Volume 3 Chapter 45 Shadow Maneuvers
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Mom contacted everyone concerned, so it was decided I’d stay quiet in my futon¹ for the day. A glass of diluted sports drink sat by my pillow. I sipped it frequently to stay hydrated, mostly keeping my eyes closed.
I definitely had a fever. My limbs felt heavy, and I could feel a dull, feverish lethargy settling in. When I’d checked my temperature earlier, it was over 100 degrees. Still, it wasn’t exactly agonizing. I could still move, and my mind was sharp. Compared to the suffering I went through immediately after being born, this was nothing.
(I have to get over this as fast as possible,) I thought. (So Mom doesn’t have to miss work. And so I can get back to Suu-chan’s side.) I knew I had to stay still and focus on recovering to make that happen, but I was bored out of my mind. It felt like I was wasting precious time. If I wasn’t doing something productive, I couldn’t relax. I couldn’t make Suu-chan happy, I couldn’t help Mom, and I couldn’t even work on my own self-improvement. People always say your health is your greatest asset. Lying here like this really drove that point home.
”Hah…” I sighed.
I wondered if Suu-chan was having a good time at kindergarten right now. She had to be lonely… right? Being together had become our “normal,” and I knew for a fact how much she adored me. Then again, she’d made plenty of friends, like Shiho-chan. She wasn’t exactly alone. I can’t be with her every second of every day forever, so if I looked at this as a necessary experience for her growth, maybe it could serve as a bit of a justification.
”Hah…”
Man, I’m really suffering from a Suu-chan deficiency right now. I couldn’t sleep, so I spent my time staring at the clock hands to distract myself until Mom, having finished lunch, came to check on me.
”I made some udon² for lunch. Do you think you can eat a little?” Mom asked.
”Yeah, I’m okay. I’m actually pretty hungry,” I replied.
As I sat up and threw on a jacket, Mom moved to scoop me up in her arms. I let her take the lead, and we sat side-by-side in the living room. Then, she picked up some noodles from the steaming bowl of meat udon and blew on them gently.
”Here you go, Maa-kun. Say ahh…”
”…Um, I can feed myself, you know?” I said.
”It’s okay, it’s okay. If we don’t hurry, the noodles will slip off,” she said.
”Okay…”
I did as I was told, taking the udon into my mouth and slurping. The gentle, savory flavor of the dashi³ was perfect. I could feel my body warming up from the core.
”Is it okay? Not too hot?” Mom asked.
”Yeah, it’s fine. It’s delicious,” I said.
”I’m glad. Maa-kun, you have to let me spoil you a little when you’re sick,” she said.
(It feels less like being spoiled and more like being overprotected, but I guess this isn’t so bad…)
* * *
”See you later, Suzuki-chan!”
”Mm, bye-bye,” Suzuki Taro said.
”Yes, goodbye,” I replied.
I watched as Suzuki Taro gave a small wave and boarded the shuttle bus. I’d been worried about how things would go without Makoto-kun here, but we managed to finish the day without a single hitch. Perhaps we had been overthinking things. For a kindergartner, Makoto-kun is incredibly bright. If I’m being honest, he might even be sharper than most of us adults. That’s a sentiment shared by the rest of the teaching staff, which is probably why we were so hyper-fixated on his absence.
It’s true that Makoto-kun is the undisputed center of the Rose Class, but he isn’t the type to aggressively lead from the front. Instead, he sits back, observes, and subtly nudges others in the right direction—only stepping in himself when absolutely necessary. (Now that I think about it calmly, that’s actually a little terrifying, but let’s put that aside for now.)
The atmosphere in the Rose Class didn’t seem that different from usual. In fact, with Makoto-kun gone, it was more noticeable how the other children stepped up, acting as if they had to be the responsible ones. They were a bit over-eager, which made things a little hectic, but it was heartening to see. The Rose Rangers brought the energy. Yuma-kun and Kotarou-kun kept things grounded. And the girls—Suzuki Taro and Shiho-chan—gave the class its direction. And the one holding all their reins is Makoto-kun.
Seriously, isn’t that scary? It’s like he’d even laid the groundwork for his own absence. Is he really just a kid? He’s not secretly the head of some organization, is he? Regardless, today was a reminder of just how singular Makoto-kun is, while also highlighting how much the other youngsters have grown.
”Riko-sensei, is Makoto coming tomorrow?” Ren-kun asked.
”Kindergarten is closed tomorrow, so he’ll be back on Monday. If Ren-kun is a good boy while he’s away, I’m sure he’ll come see you. That goes for Shunta-kun, too!” I said.
”Then I’ll be a good boy!” Ren-kun shouted.
”Me too! I’m gonna help out at home!” Shunta-kun added.
He really does have such a positive influence on his peers. We’ve even been getting compliments from the parents because of it. I honestly don’t know how we’d function without him. I’m sure he does it all just so his beloved Suzuki Taro can have the best possible school life, but… (Wait, are we all just dancing in the palm of his hand, too?)
* * *
”Suu-chan, welcome home!” Mom said.
”…I’m home,” Suu-chan replied.
The moment she stepped off the shuttle bus, Suu-chan buried her face in my stomach and clung to me. She’d acted so brave when she left this morning, but it seemed the loneliness had caught up with her as the day went on.
