Lesson Seven: First Homework

The classroom was warm with laughter again. Sweet bread drifted in from the open window, mingling with faint traces of dirt and grass from their morning adventure. Eight little yellow vests hung neatly by the door, except for Gon’s, which dangled upside-down.

‘Good work today, everyone,’ Mutsuki said with a clap. ‘No explosions, no illusions combusting, well almost, but still… and no accidental hypnosis. I’m proud.’

The children giggled.

Honey lifted his hand proudly. ‘Sensei, I didn’t use my strength at all! Not even a little!’

‘That’s true,’ he said, giving him a thumbs-up. ‘You had the best self-control.’

‘What about me?’ Gon leaned forward.

‘You had… the most enthusiasm. Please aim it away from the snack aisle next time.’

They moved down the line.

Akashi was praised for somehow managing to stay calm in the meat aisle. Sumire for keeping everyone hydrated but not flooded. Mon for paying “like a gentleman magician”, Meow for attempt to keep her ears and tail hidden. Kishin for being brave despite the terrifying automatic doors. And Kojiro for not squawking a second time when he realized he spooked the teenager.

The children preened under the praise, until Meow suddenly gasped.

‘Sensei! We still have to write our thing!’

‘Our thing?’ Mutsuki’s face scrunched. What now?

Before he could ask some more, the students were already pulling notebooks from cubbies, gathering pencils, settling into seats. The classroom filled with soft chair-scraping and diligent scribbling.

Mutsuki blinked dumbfounded. ‘…Did I miss a memo?’

‘Maria-sama began it. A weekly reflection. It helps them express feelings. Talk about magic.’ Youchan explained.

‘Awww… But they’re shorter than their pencils.’

‘They take it seriously,’ she said with a note of quiet pride.

He didn’t dare disturb them. Instead, he opened a rice cracker and motioned for Youchan to join him. The soft crunch blended with pencil scratches and the peaceful hum of sunset light trickling in. The two adults finally had a few seconds of peace to themselves.

The clock chimed eventually.

‘Time to go home, everyone,’ Youchan said.

‘Ehhh?’ Gon complained.

‘Sensei, please let us stay!’ Honey pleaded.

‘No overtime for kindergarteners,’ Mutsuki chuckled. ‘Off you go.’

They packed in cheerful chaos.

‘Bye-bye, Sensei!’

‘See you tomorrow!’

‘Eat dinner, okay?!’

Mutsuki slumped against the desk. ‘…I should probably face the parents too, huh?’

He glimpsed his faint, stubborn whiskers in the window reflection.

‘Maybe tomorrow…’

Youchan didn’t push him. She only smiled warmly.

‘Sensei, tomorrow is a weekend. It would have to be next week.’

Mutsuki motioned to stand up, but Youchan raised her hand.

‘You can do it on Monday, Sensei.’ She nodded. ‘I will do it today.’

He gave her a grateful smile and she accepted this with a nod. 

Kishin paused halfway to the door. He turned and ran back. He tugged Mutsuki’s sleeve and held out a small folded paper crane.

‘This is… so you don’t look sad anymore.’

Mutsuki was speechless for a few seconds. ‘Thank you. That means a lot.’

Kishin nodded fiercely and sprinted back. Youchan led them down the hall. Their tiny voices faded until silence settled softly over the room.

When the room was still, he started gathering the stack of essays. Each cover was a riot of doodles, stickers, glitter, and tiny fingerprints. He flipped them open, expecting weather notes. Instead, every entry was about him.

*****

✧ The Essays ✧

Mon (Tanuki)

Sensei looks like a lady but sounds like a man. That’s double magic. I like his sparkly eyes. They look like spell stones in grandma’s shrine. One day I wanna pull something from his hat but he doesn’t wear one. Maybe I should buy him one. Maybe he’ll let me keep things in it like umbrellas. Sensei should wear capes too. He’d look majestic.

Gon (Kitsune)

Sensei is prettier than all the girls in the village. If he wants, I can protect him. I can transform into a cool girl too. I think he’d like that. I dunno. He smiles weird sometimes, like he’s pretending. But today he smiled for real. It was cute. Tell him I’m serious about the bodyguard thing, okay? I can bite and charm people.

Sumire (Kappa Princess)

Sensei’s manners are developing. He sits wrong sometimes but he has poise when he forgets to panic. I think I can fix him. He bowed correctly today (once). If he listens to me, he might pass tea ceremony in five years. Maybe ten. Also, he looks better in blue than pink whiskers. But the whiskers suit him emotionally.

Meow (Maneki Neko)

Sensei has the same bad luck as me! The board fell, the drinks spilled, the tuna tower collapsed, but he kept smiling. That means he’s like me. I like that. Maybe we’re cursed twins. I drew him a lucky cat charm. If he keeps it, he won’t trip so much. Probably.

Kojiro (Tengu)

Sensei is careless. He fell asleep outside without checking the roof perimeter. He didn’t notice I was guarding the area for Youchan. He needs more discipline. Also he keeps standing too close to Youchan. That is… suspicious. I am watching him. I will win next time. (This one had small furious scribbles. Maybe just some doodles. Maybe curses in Tengu language.)

Honey (Bear Spirit)

Sensei smells like sweets and sadness. He’s soft like a blanket. I want him to get hugs. I don’t think he gets enough hugs. I hugged the fridge today because it was cold and lonely but Sensei said not to. Maybe Sensei is lonely too. I think we should hug him more. A lot more.

Akashi (Werewolf)

Sensei feels heavy inside. Like he’s carrying a big rock. But I think if he lets go, he’ll be super bright. Maybe he’ll glow like the moon. Also, he lets us play and doesn’t yell too much. He’s cool. I won’t howl in stores anymore. Probably.

Kishin (Oni)

Sensei looks lonely when no one is watching. Maybe he doesn’t know we can see him from the corner. But it’s okay. I’ll stay with him next time. I will give him a crane. I hope he likes it. I don’t want him to cry.

*****

Mutsuki stared at the pile. Every page shone with sincerity, comedy, and tiny fingerprints of affection.

‘I thought they were supposed to write about magic…’ he murmured.

A soft voice answered from the doorway.

‘Maybe they did.’

He looked up. Youchan stood there, framed in fading gold light.

‘You taught them something about hearts,’ she said gently. ‘Maybe that’s the real magic, Sensei.’

He blushed. ‘You’re too poetic for a caretaker.’

She stepped closer and whispered teasingly. ‘And you’re too soft for a vampire.’

They laughed quietly together as the evening light wrapped around them like a blessing. Between them lay the stack of essays. For the first time in years, Mutsuki didn’t feel like he was running. Proof that something inside him was healing.

He felt valued just for being him, and also weirdly comfortable, as if at home.