Volume 4 Chapter 53 Sports Day (Middle Class) ⑤
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The parents and PTA relay served as a mere opening act. Finally, the main event was here: the Inter-District Relay¹.
The kids marched onto the field with a dignity that belied their age, bibs pinned to their chests showing their district numbers and running order. They waved to their bus mates, best friends, and the familiar faces of cheering parents, looking every bit like the “selected elite” they were.
The group split into two—the odd-numbered and even-numbered runners—and headed to their respective standby positions on opposite sides of the track.
The five Juniors—excluding Makoto—took their marks. Their starting positions were staggered, carefully calculated to account for the distance difference between the inner and outer lanes. The second-leg runners were already standing on the track, their hearts pounding as they waited for their turn.
Since Hinomori Kindergarten placed a heavy emphasis on physical education, the rules for the selective relay were surprisingly professional. The first leg followed a “separate course” rule, staying strictly within their lanes, while the second leg was an “open course” where they could cut inside. They even enforced a strict takeover zone² for the baton exchange.
While these rules seemed a bit advanced for kindergarteners, Hinomori was a high-tier school where the curriculum matched the tuition. Logistics like these were child’s play to them. By the time they reached the Senior Class, they were practically coaching the younger kids. Being able to remember the rules was a prerequisite for making the team; the kids who were naturally gifted at sports tended to pick them up with ease. If you told them these were “Grown-Up Rules,” they’d buckle down with double the focus.
Of course, in the heat of a dead heat, logic sometimes flew out the window. Even then, a foul didn’t mean instant disqualification. If a child overshot the exchange zone, a teacher would gently but firmly corral them back to finish the pass. If a first-leg runner stepped on a line during a curve, the teachers usually looked the other way, provided it wasn’t a shortcut. The staff knew better than anyone that their athletes were still works in progress; being professionals, they knew exactly when to nudge the rules for the sake of the game.
The roster and running order had been decided by the district coaches. For District 6, that was the Senior Class assistant lead. After weeks of analyzing practice times, the lineup was set. The traditional strategy was to put the fastest kids—the Seniors for whom this was the grand finale—at the back of the pack.
Under that logic, Makoto should have started the race, with Suzuki taking the second leg. However, Suzuki was itching for a rematch with Jun. More importantly, Suzuki had a unique quirk: she actually ran faster when she was chasing after Makoto. Thus, the order was flipped: Suzuki first, Makoto second.
”Starting on the inside—District 1, in the red bibs—”
As the announcer called out the districts, Makoto stole a glance at the Senior Class runners standing beside him. In the world of a five-year-old, a one-year age gap was a literal lifetime. Height wasn’t a perfect indicator of speed, but those long legs were an undeniable advantage, not to mention the raw muscle mass of a child who had already hit their growth spurt. Even though Makoto was perfectly average for his grade, standing among the Seniors made him look tiny.
He knew the math was against him. Even with the Seniors visibly shaking from nerves, the physical gap was real. In a straight sprint, he’d be dead last. He’d just seen that gap firsthand during the obstacle course, and that wasn’t even a pure test of speed. But a relay is more than the sum of its parts.
”A one-shot race on the big day is just more exciting,” the Principal had told them. “A race that isn’t fun to watch isn’t fun to run, either.”
Rehearsals were fine for logistics, but they spoiled the ending. If everyone knew the results beforehand, the tension evaporated. It wasn’t uncommon for the kids to lose motivation if they realized they were destined to lose in front of their parents. On the flip side, you couldn’t exactly ask a hyper-competitive child to hold back during practice. The goal was to foster a competitive spirit, after all.
So, the selective relay was kept as a “grand reveal.” During the joint rehearsals, they had only walked the course. Today was the first time they were actually letting loose. Standing next to his schoolmates, Makoto had a vague idea of their speed, but information on the other grades was hard to come by.
But this was a team effort. Anything could happen. Right now, the only people who could accurately predict the winner were the PTA members who had been scouting the “hot districts” like they were betting on the Derby. The favorites were Districts 1 and 2, as usual. The dark horse? The perennial bottom-feeders of District 6. And everyone knew why.
”…Phew…”
Makoto shook out his hands and feet, exhaling a slow, steady breath. People didn’t just adore him because he was a “good kid.” They adored him because he always seemed to be holding an ace in the hole.
Personally, Makoto wished they’d stop looking at him like he was about to pull a miracle out of his hat, but only his mother and Suzuki ever noticed his reluctant scowl. Even they, his closest confidants, couldn’t help but expect the world from him—and Makoto, being who he was, couldn’t help but try to deliver.
”Runners to your marks! Set…”
—Bang!
The starter pistol smoked, and the first leg exploded into motion. They were mostly Juniors, but as selective athletes, the pressure they exerted was massive.
”Go, Captain!!”
”Masaki-kun, move it!!”
”Jun, don’t you dare lose!!”
The roar from the parents and the kids was deafening. Despite being the final event, the crowd’s energy was at its peak. The runners gripped their batons, tearing through the first half of the curve. Makoto locked eyes with Suzuki. She looked more serious than he had ever seen her. (Suzuki, who used to be so tiny, has grown up so much…) If he weren’t about to receive a baton, he could have spent an hour getting sentimental.
