Volume 2 Chapter 5 Parting with the Ordinary
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
There are less than three months left until my first birthday.
I’ve finally mastered crawling, and I was thinking about surprising Mother by standing up soon… but then I overheard the “Mom Squad” mentioning that if a baby stands before their bones have fully developed, they might end up bowed or warped. So, I’m currently in a wait-and-see state.
Breast milk is still my primary source of nutrition, but weaning foods have already begun. My longing to become a “Toilet Master”¹ is only increasing.
Aside from the fact that my sleep requirements haven’t decreased at all, I’m growing at a steady clip. However, the day I dreaded has finally arrived.
”Ma-kun², wait just a little bit, okay~”
”Da!”
After finishing the morning feeding, Mother places me in my crib and sits down at her vanity.
She applies a light base of CC cream and dabs a little around her eyes. I couldn’t really tell the difference before and after the blush, but she finishes with a swipe of lip cream.
Total makeup time: just over five minutes.
Well, Mother is a natural beauty, and she spends plenty of time on skin care, so I guess that’s why it’s so quick.
I remember her grumbling about how post-pregnancy hormonal imbalances wrecked her skin. Back then, I thought, ‘Aren’t you gorgeous enough already?’ But it seems I underestimated Mother’s potential. Her skin definitely has a better glow and texture now.
Finishing her makeup in a flash, she has some fun squishing my cheeks before pulling off her navy-blue, knee-length pajamas.
She’s being so bold right in front of me… well, I guess there’s no reason to be modest in front of a baby. In fact, keeping her eyes on me is the priority. Thank you very much.
She removes her soft white nursing bra-one of those clever items where only the front flap opens for easy access-and swaps it for a plain, beige bra.
I’ve grown accustomed to the temptation of those bare breasts. To the extent that I think I want to touch them for a lifetime.
Then, Mother slides off the high-waisted panties that cover her midsection. As usual, she has a slender, elegant figure.
Some people complain about not being able to lose the baby weight, but I guess Mother is the exception. I’ve never seen her do anything more strenuous than some yoga-style stretching.
As if to hide the hip line I could stare at forever, she pulls on another pair of plain beige… well, they look like athletic trunks, reaching down to the mid-thigh.
There’s zero s*x appeal in the underwear itself, but I suppose it’s a necessity.
I still found myself staring at the faint outline of her underwear through the fabric, though.
It’s a shame I won’t get to see that anymore, but if it means no other man will see it either, I have no choice but to be satisfied.
…I mean, I can see her in her pajamas, but that’s not the same. It’s because of the sharp, stiff silhouette of a suit that those lines-anyway, that doesn’t matter.
She throws on a shirt, pulls it together with a pantsuit, and runs a comb through her hair for a final check.
A fresh version of the Mother I’m used to.
…Nice!
”Ma-kun how is it? Does it suit me?”
”Da!”
”Fufu, thank you.”
Mother picks me up from the crib and gives me a tight squeeze.
”Ma-ma!”
”Nn-, Mama doesn’t want to be away from you either, Ma-kun.”
”Da!”
”I know, I know… but Mama has to work hard to earn money.”
”Uu…”
Starting today, Mother is returning to work.
That means we won’t be together every second of the day like we were until yesterday.
Is this dream-like era finally over?
But I get it. On the inside, I’m a former member of the workforce myself. I understand her circumstances. She was only able to take a break because of childcare leave; for a professional, that’s just a temporary hiatus.
Still, I’m anxious.
Our home is a single-parent household. Mother is the only breadwinner. I’m sure there are government benefits, but considering how much my future education is going to cost, she probably wants to earn as much as possible.
Besides, Mother is a banker. A woman like her, who spends the few gaps in childcare studying for certifications, isn’t the type to ignore the corporate ladder. The gap between her and her rivals has surely widened during her leave. She probably feels the pressure from the juniors catching up, too.
I’m sure she could have extended her leave if she really wanted to, but Mother seems like the type who finds one excuse or another because she can’t stay away from work.
…I just hope she doesn’t overdo it.
After doting on me for a bit, Mother exhales a small breath, seemingly flipping her professional switch. Her serious expression is wonderful, too.
Slinging her business bag over her elbow while holding me, we head not to work… but to the neighbor’s. While she’s at work, I’m being left in the care of the Totsuka family.
I want to tell her, ‘I won’t get in the way, let me go with you! I can even handle the paperwork!’ but as someone who hasn’t even mastered the toilet yet, that’s not going to happen.
The doorbell rings with a ding-dong, and Totsuka Mio shows her face. Her hair is unbrushed and she’s still in her pajamas-total “off” mode-but the kind of beauty that looks charming even like that is just plain unfair.
”Morning.”
”Morning~. Ma-kun too.”
”Da.”
We step into the entryway.
”Akari-san³ is finally heading out, huh…”
”Watch it. You make it sound like I’m never coming back,” Akari said.
Mio-san’s tone is light, but she looks a bit lonely, too. Or maybe she’s just bracing for the hardship of watching both Su-chan and me by herself now.
”Ma-kun really loves his Mama, doesn’t he?”
”Da.”
”Because Ma-kun is a smart boy,” Mio said.
”Da.”
”Can you be a good boy while you wait for her?”
”……uu.”
”Oh, I know. You don’t want to be apart, do you?”
”Da.”
”…Maybe you should just come with me,” Akari said.
”Da!”
”Fufu, let’s do that.”
”Wait, wait, wait!” Mio replied.
As we were busy lamenting the parting, Mio gave us a reality check.
”I know it’s sad, but that’s ridiculous!”
”I don’t know, I feel like I could make it work. Ma-kun doesn’t cry, he stays quiet… I could hold him while I work. Honestly, I think it would actually boost my productivity,” Akari said.
”I get that feeling just looking at him, but… come on. You can’t exactly take him along for your introductory rounds,” Mio replied.
”Then maybe Ma-kun should do the introductions too?”
”Da!”
”Now, now… Ma-kun, you can’t just nod at everything, okay?”
”……”
”Ma-kun is so smart. He just wants to be with his Mama.”
”Da.”
That’s right. I am smart.
Which is why I think it’s time for some toilet training, you two! Su-chan started last week! If I can just get the bathroom situation under control, I’m sure I could go with her.
”Yes, yes, we know how much you love him. But you have to leave now, don’t you?”
”I guess… but, right, Ma-kun?”
”Da.”
”I’ll send you plenty of photos, so just give up and get going,” Mio said.
”Sigh… I suppose you’re right…”
Resigning herself, Akari hands me over to Mio. As she does, she plants a kiss on my cheek. Mother, I truly love you.
”Okay. I’m counting on you.”
”Got it. Have a good one!”
”Yeah, I’m off. …Ma-kun, I’ll be back soon,” Akari said.
”…Aa-u.”
I wave my hand back at her as she walks away.
Ah, Mother is gone.
I knew this was coming, but now that we’re actually apart… it’s incredibly lonely.
Because having Mother by my side was just part of the ordinary.
”Ma-kun, you were such a brave boy.”
”……da.”
”It’s okay! You won’t be lonely. Let’s play all day with your cute little bride-to-be!”
”…da.”
Mother, I’ll be waiting for your early return.
—
Summary:
The protagonist’s mother, Akari, prepares for her first day back at work as a banker. After a bittersweet morning of getting ready and dressing in a professional suit, she drops Ma-kun off at the neighbor’s house. Ma-kun struggles with the realization that their constant together-time has officially ended.
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Trivia:
- Ma-kun is deliberately delaying standing up due to health concerns about bone development.
- The protagonist is mentally a former Japanese salaryman, which allows him to analyze his mother’s career anxiety.
- Su-chan, the neighbor’s daughter, has already started toilet training, which creates a sense of rivalry for Ma-kun.
- Akari is a single mother, adding financial stakes to her career return
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Character Insight:
Akari shows a mix of professional drive and parental guilt; she almost takes her baby to the bank because she finds it hard to part. Ma-kun shows growth in his empathy for his mother’s career ambitions despite his own loneliness.
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Behind the Scenes:
The chapter highlights the ‘Working Mother’ trope in modern Japan, emphasizing the pressure of the ‘Promotion Race’ (shusse kyousou) after taking maternity leave.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Mio – A 25-year-old fashionable and kind young mother, she is Akari’s (Makoto’s mother’s) best friend and Ma-kun’s godmother. Known for her playful and teasing personality, she enjoys babysitting Ma-kun and encourages a future marriage between her daughter, Su-chan, and him. She’s skilled in cooking and photography, admired for her beauty—even in casual, unpolished moments—and is married to Mitsuhisa.
• Akari – Ma-kun’s mother. A single parent and banker returning to work after childcare leave. Described as a natural beauty who values efficiency. She has a warm smile and is described by her son as beautiful. She is currently caring for her newborn son, Ma-kun.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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