Volume 3 Chapter 43 A Cold
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It was a weekday morning in late autumn. I woke up, tossed and turned, and looked up at the clock to see it was just past six-thirty – my usual time. My mother had already started the morning chores, and the futon beside me was nothing but an empty shell.
(……)
I lay there for a while, dazing off while waiting for my mother’s “wake-up hug,” when I noticed something off. I’d gone and done it. No, not bedwetting – I’d made sure to hit the bathroom before bed and was careful not to over-hydrate. The last time I’d actually had an accident was… well, now wasn’t the time to be digging through the vault of my cringey past¹.
My body felt strangely heavy; I’d definitely come down with something. I knew firsthand that this tiny body couldn’t regulate its temperature worth a damn yet. I’d tried to be careful with the seasons changing, but it looked like my efforts were in vain.
The sudden cold snap lately must have been more than my system could handle. Or maybe, now that Mio-san²‘s delivery had gone smoothly, the tension I’d been holding onto finally snapped. There were plenty of reasons, but the nail in the coffin was definitely that unseasonable water play yesterday.
While we were washing our feet after playing outside, one of the boys stepped on the hose, sending a jet of water flying in a totally unexpected direction. It’s the kind of thing that just happens, but as luck would have it, Suu-chan and Shiho-chan were right in the line of fire. I’d thrown myself in front of them to shield them, which resulted in me shivering my way to the nurse’s office to change.
A heavy sigh escaped me as I rolled over and looked at the empty space beside me. It was a normal sight, but today, my mother’s absence made me feel pathetic and small. (No, I’m getting weak-willed. They say “illness starts in the mind.” I have to stay strong.) I tried to close my eyes and focus on seeing Suu-chan’s smile later to force a recovery, but that wasn’t happening. In fact, my body was finally realizing exactly how trashed it was. The headache and lethargy were setting in for real. I definitely had a fever.
Once I realized that, I knew I had to tell my mother. I squeezed out every ounce of willpower to crawl out of the futon. It shouldn’t have been that cold, yet my body was shaking uncontrollably. I’m usually great at waking up, but my steps were unsteady.
”…’Morning, Mom,” I said.
”Oh, Maa-kun! Good morning. You’re up early,” she replied.
Mother looked surprised when I called out. She stopped prepping breakfast and hurried over.
”Maa-kun… let’s check your temperature, okay?” she asked.
”Mm…” I mumbled.
Maybe because she’d been using water, her hand felt wonderfully cool against my forehead. The dull throb in my head softened slightly. She scooped me up, carried me back to the futon, and tucked the thermometer under my arm. The initial chill of the device felt good for a second. I waited quietly for the beep while she stayed by my side.
”Ninety-nine point seven degrees,” she noted.
(……)
For an adult, that’s just a low-grade fever – something you’d work through. For a kindergartener, it’s not that extreme, but it was still first thing in the morning. If I stayed active, it would only skyrocket by the afternoon.
”Let’s stay home from school today, okay?” she said.
”Okay…” I replied.
Mother made the call, just as I expected. Normally, she’d ask the neighbors for help, but they were swamped with Fu-chan and Kyo-chan. Plus, those two are even more fragile than I am; I couldn’t risk catching them in the crossfire of a virus. With the end of the year approaching, everyone is busy. I knew a sudden day off would cause a ripple effect of trouble for her work, and the thought of the collateral damage made my head hurt even more.
”…I’m sorry,” I whispered.
”Hehe, don’t apologize! Even Mom wants a day off every now and then,” she said.
”……Thanks,” I replied.
She pulled me close and stroked my hair. Knowing she was only saying that to ease my guilt just made me feel worse.
”I’m going to finish making breakfast. Be a good boy and sleep until then,” she said, heading out of the bedroom.
However, I couldn’t just stay put.
”…Maa-kun? I said you need to stay in bed,” she said, noticing me move.
I rarely disobeyed her, but this was non-negotiable.
”I have to go pee…”
”…Oh. Go ahead. Can you make it on your own?”
”Yeah. I’m fine,” I said.
I sat on the chilly toilet seat, did my business, and crawled back into the futon. I stared at the ceiling and let out a long, heavy sigh. I was worried.
* * *
”I heard Maa-kun is down with a fever,” Akari said.
She had sent the status report, and I passed the news along to Mii-kun.
”It’s been a while since Makoto caught anything,” said Mii-kun.
”Yeah, he’s usually so meticulous about his health,” Akari replied.
When it gets cold, he’s the one bringing blankets to bundle up with Suu-chan. When it’s hot, he’s the one running the fan and making sure she drinks water. He even tracks his own temperature and keeps records. Thanks to him, Suu-chan hasn’t been sick once during the seasonal transitions.
”So… how do we tell her?” asked Akari.
”I don’t know…” Mii-kun replied.
We both looked at our eldest daughter, who was already dressed for school and glued to the TV.
