Volume 4 Chapter 28 The Hardships of a Popular Person
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Today was the Sunday school visit. Under a dismal sky, I boarded the shuttle bus I see off every morning and arrived at Hinomori Kindergarten¹.
Maa-kun and Suu-chan were as inseparable as ever when they stepped off the bus. As if showing off to everyone around them, they shared an umbrella and walked toward the shoe lockers with their arms tightly linked.
After parting ways with the youngsters for a moment, Mio and I finished at the reception desk and hung our visitor cards around our necks. We tucked our shoes into plastic bags, changed into slippers, and exchanged a quick word with the kids.
”Well, let’s go watch them right away,” I said.
”Yeah,” Mio replied.
We headed straight for the Middle Kids class. Picking out photos could wait until later.
I had heard that the time Maa-kun is most active at the kindergarten is during the morning free time, and I couldn’t afford to miss seeing my boy in his element.
”Be careful not to let Maa-kun notice you, okay?” Mio warned with a mischievous look.
”I know,” I said.
Looking at her, I realized I probably had the same suspicious look on my face. Maa-kun is incredibly cautious. If he knew we were watching, he would likely be careful to only act in ways that were ‘parent-approved.’
That wasn’t the side of him I wanted to see. (Mom wants to see how Maa-kun actually acts.)
He tells me about everything that happens at the kindergarten every day, but he doesn’t talk about every single detail. Knowing him, he must be carefully filtering what he shares. I had to see the truth behind the stories I heard from my mom-friends and the teachers with my own eyes.
”But since there are other parents around… I bet he’s already putting on a front,” Mio whispered.
”Well, you’re probably right,” I said.
To keep Maa-kun from catching on, Mio and I had even performed a little skit. Since he often eavesdrops on our conversations, we made sure he believed we were going to the photo area first. However, there was no way a child as sharp as Maa-kun wouldn’t notice the crowd of parents peeking into the classroom from the hallway.
Sometimes, my own child’s cleverness is a real handful.
”–Ah, Akari-san, Mio-san. Good morning.”
As we finished climbing the stairs, where each step was set slightly low for the youngsters, my mom-friend Goto Mayumi noticed us. Even though she ended up in a different group than Shiho-chan, our relationship with the Goto family has continued. Since she is in the same group as Suu-chan, Maa-kun sees her often, and we always run into her whenever we visit the Yoshikura estate.
Mayumi-san is the central hub of the mom-friend network² for this generation. Staying close to her means staying in the loop and maintaining an advantage over the more tiresome social posturing of other parents. It might sound like I’m using her, but one should never underestimate the darkness of the mom-friend world. People greet you with a smile while you have no idea what they’re thinking behind the scenes. There are times I honestly think my old bank job was easier.
Mitsuhisa-san, who caught a terrifying glimpse of that world while Mio was pregnant, seems to have had quite enough of it. On the bright side, he’s managed to find some ‘papa-friends’ in the same situation.
”Well, we’re going to watch the Sheep Group,” Mayumi said.
”Yeah, see you later,” Mio added.
The two of them went to peek into the Sheep Group classroom to look for their daughters. Left alone, I headed toward the Rabbit Group where my son was.
(Ah, there he is…)
Peeking through the gaps between the other parents, I found him immediately at the center of a group of youngsters. It seemed Maa-kun’s popularity was as steady as ever in the Rabbit Group.
I had been a little worried when I heard only four of the kids from his class last year would be with him this time, but seeing him surrounded by so many friends again brought a genuine smile to my face.
”Akari-san, good morning,” said Nanami.
”Ah, Nanami-san. Good morning,” I replied.
While I was secretly watching Maa-kun–who was clearly trying, and failing, to act like a ‘normal’ kid–Nanami-san called out to me. She kept her voice low, being mindful of the kids and the other parents.
”Makoto-kun is popular in the Rabbit Group too, isn’t he?” Nanami asked.
”It seems so. And Yuma-kun… he seems to be a real hit with the girls, doesn’t he?” I said.
”Ugh, tell me about it. I know he’s just having the time of his life, but I’m starting to worry about his future. I wish he’d take a page out of Makoto-kun’s book,” Nanami sighed.
Nanami-san rested a hand on her cheek, looking troubled by her son, who was busy telling every girl in class “I like you” with a winning smile.
