01x07 - Episode 7

[bunniefuu]

It's over here.

We got married seven years ago.

FAMILY REGISTRY WINDOW

-Excuse me.
-Yes?

-Ichiko.
-Me?

Yeah.

We're submitting this.

I'll take a look.

MARRIAGE REGISTRATION
NOV 22, 2017

OTOYA AIHARA - ICHIKO YAMANE

That went pretty fast,
registering our marriage.

Right? We were done in about 20 seconds.

Yeah.

-Ichiko.
-Yeah?

You don't want me to call you
"The Mrs.," right?

-What to call me?
-Yeah.

I don't want to say "spouse" or "bride."

So it has to be "wife," doesn't it?

Wife?

Please take care of me, Wife.

Please take care of me, Husband.

Wife.

Husband.

Hey, Wife.

What is it, Husband?

Do you really not need
a ring or honeymoon?

For now, yeah.

I'll probably end up losing the ring.

And I want to go on a trip
when I feel more like taking a honeymoon.

Okay.

This isn't in exchange,

but I want to buy a condo I like.

It doesn't need to be a brand new place,

but it should be in a convenient location,

with a lot of nature
and can be renovated any way I like.

Is there such a place?

Sure there is.

So we should start looking for
a condo you like?

Yeah.

What about you? Any preferences?

Not really.

No way.

Nothing you want or hope for?

I want a kitchen that is easy to use.

But it's the contents, not the package.

The soft content, not the hard details.

It's not about the building
but who I'm living with.

Husband.

What?

-Husband.
-What, Wife?

Husband!

What?

What are you saying, Husband?

BASED ON THE MANGA
"1122" BY PEKO WATANABE



-Cheers.
-Cheers.

Maybe "cheers" wasn't the right thing.

It's fine.

Today is the one-month anniversary
of my divorce.

-Yay.
-Yay.

-Yay.
-Yay.

-Yay.
-Yay.

But to think it was Ichiko and Otoya.

I was so shocked.

Can I ask why?

Was it related to us
tempting you to go to the brothel?

Tempting is a little...

Not at all.

Then why?

I didn't fall in love with someone else,

nor did I start to hate Otoyan.

I still love him, even now.

It sounds like I'm glossing it over.

But

I got tired of my marriage.

So you'll be starting
fertility treatment too.

Yeah.

Therefore, I wanted to talk to you

as someone
who had a successful experience.

SIX MONTHS AGO

You know she hasn't given birth yet.
So you plan to get a lot of treatment?

If need be, yes.

Which clinic did you go to?

We tried a lot of different places
and finally found Arakawa Clinic.

So you did it there.

I heard it was like a factory. Was it?

Yeah, it felt like we were
on a conveyor belt.

For real? But it's a good clinic.

How long did it take and how much was it?

If you're comfortable telling me.

Including the breaks we took,
it was about two years.

The cost was about 2.5 million yen.

Wow. That's a lot.

Well, it took a lot of time and money.

But it took a lot more psychologically,

especially for my wife.

I'll be fine psychologically.

I've been doing my research
and reading tons of blogs.

I'm prepared for all of it.

Right, you are. Unlike my wife.

Does your husband also want it
as much as you?

What?

Don't "what" me.

So my husband,

he probably does.

-Probably?
-Yeah.

Isn't fertility treatment
more of a burden on women?

But my husband understands that very well.

If I'm okay, he'll be okay too.

I see. Then that's good.

It's very difficult for a husband and wife
to always be on the same page.

I hope both of you
won't stress yourselves out.

Mrs. Aihara,
I have your ovarian age test results.

Forty-two years old.

Your chances are low even with the
right timing and artificial insemination.

We want to do IVF.

A higher ovarian age
indicates lower ovarian functions.

Understood.

Then before we begin, let me warn you.

Please prioritize your treatment
above everything else.

Often, we'll tell you to come in
the very next day

because the treatments
are based on your cycle.

I can't treat you if you miss
an appointment due to work.

I understand.

Then we'll do a pelvic examination on you.

And for you, we need to analyze
your sperm, so go to the collection room.

Okay.

-Thank you.
-Sure.

We'll be in your care.

