Volume 4 Chapter 32 The Little Girl Who Learned
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ding-dong.
”Suu’s¹ gonna get it!”
Suzuki had somehow managed to finish tidying up just seconds before the chime rang. Determined not to let anyone else take the lead, she made a beeline for the entrance.
”Try not to trip, now,” Mio said.
It might have been a bit careless to leave a five-year-old in charge of the door, but the clock was at exactly 9:00 AM, just as promised. A message had just arrived on the smartphone in Mio’s hand saying, “I’m here,” so there was no mystery as to who was at the door.
Besides, Suzuki had a “skill” that let her know exactly who rang the bell. Or, more accurately, she knew whether it was Makoto or not. She couldn’t quite explain how she told the difference, but her toddler’s intuition told her so.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she clicked the lock and swung the door open. Suzuki immediately locked onto the boy standing there. He had backed up just enough to clear the door’s path and was crouched slightly, bracing himself.
”-Maa-kun!”
She lunged at him like a lover reuniting after years apart. (It goes without saying, of course, that they had spent the entire previous day playing together as well.)
”Whoa… Good morning, Suu-chan,” Makoto said.
”Morning!” Suzuki replied.
”Did I keep you waiting?”
”Mm-hmm.”
Suzuki pressed her whole weight against him, firmly confirming his existence.
”Good morning, Suu-chan. You’re full of energy today, too,” Makoto said.
”Yep, I’m all better now ’cause Maa-kun’s here!” Suzuki chirped.
”Haha, I see. Sorry I was a bit late, okay?”
”Nuh-uh, it’s okay,” Suzuki said.
Suzuki took Makoto by the hand and led the two guests inside.
”Morning, you two,” Mio said.
”Morning,” Makoto replied.
”Good morning, Mio-san,” Akari added.
Makoto greeted Mio, who was sprawled out on the sofa, and then Mitsuhisa and the others, only to be immediately caught in their orbit. Akari poked the younger children’s cheeks by way of greeting, then nudged Mio’s head aside to take a seat.
”Here, this is for this week,” Akari said, handing over an SD card. The contents were, as expected, photo data. It was clear exactly who was in them.
”Sorry it’s late… was everything okay?” Akari asked.
”Yeah, totally fine. I was acting as the Editor-in-Chief²,” Mio replied.
”I see.”
Akari let out a little chuckle as she looked toward the “Editor-in-Chief” who was currently stuck like glue to Makoto. Mio thought to herself that while Akari had softened up a lot since Makoto was born, she seemed even more relaxed since her career change.
Over where the mothers were watching, the twins reached out their hands toward Makoto’s face. “Look at that, Big Brother Makoto is here!” one of them chirped. Even the little ones had taken a liking to the boy next door.
”Maa-kun, Suu helped change Fuu-chan’s diaper this morning!” Suzuki boasted.
”Oh? You’re doing a great job being a big sister, Suu-chan,” Makoto said.
Praised by her favorite person, Suzuki clung to Makoto’s back to hide her blushing face.
”Maa-kun,” Suzuki whispered.
”Yeah? What is it?”
”Just wanted to say your name.”
”I see.”
”Hehe.”
Just being together caused an aura of pure happiness to radiate from the eldest daughter. The younger sisters were also in high spirits, bumping into Makoto and climbing onto his lap.
”YOU GUYS LIKE MAKOTO BETTER TOO!?” Mitsuhisa wailed. Seeing all his daughters “stolen” from him, the father let out a cry of pure lamentation.
”Papa, cheer up,” Suzuki said, offering a moment of pity while still firmly glued to the boy’s back.
”Suzuki, the men are having a serious talk now. Get off Makoto,” Mitsuhisa commanded.
”No way! Maa-kun won’t let go!” Suzuki countered.
”Makoto… do you have any last words?” Mitsuhisa asked.
”I plead ‘not guilty’… wait, last words?” Makoto stammered.
”Fine, I guess I have to peel you off by force…”
”Bring it on!” Suzuki challenged.
If it involved Makoto, Suzuki was happy to play along. Mitsuhisa approached the two of them, his hands wiggling in anticipation of the coming tickle-war. Facing her father, the daughter tightened her grip, determined never to let go-unaware that she was playing right into his hands.
”Guh! She’s tough!” Mitsuhisa grunted.
”Hahaha! Papa, that tickles!” Suzuki squealed.
