Volume 3 Chapter 69 Girls’ Night Out ④
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Good work today~!”
And so, the girls’ night out officially began.
Graduation practice is in full swing. It’s that time of year when the teachers in charge of the Older Class get all sentimental – a mix of pride and heartbreak as they watch their little ones prepare to fly the coop. For those of us in Pre-K, we feel it too, obviously, but we’re so busy running around like headless chickens getting ready for the new school year that we’re a bit more grounded. Being a lead teacher is such a grind…
”Puh-haaaa!”
The way those two are throwing back their drinks, you’d think they were trying to exorcise the day’s demons. Looking at them, you’d never guess we were just having a cafe lunch… or that Miku-sensei was drinking a caramel latte while Ai-sensei had a matcha latte.
”Ugh… those parent conferences were soul-crushing… That’s it, I’m done. I’m quitting.”, said Ai.
”There, there. You’ve had a rough go of it. Just let it all out, Ai-sensei. Tell Miku-sensei everything…”, Riko replied.
As soon as the refreshing liquid hit her throat, the life seemed to drain out of Ai’s face. It happens every time, so Miku-sensei’s comforting is pretty half-hearted at this point.
”Haaa… I never want to see a parent’s face ever again…”, Ai said.
”……”
Uh-oh. This might actually be serious. Miku-sensei caught my eye; she seemed to be sensing the same red alert.
She’d spent an entire week, weekends included, doing one-on-one parent-sensei conferences for the upcoming school year. It looked like she’d taken some serious emotional damage.
(It’s not like it’s a crime for a kid not to be able to do something yet.
They’ll learn eventually! And it’s not like we aren’t trying to teach them! If you wanted them to master it that fast, why didn’t you teach them yourself?! You can practice potty training at home, can’t you? What the hell were you doing for the three years before they started kindergarten? If they couldn’t do it by then, did it ever occur to you that maybe there’s a different reason? Do you think they just magically gain superpowers the second they walk through these doors? Isn’t discipline supposed to start at home? Stop trying to force your parenting philosophies onto the school’s curriculum! I’m watching your kid, okay? I’m watching them even when you don’t tell me to.
But your kid isn’t the only one here! Why should the entire world revolve around your brat? Why are you playing the victim? The only person I feel sorry for is the kid! The kid who has to grow up looking at the backs of parents like you! Oh, you think you’re special because you have money? Then hire a damn nanny! You don’t need a school! “I’m paying tuition” – well, no shit you’re paying! It’s not a charity! And it’s not like I’m not making my own living here either.
Don’t you dare look down on a single woman’s hustle.
”When are you getting married?” Ha! If I have to turn into a mother like you, I’ll pass, thanks! And you? You’re unemployed! You’ve never worked a real day in your life, so who are you to talk down to me? If you’re a stay-at-home mom, at least manage the basic housework and childcare before you open your mouth! Your husband makes the money.
If he dumps your ass, you’re done. You’d better hope your charm holds out. Besides, any guy who’d pick a woman like you probably isn’t much of a catch anyway. You pay your fees and act like you own the place? Don’t you know the families who are actually loaded are the ones giving the donations? You probably don’t have any friends to tell you that.
You could figure it out if you did an ounce of research, but you’re too oblivious, aren’t you? Because you don’t even realize that the more you bitch about your husband, the more you’re just lowering your own market value.)
”……”
Right. So she’d been stuck playing therapist for some mother’s petty drama.
There’s always a few like that. You go in there to talk about the child’s progress, and the next thing you know, they’re trying to stick their noses into your private life…
I was paired with the formidable Seiko-sensei, so things didn’t go off the rails for me, but Kaori-sensei, the assistant for the Chrysanthemum Class¹, is a total pushover… she was probably defenseless against that mother’s pressure.
”Phew… I feel so much better.”, Ai said.
Having purged her system, Ai’s face was suddenly glowing. She started shoveling salad into her mouth. Her ability to pivot is honestly impressive.
”Being a lead teacher sounds like a nightmare…”, Riko said.
”Tell me about it. I was an assistant for the Older Class last year, but I didn’t think the stress would be this bad. I guess if you don’t have a ‘commanding presence,’ they just walk all over you.”, Ai replied.