”—Oh…”
That soft sigh—was it honest praise for her form, or despair at the Herculean task ahead? With the lane-start, it was hard to tell who was winning, but as they rounded the bend toward the exchange zone, the hierarchy emerged.
”—Leading the pack is… District 6! Followed by District 1, then 2! Then… wow, it’s 5, 3, and 4!”
The leader wasn’t a Senior. It wasn’t even the reigning champion, Jun. It was Suzuki. She was in lane five, where the curve was gentler, but her speed was undeniable.
”Go, Suu-chan! Give it everything!!” Makoto shouted, cupping his hands.
Last year, she’d had the gold in her grasp only to trip at the finish line, losing to Jun. She had carried so much weight into that race: the desire to support her pregnant mother, the wish to be a “cool big sister,” and the hope of earning Makoto’s praise.
The result had been heartbreak. She’d held back the tears until the very end, only crumbling once she was safe in Makoto’s arms.
But today was different. Even though they were in different classes now, the relay gave her the rematch she craved. Makoto knew exactly why she was so obsessed with beating Jun. Little girls could be surprisingly cutthroat when it came to competition.
And, in some small part, it was probably because Makoto spent so much time looking after Jun. Part of it was a year’s worth of competitive spite. The other part was the raw jealousy of a little girl in love. Fueled by those twin fires, Suzuki tore up the dirt to reach Makoto first.
But the Seniors and Jun weren’t giving up. Driven by Senior pride and Champion’s grit, they closed the gap. Then came the moment of truth: the handoff. The two runners nipping at Suzuki’s heels instinctively slowed down, terrified of a collision in the exchange zone. Suzuki didn’t hesitate. If anything, seeing Makoto waiting for her made her find another gear.
(…, …, Now!)
Makoto timed it to the millisecond. Before Suzuki even reached him, he turned his back and took off at a full sprint.
”…Maa-kun!” Suzuki screamed as she caught him.
A sharp snap echoed as the baton hit his open palm without either of them breaking stride.
”—Maa-kun, go for it!”
”Aye, aye, ma’am!”
He snatched the baton at the very edge of the zone and rocketed forward, leaving the chaos behind.
”Whoa! District 6 with a perfect blind handoff! They’ve opened up a massive lead! Are you kidding me!?” the announcer shouted, his voice cracking with shock.
The other second-leg runners were still fumbling—looking back, stopping to grab the baton, and then trying to find their footing again. By the time they finished their clunky exchanges, Makoto was already five strides ahead and accelerating.
This was their secret weapon. Makoto had seen the Olympic team pull off this same “underhand pass” on TV—a move that focused on maintaining top speed rather than safety. It was a gamble only possible in a team event.
Sure, the other kids had practiced passing the baton, but maybe a dozen times at most. For a kindergartener, “success” usually just meant not dropping it. But Suzuki and Makoto had just pulled off a handoff that would have looked at home in a high school championship.
It was an act of pure faith, born from Suzuki’s absolute trust in him. (If Maa-kun says we can do it, we can.) And it was a feat of technical mastery made possible by Makoto’s years of observing her. He knew her stride, her speed, and her reach better than anyone. He didn’t need to look back; he could feel her coming. Without that deep connection, the “blind pass” would have ended in a faceplant.
It happened so fast the crowd barely processed it. One moment there was a cluster of runners; the next, Makoto was flying down the straightaway like he’d been shot out of a cannon. But everyone understood the scoreboard: District 6, the eternal losers, were dominating the field.
”District 6 is out in front!! Chasing that tiny back are Districts 2 and 1! Then 4, 5, and 3!”
As the stadium erupted, Makoto focused on his legs. The handoff had been perfect, but all it did was give him a head start against kids who were naturally faster. There were no more tricks left—just raw effort. He felt the Seniors closing in, their heavy footsteps vibrating through the track. He pushed himself harder, carrying Suzuki’s baton toward the next runner with everything he had.
He managed to hand it off still in first place, though this time it was a clumsy, desperate reach compared to the first one.
”—Haa… haa… phew…”
He collapsed onto the grass, his lungs burning. (At least I did my part…) He could finally look Suzuki and Akari in the eye.
”—And there it is! District 2 takes the lead! The favorites have reclaimed the top spot!” the announcer cried.
A cold bucket of water. As expected, the gap in raw athleticism was too much. Before Makoto had even caught his breath, the lead had vanished. The Seniors of District 6 fought like lions, but they slowly slipped back. They finished 4th out of six.
District 1 took the gold. Their anchor was a Senior who looked like a future track star, blowing past two people to clinch a dramatic comeback. District 4 took second, District 2 third, followed by District 6, 5, and 3. As the athletes left the field, the crowd gave them a standing ovation. Regardless of the rank, it had been a hell of a show.
”Hmph,” Suzuki pouted.
”You did great, Suu-chan,” said Makoto.
