It happened one winter's day.
What? You're taking the day off?
I'm... I'm really sorry, Ryu-chan...
Usaida-san caught a cold.
School Babysitters
What was that?
Sorry, my phone's been acting up since it got dropped in water...
I wanna talk!
I probably shouldn't have slept naked after my bath...
Hey! It's winter!
You had to know you'd catch a cold if you did that!
Wanna talk! Wanna talk!
Usaida-kun has a cold?
Will you be okay? Should you go to the hospital?
Well, I took some medicine...
So I'll probably be fine, but...
I won't be able to watch the kids today.
Well, if I take off from classes...
Actually, I went ahead and asked for some outside help.
Ranger 5
Your humble assistant has arrived.
S-Saikawa-san?!
But... What about your job?
The chairwoman
agreed that my services would be most required here today.
And that you
should prioritize your studies, as well.
B-But... I'm here because I promised to look after the kids...
Ryuichi-sama.
I may not be as capable as you and Usaida-sama,
but I shall do my best to fulfill the duties required of me.
Would you please allow me to try?
Now That You're a Mommy
I knew it might become necessary,
so I consulted the relevant texts to fulfill Midori-sama's needs, as well.
I'm with you.
Kotaro-sama...
If he has any trouble, he can ask the teachers for help.
Ryu-chan, you can go to your classes.
G-Got it.
Kotaro, be a good boy and do what Saikawa-san tells you, okay?
Taka, the same goes for you.
Can you be a good boy?
I'm always a good boy!
Please proceed, then.
It's the butler guy!
Greetings to you all.
Well, everyone...
Usaida-san's out with a cold today,
and I need to get to class,
but Saikawa-san will be with you.
Is that okay?
I'm with Kazuma, so I'm okay!
I'm okay, too...
I'll be just fine!
I don't need stupid Usa around!
I don't like him, anyway!
I-I see... That's good to hear.
Okay, I need to get to class,
but I'll drop in whenever I can during my breaks.
Thank you for your help.
I pledge to do my utmost to see my duties through.
Hey, do good in class!
Ryu-niichama, see you later!
See you guys later.
Now that I think about it, Saikawa-san's always so capable.
Maybe it was rude of me to act so worried...
As I expected, they have grown nervous in Ryuichi-sama's absence.
What can I do to make them comfortable with me?
Sa-chan.
I'm with you.
Kotaro-sama...
Indeed. You are unfailing in your judgment.
I could hardly hope to match Usaida-sama and Ryuichi-sama through my efforts alone.
Kirin-sama, Takuma-sama, Kazuma-sama, Taka-sama...
I fear that, in taking on an unfamiliar task,
I must request your aid and encouragement.
We're in charge!
I'll teach you the best games!
Let's play!
Me... Me, too!
I'll tell you the right things to do!
It appears they feel comfortable with me now.
I never thought he'd actually agree to it.
Guess it always pays to ask.
Still, I hope they're not missing me too much...
Usada...
Usa-chan...
The Sad Panda
Yeah, no chance of that.
Anyway, I guess I can sleep easy for now.
Saikawa-san
Hello? Something happen?
Uh, sorry, I've got a bad connection and can't hear you...
There has... emergency... Midori-sama's...
Hey!
I guess I'd better call him back...
The device you have called is either out of range or turned off.
Hey.
10 Minutes Earlier
I see now that even when one wears a diaper, one may still spring a leak.
Forgive my ignorance.
Midori peed on your back!
It's pee!
I see. That can be resolved through the removal of my jacket, though.
For now, we must prioritize the changing of Midori-sama's diaper.
I'll get the diapers!
I'll get a wipe!
I greatly appreciate your aid.
But I urge you, do not rush...
The both of you, there is no need to panic.
I shall simply ask Usaida-sama if he has any in reserve.
Hello? Usaida-sama?
There has been an emergency with regard to Midori-sama's backside.
If, by chance, you have a spare supply of disposable diapers,
I would appreciate—
Taka-chan's such a jerk!
It ain't my fault!
Stupid Kirin!
I'm not stupid! You're stupid!
Well said, Kotaro-sama.
Although I may not be as capable as the other two...
As I have promised to devote my all to this task,
I cannot leave you in this condition.
I hope the kids aren't making too much trouble for Saikawa-san.
I'm worried about Usaida-san, too.
Next time I get a break, I'd better go look in on—
A-Are you okay?
Hello? Should I call an ambulance?
I-I'm fine...
Usaida-san?! What are you doing here?
Yow! You've got some fever!
Yeah, I do...
What's all the yelling about?
Kamitani! Great timing!
I need you to help me get Usaida-san to the nurse's office!
Actually...
Could we check in on the daycare room?
I got a call about an emergency with Midori,
but I can't seem to call them back...
And I keep getting this chill up my spine...
That's probably because of the cold!
Nii-chan...
Uh, I heard there was an emergency with Midori...
Yes. As I told Usaida-sama on the phone,
there was an issue with Midori-sama's backside...
Huh? Her backside?
There was an incident that rendered her disposable diapers unusable,
so I had hoped to ask where you might keep your spares.
But then my phone became unusable, as well.
Thus, I was forced instead to improvise a cloth diaper.
Ryu-chan... is it okay if I pass out now?
Usaida-san, hang in there!
No, we should probably let him sleep.
Usa! Usada!
We been doin' real good without you!
We're fine!
Hey, good to hear it.
So we're just fine if you take off 'cause you got a cold!
Leave it to us!
I can take care of Midori, too!
Usa, rest and get better soon!
I'll help... too.
Lemon tea.
You're a little old to be crying.
It's embarrassing.
I'm not crying.
Isn't that nice, Usaida-san?
Uh, yeah... Okay, I'm going home.
I'll go home already, so give me a break...
I'm not used to this kind of thing.
Usaida-sama.
The others claim to be unaffected,
but I was only just able to achieve stability with their help.
Thus, I must request your swift recovery.
I think that if you know how to make cloth diapers, you're probably fine...
But the matter of greatest relevance
is that Midori-sama seemed quite perturbed about your absence.
Udda!
D-Did Midori-chan just say Usaida-san's name?
It appears I must prepare a celebratory meal.
Are you sure about that?
It sounded like her usual "ubbu"s and "adda"s.
Uh, yeah...
Anyway, guess I'll have to get better right away...
Don't act flattered, weirdo.
The next day, Usaida-san earned a bit of ire
because she—maybe—said his name before "Papa" or "Mama."
It's not your fault, but it's still not fair.
I'm really sorry.
But I'm pretty sure it was a fluke...
I... I just came here to get my ball...
I didn't come here to peek on Kashima-kun! I promise, God!
I'm not trying to go behind your back either, Maria-chan!
Ryu-niichama, try to find me!
I can see you all pretty plainly...
But Kashima-kun really is amazing...
Aren't those two little boys heavy?
He's so cool...
Found you!
Outside?
Taku-kun, I don't see anyone here.
What have you been doing over here?
M-Maria-chan!
D-Don't call me by my first name!
I-It's not what you think, Maria-chan!
I'm not skipping out on club to spy on Kashima-kun!
I was f-fetching the ball...
It's g-g-gone!
You don't have to make excuses.
I understand how you feel.
I... find those children c-cute, too...
S-So...
If you're too embarrassed to go play with them by yourself...
I could be convinced to accompany you!
U-Um...
But if you don't want to go with me, forget I said anything.
N-No, Maria-chan!
Don't apologize. I'm sorry for being so forward with you.
That's not it!
It's not that I don't want to go with you.
I just feel like... watching from a distance is best...
Oh, not like that! I just don't have the courage to go in, you could say...
I'm sure Kashima-kun would hate me if he knew, but...
The truth is, I have a hard time with small children!
Found you!
I found you... too...
S-Sorry, I heard voices, so I thought...
God...
My romance is dead.
If you heard us, that speeds things up.
We're on our way to join you.
Please help her to grow accustomed to small children.
Um... I f you want, you can.
But are you okay with that, Ushimaru-san?
Taku-kun, don't climb out the window.
"I have a hard time with them" doesn't mean "I hate them," does it?
O-Of course not!
Then you need to get used to them for the sake of your future.
I can't hear you!
R-Right!
Um... Wh-What should I do?
Onee-chama, what's your name?
Oh, um... Ushimaru Yuki!
I'm Kazuma!
I'm Kirin!
I'm Taka!
