Volume 4 Chapter 25 In Front of the Parents
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Even though we’ve never met, I’ll set aside the girl with the strangely catchy name for now.
Through the rain, the shuttle bus carrying only Suu and me, along with Mother and Mio-san, arrived at the kindergarten. As I stepped off and opened my umbrella, Suu slipped effortlessly inside the small shelter with me.
Despite our parents’ eyes being on us, we remained completely unfazed, earning us some rather lukewarm gazes from the surrounding teachers and parents. It’s not exactly a sideshow, but… for today, I’ll just have to suck it up and accept the attention.
I parted with Suu for a moment to put away my shoes, while Mother and the others went to collect their entry permits and slippers. While the parents formed a line for the paperwork, I waited for them with Suu, our shoulders pressed close together. That was when Nao-sensei passed by.
Since the Masaki incident, her expression seemed to have changed. She looked tougher now, like she’s finally found her footing.
…It isn’t my fault, right? Our sense of distance feels shorter, at least. I was at my limit just trying to keep myself together that day, so I don’t remember exactly what I said to her.
”Good morning, Makoto-kun, Suzuki-chan.”
”Good morning.”
”You two are as lovey-dovey as ever today.”
”Mm-hm! Ssu and Maa-kun are always lovey-dovey.”
My childhood friend nodded back at the teacher’s teasing with a beaming smile.
”You have to make sure the other parents know Makoto-kun is your boyfriend!”
Hey, don’t get carried away, Nao-sensei. I really wish she wouldn’t put ideas in her head. She’s already being egged on by our two mothers, so it might be a lost cause, but the thought of the fallout if she stimulates the surroundings too much is terrifying.
”Nn, I’ll do my best! But we’re outside, so I have to be moderate…”
”Moderate, huh? That’s… a tough one.”
Whether she actually understood my concern or not, the guardrail of ‘lady-like etiquette’ seemed to be functioning for now.
”Makoto-kun, you’re with a cute girlfriend, so you should look happier.”
”No, it’s—”
”Maa-kun is happy.”
”Oh, really? As expected of Makoto-kun’s girlfriend. I can’t read his expression at all…”
”Ssu has been with Maa-kun since the day he was born, so I’m special!”
”I see. You really are lifelong companions.”
I’m already feeling the mental fatigue, and we’ve only just arrived. Other parents are watching this entire exchange, you know?
I turned around to find Mother and Mio-san covering their mouths, desperately stifling their laughter.
* * *
I let out a small breath to steady my heart and practically fled toward the classroom to escape the grinning adults. Mother and Mio-san headed off to look at the school photos for sale, so we parted for now. I’m actually looking forward to the pictures of Suu.
After a reluctant high-five with Suu, I entered the classroom, which several parents were peeping into from the hallway. Since we’re being watched, I really need everyone to keep things peaceful.
Alright, bring it on!
”Yo!”
”Oh… Hey. Taisho.”
The first one to greet me was Hiromasa, also known as Taisho. He looked a bit bewildered that his usual rival wasn’t here yet. Since the spring field trip, we’ve played Dorokei¹ almost every day. We’re actually close friends now.
His behavior had calmed down significantly, and he didn’t lash out at people as much anymore. Being chased around as the ‘police’ probably fulfilled some unconscious need for attention. He’s still the same as ever with Himeno-chan, though.
There was one other change: his nickname. It’s just a different reading of his name, Hiromasa. The ‘mom-friends’ were the ones who came up with it, but officially, I’m the one credited with the name. I got a little heated during a game and it just slipped out.
”Ah! Makoto’s here! Morning!”
”Morning.”
”Good morning, Yuma, Kotarou.”
”Good morning, Makoto-kun.”
”Good morning to you too, Himeno-chan.”
”…Morning, Makoto-kun.”
”Morning, Mihoshi-chan.”
One by one, my classmates gathered around to report on their lives—what happened last night, what they saw on TV, or what they had for breakfast. I offered a word or two in return to each of them.
”Makoto, Kotarou, Yuma. I did my research on calcium.”
”…Let’s save that report for tomorrow.”
”Why?”
”Too many eyes. We need a secret meeting to decide if the results are safe for public consumption.”
”…I see.”
I’ve already decided to spend today acting like a perfectly normal, age-appropriate kindergarten student.
”Wait, where’s Jun?”
”He got soaking wet in the rain, so the teacher took him away!”
