I have no choice but to pick him up as I stand. “Shinpai shinaide ne,” I pat him on the back. “She’s not coming back.” I turn to the door just to make sure. I can’t hear any gurgling or snarling anymore on the other side, but I don’t hear footsteps retreating down the stairs, either. Just silence.

“Cybelle-sensei, arigatou,” Hitomu whispers into my ear.

Aw. I rub his back again. “Dou itashimashite, Hitomu-kun.”

He giggles. Then he sits upright in my arms. “Ah, mite! Liekosensei da!”

Uh-oh.

I turn around. Sure enough, Lieko is standing right there, holding Hitomu’s bag. She does not look happy.

“Okay, Hitomu-kun!” She extends a hand. “Let’s play in our colouring book while we wait for Mommy!”

Hitomu turns to be let down to the floor. I comply, still kneeling as I watch him take Lieko’s hand and let her escort him back to the lobby. I’m in trouble, I know it. The look Lieko gives me over her shoulder cements it.

I follow them both. Hitomu hops onto one of the stools at the reception desk while Lieko pulls out his colouring book and crayons. Happy as a clam, Hitomu picks up a pink crayon and scrawls all over the picture of Zozo the Clown counting cookies. “Mite,” he points to the pink circles. “Akumu ja nai yo, donatsu da yo!” They aren’t nightmares; they’re donuts.

“Good job, Hitomu!” Lieko sings. “Now, Cybelle-sensei and I must talk in staff room. Please, keep colouring! Cybelle-sensei, will you join me in staff room?”

Nice try. “I think we should wait until Hitomu’s mother gets here.”

“Cybelle-sensei,” Lieko’s voice drops an octave or two. “I must have serious talk with you.”

I look her dead in the eye. “I’m not leaving him here alone.”

Her smile flickers and becomes a frown. I continue to watch Hitomu colour, his legs swinging excitedly. I even draw a cupcake with him when he offers me a couple of crayons. Lieko can drop all the hints that I’m in some level of trouble. I’ve got words for her, too. I have seen and heard some wild shit here in Japan and as time went on things have bounced off me or at least made interesting bar anecdotes. What happened today is different, and I plan to let his mother know as much.

“Nani shiten no?” Hitomu asks when I start a new doodle.

“I’m drawing footprints,” I answer.

“Eh? ‘Pootfrents’?”

“Footprints.”

“‘Pootfrents’?” He tilts his head. “Nande?”

“Nande ya nen!” I respond. He bursts into giggles, asking “Nande?” again and again, laughing harder each time I repeat myself. This goes on for about five minutes. Then, something in his face changes. “Sawatte ii?” he asks, reaching for my face. Smiling, I nod. He strokes my cheek, and then the back of my hand. “Eh … meccha yawarakai,” he whispers, holding my hand. Super-soft.