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 31

Atsushi’s parents and Ryoko’s parents arrived at the scene. Atsushi turned pale as Ryoko spoke up.

“I am divorcing this man.”

“Ryoko!”

Atsushi looked shocked as a bald man in a suit, his father, walked up to him with firm steps—

Smack!

—And hit Atsushi across the face with his fist. His mother sobbed quietly.

“You fool!”

“D-Dad… No, this must be a mistake! Ryoko, you don’t really mean divorce—”

“I am divorcing you.”

Ryoko glared at Atsushi with anger in her eyes.

“Maybe I’m not beautiful. Maybe I can’t have children. But that doesn’t mean you have the right to look down on me.”

“Ryoko, that’s not—”

“For a long time, what you’ve done to me is domestic abuse. That’s what this is.”

“…!”

Atsushi had treated Ryoko cruelly, using her as an outlet for his frustrations. He had spoken harsh words and trampled on her dignity. Now, hearing his actions called domestic abuse, he found himself unable to argue.

Ryoko will accept everything. She loves me too much to leave.

That was what Atsushi had always believed. And in some way, it was true. But he had misunderstood. Because she accepted everything, he should have been more careful with his actions. Because she loved him, he should have never betrayed that love.

“Atsushi-kun, are you okay? That wound on your face looks painful.”

Ryoko had always worried about him, even when they were young. Atsushi recalled those memories—the kindness she had always shown him. And yet, he had treated her cruelly. Slowly, he was beginning to realize his mistakes.

Atsushi’s father turned away and knelt on the floor, bowing his head deeply to Ryoko’s parents alongside his wife.

“We deeply apologize for what our foolish son has done. Please, forgive us!”

Ryoko’s parents glared at them coldly.

“Mr. Matsunaga, our daughter has made her decision. Our relationship with your family ends here.”

“W-Wait! At least the business loan—please, reconsider!”

“The world doesn’t work that way. Your store, Super Matsunaga, hasn’t been doing well lately. It’s no wonder—the store manager abandoned his duties to have an affair with a married employee. If someone in his position lacks basic ethics and responsibility, no financial institution can justify continuing to support such a business. We will be reclaiming the full loan amount immediately.”

“Please! Have mercy!”

Atsushi’s father clung to Ryoko’s father’s leg.

“Ryoko, once everything is settled, come back home for a while.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Please, forgive us!”

Ryoko’s father kicked Atsushi’s parents aside and left with his wife. Atsushi’s father remained kneeling on the floor, while his mother sat in a daze. Atsushi himself could do nothing but watch the scene unfold in silence.

Shinichi, Ryoko’s lawyer, gathered the documents, photographs, and laptop from the table. Then, he placed several legal papers in front of Atsushi and Akiko, the woman with whom he had an affair.

“Now, regarding the compensation claims, here are the official documents for both of you. Ryoko’s lawyer has prepared a separate claim as well. If you are not satisfied with the terms of the divorce, we are prepared to proceed with mediation and even a court trial if necessary.”

Atsushi and Akiko hesitantly picked up the documents, their hands trembling.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Compensation and Divorce Agreements

From Shinichi to his wife, Akiko:
Divorce
Compensation: 1 million yen
Child Support: 30,000 yen per month until Misaki turns 22
Sole Custody of Misaki: Shinichi
Visitation Rights: Only if Misaki wants to see her. Otherwise, no contact allowed.
No Contact with Shinichi: Any violation will result in a 100,000 yen penalty per incident.
No Contact with Misaki: Any violation without Misaki’s consent will result in a 1 million yen penalty.
No Contact with Atsushi: Any violation will result in a 1 million yen penalty.
No Asset Division: Akiko’s misuse of shared savings has been considered compensation.
House and Land: Transferred to Akiko, who will bear all related expenses and taxes.
Remaining Mortgage: Akiko will take full responsibility.
Legal Agreement: All terms will be notarized and signed as an official settlement.
From Shinichi to Atsushi:
Compensation: 2 million yen
No Contact with Shinichi: Any violation will result in a 100,000 yen penalty per incident.
No Contact with Saori, Misaki, or Akiko: Any violation will result in a 1 million yen penalty per person.
Legal Agreement: All terms will be notarized and signed as an official settlement.

