Her Love Boils Bathwater

Futaba collapses at work and is diagnosed with terminal cancer, learning she only has months to live. She resolves to use her remaining time to improve her family's life. This motivates her to take control of the situation and plan for their future.

Futaba hires Tarō Suruga to track down her husband, Kazuhiro, who left her for another woman. The private investigator locates him and reveals his status. This discovery opens the possibility of reuniting the family.

Kazuhiro agrees to come back and live with Futaba and the girls. Their reunion with Azumi is awkward, as she is still hurt by his abandonment. The family begins to rebuild their life together.

The family reopens the aging bathhouse, establishing a practical source of income. They work together to bring the business back to life and create a sense of normalcy. It becomes a center for their renewed family life.

In gym class, Azumi's school uniform is stolen, humiliating her in front of the whole class. She refuses to attend the next day until her mother persuades her to stand up for herself. She returns with gym clothes and breaks down when the uniform is returned by the nurse.

The next day at school, Azumi wears gym clothes, confronts the bully, and insists on getting her uniform back with the nurse's help. She endures nerves and a short bout of vomiting but perseveres.

Ayuko, the 9-year-old daughter, runs away from Futaba and Kazuhiro to reach her mother on her birthday. Futaba and Azumi deduce her likely location and set out to find her.

Futaba and Azumi locate Ayuko waiting in the cold, and the family’s bond is strengthened by the reunion. They proceed to celebrate Ayuko's birthday together the next morning with shabu shabu.

The family embarks on a road trip for vacation and meets Takumi, a hitchhiker who claims to be running from an unloving family. Futaba challenges him, calling out his waste of life, and eventually agrees to let him travel with them to Hokkaido to broaden his view.

They reach a coastal town near Mount Fuji and encounter Kimie Sakamaki, Azumi's deaf biological mother. Futaba pushes Azumi to introduce herself to Kimie, prompting Azumi to reveal she can sign thanks to Futaba's preparation.

After picking up Azumi, Futaba suddenly collapses and is hospitalized. The private investigator returns to report he has finally found Futaba's own mother. Futaba asks the investigator to take her to Tokyo to meet her mother.

In Tokyo, Futaba's mother denies the story of Futaba's birth. Frustrated, Futaba shatters a window and the group flees the house.

Takumi returns from the north to visit them and begins working at the bathhouse, integrating into the family.

Kimie visits Azumi the same day, and the five of them go to visit Futaba in the hospital at night to promise they will stay together once she passes away. The family reaffirms their bond as Futaba's time nears its end.