Volume 4 Chapter 26 Usual Lesson Scenery ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Five minutes before morning free time ended, a clear voice rang through the room.
”—Alright, everyone! Time to pack it up!”
Himeno’s time signal echoed. Having a child who took the initiative was a huge help to me, in more ways than one.
The group reading picture books headed off to return them. The kids doing coloring-in tidied their masterpieces and crayons into their lockers.
Meanwhile, the youngsters playing with blocks left them exactly where they fell, sprinting headlong toward the two storage bins.
”Yes! Scored one!”
”Dibs on the bin!”
”Aww, man…”
Hiromasa and another boy managed to snag the leading roles of the cleanup crew. They pushed the bins around the room, making their rounds to collect everyone’s blocks.
”Okay! Thank you for cleaning up, everyone! It’s wonderful that you finished before the bell!” Ai-sensei said.
Everything was put away before the final chime. Our homeroom teacher clapped her hands together with a beaming, relieved smile.
I suppose she’d earned that sigh of relief. Word was she had a rough time with last year’s Chrysanthemum Class, and our Rabbit Group wasn’t exactly blooming earlier this spring.
The real show began now. It was Parent Observation Day.
As Ai-sensei took her place at the blackboard, we swarmed into an unstructured line in front of her. The parents lined up in the hallway and out on the opposite veranda.
Before I even noticed, Mother was there too. She stood with her friends Sanae-san and Nanami-san.
I was too busy playing to see her arrive. Since I wasn’t doing anything particularly weird, it shouldn’t be a problem.
”Good morning, everyone!” Ai-sensei said.
”GOOD MORNING!” we replied.
The greeting was so energetic it practically shook the classroom walls. Since they were performing for their parents, the youngsters were even more fired up than usual.
We took attendance, sang our songs, and do our morning Radio Calisthenics¹. Once the morning meeting was over, the lessons finally began.
Kindergarten lessons were generally divided into three categories: PE, Arts & Crafts, and Study Time.
First up: Study Time.
Following Teacher’s instructions, we grabbed our plastic ohajiki² beads from our toolboxes in the back lockers and took our seats.
I was at a long desk flanked by Jun and Yuma, with Kotarou next to Yuma. At the next desk over, Mihoshi-chan and Himeno-chan watched us.
”Is everyone ready?” Ai-sensei asked.
”You bet!”
”Ready!”
”All set!”
”Alright, put three beads in your right hand… Oh, does everyone know which one is the right hand?”
”I do! This one!”
”The one you hold your fork with!”
”If you do this, it’s the one with the thumb on this side!”
”Okay, once you have three in your right hand, put two in the other. Is everyone holding them?”
”We got ’em!” we replied.
”Now, take both hands and… bring them together like this!”
Ai-sensei cupped her hands together, making sure not to drop the beads on her palms. The youngsters mimicked her with their tiny hands.
”Now then, if you put them together, how many beads are there in total?”
The kids opened their hands and start counting the beads inside.
”Oooone… twooo… threeee—”
Guys, come on. Your count during a game of Dorokei³ is so fast I can barely tell if you’re actually saying numbers. What happened to that energy?
”Five!”
”Five of ’em!”
”Correct! When you add two and three, you get five!”
As you can see, the study was actually math. Since moving up to the middle-year class, we’ve started addition in earnest using these beads.
”So, what is 2 + 3?” Ai-sensei asked.
”FIVE!”
I hate to say it, but this was incredibly tedious. As someone with the memories of graduating from university, this wasn’t even at the level of review.
It was surprising how much my perception of time changed depending on whether Suu-chan was by my side. When we studied at home, time seemed to melt away in an instant.
I had to be careful not to let the boredom show on my face.
”Wait, Makoto? You don’t have five?” Yuma asked.
”My beads… well, they’re a bit mischievous, you see.”
”Huh?”
”Even if I squeeze them tight like this—when I open my hand, they vanish…”
”What!?”
”Then, before I know it, they’ve migrated to this hand…”
”Wait, what?! Makoto! How’d you do that!?” Jun asked.
”It’s quite a struggle, I tell you…”
It was just a basic coin magic trick, really. But the two kids next to me gave a wonderfully shocked reaction.
