Volume 3 Chapter 64 Hina’s Ambition
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Hina-arare¹ is delicious. Since I’ve been eating nothing but sweets lately, these salty snacks taste even better than usual. Apparently, the seasoning for these little rice crackers differs between the Kanto and Kansai regions. If these had been the Kanto style, I probably wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from reaching for more. Munch, munch.
Anyway, it’s the Doll Festival-Hinamatsuri². It’s an event meant to celebrate and pray for the healthy growth of young girls. While it’s a holiday that doesn’t have much to do with the Yashiro household, our neighbors happen to have a very, very cute little girl. The Totsuka family really went all out for their daughter; they have a massive seven-tier display featuring all fifteen Hina dolls. Setting it up is a total nightmare, and it takes up a significant chunk of their cramped apartment, but seeing it all put together is a pretty grand sight.
However, this year’s festival is a bit different. What’s been weighing on the minds of the Totsuka parents is what to do about dolls for Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan. (Wait, don’t they already have a perfectly good set?) I thought, but it turns out the rule is generally one set per person. Having been raised in a house full of guys in my previous life, I had no clue.
If they were to buy another full set-something equivalent to Suu-chan’s-the Totsuka living room would be completely overrun. It would turn into a full-blown showroom. Because of those space issues, if it’s hard to get a second set, parents often opt for more compact options like “standing dolls,” “hanging Hina,” or “Ichimatsu doll³.” Still, the girls would probably be happier having their own dolls, and the parents don’t want to play favorites. Even if they haven’t been around as long, all three girls are equally precious.
It’s easy to say pretty things like that, but “adult circumstances” eventually rear their head. You have to make peace with reality. Between Suu-chan’s growing toy collection and the baby crib being moved back and forth between the living room and bedroom, the Totsuka family has zero leftover space. As it stands, they’re already “renting” storage space from the Yashiro family for things they rarely use, like off-season clothes and travel bags. Even the Hina dolls get tucked away in our closet when the festival is over. Since my Mother and I are hardly ever home-we basically just come back to sleep-we don’t mind at all. In fact, since I spend most of my time hanging out at the Totsuka place anyway, it’s a fair trade.
Since moping around the house wasn’t solving anything, we decided to let the “big sister” decide what to do about the dolls. Shortly after the New Year, the Totsuka ladies, my Mother, and I all headed to the store to check out the selection. The first thing we ran into was the Ichimatsu dolls.
”Suu-chan, what do you think of this one?” Mio-san asked. She held Suu-chan up so she could go eye-to-eye with an Ichimatsu doll encased in glass. Suu-chan just stared at it. I wondered if she actually liked it. No offense to the dolls or the craftsmen, but there’s just something about that realism that feels strangely eerie. To be honest, if I saw one of those in a dark room, there’s a good chance I’d pee my pants. For the sake of my mental health and the safety of my bladder, I really hoped they’d skip this one.
Maybe she picked up on my vibes, because Suu-chan’s eyes kept darting back and forth between my face and the doll. “…Hehe. Maa-kun is cuter, so I don’t want it,” Suu-chan said.
”I see,” said Mio. My Mother chimed in with her agreement.
I felt a wave of relief that it wasn’t chosen… wait, hang on! How did she even reach that conclusion? Why “cute” and not “cool”? I mean, I won’t complain about a favorable verdict, but still…
”Maybe we should have Maa-kun try on some clothes like that next time,” Mio-san suggested.
”Yeah!” Suu-chan agreed.
(Wait, what?! Is that where this is going?!) I decided to stay quiet and try to be as inconspicuous as possible, hoping everyone would just forget that part of the conversation…
Moving on. Next up: “Hanging Hina.” Since I’m not exactly an expert on Doll Festival culture, I couldn’t really picture what these were supposed to be. Based on the name alone, I had a slightly dark mental image of dolls hanging from strings like those paper ghost charm⁴… but fortunately, I was wrong. Seeing them in person, they reminded me of those mobile toys that spin over a newborn’s head-basically a “Madoka-style” version of that. However, they looked pretty delicate, so they weren’t exactly meant to be baby toys. They’re nice to look at, but they’d be dangerous for the twins, who try to grab absolutely everything.
