While the children were eating lunch at noon, Teacher Ageo strung all the paper cranes together with white thin threads and hung them on the window.
The wind blew gently and moved the colorful paper cranes. After the children finished their lunch, they gathered around the window and pointed at the paper crane they had folded.
Shouko and Tsuna were sitting on chairs, eating their lunch. Shouko saw the paper crane being moved by the wind from the corner of her eye. She raised her hand and pointed in the direction of the paper crane. There was still food in her mouth, but she couldn't wait to share it with Tsun, who was standing beside her:
"Tsuna, look, it's so beautiful when the wind blows the paper crane." She swallowed the food in her mouth and continued, "I want to hang it on the window like this when I go home!"
Tsuna looked in the direction Shouko pointed and saw the paper crane being moved. He said lovingly, "Okay, we'll fold it together then. Let's eat well first, Shouko."
"Yeah!" Shouko nodded happily in response.
After school in the afternoon, Shizuka walked to the nap room of the Sakura class on the second floor and saw her two children chatting with teacher Ageo.
Shizuka greeted teacher Ageo and squatted in front of Shouko. She looked at the little red flowers on both sides of Nozomi's face, raised her hand to cover her mouth, and chuckled, "My Shouko is amazing. Auntie only saw one flower othe n other children's faces along the way."
Shouko lowered her head and said shyly, "Auntie, the other one was given to me by Tsuna."
Shizuka looked at Nozomi's cute appearance and couldn't help but want to kiss her, but there were little red flowers on both sides of her face, so it was difficult to do so.
Tsuna, who was usually ignored by Shizuka, looked at them and didn't know what expression he had. Teacher Ageo watched this scene with interest and felt that she never got tired of watching it.
At this time, Shizuka noticed the paper crane in Shouko's left hand, and the topic shifted to the paper crane: "My Shouko is so amazing. She can fold such a beautiful paper crane."
When Shouko heard what Shizuka said, she changed her shy look and happily held up the paper crane in her hand to show Shizuka: "Teacher Ageo taught us to fold paper cranes today, but this one was taught to me by Tsuna. I want to take it home and keep it well!"
Tsuna already knew why Shouko had to hold the paper crane when she slept during her nap, but when he heard Shouko say that again, he couldn't help but be moved.
Shizuka suddenly wanted to tease the cute Shouko in front of her, and said with a sly smile: "Auntie wants this paper crane, can Shouko give it to Auntie?"
"Ah?"
Seeing the surprised expression on Shouko's face, Shizuka quickly asked: "What's wrong? Shouko doesn't want to give it to Auntie?" After she finished speaking, she raised her hand and pretended to wipe away her tears.
Tsuna and Teacher Ageo, who were standing nearby, immediately noticed that Shizuka was teasing Shouko, but Shouko, being innocent, didn't realize it. Later, she saw Shizuka wiping away tears sadly. At that moment, Tsuna hurriedly stepped forward to defend Shouko but was stopped by a glance from his mother.
Shouko looked embarrassed and then stammered, "Auntie… Auntie…" The more she spoke, the more she lowered her head, and in the end, she didn't dare to look at Shizuka. "I'll fold a big bunch for you and hang it up, okay? This… this…"
After hearing the last part, Shizuka sensed that Shouko was on the verge of tears. Knowing that if she teased any further, Shouko would start crying, she quickly reached out and hugged her, speaking apologetically:
"Okay, Auntie was just teasing you. How could Auntie want anything from my precious Shouko?"
After saying this, she kissed Shouko's forehead and gave Tsuna, who was standing nearby a meaningful look.
Hearing that Auntie didn't want anything anymore, Shouko didn't have time to feel relieved before she recalled Shizuka wiping her tears earlier. She then softly whispered into Shizuka's ear:
"Auntie, don't be sad. When I go home, I'll fold lots of paper cranes for you."
The three people behind said goodbye to Teacher Ageo, left the kindergarten, and drove home.
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After Shizuka parked the car in the garage, Shouko quickly got out of the back seat and called to the two who hadn't yet gotten out:
"I'm going to put the paper cranes away first!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she dashed out of the garage without waiting for a response.
After Tsuna got out of the car, he turned to Shizuka, who was checking if anything had been left behind, and said,
"Mom, I'm going to take Hachiko out for a walk."
Shizuka watched the two children leave and sighed with a smile, "Those two are something."
Tsuna opened the door, walked to the entrance, took off his shoes, stepped directly into the wooden corridor in white socks, and turned into the living room.
Hachiko, who was bored in the dog house, saw Tsuna and barked happily: "Woof woof woof!".
"Okay, okay, let you out now." After hearing what Tsuna said, Hachiko stopped barking.
Tsuna opened the dog house, and Hachiko rushed directly to Tsuna, but Tsuna dodged it. Seeing that he didn't pounce on his master, Hachiko shook his tail fiercely, ready to do it again.
"Hachiko, wait here for a while. I'll go get the dog leash." Hachiko really stuck out his tongue, shook his tail, and sat there waiting for Tsuna.
Since Tsuna adopted Hachiko, he sometimes gave commands that Hachiko would follow instantly. Tsuna even began to suspect that a person was living inside the dog. After all, Hachiko was only three months old, and as far as Tsuna remembered, Shiba Inus weren't exactly known for their intelligence, even when fully grown.
If he wasn't afraid that Aunt Nishimiya and Grandma Nishimiya would beat him, he would have wanted to let Hachiko take care of Yuzuru.
"Tsuna?" Hearing Shouko call out, Tsuna instantly pushed away the messy thoughts in his mind and turned his head to look at her standing at the entrance of the living room.
He noticed that Hachiko had already run over to Shouko without him realizing it. Tsuna said to Shouko, who was holding Hachiko, "I'll go get the leash. You and Hachiko wait for me outside."
"Okay!" Shouko replied cheerfully. As she stroked Hachiko, she'd already forgotten all about folding paper cranes at kindergarten.
Tsuna took out the dog leash from the locker and also took a few spare plastic bags in case Hachiko pulled it out. When he walked to the entrance, he saw Shizuka teasing Hachiko at the door.
After Tsuna changed his shoes, he walked to the door. Shizuka started to remind them, "Tsuna, you and Shouko, be careful when you go out, and don't let Hachiko eat anything."
"Yeah, I got it, Mom." Tsuna walked over to Shizuka, put the dog collar around Hachiko's neck, clipped the leash onto it, and then waved to Shizuka to signal that he and Shouko were leaving.
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Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's the day when Tsuna and Shouko start their senior class.
In about two years, there haven't been many changes. Hachiko has become a year-old dog, and Yuzuru is a normal child who can walk, bark, and listen, but she is particularly attached to Hachiko.
Because of the mortgage and the family's food and clothing, Yaeko gradually becomes strong in front of outsiders, but she is still the same when she is with the Miyamura family.
Shizuka and Daisuke are still as loving as ever. Over the past two years, Tsuna has often been kicked out of the house for disturbing them, along with Hachiko.
Tsuna taught Shouko pronunciation every day and night. Now, aside from a slight accent, there's hardly any difference between her and other children. Tsuna had also learned basic sign language in the Sakura class, but he found that he never really needed to use it when he was with Shouko.
Shin-chan and his friends were promoted from the Sunflower Class to the Rose Class, but their teacher remained Miss Yoshinaga. Principal Takakura had decided to promote the teacher along with the students, thinking the children might struggle to adjust to a new teacher in a new class.
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Author note:
"The kindergarten story will end soon, and we'll move on to elementary school next. Elementary school is another key part of Glass's story, and it will be written at a much slower pace than the kindergarten arc."
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