I’m Mariko, a remote-working corporate employee in my 40s. I live with my husband, Takayoshi, also in his 40s, and our daughter, Sari, an eighth-grader. Both of our parents live nearby, but my mother-in-law, Sanae (in her 70s), and I do not get along. Now that she’s hitting her rebellious phase, my daughter’s attitude has gone downhill, and she’s been taking it out on me. To make matters worse, even though my husband and daughter know damn well I hate dogs, they forced one into our lives anyway—and then dumped all the pet care right on me. Having reached my absolute limit with living with a dog and dealing with a husband and daughter who won’t lift a finger to help, I packed my bags and escaped to my parents’ house.
Furious that my husband and daughter brought a dog home without my consent and then expected me to do all the work, I took refuge at my parents’ house. When I vent to my parents about the absolute disaster back home, they’re completely stunned. Meanwhile, my daughter whines over the phone about stepping in poop, and my husband barks at me, demanding to know what they’re supposed to do for dinner. Though completely fed up, I still go through the trouble of dropping off two days’ worth of pre-made meals and dog cleaner. Hearing the dog yapping and my husband shouting the second I get to the front door makes me sick, but I still have my remote work to focus on. After the long weekend, I cautiously open the door to head back inside, only to find a total living hell that completely defies my worst expectations.