Volume 3 Chapter 74 Close-Knit Members
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Well, I figured it would be something like that.
”I made a platform!”
”Yuma, can you make it over?”
”Wait just a sec…”
”Yu-kun, do your best!”
”…There! I made it!”
”Next one!”
”Yeah!”
After Yuma called for backup, I joined a 2D side-scrolling game¹ featuring a certain plumbing old man. It was one of those titles where you could have five players at once if you used the gamepad² with the built-in screen. It looked like he’d been playing with Shiho-chan and Kotaro before we arrived, but they couldn’t quite clear the level and had been looking for a ringer.
”You should have just asked the older girls for help,” I said.
”No way! Today’s my birthday!” Yuma replied.
(Ah, right. Fair enough…)
The star of the show today is Yuma, after all. The Big Sister Squad was probably relegated to playing out in the garden specifically so they wouldn’t end up hogging the controllers from the younger kids.
Suu-chan, Shiho-chan, Yuma, and Kotaro each held a standard controller, while I took the gamepad to place platform blocks and stall enemies. It was fun enough to play while everyone hooted and hollered, but… wasn’t that girl here yet?
”By the way, where’s Jun?” I asked.
”Not here yet!” Shiho shouted.
”She said she was gonna be late!” Yuma added.
As you might have guessed, there was one more member invited today. But until that “Jun-ique” specimen showed up, we couldn’t start the main event-cake time-no matter how much time passed.
”Sorry, I’m gonna hit the head real quick,” I said, standing up.
Just as I was finishing my business, I heard the doorbell.
”I’M COOOOMIN’ IN!!”
A loud, energetic voice echoed from the front door. As I stepped out of the bathroom, I bumped right into Jun, who was busy washing her hands.
”Yo, Makoto!” Jun said.
”Hey, Jun,” I replied.
”To-“
”Dry your hands first,” I interrupted.
”Oh, I forgot my handkerchief! Mom! Handkerchief!” Jun yelled.
”It’s in your pocket, isn’t it?” Sanae said.
”Oh, right!”
Reminded by her mom, Sanae, Jun pulled a terrycloth handkerchief from her tracksuit pocket and wiped her hands.
”If you don’t dry them properly, they’ll get all chapped and sore,” I nagged.
”I know, I know~”
I couldn’t help it. Jun had a habit of wiping her hands way too haphazardly. Even though it was already early spring, you could never be too careful with skin care.
”There!” Jun said, shoving her palms in my face for inspection.
Yeah, looks fine.
(…Wait, am I her mother? Her actual mom is standing right behind us.)
By the way, Suu-chan always does this perfectly without being told. She says keeping one’s hands beautiful is part of a lady’s grace. Compared to her, this one over here…
”Here, Jun. Give me your hand.”
”Sure.”
Bloop.
I squeezed a dollop of hand cream onto Jun’s palm and then did the same for myself. I always keep some on me to protect Suu-chan’s soft skin. Besides, if my hands are all rough and dry, she might not want to hold them anymore. It’s a “Gentleman’s Essential.”
”Makoto-kun, thanks as always. It’s such a help having you around to look after Jun,” Sanae said with a deep nod.
I shouldn’t let it get to my head, though. I’m only being praised because I’m a kid; by the time I’m an adult, this kind of thing will just be expected.
”Being with Makoto is the best!” Jun cheered.
The girl in question, as usual, completely missed the point. Well, I don’t hate that about her. She’s fun to watch, at least.
”You’re late, though. What happened?” I asked.
”A hero always makes a late entrance!” Jun declared.
(A hero for what, exactly…?)
Jun stood there proudly with her hands on her hips. To be fair, she actually pulled off the pose.
”She overslept during her nap,” Sanae revealed.
”Gah! Mom, don’t tell him that!”
Jun took the hit from the covering fire behind her. She tried to launch a revenge tackle at Sanae, but her mom just held her by the head, ending the assault instantly. I don’t care how strong Jun is-the size difference is just too-actually, never mind.