”More importantly… do you think she’ll even go?” Akari wondered.
(……)
Given how much she adores Maa-kun, there was a high chance she’d stage a sit-in. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if she stayed home, but for her own growth, it felt like a bad precedent. Even if she stayed, she wouldn’t be able to see him anyway. She’d have more fun at school with her friends, but we just stared at each other. We’d have to wait until the very last second and hope for a miracle.
* * *
”Principal Seiko… Teacher…”
”Is something the matter?” asked Principal Seiko.
This is bad. This is a disaster. This is the biggest crisis since the Rose Class was founded.
”An… an absence. Just now. From Makoto-kun’s mother. On the phone…” I stammered.
(……)
Principal Seiko’s icy glare pierced right through me. Okay. I’m calm. I’ve composed myself. But the situation hasn’t changed! Makoto-kun is absent! He is basically the acting class teacher of the Rose Class! What are we supposed to do without our leader?!
No, wait – I am the teacher. I haven’t abandoned my responsibilities. It’s just that Makoto-kun usually nips every problem in the bud before it even starts. If something is too much for him, he reports it immediately. Thanks to him, the Rose Class is the picture of serenity. He’s the center of everything. He’s the only one who can corral the chaotic opinions of the other youngsters! We adults can’t make things move nearly that smoothly! He’s our emergency button!
Is it really so wrong of me to think I should just hand him the teaching license already? If you saw how well he manages those kids, you’d reach the same conclusion! Well, okay, a teacher’s job involves more than just that, but…
”…What should we do?” I asked.
”There is nothing ‘to do.’ We simply fulfill our duties,” Principal Seiko replied.
That’s true. With a veteran like Principal Seiko here, we’ll manage! The kids in the Rose Class have grown a lot, too!
—
Summary:
Makoto catches a cold after shielding his classmates from a hose mishap. His mother takes a day off to care for him, causing him adult-like guilt. Meanwhile, Suu-chan’s parents and his kindergarten teachers panic over his absence, realizing he is the true pillar of the Rose Class.
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Trivia:
- Makoto keeps health records of his own temperature, showing his abnormal discipline for a child.
- The fever (37.6°C / 99.7°F) is technically low, but Makoto’s morning baseline makes it a valid reason for absence.
- The teachers feel incompetent because a toddler does their job better than they do.
- Maa-kun is the affectionate nickname Mother uses for Makoto
—
Character Insight:
Makoto’s maturity is highlighted through his internal monologue regarding ‘cringey pasts’ and his concern for his mother’s work schedule. The teachers’ reliance on him indicates he has completely subverted the power dynamic in his classroom.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the cold as a narrative device to show the vacuum left behind when a ‘perfect’ protagonist is temporarily removed from the setting.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Mio – 28‑year‑old pregnant mother of Suu‑chan, round belly, bed‑resting; wife of Mitsuhisa (164 cm, 57 kg, baby‑faced, G‑cup curves, elegant in gray). 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, devotes herself to her daughter’s education, playful, theatrical, neighbor/family friend in a joint‑destiny child‑rearing unit. Recently returned from hospital after delivering twins, the Totsuka mother is the family’s mood‑maker.
• Shiho – Three‑year‑old Rose‑Class girl with shoulder‑length hair in a side‑up ponytail, wearing a white kitten‑themed placemat and training chopsticks. Sleepy, she leans on Makoto’s “secret” advice and makes mud dumplings. Neighbor of the Yoshikura family, classmate and peer of Makoto, younger sister of Hina, friend of Suu‑chan and Yuma. Older sister in the senior group, quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention, wishes happiness for the Tanabata deities, overcame a childhood fear of water to love swimming, and is kind and considerate of Suzuka’s feelings.
• Akari – 28‑year‑old single banker, 168 cm, 56 kg, dark‑brown hair, slender, melancholic smile, in a gray casual pantsuit after childcare leave; lives beside best friend Mio, drives a black light‑compact car, cares for newborn son, prefers quiet home, feels guilty missing the party. Mother of Maa‑kun and Makoto, poised in high‑class settings, observant and mischievous, uncovered Makoto’s secret English study. Also Suu‑chan’s mother monitors Makoto’s health via a ‘status report’ network with other parents.
• Makoto – Maa‑kun, a 93 cm, 13 kg three‑year‑old in a neat shirt, cap and backpack, sits in a booster seat in Hinomori’s Rose Class. Reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman living with the Totsuka family, he hides architectural skill, social savvy and English fluency. Quiet leader, Suzuka‑chan’s protector, mediates, cool‑detached yet athletic (recently injured palm); his mother calls him Maa‑kun.
• Seiko – Veteran educator and kindergarten principal, she leads Rose Class with a steely, battle‑hardened aura. Her sharp, icy gaze and realistic outlook make her polite yet intimidating when serious; Miku calls her an ogre when angry.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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