Volume 4 Chapter 52 Sports Day (Middle Class) ④
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
While that was going on, I and my group finally arrived at the parents’ spot—a corner of the gymnasium that offered a reprieve from the sun. Yuma’s entourage had already been released to their respective families. They were at an age where they could be quite shrewd, but they hadn’t quite mastered the art of long-term planning yet.
”Mom, lunch!”
”Makoto-kun, thank you. Truly.”
”You’re very welcome,” I said.
Having returned Jun to her parents as well, I took off my shoes and sat down next to Akari along with Suzuki.
”Good work, Maa-kun. Want some tea?” asked Akari.
”Yeah, I’ll have some.”
I handed a wet wipe to Suzuki and wiped my own hands before taking the cup of tea and catching my breath.
(Phew…)
”Fufu, it’s only noon, but are you already tired?” Akari teased.
”Yeah, well…”
It was a mental exhaustion entirely unsuited for a preschooler, and my reply naturally trailed off.
”Big brother! Listen, Yuna got first place!” Yuna, who was one grade younger, pointed her index finger up to report her success in the footrace¹. Suzuki reached over and patted her cute junior’s head to praise her effort.
”Yeah, I saw you. You did your best,” said Suzuki.
”Yuna-chan worked hard!”
”Yep!”
Mei, a classmate and friend of Yuna from the Namikawa family, was trying to eat her lunch with the Hagiri family. Her mother, Rie, nudged her to greet me and the others, but Mei seemed to be in a shy phase and firmly refused with a pout. Since forcing her would likely backfire, Rie had to give up for now.
”It’s a shame you didn’t win, Maa-kun, especially since your plan was perfect,” Akari said.
”Yeah, they were both just too fast,” I replied.
”But you looked really cool, you know? Everyone was going ‘Whoa!’ and getting really into it.”
”…I guess so.”
Since I had gone so far as to use adult schemes to try and snatch a win, I was feeling more than a little depressed about the result. However, being an adult on the inside, I had already moved on. Akari, however, took the opportunity to comfort me, pulling me close and stroking my head. I felt flustered by the excessive physical contact, but I didn’t exactly hate it, so I had to mobilize all my willpower to keep my cool.
Nearby, Mio and Mitsuhisa were praising Suzuki’s performance.
”Suu-chan, you were so good! Your dance was adorable,” said Mio.
”You really worked hard,” added Mitsuhisa.
”Mm! I got first place! Maa-kun even gave me a reward hug!”
”…I see,” Mitsuhisa noted, his expression turning a bit stiff.
”That’s our Suu-chan! You never miss an opening!” Mio laughed.
”Mm! It’s a lady’s etiquette.”
”…”
Suzuki never forgot to report her successes. Her father, however, looked quite grim.
”Makoto, you were close too,” Mitsuhisa said.
”Yeah.”
”We’ll have to start some intense special training tomorrow.”
”Wait, but the sports day is already over…?”
After a brief moment of family bonding, the hungry group gave a spirited shout of “Let’s eat!”² and dug into their lunches. The Yashiro and Totsuka families had onigiri bentos that Akari and Mio had made together that morning. The other families had similar meals, mostly sandwiches or rice balls, as the options for food that lasts until noon in the heat are naturally limited.
Apparently, the fathers of the Yoshikura and Goto families had lost a bet and were currently taking their eldest daughters and their friends to a nearby family restaurant. They were probably staring at giant parfaits right about now. When the younger Goto daughter heard this, she was understandably envious.
”No fair, Shiho wants a parfait too!”
”Maybe next time,” Mayumi said, trying to soothe her.
I reached into the cooler bag and pulled out a cream and strawberry sandwich, offering it to Shiho. Since it had been kept cold, the container felt nice and chilly.
”Thank you, Makoto-kun!”
”You’re welcome,” I said.
”Mom, it’s so sweet and delicious! It’s just like a parfait!” Shiho squealed with a face full of cream. Truly, sweetness was justice.
I didn’t have any ulterior motives to raise her affection; it was more like atonement for my earlier schemes. I didn’t forget the girl next to me either, who was looking on expectantly.
”Suu-chan, say ‘ahh’…”
”Ahh… Mmm, yummy! ♪”
I was a meticulous person. Sanae Imai watched the scene with a complicated expression, comparing the feminine growth of Suzuki and Shiho to her own daughter, who was currently inhaling fried chicken.
”Oh, Mom! Where’s Dad?” Jun asked, finally noticing her father’s absence once her stomach was half-full. It wasn’t that he was invisible; she had just been too hungry to notice.
