Volume 4 Chapter 14 A Second Trip Home
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Before I knew it, the atmosphere in the Rabbit Class had begun to shift.
More kids were playing together. More kids were swarming around in groups. To put it simply, I had more friends.
The teachers must have been working incredibly hard behind the scenes. I can still picture Ai-sensei calling out to everyone and Seiko-sensei’s constant, watchful eye. My hat’s off to them.
Unfortunately, we’re still a long way from everyone holding hands and being best buddies. These youngsters all have their own distinct personalities, and naturally, some just don’t click. Back in the Rose Class, things revolved naturally around Suu-chan and her group, so we didn’t have any major blowups. Honestly, that was a pretty rare case. You can’t expect every class to run that smoothly.
And then, there’s Hiromasa-kun—who is as much of a handful as ever. He pesters people. Constantly. He pulls at clothes, pokes you in the back, or jumps out in front of you with a loud “Wah!” I know he doesn’t mean any harm, but his frequency and timing are terrible.
Because people react to him, he can’t seem to stop. But telling a four-year-old to “just ignore him” is a big ask. On the flip side, we can’t exactly freeze him out of the group either.
Lately, I’ve been a bit worried because his pestering has started targeting Yuma, too. The reason is pretty obvious: if you hang around the popular kid, you get to be in the spotlight too. Since Yuma has a late birthday, he’s honestly not the most athletic kid. But to make up for it, he’s very observant and kind—the type who naturally reaches out when someone is in trouble. Plus, to my envy, he’s a good-looking kid. The girls absolutely adore him; he’s always the first pick when they play house.
Yuma seems to take Hiromasa-kun’s antics as just roughhousing, but I’m praying it doesn’t escalate.
* * *
And just like that, our first month as “Middle Kids” ended, and Golden Week arrived.
I’d been brainstorming what to play with Suu-chan, but unfortunately, the Totsuka family had their own homecoming event scheduled. Mio-san had casually asked, “Want to come say hi, Maa-kun?” but… yeah, no.
If it were Mio-san’s parents’ place where Grandma Haruko lives—since I’ve met her plenty of times—that would be one thing. But crashing a visit to Mitsuhisa-san’s parents felt like I’d just be in the way.
It tugged at my heartstrings to see Suu-chan looking so lonely, but I kissed her until she was a giggling, squishy mess, and watched Mitsuhisa-san carry her off this morning. With the neighbors gone, I figured I’d just have a lazy time at home with Mom… but nope. The Yashiro family had our own trip home to the grandparents’. It was our second visit since New Year’s, since spring break had been a whirlwind with Mom’s job hunt.
The murky, unsettled feelings I used to have toward my grandparents have completely vanished by now. Most of that was just because they’d been at odds with Mom (or maybe I just assumed they were?). Since Mom and my grandparents are trying to bridge the gap, it would be weird for me to get in the way. They’re family, after all—an inseparable bond—so it’s for the best if we’re on good terms.
* * *
Which brings us to right now: I’m playing with my grandfather. Though, I’m not sure if “playing” is the right word for this.
”You’re good at this…” Grandfather muttered, sounding genuinely impressed as he watched me snap the parts together with a satisfying click.
”Let’s see, next is… B-5, so…”
I checked the assembly manual spread out on the desk and scanned the runners1 lined up on the stand for the right part. The manual made the shapes crystal clear, so I never got lost.
As you can see, I’m in the middle of building a plastic model. It’s a kit from that world-famous robot anime—the one with the life-sized statue in Odaiba. Why am I building a plastic model, you ask?
Apparently, this was the conclusion Grandfather reached after agonizing over what we could do together. He must have heard from Mom that I’d been watching recorded anime with Mitsuhisa-san and figured I’d be interested.
”This is the one… Alright, got it.”
”Thanks, Grandpa.”
”Mm.”
I use scissors at home and at school, so I don’t think he needs to be this careful, but since “blades are dangerous,” he’s taken charge of nipping the parts off the runners for safety. Then I assemble them. It’s a real grandfather-grandson tag-team effort.
Grandmother gave him a bit of a hard time, asking, “Shouldn’t you have picked something easier?” but the process is going smoothly so far, and Grandfather looks relieved.
For the record, the box says the target age is eight… but that’s only a four-year difference. Basically a margin of error. Besides, Grandfather actually showed some restraint. I know this because of the massive box sitting in the corner of the room. The “Perfect Grade” version.
In my previous life, I had a friend who loved these models. He said it took him three solid days to build something like that, even with the dark circles under his eyes. Of course, that involved painting and custom work, not just snapping it together.
