Volume 3 Chapter 51 Girls’ Night Out ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Good work today, everyone~!”
Our “Girls’ Night Out” had officially begun. We finished the closing ceremony this morning, so it was finally winter break… or so we’d like to think. But such is the life of a Teacher¹. A deep cleaning of the kindergarten awaits us early next week. We’d hire professionals for the heavy lifting, but the “grime” we had to scrub away wasn’t just physical; there was a year’s worth of mental clutter to clear out too.
Our work for the year wasn’t technically over, but we’d successfully sent the Youngsters² off for their break. Since we pushed the annoying tasks to Monday and managed to clock out early, tonight we were living large at a luxury hotel buffet. Since it was Christmas, the cake selection was the real prize. We made it just under the wire.
”Ahhhh! That hits the spot!”
Teacher Miku and Ai-sensei immediately quenched their parched throats with soft drinks. I really wished they’d stop making those satisfied “old man” noises; it felt so out of place in a nice hotel that I was actually embarrassed for them.
”Phew… I can finally see the light at the end of the year,” said Miku.
”Tell me about it,” Ai replied.
Naturally, those two couldn’t care less about appearances. I understood the feeling—working as a Teacher makes you lose interest in the small stuff—but I really had to wonder if this was the kind of example we should be setting for the Youngsters. If you don’t stay vigilant, your true colors start to show.
”What’s with the long face, Riko-sensei?” asked Ai.
”Maybe she’s having a crisis of conscience because she’s spending Christmas with two other women?” Miku teased.
”……”
The two of them suddenly went silent. (Why are you guys self-destructing on your own? I haven’t even said a word yet!)
”W-well, anyway, let’s just eat,” I said. “Getting depressed isn’t going to conjure up a boyfriend out of thin air.”
”True enough,” Miku agreed.
”Alright, I’m going to conquer every item on this menu!” shouted Ai.
They certainly were quick to pivot. Being a kindergarten Teacher really builds that mental muscle. The three of us got up to raid the spread. There were so many options it was dizzying. I decided to take small portions so I wouldn’t bottom out too early: a leafy green salad to start, then some vermicelli salad, croissants, Umaki³ omelets, carpaccio, beef tenderloin steak, and a cup of consommé… that should be a good first round.
”Welcome back,” Miku said.
”I’m back,” I replied.
Teacher Miku was already back at the table. Her decision-making was lightning fast. (I suppose that’s the wisdom of age… though I’d never say that out loud if I value my life.)
”You’re eating a lot, Riko-sensei!” Miku noted.
”I skipped my afternoon snack and had a light lunch just for this,” I explained.
Teacher Miku’s tray was more eclectic: salad, grilled rice balls, shumai, chili shrimp, dashi-rolled eggs, and Chinese egg soup. A modest start, but she was clearly planning on doing multiple laps. Just like me.
”Where’s Ai-sensei?” Miku asked.
”Still holding out in the trenches, I assume,” I said.
Ai has a massive appetite. Even the school lunches at the kindergarten aren’t enough for her; she’s notorious for sneaking homemade rice balls during the Youngsters’ nap time.
”Sorry to keep you waiting!” Ai chirped.
”You took forever,” Miku said.
”I couldn’t help it! There was just too much good stuff!”
Ai’s tray was a mountain: three types of pizza, garlic cheese toast, roasted duck, roast beef, a mackerel burger, beef tenderloin, Neapolitan pasta, and a side of curry rice. It was a “naughty kid” plate if I ever saw one.
”Oh, man, I missed the chili shrimp!” Ai groaned.
”Just go back for it later,” said Miku.
”True. Well then… Itadakimasu!”
”Itadakimasu!”
”Let’s eat!”
We clapped our hands together. No one else in the restaurant seemed to be doing it, but for us, it was a hard-wired habit.
”Mmm, so good!” Ai said.
”Chew your food, Ai,” Miku warned.
”…I know, Mom,” Ai grumbled.
”I’m not your mother!” Miku snapped.
”I know that!”
We spent the next hour savoring the feast, eventually moving on to the dessert cakes. That cheesecake melting on my tongue was pure bliss.