”He threw his back out and went home,” replied Sanae.
”Does that mean I can eat this meat too!?”
”Go ahead.”
”Sweet!”
”Sigh…”
Jun clearly prioritized her appetite over her father’s well-being. Perhaps her sharp instincts for food came from growing up with many siblings. She was just happy she got to eat more.
”Jun-chan is… well, she’s definitely energetic,” Akari said, trying to offer some strained comfort to the exasperated Sanae.
”I guess as long as Makoto-kun is around, she’ll be fine…”
”…”
Akari could only respond with a wry smile. She knew Jun and I were close, but knowing my private life with Suzuki, there was no room for anyone else. Still, as a mother, she was proud of my popularity, even if it felt a little lonely.
”What?! What about Makoto!?” Jun asked.
”Nothing, we were just saying it would be nice if you were in the same class as Makoto-kun again next year,” Sanae explained.
”Don’t worry! I got first place, so I will!”
”””…?”””
The parents were baffled by Jun’s confidence.
”Mm. ssu got first place too, so I’ll be with Maa-kun,” Suzuki added, following the same logic.
”I am the King!” Jun roared.
”ssu is the King too!” replied Suzuki.
”Rawr!”
”Grrr!”
The two of them started their usual intimidation game again.
”Maa-kun, care to explain?” Akari asked.
”Well… it seems they think that if they get first place in the footrace, they get to be in my class next year,” I explained.
”Wait, is that how it works?”
”No, I don’t think so…”
I had never heard of such a thing, but I didn’t want to crush Suzuki’s spirit when she was so determined. It likely started because last year, Jun (1st place) stayed with me, while Suzuki (3rd place) was moved to a different class. It was pure coincidence, but to a preschooler, it was law.
”I was second…”
”Me too…”
”Shiho was first place!”
Kotarou, Yuma, and Shiho reacted with varying degrees of joy and despair. They were still just kids, easily swayed by playground rumors. I held my head in my hands. I would have to work hard to debunk this “King” theory before it spread any further.
As lunch ended, my friends swarmed me as promised. To avoid causing a scene near the parents, I led them back to the classroom early. Consequently, the Middle Kids were the first ones back.
During the afternoon session, Jun was struggling.
”Are you okay?” I asked.
”I’m… fine…”
Jun’s eyelids were heavy with a post-lunch food coma. The other kids were in a similar state, making their cheering for the younger kids’ ball-toss event remarkably weak. I, having meditated on Akari’s lap for ten minutes during lunch, was the only one fully awake, though I stayed in “power-save mode” to preserve my strength.
When our turn came, however, the kids woke up.
”Yah!”
”Take that!”
”Hah!”
Their throwing forms were better than last year, but their accuracy was non-existent. Most of the balls beaned the kids standing near the basket or the poor teachers holding the poles. I stayed in the safe zone, picking up strays.
Whenever a ball hit someone, the boys would raise a single hand in a mock-apologetic prayer.
”…Amen.”³
”…Amen.”
”…Amen.”
I winced. I hadn’t meant for the “prayer gesture” to become a trend. I’d have to let the teachers handle that. Surprisingly, the “Amen Power” worked—the Rabbit Group took first place.
Next was the parents’ ball toss. The baskets were raised higher.
”Camera, please,” said Mitsuhisa.
”Sorry about this.”
”No, it’s fine.”
The dads entrusted their cameras to Yuna’s father, Koji, so they could focus on the game. They all wanted to look cool for their kids. When the whistle blew, the baskets filled in seconds.
”Go, Dad!”
”You can do it, Mommy!”
”Get ’em, Mom!”
Among the cheers, Akari was down on the ground, frantically scooping up balls just like her son.
Grown men crowded around the baskets, jostling one another as they piled in the balls. This left those who were relatively shorter—mostly the women—with no choice but to focus on gathering the balls from the ground to avoid being trampled in the fray. Just as he had the previous year, Mitsuhisa fought on the front lines, making full use of his towering height. In the end, the Sheep Group took first place, successfully avenging the Youngsters’ earlier loss. The Rabbit Group followed in second, with the Giraffe Group taking third.
With the Older Class ball-toss concluded, it was time for the Parent-Child Race. Once the Pre-K “Caterpillar Relay” finished, the Middle Kids class began their “Giant Ball-Rolling Relay.” The event required parents and children to work together, maneuvering a rubber ball larger than the height of the Youngsters themselves, before handing it off to the next duo waiting across the field.
