Volume 4 Chapter 15 The Welcome Home
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It was the evening of the day after they had left for the in-laws. Having finished my snack, I was waiting for the Totsuka family to get home while reading a book with Mom.
”…Does ‘glare’ mean something like ‘staring fixedly’?” I asked.
”Yeah, that’s right, but the nuance is a little different.” She looked up from the page. “Unlike the ‘stare’ we just saw, this one feels more like you’re ‘looking daggers’ at someone.”
”Huh, interesting.”
The book we were reading was the world-famous story of a certain boy wizard. The original English version.
Even though my “inside” had graduated college once before, I was embarrassingly running into a ton of words I didn’t know. …Well, I feel like I used to know them, but that knowledge is currently residing in the far-flung reaches of my memory.
Since it’s a “student model” meant for elementary schoolers, a huge number of words I look up just aren’t there. Or rather, almost none of the words I actually need are in the database.
In the end, I’ve just been reading along while asking Mom, who apparently scored over an 800 on her TOEIC1. She’s the real deal. She’s on a completely different level than my past self, who would’ve gotten lazy and just dumped everything into a browser translator.
”…What does ‘loom’ mean?”
”Let’s see… I think it’s like the feeling of ‘something dangerous drawing near,’ but… hang on a sec, okay?”
While we were enjoying that quiet family time, a notification chimed from her phone.
”Maa-kun, Suu-chan and the others are almost home.”
”Really?”
I headed down to the parking lot to greet them just as their van was backing in. The engine cut out, and the sliding door slowly hummed open.
”—Maa-kun!”
Suu-chan scrambled over the middle seats—careful not to kick her little sisters—and leaped out of the car.
”Whoa… Welcome back, Suu-chan.”
”Mm. I’m home.” She lunged into me without a second thought.
It was an even more intense hug than usual. My bones were literally screaming. I’d given her plenty of kisses yesterday so her “battery” would last… but I guess that wasn’t enough.
”Phew… I’m finally back…” Mio-san climbed out of the car with a heavy sigh.
”Welcome home.”
”I’m hoooome…”
As she arched her back to stretch, her impressive chest practically thrust toward the heavens. Refraining from making a s*xual harassment comment about that is just “gentleman’s etiquette,” but she looked so exhausted that I would’ve felt bad joking about it.
”Welcome home,” Akari said.
”Ah, we’re back.”
”Did something happen?”
”No, well… a lot of things, really…” Mitsuhisa-san picked up Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan. I tried to casually ask for the reason, but he just gave a strained laugh and dodged the question.
”Ssu, Makoto, sorry, but could you go unlock the front door for us?”
”Nn!”
”You got it,” I said, taking the key.
I headed up the stairs with Suu-chan and opened the windows to let some fresh air in.
”I’m home, my sweet home~” Mio-san collapsed onto the floor.
”Welcome back.”
”Welcome home, Mama.”
””Ah—, uah!””
I wonder if Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan were saying “I’m home” too? Once Mitsuhisa-san set the two of them down, he headed back to the car for the rest of the luggage. Even though he’s in his mid-thirties, his energy level makes you forget his age entirely.
I think about this sometimes, but Mitsuhisa-san doesn’t have the body of a desk worker. Maybe it’s because he uses Suu-chan as added weight on his back? Or lately, I think he’s been using Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan as substitute dumbbells.
”You guys seem extra tired this time. Did something happen?”
”Akari-chan… will you listen to me?” Mio-san began her tale of woe. “My mother-in-law tried to hold Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan… but they got so cranky. Then she started nitpicking everything. Finally, she actually said, ‘I know they’re twins, but is this okay? Are you sure they’re being cared for enough?’”
Sounds like she had quite the run-in with the mother-in-law. Lifestyles and values probably just don’t mesh. Family politics… man, it’s tough.
”I’m sorry…” Mitsuhisa-san looked genuinely apologetic.
”No, it’s okay. Sorry for venting like this, Mii-kun.” Mio-san started pestering her husband for a lap pillow. Seeing that, Suu-chan started demanding a lap pillow from me.
”Well, now that we’ve introduced Fuuka and Kyoka to them, let’s keep our distance for a while,” Mitsuhisa-san decided.
”Ssu agrees too! …I don’t like Papa’s Grandma because she was mean to Mama.”
Suu-chan had apparently been bottling up a lot. It was a lot of work to keep her happy with constant chu2s.
”Next time we go, let’s bring Maa-kun,” Mio-san suggested.
”Nn. Agreement!”
Wait, I’m going too? It sounds like a total headache.
”Ah-oo!”
”Oo-ah!”
”See? Even Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan love Maa-kun~”
”Ssu loves Maa-kun too! ……Ehehe.”
”Yesss, it’s the Maa-kun you’ve been missing all day~” I teased.
”Peek-a-… BOO! …Serious face!”
””……?””
”Ehehe!”
”See? One look at Maa-kun’s signature kime-gao3 and they quiet down instantly.”
