Volume 4 Chapter 45 Recharging
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Summer vacation had come to an end, and the second semester was beginning. The thought of returning to the daily grind of kindergarten made my heart feel somewhat heavy. It wasn’t that I actually disliked going; dealing with a crowd of children was certainly exhausting because they were unpredictable and demanding, and I sometimes wondered if I was wasting precious time during class. Still, it wasn’t as if there was absolutely nothing to learn.
What really worried me was Suu-chan. I vividly remembered the first day of the school year when she burst into tears, devastated that we would be in different classes. As someone who tried his best every day to keep her from being sad, I had never felt more powerless. While she hadn’t cried since that second day, her expression always clouded over whenever we had to part ways in front of the classroom. (I know she needs to practice being patient, but knowing she’s lonely because we’re apart is a tough pill to swallow. I just want to stay with her.)
Coming back to kindergarten after the long break made my heart ache all over again. There wasn’t much I could do about the situation, so the best I could manage was making sure I carried a few extra handkerchiefs. Contrary to my gloomy expectations, however, Suu-chan seemed to be looking forward to school and was in high spirits. She even ended up dragging me onto the shuttle bus by my hand. I was happy to see her enjoying herself, and I suppose it was a sign she was growing up, but a part of me wished she had been just a little more lonely. (It’s the complicated feelings of an adult.)
The reason for her good mood became clear once we reached the hallway between the Rabbit Group and Sheep Group classrooms. We had been standing there for at least five minutes. The teachers ignored us, or rather left us be, as if our refusal to enter was just a normal part of the day. They were likely too busy wrangling the other youngsters whose energy levels were unhinged after the long break.
”Yo, Boss! ‘Sup-ssu!”¹
”It’s true! The Boss is here! ‘Sup-ssu!”
”Good morning. It’s been a while,” I replied.
”Long time no see-see!”
”See-see!”
I offered casual greetings to the friends passing by. After being away for so long, they had apparently stopped calling me by my name entirely. (What happened over summer break? If you greeted a real boss like that, you’d be losing a finger.)
”Is the Boss not going to class?” one asked.
”Yeah, not quite yet,” I said.
”Are you guys flirting again?”
”It’s called being lovey-dovey!”
”I guess. You jealous?” I asked.
”Not even!”
My friends kept pestering me, but I was busy with Suu-chan. I wanted them to just go play in their own rooms. To explain what was happening: Suu-chan was clinging to me in a firm hug and refused to let go. She wouldn’t even let me take off my backpack. While I wouldn’t say it out loud, it was incredibly hot; summer vacation was over, but we were still in the thick of the heat.
”Suu-chan?” I asked.
”Still,” she said.
”…I see,” I replied.
”♪”
This had been going on since we arrived at the door. I wondered if this was really okay, considering Suu-chan was supposed to have a ‘Lady’s Agreement’² with Mio-san to refrain from bold public displays.
”By the way, Suu-chan, is this allowed for a Lady?” I asked.
”Nn, it’s okay. This is ‘recharging’³.”
Apparently, she had been coached on a new justification.
”Recharging?” I asked.
”Nn, Mama said. Smartphones don’t move unless you charge them with ‘lectricity,” she said.
”…”
”Ssu won’t move unless I recharge from Maa-kun.”
”…I see,” I replied.
So, Suu-chan was currently in the middle of a vital recharge, and I was the power outlet. To think she had finally reached the level where she could pull off a move like this. For the record, Mother did this too: when waking up, before leaving, when coming home, during bath time, before bed, and whenever the mood strikes her.
”How much longer do you think it’ll take to finish?” I asked.
”Ten years,” she said.
(That’s a problem. It’ll never end. A ten-year charge… oh, I see how it is.)
”How much of a charge do you have right now?” I asked.
”Zero,” she said.
”Zero, huh…?”
”Nn!”
Suu-chan looked delighted that the charging wasn’t progressing at all. Of course, if the charge hit one hundred percent, she would lose her excuse to cling to me. But we couldn’t stay like this forever; the opening ceremony was waiting.
”How can we make it go faster?” I asked.
”If Maa-kun gives me a squeeze or a mwah,” she said.
She was being completely driven by her desires. Since a “mwah” would draw too much attention, I opted for the squeeze.
”Mmm… phoo… ♪”
When I hugged her back, I heard a happy little puff of breath against my ear. She seemed pleased. Suddenly, a kid tanned dark from the sun popped his head in.
”Ah! It’s Makoto and Suzuki!”
”You can’t, Jun-chan! They’re in the middle of flirting!” Shiho-chan said.
Ignoring Shiho-chan, Jun approached us.
”Hey, hey, whatcha doing?” Jun asked.
”Recharging from Maa-kun,” she said.
”So she says,” I added.
”Is that fun?” Jun asked.
”Nn, it’s fun,” she said.
Jun looked puzzled. This was likely too advanced for him.
”Hey, forget that! Let’s play tag! That’s way more fun!” Jun yelled.
