Ryuuguu, Reiko

竜宮母

Rena's mother began her career as a designer at a small clothing factory in Okinomiya, where she met Mr. Ryuuguu. They married and resided in a small apartment in Okinomiya until Mrs. Ryuuguu became pregnant; they then moved into Rena's paternal grandmother's house, staying there until Rena started elementary school.
Around that time, the manufacturer where Mr. and Mrs. Ryuuguu worked began facing financial difficulties, so she started considering going independent with a few other designers. The situation grew complicated, but she received an offer to work at a design office in Ibaraki and accepted it. The company promised Mrs. Ryuuguu a responsible project, as the firm had high expectations for her talent. When the family moved, Mr. Ryuuguu had to give up his job and became a homemaker. The project became a large success, and Mrs. Ryuuguu started coming home late every night—some nights she would not even come home due to large projects.
Rena's mother began taking Rena out to places without telling her father, including barbecue parties with her coworkers. Around this time, Rena's mother had developed an affair with a fellow designer known as Mr. Akihito. She had been recruited by a headhunter to work at a bigger company and was promoted to a higher position, and by this time was earning well into six figures. After taking Rena to a restaurant and eating parfaits with her (Rena's childhood dream), she wanted Rena to leave her father and come live with her and Mr. Akihito. Rena loudly voiced her disapproval, saying that she could continue her relationship with Mr. Akihito but was not allowed to divorce her father. This is when Rena's mother revealed that she was pregnant.
Rena's mother sent a lawyer to the household in Ibaraki many times but refused to meet him in any form, including over the phone. Mr. Ryuuguu became depressed, as did Rena. One day, Rena met with her mother again, but did not speak to her; Mr. Ryuuguu had given her a letter to give to her mother, but her mother did not read it when Rena asked her to. That meeting was the last time Rena's mother met with Rena.