In the middle of Tokyo, in a corner that never sleeps, is the licensed nursery, Smiling Garden.
Even at night, working parents can leave their children,
so to speak, a refuge for troubled fathers and mothers.
The friendly Director and Teacher there, has another job too...
They've consulted an attorney about suing the nursery school.
All the uproar is because of a monster parent, right!
What's with a lawsuit?
There must be some reason. Reason?
This is boss Momo Igumi's lover.
What are you doing, you guys!?
Somehow that young kid... just like always,
those guys got hold of him.
Hitoshi! Son of a bitch!
This drama is about the detective work the Director Teacher does in order to protect the children and Smiling Garden.
The rest in 3 days, 100 thousand yen?
Oh, entering paradise.
Director...
Director, please get up.
Oh... Sayoko san.
Sayoko san.
Three minutes! Just three minutes, Sayoko san...
Only the time it takes for 1 cup of ramen.
What are you saying?
You're former son is here. I don't have a former son.
I do have a former wife, but....
Hi.
Then you two, take your time.
I'll come work here.
What? That's no good now is it!
I have no place to go. Go back to Kanezawa.
No... I think it's better I'm apart from my sister.
Moreover, I want to work with you.
What?
The place where there's a man my dead mother liked.
No, no way! I wasn't nodding approval!
Why are you here now? I need to sleep!
What's that?
What are you doing, you people! Please leave!
Hey! What's going on!?
Please stop! Oh, Encho Sensei!
Yea, we're just showing our guest the property.
These gentlemen are interested in renting this space.
The deadline is still 3 days.
You're frightening the children.
Anyway you can't pay can you? I'll pay!
Who's this? Now, now, sir.
You've got a feel for the space, right? Well, let's go.
Hey let's go. Yea.
I'm anxious to see you sink in the ocean.
Huh, that is, Kasuga group's Yamauchi, right?
Director, you borrowed money, from those people!?
You're kidding? You borrowed money from that guy?
Well there are things. Look, everyone, it's OK!
Good! Everyone is OK!
Encho Sensei chased them away!
Well, it's everyone's favorite, drawing pictures time!
Great, great, let's go draw!
Jojima? Oh, a job.
The client's name you know, will interest Hana chan.
You'll be so surprised, a shocking client you know.
Alright, be right there.
Oh, you, leave soon.
Where's he going? Going to earn some money.
For these children's smiling faces.
It's hard to believe, this is Momo Igumi's Fumufumu sama,
that has requested the services of this competent detective agency...
It's alright to clearly say I'm his mistress.
You'd just like to have the young people in the apartment below
stop making a racket at night, is that right?
That is all I want. And I would like the famous
Hanasaki Shinichiro san to do it.
I'll entrust the method to him. If that's all,
it'll be 50 thousand yen, OK.
That's good, OK, Hana chan. No, 100 thousand.
Hana chan... Alright.
You have a loan with Yamauchi of Kasuga, right?
It's difficult for Encho Sensei too.
If your successful, I'll pay. Tonight please.
Thank you so much!
Hitoshi kun, the director told you to leave, right?
Yea...
Oh, Yuto, that picture is good.
But you know, it's all blank here.
Want it more balanced?
Have a look at this, isn't this Niichan's picture good.
Doing it like this, thinking about how to properly arrange it.
Ouch.
Yuto kun, what's wrong?
Oh no, you've got yourself a paper cut.
It's OK, I'll put on a band aid.
You're so brave to not cry, Yuto.
Hitoshi kun, you still haven't left.
I'll go, I'll go but.
Yea, so cute.
It's nice, the smiling Garden. Well that's true.
Because the Director works hard,
so he doesn't lose this nursery.
Thanks for waiting.
Here.
Well, I'll come back. We'll be happy to serve you.
Thank you so much.
You know, you make originals, right?
Well, I'm not good at arranging.
The other person is out on a delivery.
You're welcome to wait till they get back.
Oh for that person?
Look this shop's name is Aya san, right?
It's a woman with short hair, right?
That person's no longer here. Is that right?
Well, that'll be fine. Yes.
How much? That'll be 4000 yen.
You....
Didn't you once work at Cabaret club in Nichome?
I'm wrong, thanks. Thank you so much.
