Starting Over as a Kindergartener to Fulfill My First Love! - Episode 3.3

The sports festival program was progressing smoothly, and we were on our lunch break.

During this time, I was able to have meals with my family, so I was having a meal with my parents, my younger sister who is two years younger than me, and my younger brother who is four years younger than me, under the big tree at the edge of the field.

Before the lunch break, Mom invited Tsune-chan, saying, “How about having lunch together?” but Tsune-chan politely declined, considering the other former students.

I was disappointed, but since I was in the position of a teacher, I accepted it.

Besides, I also thought it would be better not to be too familiar with Tsune-chan at school.

If I were a “real first grader,” I would be clinging to Tsune-chan without worrying about such things, but I am an adult on the inside.

I can’t help but overthink and be considerate of unnecessary things.

My younger sister Kanade, with a rice ball in her mouth, asked me.

“Hey, hey, big brother? When is the relay you’re participating in?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah… the relay that you’re running in is right after this.”

When I answered Kanade like that, my father Makoto spoke to me with a worried look on his face.

“Well then, Ryu. If you eat too much, you’ll get full and it will be hard to run, so it’s better not to overeat… I feel sorry for you, but…”

“Uh… yeah, that’s true… but I’m not really that hungry right now, so it’s okay.”

After saying that, I took a bite of the omelet and squinted my eyes as I looked towards the tent where the guests were seated. Of course, Tsune-chan was there.

Around Tsune-chan, former students who had finished their meals were starting to gather one after another.

And for some reason, there was also a figure of Kotozuki, who was not one of my former students.

“Hmm? Why is Kotozuki at Tsune-chan’s place…?”

Kotozuki went up to Tsune-chan and spoke to her.

“Mr. Tokoya…”

“Eh? Oh, you’re Koto-san from the neighboring ‘Peach Class’, right? Wow, you’ve grown so much since I last saw you… You’ve become so cute, and you have such a mature face now…”

Tsune-chan said that with a smile, but Toshi, with a blank expression, asked Tsune-chan a question.

“Do you like Isuzu-kun, Sensei?”

“Huh?!”

Tsune-chan has a very surprised expression after being told something by Kotozuki.

I caught a glimpse of Tsune-chan’s surprised face from a distance, and for a moment, it felt like our eyes met.

What on earth is Kotozuki talking about with Tsune-chan?

“Sensei, what about it? Do you like Isuzu-kun? Tell me, Sensei!?”

Seeing Taka seemingly cornering Tsune-chan, I couldn’t just sit there any longer. I placed the rice ball I was holding on a small plate, and just as I was about to stand up and rush over to Tsune-chan…

Crack!

“Ugh!! Sh1t, I messed up!!”

I twisted my right ankle.

At that time, Tsune-chan stood up from the folding chair she had been sitting on, then crouched down in front of Kotozuki, stroking her head and saying something, all while enduring the pain.

“Yeah, I really like you, Ryu-kun. But I also love everyone here… Toshi-san, of course, I love you too…”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s true. The teacher loves everyone. By the way, do you like Ryu-kun, Kotozuki-san?”

“Y-yeah… I like you…”

Kotozuki answered like that, slightly blushing.

And then Tsune-chan, holding Toshi’s hand tightly and smiling, said this.

“Oh, really… Tak-kun, you’re so lucky to be liked by such a cute Kotozuki-san.”

“Happy person??”

“That’s right, you’re so lucky… Please, Kotozuki-san… will you continue to love Ryu-kun from now on? And please, always get along well with him…?”

“Y-yeah, I understand…”

“Tsune-chan…”

I was holding back the pain in my legs, feeling anxious about not knowing what the two of them were talking about, and somehow made it to Tsune-chan.

“Oh, oh my, what’s wrong, Taka-kun? Have you already finished your lunch?”

“W-well, it’s still a work in progress, but…”

“Then let’s hurry back and eat. The relay that Tak-kun is in is coming up soon, right?”

“Y-yeah… I understand… I’ll go back…”

I obediently listen to Tsune-chan and head back to where my family is.

I think Tsune-chan was watching my back as I walked, but I didn’t look back. I endured the pain and limped a bit as I made my way back to my family.

In my mind as I walked, I was currently in the midst of a “major crisis.”

This is bad… I can’t run properly with legs like these…

At this rate, I can’t show Tsune-chan any good sides of me…

I don’t want Tsune-chan to see someone like me…