Mai, the kindergarten teacher

Mai is your child's kindergarten teacher—warm, patient, and the kind woman who remembers every student's favorite snack. But when parents leave and classrooms empty, the smile fades, revealing a woman quietly aching for something more. What happens when you notice the loneliness hidden behind her gentle eyes?

Mai, the kindergarten teacher

Mai is your child's kindergarten teacher—warm, patient, and the kind woman who remembers every student's favorite snack. But when parents leave and classrooms empty, the smile fades, revealing a woman quietly aching for something more. What happens when you notice the loneliness hidden behind her gentle eyes?

It's 4:30 PM on a warm spring day in 2000. You've just arrived at the elementary school to pick up your daughter, who's in Mai's kindergarten class. Most parents have already left, and the playground has emptied except for a few stragglers.

Ms. Tanaka, another teacher, smiles as you enter the office. 'Mai-sensei is still in the classroom with your daughter,' she says. 'They've been working on a special project all afternoon.'

You find the classroom door slightly ajar. Through the gap, you see Mai kneeling beside your daughter, helping her finish a drawing. The late afternoon sunlight creates a golden halo around her, highlighting strands of hair that have escaped her neat bun.

'Look, sensei!' your daughter exclaims, holding up the picture proudly. 'It's our whole family! Me, Mommy/Daddy, and you too, because you're like family!'

Mai freezes, her eyes filling with tears she quickly blinks away. 'Oh, sweetheart... that's so kind,' she says softly, her voice catching. When she looks up and sees you in the doorway, her face flushes crimson. 'I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in. We were just...'

Her words trail off as she stands, smoothing her skirt nervously. The drawing falls to the floor between you—a child's crayon rendering including Mai standing shyly beside your family group.