I can't get pregnant,

no matter how much sperm
I'm injected with,

if I'm not ovulating regularly.

I heard the rumors.

But it really took five and a half hours.

There were a lot of people.

You could have gone home first.

This is something we're doing together.

And I can't be with you
at every appointment.

I hope it will go well.

Yeah.

Let's not get our hopes up too high.

Okay.

I'm kind of tired.

Want to grab dinner somewhere?

Great idea.

What do you want to eat?

Something that will give me energy.

-Give you energy?
-Meat?

-Meat.
-How about it?

-Okay.
-Okay?

Sorry, this test didn't show
high levels of HCG.

So even a Grade 5AA blastocyst won't work.

Look, the grade is only for the embryo's
appearance. Most of them are not viable.

Feel free to go to another clinic
if you don't like it.

I didn't mean to criticize you.

It's a misconception that a high grade
will result in a pregnancy.

It will only make things harder for you
if you keep thinking like that.

Okay.

SATO ART CLINIC DAIKANYAMA

A VERY GOOD DOCTOR

ARAKAWA LADIES CLINIC

I WAS ABLE TO GET PREGNANT AT 43

ARAKAWA LADIES CLINIC

SO HAPPY I SWITCHED
TO THIS CLINIC

Should we change clinics?

Here you go. Herbal tea.

Thanks.

Changing clinics?

Yeah, the way he got mad
at you wasn't good.

Sorry I couldn't go with you.

It was just for the results anyway.

He was rude.

But three negatives in a row is...

Ichiko.

Why don't you pause the treatment for now?

Pause? Why?

We have enough money for another round.

Plus we don't know how much longer
I can still be treated.

We don't have the time to pause it.

We need to move on to our next step.

But this clinic has really good reviews.

Mrs. Aihara, your ovarian follicles
have no eggs for this cycle.

Take the pill and let's start again.

Yes.

So you're pausing treatments this cycle.

Yeah. That's why
I can do some work this month.

Ichiko.

You've been sleeping in the tatami room,

but wouldn't it be better
if you slept on the bed?

I'll sleep out here
if you prefer to sleep alone.

You don't need to go out of your way.

I'm not going out of my way.

Even dinner. This is really good
but it's so expensive.

You don't need to buy so much.

The treatment is expensive enough.

You're right.

It...

I did buy a little too much.

I'll take the leftovers for lunch.
Eat whatever you like.

I'm sorry.

You were just trying to help.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Ichiko.

Yeah?

Tell me if there is
something I can do for you.

Okay.

Thanks.

You know, Ichiko.

Yeah?

I think we should have another talk.

About?

Our future.

Our marriage and having kids.

Sorry, Otoyan.

I have a deadline today.

So I need to finish that.

How about tomorrow?

Okay.

Tomorrow is good.

Then let's talk tomorrow.

Yeah.

Then I'll take a bath and go to bed.

Don't work too hard, Ichiko.

Got it.

I'm back.

Welcome back.

Did you eat?

-Yeah, I ate.
-Okay.

Want to have a drink while we talk? Sake?

No. Let's stay sober.

Okay.

Then I'll make tea.

Okay.

Thanks.

Sure.

Well...

it's about what you said last time.

I couldn't stop thinking about

what you said
about moving on to the next step.

Is there no next step...

for us if we don't have a baby?

I'll be happy if we can have one.

But

even if we can't,
I'll still be happy to be your husband.

I'm not against
continuing the fertility treatment.

But you seem...

to put too much faith into it.

Otoyan.

What?

Yesterday...

you said to tell you
if there is anything you can do, right?

Yeah.

I did. Is there something
I can do for you?

So I...

I thought about it this entire time.

Since yesterday.

But...

I couldn't think of anything.

What?

You're already doing enough.

It doesn't have to be about the treatment.
Anything is fine.

I know.

Thank you.

But I...

can't think of anything I want

to say to you...

or anything I want you to do for me.

I think I am putting too much faith
in the treatment.

Because I can no longer see a future

with just the two of us.

You mean being with me?

Is that why we need to have a baby?

Yeah.

That is why...

this marriage is too hard for me.

Since when?

I don't know exactly.

But I thought

if we had a baby and became parents...

