Volume 4 Chapter 5 Rabbit Group
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After finishing the opening ceremony in the gymnasium, we headed back to the classroom. Once inside, we followed the teacher’s instructions, maintaining our line as we formed a circle and sat on the floor.
The teacher joined the circle just like us youngsters, dropping to one knee to gather everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone! Starting today, I’ll be looking after all of you in the Rabbit Group. To the kids who were in my Chrysanthemum Class¹, I’m excited to have you as Middle Kids! To those from the Rose Class and Sunflower Class, it’s nice to meet you. I want us to become friends as soon as possible, so let’s all introduce ourselves! Tell us your name and your favorite thing!”
She took a quick breath before continuing. “Okay, I’ll go first! I’m Sayanagi Ai. Please call me Ai-sensei. I love staying active, and I’m a great runner! I’m looking forward to a great year!” The teachers started clapping encouragingly, and we youngsters followed their lead.
”Then, let’s go in order starting from this side. Jun-chan, you’re up first,” Ai said. She turned to Jun, who was sitting next to her, gesturing for him to stand.
”My name is Imai Jun! I like running too! Nice to meet you!” Jun shouted. Even though Ai had just provided the template, he was essentially the lead-off hitter. Most kids would be a nervous wreck, but his confident, dignified performance was honestly impressive.
”Alright, next-” Ai continued. Thanks to the good example Jun set, the second and third kids sailed through their turns. Keeping the format simple was a smart move on her part.
However, success isn’t a given for everyone. “…m… h… sh…” It was the turn of a certain girl-Emoto Mihoshi-chan, if I recalled correctly. Her lips were moving, but her voice was so faint that even I, listening intently, could barely catch a sound.
There’s always a kid like that. The ones who hate the spotlight, the ones who freeze up in front of a crowd, or the ones who just aren’t built for speaking up. (Honestly, I’d had a nagging feeling that this ‘circle introduction’ would feel like a public execution for some kids. Not that I could think of a better alternative on the fly. Besides, for the sake of their future, they probably need the practice.)
Mihoshi-chan huddled close to Seiko-sensei, shrinking into herself even as she tried her best. (It wouldn’t get her past a corporate recruiter, but for a kindergartner, it should have been plenty.) If we had just moved on to the next kid, the Rabbit Group might have stayed peaceful.
”I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” A massive voice completely obliterated Mihoshi-chan’s fragile whisper.
The culprit was Kurosawa Hiromasa-kun. In my head, I call him “The General.” One look at his name makes the reason obvious-plus, he’s already known by that title in the “mom-friend” gossip circles. Hiromasa-kun was the undisputed leader of the Chrysanthemum Class last year. He’s the tallest in the Rabbit Group and has the best build. Back in our Youngsters year, he was athletic enough to take first place in the footrace, and word was he was already a prep-school prodigy.
The way he barked those words with that weird, taunting sing-song actually landed with his buddies and the more “pure-hearted” youngsters. They actually laughed. I guess it was business as usual for his clique. He’s the “mood-maker,” and being a loud-mouthed jerk is his way of getting a laugh. It’s a cheap kind of humor, but you can’t exactly expect refinement from a bunch of toddlers.
Mihoshi-chan, however, was devastated. Seiko-sensei tried to jump in with some damage control, but the girl panicked and finally burst into tears.
”Hiromasa-kun. Those words you said really hurt Mihoshi-chan’s feelings, you know? You need to apologize,” Ai said, scolding him.
”I just couldn’t hear her! I didn’t do anything wrong!” Hiromasa replied, digging his heels in. Ai wasn’t having it. She barked his name again with a bit more “Teacher Pressure,” and Hiromasa finally buckled.
With his face twisted in a sulky pout, he managed a “Fine! I’M SORRY!” He gave a hollow apology, and the matter was dropped for the moment. (He’ll definitely be getting a private talking-to before heading home later, though.)
After one kid in between, it was finally Hiromasa’s turn. “Kurosawa Hiromasa! I like Masked Rider! And I won’t lose to anyone in a footrace!” He struck a transformation pose with a smug grin. (After just getting yelled at? This guy…) I was just starting to marvel at his thick skin when someone spoke up.
