55 Years Old, Me, Becoming a Mother!? 18 [#CreativeAward2025 #EntertainmentOriginalWorkCategory]
When I arrived in front of the house, Rio was there.
“...Hey old man, welcome back.”
“...Yeah. Anyway, come on in.”
While avoiding each other's gaze, we awkwardly took off our shoes.
“...Rio.”
“...Old man!”
Our timing overlapped.
An awkward atmosphere flowed between us.
Rio started in a low voice, saying, “I’ll go first.”
“...Yeah.”
Rio lowered her eyes for a moment and opened her mouth.
“About the bath the other day... I'm sorry. I did it on my own without consulting you. A senior at work told me it was quick and easy, so I tried it first. I wanted to reduce your burden, even if just a little...”
(...Was it for my sake?)
That fact slowly seeped into my heart.
"But... my senior told me too. 'You have to talk to your mom about that.' ...I didn't properly consider how you felt, old man."
I felt pathetic for yelling at Rio without listening, even though she had been trying to say something back then.
Kenichi said, as if squeezing the words out.
Kenichi said, as if squeezing the words out.
"I'm the one who was wrong for not listening to you either."
Rio's eyes looked like they had welled up a little.
Kenichi continued.
"Besides... I've been relying on you for everything until now, but I never even properly thanked you."
He took a breath to steady himself.
"...Thank you. Going shopping with Yuma made me realize it. Just how much I've been helped by you, Rio..."
Rio smiled, just a little.
"An honest middle-aged guy, that's rare!"
A soft atmosphere finally returned between the two of them.
But—even though things should have felt easier,
Kenichi's heart was still restless.
"Honestly... I'm reaching my limit."
"What do you mean?"
"Lately, I've been getting irritated with Yuma more often. Like when he won't stop crying, or won't go to sleep... I know I shouldn't, but I end up yelling at him."
Rio's expression clouded at Kenichi's words.
"I know a mother shouldn't say things like this, but... I just don't know what to do anymore..."
It was pathetic, but this was his true feeling.
"...Please help me. I can't do this alone."
Rio listened in silence and gently bowed her head.
“...I'm sorry, old man. It's my fault for keeping my distance.
I pushed you too hard.”
Rio's voice was trembling.
“From now on, please rely on me more.”
As she said that, Rio took out her smartphone.
“Let's order 'Yu-Bento' too. You don't have to push yourself.”
“...Is it really okay to order something like that?”
“It is! If it makes things even a little easier for you, that's definitely better.”
Rio continued.
“Also, I'll talk to Daiki about it too.
On days when I or Daiki can go, we'll stop by.”
Kenichi pressed his lips together firmly.
“...Are you sure?”
“You don't have to feel so pressured just because you're ‘not a mother.’”
She smiled, but her eyes were serious.
“Let me help again, too. Let's do this together—child-rearing.”
At those words, Kenichi's tense heart began to unravel.
“...Thank you.”
***
"I'm back from shopping."
"Pass me a diaper."
Naturally calling out to each other, the three of them took care of Yuma.
They took care of Yuma together.
Someone would make the formula, someone would hold him, and someone would go out for supplies.
Kenichi was surprised at how much peace of mind that alone could bring.
At that moment, the corners of Yuma's mouth relaxed.
"…He smiled! Hey, he just smiled, didn't he?"
Kenichi raised his voice in surprise.
The three of them looked at each other and laughed.
(I hadn't noticed until now…)
Because he hadn't had any breathing room, he had missed Yuma's smiles.
Because he had been shouldering it all alone, he hadn't even been able to ask anyone for help.
Saying "help me" is not a defeat.
By relying on someone,
a heart that wants to help someone else also grows.
Kenichi was gradually starting to think that way.
***
That night, Kenichi had a strange dream.
"Hey! Can you hear me?"
A light voice could be heard from somewhere.
When Kenichi looked up,
a man in a familiar Hawaiian shirt was standing in front of him.
...Ah! You are...!!
I let out an involuntary cry.
The "God" wearing sunglasses approached, his flip-flops making a slapping sound.
"Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? How is it? Have you learned anything?"
"To be honest, I underestimated it. I thought somewhere deep down that mothers just naturally become 'motherly.'"
God listened with his arms crossed.
"But it was different... In front of a baby who wouldn't stop crying, I wanted to give up so many times. The sleepless days continued, and I felt like my heart was going to break."
Kenichi lowered his eyes softly.
"...I have to apologize to Yumi, too."
"Hmm?"
"I assumed it was 'only natural because she's a mother.' I'm the one who didn't let her say, 'Help me.'"
He bit his lip slightly and continued.
“Back then, I was at my limit. And yet, I was told I was ‘cutting corners’
‘unfit to be a mother’... honestly, I was the worst, me.”
God said nothing, just listened.
Kenichi continued.
“‘Maternal instinct’ isn’t something you’re born with.
……It’s something you choose for yourself, step into, and nurture little by little.
I finally understand that now.”
“Ohhh!”
God clapped lightly.
“Man, that’s good. Keep it up.
Well, I wouldn’t call it a perfect score yet, but it’s a passing grade.”
Kenichi shrugged his shoulders.
“You’re pretty condescending, you know...”
“Well, I am God.”
God laughed nonchalantly and softened his expression.
“...If you’ve learned enough, I’ll return Miya’s body soon. Her heart is already feeling much better, you see.”
(I see... so this is goodbye to Yuma, then.)
I lowered my gaze and bit my lip.
“...I understand.”
God softened his smile and tightened his expression.
“Don’t just rely on others;
this time, become the one who reaches out a hand.”
If you can do that, life will become much more interesting.”
“...Yeah, you’re right.”
God suddenly snapped his fingers.
My vision swayed as if the world had suddenly flipped, and
Kenichi closed his eyes.
──Episode 19 continues