Volume 4 Chapter 54 The Younger Sisters’ Birthday
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The days of being swept up in my friends’ boundless energy had returned now that Sports Day practice was over. Upon returning from kindergarten, the house was already buzzing.
”Now that Suu-chan and Maa-kun are home, the birthday party decoration phase is officially underway!” Mio said.
Suzuki, standing right beside me, threw both hands into the air at the rallying cry. She isn’t the type to jump around and squeal, so it’s easy to miss, but one look at the sparkle in her eyes made her excitement crystal clear. She’d been restless since this morning, dying for this moment. She’d even tried to rush off to kindergarten earlier just so she could come home sooner—despite the fact that the place doesn’t exactly have a “flex-time” policy.
If we dawdled, it’d be nightfall before we knew it, so we dove straight into the work. They probably could have finished the decorating before we got back, but since Suu-chan was so set on doing it for her little sisters, her parents wanted to give her that chance. (That’s parental love for you.) Of course, they’d already handled the heavy lifting, like moving furniture to clear space and getting the cleaning done. They didn’t miss a beat there.
Following the “blueprint”—well, more like a concept sketch—drawn by our Decoration Leader, Suu-chan, we began putting up the ornaments we’d painstakingly crafted during our Sports Day practice breaks. Mother and Mitsuhisa, both of whom took paid leave today, joined in as well. It wasn’t that Mio wasn’t helping; she had the vital mission of keeping the birthday girls occupied so they wouldn’t tear the decorations apart.
”Maa-kun, piggyback,” Suu-chan said.
”Aye-aye, Captain,” I replied.
She needed a boost to reach a high spot on the wall for some paper chains. Naturally, I was the one playing the part of the step-stool. I wasn’t backing down on that. (A young man has his pride… I wasn’t about to let a little girl carry me on her back. Even if Suu-chan is technically older by a few months, and taller, and even if she’s done it a dozen times while we were playing…)
”Hey, Suu-chan. We need to actually decorate,” I said.
”Oh, right,” she replied.
I hate to ruin her fun while she’s resting her chin on my head, but the piggyback games have to wait. The guests of honor are waiting. Remembering her mission, Suu-chan balanced herself with surprising grace and tore off a piece of masking tape.
”Maa-kun, a little higher,” she said.
”Hnngh!” I groaned.
”Just a bit more,” she insisted.
”Suu-chan, in this body, this is my physical limit,” I panted.
I could feel her pouting above me as I stood on the tips of my toes, face pressed against the wall. When one kindergartner gives another a piggyback, there’s only so much vertical reach you can gain. I knew that going in, but Suu-chan wouldn’t have been satisfied if we didn’t try. The “challenge spirit” is important; humans learn through failure, after all. Which meant it was time to call in a professional. (This is why networking matters.)
”Mitsuhisa,” I called out.
”Right, my turn. Hup!” Mitsuhisa said. Looking delighted to be needed—and perhaps wearing a slightly smug “I win” expression—Mitsuhisa scooped Suu-chan right off my back.
”Papa, a little lower,” she said.
”Roger that,” he replied.
(It’s not like I’m bitter. Comparing a grown man to a preschooler is just illogical.)
”Maa-kun, why don’t we finish up the decorations down here?” Mother asked.
”Sure,” I said.
Since I was suddenly out of a job, I helped Mother blow up balloons and decorate the lower half of the wall. These were just as important. After all, these were the ones the babies would actually see at their eye level.
”Your paper-cutting is incredible, Maa-kun,” Mother said.
”You think so?” I asked.
”Yeah, the patterns are so delicate and pretty. Mom’s not very good with her hands, so I’m a little jealous,” she said.
”I’ll make you some more later then,” I replied.
”Really? Thank you!” Mother said.
She said those sweet words while holding up a paper-cut decoration shaped like maple and ginkgo leaves. (Maybe I could make a living as a paper-cutting artist in the future…?)
”Suu-chan! Maa-kun is flirting with Akari!” Mio teased.
”No! Ssu wants to flirt too! Papa, hurry up!” Suu-chan cried.
”Flirting? Honestly, Maa-kun…” Mother sighed.
With the Totsuka family firing on all cylinders, the decorations were done in under twenty minutes.
”Happy birthday to you!” we all sang. Once the room was ready, we broke into the classic birthday song, clapping along. Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan followed suit, patting their tiny hands together. By the way, it wasn’t my imagination—everyone’s pronunciation was spot on.
Not just Mother; Suu-chan and Mitsuhisa had been practicing their English diligently. While they couldn’t exactly hold a full conversation yet, they’d picked up a surprising number of simple words and phrases. A child’s ability to absorb language really is terrifying.
