Volume 4 Chapter 74 Mean Teachers
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It had been about thirty seconds since we left our starting point at the Forest of Gongen.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that the teachers were up to something, so I came to a halt and glanced back at the path we’d just traveled.
”Maa-kun?”
”Makoto-kun, what’s up?”
”Are you curious about what’s back there?”
The three girls looked at me with puzzled expressions, clearly wondering why I’d suddenly stopped.
”Hmm… Hey, is it okay if we head back to the start for a second?”
”Mm. Let’s go back.”
”Okay.”
”Sure thing!”
They all nodded without even asking for a reason.
If I were with someone like Jun, I’d be dealing with a chorus of “Aw, man!” and impatient whining while I tried to cook up some elaborate excuse to convince him.
God, I love well-behaved kids.
Once that was decided, I wanted to pull a U-turn immediately, but the flow of people was still heavy.
Since going against the crowd would just make us a nuisance, we ducked off to the side of the road to wait for things to settle down.
Energetic classmates raced past us, determined to overtake anyone in their way, waving or tossing us a mock salute as they went by.
The parents, looking like they were being dragged along by hyperactive sled dogs, offered tired nods of acknowledgement to our mothers.
”As usual, Makoto-kun is quite the celebrity…”
”He really is, isn’t he?”
”…I suppose. Honestly, he’s a much better kid than I deserve…”
My mother was playing the humble card after being showered with praise by Mayumi-san and Chiharu-san, Kotone-chan’s mom.
But the truth is, I’m only a “good kid” because she’s my mother.
I try for her; if it were anyone else, I doubt I’d bother.
Seeing me acting like a little boss, Mio-san gave me a playful tap on the shoulder.
”…Maa-kun, you aren’t neglecting Suu-chan, are you?”
”I’m not. …At least, that’s the plan.”
In my head, Suu-chan always comes first, but who knows?
Maybe I do things without realizing-reading the room too much or being a little too nice to a kid who’s crying.
Nothing is ever absolute.
I glanced down at Suu-chan, who was clinging tightly to my side, wondering what she made of my non-committal answer.
”…What’s ‘neglecting’ mean?” she asked, tilting her head at the big word.
”Uh… Mio-san, a little help?”
”What? No, you explain it, Maa-kun,” Mio-san replied.
”I’m just a preschooler. Big words are hard…”
”You were just talking normally! Besides, actual preschoolers don’t call themselves ‘preschoolers.’”
”They totally do.”
”Don’t try to hide behind your age only when it’s convenient for you,” Mio-san teased.
”But I really am a preschooler, you know?”
No matter how you look at it, I’m in the four-to-five-year-old class.
I’m definitely not some middle-aged guy.
My health records prove it, though I’ll have to wait until I get home to show her.
Explaining the concept was one thing, but making it understandable for a kindergartener was a whole different beast, especially with an audience.
Neither of us backed down, so we both ended up running to my mother for help.
While she explained it to Suu-chan, Shiho-chan and Kotone-chan leaned in, nodding along with intense focus.
”–Mm! So Maa-kun thinks only Suu is super special ssu! ♪”
”I’m so jealous, Suu-chan… I want someone to think I’m special too…”
”I want a husband like Makoto-kun…”
Suu-chan looked like she was on cloud nine while hugging me, whereas Shiho-chan and Kotone-chan looked like they’d just seen someone else get the last cookie.
I guess it’s human nature to want what others have.
I was struggling to find the right words to comfort them when Mio-san, the self-proclaimed “Love Master,” decided to throw them a lifeline.
”Shiho-chan, Kotone-chan, you can’t rush these things, okay? The reason Suu-chan and Maa-kun are so lovey-dovey is that they both put each other’s happiness first. So, first, you both need to find someone that you want to make the happiest person in the world.”
”Okay…”
”Do you think I’ll find someone?”
”You’re both such cute, good girls–you’ll definitely find someone!”
”Really?”
”I’ll really find a husband?”
”Yes, really! And if you can’t find one yourself, don’t worry–Maa-kun will find one for you! So for now, don’t sweat it and just focus on polishing your girly charms!”
”Okay! Got it!”
”I’m gonna polish my charms!”
”Wait, uh… me? I have to find them?”
”Mm. Suu will help too ssu. Helping friends with love,” Suu-chan added.
”Thanks, Suu-chan!”
”I’m gonna try my best too!”
Listening to the exchange from behind, Mayumi-san and Chiharu-san were laughing carefreely.
