Family Romance, LLC

Yuichi Ishii begins his day fulfilling a contract to pretend to be the father of 12-year-old Mahiro, a role he plays through his family rental service. Mahiro, who has no memories of her real father, is hesitant and shy around Yuichi. Over time, she slowly starts to accept his presence as he provides her with a sense of stability.

As Yuichi spends more time with Mahiro, he gains her trust and begins to understand her feelings. Mahiro confides in him and starts to welcome his visits, signaling a growing emotional connection. Yuichi becomes more protective and begins to advocate for her desires and freedoms.

Between his visits with Mahiro, Yuichi continues to run his family rental agency, accepting various jobs that require him to role-play social positions without judgment. He reflects on the nature of authenticity and the distinctions between artifice and reality during these moments.

Yuichi visits a hotel staffed entirely by robots, which prompts him to contemplate the blurred lines between human emotions and artificial interactions. This experience sparks his curiosity about the authenticity of people and the roles they play.

Yuichi confides in a friend about disturbing dreams involving actors playing samurai who commit ritual suicide. These dreams reflect his inner turmoil about the roles people assume and the superficial nature of their interactions.

Yuichi travels with Mahiro’s mother to visit an oracle, seeking some form of guidance or insight. Mahiro’s mother expresses her gratitude for Yuichi’s companionship, which makes him uncomfortable and reveals his internal conflict about their relationship.

After the trip, Yuichi visits a funeral home to inquire about the possibility of having actors in coffins, indicating his interest in the theatrical aspects of life and death. This act underscores his preoccupation with appearances and artificial realities.

Mahiro confesses to Yuichi that she loves him and wants to spend weekends together as father and daughter. Her emotional openness puts pressure on Yuichi, who realizes their relationship has deepened beyond his initial role.

Realizing that their relationship has become too serious, Yuichi informs Mahiro’s mother that he needs to end the contract. She invites him to stay, but Yuichi declines, suggesting she rents a funeral for the imaginary father instead.

Yuichi visits his friend, expressing doubts about the meaning of his work and whether his own family might be fabricated roles. He questions the authenticity of emotional connections in his life and the societal roles people play.

Yuichi returns to his own home and hears voices inside, along with children’s hands pressed against frosted glass. Hiding from the unseen children, he slumps down next to the door, symbolizing a sense of uncertainty and emotional exhaustion.