Volume 4 Chapter 60 Girls’ Night Out⑩
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Cheers!”
And so, the girls’ night begins.
The autumn term at the kindergarten-which felt like a long, grueling marathon despite its calendar length-was finally reaching the finish line.
We’d pushed through Sports Day, the field trips, the Fall Festival¹, and the sweet potato digging.
Not that life was actually getting any easier; New Year’s was already looming on the horizon.
”Ahhh, that’s the stuff!”
As usual, those two were throwing back their drinks with a style that was anything but “ladylike.” Since we were behind closed doors with no one to judge us, they were being even more unrefined than usual.
”Still not finished with that?” Ai asked.
”I’m getting there. Just a little more,” Miku replied.
”How many photos did you actually take?”
”Over twenty thousand.”
”Look at you, all grown up~”
”Yeah, yeah.”
Miku-sensei was currently drowning in the task of sorting and editing all those photos.
She hadn’t had a spare second to step outside, so she was using these meal deliveries as her only source of a “change of pace.” Her weekends had looked like this for a while now.
It looked genuinely brutal.
I’d almost pity her for the lack of overtime pay…except I didn’t.
She does get a stipend, after all.
Actually, I heard the photography team gets a bonus: ten yen for every photo sold at the school gallery.
For Kamata-sensei and Meguro-sensei-the designated photographers for the Older and Middle Kids classes-autumn was essentially “bonus season.” Rumor had it they pulled in an extra fifty thousand yen or more between September and November.
Of course, apparently every cent of that just disappears right back into their camera gear.
(I really have to wonder if the math actually adds up for her…)
”Hey, Miku-sensei, show me the Sports Day video,” Ai said.
”You’ve seen it a million times. You really want to go again?” Miku asked.
”Duh.”
With an exasperated sigh, Miku-sensei handed the Blu-ray case to Ai-sensei.
”Here.”
”Wait, don’t tell me…”
”I put together a ‘Greatest Hits’ reel of the stuff you’d like,” Miku explained.
”M-Miku-sensei… you’re a saint…”
”Whatever.
I just didn’t want you messing with my PC,” Miku shot back.
For a fleeting second, Ai-sensei was overwhelmed with gratitude, only for her emotions to flatline at Miku-sensei’s icy dismissal.
In silence, she powered on the player with the practiced ease of a regular and set the disc.
She hit play, and the Sports Day footage flickered to life.
”Oh, you even added chapters,” I noted.
”M-Miku-sensei… you really are the best…”
”They’re just set at five-minute intervals.
It takes like two seconds to do these days,” Miku said.
Ai-sensei felt shut down again.
It was true the chapters were just at fixed points, but it didn’t change the fact that Miku had taken the time to make it watchable.
”Oh, I want to see the obstacle course!” I requested.
”Fine, fine,” Ai muttered.
She fast-forwarded to find the spot.
”Ah, here we go. Let me back it up a bit…”
As you probably guessed, it was the first heat of the Middle Kids’ obstacle course-the Rabbit Group.
Makoto-kun’s running form was a masterpiece; he moved with an efficiency that felt entirely wrong for a kindergartener.
It was also such a rare treat to see him so focused, desperately trying to keep pace with the speedsters, Jun-chan and Hiromasa-kun.
But the real highlight was Makoto-kun passing through the Tunnel Zone with a somersault.
It was just… so surreal.
Miku-sensei had made a looped video of it to help her decompress during work, and as expected, it hit my funny bone perfectly.
I saved it to my phone; whenever I’m feeling drained, I watch it for a quick energy boost.
I sent it to Akari-san, too, and it was a massive hit.
I loved the somersault itself, but the scene where the teachers holding up the tunnel did a physical double-take was what really got me.
That “What on earth did I just see?” look on their faces was comedy gold.
