Perfect!
Such a smooth and natural drifting stop was clearly the result of countless mornings of practice. It was as dazzling as a streak of light flashing past.
A small figure in a kindergarten uniform jumped off the back of the bicycle, landing with both arms spread wide.
"Perfect landing!"
Watching Nohara Shinnosuke looking completely carefree, Nohara Misae couldn't help grinding her teeth.
This brat has it easy. Every single morning he does nothing but cause me trouble!
Ah... why is my life so miserable?
Misae let out a long sigh inwardly.
Looking at Shinnosuke, she said,
"Shin-chan, be good at school and listen to your teacher. Don't be naughty, got it?"
Shinnosuke stared blankly in a certain direction.
The next second, Misae pinched his chubby cheek and narrowed her eyes.
"Did you hear what Mommy just asked you?"
"I heard you, I heard you! Let go, Mommy!"
"When Mommy's talking to you, look at Mommy, okay?"
"I was looking at Uncle!"
"Uncle?"
What uncle?
Misae looked in the direction Shinnosuke was staring and immediately saw a familiar figure walking toward her.
"Huh?!"
It's my brother-in-law!
"Sister-in-law!"
Sato walked over and greeted her. Seeing the little guy with one cheek being pinched, he raised an eyebrow and reached over to pinch the other one.
Nice texture.
A satisfied smile appeared on Sato's face, completely ignoring Shinnosuke's resentful glare.
"Sato, what are you doing here?"
Misae asked in surprise.
"The school assigned us a social practice course, and it just happened to be at this kindergarten."
"So that's it!"
Misae nodded in understanding.
Her gaze then shifted to the girls behind Sato. She had noticed Yuuki Asuna and the others earlier, but now the way she looked at Sato suddenly became rather suggestive.
"Sato."
She leaned closer and whispered,
"Those girls..."
"They're my classmates."
Sato answered helplessly.
Could you stop being so nosy?
"So you don't have a girlfriend?"
Misae asked unwillingly.
"Not them."
"Mom, Uncle..."
Shinnosuke spoke weakly from the side.
Misae was sighing in disappointment when she suddenly realized something. Her eyes lit up as she looked at Sato.
"Not them? So that means you do have one?!"
"Yeah. Konomi."
"Konomi? Oh! That girl from Asahigaoka? I remember her. She's a very nice girl..."
Misae immediately began chatting away enthusiastically.
It wasn't until Yoshinaga Midori appeared that her endless stream of words was interrupted.
Walking over cautiously, Yoshinaga Midori said,
"Um... Shin-chan's mom, and Shin-chan's uncle..."
"Is something wrong?"
Misae and Sato turned to her together.
Yoshinaga Midori pointed at Shinnosuke, whose cheeks were still being pinched by one person on each side.
"Um... could you let go of Shin-chan first?"
"Huh?!"
Both of them were startled.
Looking down, they found the child who was usually as energetic as the wind staring expressionlessly at them.
...
Misae soon left.
There was still a mountain of housework waiting for her at home, not to mention Himawari needed looking after. She couldn't afford to spend too much time here.
"Your nephew actually seems pretty normal."
Watching Shinnosuke follow Yoshinaga Midori into the classroom, Isshiki Iroha looked at Sato in confusion.
"Never judge things by appearances."
Sato warned meaningfully.
"Everyone, you can come in now. Class is about to start!"
Standing at the classroom door, Yoshinaga Midori waved them over.
The group quickly headed inside.
...
Futaba Kindergarten, Sunflower Class.
Standing at the front of the room, Yoshinaga Midori smiled as she introduced Sato and the others to the children.
"...So today, these big brothers and big sisters will be spending the whole day with everyone. Let's all give them a warm welcome, okay?"
"Okay!"
Enthusiastic applause immediately filled the classroom.
"Alright, now let's have our big brothers and big sisters introduce themselves."
Yoshinaga Midori stepped aside and gestured for them to begin.
Starting with Yuuki Asuna, followed by Nishimiya Shouko and then Isshiki Iroha, each introduced themselves.
The children's reactions were just as enthusiastic.
Standing to the side, Sato could hear comments constantly coming from the children.
"That big sister is so pretty!"
"I want to grow up to be like that big sister too!"
Hearing those reactions finally made him feel like he was really in a kindergarten.
Well, except for his nephew, who was resting his chin on one hand with a bored expression while glancing sideways at him.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Nohara Sato. Just like them, I'm from Private Mixed High School. Nice to meet you all!"
Below, Kazama Toru couldn't resist showing off what he knew.
"Private Mixed High School is a famous college preparatory school in Chiba City. Every year, lots of its students get into the University of Tokyo. It's one of the high schools I want to attend in the future!"
"Alright already, Kazama! You've said that so many times!"
Sakurada Nene looked at him impatiently, pouting as she thought to herself that Kazama always loved showing off.
"Huh? Have I?"
Kazama Toru blinked in confusion, completely unaware.
"Yep."
His friends sitting beside him all nodded together.
"I... I have?"
Kazama looked at his friends somewhat guiltily.
Why couldn't he remember saying it at all?
"Alright, now that everyone's introduced themselves, let's begin class."
Yoshinaga Midori picked up a stack of packaged colored paper from the desk.
"Did everyone remember to bring the colored paper I asked you to prepare?"
"We did!"
Little hands all shot into the air, each holding sheets of colored paper.
"Very good. Today we're going to learn origami. I'll start by teaching everyone some simple ones."
Sato and the others watched quietly from the corner of the classroom.
Isshiki Iroha whispered,
"Can any of you fold origami?"
After thinking for a moment, Nishimiya Shouko answered hesitantly,
"I only know a few."
Yuuki Asuna said,
"I only know a little."
Sato turned to look at Isshiki Iroha.
After staring at her for quite a while, he raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know how?"
"S-so what if I don't!"
Iroha stiffened her neck and glared at him, both embarrassed and annoyed.
Sato waved a hand dismissively.
"Then you're finished. Your evaluation is probably going to say, 'Isshiki Iroha, good at absolutely nothing.'"