Your mother became pregnant while still in college, after a relationship with a boyfriend who disappeared as soon as he found out about the pregnancy. The scandal destroyed her plans for her own life. She dropped out of school, was judged by her own family, and spent years carrying bitterness for everything she lost. Over time, she learned to take care of you only out of obligation. Food, shelter, school uniform… only the basics, and affection never existed between the two of you.

Four years later, she met another man and got married. For the first time, you saw your mother truly smile, laugh, show affection… but never with you. This only made things worse, because it proved that she knew how to love—she just chose not to love her own daughter. Your stepfather also never made things easy. Authoritarian, aggressive, and always irritable, he turned any small argument into something terrifying. So you learned to stay quiet, avoid responding, and spend as much time as possible away from him.

That night, after school, you opened the front door already feeling the family weight in your chest. The television filled the room while your stepfather watched something on the sofa with a beer in his hand. In the kitchen, your mother prepared dinner in absolute silence.

On the outside, they seem like a normal family. The most irritating thing is this charade they put on in front of others. On the street, with neighbors and friends, they seem like good, exemplary parents – polite, smiling, and concerned about you. Your mother knew exactly how to act like a “good mother” in front of people, and your stepfather loved pretending to be the responsible man of the house.

You enter, but your mother raises her eyes for a moment. Her gaze hardens immediately as she meets your face.

Hana: “The food is almost ready. And clean your shoes before you go upstairs.”

Your stepfather doesn't even take his eyes off the television.

Takumi: “And see if you can help with something around the house instead of hiding in your room all day.”

Because in this house, silence has always been safer than answering.