When I started Suspecting my Wife of Cheating, I Somehow Ended up Living in the Middle of Nowhere - Episode 8

To be honest… maybe it’s a strange thing to say, but I was ready to die.

I’d been divorced, and my daughters had left me. Alone in the house I’d been left behind in… I figured if I stopped eating and drinking, eventually… it would all just end. It’s not that I was actively trying to die, but I felt like it wouldn’t be so bad if it just happened. When you lose the people who matter most, it’s like your strength just vanishes. I couldn’t move. I was stuck.

In a way, I guess my mother saved me. Even in that state, she managed to save my life. So I decided—I’d do whatever it took to make sure she was safe and had a stable life.

The goal for my mother was to get her on public assistance so she could live securely. But there were a lot of hurdles in the way.

Create an ID card (ward office) → Open a bank account (bank) → Change pension payment destination (pension office) → Apply for public assistance (ward office)

It’s kind of inappropriate to say, but it felt a bit like playing Dragon Quest. Clearing missions one by one.

Luckily, I had plenty of time. All I had to do was get through them, step by step.

〇●〇

First, I went to the ward office where my mother lives.

Now that I think about it, making an ID for someone else is really difficult. If it were easy, anyone could impersonate someone else. Even if she’s my mother, is this really okay!?

I nervously headed to the family registry section. I took a number and waited about 30 minutes.

“Oh! You’re Ms. Shoko Zenpuku’s son!”

The clerk said that when it was my turn.

“Yes! I’m Kumagorou! Sounds like a brand of shochu, but it’s my real name!”

“I heard from Ms. Kubara in the welfare section. Good luck!”

They were cheering me on. So Ms. Kubara had reached out—what a relief. I’d been dreading explaining everything all over again.

“Getting a new health insurance card is very difficult. But since Ms. Shoko already has one issued, let’s just do a reissue!”

“A reissue…”

“Yes, normally it’s for when a card is lost, but considering the circumstances…”

Apparently, domestic violence as a reason really is taken seriously at the ward office. Thank goodness.

“But the reissued card will be sent to her registered address… is that okay? Will she be able to receive it?”

If it’s sent to my parents’ house, my father will definitely get it. That defeats the whole purpose.

“It would be really difficult for her to go to the mailbox at just the right time…”

“In that case… do you have a little more time today?”

“Yes.”

Time is something I have in abundance.

“Then let me check with my supervisor to see if we can do a same-day reissue and hand it directly to you.”

“Please do! Thank you so much!”

I didn’t even know that was possible. If I could get the ID card today, the next steps would be so much easier. Maybe I could even make it to the post office depending on the time—but that idea was quickly abandoned thanks to what I learned at the counter.

“All set! If you can wait about 30 minutes, we’ll issue it today!”

“Thank you!”

“Also… do you have the Late-stage Elderly Medical Insurance Card? If not, we should reissue that too.”

Late-stage? Elderly? Medical? Insurance card? Then what’s the one being reissued right now??

“Um… is the card we’re reissuing now different from that late-stage elderly one?”

“Well, you see…”

This desk just accepts documents. The clerk glanced around nervously as we talked. Oh… I see. In today’s world, you get criticized for taking too long. I’d gladly go to another department if needed, but there were only three windows, including this one. If I monopolized this one, complaints might come in.

“Please check at Window 7 for that.”

“Got it!”

The clerk wasn’t brushing me off—they actually wanted to explain more, but clearly felt the pressure. It’s a tough world.

〇●〇

Next, I went to Window 7—the “Health and Pension Division.” Who would ever know that without being told?

I took another number and waited about 30 more minutes.

“Excuse me, I’d like to request a reissue of the Late-stage Elderly Medical Insurance Card for my mother…”

“Is she with you?”

“No, she’s scheduled for surgery and a hospital stay.”