”Heh~. I could never do it…”, Miku said.
”Actually, Miku-sensei, you’re kind of…”, Ai started.
”What’s that supposed to mean?”, Miku asked.
”…Nothing. How was it for you, Riko-sensei?”, Ai asked.
”Hey, are you ignoring me?”, Miku interjected.
”It was fine, actually. Most of my meetings were pretty peaceful.”, Riko replied.
”Must be nice in the Rose Class. The kids have a good vibe, so the parents are probably chill too. Plus, you’ve got Seiko-sensei as your literal bodyguard.”, Ai said.
”……Well, ‘bodyguard’ is one way to put it…”, Riko replied.
”Do Miku-sensei and Ai-sensei have a death wish or something?”, Riko asked.
”No… but you know how she is…”, Ai replied.
Having Seiko-sensei by my side is definitely reassuring, don’t get me wrong.
But since I’m also constantly under her watchful eye, I’m always shaking in my boots during meetings, just trying to survive.
”So, Riko-sensei, did you manage to get on the good side of Makoto-kun’s Mom?”, Ai asked.
”I think so. We exchanged contact info, but as for being ‘close’… I don’t think she hates me, at least…”, Riko replied.
My secret goal for this session was to find more excuses to talk to Makoto-kun’s and Suzuki-chan’s mothers. I really wanted to get their personals.
”So you’re starting with the mother. Classic. Capturing the outer wall before moving on the fortress.”, Miku said.
”The age gap is a thing, though. It’s gotta be tough since she’s basically the same age as his mom.”, Ai said.
”What are you two even talking about?”, Riko asked.
They were both smirking at me. They clearly have the wrong idea, but I don’t have those kinds of intentions at all.
I just wanted to ask for her secret. I wanted to know how she raised a kid like Makoto-kun – I was hoping for some wisdom and life lessons.
”By the way, what’s Makoto-kun’s Mom actually like?”, Miku asked.
”Is she a total genius?”, Ai added.
”She said she went to Waseda².”, Riko said.
”Woah.”, Miku said.
”Dayum.”, Ai added.
The apple really didn’t fall far from the tree. Since we’re in the Youngsters Class, we don’t focus on academics, but he’s already mastered math concepts and his vocabulary is basically adult-level. She said she doesn’t do anything special, but I think their daily life is just at such a high level it’s beyond our comprehension.
”And a woman like that is single, huh…”, Ai remarked.
It’s pretty common knowledge that Makoto-kun’s Mom is a single parent. Usually, that leads to nasty rumors among the other parents… but come to think of it, I haven’t heard a single one. Maybe everyone realized that making an enemy out of Makoto-kun and the Yoshikura family is a one-way ticket to disaster.
”She’s just like us!”, Ai cheered.
”Totally the same!”, Miku agreed.
”We’re birds of a feather!”, Ai added.
”Heh, I guess we’ve finally made it to the big leagues…”, Miku said.
”Right~?”, Ai replied.
”……”
…Is that something we should be cheering about? There’s a huge gap between us lonely hearts who can’t find a husband and a mother who pours every ounce of her love into her child. If we keep coddling ourselves like this, aren’t we going to miss the boat entirely…?
”But Makoto-kun’s Mom was pretty gorgeous, wasn’t she? I bet guys are constantly hitting on her.”, Ai said.
”Unlike us, she probably has plenty of chances to meet people~”, Miku added.
”Ah, but from a guy’s perspective, maybe she looks like she has no openings? Like she’s ‘too perfect’ or unapproachable?”, Ai suggested.
”Heh, the struggle of being a ‘Boss Bitch’ is real…”, Miku said.
”You are not a ‘Boss Bitch.’”, Ai replied.
”……”
She might be onto something. Sitting across from her during the conference, she gave off the impression of someone who’s incredibly strict with herself and others. But then, the look she’d give Makoto-kun… it was so soft. That gap was enough to make even another woman’s heart skip a beat.
”I wonder if she’s secretly seeing someone like Suzuki-chan’s Dad…?”, Ai whispered.
”Oh, he’s definitely a hottie. And those muscles…”, Miku added.
”How’d it look from your end, Riko-sensei?”, Ai asked.
They really love this kind of gossip. I mean, it’s not an impossible scenario.