(I wish I could have seen it in person. I was stuck in the tent prepping the announcements, so I didn’t get to see the footage until after the event was over…)
Lately, during our mat exercises in the gym, we’ve been ending the lessons with tunnel-crawl practice.
All the kids want to do it now.
They’re already training for next year.
It seemed to be pretty tough, though.
So far, Suzuki-chan was the only one who can pull it off.
I supposed that took away Makoto-kun’s “competitive edge,” but… knowing him, he’d probably have some crazy new strategy ready by next year.
I was sure he’d be fine.
”Okay, now for the relay…” Ai said, her eyes gleaming.
Next up was Ai-sensei’s personal favorite: the grand finale, the district-wide relay.
Representing our class were the “Four Musketeers” from last year-Makoto-kun, Suzuki-chan, Jun-chan, and Takuya-kun-along with Masaki-kun, who’d recently done a total 180 and settled down with a girlfriend.
Every single child chosen from the Middle Kids class was someone I had personally taught at some point, which made me beam with pride.
I was rooting for every single team.
Then came the baton pass between Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan.
Again, I only saw it from a distance, so it was a blur, but even if I’d been standing right there, I probably wouldn’t have processed it.
For the younger kids, the baton pass is notoriously difficult.
Usually, the Takeover Zone² is just a chaotic mess of fumbled sticks and stalled momentum.
Even Shunya-kun from the Older kids-who’s in a track club and snatched first place as the anchor-played it safe by stopping to face his teammate for the handoff.
But in the middle of all that chaos, Makoto-kun somehow slipped away into the lead before anyone realized what had happened.
And since the mastermind himself was just sprinting along with his usual “poker face,” you couldn’t help but laugh.
After the kids and parents went home and we finished the teardown, we all stayed late rewatching the video over and over, completely ignoring the time.
That was when we finally understood what we were looking at.
Makoto-kun’s “lead-off” was timed to the millisecond.
The moment he reached back was the exact moment Suzuki-chan extended the baton.
The entire exchange took exactly two steps.
The handoff happened right at the very edge of the Takeover Zone.
I had assumed Suzuki-chan was the first runner just so she could settle her rivalry with Jun-chan, but there was a cold, hard logic to it.
He did it to maximize the momentum of Suzuki-chan, who was actually faster than he was.
It was brilliant.
Some people thought a teacher coached them, but I knew better.
That was all Makoto-kun.
I’ve been his homeroom teacher longer than anyone; I recognize his handiwork.
That flawless pass gave even an amateur like me goosebumps.
The teachers who actually have track experience were losing their minds.
One of them even joked, “If we sent this to the Track and Field Association, scouts would be at the gate tomorrow.” …Obviously, we won’t.
Leaking school footage is a massive breach of protocol.
But we can’t control what parents film.
Actually, a local track club actually did reach out with an invitation.
They turned it down, though.
”No matter how many times I see it, I’m just floored…” Ai whispered.
”It really is something else…” I agreed.
We were all reduced to clichés, but that’s just what happens when you watch it.
”How do you even get to that level? Can any ‘old married couple’ just do that?” Miku wondered.
”Oh, that reminds me. Akari-san sent me a video of their practice,” I said.
”WHAT!?”
Ai-sensei, who had been glued to the TV, whipped her head around so fast I thought I heard her neck crack.
It was actually a little terrifying.
”When did you get this!?” Ai demanded.
”Uh, the day after Sports Day…”
”HUH!? Why didn’t you show me sooner!? Is this a power move!? Are you trying to bully me!? Do you want me to quit!?”
”No! No, nothing like that! I just… I was busy…”
”Sharing info takes three seconds, tops!” Ai yelled.
”I want to see it too,” Miku added.
Miku-sensei joined in, and we hooked my phone up to the TV.
God, I love living in the future.
First, I played the practice video of the obstacle course somersault.
This one was still my favorite.
They were using a toy jungle gym as a makeshift tunnel, with Suzuki-chan rolling right along with him.
They looked like they were having the time of their lives.
