"No, I still want to visit a few more hospitals. Just to make sure it's not a misdiagnosis."
Miyamura Daisuke exhaled, relieved that Shizuka had accepted the diversion in topic. But his mind drifted to the little girl next door.
"Sigh… Shoko is still so young. If the diagnosis is true, she'll have to rely on hearing aids and sign language for the rest of her life. I really hope it's a mistake."
"Yeah." Shizuka nodded, assuming Daisuke was simply concerned for the child.
Kazuya, who had just swallowed a bite of orange, listened in silence. He knew his mother had once again been distracted by his father's tactic. The secret stash of money hidden behind the TV was probably safe—for now.
He blinked, then tilted his head innocently. "Mom, Dad hid some money behind the TV."
"What!?"
Shizuka lunged, grabbing Daisuke by the collar faster than any human should be capable of.
———
A few days later.
The Nishimiya family had visited four or five different hospitals. Every single one confirmed the same result: Shoko had permanent hearing loss. She would need to depend on hearing aids and sign language from now on.
Sitting at the dining table, Hisashi Nishimiya and Yaeko stared down at the stack of diagnosis reports. The air in the room was heavy.
Hisashi took a sip of cold water and suddenly asked, "Why didn't you say anything about your genetic defect?"
Already emotionally worn from the ordeal, Yaeko looked up sharply. She knew immediately—Hisashi was preparing to lay the blame entirely on her.
Holding back her anger, she replied, "The doctor said it. The cause of Shoko's hearing loss is a viral infection... passed from you to me!"
Hisashi chuckled, swirling the cup in his hand. "Still your fault, isn't it? Whatever happened, it happened while she was inside you."
Yaeko slammed the table.
Water splashed across the test reports.
She pointed at him and yelled, "I didn't even know it could happen!"
"But it's still your responsibility!" Hisashi didn't flinch. He leaned back in his chair and took another drink.
"It came from you!"
"You didn't get vaccinated."
"So... you knew!"
"Calm down. Let's talk during the day." Hisashi glanced at his watch, brushing her off.
Yaeko exhaled. It was late. She didn't want to alarm the neighbors. She nodded stiffly and returned to the bedroom.
That night, Yaeko slept clutching Shoko tightly. Hisashi took the guest room.
———
Morning arrived.
The doorbell rang.
Yaeko walked to the entrance and opened the door, startled by the woman standing outside.
"Mom!?"
"What's wrong? You're not happy to see me?" Her mother smiled thinly.
"No, come in." Yaeko quickly tried to take the bag from her mother, but the older woman pulled away. Yaeko forced a smile and welcomed her inside.
They all sat at the dining table. Two more glasses than the night before.
On the left: Hisashi and his mother. On the right: Yaeko and her own mother, Ito Nishimiya.
Ito had arrived late just the night before and gone straight to sleep in the second bedroom.
Hisashi spoke first. "Let's talk about the child."
"What?" His mother blinked. "What's wrong with the child?"
He gave her a brief explanation of Shoko's condition, then calmly sipped from his glass.
His mother gasped. "Shoko has hearing loss!?"
"Yes. To put it plainly, we were deceived." Hisashi placed his glass down and continued smoothly.
Yaeko glared at them from across the table. Their performance was too deliberate.
"We didn't know Yaeko would give birth to a child like this."
Yaeko slammed the table. The water rippled in her cup.
"What do you mean by 'a child like this'?!"
Hisashi stood and snapped back. "Am I wrong? There's clearly something wrong with her!"
"And then? What do you want to do!?"
"Find a time to leave her quietly at the entrance of an orphanage."
Silence fell.
Yaeko stared at him, stunned. This man, who had been her partner for nearly a decade, had actually said such a thing.
Tears welled in her eyes. "Let's divorce."
Hisashi's mother didn't even hesitate.
"Good. If you think secretly abandoning her is wrong, then you can raise her alone. We don't need a defective child in our family."
Yaeko looked at the two of them, picked up the glass of water in front of her, and poured it straight over Hisashi.
He didn't react. He simply stopped his mother from retaliating and ignored Yaeko's tears as they finally began to fall.
***
After a full day of discussion, the decision was made: Shoko would stay with Yaeko. The house would also go to her, but the mortgage, still over ten years, would be her sole burden.
Hisashi had paid the down payment but refused to offer any further support.
The next morning, they signed divorce papers at the district office.
By afternoon, Hisashi and his mother had packed up and left.
Before leaving, he ignored Shoko's outstretched arms. He didn't even glance at his daughter.
