Kazuki-kun's birth mother is Sasaki Yumiko...
If you lay one finger on him, I will kill you all.
-Kazuki?! -Now you understand don't you.
Unlike you,
I'm prepared to fall into the depths of hell for him.
-Who's the accompanying mother? -I am!
Kazuki!
Whenever I see you,
I want to snatch you away.
Er... I
Kazuki's been taken to hospital by ambulance.
-What?! -I have to go to the hospital,
but, I don't know where he's been taken.
Aki-san, keep calm. It's alright.
Has a Takano Kazuki been admitted into your hospital?
-He's a first year high school student. -Is that right...
-He's not there? -Has a Takano Kazuki been brought...
He has no broken bones, and his test results are fine.
Just to be safe, please come in again for a checkup.
It's good you don't have to be hospitalized.
Poor thing...
It must've hurt.
You must be thirsty.
I'll go get some water.
Erm...
Why are you doing all this for me?
Who...
... are you?
Do you want to know... who your real mother is?
Kazuki!
It was your old school friends?!
Anyway, let's go to the police.
It's fine.
Why are you saying that? They might come after you again!
-Let's talk to the police, and your teachers... -It's fine I said.
She has evidence to hold over them.
If I put this video up on the internet, you'll all be expelled.
Who's this 'she'? Sasaki Yumiko-san?
-You mustn't see her anymore. -Why?
No matter what!
Is it because...
she knows something you don't want me to know?
-What are you saying!? -I'm tired.
I'm going to bed.
Kazuki's being bullied?
-Yes. -Well...
But, he didn't show any signs of it at all...
Hey, Kenichi,
did you tell Kazuki?
What?
That I'm...
not his real mother?
I've got a feeling that... he knows.
No... that can't be. You're just over thinking things.
Yumiko-san might've told him,
that she's his real mother.
She did?
This is payment,
for my son's medical treatment.
Thank you for looking after him.
Well then.
Don't you have something else you want to ask me?
What do you mean?
For example...
whether or not,
I told him I'm his real mother.
I didn't.
But... for a while now,
Kazuki's known you're not his true mother.
What!?
Hadn't you noticed?
-For a while? -That's right.
For a long time.
Hey Ubukata-kun. The Roppongi Christmas lights
are being turned on. Are you free after work?
I'm sorry. I've work at another school.
I see, what about tomorrow? Tomorrow too.
I'm... really into my work right now.
Rina-san... How long have you been standing there?
Ah, erm... It's okay. I didn't hear anything.
What do you mean 'it's okay'?
I don't have any interest in that young man.
It's just like teasing a puppy.
That's right, isn't it!
Ah, yes, there's been some amazing news.
What is it? You said it's important.
You were lying about being really into your work, weren't you.
With the mother of a student, of all people.
If your work finds out, you'll be sacked.
Aki-san won't be able to talk her way out of this, will she.
Let's make a deal.
A deal?
A deal between grown-ups.
Adults... As a man and a woman.
Then I will hold my tongue,
in return, you'll...
maybe you could do something for me?
It's a misunderstanding.
It has nothing to do with her.
When this picture was taken, it was all me.
I was following her around like a stalker. I forcibly hugged her.
You really have... fallen for her?
Are you an idiot?
You'll be sacked you know. There has to be a limit to your foolishness!
Even I think that.
A Christmas Tree!
Isn't it pretty.
Let's all go see the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, like we always do.
Lighting Cherrymoni?
Lighting ceremony. All the Christmas lights go on at once.
Don't you remember from last year?
Your brother has always loved it since he was just a little boy.
For a while now, Kazuki's known
you're not his true mother.
I want to go!
Yep, let's all go together.
Yep!
How did you do it? Was it with money?
-Or maybe you used some weird drug? -What are you talking about?
Don't play the innocent with me. You seduced coach Ubukata!
Everyone! This person,
is having an affair with your children's gym teacher.
What are you saying?! I am not!
In my capacity as one of the mothers
I've informed the gym of their inappropriate relationship.
-Hiroko-san, people are staring... -Shut up, you faker.
It's your fault, he's lost his job.
-He was fired! -Fired...?!
Please wait, what do you mean 'fired'? What do you mean?
Get off me!
Women sometimes lie.
How's Kazuki-kun doing?
Sometimes, not for the sake of others
but to deceive oneself.
That deception,
is hidden under the cover of a fake illumination.
The missing child is Imai Reika-kun, a year 6 student.
We understand he was being severely bullied by his fellow students.
I really don't get it...
-What? -It's the criminal's motive.
I guess I can sort of understand punishing parents for
adultery and abuse.
