Volume 3 Chapter 66 Totsuka family Personal Interview (Youngsters Class)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
At Hinomori Kindergarten¹, we have parent-teacher-student conferences twice a year. Aside from these, I’ve heard there are “emergency” meetings requested by parents or suggested by the school, but since my family has never needed one, I don’t know the specifics.
Our first regular conference took place about a month into the school year. Since the school is somewhat flexible with locations and times-and because our families have rather unique circumstances-the teachers actually conducted a home visit on the Saturday before the Golden Week holidays, combined with our neighbors. The primary goal is for the parents and the homeroom teacher to get reacquainted, build mutual trust, and share updates on how the little ones are doing. It’s an opportunity for the guardians to see what kind of person the teacher is and to catch a glimpse of their child’s life away from home. For the teachers, it’s a chance to see what the parents are like and what kind of environment the child is being raised in, which helps them tailor their future approach and educational goals.
I don’t think it’s entirely meaningless for the kids, either. According to the “Mommy Grapevine,” just seeing their parents acting friendly with the teacher-or having the teacher visit their home-makes the kids see them as a “special person.” It supposedly closes the distance between the child and the teacher instantly. It’s hard to say for sure, but I did notice more kids stopped crying when the teacher held them after the conferences, and they seemed a bit more willing to listen.
Now, it’s time for the second round-the end-of-year conference. In addition to a general review of the past year and any concerns, it’s meant for exchanging information about the upcoming grade. Once again, it’s a joint session with the Totsuka family at their place. The adults are currently gathered in the Totsuka dining room: Mitsuhisa-san (who missed the last one), Mio-san, Mother, and the two teachers, Riko-sensei and Seiko-sensei.
As for me, I’m sitting off to the side with Suu-chan, pretending to read a picture book while keeping my ears pinned to their conversation. Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan are currently down for their naps.
”Well then, let’s start with Suzuki-chan…” Riko-sensei said. “She’s meeting all the milestones we expect for the Preschool Class without any issues. She’s independent with her daily chores and is a total role model for the other kids. She even helps out the ones who are struggling, which is a massive help for us.”
(I thought so. Suu-chan is brilliant. Part of it is probably because she has an April birthday, which makes her older than most of the class.)
”She’s active in class and seems to enjoy everything from gym to study time to play. As for friends… she’s made several, aside from just Makoto-kun. She still gets a bit stiff around new people, and she’s a girl of very few words, but she doesn’t seem to have any trouble communicating. It’s not that she’s unable to say what she wants; I don’t think it’s anything you need to worry about,” Riko-sensei added.
(Few words, huh… I know exactly why. I can’t say I know everything Suu-chan is thinking, but if she even tries to tell me something, I can usually piece it together from the context and her expression. We understand each other perfectly, but looking back, it hasn’t been great for her verbal development. Plus, I’ve been keeping my own talking to a minimum so she doesn’t pick up any “weird” vocabulary from me…)
”She listens to us and the other teachers, and she understands the rules and boundaries. Her temperament is very stable, and she fits in well with the group. I don’t think she’ll have any trouble at all when she moves up to the Middle kids next year,” Riko-sensei continued.
Mio-san and Mother nodded as they listened to the praise. Mitsuhisa-san’s mouth was twitching into a grin-he was clearly proud. Well, I can’t blame him. I feel the same way, even if I’m better at keeping my poker face on.
”(…Maa-kun?)”
Trying not to interrupt the adults, Suu-chan whispered my name and peeked at my face. I wondered what was up. Did she read my mind? To hide my embarrassment, I gave her head a little pat to distract her.
”Mmmph!”
”Oof-“
Suddenly, Suu-chan couldn’t hold back anymore and lunged at me. I fell backward, absorbing the impact as I caught her. Between all the running around at school, she’s been getting surprisingly muscular. Her “attack power” is getting higher every day. We ended up in a tangled mess, rolling around the floor. She was clearly letting her guard down because we were at home, but I wondered if she’d forgotten she was supposed to be a little lady in front of guests.
