55 Years Old, Me, Becoming a Mother!? (1) [#CreativeAward2025 #EntertainmentOriginalWorkCategory]
Synopsis
Kenichi, a 55-year-old man whose catchphrase is "That's why women are...", clicks his tongue at crying children and leaves child-rearing to his wife, a "man with zero maternal instinct". One day, he suddenly wakes up in the body of a pregnant woman—enduring morning sickness, his body and mind gradually becoming a "mother" day by day.
What Miya, the owner of this body, was carrying was a loneliness where she couldn't rely on anyone, and a determination to protect her child.
"Maternal instinct isn't something you're born with. It's something you choose, step forward into, and nurture."
When he realizes this, Kenichi's life also
begins to be reborn anew.
—This is a story of a "fresh start" dedicated to everyone
who knows the pain and strength of becoming a mother.
"...You want to take paternity leave?"
Staring at the application form submitted by his subordinate Sato, Kenichi asked back in a low voice.
"...Yes. My wife's health hasn't been very good since giving birth, so if possible, one month..."
Kenichi sighed in silence.
Looking down at his subordinate,
he rested his elbows on the desk and tapped the application form.
"Well, it's the rules. I suppose it can't be helped..."
Contrary to the words of consent,
his voice was tinged with dissatisfaction and intimidation.
“So? You’re a man taking childcare leave, what are you going to do?”
To that question, Sato replied with a bitter smile,
sounding awkward.
“Well, everything I can help with... bathing the baby, dealing with crying at night... various things, really...”
Kenichi looked over the application form in silence,
and stamped it with a reluctant gesture.
──In the early afternoon, Tanaka, a woman from administration, called out to him apologetically.
“I’m sorry... I just got a call from the daycare. My child has a fever, could I please leave early?”
“Ah, not again...”
Kenichi muttered to himself.
He didn’t show it on his face, but he was gritting his teeth.
It seemed Tanaka was aware, in her own way, that she was putting a burden on those around her.
However, even so, the feeling inside Kenichi of,
“This is why women are...”
did not disappear.
“...Yeah, yeah, I understand.”
(This is why women who prioritize family over work are so difficult to use...)
Even while giving permission with his mouth,
he said it in a tone that sounded like he was spitting out the words.
[That night]
Kenichi dragged his tired body onto the bus.
And he was sending a message to his wife, Yumi, on his smartphone.
《 I'm wearing my expensive suit the day after tomorrow, so please pick it up from the dry cleaners 》
What came back with a notification sound was a curt reply.
《 I can't tomorrow, I have a part-time shift 》
“...Huh? You have the time... what the hell...”
Clutching his smartphone, a click of his tongue escaped him.
“Tsk...”
A little while later, at the back of the bus,
a small child started crying.
Kenichi winced at the high-pitched voice that grated on his nerves.
The mother was desperately trying to soothe the child, but
there was no sign of the crying stopping.
“...Give me a break...”
Kenichi looked out the window, and although it was one stop too early to get off,
unable to suppress his irritation, he stood up and got off the bus.
Even as he started walking, his irritation didn't subside,
and while still clutching his smartphone,
he ignored the traffic light and stepped into the crosswalk—
“—!!”
Simultaneously with the sound of a horn, my vision exploded into pure white.
***
"Hey, are you alive?"
A voice echoed from far away.
When Kenichi opened his eyes,
he found himself in a space wrapped in soft, glowing light.
"Finally awake, are you? Man, you got hit pretty hard. Even I was surprised."
A man with salt-and-pepper hair and sunglasses stood there, looking like he was on vacation in a Hawaiian shirt.
"...Who are you?"
"I'm God, just God. Well, I'll explain later. It's been decided that you should probably redo your life."
“Huh?”
“You used to have a habit of saying, ‘This is why women are like this,’ right? You’d click your tongue and glare if a child was crying, and you never lifted a finger for childcare at home. You were cold to your subordinates and acted arrogant toward your wife, too. There’s no way around it; you’re lacking in compassion.”
Kenichi was stunned.
“So, I’m going to have you relive your life as a mother.”
“Huh? A mother... you mean as a woman?”
“Exactly. The place and time remain the same as they are now. Learn plenty. About what they call motherhood...” (Smiles)
“Don’t mess—”
The moment I tried to speak, my vision swayed violently.
***
A sharp, pungent smell brought my consciousness back into focus.
...Ugh... what is this smell...
Where... am I...
The ceiling of an unfamiliar room came into view.
Kenichi, who had been lying on a pale pink futon, looked around and stood up.
When he opened the window, the smell of rice cooking drifted in from somewhere.
At that moment,
the pit of my stomach lurched.
Ugh...!
Assailed by nausea, I stumbled as I searched for a restroom and rushed inside.
As soon as I lifted the toilet seat, I violently vomited the contents of my stomach.
After managing to finish vomiting, I headed to the sink, and in the mirror was—
The figure of an unfamiliar, haggard young woman.
“……W-who… who is this……”
I am stunned by the face reflected in the mirror.
Kenichi's new life, “as a mother,”
begins here──
──Episode 2continues
～～List of Stories～～
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12
Episode 13
Episode 14
Episode 15
Episode 16
Episode 17
Episode 18
Episode 19 (End)