Volume 3 Chapter 1 Entrance Ceremony
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A stiff spring breeze swept away the soft sunlight, and the day I’d been waiting for finally arrived: the kindergarten entrance ceremony.
We pulled up to Hinomori Kindergarten¹ in a minivan driven by Mitsuhisa. A sign wrapped in white cloth stood at the main gate, announcing the “Entrance Ceremony” in bold letters. It was decked out in pink and yellow silk flowers, and a sea of parents and kids were already crowding the area to snap photos.
Apparently, the moms had been here several times for orientations, but this was the first time for Suu-chan and me. I’d been worried she might be twitchy, but seeing all her favorite adults in one place had her in a great mood. We held hands and- “cheese!”
”Suu-chan, you’re cute. You look a little grown-up.”
”……Mmph.”
Wearing the kindergarten’s designated ceremonial uniform, Suu-chan has her usual pigtails braided, giving her the look of someone on a “special day.” Of course, I don’t forget to praise her.
In contrast, I looked exactly the same as always. I’d checked for bedhead, but in this wind, it was a lost cause anyway. (For the record, my uniform is definitely the pants-type. If they’d tried to put me in a skirt, I would’ve staged a full-scale riot and refused to go.)
The real show-stoppers, though, were Mother and Mio. They were rocking matching gray suits- Mother in a sleek pantsuit and Mio in a skirt. With her sharp posture and cool energy, Mother looked like a total boss. Mio had this soft, polished elegance that made her seem super approachable. They looked like they’d just stepped off a magazine cover.
Compared to the other moms, their aura was just… different.
I wasn’t the only one who noticed. I could see the other dads sneaking looks at them. (Seriously? It’s your kid’s big day, guys. Keep your eyes on the prize. Though, I guess I can’t blame them for doing a double-take at Mio’s chest. It’s practically a reflex.)
Mitsuhisa was the one shutting down those stares. He was lugging a tripod and a massive DSLR camera, looking like a pro. He had a permanent scowl, but thanks to Mio’s styling, he looked sharp. His suit was crisp, and when he drew himself up to his full height, he actually started pulling plenty of looks from the other mothers himself…
(What a disaster.)
I held Suu-chan’s hand and followed the crowd toward the reception desk. There were three classes for the toddlers. This was it- the moment that would decide our fate for the next year.
(Please let us be in the same class!)
I’d heard that kindergartens try to keep friends together in the first year, so I wasn’t panicking yet. Suu-chan and I were in the same group. Thank god.
We were assigned to the “Bara-gumi².”
(I guess that means my life is coming up roses. Actually, it already is. I’ve got a beautiful mom and the world’s cutest best friend.)
”Suu-chan, look! We’re in the Rose Group.”
”Rose… the prickly ones?”
”Yeah,” I replied. “The prickly ones.”
We checked in and the receptionist handed us our corsages.
”Congratulations on starting school!”
”Thank you.”
”…My, what a well-mannered little boy!”
”Thank you,” Mother said. “He’s my pride and joy.”
(Oops. Got a little too confident there. I’m just riding high because Suu-chan and I are together. I need to remember to act like a normal kid…)
I kept my mouth shut while Mother finished the paperwork, and then we followed the signs to the gym. We wiped our shoes at the door and stepped onto the green mats, keeping our sneakers on.
The scene inside was pure chaos.
Right. I forgot. These are all toddlers. Suu-chan and Yuna-chan are so well-behaved that I’d totally lost my sense of reality.
There were about forty families packed in there. It was a madhouse of kids crying, laughing, rolling on the floor, and sprinting in circles. A few of the younger dads were getting just as rowdy as their kids.
The folding chairs were set up in pairs. We sat down in a row: Mother, me, Suu-chan, and Mio. Mitsuhisa joined the “tripod brigade” at the back of the room.
I scanned the crowd and spotted Meguro-san. I gave a quick wave. Meguro-san was the one who recommended this place. (I wonder if there was a finders’ fee involved? I’ll have to grill them about that later.)
After a bit of a wait, the ceremony finally kicked off.
And, predictably, it was boring. I get that it’s tradition, but listening to the principal and the guests drone on was a chore. They were talking slowly for the kids, but the kids weren’t even listening. One kid was napping, another was sitting on the floor, and one was just straight-up wailing.
Even though I’d slept fine, I felt my eyes getting heavy. (Okay, plan B. Just focus on Suu-chan.)
As soon as I looked over, she caught my eye.
”Mmph… hmph…”
(Okay, this is fine. I could do this for an hour. Keep talking, Principal.)
Since she had to sit still, Suu-chan couldn’t hide behind Mio or me. She just kept darting her eyes away, her lips twitching adorably. Lately, Mio has been teaching her “Lady’s Etiquette,” so she’s been trying really hard to stop those excited little snorts.
