At 33, Ayako gave birth to her son Yuki, raising him as a single mother against strong opposition from those around her. Working tirelessly, she managed to support him through university, and eventually, he landed a job successfully. After starting his career, Yuki began living on his own, leaving Ayako to spend increasing amounts of time alone. This solitude led her to reflect deeply on her life, and for the first time, she began questioning whether it was truly acceptable to spend the rest of her days this way. Then one day, she received an invitation from Yuki—a hot spring trip together as a birthday gift. Filled with renewed hope, Ayako began preparing for the journey.