Volume 3 Chapter 27 A Small Wish
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The legend goes like this: a man and a woman got so swept up in their own little world that they blew off their jobs. As punishment, they were dragged to opposite sides of a massive river and told they could only see each other for a single night once a year. That’s the gist of the picture-story show Riko-sensei¹ was reading us, anyway. You could look at it as a lesson: if you want to stay with the person you love, you’d better take care of your responsibilities first.
(It’s fine, though. Right now, I’m just a kid in kindergarten. I’m definitely not a NEET anymore. I’m doing exactly what’s expected of me, so there’s no problem here.)
”Careful there, Suu-chan². Could you maybe… loosen the grip a bit? I’m starting to see stars over here…”
Today was Tanabata³. We’d already finished a bizarre game where we leaped over futons standing in for the Milky Way, but you can’t have Tanabata without the main event: bamboo decorations. We spent the morning cutting and folding origami to deck out the branches, but the real task was tanzaku⁴ – writing our wishes on colorful strips of paper.
The other youngsters scrambled for their favorite colors. Suu-chan managed to snag pink and light blue. The school seems to have a solid handle on what kids like, since they’d stocked up on reds, pinks, and blues. I ended up with the leftovers: yellow and purple. I figured yellow would be a hit because of that world-famous mascot, but apparently, kids these days have moved on from the electric mouse. They’re all about the new Yokai craze instead.
Everyone huddled over their desks, focus etched on their faces as they scribbled out the Hiragana they’d only just learned. Even the ones who couldn’t quite form the letters yet were doing their best, squinting at the samples the teacher had written for them.
(Now, what should I put down?)
I had two strips, which meant two wishes. But the moment I tried to think of something, my mind went blank. Maybe I’ve just lost my sense of wonder, or maybe I’m just too grounded in reality… or maybe it’s just that my life is already pretty damn good. I wanted to write something “child-like,” but what does that even mean?
(I want to hit my growth spurt early… maybe?)
I definitely want to grow up and be someone Mother can rely on, but wishing on a piece of paper isn’t going to change my biology. I’m not ready yet anyway, and that’s a mountain I’ll have to climb on my own. Besides, I actually want to savor this peace for a while longer. Once I grow up, the time I spend with Suu-chan will probably dry up. She won’t be tackling me with hugs as much… right? Same goes for Mother.
I glanced over at Suu-chan, who was currently locked in a staring contest with her own paper. She looked stuck, though in her case, it was probably because she had too many wishes to pick from.
”I’m finished!” Shiho-chan announced, breaking my train of thought. She’d finished hers before any of us and proudly held it up. Her handwriting was exactly what you’d expect from a kid – messy, earnest, and full of effort. She’d even doodled little stars in the margins.
Her wish read: “I hope Orihime-sama⁵ and Hikoboshi-sama⁶ can be together.”
”Shiho-chan…” I muttered.
”See,” she explained, “Orihime-sama and Hikoboshi-sama only get to see each other for a tiny bit. It’s just so sad…”
(What an absolute angel. To be so moved by a story that she’d wish for the happiness of two people who don’t even exist… Meanwhile, I’m over here rotting from the inside out.)
”I hope they meet, too,” I said.
”Me too!” Shiho-chan gave me a beaming, ear-to-ear grin. If we could just get JAXA involved, maybe we could… no, probably not.
”What about your other one?” I asked.
”A cake shop!”
(Right. Shiho-chan is winning at being a cute kid. I really hope she stays this pure. I’d hate to see her turn into one of those people who spends their lunch breaks in the office lounge gossiping about who’s dating who or who they’re jealous of.)
As I sat there getting lost in my own distant thoughts, I felt someone fidgeting in my peripheral vision. It was getting annoying.
”What is it, Jun?” I asked.
”Aren’t you gonna look at mine?” Jun replied.
”No, I’m good.”
”Fine, if you’re gonna beg! Here!”
”I literally just said I was -“
Jun ignored me and shoved his paper in my face with a smug look. It said: “I’m gonna beat Mommy!”
”Your mom?” I asked.
”Yeah!”
”Not your dad?”
”No way! Mommy is the strongest person in the world!”
(Well, that settles the power dynamics in the Imai household. Mothers really are the ultimate force of nature. I thought the Totsuka house was the same, but Totsuka Mitsuhisa-san usually has the final say there. He lets Totsuka Mio-san do whatever she wants on the day-to-day, but steps in for the big stuff. I guess that’s the natural flow when there’s an age gap.)
Jun’s second wish was: “I want the power of the Princesses.”
(That’s definitely the influence of his big brother. I’m not even going to ask. When you gaze into the abyss…)
I turned my attention to Yuma, who had come to school today full of energy. For a kid from a wealthy family with the face of a future idol, I wondered what he’d want.
”What’d you write, Yuma?”
”Check it out!” Yuma replied, holding up his two strips.
”I want to go to kindergarten every day.”
”I want to be just like my Daddy.”
”I hope they come true,” I said.
”Thanks!” Yuma chirped.
(First Shiho-chan, now Yuma. These pure-hearted wishes are actually starting to hurt. Yuma is such a good kid. If his dad saw that, he’d be a puddle of tears.)
”What about you, Kotaro?”
”I got one done…” Kotaro showed me his paper.
”The Yokai medal set.”
”I’m still trying to decide which game to ask for on the other one,” Kotaro added.
(Yep. Kotaro is a normal kid with normal, healthy greed. This feels less like a Tanabata wish and more like a draft for a letter to Santa, but at least it’s honest.)
Taking a cue from everyone else, I finally put pen to paper. I knew these would probably end up in a photo or the school newsletter, so I had to be careful not to write anything that would hurt Mother’s wallet.
”I’m all done, Maa-kun,” Suu-chan said.