Still, we were in the middle of class. I had to be serious. My mother was watching.
Shaking off the distraction, we moved on to solving addition worksheets using the beads. Since we learned to read and write numbers back in the Youngsters Class, that part was no problem.
Kotarou and a few others must have been studying at home; they flew through the answers without using the beads.
”Alright! All done!” Jun said.
She might have seemed like a total meathead, but she was actually surprisingly good at schoolwork. She solved the problems without touching the beads.
Once we finished the worksheets, we took them to Teacher to be graded. If you got a high score, you got a “Great Job!” sticker. Kids this age absolutely lived for stickers.
Me? I wasn’t a child. I wasn’t going to try-hard just for a sticker. But Mother was watching today, so I did my best. Moderately.
Next up was Arts & Crafts. It looked like we’re playing with paper clay. We packed the beads away and pulled out our clay mats.
”Okay! Everyone, make your favorite thing in the whole world out of clay and tell me what it is!” Ai-sensei said.
With an energetic reply, the youngsters fell silent as they began shaping the images in their heads.
Now, what should I make? Being told to make whatever you want is actually a huge pain. I envy these pure-hearted kids.
Mother, what on earth should I make? A sculpture of Mother… like the Venus de Milo? No, that’s too much…
”—Done!” Jun said.
Only three minutes had passed. While I was still just kneading my clay in indecision, Teacher came over to inspect her work.
”Oh, Jun-chan, that was fast! This is… what is it?”
”It’s a mountain! Mt. Hiou!”
”I-it’s quite a… bold piece, isn’t it?” Ai-sensei replied.
”Heh, you know it!”
Everyone was free to make what they want. Even a lump of clay that was clearly just slammed onto the mat was a magnificent work of art in its own way.
”Can you… maybe add something more to it?”
Teacher asked for further refinement, likely because Jun finishing this early would leave her with too much free time.
”Hmmmm…?”
Jun crossed her arms and groaned at the request. To her, this was Mt. Hiou.
”Makoto! A little help here!?”
As expected, she looked to me for a lifeline. I knew a thing or two about building mountains.
”…Why not add a road?” I asked.
”Oh! I get it! I’ll make it a mud-ball coaster!”
Recalling a staple of our sandbox play, Jun started adding to her mountain. Ai-sensei gave my idea a thumbs up and moved on to the others.
”Yuma-kun, is this a car?”
”Yeah! My dad’s car! It’s my favorite thing!”
Even as a compliment, I couldn’t call it good, but it had four things that look like tires. It was likely his dad’s GT-R.
And next to him…
”Kotarou-kun… is that a game console?” Ai-sensei asked.
”Yeah.”
It had a screen on both the top and bottom. Perhaps because he held it every day, the quality was remarkably high.
Looking around, everyone’s work was progressing steadily. Yet, in front of me sat a single, lonely lump of clay. Yuma peeks over curiously.
”Makoto, what are you making?”
”It’s obviously Mt. Everest!” Jun said.
”Is it a slime?” Yuma asked.
I couldn’t even argue with Jun’s guess. If I didn’t decide soon, I’d run out of time.
Twenty minutes later.
”I made a rabbit!”
”I made a kitty-cat.”
”A soccer ball!”
”Mine’s a bullet train!”
One after another, the works were completed. The kids clamored for Teacher’s attention. Some of them even tried to lift their wet clay to show their parents.
”Makoto, what’s that? It’s a weird shape,” Jun said.
”Calling it ‘weird’ is rude…”
It was a traditional, time-honored design from ancient times. Well, the design was actually a character from a game my dad used to play.
It had a hollow, cylindrical body and a smooth head. I poked holes for the eyes and mouth, and even fashioned a separate helmet to put on top.
”Makoto-kun… do you just really like Haniwa⁴ statues?” Ai-sensei asked.
Oh. Was that the theme we were going for?
—
Summary:
Makoto navigates a Parent Observation Day at his kindergarten, balancing his adult intellect with the expectations of a child. During math and arts and crafts lessons, he interacts with his classmates Jun, Yuma, and Kotarou while his mother watches from the sidelines. He performs small magic tricks to pass the time but ultimately struggles with ‘free-form’ creativity. The lesson ends with Makoto crafting a Haniwa-like figure, which his teacher misinterprets as a sign of his peculiar interests.