Technically, a parent—possessing superior strength and speed—could roll the ball much faster alone. However, the rules of the Parent-Child Race were strict: if a parent surged ahead and left the child chasing behind, it was a foul, and the referee would send them back to the starting line. While the officials turned a blind eye to minor infractions to keep the mood festive, the rule remained a constant threat.
Though it might have looked like a simple event on the surface, it was surprisingly tricky. Since it was a relay, speed was essential, which meant rolling the ball with significant momentum. Yet, the faster the ball moved, the harder it became for the next pair to stop and take control during the hand-off. It was a game of delicate power control. Every year, at least a few adults would be sent flying by the ball’s impact, much to the crowd’s amusement. Safety mats were, unsurprisingly, a mandatory precaution.
”Maa-kun, let’s give it our all!” Akari said.
”Yeah… but Mom? Don’t overdo it, okay?” I replied.
”Oh, Maa-kun. I might not be a world-class athlete, but I can step up when it counts, you know?” Akari said with a wink.
(I really wish she wouldn’t push herself…) I thought. I didn’t want her to get hurt. It was scary enough watching people use muscles they clearly hadn’t touched in years, and being over-eager only increased the risk of injury. I’d be mortified if she dropped her glasses and they got crushed under the ball.
The relay didn’t exactly go smoothly. By the time our pair’s turn came around, two people in the Rabbit Group had already been knocked over. For the record, the victims were the pairs immediately following the Imai Jun and Kuroda Hiromasa families.
”Boss!” a voice called out.
”Aye-aye!” Akari shouted back.
Akari and I took the giant ball from the father-daughter duo. Our earlier conversation didn’t end up jinxing us; we managed a clean hand-off to the next pair without incident. However, the Rabbit Group ultimately finished third. The two accidents had proven fatal to their standing. The Sheep Group took first with a flawless run, while the Giraffe Group took second despite a single mishap.
—
After the Older Class finished their “Ball-Carrying Relay,” followed by the all-class relay and the parent volunteer race, it was finally time for the grand finale: the District-Selected Relay.
While the Older Kids’ Fife and Drum Corps performance was a staple of the Hinomori Kindergarten Sports Day, the closing relay was the true main event. Since the teams were selected based on the neighborhoods where the families lived, the sense of local pride made the cheering especially intense. Naturally, it was the parents who got the most worked up.
The excitement trickled down to the Youngsters as well. Being chosen for the selection team earned a child immediate respect from their peers. Last year, my friends and I were just spectators, but this year was different.
”Maa-kun, I’m gonna do my best,” I said.
”Yeah, let’s do it,” my mother replied.
Even though we were only in the Middle Kids class, both Suzuki and I had been tapped for the team. While the adults were busy tripping over themselves on the field, the two of us were already gathering behind the entrance gate.
”Makoto! I’m not losing to you!” Jun barked.
”Jun, this is payback for earlier!” Hiromasa added.
”Today’s the day I take Jun down!” Masaki yelled.
”I’m the king of the track!” Takuya shouted.
”Ugh…” Masaki groaned, looking pale.
The other Middle Kids selected for the teams were as follows: From the Rabbit Group, Jun and Hiromasa. From the Sheep Group, Masaki. From the Giraffe Group, Takuya—the “Blue Ranger” of the Rose Rangers.
I looked over at my friend, who was looking pale from the pressure. “Masaki, you okay?”
”No… it’s impossible…” Masaki whispered.
”It’ll be fine. You’re way faster than I am, Masaki,” I said.
It was a bittersweet bit of encouragement, but it was the truth. Out of everyone standing there, I was likely the slowest. There were kids in the Older Class who hadn’t even made the cut who were faster than me. I had only been chosen because of a local labor shortage.
The District-Selected Relay was based on the six local elementary school zones. Each team needed six runners who were fast and willing to participate, regardless of their grade level. Districts 1 and 2 were the areas immediately surrounding Hinomori Kindergarten. Perhaps because they grew up navigating the slopes of Mt. Hiou, these teams were the perennial favorites. Jun was the only Middle Kid fast enough to make the cut for District 1.
Districts 3 through 5 covered the residential neighborhoods and “new towns” further out, tied to two other elementary schools. While they didn’t quite have the “mountain-bred” stamina of the first two districts, their sheer population size meant they always had a few standout athletes. This was where Hiromasa, Masaki, and Takuya lived.
Then there was District 6. This was the neighborhood group that included both me and Suzuki. Because our numbers were so small, the odds of being picked were much higher, but the team usually spent the day fighting to stay out of last place. Our team spirit and crowd support usually lagged behind the others, too. Last year, we managed fifth place—a tie for our best performance in a decade.
