Volume 3 Chapter 31 The Big Sisters
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Guided by Yuma and Shiho-chan, I was led into the living room.
I had already been overwhelmed by the exterior, the garage, the garden, the entrance, and the washroom, but this place was the most incredible of all.
The living room featured a double-height ceiling, with a massive fan turning leisurely above.
Huge windows, which made me worry about the insulation, offered a panoramic view of the garden, creating a staggering sense of openness.
I wondered what they did at night.
There was a fence, so they weren’t exactly in plain view of passersby, but it still felt a bit restless.
The walls were a crisp, slightly bluish-white, complemented by built-in furniture in the same natural brown as the flooring.
The reason the place didn’t feel “lived-in” was likely because everything was tucked away inside the extensive wall storage.
A U-shaped sofa arrangement faced a massive television; it looked like it could easily seat over ten people.
I initially thought it was the kind of sofa that sat directly on the floor… but then I realized that the entire area was actually recessed.
Even with all that space above, they decided to dig down, too? To top it off, the area was covered in a rug that looked incredibly plush.
Past the open-ceiling area, the room transitioned into an integrated dining space.
There, I spotted the wide modular kitchen that Mio-san¹ had been longing for.
A kitchen with no walls on any side really had a different kind of presence.
The stairs to the second floor hugged the living room wall, and from the hallway facing the living room, two rooms were visible, with another hallway leading further back.
It was a world of difference from the cramped, cluttered living rooms of my house or the Totsuka residence.
(Well, those aren’t all bad; being squeezed together makes it easier to talk.) Suu-chan, Mother, and I just stood there, mouths agape.
”…It’s wonderful,” Mother managed to say.
”Thank you.
It doubles as a model home for our business, so I put my heart and soul into the design,” Nanami-san replied proudly.
Apparently, there is a world out there that us commoners simply cannot keep up with.
I wondered if Yuma and Shiho-chan even realized how amazing this was.
They were already perched on the backrest of the sofa, showing terrible mann-oh, wait, the sofa was designed to be sat on like that too.
I see… “Oh, this is just a small token of our thanks.”
”I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have gone to the trouble…” Mother handed over the gift-wrapped box of sweets.
Since Shiho-chan’s mother-Mayumi-san-was also enjoying tea elegantly in the dining room, we made sure to greet her as well.
”Oh, it’s Baumkuchen²!”
”I love this stuff!” Drawn by the box, Yuma and Shiho-chan came patter-patter running over to peer inside.
I’d already researched what kind of snacks the youngsters liked.
It was a safe choice, but a solid one.
”Make sure you all share it,” Mother told them.
”Yeah!”
”Makoto’s mom, thank you!”
”Thank you!” Because she was my mother, the two of them treated her like an old friend despite it being their first time meeting.
That’s not a bad thing.
In the world of “mom-friends,” you have to get along with the kids, too.
Their reaction felt a lot more natural than the stiff greetings from before.
(……) I felt a heavy gaze boring into my back.
Were they watching us so intently that they’d actually paused their video game? Suu-chan kept glancing back… for some reason, she was on high alert.
(Her social anxiety must be kicking in again.) “Shall we have a snack? Miyu and the girls, you come here, too.” At Nanami-san’s word, the three daughters practically flew into the room.
It seemed their suspicion of a stranger didn’t stand a chance against the allure of cake.
”Now, say thank you.”
”””Thank you!”””
”You’re very welcome,” Mother replied.
These had to be the “Big Sisters” squad.
I’d seen them around the kindergarten a few times, so I was sure of it.
”Makoto-kun, have you met Miyu and the others yet?”
”We haven’t… actually been introduced yet,” I said.
”Mm, ssu doesn’t know them… either,” Suu-chan whispered.
”Well, you should say hello.
They are Yuma and Shiho-chan’s friends,” Nanami-san explained.
The three girls turned toward us, clutching their cake and cups of milk.
”…I’m Miyu.”
”I’m Aoi!”
”Hina is Hina!” They gave their names and stopped.
I felt like throwing in a snarky “That’s it?” but that was probably a bit much for older kids, so I just introduced myself.
”Nice to meet you, I’m Makoto.”
”…Meet you.
I’m… Suzuki,” Suu-chan said, mimicking my bow.
My first impression of the three was pretty straightforward.
First, there was Yuma’s sister, Miyu-oneesan.
She was an elegant girl in a grey dress.
Both siblings were clearly blessed with good genes.
From what I’d heard, she was the leader of the pack.
Next was Shiho-chan’s sister, Hina-oneesan.
She had a gentle vibe, like a softer, airier version of Shiho-chan.
Her hair was long and their styles were similar.
I knew they were close from Shiho-chan’s stories.
She was also in a dress.
Then there was Aoi-oneesan.
She was dressed casually in denim shorts and a T-shirt.
With her short hair and rough style, she was a total tomboy.
She felt like she’d been raised a bit differently than the other two, but they clearly got along.
Her face looked incredibly familiar for some reason… I just couldn’t place it.
It was frustrating.
”Since you’re the big sisters, make sure you look after them, okay?”
”Oka-y.”
”…Mm-hmm.”
”Got it!”
”Makoto, let’s play games!” Unlike the girls, who were still gauging the distance between us, Yuma was totally guileless.
Having a mutual friend like him really smoothed out the introductions.
”Then we’ll leave the youngsters to it.
Akari-san, why don’t you have some tea with us?”
”Thank you.
I’ll gratefully join you.”
”Akari-san, you’re being too formal!”
”I’m sorry…” Now that the parents were occupied, it was our turn to play.
I followed the sisters and the younger two to the sofa and sat down next to Suu-chan.
The cushions were surprisingly firm, but the suede³ fabric felt amazing.
Suu-chan was busy rubbing the material, clearly enjoying the texture.
”Makoto! Here!” Yuma handed me a familiar stick-shaped controller.
The TV screen showed the course selection for that racing game featuring the world’s most famous plumber.
I’d played it at the Totsuka house before, so I knew the drill.
It was a four-player game, and there were four controllers.
Three were already firmly in the hands of the sisters, as if by divine right.
Even in this fancy house, the hierarchy of the older kids was absolute.
”Are you sure I should play?” I asked.
If I took the last spot, Yuma and Shiho-chan would just be watching.
I tried to hand the controller to Suu-chan, but she shook her head and hid behind me.
I guess jumping into a game with older kids was too much for her.
”Yeah, it’s fine!”
”Makoto can totally beat Shiho-chan’s sisters!” Yuma blurted out a blatant provocation.
Since it was our first time meeting, I should probably try not to make waves- “…Is it actually okay if I win?” (……) I decided to lean into the provocation.
It’s usually the fastest way to break the ice with kids.
Their wary expressions instantly vanished, replaced by the look of predators who had just found a worthy opponent.
”Yeah! Beat them!”
”Me and Shiho-chan can’t ever win!” The two younger ones were looking at me with total adoration.
(Jeez, you two… have you been bottling up a lot of resentment?)
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Summary:
Makoto visits a luxurious house owned by Nanami-san and meets the ‘Big Sister Squad.’ The atmosphere shifts from awestruck house-touring to competitive gaming. Makoto decides to accept a challenge from the older girls to impress the younger children.
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Trivia:
- The house is a model home, explaining its lack of ‘lived-in’ feel.
- Aoi-oneesan’s face is familiar to Makoto, hinting at a future connection.
- Yuma and Shiho-chan are seemingly tired of losing to their older sisters.
- Makoto’s mother, Akari, is socially awkward in wealthy environments
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Character Insight:
Makoto shows his social adaptability by shifting from a polite guest to a competitive gamer to bridge the gap with the older kids.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Old Man at the Station’ is a common Japanese euphemism for Mario to avoid copyright issues in web novels.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Shiho – Shiho‑chan, a three‑year‑old Rose‑Class girl with shoulder‑length hair in a side‑up ponytail, uses training chopsticks and a white kitten‑themed placemat. Sleepy, she leans on Makoto’s “secret” advice and makes mud dumplings. Neighbor of the Yoshikura family, friend of Makoto, Suu‑chan and Yuma, older sister in the senior group, and quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention while wishing happiness for the Tanabata deities.
• Yuma – Frail, sickly kindergarten boy from a wealthy land‑owning family, he has an idol‑like face, admires his father, and his parents work in real estate. Member of Rose Class and Rose Group, skilled at folding paper airplanes taught by his dad, he provides technical insight on the Skytree’s triangular base, joins Makoto’s sandbox projects, and is a guileless, energetic friend of Makoto and neighbor of Shiho‑chan.
• Mio – 28‑year‑old pregnant mother of Suu‑chan, 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 turned 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, playful and mischievous as a Totsuka guest, neighbor/family friend in a joint‑destiny child‑rearing unit, enthusiastic and theatrical in family meetings.
• 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.
• Nanami – Yuma’s mother is humble and polite, grateful to Makoto for shaping her son’s healthy habits, and proud of her elegant upscale home that doubles as a showroom for her business.
• Mayumi – Shiho‑chan’s mother is elegant and refined, with a graceful aura. She is a fellow parent, raising an older daughter Hina and her younger daughter Shiho in kindergarten, and serves as a “mom‑friend” to Mio‑san. She is also close friends with Nanami and Akari.
• Makoto – 93 cm, 13 kg three‑year‑old boy in a neat shirt and cap, short hair, backpack, booster seat in Hinomori’s Rose Group. Reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman with architectural know‑how, social‑management skill, hidden English, analytical mind. Lives with Totsuka family (mother works) and protects Suzuka‑chan; called Maa‑kun by Suu‑chan and leader of Rose Class.
• Miyu – Yuma’s older sister. Leader of the ‘Big Sister Squad’. Elegant with a grey dress.
• Aoi – The third ‘Big Sister’. Boyish, short hair, wearing denim shorts and a T-shirt.
• Hina – Shiho-chan’s older sister. Gentle vibe, long hair, wears a dress.
• Suzuki – Suu‑chan, 4, daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa, wears a topknot and braided pigtails, sleepy eyes that sparkle, pink rain boots and umbrella, loves strawberries, salmon roe and clams, practices etiquette and water play. Energetic, loyal, Makoto’s “Queen of the Jungle Gym” who gives hugs, pouts, coordinates his things, toddler lisp and paper‑tearing games. Close friend of Maa‑kun, shows sandbox leadership, snuggles, sings, uses chopsticks skillfully. In Hinomori Kindergarten’s Younger Class she’s shy, socially anxious, sits in a booster seat, and is possessively attached to Makoto.
• Akari – 28‑year‑old single banker, 168 cm, 56 kg, dark‑brown hair, slender, melancholic smile, wearing a gray casual pantsuit after childcare leave; lives next to best friend Mio, drives a black light‑compact car, cares for newborn son, prefers quiet home, feels guilty missing the party. Mother of Maa‑kun and Makoto, polite and formally poised in high‑class settings, observant and occasionally mischievous, having uncovered Makoto’s secret English study.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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