Volume 4 Chapter 20 Gathering Rose Class
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We made steady progress, playing our way up the mountain, and finally, we were just a stone’s throw from the observation deck.
”Yuma, Kotarou, you guys okay? Not too tired?”
”…Yeah, I’m a little pooped, but I can keep going!”
”I’m fine too.”
”I picked up a ton of acorns!”
”Well, glad to hear it.”
Their initial burst of energy was long gone. Yuma and Kotarou, who had grown quiet and stuck close to me, showed off their bulging pockets. They looked lumpy and awkward, but being boys of this age, they didn’t seem to care one bit.
”…So, what’s up with you, Jun? You okay…?”
Even Jun, who had been raring to go as if to show off the results of her Special Training, had suddenly gone quiet. Not only that, she was clutching her stomach like she was in pain. Did she drink too much water earlier and upset her stomach?
”If it hurts, we should tell the teacher—”
”—I’m… starving…”
I worried for nothing. Well, I guess it is almost lunchtime. It makes sense that she’d run out of gas so early after running around that much.
”What were you doing during your Special Training then…?”
”Eating lots of bananas.”
Seriously, what is this girl’s endgame? She’s a total try-hard¹.
”Jun, did you know? You can actually eat acorns!”
”Really!?”
”…Gulp. Wanna eat this big one?”
”It looks hard… can you really eat it?”
Peel the shell first, at least. And if you’re going to eat one, pick a small one. If it’s a chinquapin nut, you can usually eat those raw to some extent. …Wait, that’s not the point. Kotarou, don’t go teaching Jun weird stuff. The second she finds an acorn, she’s liable to just shove it in her mouth…
”You’d better not. You’ll probably get a stomachache.”
I gently stopped my kind-hearted friends as they tried to offer their harvested acorns to the hungry girl. At the very least, you’ve got to cook them first.
”Look, Jun. It’s almost bento time, so just hang in there until then.”
”My bento… it’s calling to me…”
Ten minutes later, we finally reached the summit.
This was the finish line last year. There was an observation deck, and around it, a grassy plaza and some embankments. I have fond memories of being rolled around there—though I only know that because I saw the pictures later.
”We made it!”
”…Goal!”
”Bento!”
My friends threw their hands up, expressing the pure joy of finishing the climb. It looked like we were the last ones in the Middle Kids class, though. It wasn’t because anyone in particular was slow; we arrived exactly on schedule according to the itinerary. The other two groups were probably just fast.
Judging by the scene, the first to arrive was the Giraffe Group, led by the former Rose Rangers. Things move fast when you have established mood-makers leading the pack.
”Great job, everyone! Now, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: bento time!”
”Food!”
”I’m famished!”
”I can’t wait for my lunch!”
Ai-sensei guided the youngsters, and they huddled up by their class groups to spread out their leisure sheets.
”…Makoto-kun, …can I eat with you?”
”Yeah, sure.”
”Ah! I want to join too!”
Whenever I’m with my core group—Yuma, Kotarou, and Jun—my other friends—mostly the girls—tend to swarm us. This is where the behavior between boys and girls differs the most. The girls are more proactive, or maybe they just like to form packs. I wonder if this is how they develop social skills.
To be honest, I wanted to eat with Suu-chan, but if I only hang out with kids from the other class, it kind of defeats the purpose of the field trip. To deepen my bonds with the kids in the Rabbit Group, I have to navigate this with extreme care…
”I’m sitting next to Yuma-kun!”
”No, I am!”
”Whoa!?”
A war for territory was about to break out over Yuma, so I quickly organized a rock-paper-scissors tournament to settle everyone down.
”Makoto, can I eat yet…?”
”Wait. Just a little more patience.”
While Jun sat beside me, her bloodshot eyes locked onto her bento box with laser focus, I wiped my hands with a wet towel and joined my hands together, following Ai-sensei’s lead.
”Itadakimasu!”
”””ITADAKIMASU!!”””
After a chorus of energetic greetings, everyone dug into their lunches. Looking around, the trend seemed to be sandwich bentos—balancing ease of eating with a bit of flair.
My bento was handmade by Mio-san. The contents should be identical to Suu-chan’s. I opened the simple plastic box to find two rice balls, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, rolled omelet, wieners, and meatballs all packed tightly together. Thank you, Mio-san. Itadakimasu.
Yuma and Kotarou had similar lunches. Yeah, you really need rice if you want your stamina to last.
”Jun, do you have two lunch boxes?”
”You’re eating a lot!”
”Mmph? Whish ish mine? Don’t look!”
”Jun, watch your manners.”
Jun shielded her bento box as if afraid someone would steal it. It was a two-tiered container, the kind a high school boy would use. On top of that, her rice balls were in a separate container; the box itself was nothing but side dishes. She eats as much as ever. The only reason she’s not chubby is probably because she burns it all off moving around.
Once lunch was over and we’d had a short break, we started moving again. We headed to a plaza about ten minutes down from the observatory. It had a rather impressive set of playground equipment—a place we hadn’t even visited during last year’s trip.
”Okay! It’s free time until the short hand of the clock reaches the two!”
The youngsters were itching to play. The moment Ai-sensei finished and clapped her hands, the kids charged toward the playground like a stampede.
Man, how do they move like that right after eating?
”Huh? Makoto, aren’t you going to play?”
”Yeah, in a bit.”
I had a promise to keep, after all.
”—Maa-kun!”
I braced myself and caught the love-charge of Suu-chan, who had ignored the playground and come straight for me.
”Suu-chan, I missed you.”
”Mm! …Hehe. Maa-kun, we’re outside.”
”Sorry, I forgot.”
