dante stepped closer. She stood so stiffly near the door that she looked frozen, her fingers curled against her skirt, her shoulders trembling. Something in her fragile posture made something tug quietly inside his chest.

He blinked once, slowly.

"Alina," he said gently, "do you want a hug?"

Her eyes widened instantly, her lips parting in surprise. Her heart thudded so loudly she felt dizzy. The question alone melted the last bit of her composure. She nodded softly, helplessly, before her mind even caught up.

Her crush was offering her a hug...

He didn’t hesitate.

Dante stepped forward and pulled her carefully into his arms, one hand coming up to cradle the back of her head against his chest. His warmth surrounded her, steady and strong, as if he were shielding something precious. Alina’s breath caught. She could feel the calm rise and fall of his breathing, the soft fabric of his dark attire beneath her fingertips, and his scent—clean, cool, quietly intoxicating.

Her cheeks burned with a deep, unstoppable heat. Her fingers curled slightly against his shirt, not daring to grip him, not daring to pull away. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

He was tall, composed and mature. Standing in his arms felt like the entire world had dissolved, leaving only safety and a strangely sweet warmth.

But the hug ended too soon.

He pulled back gently, giving her space to breathe again. She felt the loss of his warmth so sharply she almost leaned forward without thinking. She caught herself just in time, cheeks hot with embarrassment.

"No, really... there’s no need to trouble yourself, sir," she said quickly, shaking her head. Her voice was a little too high. "I will be fine... truly..."

Dante looked at her with a calm, unreadable expression, though a quiet concern rested beneath it. "It is no trouble at all," he said simply, as if the matter wasn’t even worth discussing. "Your safety is important."

Alina’s heart fluttered again.

"Alright..." Alina whispered, her voice small and warm, and she dared to peek up at him through her lashes.

The moment their eyes met, Dante gave a slow, reassuring nod, as if promising her that she wasn’t troubling him, that she wasn’t alone for even a second.

"You can pack a few things if you need," he said gently, his tone deep and composed, and she nodded again, unable to stop the way her heart fluttered under his steady gaze.

She turned toward her room, her steps soft on the floor, and she felt him fall into stride behind her, following without hesitation.

The awareness of him walking just a breath away sent a quiet shiver up her spine. His presence filled the space so easily, tall and warm and protective, like a shadow that shielded her instead of frightening her.