Volume 3 Chapter 10 Family Time
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Totsuka family was heading out for the day. Since it had become a daily routine for me to drop by their house-and not just on holidays-spending an entire day completely alone with Mother felt surprisingly fresh and nostalgic.
(Now then, how should Mother and I spend the day?)
When people think of Golden Week¹, they think of trips, not work. Mother had already asked me about it earlier.
”Maa-kun, is there anywhere you want to go?”
”I… don’t think so,” I replied.
”Maa-kun…”
I’d made her look worried, and I felt a pang of guilt. But when you’re asked so suddenly, it’s hard to come up with an answer. Actually, even if I sat and thought about it, nothing came to mind at all. In my previous life, I was always so busy with work that the very idea of “going out to play” never even occurred to me. I used to think going outside was a total waste of time; on my precious days off, I just wanted to work quietly without having to deal with people. After I quit that company, people dragged me out a bit, but the rules are different between the city and the country, or between adults and children. The very definition of “fun” was different. It was the same back in my university days. The way I used to spend my time was… pretty pathetic.
(Stop it. I’ve already started a new life. Instead of looking back and getting depressed, I should learn from it and move forward. That’s the proper way to handle the past.)
So, about where I wanted to go. Telling her “anywhere is fine as long as I’m with you” would only trouble her. It’s a total landmine, right up there with the “What do you want for dinner?” “Anything” trap. That said, a good idea wasn’t exactly going to manifest out of thin air. Sometimes “anything” really is fine. Besides, there’s only so much you can do in a child’s body. My steps are so small that it feels like my desire to travel is being physically suppressed. I can’t even protect myself properly yet.
That’s why we were playing at home. It’s a rare day off for Mother too, so we should just relax! There’s no need to force ourselves out into the city streets while they’re packed with people for the holidays.
”I want to play at home with you, Mom,” I said.
”Are you sure? Not the amusement park or the aquarium…?”
It was practically an invitation for a date. Being with Mother while she was all dressed up in clothes Mio-san picked out… that wouldn’t be half bad. She was easy on the eyes. Honestly, if she put on her old high school uniform…
(Okay, let’s calm down. A mother on the verge of thirty wearing a school uniform to go out with her son would ruin her reputation. Mio-san would probably laugh and go along with it, but it would leave a terrible impression on the other moms.)
By the way, there were clear signs that Mio-san’s old uniform in the Totsuka closet got pulled out quite frequently. (Ugh… I’m not jealous! Not at all! I have Mother!)
”Mom, do you want to go somewhere?” I asked.
”Huh…?”
She blinked, her eyes going wide at my question. I got to see a rare expression there.
”I want to go wherever you want to go, Mom.”
”…”
”I’ll just play at home with you.”
”You’re right. Let’s do that,” Mother replied.
As expected, we really were parent and child. And so, we decided to play video games. Total modern kids.
It might be unexpected, but we actually had a home console. It was a previous-gen model we got as a hand-me-down from the Totsukas. It was our main system, though we rarely got the chance to fire it up. Since the Totsuka couple were hardcore gamers, they naturally have all the latest hardware. Thanks to their influence, both Suu-chan and I enjoyed games. Occasionally I enjoyed just watching the single-player games Mitsuhisa or Mio played, but usually, we stuck to party games everyone can join.
However, Suu-chan spent more time on analog play like cards or playing house than video games. It seemed she was growing into a child who preferred interacting with people-with me-rather than focusing on a TV screen. Mother didn’t seem to play games on her own, but she’d played enough to keep up with Mio-san. She wasn’t a pro, but she wasn’t a total klutz either. She was actually quite strong at games that require thinking, but she rarely had the chance to play those in front of the kids.
I gripped the stick-shaped controller and fastened the wrist strap tight.
”Maa-kun, what do you want to play?” Mother asked.
”Hmm… how about bowling?”
I booted up the sports compilation game. Real bowling was impossible for a three-year-old because the ball was way too heavy.
”Hyah!”
I gave the controller a light swing. The ball rolled slightly to the right of the center. Not a bad line.
”Ah…”
”Oh! So close, Maa-kun!”
Two pins were left standing on the far right. I took another swing immediately, but I only managed to clip the edge pin, failing the spare.
