Volume 3 Chapter 59 The Valentine Incident
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Valentine’s Day arrived again this year.
In foreign countries, it seems men give presents to women, but this is modern Japan¹. Even if hugs and kisses are a bit too common here, it’s still modern Japan. Since I spend every day soaking in a deep bathtub, I know there’s no mistake about where I am.
That is why the Totsuka family kitchen is currently a hive of activity, with mother and daughter happily making sweets together. The space is thick with the sweet scent of chocolate, and it is strictly a forbidden zone for males. If I even try to get close, Mio-san rebukes me with, “You mustn’t take away the girls’ fun, you know?” while Suu-chan gives me a scolding of her own.
”Maa-kun, no!” Suu-chan said.
(I only wandered over there twice with my digital camera because I wanted to hear her say “no,” but I should probably stop before I actually become a nuisance.)
After all, this is Suu-chan’s first-ever handmade chocolate. If I ended up not getting any, I’d be beyond any normal kind of regret. I decided to wait quietly on Mother’s lap, playing with an electronic dictionary.
The only other male in the house, Mitsuhisa-san, showed more adult composure. He wasn’t acting restless at all, instead choosing to play with Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan. The twins were nearly four months old. Their heads weren’t completely stable yet and they couldn’t roll over, but they had started looking around more, swiveling their heads left and right. Anything they gripped went straight toward their mouths.
”Ah—, uu—!”
”Ukku, aa—!”
”You two are in a great mood, aren’t you?” Mitsuhisa said.
He looked completely smitten while the babies gripped his fingers. He clearly found them irresistible. Lately, Suu-chan’s growth had been so rapid that she didn’t play with him much anymore… though that had been the case pretty much from the start. As if he had just remembered something, Mitsuhisa looked over at me.
”So, Makoto, how many chocolates did you get?”
”Eh?”
”I mean, it’s you we’re talking about. Didn’t you get a ton at kindergarten?” Mitsuhisa asked.
Unlike last year, I had started attending kindergarten. My social circle had expanded several times over, and I had many more girl acquaintances. Looking at it objectively, I felt like plenty of them liked me well enough, but—
”I didn’t get a single one,” I said.
”Really?”
”Yeah.”
Mitsuhisa looked surprised. “Zero” was a shock, but there was a reason for it.
”The kindergarten told us we aren’t allowed to give out chocolate,” I explained.
”Oh, I see…” Mitsuhisa replied.
It wasn’t because I was worried about returning the favor or because I refused to accept them from anyone but Suu-chan. The kindergarten had actually distributed a flyer specifically to warn us against it. There were all sorts of circumstances at Hinomori Kindergarten.
(So, it’s just not time yet.)
Besides, my honest feeling was that if I got them from Mother and Suu-chan, I didn’t really need anything else. Then again, I’d still be happy to receive them. I suppose men are simple creatures.
”Mitsuhisa-san, what was the most you ever got?” I asked.
”……Let’s not talk about that,” Mitsuhisa said.
He had a distant look in his eyes. Perhaps he had a past he didn’t want to touch. Based on his looks and personality, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to have received several during his student days, but…
After we played for a while, Suu-chan arrived holding two small boxes, one large and one small, wrapped in cute paper. It seemed they were finished. My heart naturally went to max. Why? Because Mio-P² was standing by with a video camera in one hand. I just know something was about to happen. The quiet smile Mio-P wore at times like this was terrifying.
(Better to strike before being struck.)
I tightened my expression into a sharp, cool-guy look.
”Hmph…” I exhaled.
(I won. Well, it wasn’t a contest, but I feel like I landed a blow against Mio-P’s expectations.)
I glanced over to see if she looked frustrated, but she just gave me a thumbs up. Apparently, my ad-libbed “cool face” was a hit. I felt strangely unsatisfied. Returning my gaze, I saw Suu-chan had mirrored my serious expression. She held out the larger box.
”…Mufu… Maa-kun… please eat ssu!” Suu-chan said.
”Thank you,” I replied.
(Wait. What did she just say?)
I had already given a normal reply, but my hand froze as my brain finally caught up. The air in the room turned to ice. I didn’t think I had misheard her. The only one acting unconcerned was the girl who had said it. She was fidgeting, but was that innocent fidgeting or did she know what that sounded like?
(Okay, hold on. Let’s be calm. “Please eat me” is bizarre no matter how you look at it. It’s definitely not the “climbing the stairs to adulthood” meaning that some big friend with a dirty mind would imagine. Surely even Mio-san wouldn’t have taught her that. She’s not even five yet. Though, there is a chance she overheard Mio-san saying it to Mitsuhisa-san…)
(Or is it that? The legend about putting “parts of yourself” into the chocolate? I’ve heard the rumors, but surely…)
(Where did I go wrong with her…?)
