Dear Etranger (幼な子われらに生まれ)

Papa, hurry up.

We're there.

Papa, come on?

I told you, we should have come earlier.

Sorry.

Papa.

Papa. -Yes.

Good morning. -Good morning.

How are you? -Fine.

You keep growing. -Yes.

How tall are you? -154 cm.

Soon, you'll be taller than Mom.

Papa, how are you doing?

I'm quite fine.

Awesome.

Saori. -Look here.

You don't seem comfortable.

I'm a grown man riding with kids. -You're fine.

I'm too old for this. -It's OK.

We have a table there.

Papa, hurry.

Coming.

You always have just a hot dog for lunch.

That way we'll have more appetite this evening.

Obviously.

Okay, let's eat.

What is it, Papa?

You're all grown up now.

I'm in 6th grade now.

Time flies, can't believe it.

It's the same for Kaoru, right?

It's not so surprising when you see someone every day.

There.

Another? -Another?

Saori

Ok?

What if you had a younger sister or brother?

I won't happen, Mom won't have a second kid.

Just suppose Mom and step-dad wanted another kid.

Mom is 40 already.

She can still give birth.

You'd be opposed to it?

I'm not against it. It's great.

For your mom, you and the baby would be hers.

But for your step-dad...

you would be... well

I'd become redundant... then.

It's possible.

But dad wouldn't do that to me.

Papa, are you taking me to a nice restaurant later?

Yeah, what do you have in mind? -A place where they serve saké.

Sure. -Really?

If you don't tell your Mom.

A shortcake, please.

Yes, right away.

The elevator is about to arrive.

The door is closing.

Papa, you're back.

Good evening.

Papa, come with me. -What is it?

Hurry up, come.

Come quick.

Isn't it beautiful? Are you proud of me?

(Brother)

It's awesome

you used soft pencils?

Yeah, I did.

Good evening.

You told her you're pregnant?

Did you tell her?

I shouldn't have?

It's quite early.

It's boiling.

Papa, sit here.

Why?

I sit on your lap.

OK, but I'll have to go.

Which one is better?

Which is what?

For a baby, a boy is better or a girl?

This one is better.

A boy is better.

Because if there are already sisters...

another girl looks silly.

I see.

There are cakes in my bag.

Really, great.

Eriko, no running in the corridors.

Mom, let's eat Papa's cake.

What did he bring today?

It's awesome.

He doesn't seem to want it.

It's delicious. -A cup of coffee?

I'd rather have a beer.

You'll want a glass, right?

Delicious.

You're not eating your cake?

It's your favorite.

The news was a shock.

Uh?

I regret I told her.

How about a strawberry?

Hey, Kaoru.

Come over here. You haven't greeted Papa.

Kaoru, you don't want your cake?

Kaoru, you want some beer?

You always ask for a sip.

Let's have a toast.

A toast to what?

What are you talking about?

Mom I'd like to have tea with milk.

Alright.

Eat your cake.

Delicious.

How about juice.

Delicious.

Saori, A baby will arrive in our home in December.

For you it will be a half-sister or brother.

The truth is, Papa too is a little confused about this situation.

Adding again...

Still working?

Yeah.

Pregnant women crave soft drinks.

Didn't she?

Who?

Your ex-wife.

Did she? I can't recall.

Honestly, my pregnancies with Kaoru and Eriko are remote memories.

So, this one revives memories.

It's okay, they're just memories anyway.

Really?

It all belongs to the past.

I'm going to bed.

You know...

I don't mind another child.

Sure.

... Papa too is a little confused about this situation.

Adding again another kid in this messy family...

in addition to Kaoru and Eriko...

is totally unnecessary.

Hey, Naka.

Let's go for a drink.

I'm sorry I have to decline your kind invitation.

Please forgive me.

Hey.

I need to tell you something.

Your position is in jeopardy.

In what way?

Your name is on the transfer list.

I opposed them.

Our company's new business development didn't yield much.

I see.

They want to cut off people from the management positions.

They look at management positions with relatively high wages.

That directly concerns you.

I may well be next on their list.

I'm prepared for it.

You think so?

You'll lose all your advantages.

What can I do?

You'll have lunch at the warehouse, you'd like that?

If the salary is the same, nothing changes.

You have no idea.

Now, you never work at night or on weekends.

Now, you're enjoying paid holidays.

You can skip our drinking parties...

go to the cake shop in front of the station and go home...

for me, I have neither dinner with my kids...

nor free time to take them out on Sundays.

I don't even consider these a father's duties.

Of course, if I could afford it I'd enjoy it.

People say that kids mimic their parents.

For me, my absence educates them...

shows them that their father is working hard.

But once the kids grow up...

It's too late for the amusement park, taking baths together...

holding them in our arms.

When do you see your kids at all?

I can guess.

At the main office...

they used to think you were their most promising asset.

Did they?

The elevator is about to arrive.

Good evening.

Papa, you're back. -Good evening.

Papa, I have something to ask you.

What?

Kaoru told me to ask you.

Ask what?

I'm bringing Papa. -Good evening.

Come on, ask away.

When Mom was pregnant, you didn't know if it was a boy or a girl?

That's right.

What did you want most?

Of course, I prefer girls.

But you had no way to chose.

Before you were even born I knew you would come.

Not having you would have been sad.

I knew you'd say that.

Is that so?