Volume 4 Chapter 10 The Inevitable Wound
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Two weeks had passed since we moved up to the Middle Kids group.
Yuna-chan hadn’t cried about not wanting to go since the first day; she seemed to be enjoying kindergarten every day now. She had already made a friend named Mei and reported it to me with a look of pure joy. Suu-chan was working hard, too. When we arrived at the kindergarten, she always looked a bit reluctant to let go, but she would wave and say, “See you later,” before heading into her classroom. Of course, we usually met up outside immediately for free play anyway. On the way home, she and Shiho-chan made a habit of peeking into the Rabbit Class room as if they couldn’t wait another second.
In the Sheep Class where Suu-chan was placed, it seemed the girls from the former Rose Class had already seized control. They had been a dominant force back in the Rose Class too, so it was no surprise that they held power now that they were grouped together. Meanwhile, cheerful voices echoed from the Giraffe Class, home to the former Rose Rangers. Pro-wrestling play with their male teacher, Teacher Yugo, was the latest trend. He had quickly become the most popular teacher among the Middle Kids.
Both the Sheep and Giraffe classes were off to a decent start. The problem was my own group, the Rabbit Class.
This class was a collection of “Youngsters” with… let’s call them “intense personalities.” Currently, we were divided into two major factions. It would have been fine if it were just kids gravitating toward those they liked, but these two groups were constantly at each other’s throats. On one side was the boys’ group led by Hiromasa. On the other was the girls’ group led by Himeno.
As expected, the two who had clashed during the first-day introductions were at the center of the conflict. The boys would act out, get carried away, or tease the girls, and the girls would immediately push back. It always devolved into an argument that the boys lost instantly, ending with someone getting physical or a boy crying after being scolded by a teacher. The girls would get warned too, but they made no effort to hide their dissatisfaction.
While the boys seemed to be the instigators, the girls were just as bad, constantly nitpicking and tripping them up. Since neither side would back down or compromise, it was a never-ending cycle of “you hit me, I hit you back.” They couldn’t find a place to settle the score. Then again, they were social beginners, so it was understandable they couldn’t get it right from the start.
I didn’t belong to either side. “Neutral” sounded cool, I suppose. The three of us from the former Rose Class were still sticking together here.
”Hey, Makoto,” Yuma said, looking pained as he watched Himeno and Hiromasa fight again. “Can’t everyone just get along?”
He knew how good the atmosphere had been in the Rose Class. “It might be a while,” Makoto replied.
I had my own thoughts. I wanted to help, but there wasn’t much I could do at this stage. Even the childcare experts, Teacher Ai and Teacher Seiko, hadn’t made a move yet. Since I hadn’t received any instructions, it likely wasn’t the time to act. They were probably waiting to see how things settled until Golden Week¹. It takes time to learn how to measure the distance between people.
”Kotarou doesn’t seem interested,” Yuma noted.
”…Let sleeping dogs lie,” Kotarou muttered.
”You know some big words,” Yuma said.
”Makoto said it. He said it’s better to stay away from troublesome people,” Kotarou replied.
”…Did I say that?” asked Makoto.
As for Jun, he found the Rabbit Class boring and constantly wanted to go outside during free play to play tag with Suzuki and the others. In the end, the bond between the former Rose Class members only grew deeper.
* * *
Of course, that didn’t mean the Sheep and Giraffe classes were completely without trouble. One day, after waking up from a nap and stretching with Jun—who was inexplicably holding a back-bridge—a teacher called out to me.
”Makoto-kun, do you have a moment?” asked Nao.
She was Teacher Nao, a twenty-five-year-old support teacher. I excused myself from Jun and followed her into the hallway. I felt the blood drain from my face. My hands and feet went cold, and my sense of balance wavered. It wasn’t because I was afraid of being scolded. Teacher Nao wasn’t assigned to the Rabbit Class today.
Each group had at least four support teachers, and while their assignments change based on events or shifts, they usually stayed with one class for the entire day. **Teacher Nao was a support teacher who was supposed to be in the Sheep Class today.**
A support teacher from the neighboring class coming to find me was unprecedented. There was only one explanation: something had happened to Suu-chan.
