Chapter 44

Synopsis
Kotaro receives a Panda-san umbrella from the chairwoman, but he won't use it to stay dry in the rain because he believes it will catch a terrible cold if it gets wet.

Long Summary
June has begun, which marks the arrival of a rainy season. Ryuuichi puts a raincoat on Kotaro, warning him that he will catch a cold if he gets soaked by the rain. Kotaro points out that Ryuu is not wearing a coat, but Ryuu explains that he has an umbrella to keep him dry. He assures that Kotaro will get to use an umbrella when he becomes older. Saikawa then hands Kotaro a small Panda-san umbrella that the chairwoman bought for him, and Kotaro looks at the umbrella with awe. Ryuu reminds Kotaro to thank the chairwoman when they return and opens the door. After Kotaro sees that it is raining, he hides the umbrella behind his back, unwilling to hold it over his head properly and saying that Panda-san will catch a cold. Ryuu explains that Panda-san is so strong that he will not catch a cold. Kotaro takes off his shoes and goes into the house. He brings back a book about Panda-san catching a cold. Ryuu attempts to explain the Panda-san in the book is different from the Panda-san umbrella, but Kotaro tears up and refuses to use his umbrella. Ryuu is disappointed that Kotaro will not use the umbrella that the chairwoman graciously bought for him. Saikawa says that he is moved by Kotaro's noble kindness and steps out in the rain with a larger umbrella to protect both Kotaro and his umbrella from the rain.

Usaida wonders why they would use an umbrella to protect an umbrella, and Ryuu replies that Kotaro refuses to use his umbrella in the rain. Usaida figures that since the other children have brought their umbrellas, Kotaro will see the others using umbrellas during their walk and start using his umbrella properly. Usaida yawns and plays with Midori with a puppet on his hand, leaving Hayato and Ryuu to take the children on a walk.

The children show off their umbrella patterns: Kirin has a strawberry umbrella, Taka has a heroes umbrella, and Takuma and Kazuma have matching umbrellas. Ryuu asks Kotaro if he will use his umbrella, but he refuses. Hayato thinks that Kotaro simply cannot open his umbrella, so he takes his umbrella out of his hands and opens it. Kotaro starts to cry, which stuns Hayato. Hayato panics, asking if Kotaro's stomach hurts or something, since Kotaro rarely cries. Ryuu swiftly closes the umbrella and tells Hayato that Kotaro does not want to get his umbrella wet. He also notes that Kotaro is impressive because this is the first time he has seen Hayato in such a hurry. Kirin excitedly lets Kotaro under her umbrella, which makes Taka jealous. Taka tosses the umbrella out of Kirin's hands, exclaiming that Kotaro will use his umbrella. Kirin falls down and cries that Taka threw her umbrella. Hayato menacingly scolds Taka while Kazuma falls down into a puddle. Back at the daycare room, the children, Ryuu, and Hayato are soaked. Usaida amusingly asks what happened; Ryuu tells him to get them towels and cloths. Ryuu thinks that if Kotaro had properly used his umbrella, none of this would have happened.

During dinner, Ryuu thanks the chairwoman for buying Kotaro the Panda-san umbrella. She asks if Kotaro walk by himself while carrying his umbrella. Ryuu explains that he loves his umbrella so much that he refuses to supposedly catch a cold by allowing it to become soaked by the rain. He apologizes to the chairwoman since she had gone through the trouble of buying it for him. The chairwoman laughs at Kotaro's cute intentions and tells Ryuu that it is his decision on how to use the umbrella. Kotaro had been holding the umbrella during dinner, so the chairwoman makes him put it away. Ryuu realizes that he was not thinking about Kotaro's feelings and, because he felt bad for the chairwoman, tried to force Kotaro to use it. The chairwoman did not allow Kotaro to bring his umbrella to bed, but Kotaro gropes around while he is sleeping. Ryuu wonders if he even sees the umbrella in his dreams as he pats his head and apologizes.

The next day, it is not raining, and Kotaro walks to the daycare center with his umbrella over his head. In the afternoon, however, it begins raining, so Ryuu takes out his extra folding umbrella. As he is about to exit, he sees that Inomata, flustered, has forgotten her umbrella, so he lends her his own. Ushimaru sees this kind act and feels rather envious. Ryuu hurries over to the daycare center with his bag over his head. Kotaro sees his brother getting soaked by the rain and quickly grabs his umbrella. Without hesitation, he opens his umbrella and runs over to his brother to keep him dry. Kotaro gets soaked while telling his brother to use his umbrella.

The nursery does not have extra umbrellas, so Ryuu goes home carrying Kotaro, who is carrying the Panda-san umbrella. Ryuu feels rather embarrassed, and his cheeks redden. Ryuu tells Kotaro that they can dry off Panda-san so he will not catch a cold.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Saikawa Keigo
 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * Takuma Mamizuka
 * Kazuma Mamizuka
 * Morinomiya Youko
 * Inomata Maria
 * Ushimaru Yuki