As I gave her a firm hug, Suu-chan offered a happy little protest. Finally, I get to play with Maa-kun! Free time was listed on the itinerary. Since it was the one time we could play regardless of what class we were in, we’d promised beforehand to meet up.
”Suu-chan, wait for meeee…”
Chasing after the love-struck Suu-chan was Shiho-chan… and a whole bunch of others. And from behind me—
Thump!
”””The Rose Rangers! Have! Arrived!!”””
Even though I hadn’t called them, the former members of the Rose Class came swarming out.
”Makoto! What are we playing?”
”High-Ground Tag?”
”I want to play Cops and Robbers²!”
”Hide and seek!”
”How about Sumo?”
Everyone started shouting out whatever they wanted. Even Jun, who had been the first to charge the playground, came rushing back.
”Suu-chan, what do you want to do?”
”Let’s play Cops and Robbers.”
With that one decree from Suu-chan, a massive game of tag involving the former Rose Class began—
”Makoto! The rock-paper-scissors is never-ending!”
”””Rock, paper… tie!”””
”…Alright, listen up! Everyone from here to there is a Robber. —RUN!”
”””WAAAAAH!”””
”””KYAAAAAH!”””
—
Summary:
The Middle Kids class completes their mountain climb and reaches the observation deck summit. Makoto manages his hungry and tired friends, Yuma, Kotarou, and Jun, while they wait for the official bento time. After a lively lunch where Jun displays her massive appetite, the children move to a playground for free time. Makoto reunites with Suu-chan as they had previously promised, but their private time is quickly interrupted by their other classmates. The group eventually decides to play a massive game of Cops and Robbers initiated by Suu-chan’s choice. Makoto takes charge of organizing the chaotic group to start the game.
—
Trivia:
- Jun’s ‘Special Training’ involves eating bananas, hinting at her eccentric but dedicated nature toward physical activity.
- The mention of ‘mood-makers’ in the Giraffe Group explains why certain groups are more efficient than others in a social setting.
- Makoto’s awareness of ‘social skill development’ in the girls shows his adult-like perspective on childhood development.
- The ‘Rose Rangers’ callback serves as a recurring motif for the bond between the former class members
—
Character Insight:
Makoto demonstrates his role as a ‘mediator’ by resolving a seating conflict through rock-paper-scissors. Suu-chan shows her clear favoritism and affection for Makoto by ignoring the playground to find him immediately.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter outlines the structure of the kindergarten’s class groupings (Rose, Giraffe, Rabbit) and the social dynamics between them during school trips.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘gachi-zei’ was translated as ‘try-hard’ to capture the modern gaming slang vibe within a childhood context. ‘Dorokei’ was localized to ‘Cops and Robbers’ for better cultural resonance while preserving the play mechanics.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Kotarou – A slender, quiet boy with a focused gaze, often hunched over delicate origami or crouched to gather acorns; his careful precision earns quiet respect. A Middle Kids classmate and close friend of Makoto, he takes the game seriously yet is easily distracted by social drama, sharing a playful bond with Yuma and the core group.
• Kotaro – Quiet, slender kindergartner in Rose Class, friend of Makoto and member of his sandbox crew. He shares typical childhood interests— toys and games— helps Makoto with building projects, loves Kamen Rider, and often follows Makoto’s lead and social cues.
• 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, a frail four‑year‑old with an idol‑like face and quiet charm, is the eldest son of a wealthy family and Miyu’s younger brother. In Rose Class he unintentionally attracts multiple girls, is a close friend of Makoto, and leads the ‘train’ line with infectious excitement over acorns and nature. Despite low stamina he eagerly explores, builds blocks, folds paper, and admires Makoto.
• Jun – A hyperactive track‑suit‑clad kindergartner from the Imai family, pure‑hearted yet easily tricked, idolizes her mother and playfully clashes with brother Makoto (same class). Trained on weekends at Mt. Hiou, she has top‑tier stamina and speed, a blunt speaking style, a large appetite, leads energetic preschoolers, leaks secrets, and balances her wild energy with Makoto’s calm restraint.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob hair, former long‑distance track star turned homeroom teacher of Chrysanthemum Class and Riko’s senior; athletic yet unrefined, never drinks, drives. When stressed she slips into regional dialects, voice frantic over drills. Now a kindergarten teacher and Rabbit Group “Mom,” blunt with parents, single and job‑frustrated. Fast, playful, competitive in Cops‑and‑Robbers, suspicious of Makoto’s maturity, responsible and cheerful guide for the youngsters.
• Makoto – A 4‑year‑old Rose Class student (93 cm, 13 kg) in a white shirt, blue vest and cap—actually a 30‑year‑old salaryman reborn as a child. He is the calm, analytical Boss, handing out hand cream, mediating fights, protecting Suu‑chan, and earning peers’ respect as a mature, athletic leader. The narrator with a slightly cynical adult mind.
• 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.
• Mio – Mio-P (28, 164cm, 57kg) is a pregnant, gray-clad Totsuka resident with a baby-faced charm and G-cup curves. A former athlete turned teacher, cook, and photographer, she is a patient, tech-savvy “Love Guru” who guides Makoto, Suu-chan, Fuu-chan, and Kyo-chan with understated wisdom. Whether driving them to parties or baking, she remains a nurturing, amused caretaker who cherishes her role in their lives.
• 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, Hina’s younger sister and close friend of Makoto, Suu-chan, Yuma and Suzuka. She wears a kitten-themed hair clip and placemat, uses training chopsticks, loves picture books and Hiragana, swims, makes mud dumplings with Makoto’s tips, and quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention, often following Suu-chan to meet Makoto.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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