Suu-chan tilted her head at the hanging decorations. “Mama, what’s this?” she asked.
”It’s called a Hanging Hina… uh, what was the meaning behind it again?” Mio-san asked. She had a total brain fart. My Mother stepped in to bail her out.
”I think they’re decorated as a wish that the child will never struggle for food, clothing, or shelter,” Akari-san explained.
”Right, right! That’s it. As expected of Akari,” said Mio.
”Well, the explanation is literally written right here on this sign…” Mother said. She pointed to a small placard in the corner.
”What’s ‘food-clothing-shelter’?” Suu-chan asked.
”It’s a fancy way of saying clothes, food, and a place to live,” I explained.
”Never struggle?” Suu-chan asked.
”Yeah. It means you’ll always be able to buy the clothes you want, have plenty to eat when you’re hungry, and always have a home to go back to,” I replied.
”…Because Mama and Papa are working hard?” Suu-chan asked.
Wow… I was genuinely moved by how mature Suu-chan was being. She actually understood who was providing those things for her and who she should be grateful to. When an adult says it, it sounds like they’re just a freeloader making excuses, but coming from her… man, my heart actually ached a little. While I was busy having a private emotional crisis, Mio-san smiled happily and started talking about the future.
”That’s right. Papa is working very hard. But someday, when you’re all grown up, you’ll be just like Mama and the others,” Mio-san said.
”…Mm,” Suu-chan replied. She nodded, but her heart didn’t seem in it. Maybe she couldn’t picture the future yet. She is only four, after all. But for now, that’s fi-
”But Maa-kun is here,” Suu-chan added.
”Well, that might be fine for you, Suu-chan, but what about Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan?” Mio-san asked.
”? …Is Maa-kun not gonna be there?” Suu-chan asked.
”Pfft… You’re right! As long as Maa-kun is there, everything will be just fine!” said Mio.
”Yeah!” Suu-chan cheered.
”Maa-kun, looks like you’ve got a lot of responsibility on your shoulders,” Mother teased.
(It is not fine!) My Mother just had to jump in and fuel the fire. I don’t mind being relied on, but the responsibility of supporting everyone is a bit much… I mean, what kind of “future map” does Suu-chan have drawn in her head? Well, Mio-san and Mother weren’t being serious. It’s just kid talk. Yeah, it’s just Suu-chan’s little joke. (But please, for the love of God, don’t ever say that in front of Mitsuhisa-san, okay?)
”Well, I guess that settles it then,” said Mio. She was holding back a laugh as we left the hanging display section.
Finally, we reached the actual Hina doll area. When you think of the Doll Festival, this is what you’re looking for. There were way more varieties than I expected. They had everything from single tiers to seven-tier sets, ranging from hyper-realistic to stylized “chibi” versions. They even had ones where a white kitten or a world-famous mouse character were dressed up in traditional robes. I’d heard these dolls were supposed to ward off evil-is it really okay to use mascot characters? Does “if it sells, it sells” apply even to spiritual protection?
”…This one?” Suu-chan pointed. It was another seven-tier set, just like the one they already had.
”Hmm, that might be tough for our apartment,” Mio-san said.
”Tough?” Suu-chan asked.
”If we put two more of those in the house, there won’t be any room left to play. You won’t be able to flirt with Maa-kun anymore,” Mio-san said.
”I don’t want that!” Suu-chan cried. She shook her head “no-no” and started scanning the floor with a dead-serious expression. Then, something clicked. “I want that one,” she said. She pointed to a smaller “Imperial” set. It was a simple single-tier display with just the Emperor and Empress dolls. It would take up almost no space.
But Suu-chan had another reason. “This one looks easy to put away,” she said.
Everyone went silent. She wasn’t wrong. It would be much easier to set up and pack back into its box. We wouldn’t have to spend all day hauling boxes between houses and making a mess. There was also less risk of losing small pieces during cleaning. I mean, Mitsuhisa-san and I were the ones doing most of the heavy lifting anyway… I guess it did cut into our “flirting” time.