”Well, if Makoto-kun is on the case, we have nothing to worry about!”
”Mio-san…?”
”It’ll be fine. As long as Maa-kun keeps being Maa-kun, it’ll all work out,” Mio-san declared.
What is that even supposed to mean?
She sounded incredibly sure of herself, but I had my doubts.
Then again, I’m only five; there’s plenty of time for things to fall into place.
”Well then, maybe I should have Maa-kun find someone for me, too?” my mother teased.
”Mom… you have me.”
”Oh, right. Of course.”
Mother sounded satisfied, but I was too embarrassed to look her in the eye.
While we were talking, the crowd had thinned out, and we finally began to backtrack.
”–So, Maa-kun. Why are we actually going back?” Mio-san asked.
”…Ultimately? It’s probably for your sake, Mio-san.”
”Huh? Mine?”
”Yeah. You don’t want to walk this whole trail twice for no reason, do you?”
”Oh! As expected of Maa-kun. You really think of everything.”
We kids come to Mt. Hiou several times a month, so we could rely on our bottomless pit of childhood energy to power through.
But this time, we had our mothers with us, and they weren’t exactly seasoned hikers.
Mio-san seemed like the one most likely to complain, given her indoor hobbies.
That said, she moves around a lot for chores and childcare, and apparently, exercise is a “must” for her beauty routine, so I wasn’t too worried about her.
If anything, I was more worried about my mother, whose only hobbies are reading and studying.
It wasn’t just about raw stamina; mountain climbing uses muscles you didn’t even know you had.
From eavesdropping on the “Mom-friend” gossip, the day after this trip is notorious for legendary muscle soreness.
Exercise is great and all, but moderation is key.
We made it back to the start, and… yep, exactly as I suspected.
Shiho-chan spotted a teacher acting suspiciously and called out.
”Ah! It’s Alisa-sensei!”
”You’re right! What are you doing over here?”
”…Ugh!”
The one grimacing in pure frustration was the Giraffe Group’s homeroom teacher, Teacher Alisa.
With her glasses and overall vibe, she actually looks a bit like my mother.
She’s the same age too–thirty–and apparently has some choice words about her boyfriend’s lack of a proposal.
Despite her straight-laced looks, she’s a great sport and supposedly handles the Rose Rangers¹ roleplay perfectly.
I’d heard she was the mastermind behind the group expanding to seven members–adding Black Company² and White³ to the roster.
”…What are you four doing here? Did you forget something?” asked Alisa.
”Nope! Makoto-kun said we had to come back!”
”He did!”
”Suu stays with Maa-kun ssu,” added Suu-chan.
”Heh… and what can I do for you then? Are you lost already?”
”No way!”
”We’ve been here a million times! We don’t get lost!”
While Shiho-chan and Kotone-chan were chirping away, a heavy, knowing gaze was leveled at me over their heads.
It was a look that said, Alright, kid, what’s your angle?
”We’re here for the stamp, please,” I said.
”How on earth did you catch me…?” Alisa muttered.
The guidebook map showed a total of nine stamp points, and the goal was to visit them all.
However, there are “hidden points” not marked on the map.
Apparently, the homeroom teachers wait at these spots, and they change the locations every year to dodge the Mom-friend Information Network.
And as for this year’s preschooler class hidden point… it seems one was set up right at the starting line.
”The teachers are pretty mean, aren’t they…?”
”Makoto-kun, let’s watch our tone, shall we? I know you’re capable of being polite,” Alisa warned.
”I’ll try.”
”Yes, please do.”
”The games the teachers come up with are… deviously entertaining.”
”…Thank you for the rephrase.”
Ai-teacher and Riko-teacher had been rushing to their stations, but Alisa had been strangely relaxed.
That’s what tipped me off.
I tried to think of a spot near the start that would work as a hidden point, and when I checked, I was right on the money.
”Yay! The first one!”
”Mm. Got it ssu.”
”Thanks, Alisa-sensei!”
Suu-chan and the others squealed with joy as they got their stamps.
I held mine out next, and that’s when I noticed the number “1” embedded in the stamp’s design.
”Wait… don’t tell me we have to find these hidden points in a specific order?”
”…Makoto-kun. Teacher thinks being too sharp is a very bad habit for a little boy,” Alisa replied.
Wow… that is incredibly petty.
The families currently racing for the summit were in for a rude awakening.
If they want the full set, they’re going to have to do at least two full laps of the mountain.
The kids might handle it, but the parents… yeah, that’s just cruel.
