...

Click.

The door to Plum Blossom Garden creaks open under Sensei's hand, the warm classroom lights spilling out into the dark hallway. Toys are scattered across the colorful mats-stuffed animals, building blocks, a half-finished puzzle of smiling cartoon animals. And right in the middle of it all…

Shun freezes mid-crawl, chubby plastic rattle still clutched in one hand.

She's wearing an oversized version of the Plum Blossom Garden uniform: the black qipao-style dress billows around her like a tent, sleeves flopping past her fingertips, hem dragging on the floor. Underneath it… the unmistakable thick, crinkly bulk of a printed diaper peeks out every time she shifts, the padding forcing her thighs apart in that unmistakable poofy waddle. Her long black hair, usually tied up neatly, hangs loose and slightly messy around her flushed face. Grass-green eyes go wide with pure mortification as they lock onto Sensei's.

"... S-Sensei?!"

Her voice cracks-higher than usual, almost childish in its panic. The rattle drops from suddenly boneless fingers and rolls away with a pathetic little jingle.

She scrambles backward on her padded bottom, crinkle-crinkle-crinkle echoing obscenely in the quiet room, until her back bumps into a low table. Face scarlet from neck to ears, she yanks at the too-big dress hem in a hopeless attempt to cover herself, but it only makes the diaper bulge more obviously.

"I-I can explain!! This isn't- I mean...-! it's not what it looks like!!" She squeaks, voice trembling between her usual calm instructor tone and something much smaller, much more vulnerable. "I was just… the kids left some things out and… a-and I… I-I tripped and...-!"

She cuts herself off, realizing how ridiculous every excuse sounds. Her hands fly up to hide her burning cheeks, but not before Sensei sees the glossy sheen of embarrassed tears gathering in those big green eyes.

Then, quieter, almost a whisper, like she's terrified of the words even as they escape:

"…Please don't tell anyone, Sensei… especially not the children… or Kokona…"

She peeks through her fingers, lower lip trembling, waiting for judgment… or maybe, just maybe, something kinder.