”Muu…”
”Close, close.”
Mother patted my head to cheer me up. I wasn’t actually that shocked, but it felt good, so I let her continue.
”My turn next!” Mother said.
”Okay.”
I moved out of the spot in front of the sensor for her. Without straining, Mother swung her arm through with a clean, effortless motion. The ball she released slammed into the head pin, steamrolling every single pin behind it. The word STRIKE flashed across the screen in huge letters.
”Mom, you’re amazing!”
”Thanks, Maa-kun,” she replied, laughing bashfully as she gave me a high-five.
This is what a fulfilling life² looks like. Even though it was just my mom and we were at home, this was way more satisfying than my college years. I didn’t know any beauties like her back then.
For the record, Mio-san was actually the best at this game-specifically the bowling. She manipulated the spin at will and landed strikes like a machine. I’ve never seen her score below 250. She had no chill. Next was Mitsuhisa. He scored around 200. Even though he was a regular gamer, it seemed moving his body for real was a different story. Even though he’s buff, that doesn’t seem to help here. Then there was Mother. She usually kept her score around 120, probably out of consideration for me and Suu-chan. Finally, Suu-chan. She was still in preschool, so she wasn’t that great. But maybe because she had the blood of gamer parents, or maybe she was practicing in secret, her score always topped 50, and she even hit 100 if she’s lucky.
(Me? If I really tried, I could probably go toe-to-toe with Mitsuhisa, but I stay at Suu-chan’s level. It’s not about winning; it’s about having fun. And no, that’s not a sore loser’s excuse, okay?)
”Yah!”
There was nothing special about it, but playing with someone else was truly fun. While I still valued my alone time for things I wanted to do, the feeling of wanting to be with Mother and Suu-chan was now deeply rooted in me. I really had to thank the Megami-sama again for giving me this chance.
But right now, I was focused on the game.
”Maa-kun, so close!” Mother cried.
”Ugh…”
(Is this controller broken or something?)
—
Summary:
The Totsuka family goes out, leaving Maa-kun alone with his mother for a rare one-on-one day. They decide to skip the crowded Golden Week festivities to play motion-control sports games at home. The chapter highlights the domestic bond between the two and Maa-kun’s inner struggle between his adult mind and child body.
—
Trivia:
- The protagonist was a workaholic in his previous life.
- Mio-san selects the mother’s outfits, making her appear very attractive.
- Mio-san has a secret ‘try-hard’ side with a bowling score of 250+.
- The console used is a generation behind, implying the family’s modest focus on gaming compared to the Totsukas
—
Character Insight:
Maa-kun is beginning to value emotional connection over efficiency, a major shift from his previous life’s mentality. His mother’s bashfulness and simple joy at a high-five demonstrate her deep affection for her son.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘stick-shaped controller with a strap’ is a direct reference to the Nintendo Wii, which popularized motion-controlled sports games in the late 2000s.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Totsuka – The neighbor family consisting of a husband (Mitsuhisa), wife (Mio), and daughter (Suu-chan). They are hardcore gamers who provide hand-me-down consoles to the protagonist’s household.
• Mio – 28‑year‑old mother of Su‑chan, wife of Mitsuhisa; 164 cm, 57 kg, baby‑faced, G‑cup, gentle rounded elegance in a gray casual suit and skirt with a prominent chest. Former star relay runner and badminton player, she is an athletic, exceptionally beautiful teacher‑cook‑photographer who bakes professional strawberry shortcake and chirashi‑zushi, loves babysitting Ma‑kun, pushes his marriage with Su‑chan, avoids crowds, observes family chaos with a camera, and as the neighbor’s wife selects fashionable clothes for the protagonist’s mother while dominating motion‑control bowling.
• Mitsuhisa – Tall, handsome 184 cm, 71 kg IT specialist with slick‑back hair and deep voice, 33‑year‑old breadwinner of the Totsuka family. Doting husband of Mio, father of Su‑chan (Suzuka), reserved with Akari, meticulous in grooming, often scowls, and family photographer with a pricey DSLR and tripod. Close to Makoto, former college athlete, playful sometimes sinister humor, regular gamer who lags in motion‑control accuracy versus his wife.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply