Volume 4 Chapter 34 Scout
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The rainy season hadn’t let up yet, but these days, summer vacation was all anyone could think about. My mother and I were currently hanging out at the Totsuka family residence.
I was sitting on the living room floor, leaning my back against the sofa. Mother and Suu-chan were right beside me, while Mitsuhisa-san sat cross-legged on the other side of the low table.
Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan were doing their best to pull themselves up using Mitsuhisa-san’s knees for support, but their strength would suddenly vanish. A moment later, they’d both end up plopping back down on their butts. It looked like it would be a little while longer before they could stand on their own.
Then there was Mio-san, the undisputed mood-maker for both our families. She sat in the “Chairperson’s Seat” – the side of the table between Mitsuhisa-san and our group.
”–And so, I hereby call to order the…”
”Probably the twenty-eighth,”
”The 28th Joint Family Council!”
Mio-san’s management started the Joint Family Council. At this time of year, we were deciding the same thing we did last summer…
”I want to finalize the summer vacation plans for Suu-chan and Maa-kun!”
It was still nearly two weeks away, but we couldn’t afford to be lazy. Applications for summer-only classes had already started, and the popular ones filled up their quotas in the blink of an eye.
But before we got to that…
”First, we need to talk about Summer Enrichment…”
Last year, since Mio-san had been pregnant, Suu-chan and I had both used the Hinomori Kindergarten Summer Enrichment program to lighten the load on the parents.
This year, however, that reason was gone. Mio-san’s health was in top form, and Mitsuhisa-san was often working from home on childcare leave, giving him plenty of freedom to move around.
In fact, there were more reasons not to use it – between Mio-san’s educational philosophy and the high cost of the program. But most importantly–
”Together with Maa-kun!”
She wanted to make sure we spent as much time together as possible.
Not every student at the kindergarten used the summer program. Therefore, if the numbers were low, they’d merge the classes, but there was no guarantee we’d even end up in the same group. The number of kids showing up changed daily, after all.
”And so, we’re passing on Summer Enrichment this year,”
Mio-san declared with a satisfied smile. It felt like she’d already made up her mind. Mother didn’t object, and obviously, neither did I.
”Now, about the extracurriculars…”
Mio-san started spreading out a mountain of flyers and website printouts.
For sports, there was everything from the standard swimming to futsal, tennis, gymnastics, baseball, golf, trampolining, karate, judo, aikido, dance, and ballet…
On the academic side, there were preschool classrooms, cram school, abacus, calligraphy, Algo Club¹, and music classes…
”That’s a lot of options…”
”Yeah, so many!”
I was impressed she’d managed to collect all these… Even for the same activity, there were choices between major franchises and small, private businesses. Some of the terms were totally new to me.
”Suu-chan, see anything interesting?”
I asked Suu-chan, who was currently draped over my back, peeking at the flyers over my shoulder.
Even if she couldn’t read the kanji yet, she could figure out what they were from the pictures and the few words she recognized.
”Is there a pool?”
”Right here.”
Just like last year, she went straight for the swimming. I could already see her mental wheels turning, probably planning to invite Shiho-chan along.
The adults seemed to have expected this, as Mio-san handed over the flyer for the swimming school like it was already a done deal.
”Anything else?”
”Hmm… I’ll let Maa-kun pick!”
”Roger that.”
Honestly, with this many choices, it was easy to get overwhelmed. But I knew that whatever we chose, it would be fun as long as we did it together.
”Hey, Mio-san,”
”Yeah? What is it?”
”What are these circles and stars for?”
I’d noticed little marks hand-drawn in ballpoint pen on the corners of several flyers. They weren’t part of the original design; they were added later. I assumed they were her personal recommendations or classes she specifically wanted us to take. But the swimming flyer didn’t have one…
I was busy trying to deduce the logic when Mio-san dropped a total bombshell.
”The circles and stars? Those are the ones where a ‘scout’ reached out.”
”Scout.”
The meaning is “reconnaissance” or “scout soldier.”
(Reconnaissance for youngsters’ summer vacation lessons…?)
No, in this case, it was likely “talent recruitment.” Japanese is a tricky language.
…Wait, was she saying people were out here scouting toddlers for summer lessons? Is this some ‘mom-friend’ recruitment drive rather than just an invitation?
I couldn’t wrap my head around it and froze while looking at the flyer.
”…Then why is this the only one with a star?”
I picked up a flyer for a music school.
Unlike the major chain we’d seen before, it was a private one called “Orii Music Studio.” They offered piano, choir, and even guitar. The photos showed a clean, well-equipped space.
Orii… that name rang a bell.
”Hey, Suu-chan. Isn’t there a girl named Orii Madoka-chan in the Sheep Group?”
”Yeah! We’re best friends!”
Suu-chan nodded enthusiastically, her pigtails bouncing and brushing against my cheek.
”Maa-kun… do you know all the girls in the other classes too?” Mio-san teased. “Gasp! Are you a little playboy…?”
”Hmph! Maa-kun, no flirting!”
Suu-chan immediately reached around to cover my eyes. I didn’t see how blinding me was going to solve the “infidelity” issue, but she was clearly in that kind of mood.
”It’s not like that! I’ve barely even talked to her…”
It wasn’t just the girls; I’d memorized the names of basically everyone in our grade. I knew the Rabbit Group because of Suu-chan, and I’d learned the others through my old classmates in the Rose Class…
”Well, Maa-kun probably guessed it already. That school is run by Wakana-chan’s father’s older sister.”
”I see…”
Knowing the names was one thing, but knowing the parents’ – or aunts’ – occupations was high-level intel. Information like that is hard to get. Even more so for distant relatives.
”So that’s why it has a star?”
(Because it’s run by an acquaintance.)
As I sat there waving the flyer, thinking that was the case…
”Nope. Well, maybe that’s how I got the ‘star’ offer, but basically… they said if Maa-kun comes, they’ll let you and Suu-chan attend for free.”
”…”
”The ones with circles couldn’t go that far, but they offered a fifty-percent discount if you sign up.”
”…”
(I… see.)
Lessons are a business, after all. You need bodies in the room. You have to get the word out, but even then, only a tiny fraction of people actually sign up. In a market this crowded, the competition for students must be cutthroat.
And then there was me. To put it bluntly, I was a bit of a local celebrity at Hinomori Kindergarten. Not just with the kids, but with the “mom-friend” network too.
If I showed up to a class, Suu-chan would follow, and then kids like Shiho-chan and the rest would likely get reeled in as well. If even a few of them stayed on after summer, the school would make a killing, even after giving us a free ride. It was basically an influencer marketing deal. The reason only the private schools had circles was probably because they had the freedom to make those kinds of “under the table” deals.
”You’re a real catch, Maa-kun,”
”Yeah! Maa-kun is amazing!”
Mio-san gave a cheeky thumbs up. And Suu-chan, who didn’t quite understand the business side of things, jumped on the bandwagon.
”But hey, if there’s a class without a circle that you really want to do, just say the word. As your mom, I want you to try anything that sparks your interest.”
”Yeah, okay…”
But before that.
”Hey, Suu-chan? Could you let go of my face now?”
”You promise not to flirt?”
”I promise, I promise. Have I ever?”
”Okay, then!”
”Thanks.”
”~♪”
And so, we went back to the difficult task of picking our summer adventures.
—
Summary:
The Totsuka and Maa-kun’s family meet for their 28th ‘Family Council’ to plan summer activities. They decide to skip kindergarten enrichment in favor of private extracurriculars. Maa-kun discovers he is being ‘scouted’ by local schools offering free or discounted tuition to use him as a draw for other students.
—
Trivia:
- Mio-san was pregnant last year, which is why the kids were in Summer Enrichment.
- Mitsuhisa-san is on paternity/childcare leave (育休ワーク).
- Maa-kun has a photographic memory of his peers’ names and family connections.
- Orii Madoka-chan is specifically in the ‘Sheep Group’.
- The ‘star’ on the music school flyer indicates a 100% discount for the protagonist
—
Character Insight:
Maa-kun realizes his social value as a ‘local celebrity’ and how adults are beginning to leverage his influence. Suu-chan’s jealousy is intensifying as she attempts to physically block his view to prevent him from ‘flirting’.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author uses the ‘Scout’ misunderstanding to highlight the difference between Maa-kun’s mental age (thinking of soldiers) and his actual environment (preschooler marketing).
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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, feeling neglected by the eldest but favoring the twins, distant with Akari, dark‑bantering with former teammate Makoto, and unsettled by his influence. Also known as Mitsuhisa‑san, father of the Totsuka family, on work‑from‑home leave, theatrical when his daughters prefer Makoto, and enjoys playful competition.
• 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.
• Fuu – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Currently learning to swivel their head and grab objects.
• Kyo – One of the twins, approximately four months old. Shared traits with Fuu-chan.
• Mio – Mio‑san, chairperson of the Totsuka family council and mother of Suzuki, is a recently postpartum, stylish gray‑clad figure with a baby‑faced charm and G‑cup silhouette. Playful yet grounded, she guides Makoto, Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan and Kyo‑chan, bakes with them, encourages Shiho’s hobbies, and serves as Akari’s confidante. Protective of UV, she balances mischief with maternal wisdom.
• 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.’
• 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.
• 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.
• Madoka – A character or peer mentioned as the person for whom the ‘Rose Rangers’ stay quiet.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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