Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: New Sprout Kindergarten
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I stopped in front of the main gate that read "New Sprout Kindergarten."
From my research, there were five kindergartens in total.
I'd selected the ones closest to home with decent reputations.
But all four I'd consulted with the directors so far had been total duds.
'There's a reason the tuition is so cheap.'
Not only was there no CCTV in the children's areas, but the hygiene was abysmal.
On top of that, the teachers I'd met lacked even basic manners.
I let out a deep sigh and stared blankly at the kindergarten sign.
This was the last one.
Fortunately, the facilities looked better than the others I'd visited.
"Daddy! There's a really big slide over there! And it sparkles!"
A rectangular building with a section protruding on the second floor in an unusual design.
It had a slide installed for kids to zoom down quickly.
Plus, the outdoor area was covered in artificial turf, so even rowdy kids playing around wouldn't get hurt.
'Safety is a pass, at least.'
This one felt promising.
I cautiously knocked on the door adorned with cute stickers.
Knock knock knock!
No one inside?
I leaned in close and peered through. There was a room with faint light leaking out.
Someone was there.
I slid the door open and stepped inside.
"Excuse me."
I neatly placed my shoes in the rack and knocked on the door where light was coming from.
Knock knock knock!
"Who is it?"
A soft, kind voice responded.
A young woman emerged, scanning me up and down before speaking.
"Are you Lee Jun-seo, here for the enrollment consultation?"
"Yes. And this is... my daughter, Yu-na."
I pulled Yu-na out from behind me and had her greet her.
"Hello."
"Please, come in."
"Yes, excuse us."
I sat in the chair she guided us to, settling Yu-na on my lap.
That way, she'd stay put quietly.
This place is surprisingly clean.
I sipped the coffee she'd prepared and slowly opened my mouth.
"I've been looking for a kindergarten I can trust Yu-na with."
"Oh, you've come to the right place. The teachers at New Sprout Kindergarten treat the children like their own and teach them with full passion."
She smiled confidently and continued.
"So many parents want to enroll here that the competition rate is pretty fierce right now."
"Uh, how fierce...?"
"About 1 to 30."
"Then... could you tell me roughly how much the monthly fees are?"
"Altogether, since we're a private kindergarten, it's about 300,000 won a month, plus after-school activities... around 600,000 won total. We provide the uniforms and bags otherwise...."
We were in the middle of the consultation when Yu-na pouted and tugged at my clothes.
"Daddy, Yu-na's bored...."
"Your daughter is so cute. She'd be popular here."
So, 600,000 won a month....
How much would that be in a year?
If Yu-na's going to a private kindergarten, I'll have to hustle even harder.
It's not like I'm sending her tomorrow; it's for next year.
Plenty of time.
"Any questions answered?"
I gave an awkward smile back at her sales pitch grin.
"Lastly, could I see the classroom where the kids have class?"
"Of course."
She stood first and led us to the children's classroom.
Round tables that looked safe.
Chairs sized perfectly for kids.
Toys and dolls galore.
All barely used, like new.
Child welfare seems decent too.
The bookshelves' corners were padded with silicone to prevent injuries.
'Huh? It's a day off, but the air purifier's running?'
I closed my eyes gently and took a deep breath.
"The air's pretty clean here."
"We always keep the air purifiers on. Kids have weak immune systems and get respiratory issues a lot."
"Ah...."
Just from a short chat, I felt I could trust her.
'Someone like this, I could leave Yu-na with....'
That's when it happened.
Yu-na, who'd been clinging to me, yanked hard on my pant leg.
"Daddy! There are tons of toys here! Can I play? Please?"
"Yu-na, not today."
"Haha. It's fine. I can clean up after. And the consultation isn't over yet, right?"
I stared at her, as if she'd read my mind.
Did she notice I'm leaning toward this place?
"Wooow! Thank you!"
"She knows manners toward adults? The five-year-olds I've seen usually don't listen and use informal speech right away."
I shrugged.
"She listens to me well."
"Haha. You're a good dad."
We were turning to head back for more consultation when...
Leaving Yu-na alone in an unfamiliar place made my feet heavy.
"Um, teacher?"
"Yes?"
"Is it okay to leave Yu-na here by herself? What if she touches something dangerous...."
"Oh, don't worry. Once you see this...."
She fetched a round device from behind. It looked like a small ball with a tiny lens.
"What's this?"
"You know how there've been nonstop reports of teachers abusing kids who don't listen?"
"Yeah, it pops up in the news occasionally."
According to her, they'd installed it to reassure parents that New Sprout was safe.
So...
"I can check her studying here anytime?"
"Naturally."
Seeing the observation camera sealed my decision.
I'd get Yu-na in here somehow.
I didn't know how selection worked, but this teacher probably had pick power too.
Steel resolve, I headed back to the consultation room with her.
Seated again, I laid out my family story, squeezing out crocodile tears to look as pitiful as possible.
"That's how it happened."
"Oh.... That must've been tough."
Playing the tragic hero was child's play for an actor.
'Good, right on plan.'
Surely pity would get Yu-na selected?
She, looking at me with sympathy, suddenly clapped.
