Volume 3 Chapter 63 Fan Club
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A quiet corner of a residential neighborhood.
The youngsters, having just returned from Hinomori Kindergarten¹, played energetically under a sky where the biting cold of winter still stubbornly lingered. Three children soon to graduate from kindergarten raced their bicycles at breakneck speeds along a course spanning the entirety of a wide yard. The track featured gentle slopes, banked curves, and narrow paths ducking between the trees. Watching their daughters ride, the fathers felt the sacrifice of their weekends was well worth the effort – the “blood, sweat, and tears” put into construction. For one father in particular, that wasn’t merely a figure of speech.
Meanwhile, two other children who had been attending kindergarten for nearly a year skipped rope in the center of the yard. This was the “safe zone,” situated far from the bicycle track to avoid accidents. They seemed to be in the middle of a “special training” session, happily working to check off the goals on the challenge cards issued by the kindergarten.
Through the window, their mothers watched over them. While the youngsters seemed immune to the chill, the temperature was far too taxing for the ladies. Instead, they sat in the comfort of an air-conditioned room, surrounded by tea and sweets, indulging in local gossip. Among them was a pair of faces that didn’t quite fit the usual group: a woman who appeared to be the same age as – or perhaps slightly younger than – the other ladies, and a small girl nestled in her lap. Their names were Namikawa Rie and Mei.
They had been playing at a local park when a boy their age approached them. They hit it off, and since it turned out the boy was a “senior” at the kindergarten Mei would attend next year, Rie had been invited to this tea party at the boy’s home. Little Mei’s eyes kept darting toward the window. She was clearly interested in the boy she’d befriended. However, whenever Rie tentatively asked, “Do you want to go play outside?” the girl desperately shook her head while clutching her mother’s sleeve. The nerves of being in a new place for the first time seemed to have a firm grip on her.
Rie soothed her daughter while listening to the conversation of the veteran mothers. The topic, unsurprisingly, was Hinomori Kindergarten.
”He’s quite the celebrity at Hinomori, isn’t he?”
”I feel like he’s already moved well beyond ‘quite’ at this point,” another replied.
”True,” said a third. “He was incredibly popular during the event.”
”To think a boy like that actually exists,” Rie mused.
Following the recent School Arts Festival, the conversation had shifted toward Valentine’s Day – or as the school officially called it, the “Sweets Exchange.” Even in that context, there was one boy who stood out as the coolest kid on campus.
”It was honestly incredible,” one mother said. “There was a literal line of girls waiting to give him their gifts. I couldn’t help but laugh.”
”I know! And the fact that they actually lined up in an orderly fashion…”
Even if the subjects were just children, gossip was still gossip. When the talk turned to “romance,” Rie couldn’t help but lean in. It was thanks to this shared interest that she found herself sliding into the inner circle of “mom-friends” with surprising ease.
”By the way… how many did he actually get?” Rie asked.
”Hmm, the rumors vary a bit. Twenty seems like a safe bet,” a mother replied.
”I heard eighteen was the most solid number,” another countered.
”Mayumi, you’d know, right?”
The three women turned their gaze toward Mayumi. She had been part of this social circle the longest and was known to be close with the mother of the boy in question.
”Twenty-two,” Mayumi said. She paused for a dramatic beat, letting the curiosity simmer before revealing the number with a knowing smile.
”A new record,” one mother gasped. “He broke the previous high by more than ten in one go.”
”And he’s only in the Rose Class², right?”
”It’s amazing… I think Yuma-kun also…”
”He got nine, didn’t he? That’s a tie for the old record, which is impressive enough on its own,” another noted. “It really makes you wonder where they all come from!”
Rie was floored. Even if she hadn’t met this legend yet, she was amazed such a person existed in her immediate neighborhood. She tried to conjure an image of this heartthrob, assuming he must be exceptionally handsome, but without a face to go on, the image remained blurry. She glanced out the window at the children playing. Her eyes fell on a boy with a well-defined, “prince-like” face – a boy whose future looks were already promising. (If this kid isn’t the one, then I really can’t imagine what he looks like…)
”Is he really that handsome?” Rie asked.
”Hmm, his features aren’t bad, I suppose,” a mother replied.
”Yeah. But he doesn’t smile much, and his gaze is… well, it’s a bit sharp. But he has this incredibly calm, mature aura.”
”The fact that he doesn’t act like a kid actually makes him kind of cute in a weird way,” another added.
”Yeah, I totally get that.”
”Maybe it’s the way Mio-san cuts his hair, too.”
”Oh, and he’s great at sports. That’s usually where kids fall in love. He was even good enough at dancing to teach the other kids during the Arts Festival.”
The compliments flowed effortlessly. It wasn’t just because their children brought his name up daily; the impression he left when he came over to play was burned into the mothers’ minds. However, for these ladies who had seen his actions firsthand, outward appearances weren’t the only metric.