Maa-kun, for better or worse, is much more reserved. Mio has talked my ear off about that. She’s always telling him, (You mustn’t say “I like you” to girls so easily, okay? But you’d better make sure you say it properly to Suu-chan!)
Yet, despite that, he still ends up with double-digit hauls of chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Life really isn’t fair.
”Well, they’re only in the Middle Kids class,” I offered.
Nanami-san and I shared a wry smile as we watched Yuma-kun being pulled by the arm by several girls. Yuma-kun was a magnet for the tomboys, while Maa-kun seemed to attract the more shy, quiet types.
As we watched the kids decide what to play next, we were approached again.
”Nanami-san, Akari-san. Good morning,” said Morihashi Mari.
”Ah, good morning,” Nanami replied.
”Good morning,” I said.
”Thanks for everything as always,” Mari added.
”No, same to you,” I said.
Mari-san is the mother of Kotarou-kun. Since they are in the same group again this year, I see her often through our connection with the Yoshikura family.
”But, we were lucky to be in the same group as Makoto-kun,” Mari said.
”True. There are only four of us,” Nanami agreed.
”I heard Teacher Seiko and the others really struggled with the class assignments. Everyone loves Makoto-kun,” Mari whispered.
”There was even a rumor that they considered a plan to put Makoto-kun in a class by himself to keep things fair for the other kids,” Nanami added.
”Is that so?” I asked.
”Yes. But they realized how pitiful that would be for Makoto-kun, so they settled on the current groups,” Mari explained.
I don’t know where people dig up these rumors, but that’s just small talk. Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter; if it’s a good story, it spreads.
”If that’s the case, were there actually complaints?” I asked.
”Hmm, I haven’t heard of any,” Nanami said.
”Really?” I asked.
”Well, Suzuki-chan, who is the closest to Makoto-kun, is in a different group this time,” Mari pointed out.
”Ah, I see,” I said.
If even Suu-chan’s family wasn’t complaining, no one else really could.
Just as we finished laughing about the behind-the-scenes drama of the class organization, another voice chimed in.
”Excuse me… are you Makoto-kun’s mother?”
”Ah, yes. I’m Makoto’s mother,” I replied.
”My daughter is always in your debt. I am the mother of Emoto Mihoshi,” the woman said.
”Ah, Mihoshi-chan’s mom… No, the pleasure is mine,” I said.
She was the mother of a girl who had appeared several times in the stories Maa-kun told me. She bowed politely, and I responded in kind. Looking around, I realized several other mothers were watching us, waiting for their turn. The crowd was even bigger than it had been last year. It was actually a little intimidating.
”My name is Hojo. My daughter, Himeno, seems to be on good terms with your son,” another woman said.
”No, the pleasure is mine,” I replied.
”I am Kurosawa. My Hiromasa has changed so much for the better since he started playing with Makoto-kun. Truly…”
”Is that so?” I said.
”I’m the mother of Saki from the Sheep Group. I hear she often plays outside with Suzuki-chan and Makoto-kun…”
”The pleasure is mine,” I said.
”Our Hironari is in your debt. He says Makoto-kun is very knowledgeable. Does he take any lessons? Are you planning for private elementary school exams?”
”No, nothing in particular,” I said.
Ever since Emoto-san broke the ice, a line of mothers had formed to introduce themselves. And it wasn’t just the Rabbit Group; parents from other groups were joining in too. Exactly how far does Maa-kun’s social circle reach? Everyone was being perfectly lovely, but the volume of people was exhausting. I noticed the parents I’d known since last year were just giving me sympathetic nods from a distance.
(And I just wanted to watch my son…)
I grumbled inwardly, but outwardly, I put my old bank-teller training to work, maintaining a flawless smile and infinite patience. By the time the number of introductions hit double digits, there was finally a lull.
”Phew…”
I finally caught my breath. My smile had been plastered on so long that my cheeks were starting to feel numb. I realized my social endurance had definitely declined since I changed jobs two months ago.
”Akari-san, good morning,” said Imai Sanae.
”–! Ah, Imai-san. Good morning,” I replied.
I tightened my guard for a second before realizing it was a familiar face. I let out a long sigh of relief.
”Good work. Being the parent of a celebrity is tough, isn’t he?” Sanae laughed.
”You have no idea,” I said.