Jun is a powerhouse once she’s up, but getting her up is the hard part. There was a good chance she’d been tossed into the car while still asleep and only woke up on the drive over. Her hair was still a mess of cowlicks, and she was wearing a tracksuit… though that was normal. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in anything but a tracksuit outside of kindergarten.
Still, she needed to feel a little bad for being late. Everyone had been waiting with bated breath for that cake.
”…Sorry, Jun. About the cake…”
”!?”
The second I said the word “cake,” Jun spun around, the color draining from her face.
”Wait… is it already gone?” she asked.
She looked way more devastated than I expected. For a glutton like her, that was a critical hit. She has a lot of siblings, so she’s probably used to having to fight for her food.
(Sorry, that was a bit mean of me. Though, I never actually said it was gone.)
”We have it. Everyone waited for you to get here,” I said.
”…For real?”
”For real. When have I ever lied to you?”
”True! Don’t scare me like that!” Jun shouted.
”I just can’t promise we’ll wait next time, okay?”
”Got it!”
Even though I’m lying to her right this second, Jun is so pure-hearted that she didn’t doubt me for a moment. She’s so honest it actually makes me worry she’ll get scammed by some creep later in life. Sanae seemed to be thinking the same thing, as she was currently facepalming.
I headed to the living room with Jun, whose mood had done a total 180. By the time we got back, they were already putting the candles on the cake. The youngsters were swarming the table like they couldn’t wait another second.
”Oh! Cake! Cake!”
”Jun, wait,” I said.
”Wait?! Why ‘wait’?!”
”I mean ‘stay.’ Calm down. The cake isn’t going to run away.”
I scrambled to hold her back. If she charged in with that much momentum, it was going to be a disaster.
”Jun, you’re slow,” Suu-chan scolded.
”Yeah, so loooow,” Shiho-chan added.
”I’m sorry,” Jun mumbled.
”I forgive you.”
”It’s okay~”
Jun shrunk a little under the scolding. She’s a good kid at heart-at least she knows how to apologize.
”Alright, everyone’s here, so I’m lighting the candles,” Nanami said.
After we all took a photo, Nanami used a remote to kill the lights. In the dim room, four little flames flickered and danced, illuminating the face of the birthday boy.
”Happy Birthday to you…”
Over ten voices joined in the song. It was the kind of scene you could only get in a house with a living room big enough to fit this many people.
”Fuuuu-“
”Happy Birthday!”
”Thanks!” Yuma cheered.
Once the song was over, Yuma carefully blew out each candle. He was beaming, surrounded by applause and cheers.
”Cake!”
”Is it cake time yet?”
”Can I cut it?”
”CAKE!!”
The kids who couldn’t stay still long enough to enjoy the moment… well, that was all of them. Even the star of the show had already moved on. Yuma insisted on doing the honors himself, so with Nanami’s help, he pressed the knife into the strawberry sheet cake.
As soon as the slices were handed out on small plates, the kids started inhaling them like it was a race. It’s not like it’s going anywhere…
After we finished the delicious cake and spent a bit more time on video games, it was suddenly time to head home. The end of the fun is always a little lonely; Yuma looked a bit downcast, though he might have just been tired out.
”Yuma, thanks for having me. I had a blast,” I said.
”Yeah…”
”See ya later.”
”Yeah, see ya.”
With Yuma and Shiho-chan seeing us off, we left the Yoshikura residence behind. I walked away making a quiet wish-that this whole crew could play together again just like this, for a long time to come.
—
Summary:
The group gathers at the Yoshikura residence to celebrate Yuma’s fourth birthday. Amidst chaotic 2D gaming and Jun’s characteristically late and energetic arrival, the children share a moment of collective celebration. Makoto continues his role as the group’s unofficial caretaker, managing Jun’s hygiene and teasing her about the cake before the day concludes on a bittersweet, reflective note about the longevity of their friendship.
