I want to...
always..
always be...
Chizuru's....
one..
and..
only...
..mother.
You've gotten stronger, Mie-chan.
Even without sign language, he could understand what I was about to say, from my facial expression alone.
What I was about to say, was...
I can't make you and Chizuru happy in the end.
I only bring you sorrow.
I've been waiting for you, Princess.
So Mama is also invited to the concert.
I see...
I lied.
I can't bring myself to tell him that Mama is deaf.
Why?
I don't know.
I don't know... I just can't.
Are you embarrassed?
Is Mama angry?
Mama must be angry. Maybe she will come to hate me now.
Of course not!
Mama said she understands Chizuru's feelings.
She said she understands your feelings of wanting to hide it.
I like that part of Mama.
I like it a lot!
Nobe-kun.
Come here for a moment.
Yes, I'm sorry.
I've checked this one, but it's not detailed enough...
English?
But...
Eh? I don't have to tell what?
(About my deafness. If you don't want to tell him, it's fine.)
(I'm totally fine about it.)
(I'm sorry.)
(Because of me, your study...)
(I'm sorry.)
I'm sorry. Mama, forgive me.
I'm sorry.
I don't want to lie.
I love Mama.
I love Mama just as much as Papa loves you.
I'm sorry, Chizuru.
But please, do your best...
to go through a lot of things from now on.
I'm sorry, Chizuru.
Deaf...? Chizuru-chan's mother can't hear?
Are you surprised?
I'm sorry that I lied to you.
I'm sorry.
She can't hear the piano?
She can't come to the concert?
My mother is looking forward to it.
She's really looking forward to meeting Chizuru-chan and Chizuru-chan's mother.
Then, maybe I'll try to ask her...
I'll ask her. / Yeah, let's ask her!
(Is that his father?)
(I don't know.)
(Are you okay? Do you want to go home?)
(I'm happy.)
(Happy?)
(For me,)
(coming to this kind of place,)
(is a dream.)
(Dream?) / (Yes.)
(Thanks to Chizuru, another dream of mine has come true.)
(Thank you.)
Chizuru! / Papa!
How was it?
That's good!
Chief, we'll entertain our customers tomorrow, right? What time is it?
Oh, you don't have to go, Nobe-kun.
I'll go with Teranishi.
Why is that?
You better go back to your wife earlier. If you drink there, you'll be back very late.
No, Chief, I'm grateful that you think that way, but my wife is definitely fine.
It's okay.
Hey, Teranishi! Are the documents ready?
Here it is.
Chief! You have a phone call from Mr. Tamaka of Tozai Budosan.
Yes, hello!
Thank you for the other day!
Alright then. I'll be counting on you.
What's wrong, Nobe? Something happen?
No, nothing. Is your wife okay, that you're drinking here?
Yeah, I've texted her.
Eh?
Senpai (senior)!
Good evening.
Is it alright for you to drink here?
What do you mean? / Oh, you're Nakata-san, right?
Yes.
So you ARE getting along with each other.
As fellow husbands of hearing-impaired women...
What do you mean by that?
No, nothing.
I just thought you guys are awesome!
You must be drunk, Teranishi. Stop it.
I'm not drunk.
But, you know, I hate being... what do you say, a volunteer?
What?
Well, it's your personal choice, but I hate it.
I mean... to get married out of sympathy..
For me, I prefer loving each other.
I want that kind of marriage.
That's enough! / Stop it, Nakata!
I think you've said too much.
You don't know whether they married out of sympathy or not.
Well, that's right.
But it's a fact that your wife holds you back, right, Nobe-senpai?
What do you mean?
Chief said, as a superior, it's something hard to deal with.
Chief was born in Jinji, right?
He can't let someone who has a handicapped family member work overtime.
He said that.
What do you think of that?
Don't you think this is a marriage that will hold you back from reaching a top position at work?
Is it not?
It's enough.
You're right. If I keep saying more, it would make me look like the bad guy, huh.
Alright then, please do your best.
I'm home.
I drank together with Nakata and Endo-san.
Me? Nothing..
Let's have a toast!
Work?
No problem.
No problem at all!!
I'm unusually kind? What do you mean?
I'm not having an affair!
How sneaky!!
You're eating delicious snacks without me!
Come here! / Yay!
Which one do you want to eat? / This one. / Me too!
Don't kid me.
It's not out of sympathy, you idiot.
I love her!
That's why I married her.
No, it's okay.
Nothing.
I'm just drunk!
This is bad...
I understand the chief's intentions.
There are no certain rules for people who have wives like Mieko-san, but...
...seems like a superior would mind about it.
Does Mieko-san know about this?
No.
I see.
I'm disappointed...
...that you feel down about that now!
The reason that we were against your marriage in the first place, is because we were worried things like this would happen.
You just realized that now??
Be more firm! You're a man!
You don't have to say it like that.
Like what?? Seriously... none of the men in our family are reliable!
Me too? / Of course!
Hirofumi!
I got it!
I got it, Mom. Thanks!
Work harder, okay?
How thoughtful you are!
There's a planning competition in the office.
I'll definitely get through!
Leave it to me!
You can go sleep first.
Nobe-kun, a moment, please. / Yes.
I'll leave it to you.
Have a seat. / Thank you.
About the plan recruitment.
I've chosen Teranishi-kun's plan.
So we must have the development team immediately.
Nobe-kun, please support Teranishi-kun.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
Okay, I will.
I'll be counting on your assistance. / I'll be counting on you, too.
Alright then, should we discuss it now? / Okay!
I shouldn't be discouraged at a time like this...
What's wrong??
It didn't go well and I can't do anything about it.
I shouldn't be upset about it.
But...
But I've come to dislike myself...
Somehow, I can't forgive myself.
For what?
I feel...
I feel like...
a part of me...
..can't deny...
..what Teranishi said.
I don't...
...like that.
Shame on me...
A part of me says...
the reason why it didn't go well at work...
...is because of her and I can do nothing about it.
Seems like I am thinking of it that way.
Is that so.
It's so like you.
So typical of you.
I'm home.
I'm fine.
I became scared.
He is usually so kind and warm. To see Hirofumi like this now...
It reminds me of that time.
Hirofumi's parents were strongly against our marriage at that time.
And he looked as if he was in pain.
It must be me...
I must have caused Hirofumi to be like this again.
That's what I thought.
In the end,
it was always Hirofumi and Chizuru who gave me happiness.
I can't be the one who gives them happiness,
I thought.
I'm scared.
It feels like Hirofumi is getting further away.
I'm scared.
Welcome. / Coffee, please.
I already knew you'd be coming soon.
You must've been worried.
Nobe-kun is my colleague, but you're my best friend too,
so I will not hide this from you.
Nobe-kun is going through a bit of a hard time currently at work.
Alright, please take a look at page 1 of this report.
First of all, concerning the nursing care insurance support...
..in this graph, the senior citizens..
May I give you advice as a best friend?
Please, trust Nobe-kun.
Okay?
Good morning!
Where's Chizuru?
With her friends?
I've slept enough.
Should we go on a date together?
Me?
What are you saying? Of course, I'm happy.
What is it?
I don't look happy?
You have a sharp intuition, huh.
Something a bit bad happened at the office.
Maybe I should just quit.
You don't mind if I quit?
Don't say that easily!
Quitting a job would bring problems.
Stop it.
That's enough.
Enough.
Let's end this topic here.
Let's go home.
Chizuru will come home soon, right?
Hirofumi didn't talk about his work anymore.
I said unnecessary things that might have upset him.
"To Nobe Hirofumi"
"From Mieko"
I'm sorry to have said such things the other day.
But I want you to know how I feel, so I wrote this letter.
I have always been taking the longest route in this life.
Hirofumi might have always been walking straight ahead, without taking any other paths.
But I always went around and around.
Other people are always steps ahead of me.
The first time I managed to say a word when I was 4 years old,
my father and mother cried tears of happiness.
The other children should've been able to talk a lot by this age,
but I could finally say one word only.
Of course, it's better to take the shortest route,
but Hirofumi...
even if you take a longer route, you'll reach your destination anyway, and I know that.
Look at me, I've arrived here with you.
I've arrived here with you.
So, no matter which path you choose,
no matter how long the route is,
I'm fine with it.
As long as I'm with Hirofumi and Chizuru,
no matter how long the route is, it will definitely be fun.
I want to walk on the path you choose.
No matter how far it is.
So, please...
Don't force yourself just for my sake.
That's all.
That's all I want to say.
I'm home.
What's wrong?
Chief.
Mama, you have a mail.
"Mieko, go to Uchibori Avenue at 5:15 PM. Hirofumi"
Is it Papa? What did he say?
Maybe he wants us to have a meal out?
Mie-chan, please look at me!
Please...
Please marry me!
What's this place?
Mama, what is this place?
Is there a good restaurant around here?
Heyyy!!!
Heyy, Chizuru!!
You finally noticed.
What are you doing, Papa??
Mie-chan, do you remember this place?
It's not our anniversary today, but...
I just want to meet you here!
I want to talk to you here!
I love...
I love Nobe Mieko!
I'm glad I married you!
I'm so happy that I can be with you!
That's why I want to propose to you again here!
Please, be with me forever!
What's your answer?
Thank you!
Good job, Papa!
That was embarrassing!
Let's meet there!
To Mr. Teranishi,
I've thought of it once again.
If it's alright with you, please give me advice.
Also... it might take time, but...
I'll show you that I'll catch up and surpass you.
I'll be counting on you until then.
Nobe.
He did it...
-Productive Welfare- Nursing Support Network
Where are we going?
I'm hungry!
Chizuru, taking a longer route is fun too, y'know.
subbed by yanie
edited by jenn