If this is the price for my son being so well-loved, I suppose I can handle it. But when we get home, Maa-kun is going to have to ‘pay me back’ with some serious snuggling. Maybe a cuddle-attack or some cheek-magnets… or maybe I’ll even have him give me a massage. The thought gave me a second wind.
I’ll save the treats for later; right now, I need to watch my boy. While I was distracted, the kids had apparently decided what to play. He was currently sitting with his friends, playing with building blocks.
”When Jun is with Makoto-kun, I can actually take my eyes off him with peace of mind,” Sanae muttered fondly as she watched Jun-chan frolicking with Makoto-kun.
Jun-chan really does adore him. Her energy somehow reminds me of Suu-chan, but she doesn’t have a ladylike bone in her body. With her short hair, she could be mistaken for a boy at a glance. I wonder what Maa-kun thinks of her? The teacher seems to have appointed him as her supervisor, so she appears in his reports every day. He complains about how tough she is, but he doesn’t seem to actually mind. I suppose she’s more like a troublesome younger brother to him.
”–So, how’s Maa-kun doing?”
”–!? Oh, it’s just Mio…”
”Did I scare you?”
”Yes, you did!”
Mio had snuck up behind me again. That mischievous streak of hers hasn’t changed since we were students. Behind Mio stood a couple with nervous expressions.
”I’m Togawa Kengo, Masaki’s father. And this is my wife,”
”I’m Yuka,”
”In April, it seems our child caused you a great deal of trouble. We are truly, deeply sorry.”
”Oh, no, please… the feeling is mutual…”
They were the parents of Masaki-kun-the boy who had made Suu-chan¹ cry. Regardless of how Mitsuhisa-san felt, Mio and I weren’t dwelling on it at all. To be honest, we’d pretty much forgotten it. Mio had been hassled by weirdos constantly back in her student days, so she was likely just used to this kind of thing.
We had expected that once she was separated from Maa-kun, other boys might start pestering her. Maa-kun had stepped in and settled the matter decisively. Besides, Suu-chan ssu² had come home looking so happy and lovestruck that it was hard to stay upset.
(In fact, Maa-kun seemed worried that he ‘might have gone a bit too far,’ so I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. Unless it happens again, there’s no need to dig up the past.)
Every time the Tomikawa couple bowed their heads, I told them we weren’t worried about it. I finally managed to convince them and watched as they walked away.
”So, Mio, aren’t you going back? Where’s Suu-chan?”
”Suu-chan? She’s right over there,” Mio said.
”Wait, what?”
I looked where Mio was pointing. Suu-chan was peeking into the Rabbit Group classroom. Her close friend Shiho-chan was with her, both of them clutching picture books. Her gaze was fixed on Maa-kun. She watched him enviously as he played, surrounded by his friends.
”Hmph… I wanna play with Maa-kun, too, I do ssu…”
”Suu-chan, Teacher said we aren’t allowed to go into the other classrooms,” Shiho-chan said.
”Mmrph…”
Suu-chan let out a huff, her face scrunched in a pout as if she were ready to bolt across the line at any second. Shiho-chan was acting as the voice of reason, though she also seemed curious about what was happening in the Rabbit Group.
”They’re just taking a detour on the way back from picking up books,” Mio explained.
”…”
Each classroom had a few picture books, but the shelves were small. According to Maa-kun, they rotated them every two weeks, but kids who loved reading finished them instantly. Those kids were allowed to borrow books from the library room themselves. However, the Rabbit Group wasn’t on the route between the library and the Sheep Group.
(This isn’t just ‘on the way.’)
(And it doesn’t look like the first time, either. Maybe the teacher has already scolded them…?)
”Mm-hmm. That’s my daughter for you,” Mio said.
The mother looked impressed by her daughter’s unwavering focus. Was this really okay? Suu-chan was basically becoming a little stalker.
”Compared to her, Maa-kun is… he’s just playing away, completely oblivious to the intense gaze Suu-chan is sending him. Honestly…”
Mio started complaining as she watched Maa-kun. He was busy protecting a tower of blocks from Jun-chan while maintaining a polite distance from the other girls trying to talk to him.
”Wait… is this a chance to make Maa-kun owe me one…?”
My childhood friend began plotting some mischief. No matter how close we are, I won’t show Mio mercy if she tries to pull something that hurts Maa-kun. Well, I trust her enough, I suppose. We haven’t been best friends since elementary school for nothing.
”Suu-chan, Suu-chan!”