”Is Suzuki-chan… always like this at home?” Riko-sensei asked.
”Yes, she’s in great shape today,” Mother replied.
”…I see,” said Riko-sensei.
Riko-sensei and Seiko-sensei were wide-eyed, watching Suu-chan engage in physical affection far more aggressive than anything she showed at school. At the last home visit, they had both stayed on their mothers’ laps, and Suu-chan had been nervous. Since she tries to maintain her poise at school, this wild version of her must have been quite the shock. To me, though, this was just a Tuesday.
The teachers eventually looked away from us, straightened their posture, and spoke up with a slight hesitation.
”There is one thing we’re a little concerned about, though…” Seiko-sensei said.
(And there it is. The ominous pivot.)
”It’s just that… she seems to become mentally unsettled whenever she’s separated from Makoto-kun,” Seiko-sensei explained.
”””Ah…”””
The parents all looked troubled as their eyes fell on us again. (But Suu-chan was able to go to school on her own, right?) Just as the thought crossed my mind, Mio-san voiced it.
”I believe there were a few days when Makoto was out sick… How was she then?” Mio-san asked.
”She seemed a bit listless,” Seiko-sensei replied. “Even when she was playing with others, she looked… tense.”
”I thought so…” Mio-san said.
”………?”
Feeling the weight of everyone’s gaze, Suu-chan tilted her head with a cute, confused look. But she lost interest immediately, climbing onto my back to continue our wrestling match.
”She was still able to do her chores and participate in class, so it’s not an emergency,” Seiko-sensei added with a reassuring smile. “It’s only natural for children this age to be attached to someone who’s like a… father or mother figure to them.”
The teachers were trying to be nice, but I knew we had to address this eventually. Now that Mother’s transfer was off the table, we’d be staying together. I want to be with Suu-chan, and I’m honored she enjoys our time together so much, but for her sake, we can’t be joined at the hip forever.
”Mmmph!”
Well, I’ll figure it out eventually. Time has a way of solving these things. For now, with this girl peeking over my shoulder and pressing her soft cheek against mine… the burden of pushing her away is just too heavy for me to bear.
”So, what does Suzuki-chan usually play with her other friends at school?” Mitsuhisa-san asked.
”Let’s see… it depends on the group, but lately she’s been doing a lot of drawing and coloring. She loves the library, too. Oh, and she’s always having jump-rope competitions with Jun-chan,” Riko-sensei replied.
The meeting continued like that-questions, answers, and the occasional bit of small talk. Both Mio-san and Mitsuhisa-san seemed to find the report exactly as they expected. After all, she tells them everything that happens at school, every single day.
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Summary:
The chapter focuses on the mandatory parent-teacher conference for the young children. While Suu-chan is praised for her academic and social maturity, the teachers highlight a growing concern: her extreme psychological dependence on Makoto. This leads to a discussion among the adults about her behavior when they are separated, while the two children play together in the background.
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Trivia:
- The contrast between Suu-chan’s ‘model student’ persona and her ‘wild’ home persona highlights her deep comfort with Makoto.
- Makoto’s realization that his mind-reading-like understanding of Suu-chan might be stunting her verbal growth suggests a future conflict in how they communicate.
