Volume 4 Chapter 6 Sleepover
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Goodbye!”
”Goodbyeee!!!”
With the nyuuzenshiki¹ scheduled for the following day, the first day of the new term ended at noon. I felt for the working parents, but today it just couldn’t be helped. We finished the closing meeting before lunch, and then it was finally time for Suu-chan.
”-Maa-kun.”
(Oh man, I missed Suu-chan so much I was already hearing things.) There had been plenty of times we couldn’t see each other for longer than this-like when I was stuck in bed with a cold or when she went to visit her parents’ hometown-but the reality of being in different classes for the next year was weighing on me more than I’d expected.
”-Maa-kun.”
That voice was calm for someone so young, with a soft, ear-pleasing quality I felt like I could listen to forever. It was definitely Suu-chan. It was the voice that had been calling my name almost every day since she first learned to speak.
(Wait, no. She really was calling me.)
I snapped my gaze toward the sound and saw Suu-chan peeking out from behind the classroom door. Forgetting even to grab my backpack, I ran straight toward her.
”Suu-chan!”
”Maa-kun!”
We hugged each other tightly, confirming the other was really there. Suu-chan buried her face in the crook of my neck. Her tied-up hair tickled my cheeks and neck, but even that felt good right now. Seeing her cleared my head and finally let me look at my surroundings.
Standing right beside us were the girls from the former Rose Class who were now in Sheep Class, including Shiho-chan. They were all reacting differently-some were grinning at our flirting, while others looked strangely embarrassed. Everyone, including Suu-chan, was already wearing their backpacks, fully prepared to head for the bus.
”Suu-chan, I have to go grab my backpack, so can you wait just… give me five seconds?”
”……”
I didn’t want to keep the hungry kids or the bus waiting, so I tried to move quickly. I asked Suu-chan to let go for a moment, but I met silent resistance.
Just as I was wondering what to do, “Makoto, I brought it for you!” said Yuma. He and Kotarou had the foresight to bring my stuff over. I guess friends really are the best thing to have. I thanked them and took the bag.
”Suu-chan, shall we head home?”
”Mm,” said Suu-chan.
I patted her head and she nodded. We moved as a group with our close friends to the shoe lockers. After changing into our outdoor shoes, we waved to each other and boarded our respective buses. Throughout the whole process, Suu-chan kept her arms wrapped around my left arm. Even while changing shoes, she relied on our friends’ help just so she wouldn’t have to let go.
”Suu-chan, how was your new class?”
”…Maa-kun isn’t there,” said Suu-chan.
”That’s true,” said Makoto.
She wasn’t wrong. To her, that was clearly the most important factor. But that wasn’t exactly what I’d meant.
”Who were you with todaGemini (Unfiltered) said
Important Unknowns
Exact Family Relationship: The precise living arrangement between the Yashiro and Totsuka families (e.g., adjacent apartments versus neighboring houses) is not explicitly defined in the raw text.
Missing Students: The two students from the former Rose Class who were absent from Sheep Class remain unnamed and unidentified.
Narrator’s Explicit Age: While “Middle Kids” usually refers to 4-5 year olds in Japanese kindergarten (chuubuu), the exact birth date/month of the narrator is not provided.y?”
”Mm… Shi-chan, Kokko, Ha-chan, Nana-chan, Yumi-chan, Michiru-kun, and Takuma-kun.”
She counted them off on her fingers. As expected, she only named members from the former Rose Class.
”Did you make any new friends?”
”No, I didn’t.”
I suppose it’s hard to do on the first day. It’s not something you need to rush, anyway. Besides, when you already have so many close friends, you probably don’t feel the need to branch out. Even in my room, I’d only spoken to the four from the former Rose Class. (If anything, having fewer familiar faces probably makes you stick together even more-like a ‘circle the wagons’ instinct.)
”I see. I didn’t make any either,” said Makoto.
”Maa-kun too?”
”Yeah, we’re in the same boat. Well, let’s take it slow. We can both do our best starting the day after tomorrow.”
”Mm.”
Tomorrow was the nyuuzenshiki. Since the current students didn’t have a role, we had the day off. While we were technically Middle Kids as of today, the real start was the day after tomorrow. We could relax at home tomorrow.
”Was Sheep Class fun?”
”…It was okay.”
”I see. Just okay, huh?”
”Mm.”
I felt a sense of relief at that. There must have been some fun moments. She probably couldn’t bring herself to say it was purely “fun” because she was grumpy about us being separated, but she was with close friends like Shiho-chan. Since Sheep Class was run by Teacher Riko, she was in good hands.
”It would have been fun if Maa-kun was there.”
”True. But hey, we can play a lot now that school is over for the day.”
”Mm!”