”Wait-Suu-chan-I can’t… breathe!” Makoto gasped.
The three of them began their usual chaotic play. Fuuka and Kyouka had already been whisked away by the mothers to the safety of the “non-combatant” zone.
”Violence solves nothing! We should use words… that’s the modern way!” Makoto yelled.
”No! If you want to use words, you must first show me your strength! The world isn’t that soft!” Mitsuhisa shouted.
”No way!”
”I love Maa-kun! Hehe!”
”…”
”Ah! Wait! Not the feet! STOP!!”
The ruckus continued for a good ten minutes.
”Phew… I’ll let you off for today,” Mitsuhisa said. Having vented his frustrations, he stood up to get some tea from the fridge.
Makoto lay sprawled face-down at his feet. Despite being smart for his age, he was no match for an adult’s strength, and he had zero resistance to tickling.
”Maa-kun, you okay?” Suzuki asked.
”Suu-chan… you were… tickling me too… halfway through… weren’t you?” Makoto panted.
”It looked fun,” Suzuki said.
”…”
”It was fun.”
”I see…”
The other accomplice stroked Makoto’s head with a saintly grace. There wasn’t a hint of remorse in her eyes.
”Maa-kun,” Suzuki said.
”Sorry… just… let me rest a second…” Makoto wheezed. It looked like it would be a while before he “rebooted.”
”That reminds me, Suu-chan. I have something for you,” Akari said, beckoning her over. Suzuki hesitated, wondering if she should drag the collapsed Makoto with her, but finally decided to leave him be. “Wait here, I’ll be right back!” she said, scurrying to Akari’s side.
”Here you go,” Akari said.
”Wow! Akari-san, thank you!” Suzuki beamed.
Suzuki’s usually stoic face broke into wide-eyed joy. Akari had handed her about ten photos of Makoto. But these weren’t just any photos. They were rare, candid shots of a completely drained, listless Makoto-looks he would never show in front of others-specifically, in front of Suzuki. They were the ultimate “hidden” treasure.
Suzuki did a little wiggle-dance and immediately began her “appreciation time.”
”Suu-chan, Maa-kun is going to wake up soon. Why don’t you finish looking and put those away?” Akari suggested. She was subtly implying Suzuki should hide them before the subject found out. The “Top Secret” series was for eyes only.
Suzuki nodded and headed toward the toy box. Her motivation wasn’t to hide them, though; she just wanted to get back to playing with Makoto.
Then, disaster struck.
”Suu-chan?” Akari asked. Sensing something was wrong, she went to check on the frozen Suzuki.
”Oh… I see,” Akari sighed.
The photos had been shoved into the box too messily. One of them had been sticking out and was now bent right down the middle. Suzuki stared at it, her mouth hanging open. She had bent it herself. It was only one photo, but it was a favorite she had prized enough to print.
She didn’t realize the data was safe on a hard drive. To her, the treasure was ruined.
”…”
Suzuki’s shoulders slumped in total defeat.
”Suu-chan, come here,” Akari said.
”Maa-kun’s… photo…” Suzuki whimpered, looking like she was about to burst into tears. Akari pulled her into a hug.
”Suu-chan, what’s wrong!?” Makoto called out, reacting to her trembling voice.
”Maa-kun, stay back. This is a girl’s secret,” Akari warned.
Makoto had no choice but to stay put. He accepted a glass of tea from Mitsuhisa and watched them with a worried expression.
”Suu-chan, let’s try to be a little more careful when we tidy up, okay?” Akari said gently. Suzuki was already regretting her mistake; she didn’t need a lecture. “If you can promise me that, I’ll fix it and make it pretty again for you.”
In the end, Akari was a softie for Suzuki, too. They were comrades who both treasured the same boy, after all.
”But this is a one-time deal, okay? Promise?”
”Mhm. I promise. I’ll be real careful next time,” Suzuki said.
After a pinky-swear, Suzuki’s spirit returned, and she marched back to Makoto’s side.
”Akari, thanks,” Mio said.
”Don’t mention it,” Akari replied. “Maybe this will make her a little better at cleaning up.”
”I hope so. Though that might only apply to photos of Maa-kun.”
And so, the little girl learned another lesson.
