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 24

Prefectural Central Hospital, General Ward―

“Hey! No running in the hallway!”

“S-Sorry!”

Misaki, wearing her school uniform, was running down the hospital corridor. A passing nurse scolded her, but she didn’t stop. She had to reach her father as soon as possible.

“701… 702… 703! Here it is!”

Room 703 was a shared room with no door. Misaki rushed inside and scanned the room. At the far right, near the window, she spotted her grandmother, Saori. She hurried over, but Saori raised a finger to her lips, signaling her to be quiet.

On the bed, her father, Shinichi, was sleeping.

Misaki clenched her face, holding back her sobs as tears streamed down her cheeks. Saori, who was sitting beside the bed, pulled Misaki close and embraced her gently. She stroked Misaki’s trembling head with a comforting touch.

“…Your father is just a little exhausted. Let’s let him rest for now, okay?”

Misaki nodded. Saori placed another chair beside the bed and motioned for Misaki to sit. Now, they sat facing each other, with Shinichi between them. Outside the window, the sun had already set, and night was beginning to fall.

“…Is Dad going to be okay…?”

“Yes… It seems like stress and exhaustion took a toll on his nerves… As a section chief, he’s been very busy… It was fortunate that he changed his workplace emergency contact to my number…”

“Dad…”

Misaki gazed at her father’s sleeping face.

She spoke in a low voice.

“…Hey, where’s your Mom… not home?”

“…Mom? Who’s that?”

“…Huh?”

“…I don’t have a mother.”

“Misaki-chan…”

“Oh, but there was a woman in the house. I wonder who she was?”

“…Did you talk to her?”

“Yes, I told her about Dad collapsing.”

“…And she still didn’t come!?”

“She said she was busy… exercising.”

“…Exercising?”

“Yes. She seemed to be enjoying it a lot. She was doing it with a partner.”

“…No… That can’t be…”

“In the bedroom… The bed was creaking… There were heavy breaths… And even sounds like an animal moaning.”

“…Unbelievable… This is disgraceful…”

“Our house… is polluted now… By them… Completely…”

Misaki’s clenched fists trembled in her lap. Saori’s eyes filled with tears of rage at her daughter Akiko’s betrayal.

“…Mmm…”

A soft groan came from the bed. Shinichi slowly opened his eyes, and both Misaki and Saori turned their attention to him.

“…Huh? Where am I…?”

“Dad!”

Misaki threw herself onto him, tears spilling again.

“Eh? Misaki?”

“Shinichi, how are you feeling?”

“Mother-in-law…?”

“Shinichi, you collapsed at work. Do you remember?”

“Oh… right…”

“Dad… Don’t… scare me like that…”

Misaki hugged him tighter.

“Misaki… I’m sorry… for making you worry…”

Misaki turned to Saori.

“Grandma!”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Be honest with your feelings too!”

“Eh…?”

“Dad! You made Grandma really worried too, you know!”

Shinichi looked at Saori, who was trembling.

Her eyes glistened with tears. Shinichi gave her a warm smile.

“Shinichi-kun…”

Saori covered her face with both hands and let out small sobs.

Shinichi gently stroked Misaki’s head as she clung to him.

“Dad, you need to divorce her… If you don’t, you’ll break…”

“Shinichi, please, don’t push yourself too hard…”

“Thank you, both of you. Just a little longer… Everything is almost in place… So please, just wait a bit more.”

Misaki sat up.

“Dad! Grandma! Once everything is settled, let’s become a real family, just the three of us!”

Saori slowly lifted her head.

“A new family… With a wonderful son-in-law and a kind, loving granddaughter… I’m going to be a very happy grandmother.”

Shinichi sat up in bed.

“You two… Will you be my family?”

“I’ll never leave you, Dad!”

“Let’s all live together. We’ll be happy, I’m sure of it.”

Shinichi, Misaki, and Saori exchanged smiles.

Each of them was shaping their own vision of happiness.

But before they could make it real, Shinichi had to confront Akiko and her lover, Atsushi. Despite his collapse, his preparations were almost complete. The time for the final showdown against those who had drowned in their own sinful pleasures is drawing near.