Little Red Riding Hood: Gakuen Babysitters Edition, Part 2
For a toddler with itty bitty jelly bean legs, Kotarō moves quite quickly, which doesn’t help the red-haired older brother figure out why he went on his own while chasing him. Ryūichi 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 children’s thoughts and actions. Saikawa, the Chairwoman, the Chairwoman’s 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 own “How to be a Teacher” study notes every night, which does mostly explain his default sleepiness. This hidden secret is quite hilarious considering that one time while Kotarō stayed with him as Ryūichi went off to his school exhibition trip, Usaida didn’t want Kotarō to find his study notes even though the naïve toddler stumbled upon his more… mature materials to then look at his teacher manuals.
Kotarō stops near a certain double door, in which Ryūichi finally catches up to him and notices where the pathway that the two went leads to. “Huh? This is kitchen. What were you planning to do, Kotarō?” Ryūichi noted. “Oh, Ryūichi-sama and Kotarō-sama. Superb timing. I was just going to inform you that lunch is ready,” Saikawa says while walking to the Kashima brothers down the hallway. “Sa-cha! Shaggy!” the toddler says while noticing the rather fluffy gray blanket that is neatly folded under the dapper blond’s arms. “Ah, yes Kotarō-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,” Saikawa notes while unfolding the blanket to show the collaborative project. 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. Ryūichi mentally noted.
The blanket already looked luxurious enough that it almost look like it was made of silk… until the Kashima brothers noticed Saikawa’s touch: graphic of Ryūichi, Kotarō, Saikawa, and Yōko that was seemed to be made with cross-stitching. The style being much like the time Saikawa drew Ryūichi on a yellow ball when he was “playing” with Kotarō, who still keeps it in his toy box. Wow that’s… impressive. I guess he became a lot more productive since quarantine? Ryūichi 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 brother’s parents met each other before the plane incident, but now visit their respective graves including the Chairwoman’s son and wife as often and as safely as possible.
“Oh, thank you Saikawa-san,” Ryūichi responds while bringing back to the topic. “Actually Kotarō was planning to do something in the kitchen, but I’m not sure what he’s thinking…” One glance exchange between the green olive-haired toddler and the hybrid butler/secretary with Kotarō claiming “Ba-cha get-well-giff!” was all the info Saikawa needed. “I see now. How thoughtful of you. You plan on making something for the Chairwoman as a get-well-gift, correct?” “Ung!” he answered with his default way of communicating of head nods, which was becoming endearing to everyone and even strangers before the pandemic. “Lemo-cha!”
Oh so that’s what he meant. He’s so sweet and considerate. Just like the time I was sick and he, Obaa-san, and Saikawa-san nursed me back to health with Kotarō’s lemon tea– No! I can’t start crying now. I should help him. Ryūichi mentally says while also taking part of Kotarō determination… until suddenly *growls* “Eh? Umm…” Ryūichi mumbles with a growing blush. *growls* “Ung…” Kotarō 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 brothers’ stomach growls was easily detectable. With a light chuckle, Saikawa says, “Well we shouldn’t keep tarrying on then, should we? Please head on to the dining room so that I can serve you lunch.” as he bows and heads to the kitchen.
“How about we eat lunch first? Can’t help nurse others when we can’t take care of ourselves, can we? Obaa-san would for sure not approve of that.” The older Kashima brother suggests to the little one. “Ung~!” Kotaro replies. As they enter the dining room and taken their seats, with Ryūichi putting Kotarō in his seat booster while taking off the red makeshift hood – Saikawa enters with lunch that includes lightly-salted grilled mackerel – deboned with pristine precision that rivals master sushi chefs – with rice, miso soup, and kinpira gobo, scaled to the appropriate serving sizes for all three of them. “Thank you for the food,” Ryūichi thanks with clapped hands while Kotarō mirrors and says, “T’ank for food.” As usual, Saikawa’s cooking is superb and then both brothers give their respects to the man. “I am always honored to serve you two. Speaking of which, have you finished reading ‘Little Red Riding Hood’? 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,” Saikawa noted while observing that the picture book was besides Kotarō’s dishes.
“Oh no it’s fine, we’ll put away our dishes won’t we? And we’ll continue where we left off.” Ryūichi reassures while turning to Kotaro, in which the toddlers nods with his usual grunt. “Very well then. Please do continue to enjoy reading.” Saikawa bids them off to then deliver the Chairwoman’s meal. Ryūichi collected both of his and Kotarō’s dishes to then head to the kitchen sink, in which he wash, scrubbed, and rinsed the dishes while handling them to Kotarō to dry with clean towels (with some assistance to make sure the little one didn’t accidentally drop it).
“Alright then, how about we continue reading ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, Kotarō?” the older Kashima brother suggests. “Ung~!” is Kotarō’s 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 ‘Little Red Riding Hood‘…