”But really, it’s more about what’s on the inside, don’t you think?”
”Definitely,” Mayumi agreed. “He’s so kind.”
”And smart.”
”Reliable, too. Honestly, probably more so than my older son.”
”Isn’t that a bit harsh on Ren-kun?”
”No, really. Makoto-kun is way more put-together than his big brother.”
One mother was openly comparing her eleven-year-old to someone else’s four-year-old. In reality, the comparison was between an eleven-year-old and a man who was effectively twenty-nine plus four years old, so the comparison was fundamentally unfair, but the mothers had no way of knowing that.
”I mean, Makoto-kun is the one who effectively runs the Rose Class,” a mother noted.
”You mean the Rose Rangers³, right?”
”What is that?” Rie asked.
”I wonder? I don’t know the specifics… but wasn’t the story that he gathered all the problem children and turned them into his underlings?”
”Yep, that’s the one,” Mayumi said.
”W-who did?” Rie stammered.
”Makoto-kun.”
(Wait, what?) Rie thought. The Rose Class was only one year above Rie’s daughter. Looking at little Mei, Rie couldn’t fathom a child being capable of “seizing control” of a class only a year from now. It was perhaps better for her mental health that she didn’t know he had already achieved this feat by the end of the previous summer. Seeing the mothers do nothing but sing his praises, Rie voiced a sudden doubt.
”…Doesn’t he have any flaws?”
The women who knew him hesitated. He wasn’t perfect, but when you remembered he was only four, his “flaws” were hard to classify as such.
”He hates bugs,” one mother finally said. “Whenever he’s playing in the dirt, he’s strangely on edge, glancing around like he’s expecting an ambush.”
”And isn’t he sensitive to loud noises? He might actually be a bit of a scaredy-cat.”
”I don’t know about that… but he definitely has a worry-wart streak.”
While his weaknesses were known, it was safe to say his overall image management had been a success.
”Oh, and he’s so popular that he’s definitely going to have woman trouble later in life,” a mother teased. “Even though he already has a wife.”
”Heh… what?” Rie said. The word was so unexpected that she failed to give her usual polite nod. “…Wait, he has a wife!? You mean like… an arranged fiancée?”
”I don’t think it’s that formal… but there’s a girl who’s absolutely stuck to his side.”
”They’re always together. It’s total lovey-dovey energy.”
”There’s no doubt that she’s Number One in Makoto-kun’s book,” Mayumi added.
Rie looked down at her daughter, who was currently moving her favorite doll around. She had heard that kids were precocious these days, but “wife” status in the Rose Class? The one-year age gap between the legend and her own child felt like a vast chasm.
”Wait… so he still gets all those Valentines even with a wife?”
”Well, they’re kids. I don’t think they really grasp the concept yet. They give them out even if it’s not their true love,” a mother explained.
”Though some of them are definitely serious. Our Miyu certainly is.”
”Hina… I don’t think she understands yet.”
”Aoi seems to be playing for keeps, but it looks like a steep hill to climb. It’ll probably just end up being a bittersweet first love.”
Despite being younger, his conduct and his skill at games had completely captured the girls’ hearts. The mothers let out a collective sigh at a battle their daughters couldn’t win. Their fathers, conversely, were likely breathing sighs of relief.
”But really, it’s not just the kids,” a mother said. “It’s a pattern where the parents are the ones…”
”Wait, what? Are the moms falling for him too?” Rie gasped.
”No, no, it’s not like that… probably,” Mayumi laughed. “Most of the time, the kid wants to give him something, but the parents use it as a way to say thank you to him.”
”Exactly. I gave him one too.”
”Me too, along with my daughter.”
There was no legal obligation to give chocolate on Valentine’s Day, and it wouldn’t be strange for a child to have no interest in the holiday. In reality, Makoto-kun’s social circle was mostly the Rose Class – a group of about twenty kids, half of whom were girls. The secret behind how he ended up with over twenty chocolates was simple.
”He basically has a Fan Club,” a mother said.
First “wife,” now “Fan Club.” Rie’s mouth hung open. Intrigued by her mother’s stunned expression, little Mei took the opportunity to poke a finger into the gap.
”A f-fa… Fan Club?” Rie managed.
”Yeah. I mean, it’s not like there’s a signed register or anything. It’s just what we call it.”
That was the secret. Even if a daughter didn’t explicitly ask to make chocolate, the parents would often suggest it as a token of gratitude for his daily “management” of the class. And since there was no law against adults giving chocolate to a kindergartner, a few extras always found their way to him.
”By the way, it seems like almost every parent in his group – the Rose Class – is a member,” Mayumi said. “Including everyone in this room.”
Realizing she was the only one present who wasn’t in the club, Rie felt a familiar prickle of social anxiety. “…How… how do I join?”
”It’s easy,” one mother laughed. “You just use Makoto-kun’s name to get your kid to behave.”
”Meaning?”