”If possible, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t blab to everyone,” Alisa whispered.
”I mean, I won’t, but I think it’s already too late…”
Our bizarre decision to sprint back to the start hadn’t exactly been a secret.
Too many parents had seen us, and trying to keep a secret among the mothers is like trying to hold water in a sieve.
In fact, a few families were already trickling back down the trail after us.
”Teacher Alisa, I think there are times when you just have to accept defeat.”
”Yeah, I guess you’re right… Well, I had a feeling this would happen anyway.”
”Just a hunch, but do the other hidden points have ‘mean’ conditions too? Like, maybe some of them move around…?”
”Makoto-kun. Teacher really thinks being too sharp is a very bad habit.”
”…”
I started to feel a little bad for them.
They’d clearly put a lot of desperate thought into ways to keep us entertained.
I decided it was best to just keep my mouth shut from here on out.
—
Summary:
Makoto leads his small group back to the starting point of the mountain hike. His intuition uncovers a devious ‘hidden point’ trap laid by the teachers. Alisa-sensei is forced to admit defeat as the news of the ordered stamp hunt begins to spread among the other parents
—
Trivia:
- Alisa-sensei is the same age as Makoto’s mother (30).
- The ‘Rose Rangers’ was expanded to include seven members.
- Hidden points change annually to prevent mothers from sharing tips over the years
—
Character Insight:
Makoto shows a protective stance toward the mothers’ physical limits, while Alisa-sensei displays a playful, slightly competitive nature with the sharp-witted boy.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• 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.’
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old Rose‑class boy, 93 cm, 13 kg, in a white shirt, blue vest and cap, nicknamed Maa‑kun. He looks like a 30‑year‑old salaryman reborn as the kindergarten “Boss,” calm and logical, mediates fights, hands out hand‑cream, uses coin tricks and adult wisdom. He carries two identical handkerchiefs, sits perfect seiza blindfolded, protects Suu‑chan, runs Jun, quietly governs the class. Looks up to Akari, mistaken for her son, teased by Mitsuhisa, adored by Suzuki‑chan.
• 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.
• Kotone – A classmate and friend of Makoto and Suu. She is friendly and participated in the chocolate exchange during the post-festival gathering.
• 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.
• Mio – Mio-senpai, a refined postpartum woman with baby-faced charm and a G-cup silhouette, is wife to Mitsuhisa and mother to twins Fuuka and Kyouka, an older kindergarten child, and a beloved figure in her community. Once a Totsuka council chair and former office worker, she retired to nurture her family, now celebrated for her serene grace, creative culinary skills—especially her famed Salisbury steak—and philosophical insights on aging. Stylishly dressed in gray, she wields a high-end DSLR, capturing intimate family moments while teasing them on film, and shares warm, affectionate grill-side time with Mitsuhisa. A homebody who avoids crowds, she quietly mentors Maa-kun in UV hair-drying, confides in neighbor Akari, and is admired by former colleagues and Misato alike as a “winner” in life’s social hierarchy—her seductive aura and maternal warmth radiating from a life of quiet, elegant fulfillment.
• 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 and kitten-themed hair clip, uses training chopsticks and holds a placemat; she’s the quiet leader of her class’s girl group, shaping its social atmosphere. She quietly vies with Suu for Makoto’s attention, often waits with Suzuki, loves picture books, Hiragana, swimming, mud dumplings, sweets, and romantic dramas, fears scary things and fireworks, and is Suu-chan’s close friend entrusted to look after her.
• 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.
• Riko – Riko‑sensei, sixth‑year lead teacher and PE instructor at Hinomori Kindergarten, also serves as school nurse. Warm yet dry‑witted, she observes Middle Kids keenly, masks cynicism, and remains oblivious to Makoto’s hidden powers. She works with Seiko‑sensei on class dynamics, photography and interviews, judges coworkers sharply, finds calm in Makoto and skill in Maa‑kun. Magic‑trick fan and recent investor, she relaxes at staff girls’ nights, blending pragmatism with hidden whimsy.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob frames a fit former long‑distance runner now teaching the Middle Kids’ Rabbit Group at Hinomori Kindergarten, called “Mom” by her students. Cheerful yet blunt, she uses regional dialects when stressed, adores muscles, praises Makoto‑kun’s leadership, and leads energetic excursions. Playful and mischievous, she treats Makoto as a ‘Boss’, uses period‑drama phrasing, teases colleagues, and pushes professional boundaries while always putting the kids first.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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