Trying to give a high-level kit like that to a beginner—let alone a preschooler—is reckless, no matter how much help you give them. I wouldn’t finish that thing before the end of the holiday. Did he have no intention of letting me go home? Or did he just see something “high quality” and grab it?
…No, wait. Maybe he bought that one for himself? That makes sense. It is a long holiday, after all.
”You have to slot this piece in first…”
”Oh, I see!”
To tell the truth, even including my past life, this is the first time I’ve ever built a plastic model. Maybe it’s the novelty, or maybe it just suits my personality, but I’m having a blast watching it take shape with my own hands.
It would look cooler if this edge were a bit sharper… or Man, it would look great if I could paint the parts that are missing color… Between the model itself and the influence of the anime, my “maker spirit” is starting to stir.
”Want to try painting the next one?” he asked.
”Yeah! I’d love to.”
And so, my second trip home ended up being mostly about building plastic models. I’ve learned one thing: this is a total time-sink. I’ll have to make sure I don’t overdo it—I don’t want to cut into my time with Mom or Suu-chan.
By the way, we had delivery sushi for lunch, and they even gave me some pocket money when it was time to head home. Much appreciated!
—
Summary:
The chapter highlights a positive shift in classroom social dynamics, though minor interpersonal frictions like Hiromasa-kun’s pestering remain. As Golden Week arrives, Maa-kun’s plans with Suu-chan are sidelined by family obligations. Instead, he visits his maternal grandparents, a relationship that has significantly thawed over time. The visit centers on a bonding activity with his grandfather: building a complex robot plastic model. This shared hobby not only bridges the generational gap but awakens a new creative passion in Maa-kun.
—
Trivia:
- The mention of Yuma’s ‘late birthday’ explains his lack of athletic ability but highlights his social intelligence and popularity.
- The ‘Perfect Grade’ box in the corner suggests Grandfather’s own burgeoning interest in the hobby, hinting at deeper similarities between him and Maa-kun.
- Maa-kun’s observation about his ‘maker spirit’ suggests future plotlines involving more complex crafting or hobby-related skills
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Character Insight:
The central shift is the reconciliation between Maa-kun and his grandfather. The silence of the plastic model building is portrayed as comfortable rather than awkward, evidenced by Grandfather’s rare praise: ‘You’re good at this…’. Additionally, Maa-kun’s protective stance toward Yuma shows his growing role as a social mediator in the class.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter details the Japanese ‘satogaeri’ (homecoming) tradition during Golden Week. It also grounds the ‘Modern Japan’ isekai setting by referencing real-world locations and cultural icons like the life-sized Gundam in Odaiba.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘chokkai’ was localized as ‘pestering/antics’ to capture the physical, annoying nature of the behavior without it being perceived as actual bullying. ‘Middle Kids’ was used for ‘Nenchu’ to fit the preschool setting’s terminology.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• 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, 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura, a frail, handsome four-year-old with an idol-like face and quiet, observant nature, is the eldest son of the wealthy Yoshikura family and Miyu’s younger brother. Though physically small and slow due to his frailty and late birthday, he excels at block-building and paper-folding, his delicate demeanor masking sharp awareness of social dynamics. Now in the Rabbit Class, he’s popular with the girls and currently the target of Hiromasa-kun’s pestering, while maintaining a deep, quiet bond with Makoto and remaining deeply concerned about class friction.
• 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.
• 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.
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa, 33, 184 cm, 71 kg, toned and reserved, is Mio’s husband and father of Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan and Kyo‑chan. On modified childcare leave from his IT firm he works from home but often ‘flees’ to the office to avoid gossiping mothers. Protective and doting toward his kids, he keeps a distant rapport with Akari, shares dark banter with former teammate Makoto, feels unsettled by his own influence, yet is a positive father‑figure for Akari’s son.
• Haruko – An elderly grandmother with silver hair and sharp eyes, wearing a bold‑patterned kimono, is known as Haruko‑obachan. She is the eccentric mother of Mio and grandmother of Suu‑chan, staying at the Yashiro house on weekdays to aid Mio’s pregnancy, helping Mitsuhisa with housework and childcare, and is present for the twins’ arrival.
• Grandfather – Akari’s father. A tall, lean man with short graying hair and deep wrinkles on his face. He wears chinos and a diamond-patterned sweater. He has a gruff, stoic personality but is trying to connect with his grandson.
• Grandmother – Akari’s mother. She has shoulder-length dark brown hair, a youthful appearance, and wears a simple pantsuit. She is polite but possesses a gentle, mellow aura.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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