#c.erojin strikes me more as the latter. especially when Ceroba has to pick up Chujin's slack and get a job while he volunteers all

[rustedleopard]

I have a question. If the Ketsukane family lived according to Japanese traditions, then Ceroba in the trailer could not file for divorce.

??? That's not a question.

You can get a divorce in Japan. That is very much a thing in Japan. Divorce/some method of ending a marriage has existed everywhere in the world, including Japan, for as long as marriage has existed (usually it's the man that has to be the one to initiate it though, but this is a trend that you see across patriarchal societies, not something specific to Japan (as another example, in the USA, divorce has existed since colonial times but it was more favorable towards men. Women had to provide stronger causes to justify it than men. No-fault divorce didn't start to happen in the USA until 1969.)).

(Though, on the subject of Japan and the woman's ability to divorce, starting in 1285, there was a method for the wife to leave her husband in a more roundabout way by staying at a temple and becoming a nun for a few years. This route seems like it was reserved more for wives seeking divorce from abusive husbands though, but it still proves that wives had the means to leave a marriage if they wanted to (and had the resources, etc, but I'm digressing).).

Plus, the Underground is a society of monsters with its own customs and culture. Toriel was able to divorce Asgore after his war declaration. That proves that divorce happens in the Underground. Ceroba and Chujin may draw a lot of inspiration from Japan, but culturally they are monsters. They were born under and live(d) under the Dreemurr crown. So if the Queen of Monsters is able to leave her husband because she doesn't want to be with him anymore, then surely Ceroba would be able to do the same with Chujin. They're not bound to each other by a magical shackle that got locked around their wrists the second they said their wedding vows, nor are they forced to remain together by law or tradition, whether it be Japanese or Monster.

Now, if the (non-existent) question was: "Would they get a divorce?" that's a different story. "Could" and "Would" mean different things. Could Ceroba leave if she wanted to? Yes, she has the means. Would she? I lean more heavily into "Yes." But, well... Divorce is seen as a source of shame, a sign of a failed marriage (even though a marriage is still a failure if you're unhappy in it, even if you're still together). Cerojin is a very heteronormative and traditional relationship. I could also see them trying to "salvage the marriage" without seeking outside counsel because that would mean admitting that their relationship has failed and "We can't do that, we're a happy, normal couple! We can't be en route to a divorce!"

I can provide actual thoughts on this, but only if the question is a "Would they try to stay together despite everything?"