Volume 3 Chapter 11 Time for Just the Two of Us
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Since Mom had stepped away from the game to get lunch started, I quietly transitioned into playing by myself. I spent the time with a makeshift game of Jenga, using flat building blocks of the same size and shape. I didn’t have enough time to build anything truly complex, but I found myself staring at the tower. (What’s the point of Jenga if the tower refuses to even wobble?)
I timed my cleanup perfectly, finishing just as Mom called out to me. Lunch was a pork shabu-shabu salad. The vibrant spread of crisp lettuce, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes fresh from the balcony really hit the spot. I took the plate from Mom and carefully carried it to the table. I honestly wanted to help more, but the simple fact was that I was too short to reach the counters. I could’ve managed with a stepstool, but I didn’t want to be a tripping hazard while Mom was bustling around with knives and a hot stove.
We sat side-by-side at the low table and pressed our hands together. “Thanks for the food!”¹
”This is great. The meat is so tender,” I said.
”Hehe, thank you,” Mom replied.
(A little praise goes a long way.) That’s what Mio-san had told me, and seeing the smile on Mom’s face, I knew she was right. I felt like I was getting the better end of the deal, but I wasn’t complaining.
After lunch and a quick tooth-brushing, we settled in for a nap. Cocooned in Mom’s warmth, lulled by the triple-threat of her scent, her touch, and her body heat, I was in dreamland within seconds. Later, for an afternoon snack, we wore chikuwa² rings on our fingers and fed them to each other before heading out for a grocery run. The car was a black subcompact we’d picked up cheap from an acquaintance of Mitsuhisa-san. Usually, we shared it with the Totsuka family; on weekdays, it was the primary ride for Mio-san.
Since I’d officially graduated from a child seat, I was strapped into a booster seat. Being held securely was nice, but the lack of airflow was a killer. It’s brutal in the summer even with the AC cranking, and winter is no better-between the heavy layers and the heater, I usually ended up a sweaty mess after five minutes. (I can suck it up since I’m an adult on the inside, but the ‘real’ kid, Suu-chan, hates car rides. He’s prone to heat rash, poor guy.)
The holiday weekend traffic meant the drive to the supermarket took longer than usual, but we got lucky with the parking. I used to ride in the shopping carts with the built-in child seats, but since I turned two, I’ve been officially barred from “boarding.” I followed close at Mom’s heels instead, micro-adjusting my positioning so I wouldn’t get in her way. I’ve got this down to a science. Based on her eye movements and shopping habits, I can usually predict what she’s reaching for. (Oh, looks like you forgot something. Lemme just circle back.)
We eventually hit the supermarket’s main attraction: free samples. Today was yogurt.
”Here you go, Makoto-kun. It’s yogurt day!” said the sample lady, Iida-san.
”Thank you. Itadakimasu,” I replied.
”My, Makoto-kun is such a polite boy!” Iida exclaimed.
I took the tiny dish from the slightly plump woman. She’s completely memorized my face and name. (Do I really look that hungry all the time?) The yogurt was actually pretty good, though the mandarin orange flavor was a bit too subtle.
”Thanks for the treat. It was delicious,” I said.
”You’re very welcome! Any thoughts?” Iida asked.
”Hmm… it wasn’t too tart, so it was really easy to eat.”
Iida smiled and nodded, then flipped her “professional” switch a second later. “Would anyone like a sample? It’s low-acidity and perfect for the kids! Try some yogurt!” (You’ve gotta admire the hustle. Being used as a promotional tool is actually kind of refreshing.)
I got another sample, and by this point, I was basically a sideshow attraction. Mom took the hint and tossed a container into the basket, and Iida even sneakily slapped a discount sticker on it for us. (I heard she’s been a veteran part-timer here for over twenty years. I guess that gives her some sticker-privileges.)
”See you later, Makoto-kun,” said Iida.
”Bye. Good luck with the rest of your shift,” I replied.
