our school, remember?
That's right!
Do you remember...
before your brother
left for the front,
we went hiking
with him and his friend.
Is he the man?
I don't remember
whether he was with us.
Did you already love him then?
No, I had no particular
feeling for him.
When did it start?
I don't know.
It happened gradually.
Really? I had no idea.
Of course not.
I never imagined myself marrying him.
So what happened?
- Nothing really.
- Nothing?
Well, that's not entirely true.
How can I explain it?
It's like when you look
for something all over the place,
and then you find
it was right in front of you all along.
Mother's always looking for her glasses
when they're right on her nose.
- That's how it was.
- How so?
He was so close at hand,
I didn't realize he was the one.
So you did love him.
No, it wasn't like
I was in love with him.
I'd known him well since childhood,
and I knew I could trust him.
That means you love him.
No, I just feel I can trust him
with all my heart and be happy.
Don't you understand?
If that's not being in love,
what is?
- No, it's not.
- Yes, it is.
You're in love.
You've fallen in love with him.
Have I?
Yes, you have.
Don't make me hit you!
- You better not. I know how you hit.
- Here I come.
- Grab her, mother!
- What's going on here?
Aya, where is that thing?
The thing I brought up the other day.
About this big, and yellow.
I was sure
I left it here somewhere.
- Madam, you're wanted.
- Oh, all right.
What was she looking for?
I don't know.
She's always like that.
She'll be back, anyway.
I wonder if she's getting senile.
I can't leave home to get married
with her like that.
Wouldn't your husband
live here with you?
Out of the question. No real man
would live with his wife's family.
See? And she usually
comes back once more.
I'm happy for you.
You're lucky you found a man you love.
But I’m sure our new life together
won't be easy.
There will be a lot of difficulties
and inconvenience to deal with.
I'll have to scrimp
and work really hard.
What about your boss's plan?
I declined this morning.
What did he say?
He laughed and said
I was old-fashioned for a modern girl.
That's funny.
He's upstairs right now.
With Mr. Manabe.
Why not look at him?
Take a peek from the next room.
No, thanks.
Come on, it'll be fun.
He's quite good-looking.
No, thanks.
Come on. Why not?
It'll be all right.
No, I’d rather not.
I don't need any more husbands.
Don't worry. Come on.
I may marry whoever's left.
Let's go.
- We shouldn't.
- It'll be fine.
- Let's not.
- Come on.
I wonder if we should give her
our permission.
She's impossible.
I just don't know.
I feel sorry for her.
Let's talk to her again and make sure
she knows what she's doing.
Maybe we should.
She said she's decided,
but she might have changed her mind.
I'm home.
Sorry I’m late.
I was with Aya.
Have you eaten?
Not yet. I'll fix myself something.
Don't bother.
I'll help myself.
- There are some leftover croquettes.
Good. Excuse me.
Are you worried because
I’m marrying a man with a child?
That's one reason.
Please don't be worried.
I'm not.
But mother feels sorry for you.
I saw her crying in the kitchen
last night.
But I love children.
Father and mother don't see it
the same way you do.
Mitsuko will grow up,
and when you have a child of your own -
it'll be fine.
I've given it a lot of thought.
It'll be all right.
It's not that unusual a situation.
I'm sure I can manage.
But -
don't worry.
I'm confident I can do it.
Is that so?
Maybe I’m an optimist.
Poverty doesn't worry me
like it does other people.
I'm not afraid of it.
Are you sure?
Then I’ll stop worrying.
Frankly, I felt
I couldn't trust a man
who was still unattached
and drifting around at 40.
I think a man with a child
is more trustworthy.
I admire you, Noriko.
Why?
I knew nothing about marriage
when I got married.
But what'll become of the family
when I