He's Expecting

Synopsis

Setting

Ten years before the start of the series, men around the world started becoming pregnant in an almost serendipitous, or in some cases inconvenient way, though not as often with women; there is a one out of ten chance of it happening. The only way for men to give birth is via C-section. While it is possible for men to get an abortion, it is considered far more dangerous for men to do it as opposed to women. The subject of pregnant men is controversial with some people treating pregnant men in an almost indifferent or prejudiced way.

Plot

Kentaro Hiyama is a 32-year-old elite salaryman who discovers that he is pregnant. Embarrassed by his unexpected problem, he is unsure whether he should keep the baby or not. He begins to take notice of the prejudice towards pregnant women and starts developing symptoms that lead to him calling his mother and asking how she felt about raising him on her own after his father died. After an encounter with a woman on a women-only passenger car, who quickly deduces his pregnancy and shows compassion by offering him to sit with them, he is further pushed to potentially keep the child. His coworker Yuichi Sato outs his pregnancy to a younger female employee who reveals her ignorant views on male pregnancy; believing he became pregnant from another man. Kentaro attempts to correct her and realizes that he must change people's perspective about male pregnancy while also deciding to keep the baby.

The rest of the manga deals with other characters close to Kentaro who are all going through similar situations of their own.

Mizuki Kawabata, the woman on the train, is also pregnant, but is in a relationship with an unfaithful boyfriend who claims that he is breaking up with his other girlfriend to be with her. However, it quickly becomes apparent that he wants her to get an abortion and marry his current girlfriend instead. When she learns that Kentaro is single and having his baby regardless, she dumps her boyfriend and announces to her coworkers her pregnancy.

Tsubasa Utsumi is a teenager who had sex and became pregnant with his girlfriend Satome's baby. His parents forced him to get an abortion and while successful has caused a rift between him and his girlfriend. Tsubasa's friends still mock pregnant men until they encounter Kentaro who gives them a stern talking to. Tsubasa learns that Satome's parents want them to break up, but after learning that Kentaro is building a restaurant that caters to pregnant and nursing people, he is encouraged to make amends with Satome and they resume their relationship.

30-year-old freelance journalist Aki Seto vehemently tells her friends that she does not want to settle and have kids. She ends up sleeping with Kentaro where they continue to see one another until they drift apart. Kentaro shows back up at her place to announce his pregnancy, which shocks her, though surprisingly she is baffled that he does not want anything from her. Aki learns that one of her friends became pregnant and is happy and she slowly begins to warm up to the idea of being a mother. Aki tells Kentaro that she can pretend to be married to him in case the paparazzi want to sensationalize his story.

Characters

Kentaro Hiyama (檜山健太郎, Hiyama Kentarō)

A 32-year-old single elite salaryman who becomes pregnant from his frequent tryst with Aki Seto. He was initially unsure if he wanted to keep the baby, but embraces fatherhood after experiencing workplace prejudice first hand. He constructs a restaurant called "Papa & Kids" for those who are nursing or expecting. Kentaro has a sense of entitlement and pride following his insemination as his father died prior to his own birth and his mother struggled to raise him on her own. He had no interest in co-parenting the baby with Aki until she openly suggested taking care of him while he was at work. He gives birth to a boy, whom he names Kotaro, and happily raises him. In the initial series, Kentaro and Aki keep their relationship platonic while raising Kotaro, but in Childcare Edition, they end up becoming closer and choose to move in with each other.

Aki Seto (瀬戸亜希, Seto Aki)

A 30-year-old freelance journalist and the mother of Kentaro Hiyama's baby. She was staunchly against settling down and having kids until Kentaro revealed his pregnancy to her. While initially unsure if she was actually the mother (he admitted to having other relationships) Aki develops maternal longing for a child and offers to co-parent the baby while he is at work. In the initial series, Aki maintains a platonic relationship with Kentaro while raising their son Kotaro, but in Childcare Edition this is retconned with the two of them developing genuine feelings for each other.

Kotaro Hiyama (檜山幸太郎, Hiyama Kōtarō)

Kentaro and Aki's son who becomes the center of their world. He is born at the end of the initial series and in the future marries a woman named Aoi and becomes pregnant with their baby. In Childcare Edition, which takes place three years after, Kotaro becomes something of the source of conflict for Kentaro and Aki as they try to make their lives easier for him and themselves.

Mizuki Kawabata (川端美月, Kawabata Mizuki)

An office worker who becomes pregnant from her duplicitous boyfriend. She struggles with the idea of having someone to rely on with a baby on the way. Upon learning that Kentaro is pregnant and single, she is inspired to raise her baby on her own. She eventually gives birth and starts a baby carriage rental business with a friend. It is implied that she is the mother of Aoi, Kotaro's future wife. She is completely absent in Childcare Edition.