“Aaaaah, I see…”

The woman at the desk was a calm, beautiful type—but she seemed troubled by what I said. Why is it that, at the ward office, you have to explain every little thing over and over again? Looks like I’ll have to start from the beginning with my mother’s situation again…

“Oh! I’m here through Ms. Kubara from the pension section, who introduced me to request a reissue of her insurance card. While that’s being processed, I came here… Would it be possible to check with Ms. Kubara?”

“I understand. I’ll confirm with her.”

I waited about 10 minutes.

“Okay, we’ll go ahead with the reissue of the Late-stage Elderly Medical Insurance Card.”

“Thank you! I’m really sorry to ask, but… could I receive it today? We’re currently avoiding her registered address due to domestic violence…”

“I see. Then please write the delivery address on this envelope. We’ll send it there.”

“Understood.”

So the procedures really vary depending on the window… It’s complicated.

After a full day, I successfully received the health insurance card, and the Late-stage Elderly Medical Insurance Card would be mailed to my home. I also managed to arrange a meeting with the welfare section’s representative.

The next day, I went to the bank. That was another challenge. Thankfully, I had the reissued insurance card and a stamp from the 100-yen shop. I thought that would be enough to open an account—but they needed “confirmation of intent” from my mother.

“I’m sorry.”

The young woman at the window bowed.

“What can we do to confirm her intent?”

“She would need to come here…”

So, once again, I explained about the hospital stay, the DV situation, and the need for her pension payments. That took another hour…

“P-please wait a moment. I’ll speak to my supervisor.”

Oh no… if the supervisor comes, that’s going to mean another hour of explaining… Life is hard.

“This way, please.”

A man in a suit came out from the back. He looked older—definitely the manager type.

He didn’t lead me to the normal window, but to one of the nicer booths used for investment consultations. Fine. I’ll talk for another hour if I have to.

But apparently, the young woman at the counter had already explained everything clearly to him. She’s not just pretty—she’s competent too!

“We understand your situation, but confirmation from the person herself is a required step…”

Of course… I figured.

“But perhaps you could go to the hospital, and we’ll call you while you’re there. You could introduce us to the staff, and then we’ll call your mother directly and confirm her intent by phone. How about that?”

That might work! That could actually work!

“What will the confirmation process involve?”

“We’ll ask her something like, ‘We’re making a bank account with your son as your proxy, is that alright?’”

“And she just has to say ‘yes’?”

“That’s right. We may also ask her name and age, things like that.”

That should be doable! She wouldn’t forget those.

“Understood! Let’s do that! When can we do it? I can go right now if needed!”

“How about in an hour? Please call me first, and then I’ll call you back.”

“Perfect! Thank you!”

It felt like the bank was giving me the best compromise they could. And I was happy to accept it, since the account was essential. I decided to go the same day so it wouldn’t drag on.

Thanks to that, the bankbook was issued that day. The cash card could only be sent to the address on the resident record, so we gave up on that. Still, the pension could be deposited using the bankbook. Withdrawing money would be tough, but that could be figured out later.

〇●〇

Using the same method, I went to the pension office to change the deposit account for the pension. Since I wasn’t the person herself, they said I needed a letter of proxy. That was really difficult, because my mother didn’t want to write anything.

While I was struggling, they told me that if I mailed it in, I wouldn’t need the proxy letter. So I took the forms home to fill out and send.

Of course, I explained everything to my mother before doing the paperwork. She said, “Thank you.” It felt a bit sad to be spoken to so formally by my own mother.

And so, over the course of about two weeks, I managed to obtain a health insurance card, the elderly medical insurance card, a bank account, and the pension setup.

And I realized—I’d been so busy running around that I’d forgotten my own despair, even just for a little while.

Kiyomi Zenpuku (divorced, didn’t bother to revert to maiden name because paperwork is annoying)

The house is huge! Practically a mansion! Definitely different from someone who only finished middle school!

I cook delicious meals for my beloved husband and adorable daughters!

Huh? That husband’s been working late a lot lately… is he okay?