Volume 4 Chapter 58 The Flightless Penguin
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In the afternoon, the Rabbit Group¹ moved from the open air to an indoor exhibit, arriving at the Arctic Zone where massive water tanks lined the walls. The air didn’t just feel chilly against the skin; the whole place had a frosty atmosphere. Even though it was late October, being out in the sun all day had been sweltering, so the change was welcome.
The youngsters, revived by their lunch boxes² and the cool air, pressed their foreheads against the thick glass. The boys were transfixed by the raw power of the polar bears while the girls were glued to the adorable penguins.
”Look, Makoto! That bear is white! It’s so badass!”
”It sure is,” Makoto replied.
(Looking at a polar bear through the glass, it’s hard to believe we’re even the same category of living thing. It’s not really the time to be calling it ‘cool’ so innocently. If that thing actually attacked, I wouldn’t have the first clue how to stop it. Humans are truly pathetic…)
As he stood back, watching the exhibit over his friends’ heads, a frowning Kotarou-kun approached him. “Makoto, I have a world-shaking fact for you.”
”What’s up?”
”The Professor says penguins are actually ‘birds’.”
”No way!?”
”Wait, penguins are birds!?”
”You guys are birds!?”
”But you can’t even fly!”
Triggered by the conversation between Makoto and Kotarou-kun, the children nearby began to buzz.
”For real!?”
”You seriously didn’t know that?”
”Shut up! Did you know this, then? Penguins carry their eggs on their feet to keep them warm!”
”Everyone knows that.”
”What!?”
”Now, now, Hiromasa-kun, Himeno-chan, let’s not fight,” Teacher Ai said, stepping in to settle the mood.
(Normally she’d wait and see how it played out, but we’re on a field trip. We’re in public, and the kindergarten’s reputation is on the line. No wonder she’s playing ‘Good Cop’ so quickly.)
Leaving the “domestic dispute” aside, Makoto feigned surprise. “Wow, I had no idea.”
(Of course I knew they were birds. But as an adult, I know better than to rain on a kid’s parade when they think they’ve discovered fire.)
”If they can’t fly… are they still birds?” Mihoshi-chan whispered. A few of the quieter girls nodded along. “Poor things…”
To these kids, “bird” was synonymous with “flying.” To them, a bird that couldn’t take to the sky was defective.
”I wonder if penguins hate gym class too…” Mihoshi-chan muttered, watching the birds waddle. Her face was clouded.
(Hinomori Kindergarten is full of little athletes. She’s probably seeing herself in them. I get it. Memories of my past life—stuck between an overachieving older brother and a genius younger brother—hit me all at once. Being the only one who can’t do what everyone else finds easy… that stings more than people realize.)
(Now, I’m the ‘perfect kid’ because I’m cheating with an adult’s brain. I’m the popular one who can do it all. I’ve even got the staff wrapped around my finger. I almost forgot what it felt like. To these kids, I’m the bird that can fly, run, and swim. If I want to be a son my mother can brag about, I have to stay that way. But how do my friends see me? I try not to overdo it, but the ‘reincarnation’ advantage is basically a cheat code. If they knew, they’d call foul for sure. What does a kid who can’t fly yet think when they see someone soaring right next to them?)
He looked for the right words to say. “…Penguins can’t fly in the sky, sure, but they can swim through the ocean faster than anything.”
One by one, the penguins dove into the water, gliding with a grace that made their clumsy waddling a distant memory.
”Everyone has different talents. It’s a bit mean to call them ‘pitiful’ just because of the things they aren’t good at,” Makoto said, looking at his friends. “Kiko-chan is a great singer, and I heard Natsumi-chan is a pro with the abacus.”
”I know every single train name!”
”See? Yusaku-kun knows more about trains than anyone. Even the ones in other countries.”
”I love cars!”
”I’m gonna be a pro gamer!”
”Me too! My old man is coaching me!”
The kids started shouting out their own “specs” one after another.
”…And Mihoshi-chan, you’re the best at drawing and coloring, right?”
”I guess…” she replied.
”But look at Jun-kun. He’s great at sports, but his coloring is a mess, he’s terrible at games, and when he sings, he’s totally tone-deaf—”
”—Did someone say my name!?” Jun-kun barked, appearing out of nowhere.
”Sit.”
”Woof!”
”Anyway,” Makoto continued, “everyone’s good at something. If you can find the one thing you’re proud of and work on that… I think that’s pretty awesome.”
(I don’t know if they really got it, but they were listening. Even in my second life, I’m not sure what the ‘right’ answer is. But crushing their spirits by forcing them to fix every little flaw feels like a waste of potential. You can’t survive the real world just doing what you like, but having one thing that gives you confidence? That’s a life worth living. I spent my first life doing exactly what I was told until I was hollow. I don’t want that for them.)
”I really like your drawings, Mihoshi-chan.”
”Really!?”
”Yeah. Hey, Kotarou-kun, Yuma-kun, back me up.”
”Yeah! Your art is great!”
”You’re basically a young Picasso,” Yuma-kun added.
Makoto coughed to hide his embarrassment. “Actually, those ostriches we saw this morning? They’re birds too, and they don’t fly.”
”No way!”
”Oh, right…”
”Chickens don’t really fly either!”
”Wait, birds are actually kind of lame at flying.”
”Did you guys seriously forget the ostriches already?”
”So penguins are like… the ‘Special Forces’ of birds because they swim?”
”Are they ‘Super Rare’?”
”I guess you could say they’re ‘Special Edition’,” Makoto joked.
The mood did a total 180. The “pitiful” penguins were now “Special Edition” heroes. Mihoshi-chan’s eyes were finally sparkling.
Teacher Ai walked over with a smirk and patted Makoto on the shoulder. “Not bad, Boss. You really have a way with words.”
”…”
”Seriously, you should be a teacher. You’d be better at it than me.”
”I think that’s a bit above my pay grade,” Makoto replied.
”Don’t be like that! You’re only in the middle-kids class and you’re already more competent than half the staff.”
(Shit. I dropped the ‘kid’ act. My brain didn’t switch back to toddler-mode fast enough. But if I’m going down, I’m taking her with me.)
”…I’ll go ask Teacher Seiko if there are any openings,” Makoto said.
”Wait, don’t tell her I said that!”
”Oh, Teacher Seiko!”
”Hey! Get back here!”
Ignoring the frantic Teacher Ai, Makoto looked back at the tank.
(I better find my own way to ‘swim’ before I get caught.)
—
Summary:
The Rabbit Group moves to the Arctic Zone of the aquarium to see polar bears and penguins. The children are shocked to learn penguins are birds despite not flying, leading to a moment of insecurity for Mihoshi-chan. Makoto uses the opportunity to boost her confidence, leading to a humorous exchange with Teacher Ai.
—
Trivia:
- Makoto has an internal monologue that reveals he was a middle child in his past life.
- Mihoshi-chan projects her dislike of ‘gym class’ onto the penguins.
- Teacher Ai calls Makoto ‘Boss’ (ボス).
- Makoto’s adult intellect accidentally slips through during his debate with Teacher Ai
—
Character Insight:
Makoto demonstrates his protective nature over his peers’ mental well-being, prioritizing their self-esteem over revealing his own knowledge. Mihoshi shows a deep-seated vulnerability regarding her physical limitations.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author uses the ‘Special Edition’ joke to bridge the gap between children’s logic and Makoto’s adult perspective.
—
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.
• Kotarou – A slender, quiet boy with a focused gaze, often hunched over delicate origami or crouched gathering acorns; his precise care earns quiet respect. A Middle Kids classmate and close, level‑headed friend of Makoto, he takes the game seriously yet is easily distracted by social drama, sharing a playful bond with Yuma and the core group, and in house‑play he assumes the role of father/grandfather.
• Kotaro – Quiet, slender kindergartner in Rose Class, friend of Makoto and member of his sandbox crew. He shares typical childhood interests— toys and games— helps Makoto with building projects, loves Kamen Rider, and often follows Makoto’s lead and social cues.
• 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.
• Hiromasa – A large‑framed, energetic boy nicknamed Taisho, called ‘The Commander’/’The General’, wears a Rabbit Group placard. Once a rowdy problem child, he now stays calm after bonding with Makoto in Cops‑and‑Robbers and dreams of the future. He rivals Jun, refuses to admit fatigue, defies teachers, and bickers with Himeno. A former foot‑race dominant, he’s a Rabbit Group student and relay member for Districts 3‑5.
• Himeno – A mature, highly intelligent girl of the Rabbit Group, wearing the neat uniform, a tidy bun and glasses. She radiates a justice‑driven, nosy older‑sister aura, often scolding Hiromasa with a motherly, bossy streak, yet remains a reliable classmate.
• 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.
• Ai – Dark‑brown short bob frames a fit former long‑distance runner now teaching Middle Kids homeroom at Hinomori Kindergarten. Cheerful yet blunt, she’s the kids’ beloved “Mom,” uses regional dialects when stressed, adores muscles and praises Makoto‑kun’s leadership. Single, devoted to her classroom family, wary of parents, protective of every student. Daughter of a farming family.
• Mihoshi – A classmate of Makoto who loves penguins.
• 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.
• Yuma – Yuma Yoshikura, a frail four-year-old with an idol-like face and quiet charm, is the youngest in the Rabbit Group and eldest son of a wealthy realtor; Makoto’s childhood friend from Youngsters class, he’s adored in Rose Class for his gentle, imaginative spirit. He leads the ‘train’ line, loves acorns and nature, excels in creative play—building blocks, paper folding, and crafting clay models of his father’s car—while also being passionately obsessed with vehicles, especially buses and GTRs. He struggles slightly with math and stamina but thrives in role-play, often pretending to be a husband in Moe’s house-play. Born April 1, he’s cheerful, popular, and beloved for his tender creativity and quiet charisma.
• Seiko – Veteran kindergarten teacher and Rose Class leader, she exudes a steely, battle‑hardened aura with an icy gaze; polite yet intimidating, she’s dubbed 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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