—
Summary:
After a quiet afternoon studying English with his mother, Makoto welcomes the Totsuka family back from their visit to Mitsuhisa’s parents. The returning family is visibly drained, particularly Mio, who suffered through a stressful encounter with her critical mother-in-law. To alleviate the tension, the families bond through venting and physical affection, with the children demanding lap pillows from their respective partners. The chapter highlights the strong emotional reliance the Totsuka sisters have on Makoto, even the infants. It concludes with the suggestion that Makoto accompany them on future visits to act as a stabilizing force.
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Trivia:
- * The Dictionary Limitation: The fact that Makoto’s electronic dictionary is a ‘child’s model’ underscores his physical age constraint despite his adult mind.
- * Mitsuhisa’s Physique: The specific mention of Mitsuhisa using his children as ‘dumbbells’ might seem like a gag, but it emphasizes the physical nature of his fatherhood and hints at the high energy level required to manage the Totsuka household.
- * Mother-in-law’s Comment: Her questioning the care of the twins suggests a potential future conflict or recurring theme regarding ‘proper’ parenting standards versus the families’ more relaxed, modern approach-
—
Character Insight:
The bond between Suu-chan and Makoto has reached a point of ‘recharging,’ where physical distance causes a tangible drop in her morale. This is mirrored by the infants, who respond instantly to Makoto’s ‘kime-gao,’ showing that his influence extends to the youngest members of the family, solidifying his role as the family’s ’emotional anchor.’
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The mention of TOEIC scores and Harry Potter (the boy wizard) firmly grounds the setting in a modern, recognizable Japan, contrasting the ‘isekai’ feeling of Makoto’s internal perspective with a very mundane, relatable social reality.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘Inside’ (Nakami) is used consistently to refer to the protagonist’s soul/consciousness. The ‘kime-gao’ (signature handsome face) is a recurring character trait for Makoto used for comedic effect to calm or charm others.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• 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.
• Suu-chan – A refined young girl of the Sheep Class, exceptionally cute with soft skin and embodying ladylike grace, she enforces strict etiquette with childlike warmth, closely bonded to Makoto whom she holds to high grooming standards—yet she’s also a victim of hair-pulling by Togawa Masaki, revealing a tender vulnerability beneath her polished exterior.
• Suu – She is a young girl in Sheep Class and Rose Class, mud‑streaked cheeks, makes dorodango, fiercely attached to Makoto, ends sentences with “ssu”, draws Masaki’s obsessive gaze. Birthday girl, party‑dressed, wears Makoto’s scrunchie, puffs cheeks, possessive, eldest Totsuka sister, high‑energy, affectionate, distinct “ssu” tic.
• Mio – 28‑year‑old pregnant gray‑clad Totsuka resident, baby‑faced, G‑cup, former athlete turned teacher‑cook‑photographer and tech‑savvy “Love Guru” mentoring Makoto, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan. Akari’s best friend, wife of Mitsuhisa, mother of Suu‑chan, protective of family and runs “Bento Dividend”. Mother of three Totsuka sisters, exhausted after a stressful in‑law visit, large‑chested, skilled baker who made a professional strawberry shortcake and handles gossip with grace.
• Akari – 28-year-old single mother with long dark-brown hair and subtle makeup, poised and observant, deeply devoted to her son Maa-kun and caring for Makoto as his mother. Highly proficient in English (TOEIC 800+), kind and supportive, yet distrustful of men. Lives beside her best friend Mio, drives a black light-compact car, works in IT after childcare leave for balance, and monitors Makoto’s health via a private status-report network. Strict yet loving, polite, estranged from her parents, mischievous, and quietly guilt-ridden for missing the party—prefers the calm of home, deeply connected to the Totsuka family.
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa, 33, 184 cm, 71 kg, toned and reserved, is Mio’s husband and father of Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan and Kyo‑chan. On modified childcare leave from his IT firm he works from home but often ‘flees’ to the office to avoid gossiping mothers. Protective and doting toward his kids, he keeps a distant rapport with Akari, shares dark banter with former teammate Makoto, feels unsettled by his own influence, yet is a positive father‑figure for Akari’s son.
• Fuu – One of the Totsuka twins, a four‑month‑old baby, is learning to swivel his head and grasp objects, while communicating through babbles.
• Kyo – One of the Totsuka twins, about four months old, resembles Fuu‑chan in appearance and shares her traits, and communicates only in babbles.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old, 93 cm, 13 kg Rose Class student—actually a 30‑year‑old salaryman reborn as a toddler. He wears a white shirt, blue vest and cap, short bangs trimmed to expose his forehead, and calls himself a “Toilet Master.” Calm, analytical “Boss,” carries hand cream, mediates fights, protects Suu‑chan, and is revered as a mature, athletic idol despite his cynical, gender‑confused father.
• Fuuka – One of the newborn twins. She is noted to be observant of her surroundings.
• Kyoka – One of the newborn twins. She is noted to be in a good mood and expressive with her limbs.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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