”Really? Let’s see.”
I’d caught glimpses while she was writing, but I took a proper look.
”I hope Mama gets better soon.”
Mio-san was currently pregnant, and it seemed Suu-chan was worried about her. Mio-san was perfectly healthy, just taking it easy for the baby’s sake, but I suppose the house did feel a little quieter lately. I decided I’d do a little something to her wish later to turn it into a proper charm for a safe delivery.
Her second strip said: “To be with Maa-kun.”
”Together with me?” I asked.
”Mhm! Always with Maa-kun.”
(It’s basically the same as my own wish. Or rather, she just wants to be by my side.)
Of course, I wanted that too, but…
”……….”
As I looked her in the eye, she suddenly seemed to get embarrassed. She ducked behind me, hugging my back to hide her face.
”Show me yours, Maa-kun,” Suu-chan whispered.
”I wanna see too!” Jun yelled.
”Me too!” added Shiho-chan.
”Let us see!” Yuma and Kotaro piled on.
Suddenly, I was being swarmed by five kids, and even the teachers were starting to look over with curious eyes.
(Look, it’s nothing special. It’s not going to be interesting…)
But since they’d shared theirs, I held mine up.
”I hope everyone can spend their days with a smile.”
”I hope Japan finds its spark again.”
—
Summary:
The kindergarten class participates in Tanabata festivities, writing their wishes on paper strips. The protagonist observes the innocent and sometimes humorous desires of his classmates while reflecting on his own life. The chapter ends with the group swarming him to see his unexpectedly mature and altruistic wishes.
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Trivia:
- The protagonist is a reincarnated individual, formerly a NEET, currently in kindergarten.
- Mio-san is pregnant, which explains her recent ‘quietness’ at home.
- Jun’s family (Imai) is explicitly mentioned as being matriarchal in power balance.
- The ‘Electric Mouse’ and ‘Yokai’ are references to Pokemon and Yo-kai Watch, dating the ‘modern’ setting.
- The protagonist plans to turn Suu-chan’s paper strip into a literal charm for safe delivery, hinting at hidden abilities or knowledge
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Character Insight:
The protagonist struggles with his dual nature—wanting to provide a ‘child-like’ answer for social camouflage while internally harboring mature, protective instincts for his family and peers.
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Behind the Scenes:
Tanabata legends (The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl) are a common trope in Japanese media to highlight themes of separation and fated meetings.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Riko – Lead teacher of Rose Class at Hinomori Kindergarten, she wears a rash guard and athletic shorts for pool duties and also works as school nurse. Appears stiff at first but becomes cheerful in lessons. Practices autonomy‑based supervision, lets kids resolve conflicts, tends flowerbeds, leads excursions, performs magic tricks, and reads picture‑story shows. Slightly cynical about being single.
• Shiho – Shiho‑chan, a three‑year‑old Rose‑Class girl with shoulder‑length hair in a side‑up ponytail, uses training chopsticks and a white kitten‑themed placemat. Sleepy, she leans on Makoto’s “secret” advice and makes mud dumplings. Neighbor of the Yoshikura family, friend of Makoto, Suu‑chan and Yuma, older sister in the senior group, and quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention while wishing happiness for the Tanabata deities.
• Jun – Energetic, restless boy in the Rose Class, youngest of three Imai brothers. Part of the Naughty Five, he chases anything strong or cool after his siblings’ tales. Mother is his role model; older brother Ko‑san warns about germs. Makoto often reins him in.
• Mitsuhisa – 184 cm, 71 kg, 33‑year‑old IT specialist; slick‑back hair, deep voice, meticulous grooming, often scowling. Breadwinner of the Totsuka family, doting husband of Mio and father of Su‑chan; reserved with Akari, family photographer with a pricey DSLR and tripod. Close to former college‑athlete Makoto, sharing playful‑sometimes‑sinister humor and gaming lag in motion‑control. Desk‑working salaryman, surprisingly toned, enjoys physical skinship, protective yet occasionally lonely as kids grow independent. Mio’s husband, weekday worker, level‑headed and observant, occasionally blunt.
• Totsuka – The neighbor family consisting of a husband (Mitsuhisa), wife (Mio), and daughter (Suu-chan). They are hardcore gamers who provide hand-me-down consoles to the protagonist’s household.
• Mio – 28‑year‑old pregnant mother of Suu‑chan, round belly, wife of Mitsuhisa (164 cm, 57 kg, baby‑faced, G‑cup curves, elegant in a gray suit). Former relay runner and badminton star turned teacher, cook, photographer who bakes strawberry shortcake and chirashi‑zushi, adores babysitting Ma‑kun, subtly pushes his marriage to Suu‑chan, avoids crowds, captures family chaos, dresses the protagonist’s mother, devotes herself to her daughter’s education, playful and mischievous as a Totsuka guest, neighbor/family friend in a joint‑destiny child‑rearing unit, enthusiastic and theatrical in family meetings.
• Yuma – Frail, sickly kindergarten boy from a wealthy land‑owning family, he has an idol‑like face, admires his father, and his parents work in real estate. Member of Rose Class and Rose Group, skilled at folding paper airplanes taught by his dad, he provides technical insight on the Skytree’s triangular base, joins Makoto’s sandbox projects, and is a guileless, energetic friend of Makoto and neighbor of Shiho‑chan.
• Kotaro – A quiet, slender kindergarten boy in Rose Class, friend of Makoto and member of his sandbox crew. He shares typical childhood interests— toys and games— and reliably helps Makoto with building projects, all while being a fan of Kamen Rider.
• Kota – Makoto’s biological father. Met Akari while working as a cram school tutor during their second year of university. He disappeared suddenly after six years of dating upon learning of the pregnancy.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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