I'm back. Welcome back. Sorry I'm late.
Time to go pick up Yuto. Oh, yes.
Is he doing well at the nursery school?
What do you mean?
Hey, if you hold the lilies that way, they'll get damaged.
Sorry. It's fine, but.
They're important flowers. Lilies. All flowers are the same.
Because we are a flower shop.
Hey now.
Director, welcome back. Yes, I'm back.
Oh Hitoshi? He give up and leave?
Well, something, said he was just going out...
he is gone but. Whatever.
Oh, I heard from Sayoko san, but
Is Yuto OK? Cut his finger?
Just a small paper cut.
But it was no serious injury, he's OK. Right.
Well I probably shouldn't say this, but
I think Yuto kun was fine,
but Yuto kun's mother is really mild.
So there's no problem is there. I know that but,
if it were one of those monster parents,
there'd be an uproar, right. Maybe.
Is everyone happy?
Yuto, you draw really good.
This a mountain, or a hill?
Is this your mom?
This here, a white flower?
White flower, isn't that a lily?
Very good!
Your mother's here. Yuto, sorry.
Yuto kun, he drew a picture today.
Was it fun? Not really.
Ma'am, good evening. Good evening.
Well one thing we have to report,
Yuto kun cut his finger on a piece of paper when he was drawing.
We treated it right away, so there shouldn't be any problem.
Yuto, you OK? Did it hurt?
We are really sorry.
Yuto kun, drew this picture today.
Very good.
Well let's go, excuse us.
Be careful. Take care.
Thank you. It was delicious.
It would be good if you hired that kid, well ah...
Hitoshi. If Hitoshi kun was around,
It might solve Hana chan's lack of sleep a little, you think?
Yes. Well maybe.
Can you get some sleep tonight? Impossible.
There's some young chaps making noise in the middle of the night.
It's my job to stop them.
Who would ask you, to do such a job?
The lover of the boss of the gang called Momo Igumi.
Huh, those guys again?
Oh, I need to get going.
It was good!
Yes, I'm going!
Yuto, what with your butt?
Just a little. Right.
Good, done.
Yuto! Yuto, just.
I never noticed this. Where did you get this owie?
It's not an owie. But it's a bruise.
The nursery school? Don't know.
Yuto!
What, this is rare, you knitting.
Just knitting some gloves for Yuto.
You don't have to be so domestic.
You know, if you grew your hair long again?
What? Well it looks good on you.
and if you wore makeup too?
Well, it's not necessary as Yuto's mother.
Well, OK, but.
Well, I won't push it.
Oh sorry.
Asking you to do a boring job. Oh, Keiko san....
Well, hey that wasn't my....
That wasn't what I was thinking.
You know, I am sorry for troubling you, so I brought you some provisions.
Wow, so great! Thank you so much.
It doesn't seem they're coming today.
Yea.
I have warned them over and over.
But it seemed totally ineffective.
Because I'm a woman, they don't take me seriously.
Yea.
It's getting cold. That's right.
Stand guard in my house?
Right here... is fine.
Diligent.
Well, I suppose that's why even the gangsters take their hats off to you.
Hana chan of the gang unit.
Then, counting on you.
Yes!
The sushi, thank you so much.
Good!
Jojima? No one came today, so I'm leaving,
If nothing happens in the next tow day, what should I do?
I have to make a payment.
Alright. I hope they come.
No way?
Hey... what is this?
Good morning Director. Oh, what's this, a little baby?
Abandoned child. What?
Call the police immediately. Because I'm taking it to Nami Sensei.
Y..yes.
Hey isn't it time to take him to preschool?
I was going to take him to a clinic to see a doctor, about his injury yesterday.
Therefore, he has today off.
The injury is no big deal. What about the store?
Today, I can't.
Because Yuto is most important.
I want to go to Smiling Garden.
Today, you'll be with mama all day, OK?
It's good that it's safe however... it's unconscionable.
Abandoning a baby in a cardboard box.
It really ticks me off too... The way you put it Nami Sensei,
makes me even more angry. I just say it like it is.
Anyway... We have to decide on a shelter to take the baby in.
And I want to ask you a little more about the
circumstances when you found the baby...
Yes.
That's right, Hanasaki san doesn't have any children of your own, right?
