Volume 3 Chapter 13 Playing with Full Power
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After waking up from my nap and finishing my snack, I hit that awkward stretch of “dead time” before dinner arrived. Mom and Mio-san had already headed out for groceries, leaving just the three of us: me, Suu-chan, and Mitsuhisa. I wondered how we should kill the time.
”Hey, Makoto. Want to play a game or something?” Mitsuhisa asked.
”A game…?”
”Papa, I wanna go to the park!”
”Alright,” he replied. “The park it is.”
Suu-chan’s word was law; the decision was made in an instant. Not that I had any complaints.
We started our wardrobe change. I pulled on a T-shirt, some shorts, and socks – everything easy to move in.
”Maa-kun, arms up!”
”Big stretches!”
(I’m perfectly capable of dressing myself, but Suu-chan wanted to help, so I let her have her way. I made sure to return the favor and help her out, too.)
”Alright, we ready?” Mitsuhisa asked.
”Yeah!”
”Uh-huh!”
I held Suu-chan’s hand as we trekked to a park a bit further away. It didn’t have any actual playground equipment – it was basically just a massive, open field – but it was carpeted in thick, lush grass. It was the kind of place where you could take a tumble without worrying about scrapes.
I figured it’d be packed since it was Golden Week¹, but it was surprisingly empty. Everyone was probably away on a trip or inside playing video games. (Get it together, modern kids! You’ll never grow up big and strong like that!)
The plan for the day was literally sitting on Suu-chan’s head, held in place by both her hands like a hat. It was a Dodgebee² – a soft, foam frisbee. This one was a “pop” style, sporting a light blue and pink color scheme that was right up her alley. Lately, her big thing had been kicking vinyl balls, but she was looking to catch a new breeze today.
”Wanna try throwing it?” Mitsuhisa asked.
”…Throw?”
With the disc still perched on her head, Suu-chan tilted her head in confusion. (God, she’s cute.)
”Papa will show you how it’s done. Can I borrow it?”
”Mm!”
She held it up with both hands, presenting it to him. Every little thing she does is adorable; it makes it hard for me to keep a straight face.
”Makoto, back up a bit,” Mitsuhisa said.
”Got it.”
I retreated about ten meters before he gave me the signal.
”Alright, Makoto! Heads up!”
”Put it right here!”
Mitsuhisa twisted his torso, winding up for the throw. The disc took flight with a sharp zip, slicing through the air and gliding toward me. Suu-chan watched the flight path with her mouth hanging open. Her eyes, usually so sleepy, were wide and sparkling. At least, I think they were. It was hard to tell from my distance, but she was hopping up and down, so I was probably right.
I tracked the disc as it flew almost directly at me. I backpedaled a few steps and, as it dipped toward my chest, I clamped my hands down on it from above and below. A perfect catch.
”Throw it back!” he shouted.
”On it!”
The disc was bigger than I expected. I checked my form a couple of times, then let it rip. The Dodgebee drew a beautiful arc through the sky. Mitsuhisa shifted three paces to the side and snatched it out of the air from a half-crouch.
I figured I’d have the hang of the control after two or three more throws, but I was definitely lacking power. I put everything I had into that throw, and it still barely reached him.
”See? Just like that,” Mitsuhisa explained.
”Suu wants to try too!”
Suu-chan took the disc and tried to mimic his throw. It flew about three meters before hitting the dirt and rolling away. (Well, I guess for a first try, it’s… difficult…?)
”Makoto, have you done this with your Mom before?” Mitsuhisa asked.
”Nope, first time.”
(Oops. I might have been a little too good at it. I just wanted to see Suu-chan look impressed and I got carried away. The cat’s out of the bag now. I guess I have a reputation as a child prodigy to uphold, after all.)
Anyway, back to Suu-chan’s training. She’d throw it, and I’d sprint to go get it. Basically, I was a glorified golden retriever. We kept this up for about twenty minutes. With every throw, her distance improved, which meant my job was getting a lot harder. Still, it was a good way to build up some stamina.
The moment Suu-chan twisted her body to build up power, I’d take off on a head start. I’d predict the landing zone and snatch the disc before it even hit the grass.
”Maa-kun!” Suu-chan cheered, clapping her hands.
(I have to give it my all. If I want to be able to catch all of Suu-chan’s love, I’m gonna need the physical strength to keep up.)
I’ve heard that athletic ability isn’t always hereditary, but everyone in the Totsuka family seems built for movement. Mitsuhisa was in sports clubs through college, and Mio – despite complaining that her “assets” get in the way – is surprisingly nimble. Apparently, she was a star relay runner in elementary school.
