The Family Game

The Numata family lives in a small apartment on a newly built reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. The father, Kōsuke, is physically and emotionally absent, while the mother Chikako is emotionally drained by caring for their two teenage sons. Shinichi and Shigeyuki feel the pressure of living under a family dynamic that is driven by expectation and isolation.

Mr Numata has strict expectations for his children; they must attend top high schools and then prestigious national universities. He hires multiple private tutors, thrusting the exam burden onto Shigeyuki and turning academics into a family obsession. The atmosphere at home becomes tense as the stakes rise.

Shinichi earns admission to a top high school and makes his father proud. His success reinforces the family's hierarchy and the father's belief in conventional success.

Shigeyuki's grades are poor and he is bullied at school by a group led by his once-best friend. He remains fixated on roller coasters, highlighting his disconnect with his father's expectations and the pressure he faces.

A seventh-year student from a third-rate university, Yoshimoto is hired as Shigeyuki's new tutor. His eccentric demeanor signals a break from traditional tutoring and he quickly becomes a central figure in Shigeyuki's life.

Yoshimoto fills the fatherly role left by Mr Numata, showing concern, attention, and even affection toward Shigeyuki. He sits close during conversations, kisses Shigeyuki on the cheek, and forms a near-whispered bond with him.

Yoshimoto's tutoring includes intimate exchanges and close proximity, as he uses unconventional methods to motivate Shigeyuki. The boundary between teacher and student becomes blurred as he exerts emotional influence.

Under Yoshimoto's guidance, Shigeyuki's marks improve significantly. He also learns basic self-defense, which he later uses against his school bully.

With the tutor's help, Shigeyuki achieves a pass on his high school entrance exam. The moment marks a turning point in the family's educational pursuit.

The family gathers to celebrate Shigeyuki's achievement, with all five characters present. The mood shifts when a food fight erupts and Yoshimoto begins to riot, throwing spaghetti around and pouring wine on the table.

Yoshimoto's chaotic behavior escalates the dinner into a riot, with physical hits and destructive antics directed at the Numatas. The event exposes the volatility of the paternal substitute Yoshimoto has become.