There are generally two types of people who knock on the doors of an orphanage.

The first are kind-hearted individuals who want to sponsor the children out of compassion. The second are those who, for their own reasons, have come to adopt a child.

Knock, knock.

"Yes, coming!"

Was the person knocking right now one of the former, or the latter?

With a nervous excitement, as though opening a random loot box, I flung the door wide open.

"Gasp"

Standing outside was a middle-aged man, neatly dressed.

I recognized him.

He was one of the kind-hearted individuals who visited about once a week to play with the children.

It seemed he had come today with the same intention of spending time with them.

But the timing wasn't great.

The children were currently taking their midday nap.

Regrettably, it wasn't possible for them to play together.

"Um… sorry, but the kids are all asleep right now…"

I scratched my cheek awkwardly, trying to explain, but the man shook his head as if to indicate that wasn't the reason he was here today.

"Huh? Then… what brings you here? Oh, wait, don't tell me—it's adoption, isn't it?"

Now that I looked more closely, his outfit today was unusually sharp.

It seemed he'd finally found a child he liked.

"Well, you should've just said so from the start."

I wasn't worried.

With his reputation as a gentle and good-natured person, I was certain he'd take excellent care of any child he adopted.

Not to mention, he was wealthy.

That meant delicious food and beautiful clothes for the lucky kid, no doubt about it.

So… who was the fortunate one that had caught his eye?

"Alright, so… which child are you planning to adopt?"

Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked him directly. Without a hint of hesitation, the man pointed at… me.

...Ah.

Not again.

"Me? I'm the director of this orphanage, you know?"

The man, startled at my unexpected response, asked again in disbelief.

He looked flustered, as if to confirm whether what I said was true.

"Wait, you're not a kid?"

Ah, I should've mentioned it earlier.

"Well, I am a kid, but that's not the point! The thing is, the director isn't up for adoption!"

* * * *

Sigh…

"Teacher, you've been mistaken for adoption again, haven't you?"

"This makes how many times now?"

Although many people visited the orphanage intending to adopt children, it seemed I was always the one being singled out.

Why? Why was it always me?

Was it because I was shorter than the other kids?

At this point, it happened so frequently—nearly every three days—that I felt like putting up a sign on the door reading: 'The Director Is Not Up for Adoption!'

"...Ugh."

My head throbbed.

It wasn't as though I'd planned on running an orphanage in the first place…

How did it come to this?