Just as my life was flashing before my eyes, Suu-chan spoke again.
”I messed up,” she said.
”…”
”ssu worked hard to make this, so please eat it!” Suu-chan added.
”Thank you,” I said.
(Thank goodness. I can’t explain why I’m so relieved, but thank goodness. I must have rattled her with that cool face, causing her to trip over her words. I’ll reflect on my life choices.)
”For Papa too, here!”
”Thank you!” Mitsuhisa said.
Mitsuhisa-san accepted his box. (I don’t think the size of the box necessarily represents the size of one’s feelings.)
I ignored Mitsuhisa-san, who was looking back and forth between our boxes. After getting Suu-chan’s permission as she sat next to me, I took a photo and opened the wrapping. Inside were chocolate cookies. In that moment, I understood the meaning of the box size.
Mitsuhisa-san had several bite-sized cookies. On my side, there was one massive cookie.
(“Please eat ssu” might not have been a mistake after all.)
It was a chocolate cookie with a handprint pressed into it. Of course it had to be big. I started taking photos again from every direction.
”Is this a crime scene?” Mio-san asked.
”…”
I couldn’t help but get a comment from her. I wasn’t taking evidence photos; it’s just that once I eat it, it’s gone. It’s a memento. It was nearly twice the size of the twins’ hands, and only a little smaller than mine. It was a gift that made me feel Suu-chan’s growth.
(Thanks, Suu-chan. And maybe one day, when you’re all grown up, I’d like to hear that same slip-up again… No, I just have to work hard to be someone worth saying it to. I’ll do my best.)
Later, while I was worrying about how to eat such a large cookie, Suu-chan mercilessly crushed it with her hand. It became my snack for the next three days. I also shared a slice of gateau chocolat Mio-san had made with Suu-chan, and we enjoyed some expensive-looking ganache that Mother had bought.
Tucked in and full of chocolate, the day of Valentine’s came to a close.
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Summary:
The chapter focuses on Valentine’s Day celebrations within the Totsuka household. Makoto reflects on the social changes of kindergarten life, including a school-wide ban on giving chocolates. The highlight is Suu-chan gifting Makoto a large handmade cookie with her handprint, accompanied by a humorous verbal slip-up that Makoto’s adult mind over-analyzes.
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Trivia:
- The kindergarten ban on chocolate hints at complex social dynamics or past issues at Hinomori Kindergarten that Makoto is navigating.
- Mitsuhisa-san’s reaction to his own Valentine’s history suggests a character depth or potential future backstory involving his youth.
- Suu-chan’s rapid growth and ‘handprint’ gift symbolize her transitioning from a toddler to a young child, a core theme of the series
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Character Insight:
Makoto and Suu-chan’s bond is emphasized through the ‘special’ larger gift, while Mio’s ‘Producer’ persona highlights her role as the family’s documentarian. Mitsuhisa’s doting on the twins shows a shift in focus as Suu becomes more independent.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter details the blending of Western customs and Japanese traditions in this ‘modern Japan’ setting, reinforcing the protagonist’s isekai background through mundane cultural observations.
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TL Notes:
The pun on ‘ssu’ relies on the phonetic overlap between the polite copula contraction and the child’s name, localized to preserve the awkwardness of the misunderstanding.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• Mio – Mio-P, 28, pregnant Totsuka resident, round belly, baby‑faced charm, elegant gray outfits accentuating her G‑cup curves (164 cm, 57 kg). Former relay/badminton star turned teacher, cook, photographer; bakes strawberry shortcake & chirashi‑zushi, babysits Ma‑kun, nudges his marriage to Suu‑chan. Playful neighbor, family friend, “Love Guru,” stages birthday sketches, narrates childhood memories, mothers Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan, avoids crowds, quietly guides destinies with warmth.
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa, 33, 184 cm, 71 kg, reserved and scowling yet toned, works from home on modified childcare leave. Husband of Mio, father of Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan; protective and doting toward the younger twins. He quietly films family life, is distant with photographer Akari, shares dark banter with former teammate Makoto, unsettled by his influence, and shows quiet pride holding the twins at Suu‑chan’s birthday.
• Fuu – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Currently learning to swivel their head and grab objects.
• Kyo – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Shared traits with Fuu-chan.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old Maa‑kun (93 cm, 13 kg) wears a neat white shirt, light‑blue non‑woven vest, trousers and cap with a backpack in Rose Class. He is a reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman calling himself “Toilet Master”, male despite his father’s view, and is known as Boss by peers. Polite, short‑haired, he protects Suu‑chan, mediates fights, reads Kanji, speaks English, aids his mother and neighbors, and keeps distance from everyone except his “future bride” Suzuki.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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