”Mama, I’m busy watching Maa-kun, I am ssu!”
”She’s being so cold… Has her rebellious phase started already?” Mio asked.
The mother had tried to get her daughter’s attention, only to be curtly brushed off. But she didn’t give up. Like mother, like daughter. They were nothing like the father.
”You should probably stop loitering,” I said.
”But I wanna keep watching Maa-kun… I’m worried ssu,” Suu-chan replied.
”Worried that someone’s going to steal him?” Mio asked.
Suu-chan gave a firm nod. Until last year, the girls playing with Maa-kun had also been Suu-chan’s friends. But the girls with him now were strangers to her. For a girl who was already a bit shy, seeing those girls having fun with Maa-kun was clearly fueling her anxiety. From an outsider’s perspective, however, it looked like Suu-chan was winning by a landslide.
”It’s okay, Suu-chan,” Mio said, her face full of confidence as she began to soothe her daughter. “No matter how you look at it, Maa-kun is head over heels for you. And look-he’s being careful not to get too close to those other girls, right? That’s a space only Suu-chan is allowed into.”
”But Jun-chan…”
”Jun-chan is… well, Maa-kun might just think she’s one of the boys?”
”Hey, Imai Sanae-san is standing right here!” Sanae said.
(I guess I can’t really deny that… Raising a daughter is hard…)
Sanae was rubbing her temples, but she seemed to be taking it in stride.
”Maa-kun said Jun-chan is a girl. I even told her to act like a lady at the pool,” Suu-chan said.
”Oh, I see…”
Hearing that her daughter was at least recognized as a girl by Maa-kun seemed to brighten Imai Sanae-san’s mood.
”Look, Suu-chan. Believing in Maa-kun and waiting for him is part of a lady’s etiquette, okay? Don’t you believe in him?”
”Mm-nn. I believe in Maa-kun ssu!”
”Then it’s fine. Maa-kun could never betray a Suu-chan who believes in him!”
”Okay. Because I believe in Maa-kun ssu, I believe in the me that believes in… the Maa-kun I believe in ssu…?”
”Exactly! That’s my girl!”
”Yeah ssu! …Wait ssu?”
Suu-chan seemed a bit confused by the circular logic, but the anxiety had vanished from her face. She burned the image of Maa-kun into her memory one last time, then reluctantly took Shiho-chan’s hand and headed back toward the Sheep Group classroom.
”Well, I’d better get back too!” Mio said.
Her work done, Mio followed after them with a satisfied look. Things were progressing rapidly in ways Maa-kun knew nothing about. He was never going to escape Suu-chan. Not that I think he has any intention of trying.
”Sigh… Suzuki-chan is so girlish and cute. If Jun-chan had even a tenth of that charm…”
Imai Sanae-san watched enviously as Jun-chan barked “Woof woof!” energetically, like a dog begging its owner for a walk.
”Jun-chan is… energetic. And very expressive. I think that’s a good thing, right?” I offered.
”I’d honestly feel better if Makoto-kun-kun would just take her off my hands one day…”
”Uh…”
”I guess she stands no chance against Suzuki-chan, though. Maybe in ten years she’ll… no, not with that attitude…”
Watching the senior mom agonizing over her child’s future, I could only offer a polite smile, knowing all too well that it wasn’t just someone else’s problem.
—
Summary:
Akari attends a school visit at Hinomori Kindergarten, where she spies on Makoto to see his ‘true’ behavior. She finds him extremely popular and well-liked, though she is quickly overwhelmed by a queue of other mothers wanting to introduce themselves. The chapter concludes with a new couple, the Togawas, approaching her through Mio.
The chapter opens with the resolution of a past conflict between the narrator’s family and the Tomikawa family. However, the focus quickly shifts to the preschool social dynamics where Suu-chan is intensely monitoring Maa-kun. The parents observe their children’s developing personalities and potential future romantic/social entanglements with a mix of amusement and concern.
—
Trivia:
- Akari is a former bank employee, which explains her social endurance.
- Makoto received double-digit hauls of chocolate on Valentine’s Day in kindergarten.
- The school administration actually discussed separating Makoto from his friends to keep things ‘fair’ for other children because everyone wanted to be in his class.
- Suzuki-chan (Suu-chan) and Makoto are in different classes this year, which prevented complaints from other parents about favoritism.