”Hmm, unfortunately, it didn’t look like they had that kind of vibe. Makoto-kun’s mom seems swamped with work, and she only has eyes for Makoto-kun. Plus, Suzuki-chan’s dad is clearly head-over-heels for his wife. It’s like watching Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan as adults.”, Riko replied.
”Oh…”, Ai sighed.
”Bummer…”, Miku added.
Why do you sound so disappointed?!
For the sake of the kids, we should be glad there’s no cheating going on! Are you even teachers?!
”Well, compared to Suzuki-chan’s Mom, I guess…”, Ai said.
”True…”, Riko agreed.
”Yeah.”, Miku added.
If you know Suzuki-chan’s mother, you wouldn’t dare make a move, no matter how much of a hottie the husband is. You couldn’t compete with that.
”If only I had ‘those’…”, Miku lamented.
”……”
Ai-sensei and I both let our eyes drift toward Miku-sensei’s chest.
”Hey! Even you two couldn’t win against her! Stop looking at me like that!”, Miku shouted.
”But… compared to Miku-sensei…”, Ai started.
”Yeah, compared to Miku-sensei, at least we have a chance.”, Riko teased.
”sha-rappu!”, Miku barked.
”There, there.”, Riko said.
To be honest, I’m a little jealous of Suzuki-chan’s Mom. My genuine impression of her is the woman who has everything.
That face, that chest, that waist… she’s every man’s dream, but I bet she gets a lot of hate from other women. Her husband is a hottie, he’s polite, and he’s constantly doting on her. Their kids are smart and sweet, and Suzuki-chan already has two little sisters… they’re just so blessed.
”Oh, by the way, I heard Suzuki-chan’s Mom has her kindergarten teaching license.”, Riko mentioned.
”Right, let’s scout her. Now.”, Ai said.
”Seriously. Raising Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan is a better resume than any degree.”, Miku agreed.
So she could be a teacher. But just because she can doesn’t mean she will.
”I think it’d be a hard sell. She just had a newborn.”, Riko said.
”Oh, right.”, Ai noted.
”But isn’t it worth a shot? She could put the baby in the three-year-old program or something.”, Miku suggested.
”Hmm, I don’t think so. she was pretty set on raising them at home until they’re three.”, Riko replied.
She wants to make sure they get plenty of parental love…
She said she even planned the birth of her second child to make sure the older kids were at least three so they wouldn’t feel neglected.
”Is she a stay-at-home mom now?”, Ai asked.
”Looks like it.”, Riko replied.
”Was she always?”, Miku asked.
”No, she apparently worked at a regular company after university. That’s where she met her husband. They got married, had kids, and then she became a stay-at-home mom.”, Riko explained.
”Heh~”, Ai sighed.
”Maybe I should have become a teacher after I got married…”, Ai lamented.
Ai-sensei was biting her lip in regret, and honestly, I felt the same.
We’re the single ones who just went with the flow, graduating college and diving straight into the school system. On the other hand, those Moms knew exactly what they wanted and fought to get the future they envisioned. I guess happiness really is just the result of a very well-planned life…
”Should I go back to school…? Start over…?”, Ai wondered.
”Don’t talk crazy, it’s too late for us.”, Miku said.
”Ugh, are you acting all high-and-mighty just because you’ve got a guy you like? You haven’t even started dating! You haven’t even done anything! Hurry up and get his number already. You’re not in middle school.”, Ai teased.
”Sh-Shut up! I already have his LINE³ info!”, Miku stammered.
”Oho…”, Ai smirked.
”Interesting…”, Riko added.
”Wait… you guys…”, Miku started.
I’ve heard enough. Ai-sensei, do it! Get your man!
—And so, another girls’ night out came to a fun, rowdy end.
”Ugh… Miku-sensei, stop resisting!”, Ai shouted.
”That is crossing a major line!”, Miku protested.
”You can’t do this, Miku-sensei. You’re too timid on your own. If we don’t ‘help’ you, this is never going to happen!”, Riko joined in.
”Exactly! You need us, Miku-sensei!”, Ai added.
”I do not! You guys are just going to make fun of me!”, Miku barked.
”We won’t, we promise.”, Ai said.
