Zhou Yao looked at the class monitor's classmate.
Once again, he sought confirmation.
The other person held the white fox and smiled at him.
"Yes."
Zhou Yao opened his mouth.
"..."
If his teacher was a monster, then a lot of the things he'd found strange but overlooked before suddenly made sense.
Was that it...?
So that was what it was...
"I'm telling you your teacher is a monster not to make excuses for its behavior."
"I just think..."
Xiao Xiao smiled faintly. "If you knew it was a monster, you might feel a little better."
"It's a monster."
"So it doesn't understand many human emotions."
"Nor can it empathize."
"It didn't do it on purpose, and it meant no harm."
The scenes from the courtyard earlier replayed in Zhou Yao's mind.
He was the one who'd gotten emotional.
He was the one who'd gone on and on.
And he was the one whose eyes had reddened, nearly bringing him to tears.
But his teacher...
It had barely changed its expression.
His teacher hadn't tried to defend itself or make excuses.
It had honestly told him the answer.
As if it didn't care at all how badly that answer might hurt him.
Back then, he'd been furious at his teacher's indifference.
But now...
Maybe his teacher simply didn't understand?
Aside from painting, his teacher really didn't understand anything.
A teacher like that...
Zhou Yao reached up and rubbed his cheek.
It was so frustrating.
But he did feel... a little better.
"Do you feel a little better?"
Xiao Xiao stroked Little White Fox's head.
"Mm."
Zhou Yao tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I do feel a little better."
"My teacher is a monster..."
How could anything be so absurd?
And yet, he almost