Understanding that we could play as much as we wanted now, Suu-chan happily pressed her body against mine.
After returning from school, I first joined the Totsuka family for lunch. Following a nap and my daily chores, we had one of Suu-chan’s favorites for a snack: Mrs. Mio’s homemade baked pudding. We went for a walk to the neighborhood park with Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan in their stroller, and after coming back, we read piGemini (Unfiltered) said
Important Unknowns
Exact Family Relationship: The precise living arrangement between the Yashiro and Totsuka families (e.g., adjacent apartments versus neighboring houses) is not explicitly defined in the raw text.
Missing Students: The two students from the former Rose Class who were absent from Sheep Class remain unnamed and unidentified.
Narrator’s Explicit Age: While “Middle Kids” usually refers to 4-5 year olds in Japanese kindergarten (chuubuu), the exact birth date/month of the narrator is not provided.cture books and did some coloring. We played as if to make up for every second we’d been apart that morning, and before I knew it, the sun began to set.
Mother returned before dark, and once we finished dinner together, the “reward” sleepover finally began. I returned to the Yashiro family home with Suu-chan, who was clutching her pajamas and her other things like they were precious treasures.
The three of us took a bath together, washing each other properly and playing in the tub until all our fatigue had washed away. Once that was over, all that was left was to sleep… or so I thought.
”Maa-kun, look at this.”
”What is it?” said Makoto.
”A photo book!”
I’d forgotten all about that. I felt like I’d heard the word mentioned before, but this was my first time actually seeing it. I visited the Totsuka family almost every day and helped with cleaning, but I had no idea where they’d been hiding this.
The cover read: Maa-kun: A Record of Age 3.
In the bottom right corner, the credits were listed:
Photography: Totsuka Mio / Yashiro Akari
Editing: Totsuka Suzuki
So Mother had been involved too. Mr. Mitsuhisa’s name wasn’t there because he was the designated cameraman for videos. (I’m sure he wasn’t being left out on purpose.)
”Suu-chan, how many of these are there?”
Suu-chan held up five fingers with a boastful look. Five? That was a lot. To think there were four more of these thick hardcover albums…
”But you know, the newest one is still being edited,” she added.
Since I was only four months into being four years old, that made sense-assuming there was one for every year since I was born.
”Today is ‘Age 3’ day!”
”Do you look at this every day?”
”Mm! On days I’m not with Maa-kun, I look at this before I go to sleep.”
I had to hand it to her; she never seemed to get bored of it. (Then again, if it were an album of Suu-chan, I could probably look at it forever, too.)
”Suu-chan, I want to see it too,” said Akari.
”Mm! Akari-san, sit right here!”
”Thanks, don’t mind if I do,” said Akari.
Mother hopped in, and Suu-chan patted the spot next to her.
”Maa-kun is over here.”
”Aye-aye, ma’am,” said Makoto.
And so, I was forced to look through my own photo book with them.
However, ten minutes later, Suu-chan began to nod off with the album spread across her lap. It was a bit earlier than her usual bedtime. It wasn’t that my photos were boring-even if she looked like she was about to pass out. It had been her first day back at school, she’d been tense about our different classes, and we’d played hard all afternoon.
”Suu-chan, shouldn’t we get under the covers?” said Makoto.
”……Gonna look,” she mumbled.
She rejected my suggestion and tried to flip a page, but she immediately started dozing again. After stifling several large yawns, she finally leaned her full weight against me. When she reached her absolute limit, Mother stepped in to persuade her.
”Suu-chan, school is closed tomorrow. Let’s sleep now and save the fun for tomorrow morning.”
”……Mm.”
Suu-chan finally gave up on the album. With her eyes closed, she used the last of her strength to mutter, “……Gonna do… the minomushi².”
Come to think of it, she had mentioned wanting to do that. (Suu-chan had really become a greedy little thing. I wonder whose fault that was? Mine? No, it had to be her bloodline.)
Following Suu-chan’s wish, Mother rolled the two of us up together in the duvet like a pair of burritos.
”Suu-chan, good night.”
”……G’night……”
Suu-chan drifted off to the world of dreams with a satisfied expression. My own sleepiness had reached its peak thanks to her yawning.
”Maa-kun, good night to you too,” said Akari.
”Good night,” said Makoto.
And so, a day filled with all sorts of events came to an en-
(Wait. I didn’t go to the bathroom before bed. Neither did I… nor Suu-chan!)
—
Summary:
Makoto and Suzuki reunite after their first day in separate kindergarten classes, highlighting their deep emotional dependence. After a day of playing and family time, Suzuki initiates a sleepover at Makoto’s house. The evening concludes with the two sharing a photo album of Makoto’s childhood before falling asleep, only for Makoto to realize they forgot their pre-bedtime bathroom trip.