Mio-san glanced at the price tag and hesitated. Even if it was compact, it was still a piece of art, and it had a price tag to match.
”Also, it looks like Maa-kun,” Suu-chan added.
”Let’s go with this one then,” said Mio.
”Yeah!” Suu-chan agreed.
I had so many retorts ready. How exactly did it look like me? Why was that the deciding factor? And what does it mean that a doll resembling me is supposed to ward off evil? I’m choosing to believe there wasn’t any deep, insulting meaning behind it.
And so, the Totsuka family welcomed two new sets of dolls. Now, a pair of Hina dolls for Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan sits perched on either side of the TV stand. Even though they’re the same type, they’re slightly different-the expressions, the colors of the robes. It almost feels like a reflection of the twins’ own personalities. Suu-chan brought the dolls over to the baby crib, holding them up over the railing to show her sisters. Even as a child, she was probably praying for her sisters to grow up healthy and strong.
Watching the three of them, I popped another piece of hina-arare into my mouth. I wasn’t just going to wish for them to grow up well; I started thinking about what I could actually do to make it happen.
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Summary:
The chapter follows the Yashiro and Totsuka families as they prepare for Hinamatsuri. Faced with limited space, the Totsuka family must decide on Hina dolls for their younger twins. After a trip to the department store, the eldest daughter Suu chooses compact dolls based on their practicality and a perceived resemblance to the protagonist.
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Trivia:
- Suu’s comment about ‘Mama and Papa working hard’ indicates she is much more perceptive of household dynamics than a typical four-year-old.
- The recurring theme of ‘flirting’ with Maa-kun, though played for laughs, suggests Suu is mentally claiming the protagonist as her future partner.
- The shared storage space between the families highlights a level of codependency that goes beyond simple neighborliness
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Character Insight:
Suu’s dominance in the decision-making process shows her ‘big sister’ role emerging, while the protagonist’s silent internal monologue regarding the financial burden of the family reflects his transition from a passive observer to someone feeling a sense of future responsibility.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter details the specific customs of Hinamatsuri in modern Japan, including regional snack differences (Kanto vs. Kansai) and the traditional ‘one set per person’ rule for dolls.
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TL Notes:
Localizing ‘teru teru bozu’ as ‘paper ghost charms’ preserves the visual humor for readers unfamiliar with Japanese rain-prevention talismans.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Hina – Shiho’s older sister presents a gentle aura with long hair and a flowing dress. Though typically quiet, she lights up with excitement whenever she wins.
• 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.
• Fuu – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Currently learning to swivel their head and grab objects.
• Kyo – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Shared traits with Fuu-chan.
• Mio – Mio-P, 28, pregnant Totsuka resident, round belly, baby‑faced charm, elegant gray outfits accentuating her G‑cup curves (164 cm, 57 kg). Former relay/badminton star turned teacher, cook, photographer; bakes strawberry shortcake & chirashi‑zushi, babysits Ma‑kun, nudges his marriage to Suu‑chan. Playful neighbor, family friend, “Love Guru,” stages birthday sketches, narrates childhood memories, mothers Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan, avoids crowds, quietly guides destinies with warmth.
• Madoka – A character or peer mentioned as the person for whom the ‘Rose Rangers’ stay quiet.
• Akari – 28‑year‑old single mother, long dark‑brown hair, subtle makeup, poised and observant. Lives beside best friend Mio, drives a black light‑compact car, cares for newborn son Maa‑kun and raises Makoto. After childcare leave she works in IT for balance, prefers quiet home, feels guilty missing the party. Strict yet loving, polite, estranged from her own parents, mischievous, monitors Makoto’s health via a ‘status report’ network.
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa, 33, 184 cm, 71 kg, reserved and scowling yet toned, works from home on modified childcare leave. Husband of Mio, father of Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan; protective and doting toward the younger twins. He quietly films family life, is distant with photographer Akari, shares dark banter with former teammate Makoto, unsettled by his influence, and shows quiet pride holding the twins at Suu‑chan’s birthday.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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