"Is Uncle going away?"
The voice came from the side.
Hisashi turned and saw Shizuka Miyamura standing under a tree, holding Kazuya in her arms.
"Yeah, little Kazuya. Next time, I'll bring you something tasty, alright?" Hisashi put on a practiced smile.
If Kazuya weren't being held, he would've hugged him. What a good child—clever and sweet.
"So? Are you ready yet, Hisashi?" his mother called impatiently from the black car.
Kazuya didn't respond. Hisashi gave a final wave. "Uncle's going now. See you, Kazuya."
He said goodbye to Shizuka and got into the car.
———
Shizuka stepped into the Nishimiya house, took off her shoes, and entered with Kazuya in her arms.
She bowed to Ito, who sat watching Shoko on the tatami.
She then set Kazuya down and gently told him to go play. She made her way to the low table, where Yaeko sat in silence.
Over the past two years, the two women had grown close, like sisters.
As soon as Shoko saw Kazuya, she tried to wriggle free. Ito set her down.
Shoko crawled across the green tatami and threw herself into Kazuya's arms.
"Ah! Ah!" she called out, her arms and legs wrapping around him.
Kazuya didn't know what she was trying to say, but her body language made it clear—she wanted to be held.
He gently hugged her waist, making sure she wouldn't slip and hit her head. Poor girl… hearing impaired, and now her father had vanished.
Shizuka watched the two children quietly embracing. The scene was heartwarming. She chuckled.
"You're laughing at me?"
Yaeko looked up, mistaking the laughter for mockery.
Shizuka quickly waved her hands. "No, no. I just think... those two are really sweet together."
She pointed toward them.
Yaeko turned to look.
The mood shifted slightly. Shoko, now comfortable, began sucking on Kazuya's cheek—not biting, just sucking.
He didn't resist. He had grown used to it over the years. She used to bite, but had learned to stop once she realized it hurt him.
If he resisted now, she would cry.
Yaeko couldn't help but smile. Watching them like this, she realized she could manage on her own.
Later, Shizuka picked up Kazuya, his face half-red, and prepared dinner. Yaeko seemed a little more cheerful. She said nothing more.
Shoko, now holding her pacifier, lay quietly on the tatami, watching Kazuya leave without a fuss.
———
When they got home, Daisuke had already returned. Shizuka looked surprised.
"You're home early. Finished your work?"
Daisuke was peeling an orange, eyes on the TV. "Let them handle it."
Shizuka handed Kazuya to him and walked to the kitchen. "Watch him while I cook."
He glanced at Kazuya's red cheek.
"Maybe we should let Shoko kiss the other side. For symmetry." He laughed to himself.
Kazuya ignored him, still thinking about the secret money stash.
I'm only three. All I can do is teach Shoko to speak—even though she doesn't listen. She doesn't even wet the bed anymore. I guess that's enough.
———
They sat at the dining table eating dinner.
Kazuya sat in his green chair, eating from the children's plate Shizuka had prepared. She chatted with Daisuke.
"Still hiring?"
Daisuke swallowed. "Why? Yaeko is looking for another job?"
Shizuka nodded. "She has the kid and the mortgage. Her old job isn't enough. I want to help her find something."
"Tell her tomorrow."
———
The next day, Shizuka did.
Soon after, Yaeko went to Daisuke's office for an interview. She got the job. It suited her field.
Now, she worked two jobs.
Over a month passed.
One afternoon, while eating lunch at the office, Yaeko suddenly felt nauseous. She stared at her food in discomfort.
Daisuke passed by, carrying the bento his wife had made.
"Nishimiya? You alright?"
She waved it off. "Probably just tired. Haven't been sleeping well."
He narrowed his eyes. "Nausea...? Did you test yourself after the divorce?"
Yaeko's heart sank.
She hadn't even thought of that.
Seeing her reaction, Daisuke spoke gently. "You should check. I'll log you in for full attendance."
Yaeko nodded, packed up her food, and went straight to the drugstore.
———
Back home, Shizuka was chatting with Ito.
Kazuya stood at the table, feeding Shoko.
Yaeko came in quietly, holding a paper bag. She took out the test and hurried into the bathroom.
Shizuka, seeing what she had, froze. She told Ito not to worry and walked to the door.
"Yaeko? How is it?"
No response.
Ten minutes passed.
Then the sound of soft sobbing.
Shizuka pushed the door open.
Yaeko was squatting beside the sink, head down, quietly crying.
The pregnancy test lay discarded in the basin.