"...Wang Zhe said you were lying."
"Everyone in class thinks you're lying."
The mushroom-haired little girl's tears fell again.
"I wasn't lying."
"Teacher, I really did see it."
"And more than once."
"But nobody believes me."
"They all say I'm lying."
"I'm not!"
"All right, all right."
The teacher comforted the mushroom-haired little girl.
"Don't rush."
"Teacher, do you believe me?"
The mushroom-haired little girl looked at the teacher.
Her eyes held a hint of hope and earnestness.
The teacher froze for a moment.
She...
The teacher smiled bitterly to herself.
The two students in her class told conflicting stories.
Until she confirmed what had happened, it was difficult for her to say outright that she believed one of them.
That wouldn't be fair to the other child.
"...Teacher is willing to believe you."
The teacher's lips curved slightly.
"But I didn't see the shadow either."
"I can't make anyone else believe me."
The mushroom-haired little girl froze.
Then she thought about how she had seen the shadow, yet still couldn't make anyone else believe her...
"Anna."
The teacher gently patted the mushroom-haired little girl's hand. "There's no need to rush this."
"Let's get up first."
The teacher stood and reached for the mushroom-haired little girl's hand.
"Come on."
"What's wrong?"
Seeing the mushroom-haired little girl scrunch up her face, the teacher immediately stopped and asked with concern, "Does something hurt?"
"Did I hurt your hand?"
The teacher loosened her grip on the child's wrist, her face tinged with apology.
The mushroom-haired little girl shook her head.
No...
"Then what is it?"
The teacher made herself stay patient.
"Tell me."
"I..."
The mushroom-haired little girl stammered. "...I fell just now."
"My bottom hurts."
Oh~
The teacher understood.
So