But failing to notice your child's being bullied,
is that such a terrible crime?
-Aki's been hurt?! -Yes. Just in case, she's been admitted to hospital.
She's at Toyosu Central Hospital. Kazuki-kun is looking after Sora.
Yumiko.
About what happened...
I understand you took care of Kazuki.
It's nothing, I just did what was natural.
What are you after?
I'm not after anything.
While Aki-san's in hospital,
if you're struggling with things just let me know.
I will help you. Well then.
All the Christmas light's go on at once.
I want to go!
It's pathetic isn't it,
getting into a fight at your age.
Ah, Kenichi-san was here too, until just a moment ago.
He said it was too crowded here so he took Sora home.
-What about Kazuki? -I asked him to come, but he wouldn't.
Has something happened between the two of you? You used to be such good friends.
You mustn't see Yumiko-san anymore.
-Why -No matter what.
She knows something, you don't want me to know right?
Kazuki's...
birth mother...
lives directly above us.
What?!
She's alive.
Kenichi, hid her from me, saying she was dead.
She's so perfect...
Much more motherly than I am...
You're afraid she's going to take them all away from you?
When you got married, you said you were going to be his true mother.
You were all worked up about it.
-What is it? -Get off me.
-I'm going home. -Hey... you can't.
Come on.
The doctor said
you have to stay in for a day.
You won't be able to make the the Christmas light ceremony, will you.
I know you want to go, but
you have to listen to the doctor, and rest here for a while.
Unlike you, I don't have the time.
I see, well, sorry for having time.
You should just get on with your tedious worrying alone.
Do you want ketchup? Yes ketchup.
Daddy, I'm hungry.
Hang on, it'll be ready soon.
-Sora, would you get that? -Okay.
This is awful!
Ah, that looks yummy...
Ah! I love that one!
You haven't had dinner yet, have you. I thought you might be struggling.
Ah... Yumi...
Sasaki... Sasaki-san... Erm...
-I'm grateful for the thought, but -Daddy, it's okay isn't it?
Ah, well... but...
Let's have dinner.
I'm grateful, but it's okay.
-Is there some reason we can't eat her dinner? -Ah, no, that's not it...
Well then, it's fine.
So, take a seat?
Eat up before it gets cold.
He's sleeping, he's so cute.
-It's amazing isn't it Sora. -Yes.
-Let's eat. -Let's eat.
Let's eat.
-Here you go. -Thank you.
Erm... that's enough, really.
I can at least do the dishes.
It's fine. If you do it, it won't get done properly.
Now, where's the detergent?
Ah, hey. You shouldn't mess around in there.
Could it be...
-you're concerned about your wife's feelings? -Of course I am.
The kitchen's her castle.
Maybe there's no need for you to be so considerate.
-What? -Did you ask Aki-san
how it was she got injured?
Well... One of the other mothers
shoved her...
The cause of the trouble, was Aki-san's affair.
Affair?
With coach Ubukata Kouhei-kun.
That can't be...
That's just a rumour!
I wonder.
Goodness?
This here.
Divorce papers
Can you still say, it's just a rumour?
Divorce papers?!
Hey, what is it? Did something happen at nursery?
-Mummy... -Yes?
What's an 'affair'?
-She's being teased at nursery. -Her friends
-laughed at her, saying you were having an affair. -That's...
-You mustn't involve the children. -What?!
The person you're having the affair with,
it's that coach Ubukata?
What are you saying? Don't you take it seriously too!
Well then, what's this?
What is the meaning of this?
That has absolutely nothing to do with Kouhei-kun.
Actually, it's your fault.
I saw you. On the day of the meeting with Kazuki's teacher.
You said you'd never meet up with her again.
-Do you always meet secretly with her like that? -It was just that one time!
-She threatened me... -That's just an excuse...
-Did you think I'd buy it? -In that case, what about you!
Can you call yourself a mother, letting such a rumour arise and hurt the kids.
A proper mother wouldn't let that happen.
You should be a mother 24 hours a day.
At any rate, this...
If that's what you want,
then I'll consider it too.
-Sora, we're going home. -What?
-But I wanted to give mummy... -We're going home.
Welcome.
I've been waiting for you.
What you were talking about...
Is it true?
You...
you said you know who my real mother is.
Was that true...?
You...
you said you know who my real mother is.
How much do you know?
The first time I noticed
was when I was in year 1 of middle school.
My parents
had taken off their wedding rings, and I just happened to notice.
The date engraved on the inside of the rings.
It was two years after I was born.
I thought it was strange...
And so,
I did some checking and saw the family register.
I thought 'what the hell!'
I thought they'd tell me eventually.
But no matter how much time passed they never said anything.
Ah...
They... They didn't believe in me...
It's to be expected, after all...
I was a stranger.
Thank you for telling me this.
I can tell you
who your real mother is.
But in return
are you prepared
to cast aside your current mother?
What...?
Maybe the child, cast aside his parents.
Maybe he lost hope that his mother would notice the bullying
-and decided to escape by himself. -What do you mean?
I heard it from one of the children bullying him.
And so...
-Hello? -Please help me detective.
My ex-husbands forced his way in, send him away.
-It's because you're so careless -You see him too.
-You were living together and you didn't notice. -Don't push the blame onto me.
-It's your fault he was kidnapped. -You call yourselves parents!
The both of you,
can you say that, when you see this!
Even seeing this, will you still
place the blame for not noticing, on another?
I...
I lost my son.
The pain of bullying drove him to suicide.
I too,
am one of the adults who failed to notice.
My wife and I
blamed each other for it.
It's the Dad's fault, the Mum's fault, the school's fault.
It's society's fault.
And in so doing,
while the adults were busy laying blame,
again another child...
a different child, is sacrificed.
I don't ever want to see,
such a unfortunate child again.
You're free to leave hospital tomorrow lunch time.
That fast?
Anyway, if that's what you want, I'll consider it too.
Can you call yourself a mother, letting such a rumour get out, and hurting the kids.
A proper mother wouldn't let that happen.
Are you scared to go home?
In that case, it's fine if you don't.
-Why are you saying that to me... -I'll be your replacement,
I'm saying that I'll be their mother.
I'm way more suited to being a mother than you.
With you as their mother,
they'll have nothing but misfortune.
You don't know do you?
Kazuki's bullying started 3 years ago.
-What?! -I knew.
That's because I've always been keeping an eye on him.
-'Always' you say... -Always.
Ever since I let go of him,
all I've ever done is watch over him.
I'm only ever thinking about him.
On his way home from school,
he was always on his own.
Even so, he couldn't talk to his parents about it.
Do you know why?
It's because he knew you were not his real mother.
He lacked confidence you'd listen to him so he kept quiet.
He...
He waited, believing that one day
you'd talk to him.
Every time he looked at you, he thought 'maybe this time.'
Even if not today, maybe tomorrow....
Every single day,
What was he feeling when he looked at you?
You...
didn't notice?
But...
No matter how long he waited, you said nothing.
And so finally he realised,
You weren't paying him the attention
that he thought you were.
-Someday... -You're thinking of saying someday?
What a terrible excuse.
It's impossible to keep a constant eye on the children?
It's impossible to be perfect?
In that case give up being a mother.
If the bullying had continued,
he might have died someday,
or he might've taken his own life.
If that happened, would you still say the same thing?
Can you still say it's impossible to be perfect?
I've been constantly watching you.
Someday... you'll be a mother
and come to Kazuki's rescue.
But it's been three years!
I'm at my limit.
I'm capable
of being a perfect mother.
Kazuki... No, to protect the whole family,
I'll do whatever it takes.
You don't belong in the family anymore.
We'll do it once more. On my marks,
1, 2, 3...
I 2 3 4
Once more.
1...
-I'll take over. -Please do.
-Sora, you're getting really good. -Yep, thank you.
Ah yes, would the both of you, with your father
-like to come to mine for dinner tonight? -Yes!
I'm capable of being a perfect mother.
I'll do anything to protect the family.
You don't belong in the family anymore.
-We love fried shrimp, don't we? -Yep!
Ah, but...
I promised to see the Christmas lights being turned on with mummy.
Sora-chan.
Unfortunately your mummy won't be coming home.
What?
Your mummy...
She broke her promise.
At Sasaki-san's?
Yes... Sora was invited there to play.
-What about your mother. -I don't know.
-It's getting late, and we've not heard anything, -Good grief, how selfish.
Nevermind, let's the three of us have dinner at home.
-She said to invite you too. -What?
We've all been invited to dinner with Sasaki-san.
Today is our last day with coach Ubukata.
What?! Why? Where are you going?
So he got fired in the end?
Because of the rumours about him and Aki-san?
Hiroko-san kicked up such a fuss about it.
Poor Ubukata.
Of course he couldn't stay with such a fuss being made.
Even if you're Hiroko-san, that's going too far.
-Thank you for looking after me. -Thank you.
Hello?
Aki-san.
Kazuki-kun was alright?
Thank you so much for helping me.
Thank goodness.
Actually, I'm going away on a trip.
Away from here...
-A trip? -What?
-Ah... -What happened?