- The cancelation of Makoto’s mother’s transfer ensures the duo stays together, reinforcing their codependency
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Character Insight:
Suu-chan is revealed to be ‘mentally unsettled’ (精神的に不安定) without Makoto, a term usually used for more serious psychological states, emphasizing the weight of their bond. Makoto, while enjoying her affection, begins to feel the ‘burden’ of her total reliance on him.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The Japanese kindergarten system’s emphasis on ‘Home Visits’ (家庭訪問) and the ‘Mommy Grapevine’ network is showcased as a tool for teachers to gain authority and intimacy with students.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘Mufuu’ was replaced with ‘Mmmph!’ to reflect the muffled sound of a content child hugging someone, as per localization standards for natural SFX.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa (33, 184 cm, 71 kg) is reserved, scowling yet toned, working from home on modified childcare leave. Husband of Mio, father of Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan. Protective and doting toward the twins, he quietly films family life, is distant with photographer Akari, shares dark banter with former teammate Makoto, feels unsettled by his influence, and shows quiet pride holding the twins at Suu‑chan’s birthday, proud of his daughter’s academic and social success.
• Totsuka – Totsuka Mio is the wife of Mitsuhisa Totsuka and mother of Suu-chan. She is a hardcore gamer, part of the neighbor family that supplies hand‑me‑down consoles to the protagonist’s household. Mio attends parent‑teacher conferences and worries about her daughter’s growing dependence on Makoto.
• Seiko – Veteran kindergarten teacher and Rose Class leader, she exudes a steely, battle‑hardened aura with an icy gaze; polite yet intimidating, she’s dubbed an ‘ogre’ when angry and a ‘demon with a metal club’ for her dignified presence. Partner to Riko, senior to Akiko, and assistant at Hinomori Kindergarten, she blends playful realism with school‑politics savvy.
• Riko – Riko‑sensei, lead teacher of Rose Class and PE instructor at Hinomori Kindergarten, also serves as school nurse. She wears a rash guard and athletic shorts for pool duties, exuding calm, observant warmth. Internally dry‑cynical, she judges coworkers sharply but finds quiet solace in Makoto’s subtle influence and Maa‑kun’s skill. She conducts progress interviews, observes children’s dynamics, works alongside Seiko‑sensei, and attends a girls’ night out with colleagues.
• Mio – Mio-P, 28, a pregnant Totsuka resident (164 cm, 57 kg), radiates quiet elegance in gray attire that highlights her G-cup curves and baby-faced charm; she’s a former relay and badminton star turned teacher, cook, and photographer who babysits Makoto daily, taught him to brush his hair, and gently steers his path toward Suu-chan. A tech-savvy observer, she bakes strawberry shortcake and chirashi-zushi, stages birthday sketches, narrates childhood memories, and motheringly guides Suu-chan, Fuu-chan, and Kyo-chan—all while avoiding crowds with warm, understated wisdom, earning her the neighborhood’s revered title as “Love Guru.”
• 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.
• Suzuki – Suu‑chan, a doll‑like 4‑year‑old with dark braided pigtails, a topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes and pink rain boots, is Makoto’s fiercely possessive self‑proclaimed girlfriend. Pregnant and older sister, she’s quietly popular, hugs often, clutches a pink candy tin, pouts, and still remembers seaweed on her tooth. Clever, independent, model‑student in Youngsters & Preschool (born April), clingy and affectionate with Makoto at home, cherishes father Mii‑kun and best friend Maa‑kun, navigating competitiveness with quiet grace.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old Maa‑kun (93 cm, 13 kg) wears a white shirt, light‑blue vest, trousers, cap and backpack. A reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman known as “Boss” and “Toilet Master,” he leads the Rose Rangers, reads kanji, speaks English, and mediates conflicts. Calm, cynical, protective of Suu‑chan, revered by peers, receives 22 Valentines, while his father doubts his gender. Attends Youngsters Class, dependable, called Maa‑kun.
• Jun – Rose, the Imai family’s youngest daughter and a Rose Class kindergartner, sports short-sleeve tops and shorts year-round, has a huge appetite, is ultra-competitive, idolizes her mother, and is warned about germs by her older brother Makoto, who often reins her in; she’s energetic, physically strong, heroic, frequently “it” in tag, can count to ten, and is Makoto’s close friend who mocks his dancing—while Makoto, equally energetic and loud, jumps when excited, shares her class, and balances her wildness with calm restraint.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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