Episode 12

## "Mother"

**"Mother"** (母親, *Hahaoya*) is the twelfth episode of the Hige wo Soru. Soshite Joshikousei wo Hirou. Anime.

## Summary

Continuing from the last episode, Sayu's Mother smacks Sayu on the face and berates her for disappearing that had caused nasty rumors to be spread around about her. Issa steps in and tries to reason with his mother and introduces Yoshida as someone who took care of Sayu for a long time. Sayu's Mother scoffs at the fact that Yoshida "took care of Sayu for a long time" and walks away.

Left standing in the hallway, Yoshida and Sayu are lead into the dining room by Issa, where they all sit at the table and discuss her decision to run away from home. Sayu's Mother mentions that it brought their family more problems than when she was home. Sayu gives no response and Sayu's Mother continues a bit before Sayu cuts her off claiming that her mother isn't even trying to understand. Sayu's Mother brushes off the comment, but Sayu asks if her mother recalls what she said to her before she left, but she doesn't. This proves to Sayu that her mother doesn't care about or even try to understand her. Commenting how Sayu has only been home for five minutes she's already complaining, Sayu's Mother then claims that she left just to spite her family. However, Sayu firmly rejects that notion and claims she did it to get away from the mother who never tried to understand her and tried to blame her for her friend's death. As the conversation continues between Sayu and her mother, Yoshida begins to understand why Sayu left her family in the first place.

The conversation then shifts over to about Yoshida, where Sayu's Mother speaks disparagingly about Yoshida and how he "took care of Sayu". Yoshida speaks up for himself claiming he was well aware of the risks of taking care of Sayu, but Sayu's Mother still speaks in a rude and crude manner towards him. Sayu then speaks out claiming time and time again her mother berates the people that Sayu is close with and hates her because of it. She then defends Yoshida, claiming while she hated herself for running away, Yoshida not only helped and take care of her, he gave her emotional support. Sayu's Mother then goes on a tirade and claims that she never should have given birth to Sayu. After a pregnant pause from everyone in the room, Sayu bursts into tears, and Yoshida almost throws his tea at Sayu's Mother, but stops himself and drinks it instead. Yoshida then cogitates how he almost threw his cup at Sayu's Mother, but stopped short noting the two different feelings within him. Those being one of anger and another of calmness, both of which are balancing each other out. He also contemplates how people do not choose to be born and how they learn to be responsible for themselves as they grow up. Speaking what he just contemplated over, Yoshida also declares that he'd like to take care of Sayu until she's an adult himself. On the other hand, he claims that it's not his responsibility to do that, but rather Sayu's Mother's. Yoshida then gets off his chair and prostates himself to Sayu's Mother begging her that she take care of Sayu until she's an adult. Sayu's Mother perplexed that a stranger would do that for her and to her astonishment Issa begs her too. Because of the two of them begging her to take care of Sayu again, Sayu's Mother has a nervous breakdown and both Yoshida and Sayu wait outside of the house.

Outside of the house, Yoshida cries and claims that hearing her mother claim that she never should have given birth to her how far worse than he had expected. He then claims that Sayu should have gotten angry at her mother because of it, but Sayu mentions that she did want to get angry, but he did first and tearfully thanks him for it. The two then start to cry together and later both enjoy the sight of the beautiful night sky. Sayu then mentions that when Yoshida begged on his knees to her mother, she felt as if she was forgiven. Touching Yoshida's hand, Sayu claims that it's alright now, she'll be fine on her own for now on. Reassured by Sayu's claim, Yoshida says he understands and grasps her hand while wishing her the best. Enjoying each other's company, Yoshida reflects on the universe and how he met Sayu, until Issa meets with them and informs them of what he discussed with Sayu and his' Mother. Sayu will be able to stay at home until she graduates and as long as she doesn't cause any trouble, Sayu's Mother won't bother her. Issa also claims that Yoshida had a big influence on their Mother's decision. He also notes his envy for Yoshida begging his mother to take in Sayu again and doing it in a way that reinforced that he meant it. Before retiring for the night, Yoshida asks if he could speak with Sayu's Mother again and Issa allows it. Back inside the house, Yoshida apologizes for his out burst earlier and Sayu's Mother brushes it off as too late. She does ask if he really never did do anything to Sayu, to which, he firmly denies. When asked by her why he'd go so far for her, he responds that it's because he met her that day. Sayu's Mother then says she'll talk things over with Sayu and that Yoshida should return to Tokyo the following day.

## Characters

List of characters in order of their appearance:

* Sayu's Mother
* Sayu Ogiwara
* Yoshida
* Issa Ogiwara
* Yuuko Masaka (Indirectly mentioned)