“Um …” Well, I can’t think of a good enough reason to say no, other than the fact that he makes me nervous. “Sure, I guess.”

“Ah, great! Thank you for understanding, Cybelle!”

I pretend that he’s just another observing parent staring me down from the window as my Baby Zero students and parents arrive and assemble in the room. Every now and then, as the babies waddle around the room and bob around to the music from the CD player, the mothers turn to look back at Zaniel and maybe share a giggle or two with one another. They share their ideas about who he could be as the babies colour in their books — he looks a little foreign, maybe he’s a new English teacher, or maybe he’s a parent observing lessons, but he looks way too young and so on and so on. Azusa’s mother proposes he’s my boyfriend, but when the others gesture to ask me, she clams up and blushes. As much as I love my baby students, I feel like doing a backflip when our lesson comes to an end. Manager is talking to Zaniel so his attention is finally turned away from me. I see Zaniel bow and get his shoes, and, still bowing, he gets into the elevator. Finally, I’m free. It’s bad enough getting stared at outside of Zozo; I don’t see why I should have to deal with it here, too.

Manager bids the mothers farewell and thanks the babies for their hard work before turning to me. “Cybelle-sensei, otsukaresama desu! Thank you for your lesson! Now, about new male teacher, Kamisawa-sensei …”

I stop Manager right there. “Whoa. He’s not a teacher. We haven’t hired him yet. He hasn’t even been approved for training yet. Can’t we just call him Kamisawa-san?”

“Yes, hmm, this is true. But, about new teacher — maybe, when Bucho processes interview, maybe, she will hire Kamisawasensei right away. This is good news, ne?”

I sigh. This guy is not listening to a word I say. “Maybe,” I try using Manager’s favourite word. “I mean, sure, he’s fluent in English, but that doesn’t mean he’s good with kids. And what about —”

“YADAAAAAAAA!”

I close my eyes. “Oh, for the love of —”

Manager turns on the charm. “Hello, Hitomu-kun! Okaasan, ohayou gozaimasu! Cybelle-sensei, please, staff room. Let us finish talking later. And, anyway, I think many mothers will like Kamisawa-sensei. Children, too; he is hafu, but, he is genki. Ah! The children can call him ‘Zany Zaniel’!”

I squeeze my eyes shut to keep from rolling them. “Excuse me.”

“Certainly, Cybelle-sensei! Please, enjoy your lunch! It’s in staff room!”