You said you have a hard time with kids,
but they're so comfortable with you already.
Even I got the side-eye for a while at first.
No way! Did Kashima-kun just give me a compliment?
She has a hard time with kids, huh?
Ryu-chan, I think you might want to give her some distance.
Yuki-oneechama!
Your boobies are like my mommy's!
I'm gonna touch her boobies, too!
Me, too!
Stop! Stop!
I thought so. It's the sexual harassment-type stuff that makes her uncomfortable.
Stop analyzing it and help us, Usaida-san!
Well, in that case, why don't we all take a walk together?
Outside! Outside!
We're goin' outside!
Outside!
The children have never shown that kind of interest in me...
Inomata-san!
They've never shown that interest in me either, so don't worry!
Ryu-chan, you're not helping.
Okay, everyone holding hands?
I don't want you, Usaida!
Yeah, yeah.
Ino-neechama, you gotta hold my hand tight and don't let go.
I'm gonna lead you around, okay?
Th-Thank you...
Okay, Taku-kun and Kazu-kun, you can come with me.
I'm gonna hold hands with Ryu!
M-Me, too...
Ushimaru-san, sorry to ask, but could you hold hands with Kotaro?
O-Okay!
He's probably the calmest.
But call me if you have any problems, okay?
W-Well, I guess we'll be holding hands. Is that okay?
Huh?
He's really cute...
Is it because he's Kashima-kun's little brother?
He doesn't look like he'd try to flip up my skirt or spit on me...
I might be okay hanging out with a kid like this.
Actually, I might really like it!
Or so I thought...
But I think Kotaro-kun is feeling rejected because of me...
Oh, no! Don't cry—
S-Sorry. I'm sorry.
Don't cry...
I don't mind snot!
I'll wipe it!
Taka-kun, tissues! We have tissues!
What's the matter?
Hey, did you do something to her?
I wasn't looking! I really didn't see anything!
I saw panties!
Yuki-neechama, hold out your hands!
I wanna give you something I found.
Here!
Thank—
Ushimaru-san!
Maybe I'll just never get along with little kids
the way Kashima-kun and Maria-chan do...
Are you awake?
K-Kashima-kun?
Wait... Did you carry me here?
It was Usaida-san who carried you here, actually.
Surprisingly heavy.
Usaida-san...
How shallow can I be, getting my hopes up in this situation?
Um... Are you okay?
You must be disappointed in me, Kashima-kun.
To see a girl who's so bad with little kids...
If something doesn't change...
I'll never be able to get married, will I?
I'm sure Maria-chan is disappointed in me, too.
Ushimaru-san.
I don't like snot and gross stuff, either. Nobody does.
I'm just used to it.
Even as a boy, I was pretty freaked out by those bugs.
They don't know how to hold back when we play,
so I get hurt or get tired.
Their hands get sticky with drool and snot all the time,
and sometimes they wet themselves on you, and it's awful.
They crawl inside my uniform and do other stuff I can't stand.
Being with little kids is really tough.
So I totally understand why you have a hard time with them.
It's not that I just like little kids or anything.
It's that the little kids stopped being "little kids,"
and they became Kotaro, Taka-kun, Kirin-chan,
Takuma-kun, Kazuma-kun, and Midori-chan.
That's why I can deal with it,
and that's why I love them.
So it's okay. You don't have to worry.
I'm sure the day will come when you'll be just fine with wiping away snot.
They said they wanted to apologize for before.
Is that okay?
Yuki-neechama, flowers aren't scary, right?
Once the "little kids" each become individuals to you...
Yeah.
Just watching from afar feels so boring now.
Um... Thank you for the flowers.
Would you mind if I came by to play again sometime?
Kashima-kun, um... Where's Maria-chan?
She said she was going on ahead.
She wanted me to apologize for forcing you into this, though.
Kashima-kun and... Usaida-san, thank you both, too.
I have to catch up with Maria-chan.
Why do I mess up everything I try?
Maria-chan!
I'm sorry! Thanks!
I love you!
Wai... Wha... Huh?!
The one who gave me the chance to change
was my friend who I love.
Next Episode Preview
Time passes quickly, and next week is our final episode.
But there's no need to weep.
The cuteness of Kotaro-sama and the others is endless.