Childhood Phase: The First Heroine

- Look this way.

- Pouring a little water into the paper straw made it longer.

~WOW!~

- You're a magician!

- Do you know a spell?

- No, Kirijima-kun taught me how to do it.

A boy pointed at me while holding another boy's shoes.

- Well, the one who's best at that magic is always you.

- It's my turn.

- In order, please.

~HI~

A small line of kids was in front of me.

- I messed up my colors.

- I can't find my plushie.

- My hair got tangled.

- "I think growing up in an orphanage taught me how to calm other kids, or maybe these are just things I would have liked to hear back then." Alright, let's start with the hair, then we'll all look for the plushie, and finally, I'll teach you the names of colors.

~HI~

The kids in front of me raised their hands calmly.

- "They follow me as their leader since last week. Well, I hope the teacher doesn't get mad."

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Teacher's POV

- *Sigh*

- What's wrong?

- It's been my class for a month, and another Kirijima family member enters.

The teachers exchanged glances, then looked at her with tired eyes.

- *sigh* Let me guess, another kid who doesn't flinch in any situation, looking like a doll?

- I wish I got that case, but no.

As she sat at the long desk, the teacher lay down with her head to the side.

-The Kirijima family is a mystery. The father is very hyperactive, the mother is the spitting image of a Yamato Nadeshiko, and the daughter, you never know what she's thinking, but the son...

- That kid? He's only been here for a month.

- Sitting next to her colleague, she just looked at her with confusion.

- Is his case that bad?

- It makes me doubt if I'm a good teacher. All the kids obey him, and they've grown very fond of him. It took me a year to reach that level.

- Ohhh.

- My pride as a teacher is at stake. I have to do something.

- If you ask me, it's better to communicate with the boy.

Raising her gaze, she noticed a drawing of a cat painted with pink and brown crayons.

- Can someone be like this at such a young age?

- Try talking to the boy, teacher.

The woman placed a coffee can and a notebook in front of the teacher.

- It's always good to approach unusual cases to gain experience.

- *sigh* Alright, I guess I have nothing to lose.

**************************************************

Three kids running in a line were in my line of sight.

-You can run, but...

Taking more momentum, I reached the first kid, touched his back, and with a movement of my left hand, touched the shoulder of the next kid.

-I'm faster.

~ Buuuuh~

-You got us.

Turning my head, I saw the girl who was running beside the two boys, with irregular breathing, holding her knees.

-I... will win... next time...

-I'm sure of that.

Walking towards the girl, I stretched my arm to touch her head.

-You got her, and I win.

Around me, other kids surrounded me, raising their hands, some pouting, others excited.

-Now let's play on the swing.

-No, it's the turn for the slide.

-Everyone lies, we should climb the bars.

-Listen.

After whistling and clapping with my small hands, I got everyone's attention without any problem.

-We'll do everything in order, so let's start with the Orange class tour.

~Hiiii~

As we walked towards the play equipment, the kids followed me in order without me having to teach them.

-"Well, before, I felt bad about this situation. I'm an adult man, but it's better to make memories while I can."

-"I think this body will forget everything when I become an adult again. I have to enjoy this period. It's like taking care of many children at the same time."

- First stop will be the swings. Remember, one at a time.

Pointing at the recreational games, all the kids nodded in unison to my statement.

-"There are still things I'm not used to, but it must be the fact that I'm in the world of that game, playing the role of the protagonist. I don't think I have so much charisma for everyone to follow me. I just know how to calm kids because of my sisters."

-"I wish I knew more about psychology like before. I think that would give me more confidence."

-You guys go first.

A small group of 6 kids began to push and swing on the swing set.

-Don't hurt yourselves, understood?

Time passed, and we did all the activities we could in that playground. Right now, it's a game of hide and seek before class begins.

-Here you are.

-Boooo, you're a cheater, Fiji.

-"Not everyone can pronounce my name properly." Quiet, you're the second to last; I only have one person left to find.

-I'm the smartest, don't doubt it.

The brown-haired girl with a ponytail spoke confidently as she came out of her hiding place.

-I'll let you find me before time runs out, Fiji.

-Aye aye. Go back with the others. I'll join you in a moment for snack time.

Looking proud, she walked away in another direction, marching and waving her arms.

-Only one left...

-...no...

Before heading to the last hiding spot, a voice caught my attention.

-"Did someone get scared for being alone for so long?"

Turning towards the backyard where the pets were, a group of kids cornered someone smaller than them.

-Look, it's the old lady with a rabbit mouth.

-She has a lot of gray hair even though she's a little girl.

-It's creepy to see her like this.

A girl on the ground was being attacked by 3 boys, with stains all over her clothes, and it seemed like something had been thrown in her hair.

-Hey.

~¿Ehhhh?~

Turning to look at me, they had paint for hands.

-Look, we triggered a trap because a rock is coming at us.

-"I hate this kind of people." Wise words for a cooked potato.

The first boy seemed angry.

-Shut up, walnut squirrel.

-Thanks, my cheeks are really cute and round. I didn't know you liked men.

The second boy stepped back, looking nervous.

-Don't get closer.

The third boy threw the paint jar in my direction. Everything seemed to slow down again as the object passed by my face.

-The wind must have hurt that; I'll have to report you to the teacher.

-Let's get out of here.

The boys surrounding the girl ran away when I approached her.

-Are you okay?

-*snif* Thank you...

Taking a wet wipe from my pocket, I knelt in front of the girl.

-Come, we need to clean what's in your eyes...

Seeing her face dirty with dirt, paint, tears, and snot, I could clean her forehead to be surprised when recognizing her face.

-Stay still, please.

-*snif* ...Yes...

Gently cleaning her face, still with paint stains, her swollen eyes were noticeable, but with an intense blue iris.

-"She's a heroine from the game." Saeko...

-Uhm?

Note:

Yamato Nadeshiko: This is how the Japanese refer to a woman with attributes that are traditionally desirable from the perspective of men and society.