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I imagined if toji did remarry, he wouldn’t hold his new wife just like he did for mamaguro. His new wife would be an empty vase he chose to fill the vacant spot in his house; or maybe, he chose her because megumi was tired of explaining to his friends that he didn’t have a mom.
I imagined the dining table is as awkward as it could be, with his new wife trying her best to fit in the family but the two males just don’t feel the same for her. Perhaps they secretly thought to themselves that she’s trying hard for nothing. Because she’s just for a show.
I imagined if Toji did consumate to his marriage, his sex life with his new bride is boring or non-existent. He didn’t marry her for love and he didn’t marry his side hoes. She’s like a professional ally he keeps for commercial. She can’t complain because she knows that the second she opens her mouth, he’s willing to put his sign on the divorce paper.
I imagined that she has to mourn along with Toji and Megumi on mamaguro’s death. She can’t watch TV the whole day because the house needs to be as quiet as possible to pay respect. She even needs to sneak her way to the bedroom and watches her kdrama with earphones.
I imagined that there’s a day where Toji’s new bride will notice that he never initiates any skinship and when she confronts him, turns out he just doesn’t want to have any kids with her. Because to him, mamaguro is the only mother for his kids.
I imagined Toji brings Megumi out for a picnic date but leaves his new wife at the house when she’s still busy packing the lunch boxes. And when he does return to the home back, he only comes for the food and goes back to Megumi without bringing her along.
I imagined she has to explain to her friends that Toji is a Zenin, not a Fushiguro by birth because he used his wife’s surname and her friends will question her on why he doesn’t use hers since she’s his wife too. But she doesn’t answer because she doesn’t dare to humiliate herself.
I imagined she comes to pick Megumi from school and his friends will ask her why she doesn’t look like how Megumi drew on his weekly poster and she has to control herself before she bursts out crying in front of toddlers.
I imagined the Fushiguro house doesn’t feel as warm as she first stepped in because she finally gives up. She doesn’t bother to butter up a convo, she doesn’t laugh off when Megumi tells her to leave him alone because she doesn’t seek him anymore.
I imagined Toji comes home late, expecting the familiar figure who waits for him every day but the whole living room is dark and she is long asleep on her side of bed. Toji probably thinks that she’s tired and moves along but he doesn’t notice that he’s making up excuses for her because the thought of her doing it intentionally is impossible.
I imagined the ride home when Toji picks up Megumi at his grandparents from the Fushiguro family is silent. His wife will play with her phone, scrolling through her social medias and she doesn’t ask Megumi on how he spent his weekend anymore. She has stopped joking about how Megumi hates her parents too. She doesn’t mention anything about bringing Megumi to her home.
I imagined Megumi walks to his class, but always looking back to the gate. Megumi thinks that his step-mother will put up a little fight to hold his hand and walks him to his class. But she only rolls down the window and nods. She doesn’t do the silly ‘kissy kissy’ too. She doesn’t even greet him 'good morning’ today.
I imagined the cute face of Megumi’s disappointed face when he unzips the lunch bag. He shakes the bag but there’s nothing. Megumi thinks that she accidentally forgot to pack his food but when he calls her by the public phone, she explains that she doesn’t do it anymore because Toji wants to teach him how to buy food at the canteen. But Toji doesn’t say that.
I imagined Toji’s new wife looks at the bouquet he brings home and wonders if he ever sees her as her own person but a shell he fills with his fantasy because that day isn’t their anniversary and she doesn’t like lilies. She hates flowers in truth.
I imagined Megumi will have a huge birthday party and both families will come visit, including the Fushiguros. While the Zenin members converse with mamaguro’s parents with ease, Toji’s parents-in-law are asked to sit in the kitchen, watching their step-grandson from far and wonder if there will be a time where they are able to spoil a 'grandchild’ too.
I imagined Toji’s wife watches how everyone alienate her parents and they are unwelcomed no matter what the event is. She will swallow her words, chokes on her tears before she calls a cab for her parents. Toji doesn’t even notice that his father-in-law has been eyeing an opportunity to talk to him, wanting to ask about his daughter. But Toji’s gentle words aren’t aimed to him, but an older man of his past.
I imagined when the party’s over, no one helps Megumi’s new mother to handle the messy house. She is expected to clean the big house and she hasn’t even eat the cake. No, they don’t spare her a slice too. So when she picks up the paper plates with the left-over bits, she eats the sweet icing and realises, she isn’t his wife nor a mother to his child.
I imagined the home she tried so hard to please becomes the place she hates, Toji can no longer see her sweet smile nor her flushed face. His little pretty wife has stopped trying and there’s no warm diner by the time he got home. The lengthy texts he recieved everyday have reduced to none, she doesn’t contact him anymore.
I imagined the whole family sit down for diner together in the dining table and only the clicking of chopsticks against the bowls echo. His wife doesn’t talk about her stupid childhood comfort foods, she doesn’t put dishes into his or his son’s bowls either. She chews her food slowly, eyes cast on her food without muttering a word. The whole diner is silent.