Volume 3 Chapter 3 Morning Routine
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When I woke up, the futon beside me was nothing but an empty shell. With sleep-crusted eyes, I rolled over and buried myself deep under the covers. A lingering warmth remained, along with her scent.
(This might be total creep behavior, but it’s the only thing that calms me down…)
Mother was already up and preparing breakfast. I could hear the rhythmic pad of her footsteps coming from the kitchen. I had to get back to my own bed, and fast.
”Ma-kun, it’s time to wake up!” she called.
”…”
”Ma-kuun?”
Mother stepped into the bedroom. To be woken by a beautiful woman every morning-what a ridiculous luxury. I decided to indulge in the moment just a few seconds longer.
”Ma-kun, aren’t you getting up?”
”……Nn, Mommy…?” I muttered.
Since she was already shaking my shoulder, I responded with the calculated grogginess of a toddler who had just opened his eyes. My acting skills had truly hit a new peak over the last three years.
”Good morning, Ma-kun,” she said.
”Mm… morning…”
”Look at you. If you don’t get up right now… I’ll have to do this!”
Mother lunged into a sudden, suffocating hug. (Guh! This damn duvet is in the way!) Why had I been stupid enough to hide under the blankets? Her warmth felt miles away through the thick padding.
”Mommy, I’m up! I’m up!” I shouted from inside the cocoon.
The hug continued regardless. My voice was so muffled she probably couldn’t even hear me.
”Hmm… is he still dreaming?” she teased.
I wriggled frantically until I finally poked my head out. I took a deep breath of that fresh Mother-scent. Her face was right there in front of mine; even without a trace of makeup, she was breathtaking. It was a genuine feast for the eyes.
”Good morning, Ma-kun,” she said with a smile. “Did you sleep well?”
”Yeah, morning Mommy. I slept a ton.”
I was usually in bed before 8:00 PM, which gave me a solid ten hours of shut-eye. Honestly, I felt like I was sleeping my life away. Mother smiled and pressed her cheek against mine. The heat radiating from her smooth skin was incredible, though her nuzzling was a bit ticklish. We spent a few more minutes rolling around like that. It wasn’t my fault; she wouldn’t let go. I had no choice, right?
Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep!
The shrill cry of the alarm clock shattered our little paradise. It was the ten-minute warning¹ before the deadline-the moment I had to head to kindergarten and she had to leave for work.
Mother woke me up early specifically to carve out this “cuddle time.” I didn’t hate it. In fact, I’d have happily doubled it. People might think there’s no time for flirting on a weekday morning, but Mother was “Serious” with a capital S. She planned her mornings with military precision. She was the polar opposite of Mio-san, who was always dancing on the edge of disaster. I just hope Suu-chan didn’t pick up any of those bad habits… though I suppose knowing how to navigate a deadline is a survival skill of its own.
”Ma-kun, can you do me a favor?” Mother asked.
”Yeah, leave it to me.”
”Thank you.”
I folded my futon into thirds and tucked it into the corner. I had no more lingering attachments to the bed. There was no room for lazy mornings here, especially since Mother was so aggressive in the AM.
In the living room, breakfast was already served. I washed my hands, gargled, and sat down. The warm pork miso soup hit my stomach with a comforting glow.
”Thanks for the food,” I said.
”You’re very welcome,” Mother replied.
”It was delicious!”
”Hehe, thank you.”
Once breakfast was over, Mother handled the dishes while I took care of the “man of the house” chores-collecting the trash, running the vacuum, and emptying the washing machine. I might have been a kid, but I was a resident here. I had to pull my weight. Besides, I couldn’t bear to watch Mother do everything alone.
Still, a toddler’s body had its limits, especially when it came to hanging the laundry. Standing on a stool on the balcony made my legs wobble. I put everything on hangers for her and left the heavy lifting to the professional. We finished our chores with our usual efficiency, and once I was changed, I was ready for the day.
”I’m off!” Mother called out.
”Take care!”
After a long hug and a kiss to seal the deal, the front door clicked shut. I locked it behind her. Even though I was used to the routine, the house always felt a little too quiet in that moment. But I had to be patient. Mother was working her tail off for us.