Knowing I was the slowest link in the chain, I would have been more than happy to step aside. But Suzuki was absolutely fired up.
”I’m not losing to Jun,” Suzuki said.
”I won’t lose either!” Jun shot back.
”Hmph. Exactly what I wanted to hear,” Suzuki replied.
With Suzuki that motivated, I didn’t really have a choice.
—
Summary:
Makoto and his friends take a break for lunch during the preschool Sports Day. Amidst bento sharing and parental teasing, a misunderstanding spreads among the children that race rankings dictate class assignments for the following year. The afternoon session begins with the ball-toss competition, where the children’s erratic aim leads to a humorous ‘apology’ trend.
The Hinomori Kindergarten Sports Day continues with high stakes for both parents and children. Makoto (Maa-kun) and Akari participate in the Giant Ball-Rolling Relay, managing a safe hand-off despite surrounding chaos. The chapter concludes with the preparation for the District-Selected Relay, where Makoto is unexpectedly chosen to represent the underdog District 6 alongside the fired-up Suzuki.
—
Trivia:
- Makoto used adult strategies in the race but still lost.
- The ‘Amen’ (Namu) trend was unintentionally started by Makoto due to a previous salute incident.
- Class assignments in the preschool are actually balanced by average speed, not specific rankings.
- Suzuki uses the ‘ssu’ particle, indicating a specific personality trait often associated with sporty or tomboyish characters.
- Some fathers lost a bet and had to take other children to a restaurant, missing the bento lunch.
- District 1 and 2 are usually winners because they live near Mt. Hiou.
- Makoto is technically the slowest runner in the selection group.
- Suzuki and Makoto are both representing District 6, which usually comes in last.
- Mitsuhisa used his height as a strategic advantage in the ball-toss
—
Character Insight:
Makoto demonstrates his maturity by managing his disappointment and prioritizing the children’s happiness (sharing treats with Shiho). Suzuki shows her competitive nature and deep attachment to Makoto by fighting to be in his ‘class’ next year.
Makoto demonstrates self-awareness and humility regarding his physical abilities but stays committed to the team for the sake of his friends. Akari shows a playful yet determined side, revealing she’s well-respected in the community.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author uses the children’s ‘logic’ to highlight the innocence of the preschool setting vs. Makoto’s calculated internal world.
The ‘Rose Rangers’ mention is likely a nod to the Super Sentai genre, common in Japanese media for children.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura, a frail four‑year‑old with an idol‑like face and quiet charm, is the youngest and smallest in the Rabbit Group, eldest son of a wealthy realtor, and Makoto’s childhood friend from Youngsters class. In Rose Class he’s adored by many girls, leads the ‘train’ line, loves acorns and nature, struggles slightly with math and stamina, yet excels in creative play—building blocks, folding paper, making clay models of his father’s car, and role‑playing husband in Moe’s house‑play. Born April 1, he’s cheerful, popular, and beloved for his gentle, imaginative spirit.
• 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.
• 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, 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; target of Suzuki’s affection and Mitsuhisa’s teasing. Reincarnated adult mind in a child’s body, also handler for Jun.
• 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 Totsuka daughter (Mio & Mitsuhisa). Model student, uncanny intuition, calls herself Makoto’s photo‑record editor, reads clocks for his arrival, clutches a pink candy tin, clings to his arm as his ‘girlfriend.’ Shy with strangers, fiercely devoted, jealous. In the Sheep Group she somersaulted with Makoto, won his heat, sees race results as next‑year class placement, calls herself his ‘Official Wife’ candidate, craving physical ‘recharge’ with him.
• Akari – Makoto’s mother—her name means “light”—is a 28‑year‑old single parent to Makoto and newborn Maa‑kun. She has long dark‑brown hair, subtle makeup, and a poised, observant demeanor. Estranged from her parents, she’s loving yet strict, balancing full‑time IT work, quiet mornings, and meticulous health checks. She drives a black light‑compact car, lives beside friend Mio, mentors Suzuki with candid photos, and navigates parent circles with bank‑service finesse. Outwardly shy but secretly a shogi player with a mischievous streak, she’s now more prepared for Sports Day after switching jobs for stability. Calm and modest, she’s affectionate and enjoys teasing Makoto.
• Jun – A tanned, hyperactive preschooler known as the King and Champion of her class, she’s the fastest runner in the Intermediate Class with a massive appetite and straightforward, loud personality. Wearing a track suit, she leads peers with wild enthusiasm but tires quickly and turns moody when games stall. Mistaken for a boy, she trains weekends on Mt. Hiou, idolizes her mother, and leaks secrets—clashing with her calm brother Makoto, who manages her chaos while she fiercely admires him. Member of the Rabbit Group, her energy and appetite define her, even as she struggles to match his quiet restraint.
