Volume 3 Chapter 58 A Small Feat
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
One winter morning, Shiho was waiting for the kindergarten bus as she always did, accompanied by her older sister, her sister’s friends, and her own childhood friend. To her, kindergarten was a sanctuary where she could see her favorite friends. She looked forward to it so much that as the weekend drew near, she often thought, (I wish the days off would just disappear…).
Today, however, her face was tight and strained. She didn’t look like she was enjoying herself at all.
”Do you think… he’ll take it?”
”It’ll be fine, Shiho. Just give it your best shot!”
She tried to voice her restless anxiety, and while she received encouragement from her beloved Mama, the clouds didn’t lift from Shiho’s face. And for good reason. For Shiho, this was the greatest challenge of her life. Her opponent was an impregnable fortress¹. Whether she truly understood the gravity of that was doubtful, but even at her age, she surely sensed it.
That opponent was Makoto-kun.
Anyone connected to the Rose Class had certainly heard his name. He was the star of the class-kind, brilliant, and adored by everyone. He was held in high regard by both the teachers and the parents. And, as always, his future bride was right there by his side, their mutual affection plain for all to see.
Shiho had first met him on the day of the entrance ceremony². She had been marking the days on her calendar, waiting with bated breath for the day she could finally attend the same kindergarten her sisters spoke of so happily. When the day finally arrived, Shiho dressed in her absolute best, determined to make new friends. But the sheer number of unfamiliar adults and children sent her into a panic. Her childhood friend, who was supposed to be there, had stayed home sick. Even her Mama, her only pillar of support, had been separated from her for the parent orientation. Shiho was utterly alone.
All around her, children who already knew each other were forming groups and laughing. It was exactly the kindergarten life she had dreamed of-but she couldn’t find a way into the circle. She felt isolated, crushed by a loneliness that felt like it would swallow her whole. That was when a voice called out.
”Are you okay?”
It was Makoto.
A stranger? And a boy? Shiho was so startled she didn’t even know if he was talking to her. She simply froze. Their eyes met, and she realized he was indeed talking to her, but the words wouldn’t come. Even so, the boy didn’t seem bothered. He spoke to her gently and slowly. He noticed the hair clip she’d picked out especially for that day and told her it was “cute.” He asked for her name, told her his, and asked if they could be friends.
To him, it might have been nothing more than a casual act of kindness toward a nearby classmate. But to Shiho, it was everything. She had been alone in a strange place, heart racing and miserable. She had been one second away from hating the kindergarten she was supposed to love. Because of that moment, it was only natural that Shiho saw Makoto-kun as someone special from the very first day. It didn’t take long at all for her to want to be by his side.
Makoto was a mysterious boy. Unlike other boys, he never teased or pestered her. No matter the situation, he was always composed, gentle, and kind. He was different from her childhood friend; being with Makoto brought a sense of security. He taught her things, and whenever she was in trouble, he would quietly reach out a hand to help. He was good at sports, smart in class, and great at games. He had so many friends, yet he was always at the edges. It was as if he maintained a calculated distance from everyone, never letting them get closer than necessary. Whether he did it to avoid making the girl always by his side jealous, or because he planned on disappearing one day, or if he just found it all a bit of a chore-no one but the boy himself knew the truth.
Despite that, Shiho managed to spend more time with Makoto-kun than almost anyone else. The reason was perfectly simple. It was because of Suzuki-chan-Shiho’s best friend and the person she spent the most time with at kindergarten. Suzuki-chan was Shiho’s first real female friend of her own age. She was as cute as a doll and possessed a quiet charm that made her popular with everyone. However, because she was constantly glued to Makoto-kun and was naturally introverted, the hurdle to becoming her friend was incredibly high.
Shiho, having clicked with her perfectly, had become a special existence to Makoto-kun as well. She was one of the very few people who could achieve the impossible: inviting Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan to her house.
The desire to play with friends naturally extends beyond the classroom. Almost every kid in the Rose Class wanted to go to Makoto-kun’s house or have the popular boy visit theirs. A survey of the class would have likely returned a unanimous “Yes.” But Makoto-kun never went to other people’s houses, and he never invited anyone to his. Perhaps it was the location of his home, his mother’s new job, or the fact that his future mother-in-law was pregnant.
Whatever the reason, the only person who had ever successfully invited him over was Shiho’s childhood friend, Yuma. And even that only happened because Shiho’s sisters would bring her to Yuma’s house to play, and she would bring Suzuki-chan along. That was how close Shiho was to Makoto-kun’s inner circle. Even so, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of dread.
”Makoto-kun, do you think he’ll come to Shiho’s birthday party?” Shiho asked.
”If you give him the invitation properly, I’m sure he’ll come,” her sister replied.
”Really?”
”Really.”
An invitation to a birthday party-a feat no one had yet accomplished. Even for a once-a-year event, Makoto-kun had a track record of absolute non-participation. He had his reasons, of course. Birthday parties usually required a “tit-for-tat” invitation style to keep parent relations smooth. Beyond that, Makoto-kun simply wasn’t interested in anyone’s birthday besides Suzuki-chan’s, and he hated anything that cut into his private time with her.