(I don’t blame her. Blowing a snot bubble in public is the kind of core memory you want to delete immediately… though I still remember the last time she did it. It was hilarious.)
It’s my job to make her break character, and Mio was clearly rooting for me from the sidelines. (I’m still not sure whose side she’s actually on.)
Every time we made eye contact, she’d look away with a muffled “mmph,” then she’d peek back and do it again. By the time I realized it, the speeches were over. Figures.
Next was the teacher reveal. Each class had a duo: a veteran and a younger teacher. Managing a room full of toddlers is a marathon, so I guess they balanced out the experience and the energy.
Our lead teacher for the Rose Group was Ms. Kosaka Seiko. She had a nice smile, but you could tell she was a “battle-hardened pro.” She had this aura of authority- definitely the type who would be terrifying if you actually got her angry.
The younger one was Ms. Nagata Riko. She looked a little stiff when she bowed on stage. I couldn’t tell if she was just overwhelmed by the responsibility or if Ms. Kosaka’s energy was just that intense.
Once they finished explaining the schedule, the ceremony was over. The whole thing took less than thirty minutes. Considering a three-year-old’s attention span, that’s about the limit.
In my old life, I only remembered these things from photos, but being here in person was surprisingly simple. I guess these days aren’t really for the kids- they’re for the parents.
”…Ma-kun.”
”What’s up?”
”……I gotta go pee.”
”Yeah,” I sighed. “Me too.”
Thirty minutes really is the limit.
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Summary:
The protagonist and Suu-chan attend their kindergarten entrance ceremony. While the adults (Mother and Mio) attract attention with their stunning looks, the kids navigate the chaos of forty energetic toddlers. The chapter ends with the successful placement of both children in the ‘Rose Group’ and their shared need for a bathroom break.
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Trivia:
- The protagonist specifically checked for a ‘pants-type’ uniform to avoid a tantrum.
- Mitsuhisa is a tall man whose presence intimidates other fathers from staring at his wife.
- The gymnasium floor is covered in green sheets, and shoes are kept on, which is a specific ceremonial setup.
- Meguro-san is hinted to possibly have a professional stake or referral benefit in this kindergarten enrollment
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Character Insight:
The protagonist is struggling to balance his adult internal dialogue with the need to appear like a normal child, especially after being praised for being ‘composed.’ Suu-chan is showing growth by attempting to suppress her quirks due to ‘Lady’s Etiquette’ lessons.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Bara-gumi’ (Rose Group) is a common class name in Japanese kindergartens, often used alongside other flower names like ‘Sakura’ (Cherry Blossom) or ‘Ume’ (Plum).
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Mitsuhisa – He is a tall, handsome man with a deep voice, standing 184 cm and weighing 71 kg, with slicked‑back hair. At 33 years old he works as an IT professional and serves as the breadwinner for the Totsuka family, supporting Mio and their daughter Su‑chan (also known as Suzuka). He is a doting husband, hardworking, and somewhat reserved toward Akari, while also being meticulous about his grooming. He often scowls, is careful with his appearance, and acts as the family photographer using an expensive DSLR and tripod. He is close with Makoto.
• Mio – A 28‑year‑old housewife (164 cm, 57 kg) with a baby face and G‑cup figure, she is the mother of Su‑chan (also called Ssu‑chan) and the wife of Mitsuhisa. With a gentle, rounded composure and friendly elegance, she often wears a gray casual suit and skirt and is noted for her prominent chest. As a licensed kindergarten teacher, she handles housework and morning routines with a cheerful, playful personality. She is Suzuka’s mother and Akari’s best friend (the mother of Makoto), serves as Makoto’s parent/guardian figure, and is the godmother of Ma‑kun. Perceptive and teasing, she enjoys babysitting Ma‑kun and encourages a future marriage between her daughter Su‑chan and him, while being skilled in cooking and photography. Her beauty shines even in casual, unpolished moments, and she is admired for her kind, fashionable demeanor.
• Yuna – Hitomi’s daughter, a nearly two‑year‑old (92 cm, 13 kg) childhood friend who lives next door, is currently in a no‑no phase and experiencing baby regression. She is enrolled in a three‑year preschool program at Sannen Hoiku nursery and is one grade below Makoto.
• Meguro – A neighbor living below the Totsukas, a 28‑29‑year‑old single man residing on the first floor of the apartment, stands about 179‑180 cm tall, weighs 67 kg, works as a kindergarten office clerk, is an amateur prize‑winning photographer and road‑bike enthusiast, and also cycles.
• Seiko – Lead teacher for the Rose Group. A veteran with a ‘steely’ and ‘battle-hardened’ aura. Polite but intimidating when serious.
• Riko – Junior teacher for the Rose Group. Appears stiff and nervous during her introduction on stage.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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