”For example… ‘If you don’t clean up your toys, Makoto-kun won’t come over to play,’ or ‘I heard Makoto-kun works hard to eat the carrots he hates so he can grow big and strong’.”
”And that actually works?”
”Like a charm. It’s the nuclear option in our house.”
”Aoi used to hate fixing her bedhead, but once I said Makoto-kun might laugh at you, she started brushing it herself every morning without fail.”
”Hina too.”
In truth, this parental tactic was the primary reason Makoto-kun’s presence had become so oversized in the children’s minds. While his daily actions were certainly impressive and helpful, the parental follow-up was the real kicker. By using his name in their discipline, the parents had turned him into a figure as influential as any cartoon superhero. The youngsters had essentially been re-educated – and for now, the results were purely positive. Naturally, the person who had pioneered this method was none other than his next-door neighbor.
”Of course, it doesn’t work at all if your kid isn’t already friends with Makoto-kun,” Mayumi noted.
”Well, that makes sense.”
It was obvious. If you brought up the name of a stranger, a child would just tilt their head in confusion. Therefore, you couldn’t be a member until your child was in his inner circle. For Rie, joining today was an impossible dream.
”I see…” Rie said, her shoulders slumping. Just then, a draft of cold air brushed her cheek.
”Mom! I’m thirsty!”
”Shiho wants a drink too!”
”Okay, okay, just a second,” Nanami said.
The window had been slid open, and the youngsters were peeking in. Nanami got up and headed to the kitchen to fulfill the request. Mayumi pulled out some wet wipes and began cleaning the children’s hands.
”Are Suu-chan and Makoto-kun coming over to play tomorrow?”
”Yes, they are~” Mayumi answered.
”I want to play ball with Makoto!”
”No fair! I want to jump rope!”
”Fufu, looks like tomorrow will be busy,” Mayumi said.
””Yeah!””
Watching the children clamor over the rumored boy, Rie couldn’t help but wonder if the little girl currently dozing off in her arms would eventually join the Fan Club too.
—
Summary:
Rie and her daughter Mei attend a tea party with a circle of neighborhood mothers. The conversation centers on Makoto, a four-year-old boy who has achieved legendary status in Hinomori Kindergarten for his maturity, leadership of the ‘Rose Rangers’, and overwhelming popularity on Valentine’s Day. The mothers reveal that they’ve formed an informal ‘Fan Club’ and use Makoto’s reputation as a tool for disciplining their own children.
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Trivia:
- The ‘Prince-like’ boy playing in the yard serves as a foil to Makoto, highlighting that even naturally attractive children are being overshadowed by Makoto’s presence.
- The mothers using Makoto’s name for discipline suggests he is inadvertently becoming a neighborhood-wide authority figure among the children.
- Makoto’s ‘scaredy-cat’ nature regarding bugs and loud noises are noted as his only flaws, humanizing the otherwise ‘overpowered’ protagonist.
- The ‘wife’ status of the unnamed girl suggests a stable relationship that complicates the harem dynamics typical of the genre
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Character Insight:
Makoto’s status has shifted from a mere classmate to a semi-mythical figure among both the children and their mothers. The mothers’ dynamic is defined by a shared ‘Fan Club’ mentality, where Makoto acts as a benchmark for childhood development. Rie’s desire to join the club underscores her need for social validation within this new hierarchy.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Introduction of the ‘Rose Class’ and ‘Rose Rangers’ hierarchy. The ‘Sweets Exchange’ is established as a major social event for tracking popularity. The chapter expands on the concept of ‘Parental Follow-up’—how adult gossip reinforces child-level social structures.
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TL Notes:
The notation ’29 + 4′ is a meta-reference to the protagonist’s past life age plus current age, a common trope in reincarnation novels. The ‘Fan Club’ is a localized term for the mothers’ shared obsession.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• Yuma – Frail, sickly kindergarten boy with an idol-like face from a wealthy land-owning family; his real-estate parents shaped his quiet, observant nature. Missed the entrance ceremony due to illness but attends the same kindergarten as Shiho-chan, his childhood friend. Member of Rose Class and Rose Group, younger brother of Miyu-oneesan, and close friend of Makoto. Learns paper-airplane folding from his father, offers technical insights on the Skytree’s triangular base, and now leads the block-building activity.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Hina – Shiho’s older sister presents a gentle aura with long hair and a flowing dress. Though typically quiet, she lights up with excitement whenever she wins.
• 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.
• Shiho – Four-year-old Rose-Class girl with shoulder-length hair in a side-up ponytail, wearing a white kitten-themed placemat and training chopsticks, deeply attached to her favorite hair clip; younger sister of Hina, classmate and peer of Makoto, close friend of Suu-chan and Yuma, quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention, kind and considerate of Suzuka’s feelings, overcame fear of water to love swimming, leans on Makoto’s “secret” advice to make mud dumplings, and wishes happiness for the Tanabata deities.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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