”Muu, still charging,” she said.
”Come on, come on!” Jun said.
”Hey, Jun, don’t pull on my backpack,” I said.
”Muu, let go!” she said.
”Come on, come on!” Jun said.
”Hey, cut it out. I didn’t say you could grab my clothes either. They’ll stretch. Just go to class quietly…” I said.
”Jun is going over there!” he yelled.
”Come on, come on!”
”Ugh… heavy…” I muttered.
”Muu! Jun, get off!” she yelled.
Jun tried to climb onto my back over the backpack. Even if I wanted to shake him off, I was pinned by Suu-chan. (Help me, Shiho-chan!)
”Is that a love triangle drama?” Shiho-chan asked.
”Yeah! A lovers’ quarrel!” another kid added.
(No help at all. She’s enjoying this. She’s even roped in the other kids.) Honestly, they seemed to think I was playground equipment. My backpack was getting completely flattened.
”Jun, seriously, let go,” I said.
When I dropped my voice to a serious tone, he became surprisingly obedient. I wished he’d just done that from the start, but his energy was likely spiked because of the first day. I let him off with a warning. I watched Jun sense the danger and flee into the classroom before turning back to Suu-chan.
”Suu-chan, I’m sorry, but it’s really time to go,” I said.
”Muu…” she said.
Her face fell. The reason she was in such a good mood this morning was probably because she was hyper-focused on the “charging” reward.
”Look, you can just recharge again when we’re done for the day,” I said.
”Nn,” she said.
Reluctantly, she finally released me. I used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead. I was glad I brought extras, though this wasn’t exactly the use I had in mind.
”I’ll see you later then,” I said.
”Nn,” she said.
She looked back several times, but she finally made it into the Sheep Group classroom. Watching her go, I felt a temporary sense of relief. It goes without saying that from that day on, Suu-chan frequently came to cling to me under the pretext of needing a recharge.
”Maa-kun. My battery died-ssu.”
”That was a bit fast, don’t you think?” I replied.
—
Summary:
As the second semester begins, Makoto returns to kindergarten worrying about Suu-chan’s separation anxiety. To his surprise, she uses a new excuse called ‘recharging’ to hug him in the hallway for an extended period. Despite interruptions from their energetic classmate Jun, Suu-chan successfully manipulates the situation to get extra affection before heading to class.
—
Trivia:
- The ‘Boss’ nickname is a new development from over the summer vacation.
- Makoto’s mother and Mio-san both use the ‘charging’ excuse for physical affection, suggesting where Suu-chan learned it.
- Suu-chan is in a different class group (Sheep) than Makoto (Rabbit).
- The term ‘Ten years’ is a pun/double meaning for a long-term commitment disguised as a charging time
—
Character Insight:
Suu-chan shows significant growth in social cunning, using logic taught by her mother to bypass the ‘Lady’s Agreement’ and secure physical intimacy with Makoto.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author often uses the ‘reincarnated adult’ perspective to contrast innocent childhood actions with mature, sometimes cynical, internal monologues.
—
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.
• 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 – Mio‑san, chairperson of the Totsuka 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, serves as Akari’s confidante, films and teases the children, cooks for her family, manages the household, mentors Maa‑kun in hair‑drying while protecting UV, and is Akari’s childhood friend and neighbor.
• 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.’
• 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, earns respect. Dry narrator in the Rabbit Group, uses logic and coin tricks. Known as Akari’s son, nicknamed Maa‑kun, popular Middle Kids student. Target of Suzuki’s affection and Mitsuhisa’s teasing.
• Suzuki – Suu‑chan, a doll‑like five‑year‑old with dark braided pigtails, a topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes and pink rain boots, is Mio and Mitsuhisa’s eldest daughter. A model student with uncanny intuition, she calls herself Editor‑in‑Chief of Makoto’s photo records, reads clocks to track his arrival, clutches a pink candy tin, and clings to his arm, proclaiming herself his girlfriend. Shy around strangers, she’s fiercely devoted and jealous.
• 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.
• Jun-chan – Daughter of Imai Sanae. Plays roughly with blocks and is often mistaken for a boy due to her tomboyish energy.
• Shiho – Four‑year‑old Rose‑Class girl with a side‑up ponytail, kitten‑themed hair clip and placemat, uses training chopsticks, loves picture books and Hiragana, swims, makes mud dumplings with Makoto’s tips, quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention and often follows Suu‑chan to meet him. Daughter of a lawyer; Suu‑chan’s close friend and also fond of Makoto.
• Jun – A hyperactive kindergartner from the Imai family, clad in a track suit, with boundless energy and a blunt, loud speaking style; idolizes her mother, leaks secrets, and leads preschoolers with wild enthusiasm, yet exhausts stamina quickly—playfully clashes with her calm brother Makoto (same class), trains weekends at Mt. Hiou, has top-tier speed and a huge appetite, and balances her chaotic energy with his quiet restraint, despite being mistaken for a boy from the Rabbit Group.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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