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Trivia:
- Makoto’s ‘Gentleman’s Essential’ (hand cream) highlights his adult-like foresight and protective nature toward Suu-chan.
- Jun’s extreme gullibility regarding the cake suggests she may be vulnerable to manipulation in the future.
- The mention of the ‘Big Sister Squad’ suggests a power dynamic between the age groups in this social circle.
- Yuma’s insistence on cutting his own cake signals a burgeoning sense of independence as he turns four
—
Character Insight:
Makoto’s relationship with Jun is established as maternal/caretaker-based, with Sanae explicitly acknowledging his helpful influence. Meanwhile, his devotion to Suu-chan’s comfort remains a top priority, influencing his daily habits.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The scene illustrates the domestic lives of the characters, showcasing modern-day amenities (video games, digital remotes) mixed with traditional social structures like the ‘Big Sister’ hierarchy.
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TL Notes:
Localized ‘Aiツ/Aiテム’ as ‘Jun-ique’ to preserve the author’s pun on the character’s name while maintaining a natural English flow.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura is a frail, sickly four-year-old from a wealthy, land-owning family. Known for his idol-like face and quiet, observant nature, he is the eldest son of the Yoshikura family and Miyu’s younger brother. A member of the Rose Class, he is close friends with Makoto, whom he deeply admires. Despite being physically smaller and slower than his peers, he excels at block-building and paper-folding.
• Shiho-chan – A member of the friend group who arrived early and is close enough to Yuma’s family to stay over.
• Kotaro – A quiet, slender kindergarten boy in Rose Class, friend of Makoto and member of his sandbox crew. He shares typical childhood interests— toys and games— and reliably helps Makoto with building projects, all while being a fan of Kamen Rider.
• Shiho – A four-year-old Rose-Class girl with a side-up ponytail, she is Hina’s younger sister and a close friend to Makoto, Suu-chan, Yuma, and Suzuka. Often seen with her favorite hair clip, kitten-themed placemat, and training chopsticks, she loves picture books and worked hard to learn Hiragana. She enjoys swimming, makes mud dumplings using Makoto’s advice, and quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention.
• Kota – Makoto’s biological father. Met Akari while working as a cram school tutor during their second year of university. He disappeared suddenly after six years of dating upon learning of the pregnancy.
• Suu-chan – A refined young girl with soft skin who values etiquette and ‘lady’s grace.’ She holds Makoto to a high standard of grooming.
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• Jun – The Imai family’s youngest and a Rose Class kindergartner, is a gluttonous, hyperactive girl in tracksuits. Pure-hearted but easily tricked, she boasts extreme strength, often digging to the sandbox liner. She idolizes her mother and clashes playfully with her brother Makoto, who shares her class. While Rose mocks his dancing and ignores germ warnings, Makoto balances her wild energy with calm restraint, reigning in their chaotic sibling dynamic.
• Makoto – A four-year-old (93cm, 13kg) Rose Class student who is actually a reincarnated 30-year-old salaryman. Dressed in a white shirt, blue vest, and cap, he acts as the group’s calm, analytical “Boss” and caregiver, carrying essentials like hand cream. Revered by peers as a mature, athletic idol, he mediates conflicts and protects Suu-chan. Despite his father’s gender confusion, he remains a dependable, cynical leader.
• Sanae – A middle-aged member of the Imai family and Jun’s mother, she is a patient yet often exasperated woman who skillfully reins in her son’s rowdy, over-the-top energy. A close friend of Makoto’s mother, she deeply appreciates the positive influence Makoto has on her daughter.
• Nanami – Yoshikura Nanami is Yuma’s mother, a humble and polite woman who manages an elegant, upscale home that doubles as a showroom. A dedicated member of the Makoto Fan Club, she is deeply grateful to Makoto for shaping her son’s healthy habits. She actively coordinates Yuma’s birthday celebrations, hosts tea parties, and skillfully manages her son’s high energy while providing hospitality to guests.
• Fuu – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Currently learning to swivel their head and grab objects.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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