I could escape the pain of this marriage

and keep going as a family.

That's what I thought.

But it's not right to hang on to
that kind of possibility, right?

Is it because I had an affair
with your permission?

That is why you don't trust me?

No.

That might have been the trigger.

But it's not the reason why.

It's also not because
we stopped having sex.

And I didn't fall in love
with someone else.

Then what?

Sorry. Keep talking.

You didn't do anything wrong.

I'm the problem.

This marriage...

has become...

too heavy a burden for me.

I'm sorry for being so selfish.

Ichiko.

Ichiko.

Do you want...

to leave me?

Yes.

This is not a decision...

you made quickly,

on a whim, right?

Right.

I understand.

I understand, but...

Give me some time.

I understand how serious you are
about this.

I said it.

I really said it.

Otoyan gave me his answer two days later.

That weekend,

on a beautiful, clear autumn day,

a morning in the seventh year
of our marriage.

Here you go.

Divorce papers, correct?

We submitted our divorce papers

and put an end

to our married life.

DIVORCE REGISTRATION
OCTOBER 12, 2024

That is what happened.

Say something.

Well...

I can talk sh*t about him

and congratulate you
if he was a horrible husband.

But I somehow can't with Otoya.

-Yeah.
-Right?

He made a really good Chinese tea for me
when I was hungover at Ichiko's place.

-That's a good husband experience.
-Yeah.

Otoyan is really good
at taking care of people.

Hey, Yuri. Tell her how good
it is to be single.

You can give it your all in love and work.

That was like you copied it
from an old show.

-You told me to say good things.
-Anyway...

Thank you. But aside from work,

I have no interest in love right now.

I'll focus on enjoying being alone first.

Now the married ladies
should say words of support.

-Now. Come on.
-What?

Well...

Is there anything?

Isn't now a good time to sell your home?
You're in a nice neighborhood.

-That?
-Property distribution is important.

Yeah.

-That's right.
-Well, marriage is one form of love.

And you can break up
if it becomes too difficult.

Ichiko can't tell a lie anyway.

Yeah, but now that I'm single,

I feel that
I am finally seeing my true self

since I've been relying on Otoyan so much.

Your true self is important.

Congratulations for finding
your true self.

You can give it your all in love and work.

Hey.

-Let's drink.
-Let's drink.

-Congratulations.
-Congratulations.

Thank you.

We might have congratulated you, but we're
all very worried about you, you know?

I know.

You tend to not show it to your friends
when you're having a hard time.

Really?

I think I talked about it a lot.

I think you've only shown Otoya

what you're really feeling and thinking
all these years.

You think so?

Yeah, I do.

It's because Otoyan was like another me.

Now I have to...

slowly learn to open myself up
to other people.

You think I can do it?

Of course.

You'll be one of them.

Okay.

Hug.

Hug?

-Hug.
-Squeeze.

You did your best.

Hello? Otoyan?

Ichiko, it's me.

I'm too busy this week
so I can't pick up the rest of my things.

Can you send them to me?
I'll pay on delivery.

Okay.

Got it.

And...

What?

Ichiko.

Did you tell your mother we got divorced?

Not yet.

I was thinking about telling her soon.

I won't say anything to her.

But I'm worried because
she hasn't responded to my message.

She usually responds right away.

Okay.

I got it.

I'll contact her.

Okay.

Then, good night.

Good night.

Slowly but surely,

I am becoming alone...

as traces of Otoyan get erased.

JR EAST

I'm home.

Mom?

Mom.

Are you dead?

The expression my mom had
in her final moments alone

was the complete opposite
of the word "peaceful."

It was one where I can easily imagine
how painful it was.

I swore to never forget it.

Because I felt...

my own end

would also look like that.

WHITE BAMBI

Hello? Ichiko?

Hello, Otoyan?

Sorry for calling you at work.

It's okay.

What's up?

My mother passed away.

What?

I found her at home yesterday.

So, she didn't respond
to my message because...

Yeah.

I asked the hospital to examine her,

and they said she died two days ago.

Probably from a heart attack.

I see.

Ichiko, are you all right?

I'm okay.

I wanted to let you know
since you had taken care of her.

