Chapter 40

Synopsis
Soon after he stops Midori from digging around in his bag, Usaida realizes his house keys are missing. While he and the others search the daycare for where Midori might have discarded it, they come across old photos of the daycare when it was first opened, bringing back memories of Usaida assisting Yukari during her pregnancy.

Long Summary
Usaida locks his door and notes the cold weather as his neighbor, who he tutors, greets him. Usaida remembers that he has college entrance exams today, and his neighbor thanks him for helping him. Usaida notices that his hands are trembling, but his neighbor dismisses it as a result of the cold weather.

At the daycare center, Usaida wakes up from a nap and sees Midori rummaging through his bag, tossing everything out. A bit later, Ryuuichi and Hayato arrive, and Ryuu apologizes for coming late. Usaida grabs Ryuu's leg as he crawls on the floor, stunning Ryuu. He apologizes for startling him and explains that he is looking for something under the bottom drawers. He claims that he felt the need to grab Ryuu's leg since it was there in front of him. The children start to imitate Ryuu's shocked reaction, much to Ryuu's dismay. Ryuu asks what he is looking for, and Taka responds that he is looking for cheese, but Usaida corrects him, saying that he is looking for his keys since Midori knocked them out of his bag. Ryuu panics, wondering if Midori had swallowed it, and frantically opens her mouth. Hayato dismisses this thought, as it would be near impossible for Midori to swallow an entire key. Usaida squishes Midori's cheeks as he explains that he cannot find it, and his landlord is gone on a hot spring trip.

Saikawa suddenly appears behind Usaida, shocking him. Kirin calls out to him, although she mispronounces the word "butler" as "sheep." Saikawa politely greets the children. He then offers Usaida a place to stay at his estate if he cannot enter his house. Hayato points at Saikawa and asks Usaida if he is friends with Saikawa, whom he calls a weirdo. Ryuu tells Hayato that it is not nice to call people weirdos as Saikawa explains that they have become friends after drinking together. Ryuu begins to wonder what kind of place Saikawa lives in, and he pictures Saikawa drinking hot tea in a normal apartment. Hayato imagines Saikawa emerging from a coffin. Usaida imagines a conveyor belt with several Saikawas, and Ryuu shudders at the creepy thought. Saikawa stays silent as the other children picture where Saikawa lives. Saikawa, embarrassed, puts on his jacket and prepares to leave, stating that he will look for a home that suits their expectations. Ryuu pulls him back as Hayato wonders what he is doing.

Yukari arrives to pick up Midori and greets Saikawa when she sees him. She sighs when she hears what Midori has done, and she explains that she loses items at home as well. She tells Midori to reflect on her actions as she takes out a long ruler and uses it to scoop out the things under the drawers. She ends up finding several items, but not Usaida's keys. Taka excitedly grabs onto his lost blue ranger figure. Takuma happily picks up some chocolate, but Hayato warns him not to eat it. Kirin asks what is in a crumpled envelope, and Usaida opens it to find several photos. He holds up a picture of him, Hayato, and Taka, which was taken two years ago when the daycare center was being set up. Yukari wistfully remembers that Usaida took the role of her husband, and Usaida admits that it really does bring memories.

In a flashback, Youichi wakes up a sleeping Usaida. Usaida rolls over, asking for more time to sleep, but Hayato, holding a young Taka, steps in. Youichi introduces Hayato and Taka to Usaida and explains that Taka will stay here in the daycare center during the day. Hayato stares at Usaida as Youichi assures him that although he seems incompetent, he is actually quite hardworking. Usaida explains that his lack of sleep is due to studying for childcare exams that Youichi had signed him up for. Youichi chuckles as he sees that Usaida is very hardworking. He takes a photo of the two, who awkwardly stand with a distance between them.

Usaida asks Youichi why he had called him over to the daycare center, and Yukari enters the room. Usaida notes that she is pretty and sees that she has a baby bump. Youichi instructs Usaida to take the role of Yukari's husband and attend a parenting class with her. Usaida is rather surprised, as he does not want to take the role of a father. On their way there, Usaida asks Yukari if her husband is working, and Yukari cheerily says that her husband is working in Turkey. Usaida wonders why her husband would leave his cute wife alone as Yukari rambles about how much she loves her husband. Suddenly, Yukari chokes and kneels, claiming that the baby is coming, causing Usaida to panic and take out his phone to call an ambulance. Just then, Yukari innocently looks up at him, saying that it was only a joke. She blushes as she informs him that she wanted to make the atmosphere less awkward.

At the class, Usaida wears an apron with a weight. He complains about how heavy it is. Another pregnant woman tells the two about the story of her friend's childbirth experience, where she went into labor and had to resort to using a vacuum to somehow suck the baby out, much to Yukari and Usaida's shock. Usaida is creeped out by a baby doll that he must wash. The teacher then gives a lesson on what childbirth is like, and Usaida yawns as he takes notes. He looks over to Yukari, who has her head in her hands. She flinches as she meekly makes another joke that the baby is coming. Usaida stands up and asks for permission to leave with Yukari, as she is not feeling well. The teacher worries for Yukari and urges her to not force herself.

After spending some time in the bathroom, Yukari rests next to Usaida, who tells her that she should have said something if she was not feeling well. Yukari apologizes, saying that she did not want him to worry over something minor. Usaida asks if vomiting happens often, and when Yukari affirms this, Usaida laments that it must be uncomfortable. Yukari smiles and holds her belly, saying that she is willing to bear the pain for the child. Usaida realizes that this is what the phrase "mothers are strong" (from the quote "women are weak, mothers are strong") means and puts his hand on Yukari's head. He tells her to pretend that it is her husband's hand, and Yukari smiles that his hand is rather thin compared to her husband's. She thanks him, citing that with him around, she feels like she does nto have to worry so much over her child. Usaida scratches his head as Yukari urges him to study well for his exams. Usaida thinks back to Hayato and Taka, and assures them they do not need to worry about his supposed incompetence, as he will work hard when he needs to.

In the present, Usaida flips through more photos, and sees a picture of him and Youichi, along with a handwritten note from Youichi congratulating him for passing his exams. Suddenly, Midori jumps onto Usaida's back, startling him. Usaida falls back, complaining that Midori had shocked him while he was reminiscing the past and begging Ryuu to save him. Hayato holds a photo as he tells Usaida that he still has to find his keys. Usaida sits up and asks Midori where she put his keys when he sees a notification on his phone. He answers the call, which is from his neighbor. His neighbor thanks him for tutoring him, stating that the questions on the exam were rather easy. Usaida says that it is mostly due to his hard work that he did well, and Ryuu notices that he feels embarrassed. His neighbor also notices this, but he also points out that Usaida left his keys in his doorknob. He informs him that he will keep the key for him as Usaida silently hangs up, informing everyone that he has found his keys.

Midori begins to throw blocks and other objects as Usaida, and Hayato cheers her on.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Midori Sawatari
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Takuma Mamizuka
 * Kazuma Mamizuka
 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Saikawa Keigo
 * Yukari Sawatari
 * Morinomiya Youichi (flashback)