”…So lame.” A single, simple insult rang out, perfectly audible to everyone in the room.
Caught off guard, Hiromasa froze. He whipped around to glare at the source: Hojo Himeno-chan, otherwise known as “The Princess.” She’s a sharp-tongued, articulate kid who listens to the teachers and helps out. She’s not the most athletic, but the gossip mill says she’s already a genius who can recite multiplication tables.
Himeno-chan was originally in the Sunflower Class. She and Mihoshi-chan were in the same group last year and they’re always together on the bus. Their parents are tight, too. It’s easy to see Himeno-chan as the “big sister” protector for the fragile Mihoshi-chan. Clearly, she had some thoughts about Hiromasa making her friend cry.
When Ai warned her that she “shouldn’t say things like that,” Himeno-chan just gave a polite, obedient apology and moved the conversation right along. Hiromasa was left standing there, fuming and speechless. (Not bad,) I thought, feeling a spark of admiration. Still, this Rabbit Group atmosphere was getting pretty toxic. Not that it’s my problem; I’m strictly a bystander here.
Ai clapped her hands together to reset the mood, and the intros continued.
”……Raita. ……………” That was Takagi Raita-kun. Great at making weird shrieks, but he stutters the moment he tries to actually talk.
”I am Hojo Himeno. I like reading books. Nice to meet you.” Himeno-chan had likely just secured the top spot in the Rabbit Group hierarchy by proving she’s in a different league.
”…Haga Hironari. ……I like outer space.” That was Haga Hironari-kun, aka “The Professor.” (Pro-tip: don’t try to challenge this kid unless you’ve done your homework.)
Maybe because they’d just watched the Himeno-Hiromasa fireworks, the rest of the group stayed quiet and didn’t heckle.
”Morihashi Kotarou. I like games. Thanks.”
”I’m Yashiro Makoto. My favorite thing is s-actually, I’m hoping to find it this year. Thanks.”
”I’m Yoshikura Yuma! I like cars! Nice to meet you!”
Finally, with Kotarou, me, and Yuma, the introductions were over. So, day one of the Rabbit Group. It was a bit of a mess and not exactly a lucky start, but with Ai and the veteran Seiko-sensei, things will work out somehow.
Honestly, more importantly… I’m suffering from a major Suu-chan deficiency.
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Summary:
The newly formed ‘Rabbit Group’ begins its first day with self-introductions, serving as a microcosm of childhood social politics. The narrator observes the class dynamics through an adult lens as a confrontation erupts between the boisterous Hiromasa and the articulate Himeno. The chapter concludes with the introductions finishing and the narrator expressing a longing for someone named ‘Suu-chan’.
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Trivia:
- The use of ‘cram schools’ even at the kindergarten level hints at the competitive social standing of the families involved.
- Himeno’s protection of Mihoshi suggests a long-standing alliance that may counter Hiromasa’s physical dominance.
- The narrator’s mention of ‘job hunting’ and ‘corporate recruiters’ reinforces their past-life maturity compared to the other toddlers.
- The final mention of ‘Suu-chan deficiency’ sets up a mystery regarding a missing key character
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Character Insight:
Hiromasa and Himeno are established as the class’s rival ‘power players’—one through physical size and bravado, the other through intellect and social standing. The narrator maintains a strictly observational, detached stance, preferring to analyze rather than intervene.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The kindergarten uses a floral class naming system (Chrysanthemum, Rose, Sunflower) and follows the Japanese educational transition into ‘Middle Kids’ (chuu-gumi). Social hierarchy among the children is heavily influenced by outside academics (juku).
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TL Notes:
The choice of ‘The General’ for ‘Taisho’ and ‘The Princess’ for ‘Ojou’ reflects the narrator’s sarcastic naming convention for his classmates.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Emoto Mihoshi – A shy girl in the Rabbit Group. Frequently quiet and easily moved to tears.
• 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.
• Kurosawa Hiromasa – A tall, well-built boy known as ‘The General’. Wealthy enough for prep school, highly athletic, and a fan of Masked Rider.
• 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.
• Hojo Himeno – A sharp-tongued, intelligent girl known as ‘The Princess’. Highly academically capable, attends prep school, and protects Mihoshi.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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