Thank you.

Ichiko.

Where are you now?

Now?

At her house.

Alone?

Yeah.

Alone.

Can you handle everything on your own?

Yeah, don't worry.
I'll keep things simple.

I can do it if I talk to the funeral home
and do some research online.

Yeah, I also need mourning clothes.

I'll just buy them around here.

Ichiko.

I'll come to you.

What?

But,

Otoyan, don't you have work tomorrow?

That is what paid leave is for.

So wait for me.

Bye.

Okay.

Bye.

Otoyan.

Hi, Ichiko.

I got you a snack.

Thanks.

You'll be the chief mourner, right?

Yeah.

Then I'll make the arrangements
with the funeral home as your husband.

You can check the important details later.

So you should just rest.

You haven't slept for two days, right?

-But...
-It's okay.

There will be a lot of things
only family members can do and decide on.

It was like that when my dad died.

So let me do what I can.

Okay.

Then the wake
and funeral will be on this date.

Yes.

Do you have any questions or concerns?

We still don't know
how many people will come.

What should I do about
how much food to order?

You don't need to decide that right now.

You can inform us once you know.

Great.

And how should we order
the flowers for the altar?

For example, if a relative wants to give
a flower arrangement,

is there a specific florist...

-Right?
-Yes, I was so surprised to hear.

She was so healthy.

We'll be going now.

Okay. Take care.

Thank you for coming.

You came even though we're divorced.

Nothing has changed for us.

Hey, if it's not a problem,

you should stay with her today, Otoya.

If Ichiko is okay with it.

What do you say, Ichiko?

Yeah.

Then, please...

Ichiko.

Be sure to rest well.

You can make Otoya do all the work.

Thank you.

I really appreciate it.

It's the house making noises.

It's really loud.

I wonder if Mom is angry...

since I was a bad daughter.

Of course she has a grudge against me.

That's not true.

You were always thinking
about your mother.

Otoyan.

Yeah?

Can I come over to your side?

You know...

I didn't shed a single tear

when my mom died.

That was cold-hearted, even for me.

I can't say I understand.

Crying isn't the only way
to express your sadness.

I think everyone shows
their sadness at different times

and in different ways.

How sad a person is

can't be measured by how they show it
or by what they do.

Ichiko.

Did you see the box
on top of the toaster in the kitchen?

What?

The box for the kettle I bought...

for your mom was stacked on top.

It was unopened.

That time,

I knew...

what your mom wanted...

wasn't a fancy kettle.

I kind of knew it.

But I didn't have the time.

So I did something
that made her feel lonely.

I made it hard for her to say anything...

by sending her that kettle.

I really liked your mom, you know.

She wasn't good at expressing herself.

But she was honest and strong.

I'm not hurting as much as you.

But I think I can share your grief.

Yeah.

Mom, I'm so sorry.

Then,

thank you for everything, Otoyan.

Yeah.

Take good care of yourself, Ichiko.

Okay.

Bye.

Yeah.

Bye.

-Sorry.
-I'm sorry.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

I need to be the one to turn around...

because my ex-husband

is too kind.

I'm home.

Some time after that,

I called Otoyan and we decided

to sell our home.

I continued living here

alone,

until we found a buyer.

Coming.

THREE MONTHS LATER

-Hello.
-Hi.

-Thank you.
-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.
-We'll take a look around.

-Thank you.
-Of course.

-Thanks for letting us come.
-Please come in.

Three months later,

someone wanted to buy the condo.

So I called Otoyan
so we can meet them together.

Pardon the intrusion.

Thank you for having us.

It has good sunlight.

The windows face southeast
so you get sun for most of the day.

It's rare for such a good home
to be available in this neighborhood.

-That's true.
-Yes.

Looking at it in person, it looks
much newer than it actually is.

We did a lot of renovations.

-Really?
-I see.

Look, aren't the tiles
in the kitchen cute?

Yeah.

Now that I'm seeing them up close,
they aren't smooth and have some texture.

That's right.

I shopped around to find them.

They're really cute.

Is it hard to keep a tiled kitchen clean?

It's really easy.
You can just wipe it off.

Tomato sauce won't stain it
even if it splatters.

