Makoto's mother emerges as a complex figure within the fractured family dynamic, shaped by emotional turmoil and a clandestine affair with a dance instructor. Her son’s discovery of the relationship ignites simmering tensions, fueling his contempt and rejection of her efforts to reconnect, which deepens her guilt. Her husband remains oblivious to the infidelity, further isolating her within the strained household.

As familial discord intensifies, her mental state unravels: she weeps openly at the dinner table and, in a moment of despondency, spills gasoline carelessly, her actions mirroring her inner fragility. The narrative hints at her unspoken struggles but avoids probing her motivations or perspective.

A fleeting attempt at reconciliation occurs during a fishing trip, prompted by the father’s urging for Makoto to soften toward her. This sparks a rare, unified conversation about the boy’s future, yet the core wounds—betrayal, resentment, and secrecy—persist unaddressed. Her arc ends without resolution, her identity tethered to her son’s lingering anger and the family’s fractured equilibrium.