Little Red Riding Hood: Gakuen Babysitters Edition, Part 2
For a toddler with itty bitty jelly bean legs, KotarÅ moves quite quickly, which doesnāt help the red-haired older brother figure out why he went on his own while chasing him. RyÅ«ichi has a tendency to worry about his green-haired baby brother, which only worsens his apprehensiveness. If only Usaida was there to help him, as the pink-haired sleepy caretaker has quite the intuition in figuring out childrenās thoughts and actions. Saikawa, the Chairwoman, the Chairwomanās son, and Yukari mentored him in childcare and how to be teacher during the earlier days of the daycare center, in which Usaida then internalizes many of their advice and studies them with his ownĀ āHow to be a Teacherā study notes every night, which does mostly explain his default sleepiness. This hidden secret is quite hilarious considering that one time while KotarÅ stayed with him as RyÅ«ichi went off to his school exhibition trip, Usaida didnāt want KotarÅ to find his study notes even though the naĆÆve toddler stumbled upon his moreā¦ mature materials to then look at his teacher manuals.
KotarÅ stops near a certain double door, in which RyÅ«ichi finally catches up to him and notices where the pathway that the two went leads to. āHuh? This is kitchen. What were you planning to do, KotarÅ?ā RyÅ«ichi noted. āOh, RyÅ«ichi-sama and KotarÅ-sama. Superb timing. I was just going to inform you that lunch is ready,ā Saikawa says while walking to the Kashima brothers down the hallway. āSa-cha! Shaggy!ā the toddler says while noticing the rather fluffy gray blanket that is neatly folded under the dapper blondās arms. āAh, yes KotarÅ-sama. How very observant of you, as usual. This is a cotton fleece blanket that Usaida-sama made for the Chairwoman. I was just finishing drying this after washing it,ā Saikawa notes while unfolding the blanket to show the collaborative project.Ā Usaida-san made that? I know that he made the vegetable costumes for the kids and me during our school culture festival, but I never knew how artistic he can be. RyÅ«ichi mentally noted.
The blanket already looked luxurious enough that it almost look like it was made of silkā¦ until the Kashima brothers noticed Saikawaās touch: graphic of RyÅ«ichi, KotarÅ, Saikawa, and YÅko that was seemed to be made with cross-stitching. The style being much like the time Saikawa drew RyÅ«ichi on a yellow ball when he was āplayingā with KotarÅ, who still keeps it in his toy box. Wow thatāsā¦ impressive. I guess he became a lot more productive since quarantine? RyÅ«ichi thought while sweat-dropping in embarrassment and also touched by the symbolic implications that the four were indeed a family: a new family that he sometimes wished that his and his brotherās parents met each other before the plane incident, but now visit their respective graves including the Chairwomanās son and wife as often and as safely as possible.
āOh, thank you Saikawa-san,ā RyÅ«ichi responds while bringing back to the topic. āActually KotarÅ was planning to do something in the kitchen, but Iām not sure what heās thinkingā¦ā One glance exchange between the green olive-haired toddler and the hybrid butler/secretary with KotarÅ claimingĀ āBa-cha get-well-giff!ā was all the info Saikawa needed. āI see now. How thoughtful of you. You plan on making something for the Chairwoman as a get-well-gift, correct?ā āUng!ā he answered with his default way of communicating of head nods, which was becoming endearing to everyone and even strangers before the pandemic. āLemo-cha!ā
Oh so thatās what he meant. Heās so sweet and considerate. Just like the time I was sick and he, Obaa-san, and Saikawa-san nursed me back to health with KotarÅās lemon teaā No! I canāt start crying now. I should help him. RyÅ«ichi mentally says while also taking part of KotarÅ determinationā¦ until suddenly *growls* āEh? Ummā¦ā RyÅ«ichi mumbles with a growing blush. *growls* āUngā¦ā KotarÅ mirrors in surprise while putting one tiny hands on his tummy while still holding the picture book close to his body. Since the hallway was very clean and not full of decorations, hearing the brothersā stomach growls was easily detectable. With a light chuckle, Saikawa says, āWell we shouldnāt keep tarrying on then, should we? Please head on to the dining room so that I can serve you lunch.ā as he bows and heads to the kitchen.
āHow about we eat lunch first? Canāt help nurse others when we canāt take care of ourselves, can we? Obaa-san would for sure not approve of that.ā The older Kashima brother suggests to the little one.Ā āUng~!ā Kotaro replies. As they enter the dining room and taken their seats, with RyÅ«ichi putting KotarÅ in his seat booster while taking off the red makeshift hood ā Saikawa enters with lunch that includes lightly-salted grilled mackerel ā deboned with pristine precision that rivals master sushi chefs ā with rice, miso soup, and kinpira gobo, scaled to the appropriate serving sizes for all three of them.Ā āThank you for the food,ā RyÅ«ichi thanks with clapped hands while KotarÅ mirrors and says,Ā āTāank for food.ā As usual, Saikawaās cooking is superb and then both brothers give their respects to the man. āI am always honored to serve you two. Speaking of which, have you finished readingĀ āLittle Red Riding Hoodā? I am going to give the Chairwoman her meal, which is a simple rice porridge made with chicken, ginger, ginseng, and leeks after I have collected your dishes,ā Saikawa noted while observing that the picture book was besides KotarÅās dishes.Ā
āOh no itās fine, weāll put away our dishes wonāt we? And weāll continue where we left off.ā RyÅ«ichi reassures while turning to Kotaro, in which the toddlers nods with his usual grunt.Ā āVery well then. Please do continue to enjoy reading.ā Saikawa bids them off to then deliver the Chairwomanās meal. RyÅ«ichi collected both of his and KotarÅās dishes to then head to the kitchen sink, in which he wash, scrubbed, and rinsed the dishes while handling them to KotarÅ to dry with clean towels (with some assistance to make sure the little one didnāt accidentally drop it).
āAlright then, how about we continue reading āLittle Red Riding Hoodā, KotarÅ?ā the older Kashima brother suggests.Ā āUng~!ā is KotarÅās expected happy response. The duo heads back to their room and resume reading together. However, will learn later on how this book decides to tell this version of āLittle Red Riding Hoodāā¦