—
Trivia:
- The existence of multiple photo albums suggests a long-standing, collaborative effort between the two mothers to document their children together.
- Suzuki’s refusal to make new friends and her insistence on naming only her old classmates shows a potential struggle with social adjustment without Makoto.
- The ‘bagworm’ (minomushi) request indicates a desire for physical closeness and security, likely a reaction to the stress of being in a separate class
—
Character Insight:
The relationship is shifting from simple childhood friendship to a more intense co-dependency. Suzuki’s ‘silent resistance’ to letting Makoto go and her habit of looking at his photos when apart demonstrate that he is her primary emotional anchor. Akari and Mio clearly encourage this closeness, as evidenced by their joint photography projects.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter explores the structure of a modern Japanese kindergarten, specifically the transition into the ‘Middle Kids’ year. It highlights the importance of the Entrance Ceremony (nyuuzenshiki) as a community milestone and the typical daily routines of young children in this setting.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘minomushi’ (bagworm) was localized as ‘blanket burrito’ in the dialogue to convey the physical action while the term itself was footnoted to maintain cultural context. Naming conventions were kept in Japanese order to respect the ‘Modern Japanese’ reincarnation theme.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Suu-chan – A refined young girl with soft skin, embodying ‘lady’s grace’ and strict etiquette, lives in the household where she is close to Maa‑kun. She holds Makoto to a high standard of grooming, blending elegance with a child’s warmth.
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• Shiho-chan – A member of the friend group who arrived early and is close enough to Yuma’s family to stay over.
• 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.
• Kotarou – A quiet, sleepy boy from the former Rose Class, with deft hands that excel at origami, now a dedicated gamer who recently claimed the ‘Champion’ title after defeating the ‘Elite Four’.
• Kotaro – Morihashi Kotarou is a quiet, slender kindergarten boy in Rose Class, friend of Makoto. He avoids classroom chaos, prefers solitude, and helps Makoto with sandbox building projects. A typical child who loves toys, games, and Kamen Rider, he remains loyal yet stays out of trouble.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Totsuka – Totsuka Mio is the wife of Mitsuhisa Totsuka and mother of Suu-chan. She is a hardcore gamer, part of the neighbor family that supplies hand‑me‑down consoles to the protagonist’s household. Mio attends parent‑teacher conferences and worries about her daughter’s growing dependence on Makoto.
• Riko – Riko-sensei, the lead teacher, PE instructor, and school nurse at Hinomori Kindergarten, balances a nurturing, observant warmth toward children with a dry, cynical internal wit. She manages class dynamics, photography, and progress interviews alongside Seiko-sensei. While she judges coworkers sharply, she finds solace in Makoto’s influence and Maa-kun’s skills, often unwinding at girls’ nights with colleagues.
• 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, 164 cm, 57 kg, pregnant, gray‑clad Totsuka resident with a baby‑faced charm and G‑cup curves. Former athlete turned teacher, cook, photographer; tech‑savvy “Love Guru” guiding Makoto, Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan. Also Akari’s best friend, Mitsuhisa’s wife, mother, ex‑IT firm colleague who mentored Misato.
• Totsuka Mio – Totsuka Mio is the wife of Mitsuhisa Totsuka and mother of Suu-chan. She is a hardcore gamer, part of the neighbor family that supplies hand‑me‑down consoles to the protagonist’s household. Mio attends parent‑teacher conferences and worries about her daughter’s growing dependence on Makoto.
• 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.
• Totsuka Suzuki – Totsuka “Suu-chan” Suzuki is a doll-like 4-year-old with dark braided pigtails, a topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes, and pink rain boots. A model student and Makoto’s fiercely possessive, self-proclaimed girlfriend, she is quiet, helpful, and competitive in word games. Daughter of Mio and Mii-kun, she is clingy, affectionate, and often clutches a pink candy tin while navigating life with quiet grace.
• Suzuki – Totsuka “Suu-chan” Suzuki is a doll-like 4-year-old with dark braided pigtails, a topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes, and pink rain boots. A model student and Makoto’s fiercely possessive, self-proclaimed girlfriend, she is quiet, helpful, and competitive in word games. Daughter of Mio and Mii-kun, she is clingy, affectionate, and often clutches a pink candy tin while navigating life with quiet grace.
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa, 33, 184 cm, 71 kg, toned and reserved, is a husband to Mio and father of three (Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan). On modified childcare leave from his IT firm — invited by the President — he works from home to aid childcare. Protective and doting, he quietly cherishes his children’s growth, maintains a distant rapport with Akari, shares dark banter with former teammate Makoto, and feels unsettled by his own influence.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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