”I see the somersault every day in PE! Skip to the baton pass!” Ai shouted.
(Well, most of it is just the two of them flirting. It might be a bit much for us single-and-lonely types…)
I switched the video.
”I’ll show you the raw, uncut version.”
The two teachers gave me a skeptical look.
I think they noticed the clip was actually pretty short.
The setting was a local park.
Suzuki-chan was holding a baton made from an empty paper towel roll, while Makoto-kun stood a few yards away.
Mio-san was likely the one filming, since she was the only one missing.
Suzuki-chan’s dad and Akari-san were standing at what looked like the boundaries of the Takeover Zone, both holding up their phones.
At the dad’s “Ready, go!” Suzuki-chan took off.
As she closed in, Makoto-kun timed his burst and leaped forward.
The first attempt was a bit clunky; they got too close, and the pass looked cramped.
Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan immediately huddled around the phone to check the footage.
”…Okay, so they didn’t nail it on the first try. Thank god,” Ai sighed.
”Whew…” Miku added.
For some reason, the two teachers let out a sigh of relief.
But listen, even that “failed” attempt was leagues beyond any kindergartener.
They were doing a proper overhand pass! In the video, Makoto-kun checked the phone, then made a little mark on the dirt to adjust his starting point.
Second try.
This time, he took off a bit too early.
They just barely missed the “zone” line.
They tried a third and fourth time, but they dropped the baton.
Suzuki-chan looked a little discouraged.
Then, the fifth try.
”Whoa!” we all gasped.
The two teachers instinctively started clapping.
It was the same flawless, lightning-fast pass we saw on Sports Day.
I joined in for the tenth round of applause.
They ran it a few more times, but Makoto-kun had clearly found the rhythm.
Every subsequent pass was like watching a replay of perfection.
And after every success, they’d hug it out and celebrate.
I guess that’s just the power of their “deep bond.”
”…Wait, so he mastered it in five tries!?” Ai shouted at the ceiling.
”As expected of those two… man, I’m jealous…” Miku muttered.
She looked enviously at the screen.
I wondered if she still hasn’t made up with Meguro-sensei.
It had been quite a while since that whole thing started…
”Show me one more time,” Ai said.
-And just like that, tonight’s “Girls’ Night” turned into a very enthusiastic private screening.
* * *
”Miku-sensei, let’s just stop comparing ourselves to those two,” Ai said later.
”…”
”Especially Makoto-kun. If you use him as your benchmark, every man on earth is going to be a disappointment. The way he prioritizes her… it’s bordering on a clinical obsession.”
”…”
”If you only look for the flaws, you’re going to burn out. Let’s try to find the good in Meguro-sensei and focus on that. Find enough good that the flaws don’t even matter.”
”She’s right,” I added.
”Besides, ‘ideal husbands’ aren’t born; they’re made. We have to train them up, little by little, until they get close to the dream.”
”Have you two actually talked-just the two of you-since then? When was the last time you saw him?” Ai asked.
”…Yesterday,” Miku whispered.
”…Huh? Where?”
”…Here.”
”Okay, meeting adjourned! Everybody out!” Ai yelled.
—
Summary:
A group of kindergarten teachers hold a drinking party to celebrate surviving the busy autumn season.
They spend the night watching Sports Day footage and home videos of Makoto-kun and Suzuki-chan.
The professional editors are stunned by the toddlers’ uncanny athletic coordination, particularly in a high-level track-style baton pass.
—
Trivia:
- Miku is living with or hosting Meguro-sensei, as revealed at the very end.
- Makoto-kun intentionally placed Suzuki-chan as the first runner to maximize her superior speed.
- The teachers receive a 10 yen bonus per photo sold, potentially earning over 50,000 yen in a season.
- Makoto-kun mastered a professional-grade overhand baton pass in only five practice attempts
—
Character Insight:
Miku-sensei shows a softer side by preparing a custom video for Ai, though she masks it with her usual cold attitude.
The narrator’s deep attachment to Makoto-kun is highlighted by her claiming the longest tenure as his teacher.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘old married couple’ dynamic is a common Japanese trope (fūfu) for children who act with adult-like synchronization or domesticity.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Ai – Dark-brown short bob frames a fit former long-distance runner now teaching Middle Kids’ Rabbit Group at Hinomori Kindergarten, beloved as “Mom” by her students. Cheerful yet blunt, she uses regional dialects when stressed, adores muscles, and praises Makoto-kun’s leadership. Single and fiercely protective, she’s wary of parents but devoted to her farming family. Enthusiastic fan of children’s relay videos, she leads excursions with energy and joins girls’ nights, always putting her kids first.
• Miku – Petite, patient kindergarten teacher and Pre‑K photography lead, she’s swamped editing Fall Festival and Sports Day shots, obsessed with pricey gear yet cash‑strapped. Reads romance manga, avoids alcohol, gossips at work, straight‑man to Ai, quietly pines for coworker Meguro—an open secret—now dating three months.
• Meguro – A 28‑29‑year‑old single man, 179‑180 cm tall, 67 kg, lives below the Totsukas on the first floor. He works as a kindergarten office clerk and Teacher (teacher/staff), giving information to Makoto. An amateur prize‑winning photographer and avid road‑bike rider, he cycles regularly.
• 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 as the kindergarten’s “Boss”. Calm, logical, he mediates fights, hands out hand‑cream, protects Suu‑chan, runs Jun, earns respect. Nicknamed Maa‑kun, mistaken for Akari’s son, uses coin tricks and adult wisdom; Suzuki‑chan’s affection, teased by Mitsuhisa, his hidden ace is his transmigrated mind, plus preternatural running, coordination and tactical awareness as part of the “old married couple” with Suzuki‑chan.
• 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.
• Jun-chan – Daughter of Imai Sanae. Plays roughly with blocks and is often mistaken for a boy due to her tomboyish energy.
• 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.
• Jun – Tanned, hyperactive middle‑kid in a track suit, she’s the fastest runner with a huge appetite and loud, unfiltered energy—often mistaken for a boy. She leads peers with wild enthusiasm but tires quickly, gets moody when games stall, idolizes her calm brother Makoto (who quietly reins in her chaos), and sees Suzuki as a rival yet respects him. A core Rabbit Group member, she trains weekends on Mt. Hiou, leaks secrets, and strives to match Makoto’s restraint.
• Akari – Makoto’s mother, named “light,” is a 28‑year‑old single parent of Makoto and newborn Maa‑kun. She has long dark‑brown hair, subtle makeup, and a poised, observant look. Estranged from her parents, she’s loving yet strict, works full‑time IT, lives beside friend Mio, mentors Suzuki with candid photos, and navigates parent circles with bank‑service finesse. Outwardly shy but a secret shogi player with a mischievous streak, she’s now more ready for Sports Day after switching jobs for stability. Calm, modest, kind, supportive, affectionate, she often teases Makoto, though she admits she’s not as dexterous as her son.
• Suzuki – Suu-chan, a doll-like five-year-old with dark braided pigtails, topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes, and pink rain boots, is the eldest Totsuka daughter and Makoto-kun’s devoted partner who calls herself his “Official Wife” candidate and editor, clutching a pink candy tin and clinging to his arm. The only child able to replicate the tunnel somersault, she races with him, interprets results as next-year class placement, and craves physical “recharge” through their runs. Shy with strangers, fiercely jealous—especially of Jun—she’s stoic, tomboyish, deeply loves her younger sisters, and somersaulted with Makoto in the Sheep Group, winning his heat.
• Masaki – A student in the Sheep Group. Nervous about the relay despite being fast.
• Takuya – Member of the Giraffe Group and ‘Rose Rangers’ (Blue).
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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