So, he never showed up. Not for anyone. Even when Shiho went to other kids’ parties, Makoto-kun was never there. In fact, if someone as popular as him ever did announce a party, the entire Rose Class would try to crash it, causing total chaos. Shiho remembered vividly when a sharp-eyed kid found out Makoto-kun’s birth month and asked if he was having a party-the whole class had swarmed him before he could even open his mouth.
”Then will Suu-chan come too?”
”Of course! So don’t give up!”
If Makoto-kun wasn’t there, Suzuki-chan wouldn’t be either. She was adamant: “If Maa-kun isn’t going, Ssu isn’t going either.”
Shiho, who had been playing with Suzuki-chan, vividly remembered that scene unfolding before her eyes. It was only natural for her to worry that he would reject her invitation, or simply not show up even if he took it.
With those dark clouds still hanging over her, Shiho boarded the bus and waved goodbye to Mayumi. Tucked safely inside the backpack she clutched was the invitation for her favorite friends.
* * *
Several days passed, and it was finally the day of Shiho’s birthday party. At the Goto household, the scene was similar to last year: her sister, her sister’s friends, and her childhood friend were all there.
But this time, there were two more guests.
”Shi-chan, happy birthday!”
”Suu-chan, thank you!” Shiho cried.
”You’re welcome,” Suzuki-chan replied.
”Shiho-chan, happy fourth birthday,” Makoto said. “Thanks for always playing with Suu-chan.”
”Mhm! Shiho loves playing with Suu-chan!”
Suzuki-chan and Makoto-kun were really there. Shiho had successfully delivered the invitations to both of them. Surrounded by the friends she loved most, she welcomed her fourth birthday with a smile that lit up the entire room.
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Summary:
Shiho, a young girl, overcomes her anxiety to invite the popular and distant Makoto-kun to her birthday party. The chapter explores the backstory of how they met and the social dynamics of their kindergarten class. Against the odds, both Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan attend, marking a significant social milestone for Shiho.
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Trivia:
- Makoto’s ‘distance’ suggests an awareness beyond his years, possibly hinting at reincarnation or a mature perspective.
- The mention of the future mother-in-law’s pregnancy adds a layer of domestic reality to the ‘future bride’ plotline.
- Shiho’s success in inviting them is framed as an ‘unprecedented feat,’ elevating her status within the group’s narrative
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Character Insight:
Shiho solidifies her place as a core member of Makoto and Suzuki’s circle. Makoto demonstrates a willingness to break his ‘non-participation’ rule specifically for Shiho, showing her growing importance to the group.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘Rose Class’ social structure is expanded, revealing how children’s social circles are influenced by parental connections and ‘future bride/groom’ dynamics in this setting.
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TL Notes:
Adapted ‘Nankou-furaku’ as ‘impregnable fortress’ to preserve the dramatic, slightly over-the-top metaphorical tone used by the author for a childhood situation.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Shiho – Four-year-old Rose-Class girl with shoulder-length hair in a side-up ponytail, wearing a white kitten-themed placemat and training chopsticks, deeply attached to her favorite hair clip; younger sister of Hina, classmate and peer of Makoto, close friend of Suu-chan and Yuma, quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention, kind and considerate of Suzuka’s feelings, overcame fear of water to love swimming, leans on Makoto’s “secret” advice to make mud dumplings, and wishes happiness for the Tanabata deities.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old Maa‑kun (93 cm, 13 kg) wears a neat white shirt, light‑blue non‑woven vest, trousers and cap with a backpack in Rose Class. He is a reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman calling himself “Toilet Master”, male despite his father’s view, and is known as Boss by peers. Polite, short‑haired, he protects Suu‑chan, mediates fights, reads Kanji, speaks English, aids his mother and neighbors, and keeps distance from everyone except his “future bride” Suzuki.
• Suzuki – Suu-chan, a doll-like, introverted 4-year-old with a topknot, braided pigtails, sleepy sparkling eyes, pink rain boots, and a tiny umbrella, is Makoto’s devoted self-proclaimed girlfriend who clings to him with a sad big-sister air, coordinates his things, and pouts when upset. Once shy in Hinomori’s Younger Class, now pregnant and older sister to younger girls, she’s fiercely competitive yet nervous, hugs often, and adores her father Mii-kun and best friend Maa-kun. Despite her quiet nature, she’s popular with peers, once had seaweed on her tooth after a Rose-Class race, and remains Makoto’s constant, tender companion.
• Yuma – Frail, sickly kindergarten boy with an idol-like face from a wealthy land-owning family; his real-estate parents shaped his quiet, observant nature. Missed the entrance ceremony due to illness but attends the same kindergarten as Shiho-chan, his childhood friend. Member of Rose Class and Rose Group, younger brother of Miyu-oneesan, and close friend of Makoto. Learns paper-airplane folding from his father, offers technical insights on the Skytree’s triangular base, and now leads the block-building activity.
• Mayumi – Shiho-chan’s mother is an elegant, refined adult woman who accompanies her daughters—older daughter Hina and younger Shiho—to swimming school, assisting them with changing. A graceful presence, she’s a trusted “mom-friend” to Mio-san and close to Nanami and Akari, balancing maternal care with warm, supportive friendships among the parents.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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