Born to parents like that, it’s no wonder Suu-chan loves being active, even if she’s usually a bit of a space cadet. She’s a fast learner, too; she picks up dances from educational shows in a heartbeat. She isn’t called the “Queen of the Jungle Gym” for nothing. Even Mom is supposedly athletic. Back in high school, she and Mio were a powerhouse badminton doubles team, and there’s a rumor they even made it to the prefectural tournament.
”Suu-chan, you’ve gotten really good at this!”
”Hmph! I can throw it super far!”
She puffed out her chest with a proud little huff. Now that she could throw to her heart’s content, I thought it was finally time for some actual “Dodgebee.” But it wasn’t the game I was expecting. I thought we’d all just stand in a triangle and play catch…
”Papa, throw it.”
She handed the disc to Mitsuhisa and stood right next to him.
”…To where?” he asked, freezing up. I didn’t have a clue either, so I looked away.
”Suu wants to run like Maa-kun!”
Ah. I see. Watching me sprint back and forth during her practice made her want to join in on the “fetch” fun. Mitsuhisa caught on and tossed the Dodgebee with a gentle, floating arc. Suu-chan immediately took off after it. She didn’t manage to catch it in mid-air, but she looked so happy picking it up off the ground. Wait, no – she looks a little annoyed. Why?
”Maa-kun, come on!”
”You heard her, Makoto,” Mitsuhisa said. “Get running!”
”Wait, what…?”
Apparently, just watching her from the sidelines was a no-go. A request from my little angel, and a father who was more than happy to back up his daughter’s demands. (Was it just me, or did Mitsuhisa’s smile look a little… sinister? I’d already been running my legs off, and I was actually pretty tired…)
But there was no way I could say no to Suu-chan.
”Alright, here we go!”
”Mm!”
”On it!”
I ran alongside Suu-chan. Instead of actually chasing the disc, I was mostly there to support her. Watching her sprint while staring up at the sky was nerve-wracking; I didn’t want her to trip.
”Go for it, Suu!”
Spurred on by Mitsuhisa’s cheering, Suu-chan dove for the disc, catching it in a full-body hug. She went rolling across the grass.
”Suu-chan! Are you okay!?”
”Got it!”
She popped right back up like nothing happened, triumphantly showing off the disc. Since we were on grass, she was totally unscathed.
”Nice one, Suu-chan!”
”Mufuu!”
As I brushed the grass off her clothes, she suddenly tackled me, pinning me to the ground in a burst of excitement. (Hey now, that’s a bit bold for being out in public!)
”Makoto! Hurry up and get back here!” Mitsuhisa called out. (Seriously? Not even a little break?)
We ran until we were both completely spent, sprawling out on the grass side-by-side to catch our breath. Right then, Mitsuhisa’s phone buzzed.
”Looks like dinner’s ready,” he said.
”Mm! Let’s go!”
”You got it.”
Suu-chan had clearly fallen in love with the Dodgebee; she spent the whole walk back swinging it around in her hand. It looked like she’d had enough fun to completely wash away whatever had happened earlier that morning.
(I had a blast too… but man, next time, I’d really just like to play a normal game of catch.)
—
Summary:
Makoto, Suu-chan, and Mitsuhisa spend a holiday afternoon at a grassy park while the mothers are out shopping. They play with a ‘Dodgebee,’ a soft foam disc, which leads to a game of ‘fetch’ where Makoto and Suu-chan run themselves ragged. The chapter highlights the family’s shared athletic genetics and Makoto’s struggle to balance his hidden adult competence with his child persona.
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Trivia:
- Makoto refers to himself as a ‘glorified golden retriever’ while fetching for Suu-chan.
- Mio and Makoto’s mother were a badminton doubles team in high school.
- The park is described as a ‘wide-open empty lot’ but safer due to lush grass.
- Suu-chan is exceptionally good at learning physical movements like dancing or climbing.
- Mitsuhisa intentionally teases Makoto by siding with Suu-chan’s desire to run more
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Character Insight:
Makoto displays a protective instinct, constantly worrying about Suu-chan tripping while running, which contrasts with his inner exhaustion. Suu-chan shows growing physical coordination and competitive spirit, wanting to emulate Makoto’s ‘cool’ running.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Dodgebee’ is a real-world Japanese schoolyard staple, often used in physical education because it minimizes the risk of injury compared to plastic frisbees.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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