Volume 4 Chapter 17 Because the Mountain is There
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Once Golden Week¹ wraps up, the next big thing on the horizon is the spring field trip.
The students of Hinomori Kindergarten were currently lined up on the athletic field, their backpacks noticeably bulkier than usual. The Pre-K kids were a mess of restless energy, heads darting back and forth at the prospect of their very first outing. I wonder if we looked that lost last year?
As for the “big kids” in the preschool class… well, calling us “settled” would be a lie. A year of kindergarten has given everyone a bit too much confidence. Now, instead of being nervous, they’re just vibrating with pure, unadulterated hype.
Actually, “hype” doesn’t cover it. Most of these youngsters have gone full feral.
Hinomori attracts the kind of kids who love to move, and even the ones who didn’t start that way usually catch the bug eventually. To attend this school is to be forged by the peak looming directly behind the yard-Mt. Hiou. They’re all growing up to be remarkably sturdy, which is a blessing, I suppose.
”Makoto! I’m so excited!”
”I can see that,” I said. “Just don’t go full throttle right out of the gate. Don’t come crying to me when you’re wiped out before we even get there.”
”I’ll be fine! I’ve been doing special training just for this!”
This was the ringleader of the feral squad-the most energetic girl in the preschool class. Jun was swinging our joined hands like a bell-ringer on a mission, already venting all that pent-up… “fighting spirit?” or whatever it was she had stored up.
Wait. Why am I already holding her hand?
I’d just gone along with her momentum, but thinking about it calmly, there’s no reason to be linked up while we’re just standing in line. A quick look around confirms that nobody else is doing this. You only need to hold hands when you’re actually walking on public roads.
The hike hasn’t even started and my arm is already aching. I’d really like her to let go, but…
”Jun, why are we holding hands already? Isn’t it a bit early for this?”
”Teacher said to link up now!”
”Ah… right.”
If it’s the teacher’s orders, I guess I have no choice. I don’t think even Jun would wander off on her own, but I suppose they’re just being extra cautious.
”Look, just settle down a bit. You’re going to wreck my shoulder.”
”Got it! Makoto has that ‘Fwozen Shoulder’² thing! Daddy says his hurts too, so I’ll stop!”
I appreciate the cooperation. Though that’s a worrying way to rationalize it… Four-year-olds don’t get frozen shoulders. …They don’t, right?
”By the way, what did you do for this ‘Special Training’?”
”It’s a secret!”
”Secret Special Training.” Why does hearing that from Jun’s mouth make me so incredibly anxious?
”Do you wanna know?” she asked.
”No, I’ll pass. If it’s a secret, it’s a secret.”
”Fine, I’ll tell you! But it’s a secret, so you can’t tell anyone! Promise!?”
Jun leaned in, cupping her hand over her mouth to whisper in my ear. Funny. What was the definition of a “secret” again?
”Huh… so you were really doing that?”
”It’s a secret! My secret special training!”
”…”
”Pinky swear!”
She thrust her pinky at me, forcing me into a soul-binding contract. I’m told a secret I didn’t ask for, then forced into a promise I didn’t want. The tyranny is real.
Still… I wondered why I hadn’t seen Jun all through Golden Week. To think she was climbing Mt. Hiou every single day. While we were visiting my parents’ place or hanging out with the Yoshikuras, Jun was out here grinding. Her level of stoicism is actually getting a bit scary.
Then again, her dad’s place is right near the school and the mountain. That’s probably how she pulled it off.
You’d think she’d be sick of that mountain by now, but her enthusiasm is through the roof. Where does she get the energy?
”Jun, do you really like climbing mountains that much?”
”Yup!”
”Why?”
”Why!?” She let out a long “HMMM” as she fell into deep thought.
I’d asked casually, but I immediately realized it might have been a mistake. When you truly love something, you don’t need a reason-you just love it. If you start digging for “why,” you might accidentally find a reason not to like it, and the fire dies out. As an adult (mentally), snatching away a child’s pure passion is a cardinal sin.
”Sorry, Jun. Forget I asked-“
”Because the mountain is there!”
”-actually, never mind. That’s a perfectly good reason.”
I couldn’t tell if I should be relieved that my worrying was for nothing, or annoyed that I’d wasted the effort. Since she’s a kid, she probably just couldn’t articulate her thoughts… or her big brother coached her on that line.
Well, mountain climbing isn’t a bad hobby. It builds leg strength and gets you in touch with nature. It’s a solid playground for a growing kid. Aside from the bugs… and it’s spring now, so they’re definitely waking up.
”Are there any other mountains you want to climb besides Mt. Hiou?”
”Mount Ev-west! Kou-nii told me it’s the biggest mountain in the whole wide world!”
”Oh?”
”Do you know it, Makoto?”