Alright, time to get to work. I had a mission to complete before the kindergarten bus arrived. It was time to watch my recorded TV shows!
And just to be clear, I wasn’t talking about late-night anime. Sure, some of the shows I recorded aired in the middle of the night, but I wasn’t looking for “mysterious beams of light” or “convenient steam clouds.” I had risked my reputation as a “prodigy” just to secure this alone time as a three-year-old; if I spent it all on fanservice, I wouldn’t be able to look the Goddess who reincarnated me in the eye.
Besides, reality was more intense than anime anyway. 3D was incredible. Being able to actually touch things was a miracle!
Remote in hand, I took my position. The room was bright, so I stood exactly two meters away from the screen-any further and I’d be inside the wall. The screen flickered to life, showing a cartoon about a yellow tiger. Not that one. My neighbor might like it, but I wasn’t here for kiddie stuff. (Though, I have to admit, Pythagora-Switch² is strangely mesmerizing. I couldn’t help but watch the whole segment.)
Anyway, this was the real target: Fomenta!³ I wasn’t actually sure what language that was, but I figured it was useful somewhere. As you might have guessed, I was watching language-learning programs. They were conversation-heavy shows that taught useful phrases with a bit of humor. They say a child’s brain is like a sponge, and even with my adult cynical edge, the information soaked right in.
(A lot of useless info soaked in too, unfortunately. Being able to analyze local seniors’ drama or housewives’ gossip was a curse I didn’t ask for…)
I decided to focus on languages for a reason. Back in college, I’d suffered through my second foreign language. Nothing stuck. The only thing I got good at was making cheat sheets. If I could knock out English and maybe a couple of others now, I’d be set.
My master plan was to cruise through campus life with Suu-chan without ever stressing over a credit. That was, assuming Suu-chan didn’t grow up to hate me. I’d just have to follow Mio-san’s advice and work on my appeal.
Plus, I needed “adult-tier” skills to back up the prodigy label. If I could speak English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French, I’d be the guy everyone respected, no matter my age. I needed high-level specs to chase away the “pretty boys” who would inevitably swarm Mother or Suu-chan. I just had to make sure I didn’t act like a douche about it.
I was going to be a “Great Man.” My body was still that of a toddler, but with my intellect, I was going for a Start-Dash victory!⁴
With that resolve, I buried myself in my studies.
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Summary:
The protagonist enjoys a domestic morning with his mother, engaging in affectionate ‘cuddle time’ before starting chores. Once alone, he utilizes his toddler-age brain to study multiple foreign languages via recorded TV programs. He aims to secure a superior future and protect his loved ones from ‘pretty boy’ rivals.
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Trivia:
- The protagonist goes to bed at 8:00 PM and sleeps 10 hours.
- He consciously uses his toddler appearance to manipulate situations through acting.
- The neighbors, Mio-san and Ssu-chan, are key motivators for his self-improvement.
- He helps with vacuuming and trash collection despite being three years old
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Character Insight:
The protagonist displays a mix of genuine childhood vulnerability (loneliness when Mother leaves) and calculated adult ambition. His motivation for learning languages is partly romantic (campus life with Ssu-chan) and partly protective (defending his mother).
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Behind the Scenes:
The final phrase ‘Minua rakastan sinua’ is Finnish for ‘I love you,’ indicating the protagonist is absorbing phrases from various global languages indiscriminately.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Mio – A 28‑year‑old housewife (164 cm, 57 kg) with a baby face and G‑cup figure, she is the mother of Su‑chan (also called Ssu‑chan) and the wife of Mitsuhisa. With a gentle, rounded composure and friendly elegance, she often wears a gray casual suit and skirt and is noted for her prominent chest. As a licensed kindergarten teacher, she handles housework and morning routines with a cheerful, playful personality. She is Suzuka’s mother and Akari’s best friend (the mother of Makoto), serves as Makoto’s parent/guardian figure, and is the godmother of Ma‑kun. Perceptive and teasing, she enjoys babysitting Ma‑kun and encourages a future marriage between her daughter Su‑chan and him, while being skilled in cooking and photography. Her beauty shines even in casual, unpolished moments, and she is admired for her kind, fashionable demeanor.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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