”Yeah, cross our hearts.”, Riko added.
”Like I’d ever believe you!”, Miku shouted.
—
Summary:
The kindergarten teachers gather for a girls’ night out to vent about the stress of recent parent-sensei conferences. Ai-sensei undergoes a massive emotional purge, ranting about entitled parents and the frustrations of her job. The conversation eventually shifts to gossip about the ‘perfect’ parents of their students, Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan, highlighting the teachers’ own insecurities regarding their single status and life planning.
—
Trivia:
- The mention of the ‘Yoshikura family’ being dangerous to cross hints at Makoto-kun’s mother having significant social or financial power.
- Miku-sensei having a man she likes and having his LINE info suggests a romantic subplot for the teachers’ side of the story.
- The heavy emphasis on Suzuki-chan’s mother’s ‘perfect’ life and planning suggests a contrast with the teachers’ reactionary lives.
- Makoto-kun’s verbal and cognitive abilities being ‘beyond observation’ confirms he is not a normal child even by high-level standards
—
Character Insight:
The teachers share a deep, informal bond where they can vent aggressively without judgment. Ai and Miku function as a comedic duo, with Miku’s hidden romantic interest becoming a target for the group’s teasing, showing a shift from professional exhaustion to playful interpersonal prying.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The world mirrors modern Japan with prestige education markers like Waseda University. The kindergarten setting is divided into specific classes (Rose, Chrysanthemum) and age groups (Pre-K, Older Class), showing a structured educational environment.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘Boss Bitch’ was used to localize ‘dekiru onna’ (capable woman) to match the rowdy, informal vibe of a girls’ night out. ‘Waseda’ is a real-world elite university in Japan, serving as a signifier of the mother’s high status.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Miku – Miku‑sensei, petite and patient, leads the Small Class photography crew and teaches kindergarten. She obsessively buys pricey camera gear, draining her savings, while secretly devouring romance manga and avoiding alcohol. Her quiet, unrequited crush on coworker Meguro is an open secret; she’s also the straight‑man to Ai’s antics and a gossip participant.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob hair, former long‑distance track star turned homeroom teacher of Chrysanthemum Class and Riko’s senior, athletic yet unrefined, drives a car and never drinks. When stressed she slips into regional dialects and a frantic voice pierces drills in the next room. Now a kindergarten teacher, she vents bluntly during off‑duty parent‑teacher conferences, single and frustrated with her job.
• Riko – Riko‑sensei, lead teacher of Rose Class and PE instructor at Hinomori Kindergarten, also serves as school nurse. She wears a rash guard and athletic shorts for pool duties, exuding calm, observant warmth. Internally dry‑cynical, she judges coworkers sharply but finds quiet solace in Makoto’s subtle influence and Maa‑kun’s skill. She conducts progress interviews, observes children’s dynamics, works alongside Seiko‑sensei, and attends a girls’ night out with colleagues.
• Seiko – Veteran kindergarten teacher and Rose Class leader, she exudes a steely, battle‑hardened aura with an icy gaze; polite yet intimidating, she’s dubbed an ‘ogre’ when angry and a ‘demon with a metal club’ for her dignified presence. Partner to Riko, senior to Akiko, and assistant at Hinomori Kindergarten, she blends playful realism with school‑politics savvy.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old Maa‑kun (93 cm, 13 kg) wears a white shirt, light‑blue vest, trousers, cap and backpack. A reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman known as “Boss” and “Toilet Master,” he leads the Rose Rangers, reads kanji, speaks English, and mediates conflicts. Calm, cynical, protective of Suu‑chan, revered by peers, receives 22 Valentines, while his father doubts his gender. Attends Youngsters Class, dependable, called Maa‑kun.
• Suzuki – Suu‑chan, a doll‑like 4‑year‑old with dark braided pigtails, a topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes and pink rain boots, is Makoto’s fiercely possessive self‑proclaimed girlfriend. Pregnant and older sister, she’s quietly popular, hugs often, clutches a pink candy tin, pouts, and still remembers seaweed on her tooth. Clever, independent, model‑student in Youngsters & Preschool (born April), clingy and affectionate with Makoto at home, cherishes father Mii‑kun and best friend Maa‑kun, navigating competitiveness with quiet grace.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply