Volume 3 Chapter 30 Yoshikura House
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
August is the kind of month that makes you hesitate to even step outside. I really wanted to be lounging in an air-conditioned room with Mio-san and the others, but instead, I was stuck in a car driven by Mother.
”Ugh, it’s so hot…”
”Hang in there just a little longer,” Mother said.
”…Mm.”
Suu-chan was fidgeting restlessly in the back. The booster seat was clearly making her back all sweaty and gross, and she wasn’t hiding her frustration. A child’s skin is way more sensitive to that stuff than an adult’s, after all. The AC vents on the dashboard were blowing at full blast, but the air turned lukewarm by the time it reached the back seat. It dissipated so much you could barely feel it. If this were some luxury car, the climate control would probably actually work back there, but it’s a losing battle for a ten-year-old light car.
Truth be told, I wanted to bail out of the car just as badly as she did. But if I didn’t stay put, Mother would end up looking like the bad guy, so I just had to suck it up. I spent the next twenty minutes fanning Suu-chan and catching whatever breeze I could for myself until we finally reached our destination: Yuma’s house.
It turned out Mother had exchanged numbers with Yuma’s parents during the parent observation day. They’d invited us over, and we decided to take them up on the offer. Yuma had apparently been dying for us to arrive; despite the blistering heat, he was already outside waiting with his mother, Nanako-san.
”Makoto! Suzuki-chan! Makoto’s mom! Hello!”
””Hello!”” we called out together.
”Hello. Thanks for coming out to meet us,” Mother replied.
Yuma was as energetic as ever, but I couldn’t help but worry. He isn’t exactly the picture of health, and we’d actually pushed this playdate back a week because he’d fallen ill. (I really hope he isn’t overdoing it…)
”Now, it’s hot, so let’s get everyone inside,” Nanako-san said, giving Yuma a little nudge to usher him toward the door.
I looked up and froze. (Wait… isn’t Yuma’s house way too big?)
The first thing you see is a massive garage facing the street with a heavy rolling shutter. You could probably fit four large SUVs in there side-by-side with room to spare. Next to that is a pedestrian gate and the parking area where Mother had just pulled in¹– plenty of space for three cars, and it even had a proper carport. Even for a residential neighborhood, this place was on a different level. It was easily three times the size of the houses on either side.
(Is Yuma’s family actually filthy rich?) I’d sensed a certain refined vibe from him before, but this was something else.
”Hurry up! I’ll show you around!” Yuma shouted, grabbing my hand and pulling me along.
”Wait- yeah, okay,” I stammered.
”Ngh…!”
Suu-chan’s jealousy flared up instantly. (Look, my other hand is free, so just deal with it for now, okay?)
Hand-in-hand- Yuma, then me, then Suu-chan- we passed through the gate and stepped onto the property, which was enclosed by a stylish wood-grain fence. That’s when the full scale of the Yoshikura estate finally came into focus.
The main house was a three-story structure that shared a roofline with the garage. It had a sleek, Japanese-modern² look with sophisticated, muted tones; it looked as pristine as a brand-new model home. To the right was a yard big enough for a tennis match, covered in a lush green lawn. I noticed a couple of sprinklers- do people actually have those at their houses? Further back, there was even a golf net.
(I guess some people really do just have money.)
”It’s so spacious…” Mother remarked.
”My grandfather was originally a major landowner³ in this area-“
I caught the tail end of their conversation. It wasn’t just that Yuma’s parents worked in real estate; their family actually ran a real estate company. They were the “old-money landowner” type- the kind that just keeps managing and flipping their own land. And the man at the top of it all was Nanako-san’s father.
(Yeah, Yuma’s family is legit scary. In this town, this is the kind of clan you probably shouldn’t ever cross…)
”Yuma.”
”Hmm? What is it?”
”We’re friends, right? We’re tight?”
”Yeah! Of course!”
(Man, it really pays to have friends. I definitely want to treasure this bond.)
I-it’s not like I’m only being friendly because his family has power. I only just found out the details, and I liked Yuma before I saw the house. Besides, I get along with the other kids too. It’s not like I’m giving him special treatment.
I had another reason for being here, too. The door opened before we even reached it.
”Ah, Suu-chan and Makoto-kun are here!”
It was Shiho-chan. Her family lived nearby, and since their older sisters were close friends, she was over here all the time. She’d apparently been playing here already; in the massive entryway, I could see several pairs of shoes neatly lined up.
(Wait, there are three pairs here…) One for Yuma’s sister, one for Shiho-chan’s… (Who’s the third? Well, I’ll probably run into them eventually.)
”Pardon the intrusion,” I said.
”Pardon the intrusion…” Suu-chan echoed.
We made sure to line our shoes up perfectly. If they thought we weren’t raised right, they might start keeping their distance, and I couldn’t go around embarrassing Mother.
The moment we stepped inside, a wave of cool air hit us. (Is this that central air stuff? If the washrooms and hallways are all like this, I am so incredibly jealous…)
”Makoto, hurry! Let’s play games!” Yuma shouted.
”Wash your hands and gargle first,” I reminded him. He obviously wanted to get straight to it, but you’ve gotta follow the rules- even if the washroom was also perfectly, enviably cool.
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Summary:
Makoto, his mother, and his sister Suzuki visit the home of Yuma, a friend from school. Upon arrival, Makoto is stunned by the immense wealth and land-owning status of the Yoshikura family. They enter the air-conditioned mansion and meet Shiho-chan before preparing to play.
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Trivia:
- Makoto drives a 10-year-old light (kei) car, emphasizing the wealth gap.
- Yuma’s playdate was delayed a week due to his health issues.
- The house features high-end amenities like a four-car garage, lawn sprinklers, and a golf net.
- Shiho-chan is a regular at the house because her sister is friends with Yuma’s sister
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Character Insight:
Makoto shows a mix of awe and tactical social thinking, immediately reaffirming his friendship with Yuma upon realizing Yuma’s family holds significant local power.
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Behind the Scenes:
The term ‘Madoka Modern’ in the raw is interpreted as ‘Wa-modern’ (Japanese-modern), a popular architectural style blending traditional elements with contemporary design.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• Nanako – Yuma’s mother. She is the daughter of a major local landowner and assists in welcoming guests to the Yoshikura estate.
• Makoto – 93 cm, 13 kg three‑year‑old boy in a neat shirt and cap, short hair, backpack, booster seat in Hinomori’s Rose Group. Reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman with architectural know‑how, social‑management skill, hidden English, analytical mind. Lives with Totsuka family (mother works) and protects Suzuka‑chan; called Maa‑kun by Suu‑chan and leader of Rose Class.
• Suzuki – Suu‑chan, 4, daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa, wears a topknot and braided pigtails, sleepy eyes that sparkle, pink rain boots and umbrella, loves strawberries, salmon roe and clams, practices etiquette and water play. Energetic, loyal, Makoto’s “Queen of the Jungle Gym” who gives hugs, pouts, coordinates his things, toddler lisp and paper‑tearing games. Close friend of Maa‑kun, shows sandbox leadership, snuggles, sings, uses chopsticks skillfully. In Hinomori Kindergarten’s Younger Class she’s shy, socially anxious, sits in a booster seat, and is possessively attached to Makoto.
• 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.
• Jin – Hitomi’s younger son — originally a six‑month‑old who stayed in a stroller — is now a 1‑year‑old boy (81 cm, 11 kg) in the ‘Terrible Twos’ (No‑no phase), and also Yuna’s younger brother.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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