Not quite!
Thank you so much.
Thank you for your consideration. Thanks.
Come in. How is the baby?
It's safe. That's good.
I thought my heart would stop.
Aside from that, who were those women? Mothers hoping to enroll their children in preschool.
He's really great, Hitoshi kun. Hitoshi ?
Yesterday it seemed he went out and did some sales.
Certainly that is your blind spot, Cabarets.
Cabarets? What are you talking about?
Well if you think about the character of the place, it's definitely a good place.
There has to be many mothers with children
that need a place to take them.
So, am I hired? No way!
But if we have more children, management will get easier.
And further, Hitoshi kun is good at drawing pictures.
He said he's a picture book maniac. Wait now?
Both of you are this guys ally? Hey, I am begging.
Look... I don't have the surplus to hire,
and further, working in a nursery school is not that easy of a job.
Go home, go home!
I need some sleep now. Hey but...
Sorry to intru.... Oh, Mugiko.
Who? Director's ex-wife.
What is it? What's wrong?
Today, someone came in to our office for some counsel.
Office? His ex-wife is an attorney.
Not his ex-wife, I'm Saotome Mugiko.
So, what is it?
The person that came in is the mother of a child
that was in the pre-school's care that got injured,
today at the hospital, they said the child is being abused.
This has something to do with us?
I have a duty of confidentiality, however, why would I have come here?
What? That kid... Yuto? But, it was just a cut on his finger, right?
Director... Yuto kun didn't come in today.
What's going on?
She thinks the pre-school just reported the finger cut
to hide the abuse.
Therefore she consulted an attorney saying she wants to sue that pre-school.
What, we were hiding it?
We wouldn't do anything like that would we? Right.
Then this Yuto... is he OK?
He's OK. The child did come with her, he was quite lively.
I just came to tell you that.
Whether this pre-school is involved, I don't know.
Hey! Director...
Anyway, I'll try visiting Yuto's house.
Hello. What is it?
Hey, how is Yuto kun?
Because I have nothing to talk about.
Hey, I just have a little something I want to ask, however.
Yes, I understand. Please excuse me.
What? What?
The just canceled their enrollment.
Even though Hitoshi kun had got so many to sign up,
They've almost all cancelled... Why did this happen all of a sudden?
I'll go check something out. Huh, wait....
Yuto.
Shall we go out for dinner tonight?
With papa too... You can have anything you like.
A lawsuit, what else....
Well...
What is it? Director.
Yuto's mother is not what you think.
That person, used to work at a hostess bar,
when she heard some of the other girls were sending their kids to Smiling Garden,
she told them it was a horrible place.
What? Moreover,
they said she is not Yuto's real mother.
You... what are you saying?
I was asking the customers who were canceling their enrollment.
I go there myself every now and then too, but
that salesperson was that?
Yea, when his wife died, it was love at first sight,
she became his second wife.
So for Yuto kun, it's his second mother?
She seemed like a good mother.
But if there's a trial, the garden will get a bad reputation,
either way, it'll be unbelievable.
There must be some reason. Reason?
It's just that she didn't seem like a monster parent, right?
Not like that at all.
Therefore, there has to be a reason.
Something that unbalanced her heart.
Unbalanced her heart... the reason.
Risa san has something that unbalances her too.
What? You know...
The food you make for Hanasaki san,
the cost of the ingredients is always close to a thousand yen.
Izumi chan, none of your business, be quiet.
But even today, those ingredients you used.
These Shitake, cost that much?
They're no Shitake. Moriyu.
Moriyu?
Moriyu mushrooms are the luxury mushrooms in Europe
Oh, crap.
It's time for me to do my lookout job.
It was delicious.
You want a thousand?
It's fine... 500 yen.
Why are you here?
I want to help you out. Come on, let me help.
Your standing on lookout, right?
Even I can do that.
Grab a little sleep.
Not saying you have to employ me.
Well, that would help, but.
Right?
Alright, then promise me.
It the young rascals show up, call me immediately.
You can't go by yourself!
Well, I know.
Sure you got it. Don't go by yourself!
I said I know.
I know.
Oh, Yuto.
Huh, what's wrong?
I saw Encho Sensei.
Oh right.
Even though I'm a Sensei at the pre-school, I'm also a detective.
