Volume 4 Chapter 57 Securing the Spot
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
By the time Jun finally settled down-which usually signaled that lunch was approaching-I headed back toward the multi-purpose hall. I swung my backpack onto my shoulders and made my way toward the plaza nestled between the Botanical Garden and the Natural History Museum.
Once there, Ai-sensei gave us the usual safety briefing and marked out the boundaries for our leisure sheet¹. Immediately, the youngsters began splintering off, forming groups with their best friends.
”Makoto! Let’s-“
”Yuma is coming over here.”
”Wait, what!?”
”Come on, move it.”
”Yu-kun, let’s eat together!”
”Ah, Makoto…”
(I thought I heard someone calling my name, but it was probably just my imagination.)
Yuma was currently being held in a double-arm lock by Moe-chan and Kana-chan. He certainly seemed to have his hands full, so I figured I’d leave him to it. It would be a shame to get in his way while he was being so popular.
While the rest of the Rabbit Group spread their sheets to surround me, I avoided eye contact and slipped away toward the very edge of the crowd. I had a prior engagement, after all. (Sorry, guys…)
”-Maa-kun!”
Suu-chan came charging at me with enough momentum to tackle me, only to slam on the brakes at the last possible second. She drifted gracefully into my waiting arms. Even with everyone watching, her “pressure” was a far higher priority than any social embarrassment.
”Suu-chan… I missed you.”
”Nn, ssu missed you too!”
I’d been holding back for over three hours since we left the kindergarten. My battery was hovering at near-zero, and this was the only way to recharge.
”Suu-chan, wait for us!”
”Ah! Suu-chan is hugging Makoto-kun again!”
”They’re so lovey-dovey!”
”Must be nice~.”
”Nn, ssu and Maa-kun are ‘two hearts as one,’” Suu replied.
Shiho-chan and her group, who had been chasing after Suu-chan, surrounded us and began squealing with excitement at our constant flirting. Beside them stood another couple.
”Ryoma, you have to hug Nana and pet her head like that, too!”
”Wait, Nana… everyone is looking…?” Ryoma stammered.
Nana-chan, one of the friends who had attended Suu-chan’s birthday party, was tugging on the hand of the boy she liked-Ryoma-while pointing at us. Ryoma was a boy from the former Sunflower Class, currently in the Sheep Group. Apparently, he and Nana-chan had been acquaintances since their Youngster days because they took the same bus, but they had grown much closer since starting Middle Kids-specifically, after Suu-chan’s birthday party.
I’d talked to him a few times during games of Cops and Robbers. Even though he was in the other class, he was a fast runner and a real asset whenever he played the thief.
”If you do it boldly, it’s not embarrassing! Go on, give it a try!” Nana insisted.
”Ugh…”
Nana-chan spread her arms wide, but Ryoma just hovered there nervously, glancing at the surrounding eyes. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quite ready to dance to her tune. While Nana-chan possessed a boldness that rivaled Suu-chan’s, the fact that she waited for him to come to her rather than lunging in herself suggested she still had some lingering bashfulness. A woman’s heart is complicated, even at this age.
”-Makoto! I’m starving! Give me food, now!”
The person who shattered the blooming pink atmosphere was also a girl. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to call it a “child’s heart.” Calling it a “woman’s heart” would be an insult to the gender.
”Muu…”
”Jun, sit,” I commanded.
”…wan, wan!!”
”Stay.”
”…wan,” Jun whimpered.
I managed to settle Jun down as she tugged on my backpack with her perfectly valid demands. (Is she really okay with being treated like this?) I wondered, but I was grateful for her obedience.
”Suu-chan, should we spread out the sheet?”
”Nn,” Suu nodded.
I laid our leisure sheet down, tucking it right up against Suu-chan’s. Even though we were in different groups, the plaza was crowded with other grades and tour groups. Since the Middle Kids class² were already packed tight, there was no harm in the edges of the Rabbit and Sheep groups overlapping. The teachers had likely factored this in anyway; class boundaries tended to dissolve at this age.
Once our spot was secured, my friends from the former Rose Class began competing for the remaining space around us. Jun and Shiho-chan’s group were already there, along with Kotarou and the Professor, who had slipped in unnoticed. Before I knew it, Yuma had also arrived nearby, leading his own entourage.
”Rose Red!”
”Rose Blue!”
”Rose Pink!”
”Rose Crimson!”
”Rose Rouge!”
”Rose White!”
”Rose Black!”
”””””””Reporting for duty!!!”””””””
”Aw, man! There’s no more room near the Boss!”
”That’s because Rouge was too slow!”
”Red was the one who stalled!”
The Giraffe Group arrived a beat late, finding themselves blocked off from reaching me.
”Boss, give us orders.”
”Just stay over there,” I told them.
”””””””Yes, Boss!!!”””””””
”…”
”Then I’m taking this spot!”
”I’ll be over here.”
”I’m going to-“
Once the kids had settled their territory, the “Teacher Recruitment” began. Their names were called out from all directions as the kids tried to lure them into their circles.
”Nao-sensei! Eat with us!”
”Teacher, over here, over here!”
”Well, maybe I’ll crash your party then,” Ms. Nao laughed.
”Yay!”
”Nao-sensei, take this spot!”
”Thanks, everyone. Just let me squeeze through~,” Ms. Nao said, navigating the sea of sheets.
Ms. Nao, summoned by Shiho-chan and the others, carefully navigated the minefield of leisure sheets until she reached the center. (If a teacher didn’t get invited, I imagine it would cause some pretty severe emotional damage.) Fortunately, no teachers in my line of sight looked lonely.
Once everyone was ready, the teacher gave the signal, and we all chorused “Itadakimasu³” in unison.
”Shiho-chan, your Bento cute!”
”Yeah! Mama made it!”
”It’s wonderful. Oh, look! Sena’s bento is a Character Bento⁴! How adorable!”
”Ehehe~,” Sena giggled.
While that typical kindergarten chatter played out nearby…
”Maa-kun, say ‘ahh.’”
”…ahh.” I complied, and she fed me a bite. “Mmm, it’s delicious.”
”……”
”…Here, your turn, Suu-chan,” I said, returning the gesture.
”Nn♪”
The act of feeding each other had become second nature to us. There were eyes from outside the kindergarten on us, but our friends were acting as a human wall, so we were probably safe. Besides, we weren’t the only ones.
”Ryoma, let’s do ‘ahh’ like them!”
”Wait… it’s embarrassing…”
”You’re a boy! Suck it up!” Nana teased.
”U-Uh, okay… here, ‘ahh’…”
Ryoma managed to go through with it, however awkwardly. (That’s right, buddy. No need to be afraid if we’re all doing it together.)
”Yuma, feed Moe!”
”Okay! Sure!” Yuma agreed.
”Mmm! Yummy!”
”Do Kana too!”
”Yeah! I’ll do Kana-chan next.”
”Hey! I want a turn!”
”I’m first!”
”One at a time! If you can’t play nice, no one gets fed!” Yuma declared.
A little further away, Yuma was showing off his own “robust growth.”
”…Girls are terrifying,” Kotarou whispered.
”Agreed. But I heard if you say stuff like that out loud, you’ll just end up in even scarier trouble,” the Professor replied.
”I’ll remember that. I’m going to make a dictionary of this stuff when I get home so I don’t forget.”
”Better to let sleeping dogs lie.”
The Professor and Kotarou whispered to each other as they watched Yuma’s struggle.
”I’m so jealous of Suu-chan…”
”I want a husband, too,” one of the girls sighed.
The surrounding girls watched us with envy. Apparently, this year’s Middle Kids class has an unusually high number of couples. I have no idea what the “average” is, but right now there’s Suu-chan and me, Yuma’s harem, Ryoma and Nana-chan, Masaki and a girl from the former Chrysanthemum Class, and even the Rouge and Blue Rose Rangers.
The cause… is likely us, but Shiho-chan’s group played a huge role too. No matter the era or location, school “trends” are always dictated by the girls. Even when it looks like the boys are in charge, the girls are the ones pulling the strings in the shadows. Shiho-chan’s group is the heart of the Middle Kids tier, and with Suu-chan in that inner circle, the entire atmosphere of the class has been reshaped.
”I wonder if I can find a husband like Makoto-kun…”
”My Mama said that women raise men to become their ideal husbands. Kotone is going to do her best to raise one, too.”
”But that doesn’t mean just anyone will do, right? You need ‘potential,’ don’t you?”
”Nn, ssu. That’s the hard part. You have to develop an eye for it,” Suu explained.
”Suu-chan, Kotone… are you guys talking about grown-up stuff again…?”
”Shi-chan is going to start trying harder, too. A good man is first come, first served!”
”Hmm…”
(Kindergarteners these days have some really heavy conversations.) Even Ms. Nao’s polite smile was starting to twitch. It must be tough for a teacher who can’t maintain a poker face like I do.
”Nao-sensei, do you have a boyfriend?” Shiho-chan asked, going in for the kill.
I’m certain Ms. Nao’s face froze for a split second. (How is she going to talk her way out of this?)
”…Actually, I just recently broke up with my boyfriend,” Ms. Nao admitted.
”Wait, really?”
”Why?”
She tried to play it off as a joke, despite the sadness, but she froze again under the pure, relentless interrogation of these precocious girls. She awkwardly averted her eyes… and for some reason, they landed on me. (Why me? And also-wait, you guys broke up?)
”Hmm, maybe he just lacked the potential to be Teacher’s ideal husband,” Ms. Nao muttered.
”I knew it! Potential really is everything!”