”Teacher Nao, what happened?” asked Makoto.
”Um… for now, just come with me to the Nurse’s Office,” Nao replied, her face grim.
My bad feeling turned into a cold certainty. I followed her in silence, fearing that if I spoke, something foul would spill out. I took deep breaths, trying to stay calm. When we entered the Nurse’s Office, I searched for her immediately. Suu-chan was sitting on the sofa, her back being rubbed by the school nurse, Teacher Yuzuki. My legs moved on their own.
”Suu-chan,” Makoto said.
”…Maa-kun?” Suu-chan whispered. Her eyes were rimmed with red.
She tried to speak, but her emotions surged again. She bit her lip, and large tears began to fall.
”Maa-gun…” she sobbed.
”It’s okay. I’m right here. It’s okay,” Makoto whispered.
I hugged her and rubbed her back while she cried. I had never seen her sob like this before—not even when we were placed in different classes. After about ten minutes, she finally calmed down. I needed to know the situation so I could figure out how to help. She didn’t look injured, and Teacher Yuzuki had already returned to her paperwork, so it wasn’t a physical wound. It had to be psychological.
Perhaps she had fought with Shiho-chan? They were best friends, so a fight would be a shock, but I couldn’t imagine them having a conflict they couldn’t resolve with a simple apology. Or maybe she had failed a task a teacher gave her? Some kids cry from the weight of responsibility. But what kind of task would a teacher give a child that would cause this much grief?
(I didn’t want to believe the most likely, most terrible scenario. If it was what I thought, I wouldn’t be able to handle it peacefully. I knew I was on Suu-chan’s side no matter what. Objectivity was fine, but fairness was unnecessary. I had to show her that I accepted her side of the story completely.)
”Suu-chan,” Makoto said, leaning in until our foreheads touched. “Do you not want to tell me what happened?”
”…No,” Suu-chan whispered, shaking her head slightly.
”I see,” Makoto said, pausing to give her space. “Suu-chan, did you get to nap today?”
Suu-chan remained silent.
”I see. You’re sleepy,” Makoto noted.
”…Yeah,” she murmured.
(It was exactly what I feared. Ever since the move to the Middle Kids, a certain boy in her class had been targeting her. It was understandable—Suu-chan was exceptionally cute. I couldn’t blame someone for falling for her; I was one of them, after all. But whenever he tried to get close, the girls from the former Rose Class would block him. Our relationship was common knowledge, so any boy who showed interest was teased and pushed out. Frustrated, his behavior had become increasingly aggressive. I had heard reports from Shiho-chan and Chika, and I’d asked Teacher Riko to keep an eye out, but people aren’t perfect.)
I noticed the ponytail on the left side of Suu-chan’s head was messy. Her class hadn’t had PE this morning. The only time her hair would be disturbed was during a nap. Someone had pulled her hair. And it had happened during the nap when the teachers were at half-strength. It was a calculated move. (He was done. I couldn’t overlook this just because he was a child. The moment he showed such malicious intent, he had to be removed for safety’s sake.)
”Go to sleep, Suu-chan,” Makoto whispered.
Suu-chan leaned into me and began to drift off. She was exhausted. Once I was sure she was asleep, I turned to Teacher Nao.
”Teacher Nao,” Makoto said.
”Y-yes!” Nao replied.
”Was Togawa Masaki involved?” asked Makoto.
”…, …Yes,” Nao admitted.
Togawa Masaki. Former Chrysanthemum Class. He was tall, athletic, and popular. His father was a teacher, and his mother was a designer. There were no reports of him being a problem child before this.
”Tell me what happened,” Makoto said.
According to Nao, Masaki had approached Suu-chan before the nap to say goodnight. When she ignored him, he tried to grab her shoulder. She rejected him, telling him to stop. As she tried to go to a teacher, he pulled her hair and called her “hideous.” The teacher hadn’t been fast enough to intervene.
Masaki likely thought that if he showed interest, he should get a positive response. He didn’t understand boundaries.
”Teacher Nao, what am I supposed to do about this?” asked Makoto.
