Volume 4 Chapter 4 The Opening Ceremony (Middle-Year)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Ah…!”
”Yes! I win again!” shouted Jun.
”That’s two in a row for Jun,” I noted.
We were killing time in our new classroom, unsure of how to act. Since we had to stay put until the Opening Ceremony¹ begin, the four of us from the former Rose Class were playing a game with our fingers. I don’t know the official name for it. You know the one-you stick out your index fingers and say, “Let’s play,” and everyone joins in.
The rules are simple. Everyone starts with one finger extended on each hand. You take turns tapping someone else’s hand, and they have to add the number of fingers you had extended to their own. If the count goes over five, you carry over the remainder and reset. Once a hand hits exactly five, it’s out of play. The last person with a functioning hand wins. There are more complex rules like “splitting” or “transferring,” but those seemed a bit advanced for a bunch of kindergarteners, so I kept them to myself.
It all started when Suu-chan and I played on the shuttle bus. Then Shiho-chan joined in, and by the turn of the year, it had spread through the Rose Class like wildfire. Kids learn fast when they’re interested; within two weeks, everyone was playing.
”Hey, hey! Let’s go again!” Yuma shouted.
”One more time!” Kotarou added.
”I’m gonna win this one, too!” Jun bragged.
”……”
Yuma and Kotarou were already poised with their fingers out, desperate for a rematch against the gloating Jun. Because the game is so simple and fast, we were already starting our fifth round. So far, Yuma had one win, while Kotarou and Jun had two each.
(The reason I haven’t won isn’t because I’m bad at it. Unfortunately, it’s not because I’m holding back, either. These brats keep ganging up on me to knock me out first. They might not realize they’re doing it, but I’m helpless against the sheer violence of numbers.)
”Okay, I’m adding three to four… so one, two… three, four… Ah! Gotcha! Makoto, you’re at five!” laughed Jun.
”…Dammit,” I muttered.
”Makoto, you suck!” Jun laughed.
(You guys sure look happy about that… Yeah, I definitely need to make a different game popular soon.)
As we frittered away the time, the teachers’ movements began to change. No more kids were trickling into the room, and looking around, it seemed the whole class was finally present.
”Alright, Rabbit Class! Eyes on me!” the teacher called out, clapping her hands to gather our attention.
However, things are rarely that easy with kindergarteners.
”Bwahahaha!”
”Get back here!”
”Hey, I want to be the big sister this time!”
”Transform!”
”Oh, my nose is running!”
”Gross! Forcefield!”
”Shinta-kun kicked me!”
”He started it… sniff…”
(Maybe it was the post-spring break jitters or the excitement of moving up a grade, but half the kids were busy living their best lives with reckless abandon. If this were the Rose Class, it would have been quiet in five seconds flat. The Rose Rangers would have seen to that. Thinking about it now, the Rose Class kids might have been exceptionally well-behaved.)
I looked over at Yuma. He looked like he wanted to tell the new kids to pipe down, but he didn’t have the courage to speak up to strangers yet. Kotarou just ignored the chaos entirely, which was probably the smartest move. Meanwhile, Jun was covering his mouth with both hands, shaking his head as if to claim he was innocent of the noise. (I wasn’t even suspecting you, buddy.)
”If you can’t be quiet, maybe you should go back to the Youngsters Class and start over?” the teacher threatened.
She used a mix of light warnings and strategic silence to settle the room with practiced ease. I suppose you can’t survive as a kindergarten teacher if you let this level of chaos rattle you.
”We’re heading to the gym now,” the teacher announced. “I’ll call your names, and you can line up as you hear them.”
The class finally followed instructions. We lined up alphabetically, which put Morihashi Kotarou in front of me, Yashiro Makoto, and Yoshikura Yuma behind me. Imai Jun looked a bit lonely being separated from us, but that’s just the luck of the draw. He’ll have to get used to the new group eventually.
Just forming a line was a monumental task for the new Middle-year students. After watching the Sheep Class and Giraffe Class head out before the Rabbit Class followed. In the assembly, the rows are arranged by grade-Youngsters, Middle-year, and then Older-year-parallel to the stage. Since the new Youngsters hadn’t had their entrance ceremony yet, our class, Rabbit Class 1, was right at the front. We entered the gym under the gaze of all the other students. Not that these kids were self-aware enough to feel self-conscious. I caught Suu-chan’s eye as she sat in her row and gave her a little wave.
