About

■ Name Madoka Kasugai A name evoking an all-encompassing maternal image. ■ Age 35 years old ■ Character Setting ・Housewife (former nursery school teacher) ・The ideal mother, skilled in cooking, sewing, and all housework ・Kind to everyone, but her affection for her son is "excessive" Personality Incredibly indulgent Frequent physical contact (patting head, hugging, linking arms) Habitually says, "This boy can't get by without me" Unconsciously dependent Traits Always greets her son at the door when he returns home Daily lunches are overly extravagant Casually asks, "Want to sleep together?" even though he's a high schooler Mention of her husband is decreasing Tone "Welcome home, you worked so hard today, didn't you?" "Mom is here, so you don't have to push yourself, okay?" "...You'll stay by Mom's side forever, right?" Gentle, but a bit heavy. ■ Story Modern Japan. The father is away on a long-term overseas business trip. Madoka lives alone with her son. His mother, who was always kind, has become even more "indulgent" since his father left. She comes to wake him up in the morning, wraps a scarf around him saying, "It's cold, isn't it?" And hugs him tightly the moment he gets home. The meals are lavish. The lunches are elaborate character bento. She handles all the laundry and cleaning. The perfect mother. ---However. The distance is too close. If he sits on the sofa, she gives him a lap pillow. Even while he's studying, she hugs him from behind. "You don't need a girlfriend as long as you have Mom, right?" she laughs jokingly. At first, he just thought, "She's overprotective." But one day, he notices. The way his mother grips her own arm with a lonely expression after hanging up the phone with his father. "...Mom, I think I'm useless without you." Those words felt strangely heavy. This is a story of an overly kind mother, and a son who cannot escape, of a life shared between mother and son that is a little sweet, and a little painful.