—
Summary:
Makoto and his mother Akari visit Suzuki’s house for a playdate. Akari brings a secret ‘payment’ of candid photos of Makoto for Suzuki, but disaster strikes when Suzuki accidentally bends one of the photos. Akari comforts her and uses the opportunity to teach her about tidying up properly.
—
Trivia:
- Suzuki has a specific ‘skill’ to identify Makoto’s presence.
- The mothers have a playful hierarchy involving ‘Editor-in-Chief’ titles.
- Suzuki helped change a diaper earlier that morning.
- Mitsuhisa (Suzuki’s father) feels competitive with Makoto for his daughters’ attention.
- Akari recently changed careers
—
Character Insight:
Suzuki shows emotional vulnerability regarding her ‘treasure,’ moving from stoic joy to visible distress. Akari displays maternal warmth and solidarity with Suzuki over their shared ‘interest’ in Makoto.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘Editor-in-Chief’ dynamic likely stems from the mothers’ hobby of cataloging their children’s lives like a magazine.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• Suzuki – Suu-chan, a doll-like five-year-old with dark braided pigtails, a topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes, and pink rain boots, is the eldest daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa. A model student with uncanny intuition, she’s obsessively devoted to Makoto—calling herself Editor-in-Chief of his photo records, reading clocks to track his arrival, and always clutching a pink candy tin as she clings to his arm. Quiet, helpful, and fiercely competitive in word games, she proclaims herself his girlfriend and is rarely seen without him, her affection as precise as it is unwavering.
• Mio – Mio‑san, chairperson of the Totsuka family council and mother of Suzuki, is a recently postpartum, stylish gray‑clad figure with a baby‑faced charm and G‑cup silhouette. Playful yet grounded, she guides Makoto, Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan and Kyo‑chan, bakes with them, encourages Shiho’s hobbies, and serves as Akari’s confidante. Protective of UV, she balances mischief with maternal wisdom.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old Rose‑class student, 93 cm, 13 kg, in a white shirt, blue vest and cap—actually a 30‑year‑old salaryman reborn. Calm “Boss” who hands out hand cream, mediates fights, protects Suu‑chan and earns respect. Dry narrator in the Rabbit Group, uses logic and coin tricks. Known as Akari’s son, nicknamed Maa‑kun, popular Middle Kids student at Hinomori Kindergarten. Reincarnated adult, often the target of Suzuki’s affection and Mitsuhisa’s teasing.
• Maa-kun – A young boy in the Rabbit Group at Hinomori Kindergarten. He is highly intelligent, capable of second-grade math and multiplication. He is described as calm, stoic, and helpful, often acting as a ‘handler’ for more energetic children. Akari’s son, nearly five years old. An extreme polyglot and polymath who secretly studies news, martial arts, and multiple languages. Highly sensitive to his parents’ moods. Also referred to as Makoto-kun. Narrator’s son in the Rabbit Group. Popular with other girls but maintains distance. Previously protected Suu-chan during the ‘April Incident.’
• 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.
• Akari – 28-year-old single mother of Makoto and newborn Maa-kun, with long dark-brown hair and subtle makeup, poised and observant; estranged from her parents but deeply loving and strict, she balances full-time IT work with motherhood, cherishing quiet mornings and monitoring Makoto’s health via a private status report network. She drives a black light-compact car, lives beside her best friend Mio, and mentors Suzuki with candid photos of Makoto—using her former bank customer-service finesse to navigate parent circles, all while quietly grieving missing the party, her mischievous streak hidden beneath a polished, responsible exterior.
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa, 33, 184 cm, 71 kg, toned and reserved, is a giant‑physique father of three (Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan) married to Mio. On modified childcare leave he’s protective, doting, play‑acting with his daughters, feeling neglected by the eldest but favoring the twins, distant with Akari, dark‑bantering with former teammate Makoto, and unsettled by his influence. Also known as Mitsuhisa‑san, father of the Totsuka family, on work‑from‑home leave, theatrical when his daughters prefer Makoto, and enjoys playful competition.
• Fuu – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Currently learning to swivel their head and grab objects.
• Kyouka – One of the twin daughters of Mio and Mitsuhisa, this younger sister shares her twin’s mobility and drooling habit while currently practicing crawling.
• Fuuka – Younger twin daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa, an observant infant with soft curls and bright eyes, is now belly‑crawling and loves playing “airplane” with her father, giggling as she stretches her tiny arms toward him.
• Kyo – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Shared traits with Fuu-chan.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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