Volume 3 Chapter 2 Friends
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After the nyuuzenshiki¹ and the bathroom break, I was separated from Mother and the others for a while. It seemed there was going to be a talk specifically for the PTA. (It’s that thing, isn’t it? The kind of club where you become a social pariah if you don’t join.)
Mother works during the day, and I imagined it would be difficult for Mio to participate until things settle down with her second child. Thinking about it that way, I couldn’t help but wonder if we were the prime candidates for being excluded. To be honest, I didn’t care at all if I was the one being ignored, but if Suu-chan had to go through that… I didn’t want to cause Mother and the others any unnecessary worry.
Several “Mommy groups” had already formed. Since they had older siblings or were neighbors, they were clearly already acquaintances. Mio and Mother were both first-time parents in this circle, and since the kindergarten was a bit far away, their local network was weak.
”Ma-kun, let’s go,” Suu-chan said, pulling my hand. I felt the warmth of her small hand and reaffirmed my vow to protect her.
We were guided to the Rose Class classroom by a Hospital Doctor². Mother and the others headed to a different location, leaving us to listen to the Hospital Doctor’s self-introduction for about fifteen minutes. Even among the children, groups had already formed. If the parents were friends, the kids were friends; they clustered together naturally. I suppose that is just the nature of human society.
The children who hadn’t joined a group looked uneasy, and some had even started crying without their parents there to rely on. It was worrying to watch, but the kindergarten staff were pros. The support Hospital Doctors moved in with practiced ease to soothe the little ones. However, their numbers were limited. It was impossible to watch every child, and those who looked like they could endure the wait were inevitably pushed to the back of the priority list.
I stayed close to Suu-chan, of course. She didn’t look anxious at all, just spacing out quietly by my side. I couldn’t spend all my time being captivated by her cuteness, though. Right in front of us, another girl was looking around anxiously. Unlike Suu-chan, she looked like a soft, quiet type. Her shoulder-length hair was tied in a side-up ponytail, showing how much effort had been put into her appearance for the ceremony.
Her eyes were gradually tearing up, but the staff were already overwhelmed. (I can’t just stand here and watch. Besides, this might be a good opportunity.) I looked left and right, confirming no Hospital Doctor was watching, and approached her.
”Are you okay?” I asked. She jumped slightly but didn’t reply. I knew I shouldn’t rush. I needed to find a topic she could engage with. (I’m not macking on her, I swear.) “That hair clip is really cute. Did your mommy buy it for you?”
”Yeah…” she whispered.
”It looks great on you,” I said.
”Ehehe… Mommy bought it for me as a birthday present,” she replied, her face brightening.
(Hmph, too easy. Not that I’m hitting on her!)
”What’s your name?” I asked.
”Shiho…”
”Shiho-chan? That’s a nice name. Hey… do you want to be my friend?”
”Really?! Yeah! I do!” she exclaimed. She reacted strongly to the word “friend.” Perhaps she’d been told to make lots of friends and felt the pressure. “I’m Makoto,” I told her.
”Makoto-kun?”
”Yeah. Nice to meet you, Shiho-chan,” I said. Her expression lit up instantly, and I felt a wave of relief. The innocent smile of a child is truly healing. Meanwhile, Suu-chan was hiding behind my sleeve. (So cute.) She could be quite shy with strangers, often hiding behind me or Mio.
”Suu-chan, you okay?” I asked.
”Yeah…” she replied. There was no need to rush; they’d become friends naturally if they were in the same class. However, Shiho-chan was now staring intently at Suu-chan. I was stuck between them, unsure of how to proceed. (Help me, Mother!)
Fortunately, the briefing for the guardians ended, and the parents began filing I went back into the classroom. “Oh, Ma-kun. Have you already made friends?” Mother asked.
”Yeah,” I replied.
”Ah, so that’s why Suu-chan is…” Mio said, understanding the situation instantly. I wished she’d help instead of just nodding in amusement.
”Mommy!” Shiho-chan cried out as her mother appeared. She was an elegant, beautiful woman, just as I’d imagined.
”Shiho, did you make a friend?” her mother asked.
