The Cinderella Addiction (哀愁しんでれら)

Every girl carries with her this same vague fear.

"Will I live to be happy?"

THE CINDERELLA ADDICTION

Yeah?

Hi, we're from the Children's Welfare Center.

It's about Asuka.

What about my daughter?

She's fine. I'm busy now.

No, wait!

Can we just see her to make sure she's okay?

That hurts!

Ow, you're hurting me.

Let go...

I said, let go!

Ow...

I guess we'll be getting another complaint.

That woman is a bad mother.

Though, Asuka was smiling.

Her eyes were lifeless.

"The future destiny of a child is always the work of the mother."

- What's that? - Words of some great person.

I can't remember who, though.

I bet it's Mother Teresa.

Or maybe Nightingale.

The couple threatened the principal with a knife

and demanded that the school redo the annual sports day.

The couple, from Matsuo City, Saitama was arrested.

They went to their child's school last month...

THREATENS WITH KNIFE TO REDO SPORTS DAY They went to their child's school last month...

They went to their child's school last month...

Idiot parents. What were they thinking?

I'll never become parents like them.

I often said that to myself since I began working in welfare.

But the first time I thought it was much much earlier.

It was when I was still ten years old.

Mom, Mom!

Mom, don't go!

I quit being your mother!

Mom, Mom!

Mom!

I'll never become a parent like her.

FUKUURA BICYCLE SHOP

I'm home.

Threatening the principal with a knife just over sports day.

It's crazy.

Unbelievable.

I know right?

I really hate parents without morals.

No, I mean, curry again?

I'm busy with work these days.

But you like curry.

Four days in a row now. We're not Indians, jeez.

I know.

Which is why I also made some Japanese miso soup.

Ow! It's hot.

You're not eating any, Grandpa?

Nah, my head.

I'll take a bath and go to sleep.

Must hurry and get this smell off me.

Hurry and curry rhymes.

Fine, don't eat any then.

Elbows.

MEICHI UNIVERSITY

Must it be a private university in Tokyo?

Here, the tuition.

Hmm? We can't afford that.

Then you want to tell Chinatsu to give up? She's working so hard.

Oh shoot. What a waste.

Eww, gross.

Give me a break.

I'm your father. Here.

Dad! What's wrong?

Grandpa!

- Grandpa! - Dad, are you okay?

Red underwear, seriously?

Who cares now, be careful!

- Ouch! - Hey, Dad!

Watch it, go straight!

Grandpa.

We're almost at the hospital.

Dad...

Watch where you're driving!

Damn that drunk doofus.

Oh, shoot.

I've been drinking too.

I'm the one that said we'd be faster than an ambulance.

So it's my fault, okay? Don't cry, Dad.

Don't worry, everything will be okay. I'm hanging up now.

Chinatsu, do you think he'll be okay?

A fire at Fukuura Bicycle Shop in Asaba Town.

I repeat, fire at Fukuura Bicycle Shop.

Please head to the site.

Did he just say Fukuura?

Stand back!

It's dangerous, so please stand back!

Whoa, stand back. Watch it.

It's dangerous, stand back.

Everybody, take a step back!

The train isn't running yet.

It's fine, my boyfriend lives nearby.

I bet she's going to get it on even at a time like this.

Lucky them.

Bite my finger.

Hiromu!

Huh, why...?

I mean...

Why you?

I'm too tired for this.

Wait, Koharu!

Koharu, wait, no!

Ouch...

Are you okay?

Sorry.

I bet we look pretty suspicious.

I'm sorry.

I don't usually drink, but we were having a class reunion.

Does your ear hurt?

I just have this ringing in my ear.

Take him home, please. Take care.

Yeah, thanks. Sorry, really.

Hold on, be right back.

Um, excuse me!

Just one sec.

Let me pay for your clothes and your shoes.

No, don't worry about it.

Then at least let me make it up to you some time.

She said you grabbed her so hard she got bruised.

What were you thinking?

This is serious, you know?

You tell her, Shiraishi.

Everybody makes mistakes.

We're all human.

You're lucky she's nice.

FUKUURA BICYCLE SHOP

Dinner's ready, Dad. Come eat while it's warm.

I'll never find another job at this age.

Besides, bicycles are all I know.

You've got the cleaner's tag still on.

Did you know one milliliter of insulin can kill a guy from hypoglycemia?

Just one milliliter.

What?

You want to die?

I would never leave my daughters like that.

I'm quitting cram school. I'll find a job after I graduate.

I don't really have to go to university anyway.

No, you should. Your grades are finally improving.

But our shop's burnt down, and Grandpa's hospital expenses, too.

Uh...

I'll manage it.

It's fine.

I'll just give up university.

I mean, you're in trouble at work, right?

Worry about yourself first.

You don't have to act like a mom.

Cute little baby.

What's more important, your job or your family!

Your husband?

He says he has to entertain another important client tonight.

What a nice daddy you have, working so hard.

Koharu's finally breaking up with Hiromu.

Really? You've dated him for ten years since you were 16.

So you really saw them doing it?

Hey, not in front of the baby.

She was grinding on top of him.

A colleague from work.

Whoa, that's harsh.

But hey, his musical career was going nowhere.

Time to move on.

You say it like it's nothing.

I mean it.

I'm really worried for you.

I'll let you in on a secret that'll make life easier.

A secret?

Throw away your dreams and aspirations.

To marry well, to live well, to be a good mother.

Throw all those dreams away.

I don't get it.

I'm telling you. Dreams are what end up torturing us.

We get stressed when things don't go as we hope.

Aren't you grateful for my little secret?

But that sounds so boring.

I shouldn't have told you.

But after all that's happened to you, I'm sure God will give you a break.

Your turn will come.

Like?

Like a new guy?

A new guy, huh?

Yeah, I did meet one.

Really?

Is he hot?

A prince riding a white horse?

Director, Izumisawa Clinic.

Daigo Izumisawa.

A doctor?

And he has his own hospital?

He must be filthy rich.

Stop it.

Where did you hook up?

We haven't hooked up.

- Did you call him? - No.