It's complicated...
Erm... I heard something strange...
that you were forced to quit your job.
It's just a rumour isn't it?
Well...
-It's true. -Is it because of the....
Ah, but... It wasn't because of the rumours.
I decided to resign.
My mother's health has gone downhill so
I want to live closer to her for a while.
Hey, are you hungry?
-What? -Nearby
there's a restaurant I've been wanting to go to, will you come with me?
Let's go.
For the first and last time. It's my going away party.
Please.
Ah, I'm really hungry.
Tucking in.
-That was close
I'm going again.
Yum!
You should eat too.
It says 'To Narita Airport'
I wonder, maybe I'll go abroad.
-Where would you like to go? -Firstly...
I'd like to ride in a balloon over Turkey's Cappadocia.
Then I'd like to go down the Amazon river,
and wrestle with the crocodiles.
In Sweden, I'd like to see the most beautiful full moon in the world.
-In the world? -That's right.
In Sweden,
The reflection of the moon in the sea is called the 'mångata.'
-A road made in the sea by the moon's reflection. -If you walk that road,
don't you think we could walk into a different world?
You don't belong in the family anymore.
-What about you? -What?
Where would you like to go, what do you want to do?
I...
Nothing's coming to me.
These past 13 years...
I've done nothing but be a mother.
But even so,
everyday, little by little,
I've been building up something important
I have a feeling that someday it will
grow into something big and warm.
But...
It's just my own conceit.
All I've done is make things hard for my children.
I...
Perhaps I should never have become a mother.
Seriously, won't you come with me?
To see the Mångata or whatever?
I'll show you, whatever it is you want to see.
I can't guarantee what will happen in the future but,
But, I...
definitely won't do anything to make you cry.
I definitely won't do anything to make you cry.
Let's all of us go and see,
-the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. -I want to go!
It's a close family!
-That's true, we're a close family. -Yes.
Thank you,
I'm really happy.
-Mummy, welcome home. -Welcome home.
I wiped it myself. You look so smart!
I want to go!
The children's happiness,
I will definitely protect it.
I'm sorry...
The children are
a part of me, so I can't.
You're a good mother.
I'm sure the children are waiting
for their mother to come home.
Look.
Daddy, Kazuki.
I'm sorry for being late.
This year, tonight at 7.
will be our 13th Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.
Let's all see it together.
I'm waiting.
Is it from mummy? What is it?
Mother-in-law! I thought 'surely not' but I came anyway.
And as I suspected, you didn't go to the ceremony.
So you kept quiet about your ex-wife being alive.
If you, at least, kept it together,
this would have ended without the kids or Aki getting hurt.
But instead you snuck around, hid things and lied.
You just squirmed about.
Squirmed...
I'd just like to say, I've had my worries too.
I'm begging you, please make her happy.
What I'm trying to say is,
if you think that, because you're family, you can neglect them
and they'll still understand, then you're fooling yourself.
Everyday, loving and tending for the family mending things when they fall apart
then, finally, you become a family.
That may be true but,
but she left, leaving me with divorce papers.
It's not something I can easily forgive.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Lighting in 10 seconds.
Let's everyone all count down together.
10, 9, 8, 7
6, 5, 4, 3...
Our 13th tree lighting ceremony.
Let's all go see it together.
They're going on!
Christmas Illumination 2016
The lighting ceremony is now complete.
Everyone, what do you think?
Once again, the turn out at the ceremony...
Mummy!
Sorry for being late!
Kenichi.
Sora.
I'm sorry.
Kazuki...
wouldn't come with us.
I see.
Sorry for being such an incompetent wife.
Sorry for not being a perfect mother.
I... Over these past 13 years...
all I've done is be a mother.
But it has been
as much fun for me as
traveling the world.
It's been a happy 13 years.
Kenichi, Sora
From hereon too...
let me continue to be the Takano family's mother.
I was thinking the same thing.
This paper.
I'm ripping it up.
It's fine if we're not perfect.
We each make up for
each others weaknesses.
let's bring up the kids together.
So Aki,
From hereon in...
please let me be your husband.
Yes.
You're weird. You're both married.
I wish Kazuki were here too.
You promised didn't you?
If you want to know who, your real mother is.
You have to cast aside your current mother.
What will you do?
Okay.
-Chiaki-chan's regained consciousness? -Five hours ago.
According to the doctor, she's talking about the kidnapper.
A pipe?
-The kidnapper was blowing a pipe? -Yes, sometimes.
What was the tune?
Aki...
I'll tell you everything.
About what happened a long time ago...
between Yumiko and I.
And about the sin
we committed...