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 26

Shinichi’s Home—

Misaki lay on the dining room floor, glaring at her mother, Akiko, who stood over her. Akiko, in turn, looked down at her daughter with anger in her eyes.

While Akiko was taking a bath, Misaki had come home and found her mother’s smartphone on the table. She had taken pictures of the stored photos, videos, and chat messages—evidence of her mother’s affair—using her own phone. But Akiko had noticed and struck Misaki on the head.

“I took pictures of all your cheating evidence!”

“…Misaki, give me your phone.”

“No way! I’m going to show everything to Dad!”

“…Just give it to me.”

“You took pictures with that guy while spreading your legs and making a peace sign. Are you stupid?!”

“!”

“It makes me sick to think I share your bl00d!”

“…You brat, don’t get cocky.”

“You’re not even human! You’re no better than a stray cat in heat! You’re worse than livestock, you filthy pig!”

With swift movements, Akiko pinned Misaki down and slapped her face repeatedly.

**Smack! Thud! Smack!**

“Have you forgotten that I gave birth to you, you ungrateful brat?!”

“Ugh… ah… mmph…”

“I should’ve never had you! Take this! And this!”

**Smack! Smack! Thud!**

—

Misaki, now bleeding from her nose, lay weakly on the floor.

“I’m sending you straight to the clouds!”

“Stop it!”

**Whoosh!**

Akiko was suddenly yanked backward—Shinichi had grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away. He had come inside after noticing that Misaki was taking too long to return.

“Misaki, are you okay?!”

“I’m… okay…”

Holding his daughter close, Shinichi glared at Akiko.

“How could you hit your own daughter like this?! What the hell is wrong with you?!”

Akiko stood up.

“I was just disciplining a disobedient child, that’s all.”

“Discipline?! You call punching her in the face discipline?!”

“Maybe you were seeing things? Did I really do that?”

“She’s bleeding! Misaki, you’re safe now.”

“Yeah… Dad…”

Shinichi wiped Misaki’s nosebleed with a handkerchief, and she let out a sigh of relief.

Akiko, watching this, gave them a suspicious look.

“Oh… I see. You two are in that kind of relationship, aren’t you?”

“What?”

Akiko smirked.

“You’ve been touching your middle school daughter because I won’t sleep with you, right? That’s why Misaki hasn’t been coming home.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! How could you even think that?!”

“I believe it’s called… grooming, isn’t it? You tamed Misaki and kept her somewhere, right? And she takes care of your ‘needs’ too? Disgusting.”

“Akiko! There are things you should never say!”

“A father and daughter doing such things… it’s revolting. Even animals are better than you two.”

Misaki glared at her mother with hatred.

“I have your bl00d, don’t I? So of course, I’m disgusting. But you* are worse than an animal!”

But Akiko only grinned.

“Oh? And what proof do you have for such an accusation?”

In her hand, she held Misaki’s smartphone. She waved it mockingly.

“Ah…!”

“Shinichi, don’t you think it’s too soon to let Misaki have a phone?”

“Give it back!”

“Sure, here you go.”

Akiko tossed the phone… but not to Misaki. It flew through the air—toward the kitchen sink.

**Splash!**

Misaki’s smartphone landed in a dishwashing tub full of water.

“My phone!”

“Does your phone have a waterproof feature, Misaki?”

Akiko strolled into the kitchen, plunged her hand into the tub, and started stirring the water.

“It looked dirty, so I’ll wash it for you~.”

She poured dish soap over it and scrubbed it under the water.

“My… my phone… the evidence…”

After rinsing off the soap, Akiko pressed the power button. The screen remained black.

Smirking, she tossed the phone toward Shinichi and Misaki.

**Clunk.**

“There, I’m returning it~.”

Misaki picked it up with teary eyes, while Akiko grinned at her misery.

“…Misaki, let’s go.”

Shinichi helped Misaki stand and led her out of the dining room toward the front door.

“What a touching father-daughter bond. Too bad love doesn’t pay the bills! AHAHAHAHA!”

Ignoring Akiko’s laughter, they left without looking back.

Once inside the car, they drove away from the house.

As they drove, Shinichi checked on Misaki.

“Are you okay, Misaki?”

“…Dad, listen.”

“Misaki?”

“I just remembered something. Please, hear me out.”

Her face was swollen, but her eyes were serious. Seeing her determination, Shinichi nodded.

—

Five minutes later—

“—So, that’s what it is. I’ll check on it right away.”

“Misaki… thank you. You’ve helped me a lot.”

“Hehe, we did it!”

“But…”

As they stopped at a red light, Shinichi turned to Misaki with a serious expression.

“…You can’t do this anymore. I appreciate your help, but if something like this happens again… leave the rest to me.”

“But…!”

“Misaki.”

“…Okay… But remember, I will always be on your side. Don’t forget that.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

The light turned green, and the deep purple car rolled forward.

They smiled at each other as they headed toward Saori’s house.

Shinichi tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

(I regret holding back, but I had to—for Misaki’s safety… The preparations are almost done… The decisive day… is this weekend!)

The final confrontation was near. What fate awaited them all? No one knew yet.