Volume 3 Chapter 25 Sharing an Umbrella
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Even though it was morning, the sky remained draped in the heavy shadows of night, blanketed by dull, leaden clouds. It had been raining for a week straight. The air was thick with a humidity that clung uncomfortably to the skin, and my hair was a mess of unruly curls that refused to behave. The local mothers were all airing the same grievances: “I can’t get the laundry dry to save my life,” “There’s only so much of that damp, indoor smell¹ I can take,” and “The towels are the absolute worst.” Everyone was pining for the sun.
In the middle of this gloomy weather, we waited for the kindergarten shuttle as usual. Normally, you’d wait quietly under the apartment stairs to stay dry-but that kind of common sense doesn’t apply to the Youngsters.
”Found a snail!”
”Over here, too!”
The two of them were fearless, refusing to let a little rain dampen their spirits. With their pink umbrellas up and their pink rain boots splashing through the puddles, they were busy flipping over leaves, poking at stems, and crouching down to let out little squeals of excitement. (Yeah, let’s just stick to watching, okay? You’re going to scare the poor snails half to death.)
As we killed time, the yellow preschool bus splashed through the rain and came to a slow crawl. Yuna-chan was the first to react, leaving her mother, Hitomi, in the dust as she jogged straight for the doors.
”Running late again today,” I muttered. Ever since the rainy season hit, our shuttle has been running five to ten minutes behind almost every day. I get that the traffic is a nightmare in the rain, but it’s a real drag for those of us waiting outside-mostly for Mio.
”You okay, Mommy?”
”Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks, Suu-chan,” Mio replied.
”Mmm!”
Suu-chan peered anxiously into her mother’s face as they sheltered under the stairs. Mio is currently in her second trimester of pregnancy. Even through her clothes, you can clearly see the round swell of her belly. I’ve been allowed to feel it a few times, but it’s so taut and full that I sometimes worry she might actually pop before the baby is even due.
She never lets the Youngsters see her struggle, but her body is supporting two lives. There’s no way it isn’t exhausting. I find myself worrying about her no matter what she’s doing, but Mio is the type to speak up when she’s hit her limit; she’s tougher than she looks. If I fuss over her too much, she’ll just end up worrying about me, which would only add to her stress. It’s probably best if we just act like normal, well-behaved kids for now.
Aside from us kids, there’s always an adult ready to help. On weekends and nights, it’s Mitsuhisa-san or Mother. During the day, Mio’s mother-Grandma Haruko-takes over. She lives two hours away, so she stays over during the week. Since she can’t share a room with Mitsuhisa-san, she stays at the Yashiro house. This is a top-secret arrangement because Suu-chan would get jealous. I’m technically a man, but I’ll never say that out loud if it means I can’t sleep with Mother anymore.
Grandma Haruko is… well, she’s basically a more eccentric version of Mio. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. She’s already talking about wanting great-grandchildren, but that’s obviously getting way ahead of herself.
”Look, you two, the bus is here!” Hitomi called out.
”Mmm.”
The two of us huddled tight together under a single umbrella². (That’s probably the real reason she’s sticking so close.)
”Suu-chan, are you getting wet?”
”Mmm, I’m okay. But Maa-kun, you’re getting rained on…”
”It is what it is,” I replied.
For some reason, my umbrella is a bit on the larger side. But everything has its limits. Even if it’s “large,” it’s still just a kid-sized umbrella. With the two of us standing side-by-side, someone is bound to stick out.
”Maa-kun, get closer,” Suu-chan urged.
”I don’t think I can get any closer than this.”
”Mmm…”
Our shoulders were already jammed together. Even for a request from the adorable Suu-chan, I can’t exactly rewrite the laws of physics.
”…Then, I’ll do this,” she said.
Suu-chan turned to face me, spread her arms wide, and wrapped them around my shoulders. (Wait, she’s totally hugging me.)
”…Mmm.”
(Heh… she looks so pleased with herself.) It became extremely difficult to walk, but since Suu-chan looked happy, I had no complaints. If I had one grievance, it was that the distance we could spend sharing this umbrella was far too short. The rainy season tends to make one’s heart feel heavy, but if it’s like this, I could endure a bit more… actually, no. I really want to stop sleeping surrounded by piles of damp laundry.
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Summary:
A rainy morning highlights the domestic struggles of a week-long downpour. Maa-kun observes the pregnant Mio-san being supported by the community and the children, including Suu-chan. The chapter ends with a sweet moment of Maa-kun and Suu-chan sharing an umbrella as they head to the school bus.
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Trivia:
- The term ‘Youngsters’ is consistently capitalized by the narrator as a specific group label.
- Mio’s pregnancy is in the second trimester, and she is carrying ‘two lives’ (herself and the baby).
- Grandma Haruko’s presence is a secret from Suu-chan to prevent jealousy.
- The narrator admits to staying silent about his mental maturity to avoid losing the perk of sleeping with his mother
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Character Insight:
Suu-chan is showing increased emotional intelligence by being considerate of her mother’s physical state, even suppressing her desire to be held. She compensates for this by seeking physical closeness with Maa-kun.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘room-drying’ scent is a common trope in Japanese literature used to emphasize the oppressive nature of the rainy season (Tsuyu).
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Hitomi – 26‑year‑old neighbor from Building B, 155 cm, 51 kg, City Hall employee; mother of Yuna and Jin, visibly drained by their Terrible Twos. Also a local mother and friend of the narrator’s mother.
• Yuna – Hitomi’s two‑year‑old daughter (92 cm, 13 kg), a next‑door childhood friend, is in a no‑no phase and baby‑regressing. She attends Sannen Hoiku nursery’s three‑year program, one grade below Makoto, is friends with Suu‑chan, and always wears pink rain gear.
• Mio – 28‑year‑old pregnant mother of Suu‑chan, visibly round belly, wife of Mitsuhisa (164 cm, 57 kg, baby‑faced, G‑cup curves, elegant in a gray suit). Former relay runner and badminton star, now teacher, cook, photographer who bakes strawberry shortcake and chirashi‑zushi, adores babysitting Ma‑kun, subtly pushes his marriage to Suu‑chan, avoids crowds, captures family chaos, dresses the protagonist’s mother, devotes herself to her daughter’s education, and is playful and mischievous as a Totsuka family guest.
• Mitsuhisa – Tall (184 cm), 71 kg 33‑year‑old IT specialist with slick‑back hair, deep voice and meticulous grooming, often scowling. Breadwinner of the Totsuka family, doting husband of Mio and father of Su‑chan (Suzuka); reserved with Akari and family photographer with a pricey DSLR and tripod. Close to former college‑athlete Makoto, whose playful‑sometimes‑sinister humor matches his gaming habit where he lags in motion‑control accuracy. Desk‑working salaryman with a surprisingly toned physique, enjoys physical skinship with his family, and feels protective yet occasionally lonely as the children grow independent.
• Haruko – Mio’s mother (Grandmother to Suu-chan). Described as an eccentric version of Mio. She stays at the Yashiro house during weekdays to help with the pregnancy.
• Ai – Lead teacher of the Chrysanthemum Class and Riko’s senior, a dark‑brown short‑bob‑haired woman, former long‑distance track star, known as a stamina beast.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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