I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 478 Hide and Seek (3)

Drake wiped imaginary sweat from his brow.

"These two are final bosses," he whispered.

He turned slowly in a circle.

Then he heard it. A soft, barely there giggle.

Drake’s ears perked.

He followed the sound quietly, tiptoeing past the flowers, past the garden arch, past a little storage nook—

And found Sable curled up inside a big, fluffy outdoor cushion basket, half buried under soft pillows like a sleepy kitten hiding in a nest.

Sable blinked up at him, eyes wide and innocent.

Drake melted instantly. "...You are too cute to hide," he whispered, gently tapping his forehead. "Found."

Sable smiled shyly and hopped out, cheeks warm.

Now only one remained.

Vlad Jr.

The garden felt strangely quiet.

Drake narrowed his eyes. "He thinks he is unbeatable."

He searched behind trees. Nothing.

Behind statues. Nothing.

Behind the tool shed. Nothing.

Then he noticed something odd.

A neatly folded black cloth draped over a small garden chair.

Drake stared.

"That is suspicious," he muttered.

He lifted the cloth—

And Vlad Jr. revealed himself, standing with impeccable posture as if he had been attending a royal gathering instead of playing hide and seek.

"I assumed no one would check such an inelegant place," Vlad Jr. said smoothly.

Drake stared at him, then burst out laughing.

"You hid under laundry," he wheezed. "Your ancestors are crying."

Vlad Jr. sniffed with dignity. "Survival requires sacrifice."

By the time Drake gathered everyone together, he was glowing with pride, tail flicking, chest puffed out.

"I WIN," he declared proudly. "I am the ultimate seeker."

Alina clapped warmly, laughing as she looked at all of them.

"You did amazing," she praised. "You were fast, clever, and very determined."

Drake beamed like he had just won a world championship.

And just like that, the long, cheerful cycle of games, laughter, and tiny chaos continued until lunchtime finally arrived, leaving the babies tired, happy, and glowing with excitement. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Alina guided them back inside, made sure everyone settled safely, then headed toward the principal’s office with a soft, lingering smile on her face. Her heart still felt warm from the morning, from their holiday stories, their silly hiding spots, their small hands tugging at her sleeves, and the way their eyes lit up when she laughed.

When she pushed open the office door, she found Dante seated behind his desk, dark horns framing his sharp profile as he flipped through a stack of files. His long fingers tapped lightly against the polished wood in a steady, thoughtful rhythm, crimson eyes scanning lines with quiet focus.

"Dee," she called softly, stepping inside.

The moment he looked up and saw her, the seriousness on his face eased.

She barely had time to take another step before he reached out, caught her by the waist, and pulled her into his lap with effortless strength. The sudden closeness drew a soft gasp from her lips, but she did not resist. Instead, her hands rested on his shoulders as he leaned in and kissed her deeply, slow and possessive, like he had missed her even though they had only been apart for a few hours.

For a moment, the world outside the office faded into nothing.

When he finally pulled back, his thumb brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, tucking it gently in place while his gaze lingered on her face, as if memorizing every tiny expression.

"How was your first day?" he asked quietly, his voice low and warm.

Alina smiled, cheeks faintly flushed, eyes bright. "Exhausting," she admitted softly, then laughed under her breath. "But... so happy. They talked nonstop. They played hide and seek like it was a life mission. And Boo said he upgraded himself into a premium ghost."

His lips twitched. "That sounds like chaos."

"It was beautiful chaos," she said fondly. "They missed school. And... I missed them too, more than I realized."

His hand tightened lightly at her waist. "You did well," he said simply.

She looked at him for a moment, then teased softly, "And how was the principal’s day?"

"Boring," he replied flatly. "Much less entertaining than your classroom."

She laughed, leaning closer without thinking, her forehead almost brushing his. "You should have joined us."

"I prefer watching you handle them," he murmured, gaze darkening slightly. "You look... alive with them."

Her heart fluttered at that, warmth spreading through her chest.

"Lunch break," she whispered playfully. "You’re stealing your employee’s time, sir."

"I will risk it," he replied calmly, pressing a brief kiss to her temple. "Especially when she looks this happy."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

"Did you sponsor Boo’s ghost tower?" Alina suddenly asked softly, her voice curious and warm as she settled more comfortably against him. "He said someone powerful helped them and gave him a lot of things. The first person that came to my mind was you."

Dante blinked, genuinely taken aback. For a rare moment, his composure cracked with surprise. "I do not know anything about that," he said truthfully, brows knitting slightly. "I did not sponsor anything."

"Oh," she murmured, then smiled anyway, unbothered. "That’s okay. I am still happy for him. He looked so proud today."

He watched her quietly, the way she could be happy over something so small and innocent, and it softened his heart without permission. But the moment Boo’s name settled in his mind, a faint shadow crossed his expression. His eyes narrowed a fraction, thoughts shifting in a darker direction. Speaking of Boo... that little ghost had quite a lot to answer for.

His mood turned subtly gloomy.

Alina noticed instantly.

Her fingers lifted, gently smoothing the faint crease between his brows, thumb brushing over his forehead with tender familiarity. "What are you thinking?" she asked quietly, tilting her head, her eyes full of concern and affection.

The tension in his face eased under her touch. He reached up, capturing her hand, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her fingers.

"Nothing," he murmured.

Alina’s cheeks flushed, the blush spreading across her face as his lips brushed over her skin. She lowered her gaze shyly and nodded, heart fluttering in a way that felt far too loud in the quiet office.