”Did you have fun at school?” I asked.
”…Maa-kun wasn’t there,” she said.
”I know.”
I stroked her hair as she nuzzled against me. Since Maa-kun is always by her side, it felt like it had been a long time since she’d acted this clingy with me.
”…I want to see Maa-kun,” she whispered.
”I know you do. You love your Maa-kun, don’t you, Suu-chan?”
”…Mm.”
”Maa-kun is working hard to get over his cold right now. As soon as he’s better, you can see him,” I said.
”Mm.”
Suu-chan gave a firm nod. I gave her one last squeeze before we walked the short distance back to the apartment, hand in hand. Her tiny hand felt much larger in mine than I remembered.
* * *
Two days later, I rang the doorbell to the Totsuka residence. My fever had broken the very next morning, but I’d stayed in for one more day just to be safe. It had been a full forty-eight hours since I’d seen Suu-chan.
”—Maa-kun!”
The door flew open instantly, and Suu-chan practically tackled me. I’d really put her through the wringer with this loneliness.
”I… I went to school all by myself, ssu yo!” she cried.
”You did so well, Suu-chan. Good job,” I said.
”Ehehe!” She huffed with pride.
She buried her face in my neck, hugging me so tight it almost hurt. But knowing how much she loved me, I didn’t mind one bit.
”Maa-kun…”
We stayed like that for a while, soaking in each other’s warmth. Then, she pulled back just a fraction to look me straight in the eye. Yeah, I know exactly what you want.
”Have you decided on your reward?” I asked.
”Mm! I want a kiss!” she said.
Suu-chan pouted her lips expectantly. I’d only just recovered, so I wondered if this was a good idea… but with her looking at me like that, there was no way I could say no.
Smooch.
”Mwah! Heh!”
She gave a satisfied little snort and dove back into another hug, trying to make up for every second of the two days we’d spent apart.
—
Summary:
Makoto spends a day recovering from a fever, pampered by his mother while missing Suu-chan. Meanwhile, his kindergarten teacher realizes that even in his absence, Makoto’s influence keeps the class running smoothly. Upon his recovery two days later, he reunites with a lonely Suu-chan and grants her a requested kiss as a reward for her bravery.
—
Trivia:
- Makoto’s fever reached 38 degrees Celsius (over 100 F).
- The Rose Rangers are a specific group/clique within the Rose Class.
- Riko-sensei compares Makoto’s influence to that of an organization leader.
- Suu-chan’s speech quirk ‘ssu’ appears when she is emotional or reporting her achievements
—
Character Insight:
Makoto shows a high level of self-awareness and stoicism, comparing his current illness to the pain of his rebirth. Riko-sensei experiences a moment of realization regarding Makoto’s ‘shadow’ leadership, fearing he might be ‘too’ capable for a child.
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Behind the Scenes:
The chapter highlights the ‘slice-of-life’ aspects of reincarnation, focusing on the domestic and social ripples caused by the protagonist’s temporary absence.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• Suzuki – Suu‑chan, 4, daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa, sports a topknot, braided pigtails, sleepy sparkling eyes, pink rain boots and a tiny umbrella. She’s competitive yet nervous, hugs and pouts, coordinates Makoto’s things, and is his “girlfriend.” Close friend of sandbox‑leader Maa‑kun. In Hinomori’s Younger Class she’s shy, sits in a booster seat, clings to Makoto, and once had seaweed on a tooth after tripping in the Rose‑Class footrace. Now pregnant‑mother’s older sister, she’s energetic, follows Makoto and shows a sad but resolute demeanor as she steps into a big‑sister role.
• Makoto – Maa‑kun, a 93 cm, 13 kg three‑year‑old in a neat shirt, cap and backpack, sits in a booster seat in Hinomori’s Rose Class. Reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman living with the Totsuka family, he hides architectural skill, social savvy and English fluency. Quiet leader, Suzuka‑chan’s protector, mediates, cool‑detached yet athletic (recently injured palm); his mother calls him Maa‑kun.
• Kotaro – A quiet, slender kindergarten boy in Rose Class, friend of Makoto and member of his sandbox crew. He shares typical childhood interests— toys and games— and reliably helps Makoto with building projects, all while being a fan of Kamen Rider.
• Kota – Makoto’s biological father. Met Akari while working as a cram school tutor during their second year of university. He disappeared suddenly after six years of dating upon learning of the pregnancy.
• Yuma – Frail, sickly kindergarten boy with an idol-like face from a wealthy land-owning family; his real-estate parents shape his quiet, observant nature. Member of Rose Class and Rose Group, younger brother of Miyu-oneesan, close friend of Makoto and neighbor of Shiho-chan. Learns paper-airplane folding from his father, offers technical insights on the Skytree’s triangular base, and now leads the block-building activity.
• Riko – Lead teacher of Rose Class at Hinomori Kindergarten, she wears a rash guard and athletic shorts for pool duties and also serves as school nurse. Calm and level‑headed, she narrates with a dry, cynical edge about her loneliness, while cheerful in lessons, guiding kids to resolve conflicts, tending flowerbeds, leading excursions, performing magic tricks and reading picture‑story shows.
• 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.
Thanks for reading.
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