- Maa-kun’s protective nature was previously established in the April incident.
- Suu-chan is intentionally deviating from her assigned school route to stalk Maa-kun.
- Jun-chan’s personality is so tomboyish that even Maa-kun reportedly treats her like one of the boys.
- The narrator and Mio have been friends since elementary school, adding a layer of deep trust to their parenting dynamic
—
Character Insight:
Akari balances her pride in Makoto’s popularity with the crushing weight of social expectations in the ‘mom-friend world.’ Makoto exhibits a high level of social maturity, acting as a ‘supervisor’ for Jun-chan and maintaining a ‘parent-approved’ persona when he suspects he is being watched.
Mio shows growth as a parent by using ‘Lady’s Etiquette’ as a tool to guide Suu-chan’s behavior, while Suu-chan displays an early, intense loyalty/possession regarding Maa-kun.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author highlights the ‘darkness’ of Japanese parent social hierarchies, contrasting the innocent interactions of the children with the strategic networking of the adults.
The use of ‘ssu’ by Suu-chan indicates a specific dialect or character trope often associated with energetic or slightly informal younger characters in Japanese media.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• 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.
• Maa-kun – A young boy in the Rabbit Group at Hinomori Kindergarten. He is highly intelligent, capable of second-grade math and multiplication. He is described as calm, stoic, and helpful, often acting as a ‘handler’ for more energetic children. Akari’s son, nearly five years old. An extreme polyglot and polymath who secretly studies news, martial arts, and multiple languages. Highly sensitive to his parents’ moods. Also referred to as Makoto-kun. Narrator’s son in the Rabbit Group. Popular with other girls but maintains distance. Previously protected Suu-chan during the ‘April Incident.’
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• Mio – Akari’s longtime best friend and Shiho’s mother, she’s a pregnant Totsuka resident with baby-faced charm, G-cup curves, and a gray-clad, stylishly dressed “little devil” persona—playfully mischievous yet grounded and perceptive. A former athlete turned teacher, cook, and photographer, she’s tech-savvy, financially astute, and quietly guides Makoto, Suu-chan, Fuu-chan, and Kyo-chan as the family’s nurturing femme-fatale matriarch, driving them to parties, baking with them, and encouraging Shiho’s hobbies to keep her occupied—all while serving as Akari’s trusted sounding board for parenting anxieties.
• Mom – A 30‑year‑old mother who recently switched jobs for more time with her son, Maa‑kun. She’s supportive, manages household shopping together with Mio‑san, and balances family life with her new career.
• Akari – 28‑year‑old single mother, long dark‑brown hair, subtle makeup, poised and observant. Lives beside best friend Mio, drives a black light‑compact car, raises newborn Maa‑kun and son Makoto. After childcare leave she works IT for balance, prefers quiet home, feels guilty missing the party. Strict yet loving, polite, estranged from her parents, mischievous, monitors Makoto’s health via a ‘status report’ network. Former bank employee using customer‑service skills to navigate high‑stakes parent circles.
• Goto Mayumi – Mayumi Goto, an elegant, refined mother‑friend, often wears soft pastel dresses. She accompanies her daughters Hina and Shiho to swimming lessons and helps them change. Trusted by Mio‑san, close to Nanami and Akari, she serves as the central hub of the grade’s parent‑information network, balancing maternal care with warm friendships among other mothers, and is also close to the mother of the rumored boy Makoto.
• Shiho-chan – An early‑arriving student, this child is often seen waiting with Suu‑chan at school. As Suu‑chan’s close friend, he/she tries to act as a ‘stopper’ for her mischief, and is close enough to Yuma’s family to stay over at their home.
• Mayumi – Mayumi Goto, an elegant, refined mother‑friend, often wears soft pastel dresses. She accompanies her daughters Hina and Shiho to swimming lessons and helps them change. Trusted by Mio‑san, close to Nanami and Akari, she serves as the central hub of the grade’s parent‑information network, balancing maternal care with warm friendships among other mothers, and is also close to the mother of the rumored boy Makoto.
• Shiho – A four-year-old Rose-Class girl with a side-up ponytail, Hina’s younger sister and close friend of Makoto, Suu-chan, Yuma and Suzuka. She wears a kitten-themed hair clip and placemat, uses training chopsticks, loves picture books and Hiragana, swims, makes mud dumplings with Makoto’s tips, and quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention, often following Suu-chan to meet Makoto.
