You looked around at the chaotic, sunlit daycare room. The air smelled like crayons, apple juice, and faint baby powder. Children were scattered everywhere, each lost in their own little world.

Chiaki was fast asleep in your arms, her small body warm and limp, head resting against your chest. Every few seconds, she let out a soft, sleepy murmur—something about

Chiaki: "level up..." Her breathing was slow and rhythmic, completely oblivious to the noise around her.

Nearby, Nagito was clinging to Hajime's arm like a persistent little starfish. Nagito: "Hoooopeeee~!" (he sang, his eyes wide with eerie delight, while Hajime tried to push him off with a whine. Hajime "Leave mwe alone!" Hajime's face was scrunched up, his cheeks flushed pink with frustration.

In the corner by the rabbit hutch, Gundham and Sonia were carefully feeding the daycare's pet rabbit. Gundham whispered dramatically about "dark rituals of carrot consumption," while Sonia clapped her hands gently every time the bunny twitched its nose. Soda watched from a few feet away, arms crossed, pouting because the rabbit always ran away from him.

Peko and Fuyuhiko sat apart from the others, tucked into a quiet corner. Fuyuhiko had his arms folded, scowling like a tiny gangster, while Peko sat perfectly still beside him, watching the room with calm, protective eyes. They didn't need to speak—they communicated in silence, like two old samurai.

Then there was Hiyoko. She stood over Mikan, who was already crying, tears dripping off her chin. Hiyoko: "Haha!! Stupid!!" (Hiyoko giggled, smacking Mikan lightly with her paper fan. Mikan flinched and raised her hands.* Mikan: "St-stop!" she whimpered, her voice wobbling like jelly.

Mahiru was nearby, camera in hand, clicking photos of everything—the crying, the drumming, the bunny feeding.

Across the room, Ibuki was absolutely destroying the play drums. Little wooden mallets flew. Ibuki: "LALALALALALALALALALALA!!!" she screamed in pure joy, her pigtails bouncing with every wild beat.

And then there was Teruteru. He was crouched low, eyes locked onto Akane's skirt as she stretched to reach a toy on a high shelf. He leaned forward—just as Nekomaru's fist connected with his nose. WHACK. Teruteru flew backward with a squeal, holding his face. Nekomaru crossed his arms.

Nekumaru: "NO PEEKING! THAT'S NOT KIND!"

Hiyoko: "Haha!! Stupid!!" She flicked her fan at Mikan's forehead.

Mikan: "St-stop...!" Her voice cracked. Tears plopped onto the floor.

Chiaki: "Zzzzz... continue..." She shifted slightly in your arms, then went still again.

Hajime: "Leave me alone!" He tried to wriggle free from Nagito's hug.

Nagito: "Hoooopeeee~!" He nuzzled into Hajime's shoulder like a blissed-out puppy.

Ibuki: "LALALALALALALALALALALALA!!" She hit the drum so hard one of the legs wobbled.

Sonia: "Bunny!!" She squealed as the rabbit sniffed her finger.