“Wow — I mean, I’m great! Thank you for asking! High-five?” I tease him a little, moving my hand so he has to try and hit a moving target. It makes him smile a little. “Good job, Hitomu! What’s that, Jibanyan? You want to sing the ‘Hello Song’ to Hitomu? Okay, let’s do it! Hello, hello hello hello, hello hello hello, hello hello what’s your name?”

“I’m Hitomu.”

“Holy cra— uh, great job, Hitomu! What’s that, Jibanyan?

Another song? Well, sure, why not? Hitomu, would you like to sing a song with me? Jibanyan, can we sing the ‘Welcome Song,’ too? Hello, hello, hello, and how are you? I’m fine, I’m fine, and I hope that you are too! Good job! High-five! Now let’s stand up!”

I make a rising gesture with my hands and stand. Hitomu smiles a little more as he rises to his feet. Shock is an understatement for what I’m feeling right now. He didn’t even wipe his hands after my high-five. As I start the song on the CD player, he claps and sways back and forth a little. I wonder how long it took Lieko to teach him the “I’m fine” reply as we dance to “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” together. Pretty good for someone his age. As we move, Hitomu goes through the motions slightly faster than the song recites the names of body parts. He even seems to know the “Baby Shark” song. Since when did the little guy become such an expert? Maybe … wait, why does all this feel so familiar? Have we done all this before? This déjà vu thing is getting out of hand. I stop the CD player and dig through my teacher’s box.

“You know something, Hitomu, you’ve done such a good job I think you deserve some … bubbles! Would you like some bubbles?”

Hitomu gasps. “Shabondama …”

“Then let’s say, ‘Bubbles, please!’”

“Bubble, pwease!” Suddenly, Hitomu crosses his legs. “Ah! Oshikko.” His voice is barely a whisper. He has to go pee.

“Oh! Okay, sure, go ahead.”

I open the door and peek outside. I can’t see Lieko at the reception desk; she must be in the staff room or something. Thank goodness or this would be awkward. Hitomu scoots to the washroom, holding his crotch. When I follow after him, he waves his hand in protest. “Jibun de dekiru,” he says at normal volume. He can go by himself.

“Great! Go nuts.”