The Shape of Happiness: A Family Crumbling Due to the Mother's Infidelity, a Wounded Middle School Daughter, and a Struggling Father Finding a New Form of Happiness. - Episode 20

After the discussion with his mother-in-law Saori, Shinichi managed to have his daughter, Misaki, stay with Saori. Their relationship was good, with Misaki teasing her by calling her “Grandma!” while Saori would laugh, replying, “Don’t call me Grandma!”. Misaki trusted her, and Shinichi hoped that staying there might help ease her heart.

Shinichi also hired a private investigation agency to look into his wife Akiko and the man she was having an affair with.

The investigation would require 24/7 surveillance, which would incur substantial costs. To minimize the expense, Shinichi provided a schedule for when Akiko worked part-time, and the agency would alert him if any unusual actions or noteworthy developments occurred during the investigation. Although this would be costly, Shinichi considered it a necessary expense, especially to ensure he could secure full custody of Misaki.

Somewhere deep in his heart, Shinichi still harbored a wish that it was all a mistake. This was because the feelings of love he had for Akiko still lingered faintly. The strong words from the detective agency, “We will investigate everything,” echoed in his mind. With a complex mix of anxiety and hope, Shinichi left the detective agency’s office, wondering what the investigation results would reveal.

A few days later, on a clear autumn day, Shinichi was driving his car with Misaki in her school uniform sitting beside him. Misaki had been absent from school but had decided to return after staying with Saori. She didn’t want to transfer schools since she had close friends like Aika, so Saori had agreed to drive her to school.

“Misaki, have you listed everything you need to bring?” Shinichi asked.

“Yeah, I’m good, Dad,” Misaki replied.

That day, while Akiko was away working part-time, Shinichi and Misaki were heading back to the house to gather Misaki’s school supplies and clothes.

“I think Mom’s at work, so it should be fine, but…” Shinichi began.

“I don’t have a mom,” Misaki interrupted.

“Misaki…” Shinichi said gently.

“Working? No, she’s just out cheating, that old hag,” Misaki snapped.

“…I’m sorry, Misaki.”

“Why are you apologizing? Stop!” Misaki yelled.

Shinichi couldn’t help but apologize as he watched his daughter, a first-year middle schooler, speak so bitterly. It was a situation he never imagined he’d find himself in.

“Let’s just hurry and grab what you need when we get home,” he said.

“Yeah, I know,” she replied.

When they arrived home, Misaki hurried upstairs to her room to pack. Shinichi sat at the kitchen table, staring at the empty kitchen.

“Good morning. I’m going to grill the mackerel now, so please wait a bit.”

“Mom, you’re so slow!”

“Well, sometimes even I have moments like this!”

“Take your time. You don’t need to hurry.”

“But really. Dad is so soft on you, Mom~”

“It’s Dad’s love for me. Right, dear?”

“Yeah, yeah. I love you, I love you.”

“Oh, you!”

“Mom, it smells like something is burning…”

“Huh? Ahh! I burnt the mackerel!”

“Akiko, what are you doing…?”

“Ahahahaha! Mom, that was a perfect ending!”

The memories flooded in. The mornings when they would all laugh together, even over something small, like Akiko trying to cook and burning the fish. Those were moments of happiness that Shinichi could never experience again.

Tears fell from his eyes as he sat, lost in the memory. He had loved Akiko. He had shown it in every way he knew. But now, everything had shattered, and he couldn’t understand why. His chest hurt, and the tears wouldn’t stop.

Then, something warm surrounded his head.

“Dad, I’m here for you,” Misaki said, holding him.

Misaki, at an age when she was supposed to resent her father, was hugging him close. Shinichi understood how abnormal this was, but Misaki, too, was at her breaking point, holding onto the one person she could: her father. And Shinichi, feeling just as cornered, clung to her too, needing her comfort. The sight of a father crying, embraced by his still-young daughter, was pitiful to anyone watching. Nevertheless, Misaki tightened her embrace around Shinichi.

(I will never leave him. Dad is trying to protect me. So, I will protect Dad. I will help Dad!)

With such strong feelings.

Shinichi and Misaki desperately pulled together the fraying family bond. What remained was a bond between father and daughter so thin it could snap at any moment, yet it had not broken even under these extreme circumstances.

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Two weeks later, Shinichi received a call from the private investigator, informing him that the investigation results were ready. He would soon learn the truth about Akiko.