They hadn’t medaled, but they had given District 6 its best finish in a decade. Everyone knew the credit belonged to the two Juniors. Next year’s expectations were already through the roof. Suzuki, however, wasn’t interested in moral victories.
”But hey, you definitely beat Jun,” Makoto added.
”…Mm! ♪” said Suzuki.
That did the trick. Beating her rival was the ultimate consolation prize. When Makoto patted her head, her frustration melted into a victorious smile. As for the “Reigning Champion” herself…
”Dammit! Suzuki, you’re freaking fast! But I’m not losing next time! I’m starting special training the second I get home!!” Jun shouted.
She was already scouting the rematch. Jun was used to being the underdog with her older brothers. She’d get knocked down, pout for a second, and then immediately start planning her comeback. Makoto couldn’t help but admire her grit.
”n. footrace also relay ssu Suzuki wins! Maa-kun will do his best!”
”…Right. I guess I will too,” said Makoto.
”Ah! Makoto! That ‘Whoosh! Bam!’ pass! I want to do that with you too!” Jun yelled.
”No way!” Suzuki snapped. “That’s the ultimate symbol of our bond!”
”…Okay, let’s just head back for the closing ceremony,” Makoto said, steering them away before a brawl started.
”Fine.”
”Race you there!”
”Hey, no winning!”
”Can we please just walk?”
”Mm.”
”No fair!!”
So they returned to their respective classes for the closing ceremony. Their second Sports Day came to a successful close.
—
Summary:
Suzuki and Makoto perform a professional-level blind baton pass in the Inter-District Relay, shocking the audience. Despite their individual efforts, their district finishes fourth after the Senior leg. Suzuki finds solace in finally beating her rival, Jun.
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Trivia:
- Suzuki’s ‘stat boost’ is tied specifically to chasing Makoto.
- District 6 is a perpetual underdog, making their temporary lead a massive narrative upset.
- Makoto is a transmigrator, which explains his knowledge of Olympic-level track techniques like the underhand pass.
- The ‘blind pass’ relies on zero visual confirmation, purely trust and timing
—
Character Insight:
Suzuki’s growth is marked by her ability to channel jealousy and frustration into peak athletic performance. Makoto shows his classic ‘reluctant hero’ trope, acting as the stabilizing force for his childhood friend.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author likely references the real-life 2008 or 2016 Japanese Olympic relay teams, known for their superior baton work over raw speed.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Makoto – Four-year-old Rose-class student, 93 cm, 13 kg, in white shirt, blue vest, and cap—actually a 30-year-old salaryman reincarnated, known as the “Boss” of kindergarten. Calm, logical, and dependable, he mediates conflicts, hands out hand cream, protects Suu-chan, and manages Jun, earning quiet respect. Nicknamed Maa-kun and falsely believed to be Akari’s son, he’s the dry-narrator of the Rabbit Group, using coin tricks and adult wisdom. Target of Suzuki’s affection and Mitsuhisa’s teasing, his hidden “ace” is his transmigrated adult mind—calm, strategic, and quietly in control.
• Jun – A tanned, hyperactive preschooler known as the Champion of her class, she’s the fastest runner with a massive appetite and loud, unfiltered energy, often mistaken for a boy. Wearing a track suit, she leads peers with wild enthusiasm but tires quickly and grows moody when games stall. She idolizes her calm brother Makoto, treating him like a superior, and fiercely admires him despite their clashing personalities—he quietly manages her chaos. She views Suzuki as a rival but maintains a resilient, sportsmanlike spirit. Trains weekends on Mt. Hiou, leaks secrets, and is a core member of the Rabbit Group, her boundless energy and appetite defining her even as she strives to match Makoto’s quiet restraint.
• Suzuki – Suu‑chan, a doll‑like five‑year‑old with dark braided pigtails, topknot, sleepy sparkling eyes and pink rain boots, is the eldest Totsuka daughter (Mio & Mitsuhisa). Calls herself Makoto’s editor, reads clocks for his arrival, clutches a pink candy tin, clings to his arm as his ‘girlfriend.’ Shy with strangers, fiercely devoted, jealous. In the Sheep Group she somersaulted with Makoto, won his heat, sees race results as next‑year class placement, calls herself his ‘Official Wife’ candidate, craving physical ‘recharge’ with him. Childhood friend, highly competitive toward Jun, stoic yet tomboyish, deeply loves her younger sisters.
• Masaki – A student in the Sheep Group. Nervous about the relay despite being fast.
• 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.
• 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.’
• Akari – Makoto’s mother, named “light,” is a 28‑year‑old single parent of Makoto and newborn Maa‑kun. She has long dark‑brown hair, subtle makeup, and a poised, observant look. Estranged from her parents, she’s loving yet strict, works full‑time IT, lives beside friend Mio, mentors Suzuki with candid photos, and navigates parent circles with bank‑service finesse. Outwardly shy but a secret shogi player with a mischievous streak, she’s now more ready for Sports Day after switching jobs for stability. Calm, modest, kind, supportive, affectionate, she often teases Makoto, though she admits she’s not as dexterous as her son.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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