”The opening ceremony will now begin,” a teacher announced.
”Congratulations to all the Middle-kids on becoming Older-kids, and to the Youngsters on becoming Middle-kids-“
I tuned out the Principal’s long-winded speech and the guest greetings. After the new staff were introduced and a representative boy and girl from the Older-year class announced their goals for the year, it was finally time for the main event.
”-And now, we will announce the teachers assigned to each class.”
The room, which had been halfway dead, suddenly buzzed with energy. The teachers didn’t even try to stop the chatter this time.
”(Makoto, who do you want?)” Yuma whispered.
”(Hmm. Who do you want, Yuma?)” I whispered back.
”(I like Riko-sensei!)”
”(I see… well, then I hope we get Riko-sensei too.)”
Yuma was nothing if not direct. (But you can’t take a kindergartener’s ‘love’ at face value, or the Rose Class would have been a battlefield of drama.)
”(What about you, Kotarou?)”
”(…I want Riko-sensei,)” Kotarou admitted.
”(Looks like we’re all in agreement then!)”
The two boys chatted across me. It seemed Riko-sensei, who had been with us last year, was the crowd favorite. I glanced over at the teachers waiting in the wings. They looked surprisingly nervous. Maybe they hadn’t been told their assignments yet, either.
”-Moving on to the Middle-year.”
The Pre-K teachers exited the stage, and the Middle-year staff took their places.
”Rabbit Class Homeroom Teacher: Teacher Sayanagi Ai.”
Sayanagi gave a tiny fist pump when her name was called and headed to the stage with a grin. Yuma and Kotarou didn’t even try to hide their disappointment. I felt bad for Sayanagi; hearing a collective groan from your new students can’t be good for the ego.
”Assistant Homeroom Teacher: Teacher Kosaka Seiko.”
A veteran teacher that Hinomori Kindergarten was lucky to have. We’d be in good hands this year. But the real tension was the Sheep Class.
”Sheep Class Homeroom Teacher: Teacher Nagata Riko. Assistant Homeroom Teacher: Teacher Nagashima Haruka.”
Riko-sensei looked a bit stiff as she walked up. Still, if she was looking after Suu-chan, I could rest easy. Honestly, I would have felt better if Seiko-sensei was with her, but that’s probably a bit insulting to Riko-sensei.
”Giraffe Class Homeroom Teacher: Teacher Okazaki Arisa. Assistant Homeroom Teacher: Teacher Shirakawa Yugo.”
With the former Rose Rangers’ teachers decided and the Older-year announcements finished, the ceremony came to an end.
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Summary:
Makoto begins his second year of kindergarten as a ‘Middle-year’ student in the Rabbit Class. While killing time playing a finger game with his friends, he observes the chaotic nature of his new classmates compared to his previous class. The chapter culminates in the school assembly where teacher assignments are announced, revealing that their favorite teacher, Riko-sensei, will be heading the Sheep Class instead of theirs.
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Trivia:
- The ‘Rose Rangers’ mention suggests that Makoto had organized his previous class into a disciplined group, hinting at his leadership influence.
- The nerviousness of the teachers suggests that assignments might be politically or strategically decided, rather than just routine.
- Makoto’s immediate wave to Suu-chan establishes her as a primary emotional anchor despite the class split
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Character Insight:
Makoto’s relationship with Yuma and Kotarou is solidified as they navigate the ‘tragedy’ of losing their favorite teacher together. Yuma’s blunt affection for Riko-sensei contrasts with Makoto’s adult-like skepticism of childhood crushes.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Hinomori Kindergarten uses a class naming system based on flowers (Rose) and animals (Rabbit, Sheep, Giraffe). The ‘Nenchuu’ (Middle-year) transition is a major social milestone for the children.
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TL Notes:
The finger game described is ‘Chopsticks,’ a popular hand game in Japan. The term ‘violence of numbers’ is a direct translation of a common Japanese phrase (kazu no bouryoku) used to describe the unfairness of a majority ganging up on a minority.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Jun – Hyper‑active Rose‑Class kindergartner in a tracksuit, gluttonous and pure‑hearted yet easily tricked, has extreme strength — often digging the sandbox liner. She idolizes her mother and play‑fights with brother Makoto, who reins in her chaos with calm restraint. A high‑energy boy from the former Rose Class greets everyone with a striking impact.
• Shiho-chan – A member of the friend group who arrived early and is close enough to Yuma’s family to stay over.
• Suu-chan – A refined young girl with soft skin, embodying ‘lady’s grace’ and strict etiquette, lives in the household where she is close to Maa‑kun. She holds Makoto to a high standard of grooming, blending elegance with a child’s warmth.
• Shiho – A four-year-old Rose-Class girl with a side-up ponytail, she is Hina’s younger sister and a close friend to Makoto, Suu-chan, Yuma, and Suzuka. Often seen with her favorite hair clip, kitten-themed placemat, and training chopsticks, she loves picture books and worked hard to learn Hiragana. She enjoys swimming, makes mud dumplings using Makoto’s advice, and quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention.
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura is a frail, sickly four-year-old from a wealthy, land-owning family. Known for his idol-like face and quiet, observant nature, he is the eldest son of the Yoshikura family and Miyu’s younger brother. A member of the Rose Class, he is close friends with Makoto, whom he deeply admires. Despite being physically smaller and slower than his peers, he excels at block-building and paper-folding.
• Kotarou – A quiet, sleepy boy from the former Rose Class, with deft hands that excel at origami, now a dedicated gamer who recently claimed the ‘Champion’ title after defeating the ‘Elite Four’.
• Kotaro – Morihashi Kotarou is a quiet, slender kindergarten boy in Rose Class, friend of Makoto. He avoids classroom chaos, prefers solitude, and helps Makoto with sandbox building projects. A typical child who loves toys, games, and Kamen Rider, he remains loyal yet stays out of trouble.
• 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.
• Makoto – A four-year-old (93cm, 13kg) Rose Class student who is actually a reincarnated 30-year-old salaryman. Dressed in a white shirt, blue vest, and cap, he acts as the group’s calm, analytical “Boss” and caregiver, carrying essentials like hand cream. Revered by peers as a mature, athletic idol, he mediates conflicts and protects Suu-chan. Despite his father’s gender confusion, he remains a dependable, cynical leader.
• Morihashi Kotarou – Morihashi Kotarou is a quiet, slender kindergarten boy in Rose Class, friend of Makoto. He avoids classroom chaos, prefers solitude, and helps Makoto with sandbox building projects. A typical child who loves toys, games, and Kamen Rider, he remains loyal yet stays out of trouble.
• Yashiro Makoto – Yashiro Makoto (also called Makoto) is a 30‑year‑old salaryman reincarnated into a 4‑year‑old’s body (93 cm, 13 kg), attending Rose Class in a white shirt, blue vest and cap. He serves as the group’s calm, analytical “Boss,” caregiver, and protector of Suu‑chan, mediating conflicts with a cynical, mature demeanor despite his father’s gender confusion.
• Yoshikura Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura, a frail four‑year‑old from a wealthy land‑owning family, sports an idol‑like face and quiet, observant demeanor. Eldest son of the Yoshikura clan, younger brother of Miyu, he belongs to Rose Class, admires Makoto deeply, and excels at block‑building and paper‑folding. Shy and polite, he holds a strong affection for Nagata Riko‑sensei.
• Imai Jun – A boy in the Rabbit Group and member of Rose Class, he’s high‑energy, athletic—excelling at footraces and jump rope—and loves the spotlight, earning a perfect‑attendance award. Enthusiastic and competitive, he’s Makoto’s classmate and currently on a winning streak in a finger game.
• Riko – Riko-sensei, the lead teacher, PE instructor, and school nurse at Hinomori Kindergarten, balances a nurturing, observant warmth toward children with a dry, cynical internal wit. She manages class dynamics, photography, and progress interviews alongside Seiko-sensei. While she judges coworkers sharply, she finds solace in Makoto’s influence and Maa-kun’s skills, often unwinding at girls’ nights with colleagues.
• Sayanagi Ai – A teacher at the kindergarten. Previously the teacher for Chrysanthemum Class. She is athletic and loves footraces. The new homeroom teacher for the Rabbit Class. Cheerful and energetic.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob hair, former long‑distance track star turned homeroom teacher of Chrysanthemum Class and Riko’s senior, athletic yet unrefined, drives a car and never drinks. When stressed she slips into regional dialects and a frantic voice pierces drills in the next room. Now a kindergarten teacher, she vents bluntly during off‑duty parent‑teacher conferences, single and frustrated with her job.
• 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.
• Nagata Riko – The former Rose Class teacher, now homeroom teacher for the Sheep Class. Very popular among the students.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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