Volume 3 Chapter 39 Sports Meet (Pre-K) ④
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The afternoon session of the sports day began. The first event was the inter-class ball toss¹. The Small Class children swarmed around the center pole, trapped in a cycle of scooping up the balls scattered at their feet and hurling them toward the basket.
The teachers were bracing the poles to ensure they wouldn’t tip over, and there was something indescribable about the way they tucked their heads, desperately enduring the hail of balls being pelted at them by the kindergarteners. Many of the children couldn’t quite master the upward arc, resulting in a frequent stream of full-power fastballs being beamed straight at the teachers. (Ah, one just made a clean hit on the back of a teacher’s head. Is someone actually aiming…?) It wasn’t just the staff; the kids huddled near the center were also taking friendly fire from their own teammates, but they were so absorbed in the throwing that they didn’t seem to care.
”Here, you’re up!” I said.
”Mm!” replied Suu-chan.
”Thanks!” said Yuma.
I didn’t have the courage to dive into that mosh pit, so I stuck to a support role in the back. I gathered the balls that had flown off in random directions and shuttled them to Suu-chan, Shiho-chan, and Yuma so they could stay in the fight. Watching Suu-chan hop up and down with every throw was incredibly cute. I didn’t have time to be throwing balls myself; I was too busy watching her.
Since Suu-chan and the others were throwing from the perimeter, their accuracy was pretty low. Still, it had to be more stress-free than being trampled in the center while fighting over every ball. In the end, we took third place out of the three groups. Well, everyone worked hard. The ranking didn’t really matter; they looked like they had enough fun just being allowed to throw things with all their might. (…Teacher, thank you for your service.)
Once the Small Class cleared the field, it was time for the parent-group ball toss. The baskets were raised to adult height, though there’s only so high they can go – the taller parents could practically reach the rim if they jumped. Seeing their moms and dads participating in the same event got the Small Class kids back on their feet, cheering with renewed vigor. Watching the adults tackle the same challenges helps the kids realize that adults are just people who grew through effort, and that they can get there too someday. (I really have to be careful about a lot of things…)
Setting that aside, the results were in. The Rose Class parents took first place, as if to avenge their children’s earlier loss. Goto Mitsuhisa-san was a huge asset. I’m honestly a little jealous of his height. He was sinking shots so effortlessly that by the end, it wasn’t even about tossing anymore – it was a game of “ball-stacking” to see how many he could balance on the rim without them spilling over. Watching Mother throw was also a highlight. Seeing her so fired up was a rare treat, and I was totally satisfied. I’m sure Mayumi-san or Nanami-san took photos for her, so I’ll look forward to enjoying them later.
Next up was the parent-child competition. The events differed by grade, and for the Small Class, it was the “Parent-Child Caterpillar Relay”². Parents and kids had to get inside a “caterpillar” made of cardboard together and crawl forward to switch with the next pair waiting on the opposite side. The teams competed for the best time over fifteen rounds.
Since the race required kneeling, I was worried about Suu-chan’s injury, but she stuck her bottom out and managed to move without letting her knees touch the ground. She was fast, too! If anything, Mitsuhisa-san looked like he was having a harder time, trying to fold his tall frame into that cramped cardboard tube. (Being tall is a double-edged sword. Not that you get many chances to be a cardboard bug in the real world, anyway…)
The Totsuka family finished their turn and tumbled out of their caterpillar, handing off the baton. Now it was our turn. Mother was fully prepared with her knee pads on.
”Maa-kun, you okay?” Mother asked.
”Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied.
Because of the wound on my right palm, I opted for a tactical low-crawl. Since I spend my days practicing by crawling under Mitsuhisa-san’s stomach while he does his planks, I can actually move quite fast. Daily practice never betrays you!
”Makoto! To the right!” someone yelled.
”Wait, right?” I asked.
The problem with the caterpillar is that you can’t see ahead. Running straight is surprisingly hard. When you have a parent and child with totally different body types moving in sync, the whole thing naturally veers toward the kid’s side. Correcting the trajectory takes a certain knack. Predictably, the sidelines started shouting that we were drifting off-course. From the scenery I caught from the side, I thought we were veering right, so I figured I needed to steer left… but then I realized the voices were coming from the front, meaning “right” and “left” might be flipped from their perspective!
Despite the confusion, we managed to scramble to the finish line and hand off the baton. It was a short stint, but I loved participating with Mother. We ended up taking a close second place. It’s a bit of a bummer we didn’t win. I can’t help but feel a pang of regret – if only I hadn’t been injured…
That marked the end of the events for the Small Class. We watched the Middle Class’s large ball-rolling relay and the Older Class’s ball-carrying relay finish up. Honestly, I think the adults were more emotional about the rankings than the kids were. All that was left were the Older Class inter-group relay, the volunteer parent relay, and the district-wide selection relay. The parent relay was mostly dads, but there were a few spirited mothers in the mix. Mitsuhisa-san, of course, was out there.
”Papa, do your best!” Suu-chan cheered.
”Count on it!” Mitsuhisa replied.
He looked determined to avenge Suu-chan’s loss and support Mio-san, but the race ended without any major drama – no cinematic overtakes. When adults sprint on a tiny kindergarten track, it’s over in a blink. Plus, everyone is so terrified of sliding on the turns that it’s not very impactful… though the person who wiped out was certainly dramatic.
Finally, the main event: the district-wide selection relay. The kindergarten is split into six residential districts³, with five-person teams representing each. The runners are chosen based on speed from their fitness tests, regardless of grade. Naturally, it’s mostly the Older kids, with a few Middle kids sprinkled in. Small Class kids are never picked – I suspect there’s a bit of seniority bias involved to keep the focus on the Older kids.
The energy was electric, mostly among the adults. This relay is a Hinomori Kindergarten staple. Our group was District 6, which is basically the overflow category for kids who don’t live in Districts 1 through 5. Because of that, there’s no real neighborhood pride, so our cheering section was a bit lackluster. Instead of rooting for our own district, Suu-chan and I cheered for District 3, where our friends were.
”Big Sister Miyu, go for it!” I shouted.
Yuma’s older sister, Miyu-oneesan, was the fourth runner for District 3, with Aoi-oneesan as the anchor. Miyu-oneesan blew past one runner to move from third to second place. Aoi-oneesan fought hard, but District 1 had such a massive lead that she couldn’t catch them. She held onto second place, looking quite frustrated that it was her last kindergarten sports day.
”Yes!” Jun shouted.
Jun from District 1 was doing a victory lap. Apparently, his neighborhood is full of fast kids raised in the mountains. I wonder if Jun will be in it next year too. As for District 6? We managed to scramble into second-to-last place. Let’s try our best next year. With that, the events and the closing ceremony were over. My first sports day, despite the injury, had come to a close.
* * *
”Where’s… Papa?” Suu-chan asked.
After the final homeroom, the kids returned to their parents. I followed suit with Suu-chan, but Mitsuhisa-san was nowhere to be found. It took me a few extra minutes to spot Mother in the crowd.
”Mitsuhisa-san went to be with Mio-ssu,” Mother said, kneeling down to stroke Suu-chan’s hair.
It sounded like things were moving. Her due date wasn’t until next week, but it might have come early. That explained why Mitsuhisa-san had been acting so restless since noon.
”Suu wants to go, too!” she insisted, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
”Let’s go home and get cleaned up first,” Mother replied.
We couldn’t head to the hospital covered in sweat and dust. With a little coaxing, Suu-chan finally gave a reluctant nod. The Goto and Yoshikura families were sticking around to play, but we said our goodbyes and headed home. Predictably, after a bath and a quick dinner, our batteries hit zero. Since Mitsuhisa-san and Grandma Haruko were at the hospital with Mio-san, Suu-chan ended up having a sleepover at our place.
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Summary:
The sports day concludes with the chaotic ball toss and a competitive caterpillar relay. Makoto navigates the events despite his hand injury, noting the intense enthusiasm of the parents. As the day ends, news arrives that Mio-san’s labor has started, prompting the family to shift focus to the hospital.
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Trivia:
- The narrator uses military-style low-crawling learned from watching Mitsuhisa-san’s workouts.
- District 6 is a ‘leftover’ category for those not in the main neighborhood zones.
- Jun’s speed is attributed to living in a mountainous area.
- Suu-chan has a speech tic ‘ssu’ which Mother mimics when delivering news
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Character Insight:
Makoto shows a high level of situational awareness, analyzing adult behavior and the logistics of kindergarten events with the perspective of his past life.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the sports day as a device to contrast the triviality of school rankings with the major life event of a birth.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Yuma – Frail, sickly kindergarten boy from a wealthy land-owning family with an idol-like face, he admires his father and learns to fold paper airplanes from him, offering surprisingly technical insights on the Skytree’s triangular base. Member of Rose Class and Rose Group, he is the younger brother of Miyu-oneesan and close friend of Makoto—Miyu’s younger brother and his classmate—while also being Shiho-chan’s neighbor. His parents work in real estate, shaping his quiet, observant nature amid privilege.
• Shiho – Three‑year‑old Rose‑Class girl with shoulder‑length hair in a side‑up ponytail, wearing a white kitten‑themed placemat and training chopsticks. Sleepy, she leans on Makoto’s “secret” advice and makes mud dumplings. Neighbor of the Yoshikura family, classmate and peer of Makoto, younger sister of Hina, friend of Suu‑chan and Yuma. Older sister in the senior group, quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention, wishes happiness for the Tanabata deities, overcame a childhood fear of water to love swimming, and is kind and considerate of Suzuka’s feelings.
• Mitsuhisa – 184 cm, 71 kg, 33‑year‑old IT specialist with slick‑back hair and a deep, often scowling voice. Breadwinner of the Totsuka family, doting husband of pregnant Mio and father of Su‑chan. Reserved with Akari, family photographer using DSLR and tripod. Close to former college‑athlete Makoto, sharing playful‑sometimes‑sinister humor and gaming lag. Desk‑working salaryman, surprisingly toned, protective yet occasionally lonely as kids grow independent, now working from home.
• Mayumi – Shiho-chan’s mother is an elegant, refined adult woman who accompanies her daughters—older daughter Hina and younger Shiho—to swimming school, assisting them with changing. A graceful presence, she’s a trusted “mom-friend” to Mio-san and close to Nanami and Akari, balancing maternal care with warm, supportive friendships among the parents.
• 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.
• 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 – Maa-kun, a 93 cm, 13 kg three-year-old boy in a neat shirt and cap with short hair and a backpack, sits in a booster seat at Hinomori’s Rose Class—he’s the reincarnated 30-year-old salaryman protagonist, now living with the Totsuka family, secretly wielding architectural expertise, social acumen, and hidden English fluency. Nicknamed by Suzuka-chan and the Rose Class’s quiet leader, he’s cool, emotionally detached, yet surprisingly athletic—his right palm recently injured, his calm demeanor cracked only during Sports Day. Narrator of the group, he mediates among children, protects Suzuka-chan, and navigates kindergarten life with adult wisdom, all while his mother calls him Maa-kun.
• Mio – 28‑year‑old pregnant mother of Suu‑chan, round belly, bed‑resting; wife of Mitsuhisa (164 cm, 57 kg, baby‑faced, G‑cup curves, elegant in gray). 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, devotes herself to her daughter’s education, playful, theatrical, neighbor/family friend in a joint‑destiny child‑rearing unit. Suzuki’s mother, a beauty maintaining a romantic bond with her husband.
• Miyu – Yuma’s older sister, elegant in a grey dress and leader of the ‘Big Sister Squad’, hosts Makoto with poise despite initial nerves. She is also a fast runner in the Older Class.
• Aoi – An older girl with a short, boyish haircut, wearing denim shorts and a T‑shirt, she’s the anchor of District 3’s relay team and a member of the Big Sister Squad. Competitive and skilled at racing games, she constantly challenges her teammates and earns their respect.
• Jun – Energetic, restless boy of the Imai family, youngest of the Naughty Five, in Rose Class. Fast from mountain life, high‑appetite, ultra‑competitive, idolizes his mother while older brother warns of germs and Makoto reins him in. Heroic, physically gifted.
• Haruko – An elderly grandmother with silver hair and sharp eyes, dressed in a bold‑patterned kimono, is the eccentric mother of Mio and grandmother of Suu‑chan. She stays at the Yashiro house on weekdays to aid Mio’s pregnancy, helping Mitsuhisa with housework and childcare.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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