”…”
What is that guy even doing? He probably got too excited and ran around without an umbrella. When kids like him can’t play outside, their energy starts to spin its wheels. Usually, we’d burn off that energy with a morning game of Dorokei, but the rain has ruined that. Since the rainy day routine in the Rabbit Group hasn’t been established… I’m a little worried.
”—Makoto! Yo!!”
”Morning, Jun.”
I was looking around the classroom for a way to kill time when Jun ran over. He’d already changed his clothes at the nurse’s office, so he was missing his name tag. Behind him, Sanae-san was bowing apologetically to the teacher.
”I won today!”
”Dammit. If only Mom hadn’t gotten in the way…”
Completely oblivious to their parents’ struggles, the two of them obsessed over the victory of who got to greet me first. Business as usual.
”Hey, Makoto, what are we playing?”
”…Kotarou, what do you think?”
”Tower of Babel.”
”Let’s do that, then.”
”Got it! —Hey, we’re doing Tower of Babel today!”
It’s a simple game we’ve played since our time in the Rose Group. We just compete to see who can stack blocks the highest.
”Jun, Taisho. We’re having a Tower of Babel match.”
”Alright! I’m not losing this time!”
”Me neither.”
”I won’t lose either! Kotarou, let’s play together!”
”Yeah. Let’s take Makoto down.”
”Wait, Yuma-kun, you promised to be Moe’s husband today…”
”Ah… Makoto, what should I do?”
”…How about the setting is a husband who has to go to work… building with blocks?”
”Hmm… okay!”
”Kotarou, you be the husband’s father.”
”Fine, I get it…”
Good luck, Kotarou. At least that’s a safe role for him.
”Makoto, I brought the blocks!!”
”Thanks. Let’s get started.”
”Wait, Makoto-kun.”
Usually, I settle for a background role—a neighbor, a playmate, or a character who gives advice. But I have a bad feeling about the way Moe-chan is fidgeting. I want to start the game immediately.
”Makoto-kun, you’re the mistress².”
”…”
See? My bad feelings always come true.
I want to escape reality, but ignoring this will only make it worse. A mistress. A ‘loved person.’ Strictly speaking, the kanji just means someone you love. Etymologically, it should be a beautiful word, but somewhere along the line, it took a very wrong turn.
And now that word has come out of the mouth of Moe-chan, the president of the Rabbit Group House-Play Association. Her house-play scenarios are always strangely realistic, but of all days, she had to drop this bomb when the parents were watching.
If people could just laugh it off as ‘kids being kids,’ it would be fine. But ‘mistress’? If a rumor starts that someone’s parent has a lover on the side, it’ll be a disaster. Given my family’s unique circumstances, I have to be extra careful with these kinds of rumors.
”Moe-chan… I think I’d rather be the ‘neighbor’ again.”
”No!”
”But I don’t really know how to play that role.”
”You don’t know what a mistress is?”
”No, first time I’ve heard of it.”
”Then Moe will teach you. Listen close. A mis—”
”Moe-chan, let’s lower our voices a little.”
Please stop shouting that word where the parents can hear you. I took Moe-chan and Yuma by the hands and moved to a corner of the classroom. A few other kids followed us, acting as a perfect human shield.
”Okay, a mistress is someone you love who isn’t your husband! Understand?”
It was a crude explanation, but the precocious kids—mostly the girls—seemed to get it. Yuma, the ‘husband,’ just tilted his head in confusion.
”So… the wife has a husband she loves, but she fell for another man, too. And that man is obsessed with her… something like that?”
”Probably! The wife has to say, ‘I’m happy you like me, but I have a husband, so no!’ She has to turn him down. But deep down, she’s still happy about it!”
I understand the role now. We haven’t crossed the line into anything explicit, but it still feels like a messy daytime soap opera. Where does she even get this knowledge? TV?
”Hmm, but I still think the neighbor is better. I want to play nicely with the husband. Right?”
”Eeeh…”
Moe-chan pouted. Why is she so obsessed with this? I’m genuinely worried about her future. But I can’t back down this time. Not in front of the parents. I have to protect my mother’s reputation! Besides, I already have Suu!
”(Yuma, can you help me out? Tell her you want to play with me.)”
”(Huh? Okay!)”
A good adult knows when to use the best tools for the job.
”Moe-chan, I want to play with Makoto!”
”Hmm, what should I do…?”
Moe-chan’s attitude softened immediately. Yeah, I never stood a chance. Keep going, Yuma!
”Moe-chan, please!”
”Oh, fine! Just for today, you can be the neighbor!”
”Thanks, Moe-chan! I love you!”
”…Don’t say that in front of Mama! It’s embarrassing!”
