Recap
Suzu practices sign language on her way to work and texts Issei for words she doesn’t know. At work, she shares her signing with Sasaki. Charlie is watching them and thinks they’re dancing. The nurses ask about Charlie’s nap buddy business and he tries to sell Sasaki his services. Charlie reveals his mom was once a delinquent named the Pink Emperor.
Sasaki confirms to a patient that she’s pregnant, but she doesn’t look happy. Later he talks to Suzu about the patient. Suzu tells him his only job is to diagnose.
Suzu is picking up on signs fast while Chiaki struggles so much she’s ready to give up. Suzu doesn’t want to lose her drinking buddy.
They surprise Issei and Haru by showing up at Polaris together. Chiaki’s daughter Sakura shows up, and Charlie delivers the food. Haru’s wife Uta also comes, and Suzu recognizes her as Sasaki’s unhappy patient. Suzu also learns that Sasaki and Chiaki were high school classmates.
As they walk home, Haru and Uta talk about the pregnancy. Haru doesn’t know how to feel, and Uta admits she’s happy but doesn’t want to ruin how things are now.
Issei and Suzu go on a date. This time he’s the one to tell her to ‘stay’, he’s happy she’s learning signs and she should take her time and not push herself.
Suzu learns that Sakura is the daughter of Chiaki’s ex-husband, but Chiaki is raising her. Issei asks for advice on helping Haru with the baby situation. Suzu advises him to leave things alone. Issei points out he’s not good at that.
Haru comes to Sasaki’s office, asking him for information on abortion and asking if he’s strange for not wanting the child. Sasaki is factual and reassuring, though he admits he’d want a child. Haru explains that he and Uta met at work and then were too busy to enjoy being married. He never uses the word depression, but it sounds like he suffered from one and quit his job. He was able to get a new job, but he’s not confident.
Suzu and Sasaki talk outside again, and he gives Suzu some hand warmers. One of the nurses, Hachisuka, comes out and thinks they were flirting.
Hachisuka understands Haru’s POV, and that children mean giving up your life. Sasaki still doesn’t agree. Suzu reminds them it’s not their decision and Sasaki can’t do anything but listen, but she also wishes she could do more.
Issei’s attempts to cheer Haru up by teasing him cause Haru to explode. Haru says if he had a deaf child he wouldn’t be confident like Issei, and storms off. Sakura comes in and says it’s not Issei’s fault, but Issei thinks it is because he can’t empathize with his worries.
Issei’s grandmother sees him brooding and thinks he’s fought with Suzu. She texts Suzu and lies that it’s her birthday to get Suzu to come with pizza and champagne. Walking outside, Issei complains that his grandma is a busybody and Suzu points out he is one too.
He gives her a star necklace she admired while they were on their date and a back hug. He says he loves her. She says she loves him. ‘Stay’ is over, and they go in for a kiss.
Someone leaves a nasty comment about Suzu online.
Haru’s wife comes home and collapses in the entranceway.
Issei and Suzu keep kissing.
Thoughts
So this show can go to heavier places.
Having children or not is a tricky topic and it’s difficult for a story to not come off as taking a broader stance based on the character’s personal decisions. I have no idea what the cultural attitudes in Japan are about being child-free and having an abortion, though I can guess from some other dramas I’ve seen that the falling birth rate is a national concern and guess how that might play into the conversation. It did surprise me that Sasaki and Hachisuka were startled to encounter someone asking about the topic. I would think that working in their field they wouldn’t be so shocked.
On the other hand, I can appreciate that Sasaki, a man who lost a wife and an eagerly expected baby at the same time, would struggle emotionally with the situation. At least he’s given a personal reason for his attitude. He also goes to Suzu for advice and listens to her when she tells him it’s not his decision to make even though his feelings remain unchanged.
I appreciate that the overall focus seems to be on helping Haru and Uta. Issei too wants advice from Suzu. I think he appreciates her perspective, but he is Issei and doesn’t follow it the way Sasaki does. It’s so much a part of his character to reach out and help, since he’s a busybody like his grandma, that he’ll help strange men on the street order their lunch.
And despite her advice to Issei and Sasaki, Suzu also expresses dissatisfaction about what to do for Haru and Uta. This isn’t a situation with easy answers.
I like the way Haru’s depression was shown, and that he and his wife still have a solid relationship. It does feel like he could use a therapist, but I don’t think that’s common in Japan.
On a lighter note, I think this is the first episode where we get Sasaki’s given name, which is Shinya. In Kanji it is 深夜, meaning midnight. Another reference to the night sky.