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Trivia:
- Makoto’s mention of ‘memories of a university graduate’ confirms his status as a reincarnated individual with full cognitive retention.
- The ‘sticker’ reward system highlights the contrast between Makoto’s cynicism and the genuine innocence of his peers.
- Jun’s ‘muscle-brain’ personality is contrasted with her actual proficiency in math, suggesting her characters are deeper than simple archetypes
—
Character Insight:
Makoto acts as a silent mentor/support for Jun and Yuma, providing ideas and magic to keep them engaged. His relationship with his mother is depicted as a mix of duty and slightly embarrassed awareness.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The kindergarten system mimics modern Japanese structures, including specific classes like ‘Rabbit Group’ and activities like Radio Calisthenics.
—
TL Notes:
The pun ‘Ai-dea’ (Idea/Ai’s idea) was localized to ensure the teacher’s approval felt natural in English.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Himeno – A highly intelligent and justice-minded girl. She acts as a ‘nosy older sister’ figure, frequently scolding Hiro-masa.
• Hiromasa – A competitive boy who views Jun as a rival. He is stubborn and refuses to admit exhaustion. Known as ‘The Commander.’ A rowdy problem child who frequently defies the teacher and bickers with Himeno.
• 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.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob hair, former long‑distance track star turned homeroom teacher of Chrysanthemum Class and Riko’s senior; athletic yet unrefined, never drinks, drives. When stressed she slips into regional dialects, voice frantic over drills. Now a kindergarten teacher and Rabbit Group “Mom,” blunt with parents, single and job‑frustrated. Fast, playful, competitive in Cops‑and‑Robbers, suspicious of Makoto’s maturity, responsible and cheerful guide for the youngsters.
• Nanami – Yoshikura Nanami is Yuma’s mother, a humble and polite woman who manages an elegant, upscale home that doubles as a showroom. A dedicated member of the Makoto Fan Club, she is deeply grateful to Makoto for shaping her son’s healthy habits. She actively coordinates Yuma’s birthday celebrations, hosts tea parties, and skillfully manages her son’s high energy while providing hospitality to guests.
• Sanae – A middle-aged member of the Imai family and Jun’s mother, she is a patient yet often exasperated woman who skillfully reins in her son’s rowdy, over-the-top energy. A close friend of Makoto’s mother, she deeply appreciates the positive influence Makoto has on her daughter.
• Kotarou – A slender, quiet boy with a focused gaze, often hunched over delicate origami or crouched to gather acorns; his careful precision earns quiet respect. A Middle Kids classmate and close friend of Makoto, he takes the game seriously yet is easily distracted by social drama, sharing a playful bond with Yuma and the core group.
• 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.
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura, a frail four‑year‑old with an idol‑like face and quiet charm, is the eldest son of a wealthy family and Miyu’s younger brother. In Rose Class he unintentionally attracts multiple girls, is a close friend of Makoto, and leads the ‘train’ line with infectious excitement over acorns and nature. Despite low stamina he eagerly explores, builds blocks, folds paper, and admires Makoto.
• Jun – A hyperactive track‑suit‑clad kindergartner from the Imai family, pure‑hearted yet easily tricked, idolizes her mother and playfully clashes with brother Makoto (same class). Trained on weekends at Mt. Hiou, she has top‑tier stamina and speed, a blunt speaking style, a large appetite, leads energetic preschoolers, leaks secrets, and balances her wild energy with Makoto’s calm restraint.
• Suu-chan – A refined young girl with soft skin who values etiquette and ‘lady’s grace.’ She holds Makoto to a high standard of grooming.
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• Makoto – A 4‑year‑old Rose Class student (93 cm, 13 kg) in a white shirt, blue vest and cap—actually a 30‑year‑old salaryman reborn as a child. He is the calm, analytical Boss, handing out hand cream, mediating fights, protecting Suu‑chan, and earning peers’ respect as a mature, athletic leader. The narrator with a slightly cynical adult mind.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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