You're great, Yuto.
You know, at my house you know,
I fell down and hurt myself.
What?
Here, and on my butt too.
Really?
It wasn't at the pre-school. Yes.
But why are you telling Encho Sensei?
It's just, that because of it,
I can't go to Smiling Garden, right? That's what mama said.
Yuto!
Yuto?
Yuto. Yuto?
I'm glad you told me, you're a big boy.
Don't worry, you'll be able to come to Smiling Garden again.
And you know, keep it secret you saw Encho Sensei here.
Yes. Good, get going.
Cheers!
They finally came.
Let's have some fun! Good!
Isn't it a little chilly? Chilly? Yea a little.
But if that's all it is, I can handle it.
What's with you? So fun.
Hey you guys!
This late at night, is not the time to be whooping it up!
It's bothering the residents around here! What's with you!?
Come here, look! The residents will come!
Come here!
Hello? Some young kid,
look, the guys I told you about have got him.
Hana chan, you're not standing watch?
Sorry... where are they?
That bastard, Hitoshi! Crap!
Now is the moment. Stop!!
You're late.
I told you to just stand watch, didn't I...?
Hey, you guys,
Lay another hand on that guy, I'll not forgive you.
You say another?
You mean like this.
What did you do!
Oh no.
Bastard!
I'm sorry....Please let go. Please let go!
All of you,
Never make noise over there again! Yes.
Women in the neighborhood, have been warning you for awhile, right?
That there's an adult that would scold you,
you should be grateful.
You understand!?
Yes!
Then get.
Hey!
Eat properly, sleep properly!
Yes, excuse us. Excuse us.
Sorry.
Well, we thank you too.
Why are you thanking her?
Isn't it obvious.
It was Keiko san that called me about you.
Oh thank you, old lady.
Ol..d..La..dy?
Hitoshi! Look, Keiko san you know,
is the mistress of Momo Igumi's boss.
Serious!?
Fine.
Me you know, I am tired of it.
Up till now, how many times
I've seen young kids get beaten half to death.
Suppose, suppose
when Momoi is visiting at my apartment, and those kids
make a racket, they won't have a chance for reflection,
and would probably be killed.
That's why I asked you.
What?
You detest the way gangs use violence.
You know I've heard, the period you were in the mob,
the detective that was a spy in the organization, you...
No, let's not talk about that.
Right.
What is the story? Better if you don't know.
But I want to know. It's fine!
Certainly, this is this month's amount.
Your receipt.
Thanks.
This is not for me to say, but
there's no way for you to keep this pace.
I'll do it.
Why will you go that far to continue the pre-school?
Well... because I myself was saved by a pre-school.
Then, I'll get back to the pre-school. So for now.
What is your business that you would come to the shop?
I only went to get legal advice.
Because my husband will be back from deliveries soon...
Hey, it's just that right now, suing Smiling Garden,
I just came to say that it will be difficult.
But, Yuto's bruise...
Because it's difficult to prove that he got it at the pre-school....
It's obvious that he got it at the pre-school?
Has Yuto kun said as much? What?
Has Yuto kun clearly said that?
I did it myself.
I fell down at home and hit it.
What?
Yuto, if that... I'm back.
Welcome.
I'm an attorney. Saotome Mugiko.
An attorney?
What, why is an attorney here? Oh, it's nothing.
Mami. Here.
What's going on?
I had just inquired about suing the pre-school or not.
Suing? I was thinking about Yuto.
For Yuto? What do you mean?
Good sir, it's just a misunderstanding. Please don't condemn your wife.
No, what is this about?
Enough.
I was wrong.
I'm useless at the shop,
and useless as Yuto's mother. Mami!
No matter how gentle I try to be,
Yuto doesn't think of me as his mother.
And for you the lilies are most precious.
I'm sorry. Either way, I shouldn't be here.
Hey, wait, hey, Mami!
Sorry.
You are not bad.
Well... do you think it possible we could talk
a little?
Director, we are really grateful.
Oh thank you. This month will be OK too.
Now I have to work for next month's 300 thousand. Yes.
What, Mugiko!?
Yuto! His father couldn't get away, so
I brought him here. He asked that you take care of Yuto kun.
Well that's fine but, why is it you, his mother?