• Mitsuhisa – Mitsuhisa, 33, 184 cm, 71 kg, toned and reserved, is a giant‑physique father of three—Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan—married to Mio. On modified childcare leave he’s protective, doting, play‑acting with his daughters. He feels neglected by his eldest daughter, focuses affection on the twins, keeps a distant rapport with Akari, shares dark banter with former teammate Makoto, and feels unsettled by his influence on others.
• Nanami – Yoshikura Nanami, a humble, polite mother of Yuma and Miyu, runs an elegant upscale home that doubles as a showroom. A dedicated Makoto Fan Club member, she thanks Makoto for shaping her son’s habits, coordinates his birthday, hosts tea parties, and manages his high energy while offering gracious hospitality. She worries about his flirtatious behavior with classmates and his slower physical development, and is a close friend of the narrator.
• Makoto – Four‑year‑old Rose‑class student, 93 cm, 13 kg, in a white shirt, blue vest and cap—actually a 30‑year‑old salaryman reborn. Calm “Boss” who hands out hand cream, mediates fights, protects Suu‑chan and earns respect. Dry narrator in the Rabbit Group, using logic and coin tricks. Also known as Akari’s son, nicknamed Maa‑kun, a highly observant, popular Middle Kids student at Hinomori Kindergarten.
• 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 draws many girls, is close to Makoto, leads the ‘train’ line with excitement over acorns and nature, struggles slightly with math and has low stamina, yet loves exploring, building blocks, folding paper, making clay models of his father’s car, and playing husband in Moe’s house‑play. Born April 1, he’s the youngest and smallest in the Rabbit Group, cheerful and popular with the girls.
• Morihashi Mari – Mother of Kotarou and acquaintance of the Yoshikura family.
• Kotarou – Slender, quiet boy with a focused gaze, often hunched over delicate origami or crouched gathering acorns; his precise care earns quiet respect. A Middle Kids classmate and close friend of Makoto, he takes the game seriously but is easily distracted by social drama, sharing a playful bond with Yuma and the core group. In house‑play he assumes the role of father/grandfather.
• 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.
• Seiko – Veteran kindergarten teacher and Rose Class leader, she exudes a steely, battle‑hardened aura with an icy gaze; polite yet intimidating, she’s dubbed 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 – Suu‑chan, a doll‑like 5‑year‑old with dark braided pigtails, topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes and pink rain boots, is eldest daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa. Model student, self‑proclaimed girlfriend of Makoto, quiet, helpful, competitive in word games, clingy, always clutching a pink candy tin. Obsessed with Makoto, she reads clocks to track his arrival, calls herself ‘Editor‑in‑Chief’ of his photo records, and they’re often seen arm‑in‑arm.
• Himeno – A mature, highly intelligent girl of the Rabbit Group, dressed in the group’s neat uniform and often seen with a tidy bun and glasses. She embodies a justice‑driven, nosy older‑sister vibe, acting as a disciplinarian who frequently scolds Hiromasa with a motherly, bossy streak.
• Hiromasa – A large‑physiqued, energetic boy nicknamed ‘Taisho’ and known as ‘The Commander’, he is a competitive rival of Jun, stubborn, refuses to admit exhaustion, and often defies teachers and bickers with Himeno. Once a rowdy problem child, he has recently calmed after bonding with Makoto in Cops‑and‑Robbers and discovering a future dream.
• 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.
• Saki – Reo’s sister (Onii). High energy and critical of her brother’s perceived lack of initiative.
• Imai Sanae – Middle‑aged woman, mother of Jun and three older sons, experienced parent with a laissez‑faire style. Patient yet often exasperated, she skillfully reins in her son’s rowdy energy. Friend of the narrator and of Makoto’s mother, she values Makoto’s positive influence on her daughter.
• Sanae – Middle‑aged woman, mother of Jun and three older sons, experienced parent with a laissez‑faire style. Patient yet often exasperated, she skillfully reins in her son’s rowdy energy. Friend of the narrator and of Makoto’s mother, she values Makoto’s positive influence on her daughter.
• Jun-chan – Daughter of Imai Sanae. Plays roughly with blocks and is often mistaken for a boy due to her tomboyish energy.
• 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.
• Tomikawa – The parents of Masaki-kun. They are deeply apologetic for a past conflict involving their son.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply