Volume 4 Chapter 13 Girls’ Night Out ⑥
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Great work today everyone… wait, huh?”
And so, the girls’ night begins.
The new school year is officially underway, and with it, our lives in the Middle Kids division. Between the move and the new crop of Youngsters coming in, things have been absolutely chaotic. It feels like every day is a battle.
”Hey! Are you two just going to stare at your drinks, or are we actually gonna toast?”
Today is the first day of Golden Week.
My nerves were frayed to the breaking point, so I wasted no time taking the day off. As luck would have it, my two usual partners-in-crime also had the day off, so we’ve all converged on a family restaurant for lunch.
”Geez, look at you two… are you even alive?” Miku-sensei asked.
”…That’s it. I’m quitting,” Ai-sensei slumped over. “I’m done being a teacher.”
”Wait, now there’s two of you saying it?”
I’m glad to see Miku-sensei is doing well, at least. She mentioned she’s been buried under a mountain of photo processing, but she always seems to find a way to navigate through the madness. I guess that’s seniority for you. With age comes wisdom.
”Hey, Riko-sensei? You’re thinking something rude right now, aren’t you?”
”And you’re the shortest one here…”
”Hey! Watch it!”
Miku-sensei is so cute when she’s pouting. If only the Youngsters were this adorable…
”Sigh… alright, I’ll listen to your sob stories. Ai-sensei, you first. You look like the easier case to crack.”
”…Riko-zenzeee,” she whined. “Miku-zenzeee is being a bullyyy.”
”Bullying? No. Bad. Absolutely not allowed.”
”Yeah, yeah, I hear you.”
Miku-sensei waved off our protests with a dismissive flick of her hand. Typical Miku-sensei.
”But wait, wasn’t Ai-sensei the one bragging, like, ‘I’ve got Makoto-kun in my class! Victory is mine!’? If you’ve got him, you shouldn’t have any problems at all.”
”…”
”Uh… Makoto-kun is in your class, right?”
”Yeah.”
”And he’s that Makoto-kun, right?”
”Yeah.”
”So isn’t he, you know, being his usual amazing self?”
”…”
”Is he not?”
”…He is,” Ai-sensei muttered.1
”Why did you hesitate just now?!”
”…”
I’m not just trying to cover for Ai-sensei, but it hasn’t exactly been the Makoto-kun One-Man Show that Miku-sensei imagines.
First, there’s Hiromasa-kun. He’s a total show-off and was the loud-mouthed mood maker back in the Youngsters’ Chrysanthemum Class. Then there’s Himeno-chan—super responsible, a strong sense of justice, basically the reliable big sister type from the Sunflower Class. Both of them are the types who naturally become the center of attention. The popular kids, if you will.
The trouble started on the very first day of Middle Kids. Those two got into a spat, and before we knew it, the class had split into boys vs. girls, creating this incredibly stifling, prickly atmosphere.
But, the Rabbit Class has him.
Makoto-kun. His name is already starting to spread, not just among the Middle Kids, but even down to the new Youngsters for some reason.
I don’t think I need to explain who he is at this point. He practically saved my life last year. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I just assumed that if he was there, everything would settle down peacefully. But we’re teachers, too. We have our pride. Ai-sensei and Seiko-sensei weren’t just sitting on their hands watching the drama unfold.
Ai-sensei was busy keeping the boys’ group from going overboard. Seiko-sensei was following up with the kids who were getting caught in the crossfire. As for the girls’ group, they’re usually pretty cooperative and rarely the ones to start a fight, so we mostly left them to their own devices.
We were basically waiting for time to heal the rift. At this age, boys are starting to develop their pride, and girls are becoming very aware of their social standing. Besides, you can learn a lot from a fight. Dealing with conflict is an unavoidable part of human relationships.
So, rather than us teachers forcing a reconciliation, we wanted them to think for themselves. We just watched over them to make sure nothing escalated into a major incident.
And honestly, there was hope. Sure, Hiromasa-kun and Himeno-chan didn’t get along, but that didn’t apply to everyone else. Youngsters tend to gravitate toward whoever is the loudest. The impact of those two on the first day was just so strong that everyone else got swept up in the momentum.
But the Rabbit Class has another popular kid. He’s not the type to push himself forward, and since he didn’t have many previous acquaintances, he stayed under the radar at first. But in terms of raw potential and a proven track record, he’s in a league of his own…
In the end, we still ended up relying on Makoto-kun. Seiko-sensei knew this would happen, so she and Ai-sensei coordinated to stay on the sidelines and just watch. And just as we expected, right before Golden Week, the feud suddenly lost its steam and things began to settle down.
As for what Makoto-kun actually did? Honestly, nothing special. He just stood his ground like he always does, treated all the kids equally, and steadily expanded his circle of friends. I mean, the teachers did orchestrate things a bit by creating opportunities, but still…
That strategy only works because Makoto-kun’s social skills are freakishly high. Boys, girls, social butterflies, wallflowers, athletes, bookworms, adults, children… he handles them all. In more ways than one, that kid is terrifying.
So yes, Makoto-kun’s presence was a lifesaver. Without him, the Great Rabbit Class Schism wouldn’t have been resolved nearly this smoothly.
But Ai-sensei really was giving it her all. She was constantly on high alert to make sure Hiromasa and his crew didn’t do anything catastrophic. She spent her days with a permanent stomachache, writing letters to the parents of both sides…
”I worked so hard, too… I’m gonna quit the kindergarten…”
”There, there. You did great. Ai-sensei worked very hard. I’m sorry I doubted you, okay? So don’t talk about quitting~”
Miku-sensei comforted her friend as she faked a crying fit.
The division problem is dying down, but it’s not like everything is perfectly happily ever after yet. Whenever a new popular kid rises to power, the old one is bound to have some grievances.
Ai-sensei’s real battle is just beginning!
”So, the reason Riko-sensei looks like a ghost is that, right? The ‘Dragon’s Tail’ Incident?”
”…Yes,” I admitted.
I think literally every staff member in the kindergarten knows about it by now. It all started on the first day of Middle Kids, during self-introductions. It was because of what Suzuki-chan said:
’I love Maa-kun.’
Yes, we know. Every teacher in the building is well aware of that fact. Suzuki-chan was just introducing the thing she loves most in the world, but the one who reacted to it was Masaki Togawa-kun. You see, he also goes by Maa-kun.
I don’t think anyone calls him that at home or at school, but Masaki-kun must have thought she was talking about him. It didn’t help that he was sitting right next to her at the time. When a cute girl looks you in the eye and tells you she loves you with that much conviction, you’re going to take notice. Since that day, Masaki-kun’s eyes have been glued to Suzuki-chan.
If it had ended there, it might have been fine. There were boys who had crushes on Suzuki-chan last year, too. You’d think Makoto-kun would be jealous, but he was surprisingly chill about it. He was like, ‘Falling in love isn’t a crime. Suu-chan is cute, so it’s only natural.’
Besides, Makoto-kun was always by her side. He wouldn’t even let anyone get close enough to try anything. By the end of last year, he’d basically hard-coded the common sense into everyone’s brains that those two were effectively a married couple. Nobody dared to come between them.
But in Middle Kids, Makoto-kun is in a different class. This is bad… My woman’s intuition was screaming at me.
But I didn’t know how to explain the situation to Masaki-kun. The truth is, Masaki-kun was quite the heartthrob in the Chrysanthemum Class last year. He’s tall, athletic, and has very sharp features. He’s also very physical with girls—he has no sense of personal space.
I was terrified of what would happen if a kid like that approached Suzuki-chan, and sure enough, she had an immediate allergic reaction to him. According to Mio-san, Suzuki-chan considers it a matter of lady-like etiquette to keep her distance.
Naturally, Makoto-kun flagged Masaki-kun as a Person of Interest and asked us to step in if things escalated. Since I’m the homeroom teacher, that job fell to Nao Tsutsumi-sensei. She’s been watching over Suzuki-chan and her group since they were in the Rose Class.
Masaki-kun’s advances were a series of constant failures—partly due to the teachers’ efforts and partly because Suzuki-chan was a pro at dodging him. But eventually, tragedy struck.
Nao-sensei got distracted by another child for just a split second. As everyone was getting ready for their afternoon nap, Masaki-kun finally cornered Suzuki-chan. It should have been a simple greeting. But when Suzuki-chan ignored him, Masaki-kun lost his temper. He grabbed her hair and started shouting insults at her.
Nao-sensei jumped in immediately. Suzuki-chan tried her best to hold it together at first, but when she realized she couldn’t re-tie her messed-up hair, her eyes began to shimmer. Then, the dam broke. She couldn’t stop crying.
I thought, It’s over. Not just for me, but for Masaki-kun’s entire family.
Makoto-kun is usually the most laid-back kid in the world, someone who hates making waves. But when it comes to Suzuki-chan, he’s a different person. His devotion to her is absolute.
And the parents! Oh god, the parents. Makoto-kun is a god-tier celebrity among the Rose Class parents. I heard they even have a fan club for him. If word got out that someone had physically attacked and insulted Suzuki-chan, those parents would have rioted. The news would have spread like wildfire.
