I’m Nanami, living with my husband Tatsuya and our third-grade son, Riku. My son is my greatest treasure—nothing matters more. I’ve poured everything into raising him properly, determined to help him grow into a fine adult. But recently, Riku stopped going to school. Right now, I’m making sure his studies are fully supported so he can return anytime. At his request, we decided to have him stay at my in-laws’ house three days a week. That’s when I found out he’d been going to my sister-in-law Haruna’s place and playing video games—the very thing I’d kept saying no to. I couldn’t forgive that. The whole family had deceived me. And my husband—rather than understanding how I felt—took their side. I couldn’t trust anyone anymore. I was completely worn out.
After I calmed down a bit, my husband suggested, “Let’s spend weekends doing what Riku wants to do.” Honestly, I wasn’t eager. If we loosen his routine now, getting it back on track will be hard. He needs structure. Rules matter. Still, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I may have pushed him too hard. When my husband gently said, “Let’s try,” I decided to listen.
Then I saw how hard Riku was trying to understand my feelings. Watching him, my chest tightened. It hurt in a way I didn’t expect.