”Happy birthday dear Fuu-chan and Kyo-chaaan… Happy birthday to you!”
We finished the song, though the tempo definitely picked up toward the end. The two girls, having officially reached the age of one, sat in their baby chairs and immediately started face-planting into Mio’s special fruit-packed shortcake. The sporks in their hands were purely decorative.
”How’s your first-ever cake?” Mio asked.
”…”
”Is it yummy?” Mio asked again.
”…”
”I’ll take that as a yes! Look at them go!” Mio cheered.
The two just kept their mouths moving in silence. That was all the answer Mio needed. Lately, they’d moved up to three meals a day, and the variety of things they could eat had expanded significantly. But that meant we had to be careful. Nutrition was a given, but we had to keep the fats, sugars, and oils in check to avoid any stomach issues. Because of that, their cake didn’t use any heavy cream; it was made with strained yogurt instead. It’ll be a while before they can eat exactly what we do.
”Alright, let’s dig in ourselves,” Mother said.
”Yeah!” I replied.
Now that the guests of honor were occupied, we joined the feast. Suu-chan looked like she was about to vibrate out of her seat in front of her favorite cake.
”Itadakimasu!”
Our cake looked almost identical to the babies’, but ours was loaded with real whipped cream. It was piled high with a literal rainbow of fruit—strawberries, blueberries, melon, pineapple, and mango. I carefully sliced into it with my fork, making sure not to cause a fruit-slide, and took a bite.
”So good!” Suu-chan exclaimed.
”Seriously,” I agreed.
What an incredible cake. The whipped cream was velvety and light. It wasn’t overly sweet, which allowed the natural sweetness and tartness of the fruit to take center stage. The sponge cake underneath provided the perfect foundation for the whole thing… (Basics really are everything.) As I sat there savoring every bit of it, my neighbor kept shooting glances my way. I knew what she wanted.
”Maa-kun, say ahh—” Suu-chan said.
”Ahh,” I complied.
”Yummy?” she asked.
”Yeah, really yummy,” I replied.
”Hehe!” she giggled.
”Here, Suu-chan. Your turn,” I said.
”Mm!” she chirped.
Gotta make sure to reward her for all that decorating work. I glanced over to see Mitsuhisa doing pretty much the same thing. He was so busy filming Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan that Mio was basically hand-feeding him. They really are a lovey-dovey couple.
”Mom wants an ‘ahh’ too,” Mother said.
”Is that okay?” I asked.
”Of course,” she said.
I couldn’t leave Mother out. (Leaving someone out is just wrong.)
”Well then, itadakimasu. Mm, it’s delicious,” Mother said.
”Maa-kun, Ssu wants another one too!” Suu-chan insisted.
”Aye-aye, Captain,” I said.
We were having so much fun we’d almost forgotten the guests of honor, but Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan were so focused on the texture of their cake that it didn’t seem to matter.
Once the cake was finished, it was time for the “One-Year Rituals.” It sounds intense, but it’s just a long-standing Japanese tradition. I did it, and Suu-chan probably did too. First up: the Issho Mochi¹. Literally, it involves having the child carry a round rice cake made from one sho—about four pounds—of rice on their back. “Issho” sounds exactly like the word for “a lifetime,” so the ceremony carries wishes like “may they never go hungry for a lifetime,” and “may they stay healthy for a lifetime.”
After their messy faces were wiped clean, Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan were strapped into baby backpacks by Mitsuhisa, each containing a 2kg slab of mochi. By the way, these backpacks were their first birthday presents. Their names were embroidered inside the top covers; these things would be their go-to bags for outings from now on.
”Alright, there we go,” Mitsuhisa said.
”It’s heavy, so watch out!” Mio warned.
With the straps adjusted, the two stood there under the weight of the mochi. Tradition says if they stand up, they’ll “stand on their own two feet” in life; if they stay seated, they’ll “stay and carry on the family home”; and if they fall over, they’ve “tripped away their bad luck.” Basically, no matter what they do, it’s a win.
”Ma?” Fuu-chan asked.
”Aa-uu?” Kyo-chan babbled.
The two looked baffled by the sudden weight. (That thing is surprisingly heavy. Back in my day, I underestimated it and ended up flipping flat on my back. Thinking about it now, maybe I was tripping away all the “bad luck” of my past life back then.)
”Fuuka, Kyouka! Papa’s over here! Come to me!” Mitsuhisa called out.
”Fuu-chan, Kyo-chan, you can do it!” Suu-chan cheered.
Mitsuhisa stepped back and started clapping to call them over. Suu-chan cheered her sisters on. Apparently, when it was Suu-chan’s turn, she stood up perfectly. (She’s always been a tough one.)
”Ugh…” Fuu-chan grunted.
”Adat!” Kyo-chan squeaked.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two tried to stand. But the weight on their backs was just too much. Fuu-chan plopped down and let out a frustrated sound before starting to fuss.
”There, there, Fuu-chan! You did so good! You worked so hard!” Mio said. Mio scooped her up, removed the backpack, and started rocking her to soothe her.
I figured her twin sister, Kyouka, would follow suit, but she gave up on standing and started high-speed crawling toward Mitsuhisa instead. Being twins, they have a lot in common. Their faces and their sleeping positions are identical.
Neither of them can relax if the other isn’t around; they’ll start looking all over for each other. But their personalities are night and day. Fuu-chan is the quiet one, while Kyo-chan is the live wire. Usually, Kyo-chan starts a game and Fuu-chan joins in later.
”Au-ba!” Kyo-chan shouted.
”Good girl, Kyouka! You made it!” Mitsuhisa cheered.
”Aa-da!” she replied.
”Hmm? What is it?” he asked.
”Uuu-a!” she pointed.
”Ah, you’re worried about Fuuka?” Mitsuhisa asked.
”Da!” Kyo-chan confirmed.
As soon as she reached Mitsuhisa, Kyo-chan started reaching out desperately toward Fuu-chan in Mio’s arms.
”Here you go, give her a little pat-pat,” Mitsuhisa said. Fuu-chan stopped crying as soon as Kyo-chan got close enough to touch her. (Twins really are something special.)
Now that Fuu-chan was smiling again, we moved to the second ritual: Erabitori²—The Choosing. We line up various items, and whichever one the child picks is said to predict their future. The classic items are an abacus, a brush, and money. The interpretations vary, but usually: the abacus means they’ll be good at business; the brush means they’ll be a scholar or an artist; and money means they’ll never want for wealth.
While Mitsuhisa watched the girls, Mio and Mother scrambled to line up every possible object they could find. Suu-chan and I helped out. Our lineup today: a toy 10,000 yen bill, a smartphone, a dictionary, a ball, a toy xylophone, a digital camera, a sketchbook, some clothes, a mirror, a Chashibu toy, a balloon, and my photo book.
The items change with the times. The phone represents IT, the ball for sports, and the clothes or mirror for fashion. (I have no idea what the Chashibu signifies. Or my photo book, for that matter.)
”Oh, wait. Maa-kun, come here a second,” Mio said.
”?” I wondered.
”Suu-chan, I’m gonna borrow Maa-kun for a bit,” Mio said.
”Okay,” Suu-chan replied.
Before I could process the meaning of the items, Mio beckoned me over.
”Just sit right here,” she said.
”…”
And just like that, I was added to the lineup of “tools.” (Wait, I remember this happening before…)
”Alright, Fuu-chan, Kyo-chan! Pick whatever you like!” Mio announced.
(I have several objections, primarily that I am not a “tool.” But at the same time, if they don’t pick me, I’ll feel like I lost to a piece of plastic, which is a whole different kind of existential crisis. Right, Mr. Chashibu?)
”Maa-kun, don’t clap your hands to get their attention,” Mother warned.
”Yes, ma’am,” I sighed.
I got scolded for trying to influence the results.
”Au-a?” Fuu-chan asked.
”Uu?” Kyo-chan added.
”Go on, you can have anything you want!” Mio encouraged.
”Ssu show them how?” Suu-chan asked.
”No, Suu-chan, you wait your turn,” Mio said.
”Mm…” Suu-chan pouted.
(She looked a little dejected. But honestly, we already know what she’d pick…)
With a gentle nudge from Mio, Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan tottered toward the spread of items.
”Ma-ku!” Fuu-chan chirped.
”Ma-ku!” Kyo-chan echoed.
The two of them bypassed everything and tackled me, nearly knocking me over. I caught them before they could get hurt.
”I knew it! It’s Maa-kun again!” Mio laughed.
”He really is the favorite, isn’t he?” Mother added.
Mio was clutching her stomach laughing, while Mother looked fit to burst with pride. I beat out the other “tools,” so I guess I can breathe a sigh of relief. Apparently, the twins call me “Ma-ku.” (Probably. Since everyone except Mitsuhisa calls me “Maa-kun,” they picked it up, but since they can’t quite manage the ‘n’ sound yet, it comes out as “Ma-ku.”)
Between Mitsuhisa and Mio talking to them constantly, their vocabulary is growing at a terrifying rate. They’ve got names for everyone now: Mio is “Mama,” Suu-chan is “U-cha,” Mitsuhisa is “Pa,” and Mother is “Acha.” If you ask them “Who’s that?”, they can point everyone out correctly.
”Ma-ku!” they shouted.
”Hi! I am Mark,” I joked.
”U-kya!” they squealed.
”But I am not Mark,” I said.
And there’s our little routine. I’d said “I’m Mark” once on a whim, and it killed. They found it hilarious. (Maybe it’s the English phonetics that get them. I guess I see why viral songs go so big.)
”When Suu-chan was little, she went straight for Maa-kun too,” Mio said.
”Mm. Ssu loves Maa-kun,” Suu-chan said.
”Well then, Suu-chan, you want to do a ‘Choosing’ too?” Mio asked.
”Mm! I’ll do it!” Suu-chan cried.
Suu-chan climbed onto my back, and the piggyback ride resumed. Honestly, I have a feeling the twins only ran to me because they saw Suu-chan doing it. Just following their big sister’s lead. (So, please… don’t look at me with such a terrifying face, Mitsuhisa.)
”Hey, Mark…?” Mitsuhisa growled.
”Well… it’s what babies do. It’s not my fault. …And I’m not Mark,” I stammered.
”…”
”I love Maa-kun!” Suu-chan cheered.
”You’re getting a tickle-torture sentence later,” Mitsuhisa threatened.
”Ssu will help!” Suu-chan added.
”Oh, Mother help me…” I muttered.
”Well, Maa-kun is just too cool, so you can’t really blame them,” Mother said.
”…”
I have absolutely no allies in this house.
”Don’t worry, Mitsu. You’ve still got me, right?” Mio teased.
”Oh,” he grunted.
And that was how Fuu-chan and Kyo-chan successfully, and happily, celebrated their very first birthday.
—
Summary:
The chapter follows the first birthday celebration of the protagonist’s twin younger sisters, Fuuka and Kyouka. The families gather to decorate, enjoy a special yogurt cake, and perform traditional rituals like Issho Mochi and Erabitori. Amidst the festivities, the protagonist’s popularity with the children and his playful dynamic with Suzuki’s family remain the comedic highlight.
—
Trivia:
- Suzuki’s mother, Mio, is the one who made the cake.
- The babies eat a yogurt-based cake because real whipped cream is too heavy for one-year-olds.
- Suzuki’s father, Mitsuhisa, is visibly jealous of the protagonist’s popularity with his daughters.
- The ‘Mark’ joke is a phonetic pun on ‘Maa-kun’ that the protagonist uses to amuse the babies
—
Character Insight:
Suzuki shows a softer, more family-oriented side, acting as a leader for the decorations. The protagonist, despite his inner monologue’s dry wit, is deeply integrated into the Suzuki household, acting as a brother figure to the twins.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The Issho Mochi is a heavy physical task for a toddler, often leading to them falling over, which is culturally viewed as a good omen (falling away from bad luck).
—
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.
• 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.’
• Mio – Mio, postpartum and stylish in gray, baby-faced with a G-cup silhouette, is mother to Suzuki and twins Fuuka and Kyouka, as well as an older kindergarten child; she’s Mitsuhisa’s wife, Akari’s childhood friend and neighbor, and Totsuka council chair. Playful yet grounded, she bakes with the kids, films and teases them, cooks, manages the household, mentors Maa-kun in UV-protected hair-drying, encourages Shiho, and confides in Akari—publicly affectionate with Mitsuhisa at the grill, though intensely dislikes crowds and keeps a quiet, close-knit presence at home.
• Suu – A female student in the Rose Class. Very close to Makoto (Maa-kun). Has mud on her cheeks and makes high-quality dorodango.
• 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.
• Mitsuhisa – 33‑year‑old, 184 cm, 71 kg, toned and reserved, Mitsuhisa is a devoted father of three daughters—Suu‑chan, Fuu‑chan, Kyo‑chan—on modified childcare leave, working from home as a family photographer for his household and the Imais. He grills Mio‑san’s meals, play‑acts with his girls, favors the twins, feels neglected by Suu‑chan and distant toward Akari, unsettled by former teammate Makoto yet joins ball‑toss competitions, fiercely competitive yet quietly protective. Suzuki’s father, a doting parent who loves documenting his daughters’ growth.
• Mom – A 30‑year‑old mother who recently switched jobs for more time with her son, Maa‑kun. She’s supportive, manages household shopping together with Mio‑san, and balances family life with her new career.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Kyouka – Younger twin daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa, a petite, lively girl who shares her sister’s mobility and drooling habit while practicing crawling; active, energetic, and often leads the pair in play.
• Fuuka – The younger twin daughter of Mio and Mitsuhisa, with soft curls and bright eyes, is now belly‑crawling and quietly explores her world. She loves playing “airplane” with her father, giggling as she stretches her tiny arms toward him, while remaining the quieter, more observant twin.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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