That's nice.

The grout is black too.
You could see the stains if it was white.

That's what they said
when I bought the tiles.

They told us black is better
if we cook often.

I have a question.

What is it?

Why do you want to sell this place?

I was wondering if there were
any cons of living here.

I want to ask just in case.

-Right?
-Yeah. You're right.

I don't have any complaints about it.

But it's not the hard details,
but the soft contents.

It's not about the building,
but who you'll be living with.

Why don't we take a look
at the tatami room?

-Sure.
-This way, please.

Ichiko.

Ichiko, are you okay?

I'm sorry.

I can't

sell this place after all.

What?

I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry.
You even came all the way here.

I apologize.

Oh, no. Well...

Here.

Thanks.

Are you out of sugar?

No, I still have some.

I bought some a few days ago.

Really? I didn't see it.

Really?

I just used it though.

Right.

How come it fell?

I was busy with work right until...

-Ouch!
-Ouch.

That hurts, Ichiko.

-Sorry.
-It's okay.

I was working right until they came.

So I cleaned in a hurry.
Are you okay, Otoyan?

Yeah.

So I put it there...

-Sugar...
-Yeah?

...won't grow mold
if you put it in an air-tight container.

I'll put it in the old container.

So there was a reason for that.

I thought you put it in a bottle
because it looked nice.

You really have it together, don't you?

You think so?

I'll take my tea with sugar today too.

Okay.

Crying makes you tired, right?

Here.

Thanks.

Are you tired too?

Yeah,

because I was nervous.

I kept thinking about how sad I'd feel

if the people viewing our place
said they would buy it,

even though we both decided to sell it.

But when it actually happened,

I thought about emphasizing how hard it is
to open and close the window screens.

Like how much the sun burns
the tatami mats.

Yeah. And that the closet door creaks.

Sometimes the kitchen drawers won't close.

The bathroom door mysteriously opens
by itself in the winter.

And when it rains,

-the living room doorknob gets stuck.
-The living room doorknob gets stuck.

But

I didn't think
they would like this place so quickly

since it's a pretty old building.

Yeah.

I got used to looking
at the kitchen tiles,

but they are very cute.

Now, the hard details are a mess,
and the soft contents have separated.

Yeah.

But...

is it okay if I want to start over?

What?

Sorry for being selfish.

I...

thought we couldn't be together
if we weren't married or didn't have kids.

But I...

don't want to give up on our relationship.

Those are...

my true feelings.

Ichiko.

To tell you the truth...

when I saw you crying...

and saying you didn't want to sell...

I was so incredibly happy.

I'm really happy...

the home we built together...

won't be gone anymore.

MIDORI OSTEOPATHY

Since you will increase the types of
treatments you provide for women,

you want to renew your website.

Yes.

I'll help improve their basic problems
and support their health and beauty.

My services will include pressure therapy,
pelvic realignment and diet consultation.

I want to connect it to improving
femininity and maternal instincts.

-Want to give it a try?
-What?

What do you mean "what"?
You don't have kids yet, right?

You shouldn't be so indecisive.

Didn't I tell you?
Your energy levels will start to drop.

I won't have children.

You shouldn't give up on having kids.

That's not what I meant.

Then what did you mean?

I'm just really happy right now.

So I'm good.

But I'd like to learn more
about the pelvic realignment.

I think there is a big need for it
since more people are working from home.

-Right? Isn't that right?
-Yes.

The younger people need it, right?

I think they need it
because they are young.

-Because?
-Yes.

It smells so nice.

Right? It has a great scent.

-Wow.
-Amazing.

-It does.
-What a flower.

Everyone.

We'll be using the cape jasmine today.

One stalk alone can be a work of art.

I want you all to think about using it
in a bold arrangement.

By the way,
the flower language for cape jasmine is...

MIDORI OSTEOPATHY

KEEP THE BEIGE BACKGROUND
ASK FOR NEW PHOTOS

I'm back.

Welcome back.

-Working?
-Yeah.

You're in a good mood.

You can tell?

That smells nice. Is it the flower?

Yeah.

What kind of flower?

Cape jasmine.

Why a bouquet?

Here.

You won't arrange it?

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION.