She took a slow breath at the door, pressing her lips together to hold back the wide, happy smile that threatened to spill out before she even stepped inside. The moment she opened the classroom door and walked in, a wave of familiar voices rushed toward her like a warm hug.
"Goooood morning, teacherrr~!"
The cheerful chorus filled the room, bright, loud, and wonderfully chaotic, and her heart melted instantly as she realized just how much she had missed them. It felt like coming home after a long trip, where every sound and every little face carried comfort.
"Teacher… we missed youuuuuu!" Drake and Boo shouted together, their voices rising above the rest as if competing to be heard first.
She laughed softly, eyes warm, but as she walked toward her desk and set her attendance sheet down, she suddenly noticed something… very different.
Her gaze slowly drifted back to Boo.