”Yeah! Makoto-kun!” Shiho-chan said, pulling my hand to introduce me. She was surprisingly bold. In the process, she made Suu-chan let go of my sleeve, leaving her standing there looking lost. Mio stepped in to help Suu-chan, whispering, “You owe me one,” to me. (What kind of adult collects debts from a three-year-old? Even if I did technically break our ‘vow’…)
”I’m Makoto. I became friends with Shiho-chan,” I said, offering a formal greeting.
”Thank you for being so polite. I’m Shiho’s mother, Mayumi. Thank you for being her friend,” the woman replied. After the adults exchanged pleasantries, Suu-chan came pitter-patter over after a whisper from Mio and clung tightly to my arm. (So calculating! But so cute!) On my other side, Shiho-chan was still holding my hand. The two girls stared at each other in silence. (What do I even do here? My past life memories are useless!)
We eventually moved to the gym for the group photo. The children were seated in the front two rows of the tiered stands. I chose a spot in the corner of the front row, feeling more relaxed away from the center. I expected Suu-chan to sit next to me, but Shiho-chan slipped into the seat first.
Then I looked at Suu-chan. She was frozen. She stood there, mouth slightly open, staring at the occupied seat. The novelty towel she’d been holding slipped from her fingers and fluttered to the floor unnoticed. (She’s too cuuuuute!) I screamed internally. I felt bad for her, but the expression was priceless.
Click. Mitsuhisa-san got the shot. Good job.
Mio picked up the frozen Suu-chan and gave me a look that said, “Fix this.” I knew I couldn’t just stand up and move; that would crush Shiho-chan’s heart. She was sitting there with a huge smile, swinging her legs. But for Suu-chan’s sake, I had to be the bad guy.
”Shiho-chan, actually, I really like that seat over there. Could we swap so I can sit on the end?” I asked.
”Yeah! Okay!” she chirped, moving without a second thought. (What an angel…)
Once the seat was clear, Suu-chan rushed over and hugged me tight. “Ma-kun!”
”Sorry for making you worried,” I whispered.
”Thank you,” she said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. I glanced at Mio, who gave me a smug thumbs-up. (Was that a tactical kiss? To ward off the competition? At three years old?!)
After the photos, it was camera time. I tried to take pictures of Suu-chan, but the professional camera Mitsuhisa-san handed me was heavy. My arms started shaking immediately. I ended up using a tripod, snapping photo after photo of Suu-chan’s adorable poses. (Yeah, that’s the one! Tilt your head a bit more! Perfect!)
Phew. I’m satisfied.
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Summary:
Makoto and Suu-chan attend their kindergarten entrance ceremony classroom session. Makoto befriends a lonely girl named Shiho-chan, which triggers Suu-chan’s jealousy. The chapter concludes with a group photo session where Suu-chan successfully reclaims her spot next to Makoto.
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Trivia:
- Makoto’s mother and Mio are first-time parents in this specific social circle.
- The ‘Hospital Doctor’ title is used consistently for staff, implying a specific setting nuance.
- Suu-chan is usually very shy and hides behind Makoto.
- Makoto still feels like an adult inside, making his interactions with children feel like ‘social engineering’.
- Mitsuhisa is present and acting as the unofficial photographer
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Character Insight:
Suu-chan displays her first clear signs of possessiveness and jealousy toward Makoto. Makoto continues to balance his ‘perfect child’ persona with his internal adult logic, though he is easily ‘healed’ by the children’s innocence.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the PTA context to highlight the social pressures of Japanese parenting culture even in an isekai/modern-fantasy hybrid setting.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• Shiho – A girl at the kindergarten. Competitive or territorial relationship with ssu-chan regarding Makoto. A soft, quiet girl with shoulder-length hair in a side-up ponytail. She becomes Makoto’s first kindergarten friend.
• Makoto – The protagonist, the son of Akari who now lives with the Totsuka family while his mother works, is a reincarnated adult who retains memories of a past life in modern Japan. He is a three‑year‑old boy (93 cm, 13 kg) attending Hikonokami Kindergarten, presenting a gentlemanly demeanor that contrasts with his age, protective of ssu‑chan, and endowed with a cynical, socially‑aware inner monologue that makes him appear as a child prodigy with advanced behavior.
• Mayumi – Shiho-chan’s mother. Described as an elegant and beautiful woman with a refined aura.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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