The biggest problem? This wasn’t a both sides are wrong situation. Sure, Suzuki-chan ignoring his greeting wasn’t great, but you can’t exactly blame a girl for avoiding a stalker. This was meeting with the parents level of serious.
Nao-sensei turned as white as a sheet and rushed Suzuki-chan to the nurse’s office, while I tried to calm down Shiho-chan and the other girls who were practically circling Masaki-kun like wolves.
The afternoon lessons were a nightmare. Shiho-chan and her friends made no effort to hide their fury. You could have cut the tension in that room with a knife.
Then, right before snack time…
Suzuki-chan came back. And Makoto-kun was with her.
Masaki-kun hadn’t apologized yet. My blood ran cold just thinking about what would happen if he went home without saying sorry. The look Makoto-kun gave Masaki-kun as he stood by Suzuki-chan’s side… it was chilling. That wasn’t an expression a four-year-old should be able to make. Nao-sensei looked like she was about to drop dead from the pressure.
Masaki-kun eventually managed a hollow apology. He seemed to realize he’d done something wrong, but he definitely didn’t grasp the sheer gravity of the situation.
We teachers were bracing for the absolute worst, but then Makoto-kun threw us a lifeline. It was the Quiet Wrath of Makoto-kun. He basically issued a Keep your hands off my woman declaration right there in the middle of the room.
…I’m not gonna lie, I almost fell for him myself.
The girls in the Rabbit Class who saw him stand up like that? They were absolutely losing it. “Kyaa! Kyaa!” everywhere. You just don’t see drama like that in real life.
By shifting Suzuki-chan’s focus and calming Shiho-chan’s anger—all while technically starting a fight with Masaki-kun—Makoto-kun single-handedly dissolved the victim vs. perpetrator dynamic. It was a perfectly executed, brilliant move.
Seriously… I think I’m in love.
In fact, the gossip among the parents now is all about how manly Makoto-kun was. People are actually starting to feel sorry for Masaki-kun because he got shut down so hard.
Apparently, Masaki-kun got a legendary scolding from his dad at home, too. The Togawas reached out to apologize to the Suzukis directly, but Mio-san turned them down, saying, “It was just a playground tiff, there’s no need to go that far.”
So, for now, we’ve avoided a total catastrophe. Lately, it seems like Makoto-kun has taken it upon himself to re-educate Masaki-kun. Shiho-chan and the others have started using the phrase “Did you clear that with Makoto-kun?” as a way to keep Masaki-kun at arm’s length, and Suzuki-chan’s defenses are now impenetrable.
Makoto-kun even asked us teachers to “keep an eye on Masaki-kun and support him so he doesn’t get too depressed,” but honestly, watching the training is nerve-wracking. I’m constantly worried it’s going to turn into bullying. My stomach is in knots.
Makoto-kun really is a kind soul. It’s almost scary how kind he is…
Anyway, it’s only been a month, but the amount of stress I’ve dealt with feels like a whole year’s worth. No—I think I’ve already burned through more stress than I have in my entire teaching career combined!
”Wow, you really have it rough…”
”Miku-sensei, do you actually mean that, or are you just saying it?”
”Oh, I mean it. I totally mean it.”
”Then you’re buying the next round.”
”Ugh… buying is… a bit much…” Miku-sensei groaned.
”Are you broke again?”
”Yeah… I just bought a new lens…”
Miku-sensei never changes. I wonder if she can’t just write those off as business expenses?
”Fine. Then tell us the tea instead,” I said.
”Tea? What tea?”
”We heard you paid a little visit to Meguro-sensei’s house during spring break, Miku-sensei.”
”WHAT?!” Ai-sensei sat up straight. “Miku-sensei, is that true?!”
”Wh-how did you even know that—?!”
”I have my sources—very reliable ones—”
And so, today’s girls’ night today also became a fun time.
* * *
”—We just talked about cameras the whole time! You got a problem with that?!” Miku-sensei shouted. “Huh?! My knowledge of photography is deeper, but my relationship status hasn’t changed at all! YOU GOT A PROBLEM?!”
”…No, ma’am.”
”Miku-sensei… maybe we should lower our voices a bit…”
Just for the record: Miku-sensei hadn’t had a single drop of alcohol.
—
Summary:
A group of exhausted kindergarten teachers gathers for a ‘girls’ night’ lunch during Golden Week to vent about the new school term. Riko and Ai describe the intense social dynamics of the new ‘Middle Kids’ classes, where groups have split along gender lines. The narrative highlights the ‘Dragon’s Tail Incident,’ where a boy named Masaki mistook Suzuki’s affection for Makoto as being directed at himself, leading to a physical altercation. Makoto intervene with adult-like maturity, declaring his protection over Suzuki and effectively neutralizing the conflict. The chapter concludes with the teachers gossiping about Miku’s personal life and her recent visit to a male colleague’s home.
—
Trivia:
- Makoto’s ‘Quiet Wrath’ suggests his mental age and maturity far exceed his physical body, a hallmark of the isekai genre.
- The mention of a ‘Makoto Fan Club’ among parents indicates his growing influence extends beyond the children to the adults in the community.
- Suzuki’s ‘lady-like etiquette’ rejection of Masaki hints at her own refined upbringing or perhaps the influence of her mother, Mio.
- Makoto’s request for teachers to ‘support’ Masaki while he ‘re-educates’ him shows a calculated approach to social dominance disguised as kindness
—
Character Insight:
The dynamic between Makoto and Suzuki is solidified as an ‘unshakeable’ bond that even the teachers acknowledge as a ‘married couple’ status. Meanwhile, the teachers’ relationship is shown as a supportive, informal sisterhood where they use humor and gossip to cope with professional burnout.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter details the specific age-group divisions in Japanese kindergartens (Nenshou/Youngsters to Nenchou/Middle Kids) and the social pressure of ‘mood makers’ in those environments. It also introduces the idea that social hierarchies among children are heavily monitored and influenced by the parent community.
—
TL Notes:
The ‘Dragon’s Tail’ or ‘Reverse Scale’ (Gekirin) is a cultural metaphor for a forbidden zone that triggers immediate rage, used here to describe Makoto’s protective stance over Suzuki.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Miku – Miku‑sensei, the petite, patient kindergarten teacher and senior of the group, leads the Small Class photography crew. An obsessive collector of pricey gear, she’s broke after buying a new lens, reads romance manga, avoids alcohol, and serves as the straight‑man to Ai’s antics while joining office gossip. Her quiet, unrequited crush on coworker Meguro is an open secret. She often pouts cutely and can be loud when defensive.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob, former long‑distance track star turned homeroom teacher of Chrysanthemum Class and Riko’s senior; now kindergarten teacher of Rabbit Class, burnt out, fakes crying, talks like a toddler. Athletic yet unrefined, drives, never drinks. Stressed she shifts to regional dialects and a frantic voice cuts drills; vents bluntly in off‑duty parent‑teacher meetings, single and frustrated.
• Riko – Riko-sensei, the short, haggard homeroom teacher and PE instructor at Hinomori Kindergarten, also doubles as the school nurse—her weary demeanor contrasting with her sharp, dry wit. She observes children with nurturing precision, manages progress interviews and photography alongside Seiko-sensei, and judges coworkers with cynical clarity, yet finds quiet solace in Makoto’s steadiness and Maa-kun’s competence. Shorter than Miku, she unwinds at girls’ nights, balancing exhaustion with unwavering care for her students and a hidden fondness for the chaos she shepherds.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old, 93 cm, 13 kg Rose Class student—actually a 30‑year‑old salaryman reborn as a toddler. He wears a white shirt, blue vest and cap, short bangs trimmed to expose 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.
• Hiromasa – Kurosawa Hiromasa, nicknamed Hiromasa, is a tall, well‑built boy called ‘The General’ in Rabbit Class. He is wealthy, athletic, a prep‑school student and Masked Rider fan, known for boisterous pestering and constantly seeking attention from the popular kids.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Suu – She is a young girl in Sheep Class and Rose Class, mud‑streaked cheeks, makes dorodango, fiercely attached to Makoto, ends sentences with “ssu”, draws Masaki’s obsessive gaze. Birthday girl, party‑dressed, wears Makoto’s scrunchie, puffs cheeks, possessive, eldest Totsuka sister, high‑energy, affectionate, distinct “ssu” tic.
• Mio – 28‑year‑old pregnant gray‑clad Totsuka resident, baby‑faced, G‑cup, former athlete turned teacher‑cook‑photographer and tech‑savvy “Love Guru” mentoring Makoto, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan. Akari’s best friend, wife of Mitsuhisa, mother of Suu‑chan, protective of family and runs “Bento Dividend”. Mother of three Totsuka sisters, exhausted after a stressful in‑law visit, large‑chested, skilled baker who made a professional strawberry shortcake and handles gossip with grace.
• Shiho-chan – A member of the friend group who arrived early and is close enough to Yuma’s family to stay over.
• 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.
• Meguro – A 28‑29‑year‑old single man, 179‑180 cm tall, 67 kg, lives below the Totsukas on the first floor. He works as a kindergarten office clerk and Teacher (teacher/staff), giving information to Makoto. An amateur prize‑winning photographer and avid road‑bike rider, he cycles regularly.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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