Just as Alina turned toward the staffroom, still trying to recover from her awkward almost-laughter at the principal, a breathless staff worker came running down the hallway, her footsteps fast and uneven, eyes wide with panic.
"Miss Alina!" she shouted, nearly tripping. "The dining room for Class D—it's—it's flooded with water!"
Alina blinked. "Wh—what?!"
The worker's face was pale. "The babies! They're inside!"
In that instant, Alina's heart dropped. The worksheet and bag she was holding slipped from her hands and scattered across the hallway unnoticed. "Take me there!" she said, already running.
They rushed through the halls past classrooms until they reached a brightly colored door with a gold "Class D Dining" plaque above it. Unlike other classes, Class D had their own tiny cafeteria, built to match their unpredictable… energy.
But right now? The door was shut. Water leaked from underneath the crack in the frame, spilling into the hallway like a gentle stream.