”By the way, Miku-sensei, didn’t you have a Christmas date with Meguro-sensei?” Ai asked suddenly.
”Gah—!“
The sudden topic change made Teacher Miku choke. (Ai could have at least waited until she finished her mouthful…)
”No… it’s not like that with Meguro-sensei…” Miku stammered.
”Sigh… If our eldest, Miku-sensei, doesn’t make a move, how are we supposed to? Right, Riko-sensei?”
”Exactly,” I said. “I just wish she’d go for broke already, even if she ends up broken.”
”Hey! Don’t wish for me to be broken!” Miku cried.
”Sorry, it just slipped out,” I said.
”What do you mean ‘slipped out’!?”
The fact that Teacher Miku has a thing for Meguro-sensei is common knowledge among the female staff. As far as I can tell, she has no competition, so I can’t help but think she should just confess and get it over with.
”The thing is… I just don’t know anymore…” Miku said, her voice trailing off. “Watching a couple like Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan… it makes me wonder if my ‘like’ is actually ‘love’ at all.”
”Ah…” I whispered. Ai, who barely interacts with the kids, looked completely lost.
”Are they really that intense?” Ai asked.
”They are. Honestly, they’ve raised my standards for men to an impossible level,” I admitted.
”Right!?” Miku exclaimed.
Since Teacher Miku is often on the photography crew for them, she’s probably fallen in love with the idea of what Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan have—a relationship built on absolute trust where you can give your entire soul to the other person. Actually, I think most girls—kids and adults alike—just want to be treated as “special” as Suzuki-chan is.
”Even Teacher Chie and Teacher Karina were muttering about wanting to dump their guys and find someone new after seeing them,” I added.
”…Wait, that’s seriously messed up!” Ai shouted. “What kind of terrifying influence do these kids have!?”
I’m sure they were joking—they both have kids of their own, after all. But they were very serious when they said they wanted their husbands to take a page out of Makoto-kun’s book.
”Haaa… besides, I don’t even know if Meguro-sensei sees me that way…” Miku said, sounding defeated.
Teacher Miku was officially depressed. That uncertainty is the worst. Makoto-kun and his girl can be so bold only because they are 100% certain their feelings are mutual. Watching a pair of five-year-olds have a more functional romantic life than us was starting to get painful.
(Ai-sensei, do something!) I hissed.
(Me!?!)
(Yes! You’re the one who teased her! Take responsibility and cheer her up!)
(Ugh… fine…)
We held a frantic, hushed strategy meeting. It was Christmas, after all; we couldn’t let Miku-sensei end the night like this.
”Miku-sensei,” Ai started.
”Yeah?”
”For now, just take the plunge. Action is everything! If you go for broke and end up broken, so be it!”
”…I told you, the ‘broken’ part is the problem,” Miku replied flatly.
A perfectly calm retort. Nice. Her ability to bounce back really is top-tier. And so, tonight’s Girls’ Night Out remained a lively, happy affair.
* * *
”More importantly, I’m worried about you two,” Miku said, turning the tables. “Don’t tell me you don’t have a single juicy story between you?”
”Uuu… Miku-sensei is bullying us now!” Ai whined.
”…Ai-sensei, didn’t you bring this on yourself?” I asked.
”Gah!“
”Putting our resident muscle-brain aside, what about you, Riko-sensei?” Miku asked.
”……Well, seeing as I had the massive responsibility of being a homeroom teacher this year…… I simply haven’t had the luxury of time to pursue romance, as it were……”
”And you two had the nerve to tease me?” Miku scoffed.
”……We have no defense, ma’am,” I replied.
—
Summary:
The kindergarten teachers celebrate the start of winter break with a luxury hotel buffet on Christmas. The conversation quickly shifts from work exhaustion to their stagnant romantic lives. They reflect on how the exceptionally pure relationship of two students, Makoto and Suzuki, has inadvertently raised their own romantic standards to impossible heights.
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Trivia:
- The ‘mental grime’ of the kindergarten suggests that working with the reincarnated protagonist and his partner is emotionally taxing for the staff.
- Miku’s role in the ‘photography crew’ indicates she has high-quality footage of the main couple, which likely fuels the staff’s obsession.