Once we got home, it was time for some “skinship.”³ I gave Mom a massage, figured she was probably beat from all that walking. As she lay face-down, I gently rubbed my way up her calves, moving from the back of her knees toward the thighs. (Look, I just wanted to take care of her. It’s not like I was just looking for an excuse to touch her. Granted, I might’ve ‘miscalculated’ the pressure, causing her to squirm a bit… but that just means I need more practice.) To finish off, I did a toddler-roll over her back and locked her in a surprise back-hug.
”Thanks, Maa-kun. I feel way better,” Mom said.
”You’re welcome.” I even got a reward-kiss on the cheek.
Dinner was homemade sushi rolls. Mom added the vinegar to the steaming rice while I fanned her with a hand-fan to get that perfect glossy sheen. We sliced the fillings into extra-thin strips so they’d fit in my tiny hands. I laid out the rice and the salmon on the half-sized seaweed sheets, careful not to make the rookie mistake of overstuffing them.
”Maa-kun, you’re so good at this!” Mom cheered.
”Yeah, I practiced a lot with newspapers at kindergarten,” I lied.
I added a tiny dab of mayo and gave it a roll. It was a masterpiece-a perfect cone. I held it up to her. “Here, Mom. Say ‘ahh’.”
”Huh? Ahh… Mmm! It’s so good! Okay, this one’s for Maa-kun.”
After dinner, we hopped in the bath together. I’m currently soaking in the lukewarm water, sitting on Mom’s lap while she hugs me from behind. The soft curves of her back were pressed right against my sides. My heart was absolutely racing. And yet, my “son” didn’t make a peep. (Come on, man! Pull yourself together!)
”Maa-kun, today was fun, wasn’t it?” Mom asked.
”Yeah! It was a blast! How about you, Mom?”
”I had a wonderful time, too.” She gave me a tight squeeze. (Well, I guess if I did have a physical reaction, I probably wouldn’t be allowed to bathe with her anymore. It’s a tough trade-off.)
After the bath, we watched a quiz show until I started losing my battle with the Sandman.
”Maa-kun, what do you want to do tomorrow?” Mom asked as she tucked me in. The Totsuka family wouldn’t be back until tomorrow night, so I had one more full day of just the two of us.
”Will you be with me, Mom?”
”Of course.”
”Then… I’ll tell you… tomorrow…”
”Hehe, let’s figure it out tomorrow. Goodnight, Maa-kun.”
Wrapped in Mom’s warmth, I let the curtain fall on a perfect day.
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Summary:
Makoto spends a wholesome holiday weekend alone with his mother while their neighbors, the Totsukas, are away. They enjoy a lunch of pork salad, go grocery shopping, and bond over making hand-rolled sushi. The chapter concludes with an intimate bath and bedtime conversation, highlighting Makoto’s struggle to balance his adult mind with his child body.
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Trivia:
- Makoto’s ‘inner adult’ allows him to play Jenga perfectly, which he finds boring.
- The car they use is shared with the Totsuka family and primarily used by Mio-san on weekdays.
- Makoto is now too old for the toddler shopping carts (limit is age 2).
- The ‘Suu-chan’ mentioned is the real child persona/sibling who usually handles the heat of car rides less gracefully than the ‘adult’ Makoto.
- The sample lady, Iida-san, has been at the supermarket for 20 years and gives discounts to regulars
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Character Insight:
Makoto intentionally applies social ‘praise’ techniques (learned from Mio-san) to make his mother happy, showing he uses his adult knowledge to improve their relationship. However, he faces internal conflict during intimate moments, like the bath, where his adult awareness clashes with his physical limitations.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses mundane activities like grocery shopping and sushi making to ground the ‘Isekai’ element in a ‘slice-of-life’ setting, focusing on the sensory ‘Iyashikei’ (healing) aspects.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• Makoto – A three‑year‑old boy (93 cm, 13 kg) in a neat shirt and cap, gentle‑looking, is actually a thirty‑year‑old man reincarnated into a child’s body. He lives with the Totsuka family, his mother works, and protects Suzuka‑chan. He retains adult memories, analytical mind, high dexterity, and knows stock tricks and magic, yet needs a booster seat.
• Iida – A veteran part-time worker at the supermarket for over twenty years. Slightly plump. In charge of the yogurt free-sample station.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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