”No, can’t say I’ve heard of it…”
”Wow! There are things even Makoto doesn’t know!”
”The world is full of mysteries, Jun…”
She looked so proud, showing off the “knowledge” her beloved big brother had given her. Well, it is a confusing word, I guess.
”Do you want to climb it with me, Makoto?”
”I’ll pass,” I replied instantly.
”Whaaa!?”
She looked genuinely offended. Look, Jun-the only people who want to climb a mountain just “because it’s there” are professional mountaineers and lunatics like you.
Since I was a lost cause, Jun immediately turned to the friend in front of us. “Yuma, you’ll climb it with me, right?”
”Yeah! I’m in! When are we going? Next Saturday?”
Yuma jumped on the bandwagon without a second thought. He missed last year’s trip because he was sick, so I get that he’s hyped, but making empty promises like that is a one-way ticket to Regret Town.
Do either of you actually know what kind of mountain “Ev-west” is? Actually, if you did, that would be even weirder. She definitely means Everest.
Talk about aiming high. Literally. Maybe at some point in your life-like, when you’re an adult-it would be a goal, but it’s not a place for a preschooler to wander off to on a Saturday. There aren’t exactly “elevators” to the top.
”What about you, Kotaro?” Jun asked.
”If Makoto goes, I’ll go.”
”Makoto!”
”I’ll take it under advisement.”
”What does ‘advise-mint’ mean!?”
It’s a magic spell used by cunning adults to make a conversation disappear.
—
Summary:
The students of Hinomori Kindergarten prepare for their spring field trip, with Jun exhibiting overwhelming excitement and energy. Makoto, possessing the mind of an adult, observes the chaotic enthusiasm of his peers with a mixture of resignation and amusement. Jun reveals that she spent her entire Golden Week break climbing Mt. Hiou as ‘secret special training.’ She forcefully initiates a pinky swear with Makoto to keep her dedication a secret. The conversation shifts to loftier goals as Jun expresses a desire to climb Mount Everest, based on information from her brother. Makoto gracefully dodges the commitment to such a monumental task using adult-like vocabulary.
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Trivia:
- Jun’s stoicism and daily training at Mt. Hiou hint that she may develop physical capabilities far exceeding a normal child.
- The mention of her brother ‘Kou-nii’ giving her information suggests his influence is a primary driver for her ambitions.
- Makoto’s use of ‘I’ll take it under advisement’ highlights the recurring theme of his struggle to blend in while maintaining his adult logic
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Character Insight:
Jun and Makoto’s dynamic is solidified as one of ‘unstoppable force meets reluctant observer.’ Jun views Makoto as a reliable partner and confidant, while Makoto views Jun as a physically exhausting but pure-hearted child. Their pinky swear demonstrates Jun’s desire for a special bond with Makoto.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Mt. Hiou is established as a literal training ground for the students of Hinomori Kindergarten, contributing to their unusually ‘sturdy’ growth.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘Frozen Shoulder’ (四十肩 shijūkata, literally 40-year-old shoulder) is a cultural reference to middle-age ailments, humorously misapplied by a four-year-old.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Makoto – A 4‑year‑old Rose Class student (93 cm, 13 kg) who is actually a 30‑year‑old salaryman reincarnated in a child’s body. He wears a white shirt, blue vest and cap, and serves as the calm, analytical “Boss” and caregiver—handing out hand cream, mediating fights, protecting Suu‑chan, and earning peers’ respect as a mature, athletic leader despite his father’s gender confusion.
• Jun – Hyperactive, track‑suit‑clad kindergartner from the Imai family, pure‑hearted yet easily tricked, idolizes her mother and clashes playfully with brother Makoto, who shares her class. Trained at Mt. Hiou, she’s physically robust, simple‑minded, ringleader of energetic preschoolers, often leaks secrets, and balances wild energy with Makoto’s calm restraint.
• Kou – The second son. Enthusiastic about gaming, specifically gathering materials and fishing in-game. Tends to tease his younger sister with tall tales.
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura, a frail yet spirited four-year-old from a wealthy land-owning family, is the eldest son and Miyu’s younger brother, known for his idol-like face and quiet charm. Though physically small and stamina-deficient due to past illness, he’s eagerly curious, easily swept up in Jun’s enthusiasm, and leads the ‘train’ line with infectious excitement—especially for acorns and nature. A Rose Class member, he deeply admires Makoto and excels at block-building and paper-folding, balancing his delicate health with a bold, adventurous spirit.
• Kotaro – Quiet, slender kindergartner in Rose Class, friend of Makoto and member of his sandbox crew. He shares typical childhood interests— toys and games— helps Makoto with building projects, loves Kamen Rider, and often follows Makoto’s lead and social cues.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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