Nao remained silent. She was only twenty-five—younger than the “me” inside. It was a spiteful question, but it helped me cool my head.
”…I’ll let it slide for now. …I’m sorry,” Makoto said.
”…No, …it was my fault for not being careful,” Nao replied.
(I knew I was overprotective. Suu-chan needed to learn to handle these things, but if I lashed out now, it would only be a traumatic memory for her. I had to be rational. Besides, completely removing someone in modern Japan is difficult. If you corner a person too far, the consequences are irreversible.)
I said I would let it slide, but the truth was, I just hadn’t decided how to move yet.
* * *
”I want to make sure it doesn’t lead back to us,” a voice whispered.
”We need a scapegoat,” another replied.
”You’re going to set someone up?” the first asked.
”I know you’re impatient, but let’s not. It’s better if something happens naturally, without our involvement,” the second said.
”Naturally, huh… fine. I’ll see what I can do,” the first voice concluded.
—
Summary:
Two weeks after transitioning to the Middle Kids class, the social landscape of the kindergarten has shifted into distinct factions. While some classes thrive, Makoto’s Rabbit Class is plagued by gender-based infighting. The chapter takes a dark turn when Suu-chan is bullied by Togawa Masaki, forcing Makoto to suppress his vengeful instincts to prioritize her emotional recovery.
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Trivia:
- The hair tie analysis: Makoto’s ability to deduce the assault through minor physical discrepancies highlights his hyper-observant, non-childlike nature.
- Teacher Nao’s distress: Her reaction suggests that the incident was more severe or poorly handled than a simple scuffle, or that she fears Makoto’s reaction.
- The ‘Eliminate’ monologue: Hints at Makoto’s potential for extreme ruthlessness if pushed too far, moving the story away from simple slice-of-life.
- The unnamed voices at the end: Suggests a broader conspiracy or a group of characters planning to manipulate school events through ‘natural’ accidents
—
Character Insight:
Makoto’s protective stance toward Suu-chan shifts from passive monitoring to active threat-assessment. His interaction with Teacher Nao shows a leverage of his intellectual superiority to guilt-trip authority figures, while Suu-chan’s unprecedented breakdown deepens their co-dependency.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The kindergarten operates with a ‘support teacher’ system and distinct class identities (Rose, Sheep, Rabbit, etc.). The mention of ‘modern Japan’ constraints reminds the reader of the realistic setting despite Makoto’s isekai-like inner self.
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TL Notes:
Localized playground insults like ‘hideous’ (busu) were chosen to maintain the sting of the original Japanese without sounding like a literal dictionary translation. The term ‘Maa-gun’ was kept as a phonetic variant of ‘Maa-kun’ used by Suu-chan in her distress.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Shiho-chan – A member of the friend group who arrived early and is close enough to Yuma’s family to stay over.
• Suu-chan – A refined young girl of the Sheep Class, exceptionally cute with soft skin and embodying ladylike grace, she enforces strict etiquette with childlike warmth, closely bonded to Makoto whom she holds to high grooming standards—yet she’s also a victim of hair-pulling by Togawa Masaki, revealing a tender vulnerability beneath her polished exterior.
• Shiho – A four-year-old Sheep Class girl, daughter of Mayumi-san, with a side-up ponytail and her favorite hair clip, she’s a natural leader fiercely protective of her friends and vocal about justice. Younger sister to Hina and close to Makoto, Suu-chan, Yuma, and Suzuka, she quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention. Often seen with her kitten-themed placemat and training chopsticks, she loves picture books, worked hard to learn Hiragana, enjoys swimming, and makes mud dumplings using Makoto’s advice.
• Yuna – Hagiri Yuna, a 2‑year‑old (92 cm, 13 kg) toddler in Hinomori Kindergarten’s Youngsters Class, is Hitomi’s daughter. She is in a no‑no phase, baby‑regressing, prone to crying, fixates on Makoto’s forehead, wears pink rain gear, attends the three‑year Sannen Hoiku program one grade below Makoto, and is friends with Suu‑chan.
• Suu – A young girl in the Sheep Class and also a female student of the Rose Class, her cheeks streaked with mud as she crafts high‑quality dorodango; she is fiercely attached to Makoto, ends sentences with the particle “ssu”, and draws the obsessive, bullying gaze of Masaki.
• Hiro – Rose Red, a boy in the Rose Class and leader of the Rose Rangers, gets bored easily, runs around the classroom, and accidentally breaks Suu’s paper.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old, 93 cm, 13 kg Rose Class student, actually a 30‑year‑old salaryman reincarnated as a toddler. He wears a white shirt, blue vest and cap, short bangs recently trimmed by Suu‑chan exposing his forehead, and calls himself a “Toilet Master.” Calm, analytical “Boss,” carries hand cream, mediates fights, protects Suu‑chan, and is revered as a mature, athletic idol despite his cynical, gender‑confused father.
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura, a frail, sickly four-year-old from a wealthy land-owning family, possesses an idol-like face and quiet, observant nature. Once in the Rose Class, he now resides in the Rabbit Class, where he remains deeply concerned about class friction. The eldest son of the Yoshikura family and Miyu’s younger brother, he deeply admires Makoto and shares a close bond with him. Though physically smaller and slower than peers, he excels at block-building and paper-folding, his delicate demeanor contrasting with his sharp awareness of social dynamics around him.
• Seiko – Veteran kindergarten teacher and Rose Class leader, she radiates a steely, battle‑hardened aura with an icy gaze; called 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.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob hair, former long‑distance track star turned homeroom teacher of Chrysanthemum Class and Riko’s senior, athletic yet unrefined, drives a car and never drinks. When stressed she slips into regional dialects and a frantic voice pierces drills in the next room. Now a kindergarten teacher, she vents bluntly during off‑duty parent‑teacher conferences, single and frustrated with her job.
• Kotarou – Quiet, sleepy boy with deft hands skilled in origami, once of Rose Class and now in Rabbit Class; a dedicated gamer who recently earned the Champion title after beating the Elite Four. He knows idioms and adopts Makoto’s cynical advice.
• Kotaro – Morihashi Kotarou is a quiet, slender kindergarten boy in Rose Class, friend of Makoto. He avoids classroom chaos, prefers solitude, and helps Makoto with sandbox building projects. A typical child who loves toys, games, and Kamen Rider, he remains loyal yet stays out of trouble.
• 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.
• Suzuki – Totsuka “Suu-chan” Suzuki is a doll-like 4-year-old with dark braided pigtails, a topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes, and pink rain boots—a quiet, helpful model student in the Middle Kids tier and Makoto’s fiercely possessive, self-proclaimed girlfriend who is deeply protective of him. Daughter of Mio and Mii-kun, she’s clingy and affectionate, often clutching a pink candy tin, navigating life with quiet grace and competitive charm in word games.
• Jun – Hyper‑active Rose‑Class kindergartner in a tracksuit, gluttonous yet pure‑hearted and easily tricked, shows extreme strength — often digging the sandbox liner. She idolizes her mother and play‑fights with brother Makoto, whose calm restraint reins in her chaos. A high‑energy boy from the former Rose Class greets everyone with a striking impact, now in Rabbit Class, where he’s physically active and loves play‑wrestling and tag.
• Chika – A young girl in the Rose Class at Hinomori Kindergarten who gives Makoto Valentine’s chocolate. She has a mother who accompanies her.
• Riko – Riko-sensei, the lead teacher, PE instructor, and school nurse at Hinomori Kindergarten, balances a nurturing, observant warmth toward children with a dry, cynical internal wit. She manages class dynamics, photography, and progress interviews alongside Seiko-sensei. While she judges coworkers sharply, she finds solace in Makoto’s influence and Maa-kun’s skills, often unwinding at girls’ nights with colleagues.
• Togawa Masaki – Member of the Sheep Class. Tall, slender, athletic, and popular. Son of a middle school teacher and a web designer. The antagonist of the chapter.
• Masaki – A boy in the Rabbit Class. He bullied Suu-chan by pulling her hair and calling her ‘ugly’ due to complex childhood emotions. Son of a middle school teacher.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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