”That’s right~. So Shiho-chan, Kotone-chan, make sure you take your time and choose wisely. Look for someone like Makoto-kun, who truly puts his girlfriend first.”
”Okay!”
”I will!”
(They’re still young; there’s no need to rush. Honestly, I think Ms. Nao is still plenty young herself.)
—
Summary:
The kindergarteners move to a plaza for lunch. Makoto and Suu secure a spot together, soon surrounded by their group of friends and the ‘Rose Rangers.’ The chapter highlights the unusually high number of ‘couples’ among the children and concludes with the girls interrogating Ms. Nao about her recent breakup.
—
Trivia:
- The ‘Rose Rangers’ are a Sentai-style group formed by children from the former Rose Class.
- Ryoma and Nana have been acquaintances since their ‘Youngster’ days due to taking the same bus.
- The social climate of the class is heavily dictated by Shiho’s group of girls.
- Makoto notes that the teachers likely anticipated the class boundaries dissolving during lunch
—
Character Insight:
Makoto continues to act as a social anchor, though he prefers the quiet edge of the crowd. Suu’s possessiveness and the girls’ precocious views on ‘potential’ in men show a sophisticated social hierarchy among toddlers.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘potential’ conversation is a satirical take on adult dating culture mirrored through children.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Jun – A tanned, hyperactive preschooler known as the Champion of her class, she’s the fastest runner with a massive appetite and loud, unfiltered energy, often mistaken for a boy. Wearing a track suit, she leads peers with wild enthusiasm but tires quickly and grows moody when games stall. She idolizes her calm brother Makoto, treating him like a superior, and fiercely admires him despite their clashing personalities—he quietly manages her chaos. She views Suzuki as a rival but maintains a resilient, sportsmanlike spirit. Trains weekends on Mt. Hiou, leaks secrets, and is a core member of the Rabbit Group, her boundless energy and appetite defining her even as she strives to match Makoto’s quiet restraint.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob frames a fit former long‑distance runner now teaching Middle Kids homeroom at Hinomori Kindergarten. Cheerful yet blunt, she’s the kids’ beloved “Mom,” uses regional dialects when stressed, adores muscles and praises Makoto‑kun’s leadership. Single, devoted to her classroom family, wary of parents, protective of every student. Daughter of a farming family.
• Makoto – Four-year-old Rose-class student, 93 cm, 13 kg, in white shirt, blue vest, and cap—actually a 30-year-old salaryman reincarnated, known as the “Boss” of kindergarten. Calm, logical, and dependable, he mediates conflicts, hands out hand cream, protects Suu-chan, and manages Jun, earning quiet respect. Nicknamed Maa-kun and falsely believed to be Akari’s son, he’s the dry-narrator of the Rabbit Group, using coin tricks and adult wisdom. Target of Suzuki’s affection and Mitsuhisa’s teasing, his hidden “ace” is his transmigrated adult mind—calm, strategic, and quietly in control.
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura, a frail four-year-old with an idol-like face and quiet charm, is the youngest in the Rabbit Group and eldest son of a wealthy realtor; Makoto’s childhood friend from Youngsters class, he’s adored in Rose Class for his gentle, imaginative spirit. He leads the ‘train’ line, loves acorns and nature, excels in creative play—building blocks, paper folding, and crafting clay models of his father’s car—while also being passionately obsessed with vehicles, especially buses and GTRs. He struggles slightly with math and stamina but thrives in role-play, often pretending to be a husband in Moe’s house-play. Born April 1, he’s cheerful, popular, and beloved for his tender creativity and quiet charisma.
• Moe – President of the ‘House-Play Association’. She enjoys setting up strangely realistic and dramatic domestic scenarios for roleplay.
• 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.
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• Shiho-chan – An early‑arriving student, this child is often seen waiting with Suu‑chan at school. As Suu‑chan’s close friend, he/she tries to act as a ‘stopper’ for her mischief, and is close enough to Yuma’s family to stay over at their home.
• Shiho – Four‑year‑old Rose‑Class girl of the Goto family, with a side‑up ponytail, kitten‑themed hair clip and a placemat, uses training chopsticks. She quietly vies with Suu for Makoto’s attention, often waits with Suzuki, loves picture books, Hiragana, swimming, mud dumplings and sweets, enjoys romantic dramas, fears scary things and fireworks, and is Suu‑chan’s close friend, asked to look after her.
• 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.
• Nao – A kindergarten teacher who, after a past incident involving student Masaki, has grown more composed and gutsy, now commands quiet respect with a calm demeanor and steady presence, her once-nervous energy replaced by protective resolve—students trust her implicitly, colleagues rely on her judgment, and Masaki, now quieter but closer to her, often lingers near her side as if seeking reassurance she’s still there.
• Masaki – A student in the Sheep Group. Nervous about the relay despite being fast.
• Kotone – A classmate and friend of Makoto and Suu. She is friendly and participated in the chocolate exchange during the post-festival gathering.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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