Moe-chan blushes and looks toward the hallway after Yuma’s blunt confession. If she’s old enough to be embarrassed by a declaration of love, I really wish she’d been embarrassed by the word ‘mistress’ too.
”Thanks, you two. Yuma… sorry.”
”Eh? Why are you apologizing?”
”…Just a feeling.”
Thanks to my friend’s noble sacrifice, I successfully secured the role of the neighbor. With the roles settled, the game began.
”I’m definitely beating Makoto today! Let’s go, Kotarou!”
”If I can’t beat Makoto, I’m not giving my daughter to Yuma…”
We focused on our ‘work’ with the blocks while participating in the house-play. Though Yuma calling his father-in-law by his first name was a bit much.
”Father! If you say things like that, she’ll hate you.”
”Umu…”
Himeno-chan scolds the ‘father’. She’s surprisingly natural at it.
”Dinner’s ready! Big sister, can you go get Yuma and Father?”
Mihoshi-chan comes over to call them.
”Dinner’s ready.”
”Just a little longer…”
We’re too busy with our work. We have a battle to win.
”I told them, but they said they’re busy with work.”
”Goodness, men are all the same…”
The girls started looking at us with cold eyes as we played with our blocks. I can’t help but notice the fathers in the hallway looking equally uncomfortable. House-play is essentially a mirror of what children see at home. Watching it must be doing psychological damage to the dads.
”Jun, it’s time for dinner!”
”Woof! I’m in the middle of a match!”
”Jun, you’re a dog! You can only say ‘woof’!”
”Woof! Woof! Woof! Awoooo!”
”Hey! No barking in the house!”
Jun is surprisingly into the role. Apparently, he’s the neighbor’s pet dog. As for our match, divine intervention seemed to have knocked over his tower, so he’s back to square one.
”Woof!”
”Hey, watch it, Jun. You’ll make me slip…”
In the end, I maintained my pride as the absolute champion of Tower of Babel. I also managed to play the neighbor role without any further incidents. No fights broke out, and I think I managed to show the parents a peaceful morning.
Thinking back, the rain might have actually been a blessing. If it had been sunny, we would have played Dorokei as usual. The ‘police’ (the wife) would have been chasing the ‘thief’ (the husband).
’Where is my husband?!’ ‘Did you see him?’ ‘He was with that girl!’ ‘You’re in for a lecture when I catch you!’
I’m just glad the parents didn’t have to see that.
—
Summary:
Makoto arrives at the kindergarten on a rainy day, navigating the awkward social pressure of parents observing the students. In the classroom, he deals with high-energy classmates and a dramatic house-play session initiated by Moe-chan. He narrowly avoids a reputation-damaging ‘mistress’ role by manipulating Yuma into helping him. Ultimately, the day settles into a competitive game of block-stacking called the Tower of Babel.
—
Trivia:
- Nao-sensei’s change in demeanor suggests the Masaki incident had a lasting impact on the school staff’s professional growth.
- Moe-chan’s strangely realistic house-play scenarios suggest she is exposed to complex adult dramas, likely through television or observing adults.
- The fathers’ awkward reactions to the kids’ house-play highlights the children’s role as keen observers of domestic reality
—
Character Insight:
Makoto and Hiromasa’s relationship has shifted from rivalry to a genuine, respectful friendship through shared play. Makoto’s protective nature toward his mother’s reputation shows his awareness of his family’s ‘special’ social standing.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Introduction of ‘Dorokei’ (Cops and Robbers) as a staple physical activity for the Rabbit Group kids. The ‘Tower of Babel’ is established as a recurring competitive game among the kindergarteners.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘Aijin’ was translated as ‘Mistress’ to capture the specific scandalous connotation that would embarrass the parents, rather than a generic ‘lover’.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• 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.
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• 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.
• 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.
• Hiromasa – A competitive boy who views Jun as a rival. He is stubborn and refuses to admit exhaustion. Known as ‘The Commander.’ A rowdy problem child who frequently defies the teacher and bickers with Himeno.
• Hiro – Rose Red, a boy in the Rose Class and leader of the Rose Rangers, gets bored easily, runs around the classroom, and accidentally breaks Suu’s paper.
• Himeno – A highly intelligent and justice-minded girl. She acts as a ‘nosy older sister’ figure, frequently scolding Hiro-masa.
• 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.
• 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.
• Mom – A 30‑year‑old mother who recently switched jobs for more time with her son, Maa‑kun. She’s supportive, manages household shopping together with Mio‑san, and balances family life with her new career.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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