- The mention of other teachers (Chie and Karina) wanting to ‘dump their guys’ shows that the main couple’s influence is spreading like a ‘terrifying’ virus through the adult staff
—
Character Insight:
The dynamic between Miku, Ai, and Riko is one of weary camaraderie. Miku’s vulnerability regarding her crush on Meguro-sensei is contrasted with Riko’s cynical detachment and Ai’s energetic gluttony. They are united by a shared sense of romantic ‘defeat’ when comparing themselves to their five-year-old students.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter highlights the social atmosphere of a modern Japanese kindergarten. It emphasizes ‘Teacher’ as a specific professional identity and ‘Youngsters’ as the collective term for the students, suggesting a specific institutional culture surrounding the care of children.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘Teacher’ was preserved as a proper noun/title because it was written in English/Katakana in the raw, signifying a specific professional label the characters apply to themselves. ‘Umaki’ is a specific Japanese dish (eel-wrapped omelet) requiring a footnote for US readers.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Miku – Miku-sensei, the eldest kindergarten teacher and lead of the Small Class photography crew, is petite, patient, and deeply respected by students and staff. She obsessively collects expensive camera gear, draining her marriage savings, while hiding her secret love for sweet romance manga behind educational manuals and an aversion to alcohol. Her quiet, unrequited crush on coworker Meguro is an open secret among colleagues, shaping her quiet demeanor and dedication to capturing fleeting childhood moments through her lens.
• Ai – She is the homeroom teacher of the Chrysanthemum Class and Riko’s senior—dark‑brown short bob hair, former long‑distance track star known as a stamina beast. Athletic and unrefined, she speaks in regional dialects when stressed, drives a car and never drinks. Her frantic voice often cuts through drills in the room next to the narrator.
• Riko – Lead teacher of Rose Class and PE instructor at Hinomori Kindergarten, she also doubles as school nurse, clad in rash guard and athletic shorts for pool duties. Calm, observant, and dryly cynical in her internal monologue—judging coworkers with sharp wit—she radiates quiet warmth in lessons, guiding children through conflicts, tending flowerbeds, leading excursions, performing magic tricks, and reading story shows. Impressed by Maa-kun’s athletic prowess, she’s increasingly aware of Makoto’s unusual maturity and subtle influence on the class, finding solace in their quiet presence amid her loneliness.
• Meguro – A 28‑29‑year‑old single man, 179‑180 cm tall, 67 kg, lives below the Totsukas on the first floor. He works as a kindergarten office clerk and Teacher (teacher/staff), giving information to Makoto. An amateur prize‑winning photographer and avid road‑bike rider, he cycles regularly.
• Makoto – Akari’s four-year-old son, Maa-kun, is a polite, clever, and observant boy who displays maturity beyond his years, acting as a gentle, protective figure—especially toward Suu-chan—in his kindergarten class. At 93 cm and 13 kg, he sits in a booster seat in Hinomori’s Rose Class, dressed in a neat shirt, cap, and backpack, concealing his true identity as the reincarnated 30-year-old salaryman living with the Totsuka family. Exceptionally intelligent, he reads and writes Kanji, learns English fluently, and approaches life with an adult-like efficiency. Quietly authoritative, he mediates conflicts, hides his architectural skills and social savvy, and is admired by peers and adults alike, though his mother still calls him Maa-kun. Recently injured palm aside, he remains athletic and deeply considerate, supporting his mother and neighbors with quiet grace.
• Suzuki – 4‑year‑old Suu‑chan, daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa, wears a topknot, braided pigtails, sleepy sparkling eyes, pink rain boots and a tiny umbrella. She’s competitive yet nervous, hugs and pouts, coordinates Makoto’s things, and calls him her boyfriend. Close friend of sandbox‑leader Maa‑kun; in Hinomori’s Younger Class she’s shy, sits in a booster seat, clings to Makoto, once had seaweed on a tooth after a Rose‑Class footrace. Now pregnant‑mother’s older sister, energetic, follows Makoto with a sad big‑sister air, and as the narrator’s daughter she loves Maa‑kun and her father Mii‑kun, caring for her new younger sisters.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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