• 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.’
• Yuna – Hitomi’s 2‑year‑old daughter, 92 cm, 13 kg, a next‑door friend in Hinomori Kindergarten’s Youngsters Class (Sannen Hoiku three‑year program, one grade below Makoto). She’s in the Pre‑K Rose Class, competitive and spirited, trained with Makoto over summer, in a no‑no/baby‑regressing phase, always in pink rain gear, close to Suu‑chan, and recently placed first in a footrace.
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa, 33, 184 cm, 71 kg, toned and reserved, is a devoted father of three—Suu-chan, Fuu-chan, and Kyo-chan—on modified childcare leave, working from home as a family photographer for his own household and the Imais. He grills meals his wife Mio-san prepares, play-acts with his daughters, favors the twins, feels neglected by Suu-chan, and is distant toward Akari. Cool and unsettled by former teammate Makoto’s influence, he nonetheless joins the front lines of ball-toss competitions, fiercely competitive yet tender in his quiet, protective way.
• Mio – Mio, postpartum and stylish in gray, baby-faced with a G-cup silhouette, is mother to Suzuki and twins Fuuka and Kyouka, as well as an older kindergarten child; she’s Mitsuhisa’s wife, Akari’s childhood friend and neighbor, and Totsuka council chair. Playful yet grounded, she bakes with the kids, films and teases them, cooks, manages the household, mentors Maa-kun in UV-protected hair-drying, encourages Shiho, and confides in Akari—publicly affectionate with Mitsuhisa at the grill, though intensely dislikes crowds and keeps a quiet, close-knit presence at home.
• 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.
• 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.
• Shiho – Four-year-old Rose-Class girl from the Goto family, with a side-up ponytail, kitten-themed hair clip, and placemat, using training chopsticks; quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention, often waits with Suzuki for him, loves picture books, Hiragana, swimming, and making mud dumplings, adores sweets, enjoys romantic dramas, fears scary things and fireworks, and is Suu-chan’s close friend.
• Mayumi – Mayumi Goto, Yoichiro’s wife, is an elegant, refined mother‑friend in soft pastel dresses. She escorts daughters Hina and Shiho to swimming lessons, helps them change, and serves as the grade’s parent‑information hub. Trusted by Mio‑san, close to Nanami, Akari and Makoto’s mother, she blends maternal care with warm mother‑to‑mother friendships.
• Sanae Imai – Middle‑aged woman, mother of Jun and three older sons, often exasperated by her daughter’s lack of typical feminine grace. She has a laissez‑faire parenting style, patiently reins in her sons’ rowdy energy, and is a friend of the narrator and Makoto’s mother, valuing Makoto’s positive influence on her daughter.
• Sanae – Middle‑aged woman, mother of Jun and three older sons, experienced parent with a laissez‑faire style. Patient yet often exasperated, she skillfully reins in her son’s rowdy energy. Friend of the narrator and of Makoto’s mother, she values Makoto’s positive influence on her daughter.
• Jun-chan – Daughter of Imai Sanae. Plays roughly with blocks and is often mistaken for a boy due to her tomboyish energy.
• Kotarou – A slender, quiet boy with a focused gaze, often hunched over delicate origami or crouched gathering acorns; his precise care earns quiet respect. A Middle Kids classmate and close, level‑headed 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, and in house‑play he assumes the role of father/grandfather.
• 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.
• Koji – Father of Yuna and Jin. 27-year-old (172 cm, 66 kg) working at City Hall.
• Hiromasa – A large‑framed, energetic boy nicknamed Taisho, called ‘The Commander’/’The General’, wears a Rabbit Group placard. Once a rowdy problem child, he now stays calm after bonding with Makoto in Cops‑and‑Robbers and dreams of the future. He rivals Jun, refuses to admit fatigue, defies teachers, and bickers with Himeno. A former foot‑race dominant, he’s a Rabbit Group student and relay member for Districts 3‑5.
• Imai Jun – A lively girl, member of Rose Class and the Rabbit Group, known for her high energy, athleticism—excelling at footraces and jump rope—and love of attention. She earned perfect‑attendance honors, often grabs Maa‑kun’s hand and follows his lead, and is the daughter of Imai Sanae.
• 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.
• Masaki – A student in the Sheep Group. Nervous about the relay despite being fast.
• Takuya – Member of the Giraffe Group and ‘Rose Rangers’ (Blue).
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply