I was currently in Class 1.
With both my arms firmly captured by Chester and Klein.
As if that weren't enough, Arden, the twins, Klein, Chester, and Medina had formed a circle around me as though they were about to conduct some sort of sacred ritual.
The only one not participating was Bill, who seemed thoroughly entertained by the situation and had placed a crown on my head.
"Please stop this."
The attention was incredibly uncomfortable.
Just then, Klein stepped closer and reached out a hand.
"Let me see your forehead."
"No."
"Just let me look!"
"I already refused."
"Yeah, refuse all you want! I'll force you if I have to!"
I quickly calmed down the Klein who looked ready to pounce.
"...I refused, but I'll show you anyway."
I brushed up the bangs covering my forehead.
Immediately, everyone's eyes locked onto my smooth forehead.
At this rate, they were going to bore a hole through it.
Chester and Klein leaned in so close they were practically nose-to-nose with me.
"I didn't wash my hair."
"I watched you wash it this morning."
When exactly had he seen that?
The moment I fell silent, Chester flashed the smile of a victorious conqueror.
"No scars."
Klein pressed a finger against my forehead.
"Tch. So it was nothing."
"Were you worried?"
"I wasn't!"
Jeez, that startled me.
After shouting at the top of his lungs, Klein grumbled to himself and promptly plopped down beside Medina.
"Alright, the ritual's over. Go away now."
"I want to sit next to Big Sis."
Mm, no thanks...
Trying to escape Bill, I squeezed myself between the twins.
Unfortunately, Bill simply beamed and sat down directly on my lap.
"That's my seat."
"Then I'll sit in the front seat!"
"I never gave permission..."
"I'm gonna cry!"
What a ridiculous form of blackmail.
In the end, I couldn't bring myself to push him away.
Meanwhile, Arden was hiding behind me with both arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
Seeing that, Klein tilted his head toward Arden.
"Hey, what's with him?"
"Who?"
"The one behind you!"
"Behind me?"
I turned around, then deliberately put on a confused expression.
"There's nobody there... Did you see a ghost?"
"Hey, you little—!"
Klein jerked his gaze away from me in horror.
Successfully finishing my prank, I turned to Arden and offered a polite apology.
"My deepest apologies for pretending you don't exist—"
"I'm used to it."
"...It was a joke."
"It wasn't funny."
Sorry.
Next time, I'll prepare something we can both laugh at.
I spent the time chatting with the children in Class 1 while waiting for the adults to finish their discussions.
After a while, voices echoed up from the staircase.
Pushing Bill off me, I stood and cracked open the classroom door.
The teachers' faces—except for Megan's—looked utterly devastated.
Perhaps because we were watching, they weren't handcuffed, but each teacher was being escorted downstairs by a knight gripping their arm.
Anna, Carrington, and Watson looked especially broken, their faces drained of all hope.
Soon, my eyes met Carrington's and Anna's.
I immediately broke into a bright smile and waved enthusiastically.
Bye!
It was awful meeting you, and don't ever treat children like that again!
Their expressions twisted so badly it was almost painful to watch.
At that moment, Megan, who had been quietly observing the scene, approached me and beckoned.
"Could we talk for a moment?"
After peeling off the children clinging to me, I followed Megan to the counseling room.
Once we were seated across from each other, she handed me a drink.
"I've decided to take responsibility for the orphanage."
Apparently, Jack had made the decision after seeing how much the children liked her.
And then—
"We're also bringing back every child from Class 3 who was adopted out. The Director of Internal Affairs personally promised to handle everything, so you don't need to worry."
She was explaining things she really didn't need to explain to me.
After listening quietly, I finally asked,
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Megan merely smiled.
The very next day, Megan gathered all the children together.
Carefully, she explained the situation in terms they could understand without frightening them.
"Children, there was an unfortunate incident, but it's all over now. Nobody will be able to mistreat you anymore. And Class 3 will be permanently closed. The Class 3 dormitory as well. Lopez, you'll return to your original dormitory. Arden, Miles, and Rodney, you'll move into the boys' dormitory."
Megan unfolded the schedule she had spent all night preparing.
Dark circles hung beneath her eyes, yet she looked happier than she ever had before.
"Your lessons have been far too difficult and demanding until now, so I'll be lowering the difficulty to something more appropriate for your ages. If there's anything you'd like to learn beyond that, you're always welcome to ask. We'll also be reorganizing the classes. There are simply too many children to keep everyone in one group. This isn't about ranking anyone like before."
"Yes, Teacher!"
The children answered energetically.
Looking at them with affectionate eyes, Megan continued,
"From now on, you won't be called Class 1 and Class 2 anymore."
Klein glanced toward Lopez.
Lopez currently had Lisa and Sally each holding one side of her hair.
One side had been intricately braided.
The other had been tied up in a completely different style.
Despite the increasingly bizarre hairstyle taking shape on her head, Lopez stared blankly at Megan as though she didn't care.
She can't even take care of herself. She's always getting hurt.
It must've been hard. Scary. Lonely.
Yet she never told anyone.
Well... I guess I have no choice. I should keep an eye on her. Not because I want to or anything.
After thoroughly rationalizing his feelings, Klein shot his hand into the air.
"Then are we taking another test?"
"No. I'm still considering how to divide the classes. For now, the four children who were in Class 3 will be placed in—"
Wait.
That means we'd be in different classes.
Klein immediately shouted,
"Let's just take the test again, Teacher!"
"But there won't be any more tests."
Megan shook her head firmly.
These children were still young.
They were only beginning to learn about society.
She didn't want them experiencing feelings of loss and inferiority through rankings and examinations at such an early age.
Listening quietly, Chester glanced toward Lopez.
Lopez had finally noticed her disaster of a hairstyle.
Her eyes widened as she stared at it.
"This is... me?"
Suppressing a laugh, Chester politely raised his hand.
"But there are still more kids from Class 1, Teacher."
Megan fought back a smile.
It seemed both boys were deeply grateful for the fact that Lopez had saved them.
"So, Klein and Chester want to be in the same class as Lopez?"
Neither of them denied it.
Medina looked startled but remained silent.
The two boys who used to follow her around every day had suddenly decided, without consulting her at all, that they wanted to join Lopez's class.
It hurt a little.
But she knew how much Lopez had cared for them.
Because of that, she couldn't bring herself to complain.
"Hmm... I don't really want to use tests..."
At that moment, Bill's hand shot into the air.
"Let's play a game!"
"A game?"
Bill jumped to his feet excitedly.
"The Gather Here game! When Teacher calls out a number, that many people have to gather together and hug each other! The winners get to choose which class they want first! We keep going until all the classes are full! What do you think?!"
"Hmm..."
After considering it briefly, Megan smiled and asked,
"Who wants to play?"
"Me!"
"I do!"
"It's a game!"
The children enthusiastically raised their hands and shouted.
At that exact moment, Klein, Chester, Arden, the twins, Lisa, Sally, and Bill all turned toward Lopez simultaneously.
Still sporting her absurd hairstyle, Lopez spoke.
"Teacher, I'm certain these people are plotting to crush me."
Otherwise, there was no reason for them to be staring at her so intensely.
A terrible feeling settled in her stomach.
Sticking herself firmly beside Megan, Lopez followed everyone out to the playground.
The children gathered together.
Lopez swallowed nervously.
The countless eyes fixed on her were enough to make her want to die from embarrassment.
Since when did all of you become so desperate to be in the same class as me?
Looking around at the children who had formed a circle around her, she asked seriously,
"Is this some new form of bullying?"
"..."
Guys, can you hear me?
Nobody answered.
They were far too focused.
"Children... perhaps we should give Lopez a little space?"
"...Okaaay."
Unable to watch any longer, Megan tried intervening.
The children generously took exactly one step backward.
Lopez was so touched by this excuse for consideration that she nearly cried.