Yea... that's a little....
Yea, you want that picture?
Here.
So that's Ayako san.
Ayako san?
Yuto kun's real mother that died.
Yuto kun, let's go over there.
It's cold, go in and play. Yes.
How did you know that picture was Ayako san?
Well... her favorite flowers were lilies.
Mami san? She suddenly ran off.
Got a minute? Sure.
Right, seeing that picture, Yuto's mother
got a shock.
It's a drawing of his previous mother, I suppose.
To a son, mother is a big deal.
However....
I thought this picture's balance was bad, maybe he wasn't finished?
Yuto kun, what is this flower?
Acacia.
Oh, right, acacia flowers?
Yuto kun, you are smart.
The previous wife, Ayako san opened the
flower shop with her husband.
It seemed she was really competent.
But when Yuto kun was 3, she passed away.
And Mami san started to console the husband
when she heard how down he was,
and a year later he remarried.
She stopped working the cabaret, and seriously became part of a family.
Mami san, without her husband knowing,
has a complex about Ayako san.
But, why is it, that she would want to sue our pre-school?
When Ayako san was well and the florist was busy,
both of them strongly objected to
putting Yuto kun into a pre-school.
It's probably that Mami san recalled that story?
Lost her composure when she saw Yuto kun's picture.
Her heart lost it's balance,
and she swiftly acted irrationally?
It may seem ridiculous, however,
working as an attorney,
we see these kind of stories all the time.
Anyhow, it's good we didn't over react, but.
Hitoshi.
Hello.
You know Mami san's whereabouts?
Why, here....
Mimosa's yellow acacia flowers.
Aren't they pretty.
About a year ago,
you came here with Yuto kun, right?
I... married my husband,
I wanted to do what I could to get along with Yuto,
the two of us went out.
Even so, Yuto
he became more and more taciturn.
First we went to an amusement park,
ate dinner at a family restaurant there,
and after when we came here,
that kid wouldn't even say a word.
And then, I suddenly blurted out,
"If that's how you're going to be, let's go home."
Well for Yuto kun,
I don't think it was a bad memory.
That can't be true.
After, no matter how much I tried, it seemed it was too late.
No matter how much I gently touched him,
that boy wouldn't let me.
I really am no good.
Mami!
Yuto....
Dear....
Mami, I am sorry.
When we married,
when you said you'd graciously said you'd be Ayako's replacement,
I was so happy.
But that was very selfish of me.
I was insensitive.
Sorry.
Even now, I am asking.
Thank you.
But...
But to Yuto, there's only Ayako san...
Mami san.
You mustn't underestimate children.
Yuto kun, didn't draw this picture cause his father said too.
When you're husband saw this picture,
he thought let's go take some of those flowers,
Yuto.
Mami san.
This picture here, it's now complete.
Mother, there's two.
Because he's still young,
having a new mother come, can be confusing.
He'll be bashful, have some anxiety,
he won't say the
things he wants to say, or the things he should say.
But you know.
This much is for sure,
Yuto kun, really thinks of you as his mother.
Therefore, Mami san.
take the tension out of your shoulders, be honest with your feelings,
and once again look after Yuto kun.
Yuto.
Go.
I'm sorry, mama.
Yuto.
You're mama too, sorry.
Yuto, I'm sorry that I didn't understand anything.
Thank you.
Yuto is happy.
He has two great mothers.
You, why are you crying?
You are too!
No way.
Hitoshi.
First, you have to watch and learn.
Then you have to get your day care worker license.
After that, you'll be an official employee.
Oh, great.
Understood.
I'll let the Director know. Yes.
Director. Oh, what is it?
Nami Sensei called, that abandoned baby,
they still haven't found the mother,
it seems it's just been moved to the Department of child services.
Man, abandoning a child,
that really is the worst.
Putting it in a cardboard box.
But leaving it in front of our place,
they at least wanted it to be cared for, right.
But either way, that's not a mother.
It was a very immature thing to do.
Hey, I've brought you oden.
You cold?
You want another blanket, right? I'll go find one.
Eat the oden, OK.
Sixty thousand yen.
It's OK, somehow I'll get it.
Going to sleep good.
Jojima?
Right now I need some sleep, but.
Alright, I'll go.