The social practice course included an official evaluation stamp and was one of the required courses at Private Mixed High School. Afterwards, the students would also have to return to class and give a summary report.
The purpose of the course was to help students understand different professions in society.
However, for the students of Private Mixed High School, nearly all of whom were aiming for Japan's top twenty universities, this experience would not be especially helpful.
After graduation, most of them would become members of society's elite and would not enter these kinds of professions.
It wasn't that the school couldn't arrange visits to companies for observation and learning. Rather, the time available was too short to learn much, and most students simply did not yet possess the skills needed to work at major corporations.
"Yoshinaga-sensei, I'll leave them in your care."
Takakura Bunta said to Yoshinaga Midori, who had just entered the office.
Yoshinaga Midori already knew that several high school students would be coming today for their social practice, so she wasn't particularly surprised.
Until she saw Sato.
"Little Shin's uncle?"
"Hello, Yoshinaga-sensei. Shinnosuke has caused you a lot of trouble."
"Oh, not at all, not at all..."
Yoshinaga Midori smiled and waved her hand.
Still, no matter how Sato looked at it, her smile seemed rather forced.
So he asked another question.
"Did Shinnosuke miss the kindergarten bus again today?"
Yoshinaga Midori froze for a moment.
Seeing Sato's calm expression, as though he had already known the answer, she sighed helplessly and nodded.
Even she had long since grown used to it and could only accept it.
"Does your nephew miss the bus that often?"
Isshiki Iroha asked curiously.
Sato thought for a moment, seemingly considering how best to describe it. After a long pause, he slowly said,
"Rather than saying he often misses it, it'd be more accurate to say he occasionally manages to catch it."
You really know him well.
The teachers in the office exchanged glances and sighed inwardly.
"The more Senpai says things like that, the more curious I get."
Interest appeared on Yuuki Asuna's face.
She really wanted to know what kind of child could leave even Sato feeling this helpless.
Sato's expression suddenly became serious.
Looking at Yuuki Asuna with complete sincerity, he said,
"Trust me, you'll regret it."
"Mm, mm!"
Yoshinaga Midori, Matsuzaka Ume, and the others folded their arms and nodded in complete agreement.
...
There was still some time before classes began.
Japanese high schools started relatively late in the morning, and kindergartens started even later.
So the group wandered around the small kindergarten.
Quite a few children were running around and playing on the dirt playground. Seeing these unfamiliar strangers, they all looked over curiously, their bright eyes remarkably pure and free of any trace of guile.
Along the way, childish greetings rang out from time to time.
"Hello, big brother!"
"Big sisters are so pretty!"
"Are big brother and the big sisters dating?"
"..."
After responding to everyone, they eventually reached the exercise area in the corner.
Leaning against a low horizontal bar, Sato watched the children laughing and chasing one another, a smile appearing on his face.
"I really miss being a kid. Back then, there wasn't a care in the world. No homework, no worrying about grades. Every day, you could just run around and play with your friends."
Isshiki Iroha clasped her hands to her chest as she looked at the scene nostalgically.
Then she turned back toward the other three.
"What about you?"
Yuuki Asuna answered gently,
"When I was little, I had private tutors and completed my preschool education at home, so I didn't have any friends."
Nishimiya Shouko said a little shyly,
"When I was little, because of my hearing impairment, I never went to kindergarten, so I didn't have any friends either."
As for Sato, there was even less to say.
Raising an eyebrow, he replied,
"In my village, there was usually only one student in each grade. I didn't have any friends either."
That's right.
None of us have any friends.
Having no friends is what brought us together.
Isshiki Iroha: "..."
She stared at the three of them in complete disbelief, her beautiful eyes wide open.
This was supposed to be the most ordinary, relatable feeling imaginable.
So why was she the only one here who could relate?
This was so awkward!
Was there something wrong with the world?!
Just then, a pleasantly surprised voice suddenly called out.
"Isn't that Little Shin's uncle?"
Sato turned toward the voice and saw four little faces he recognized.
Kazama Toru, Sakurada Nene, Masao, and Bo-chan.
All of them were Shinnosuke's friends.
Smiling, he gently waved at them.
"Hello, everyone. Long time no see."
"Uncle, why are you here?"
Kazama Toru asked in surprise, though his gaze couldn't help drifting toward the girls beside Sato.
Those big sisters are so pretty!
Sato smiled.
"Our school assigned us to do social practice here at your kindergarten."
Nishimiya Shouko and the others watched the exchange curiously.
Seeing this, Sato explained,
"They're my nephew's friends."
"So that's it!"
At some point, Sakurada Nene had already taken out a small notebook and begun writing in it earnestly.
She looked up at the group, her eyes brighter than ever, and immediately launched into a barrage of questions.
"Are all these big sisters your girlfriends, Uncle?"
"Or is only one of them your girlfriend, while the other two are waiting for a chance to steal you away? Or maybe none of them are yet, and they're still secretly competing with each other?"
"Which one do you like, Uncle? All three big sisters seem really nice!"
"Oh! Wait! Could one of the big sisters actually like another big sister, and see you as her romantic rival?"
"And also..."
Sakurada Nene's eyes sparkled as she questioned them nonstop, gripping her little pencil tightly with an excited expression.
Yuuki Asuna and the others were completely dumbfounded.
This...
Was this child really kindergarten age?
"Um... Nene..."
Masao looked at the scene hesitantly.
He wanted to say something, but was also afraid of Sakurada Nene.
Bo-chan said blankly,
"Nene, if you do this, you'll trouble Uncle and the others. Bo."
"Huh? It should be okay, right, Uncle?"
Hearing that, Sakurada Nene restrained herself a little, though she still looked at Sato unwillingly.
"Well..."
Sato suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Just then, a bicycle shot through the kindergarten gate at high speed.
With a stylish, flashy drift, it screeched to a stop, producing a sharp, grating squeal.