俺はレイジ。妻のマホが出産後、実家に1か月滞在を延長し、里帰り離婚の知人の話を聞き不安になる。母からの圧力もあり、マホの実家を訪れると、マホは親に甘え、義両親に支えられている姿を見て、自分の存在価値を感じないでいる。マホとミナミとの家族としての絆を取り戻すべく、自宅に連れ戻すことを決意するが、義両親との間での存在意義や立場を模索する。【第7話】へ続く。
Continuing from last time. I am Reiji. My wife Maho gave birth to Minami three months ago. About a month before the due date, Maho went back to her parents’ house, and the plan was for her to come back home after the one-month check-up. However, due to typhoons, heavy rain, and my demanding work schedule, Maho and Minami’s return home has been continuously delayed. I am considering respecting Maho’s opinion of “wanting to raise the baby in her parents’ house a little longer”, but… Hearing about an acquaintance who got a “reverse divorced” from my colleague Sasaki, I felt uneasy.
Days ago, my mother finally asked me on the phone, “Is Maho still not back from her parents’ house?” Reluctantly, I explained, “It’s tough being a single parent,” “I am also busy with work,” and was told to visit the parents’ house once.
While having a meal, my mother started talking while drinking tea at the table across from me. “The growth of a baby goes by in the blink of an eye. Things that couldn’t be done yesterday can be done the next day, and the face also changes rapidly… I also want to see Minami. It’s a bit awkward to go to their parents’ house here.”
“She hasn’t come back from her parents’ house for months. She must be feeling very comfortable there. It seemed like her parents were spoiling their only daughter Maho a lot… She has probably turned back into a ‘daughter’ rather than a ‘wife,'” my mother said.
The next week, I drove to Maho’s parents’ house. Maho is completely relying on her parents and her in-laws are helping and spoiling their daughter. The more I think about it, Maho seems to be dependent on her parents’ house.
Seeing Maho and her in-laws having a good time with Minami at the center, I felt a sense of unease, wondering, “Am I not needed?”
Seeing Maho completely turn back into a “daughter” with the generous support of her in-laws made me feel the need to bring her back home quickly. Living separately, I might not be considered as part of Maho and Minami’s family anymore. Even the position of “father” might be taken over by the in-laws. Keeping in mind my mother’s words, “Raising Minami is the responsibility of Reiji and Maho,” I want to have a serious discussion.
To be continued in episode 7.
Original concept: Mama Star Community Script: Nitatamago Illustration: Rimasuke Editing: Iiterekko