"Ah! We have a special admission track at New Sprout. How about that?"
"Huh?"
I wiped my fake tears and listened.
"That way, Yu-na could be first priority for enrollment."
"R-Really?"
I was so shocked I nearly jumped up when Yu-na's loud voice boomed from outside.
"Woooow! I did it!"
We exchanged glances then rushed toward the sound.
"Y-Yu-na! What did you just...."
"...Haha. Your daughter's something else."
Yu-na beamed proudly at the tall tower of toys she'd built.
Robots and dolls.
Brick-shaped boxes and square wooden blocks teetered precariously.
"Daddy! Yu-na made this!"
The tower collapsed the second she ran to me, scattering toys everywhere on the clean floor.
Talk about making a mess.
I rubbed my throbbing forehead.
Then, facing the teacher's sour expression, I quietly spoke.
"I'll help clean up."
"...Thank you."
"I'm sorry."
The teacher and I picked up the scattered toys in silence.
Feeling light after leaving New Sprout, I headed to the nearby playground.
Submit the required docs and wait for contact, right?
For special admission, they said it's basically guaranteed.
What a relief.
"Daddy! Can we play here before going home?"
The direction Yu-na pointed had a group of kids playing.
Right beside them, a cluster of ladies watched over.
As Yu-na's guardian...
Should I join that circle?
I imagined it and shuddered.
Nah, that's a hard pass....
"...No?"
"No, Yu-na. If you want to play, go wild. I was planning to bring you here anyway."
"Wooow!"
I chuckled at how fast she bolted off.
She must've wanted to play with friends that badly.
I sat on the bench, watching if she'd fit in.
She did, quick as that.
Kids are so simple....
That's when.
The ladies watching the playground kids approached.
"Oh my! Yu-na's dad! Long time no see?"
"Yes?"
"You haven't been around lately. Did you move?"
I nodded slightly without panicking. Calling me Yu-na's dad meant they knew me.
Best to stay quiet and let it slide here.
Questions poured like machine-gun fire.
"Why'd you move without a word?"
"You doing okay?"
I kept responses minimal, even if it seemed rude. They didn't call me out.
'Wait a sec....'
Suddenly, goosebumps prickled all over.
How did I know there was a playground here?
This was definitely my first time.
My head throbbed sharply.
I pressed my forehead, fighting the pain.
"Yu-na's dad! You okay?"
"Ah, yeah. Just a headache...."
"Whew, scared me. Your color's better now, though."
"Right? Anyway, the living have to live on. Isn't that so?"
From snippets, they knew my wife had passed early.
Of course.
Some shot glares at the lady who'd brought it up.
"Yu-na's dad, you holding up these days?"
"Yeah, doing fine."
"If you need anything, just say. We'll help if we can."
"Yeah, exactly. Bottling it up just poisons you."
"Haha. Thanks."
The worried bunch shifted to bragging about their kids.
Not to be outdone, I hyped Yu-na's cuteness and shared photos.
My Yu-na's the best, after all.
While getting parenting tips from the ladies, dirt-caked Yu-na came dashing back.
With two little ones in tow.
"Daddy! Min-jun and Ha-yeon want to come play at our house."
"You little rascal! What time is it?"
"Ha-yeon, didn't Mom say? Going to someone else's house late is rude."
"Ah, come on! It's not even late!"
The loud kid seemed to be Min-jun.
Does he like my Yu-na?
The feisty boy blushed looking at her.
"I-I just wanna play with Yu-na a bit longer. It's been ages."
This kid....
'No way you're getting my daughter.'
I scooped Yu-na up and bowed to the ladies.
Time to head home.
"We should get going."
"Already? Come play here again."
"Yes, thanks for the advice today."
"Haha. It was nothing."
Short goodbyes, then I checked Yu-na closely as we turned.
"Huh? When'd she get hurt?"
Her tiny palm was red. Must've fallen while we chatted.
I'd tried to watch her.
Even though it wasn't me hurt, my chest ached, and I felt guilty toward Yu-na.
"...Does it hurt a lot?"
"Just a tiny bit. But I'm okay. Today was super fun."
Leaving it like this might scar.
Looking for a place to wash her hand, I spotted a familiar yellow sign reading 'Saetbyeol'.
Staring at the weathered sign, Yu-na tugged my clothes.
"Daddy! Can we go there? Please?"
Her reaction was different from usual.
She acts like she knows the place....
I set her down gently and knelt to eye level.
"You know what that place is?"
"Ton-katsu! On Yu-na's birthday, with Daddy and Mommy.... Sniff! I didn't say anything."
Yu-na clamped her mouth and shook her head, then started glancing around nervously like our first meeting.
Did pre-possession Lee Jun-seo scold her every time she mentioned Mom?
Entirely possible.
That hollow feeling the second "Mom" left her lips...
I gently stroked Yu-na's head.
"Wanna get tonkatsu there today?"
"Hehehe. Yeees! Yu-na's hungry."
Relieved at her brightening face, I quickened to Saetbyeol.
"Ready, Daddy's going first!"
"Ah, Daddy! Too fast!"