From Ryoko to Atsushi:
Divorce
Compensation: 10 million yen (including damages for long-term domestic abuse)
No Contact with Ryoko: Any violation will result in a 100,000 yen penalty per incident.
No Contact with Akiko: Any violation will result in a 1 million yen penalty.
No Asset Division: Ryoko waives any claims to shared assets.
House and Land: Not included (pre-marital assets under her father’s name).
Legal Agreement: All terms will be notarized and signed as an official settlement.

From Ryoko to Akiko:
-Compensation: 1 million yen
No Contact with Ryoko or Atsushi: Any violation will result in penalties.
Legal Agreement: All terms will be notarized and signed as an official settlement.

Akiko’s hands shook as she read through the document.

“T-Two million yen in compensation… and the mortgage too?!”

Her face turned deathly pale.

“You soiled this house, our home, with your actions. Misaki and I can’t live here anymore. You even tainted her bed. How shameless can you be?”

Akiko had no response.

“Even if we sell the house, you’ll still owe about three million yen.”

“F-Five million yen in total?! I can’t pay that! There’s no way!”

She screamed, tears streaming down her face.

Lawyer Sato spoke calmly.

“Mrs. Akiko, it’s not a matter of if you can pay. You must pay. This is the consequence of your actions.”

“W-What if I declare bankruptcy—”

“This is not a debt that can be erased by bankruptcy. The court will not grant you financial relief from damages caused by infidelity and neglect. You have not done any housework for an extended period. You have committed adultery at home. Furthermore, you have taken actions that could be interpreted as neglecting or abusing your daughter, and there are suspicions that you committed adultery in your daughter’s bed. Given the severity of these actions, which I have never encountered in the many divorce cases I have handled due to infidelity”

“Then, then let’s go to court―”

“I don’t think there are any lawyers who would be happy to take your case in this situation. It would be a certain losing battle. Moreover, the claims from Shinichi and Ryoko are not unreasonable. If you still want to fight in court, feel free to do so. However, the amount of compensation you are seeking will be increased. What will you do? Will you fight in court in a state of isolation and without support?”

“……..But, this much money―”

“That’s right, it’s an enormous amount of money. However, what you’ve done is just that.”

“…………”

“Mr. Shinichi must have told you many times. ‘Be honest.’ ‘If you lie, it will be considered as no remorse.’ If you had reflected on what you did and spoken honestly with a sincere attitude, there might have been room for negotiation on reducing the compensation. It was you, Madam, who wasted Mr. Shinichi’s last kindness.”

“…………”

Akiko realizes that the swamp of depravity she had been drowning in was actually a swamp of despair. Overwhelmed by reality, Akiko could only bow her head with the document in hand.

Meanwhile, Atsushi had already given up. He had about 12 million yen in savings, and he knew nearly all of it would go to Ryoko and Shinichi. At least he could pay without going into debt. But with Ryoko’s father cutting financial ties, the future of Super Matsunaga looked grim.

Akiko and Atsushi signed the settlement agreement and power of attorney documents that had been prepared under the same conditions. Meanwhile, Shinichi and Ryoko had already entrusted the creation of a notarized document to a judicial scrivener associated with Sato. Both Akiko and Atsushi also signed the divorce papers. Akiko stamped the necessary documents on the spot, and the divorce papers were handed over to Shinichi. Atsushi, on the other hand, was to stamp his documents later at the lawyer’s office, with Lawyer Sato holding onto the divorce papers in the meantime. The signed settlement agreements and power of attorney documents were collected by Lawyer Sato and Ryoko.

“Mr. Sato, as planned…”

“Yes, this will be made into a notarized document. Everything has already been coordinated with the judicial scrivener and the notary office. Ryoko, please pass my regards to the supervising officer as well.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Mr. Sato, we truly appreciate all your support.”

Shinichi and Ryoko bowed their heads as Lawyer Sato gave them a gentle smile and nodded.

“Now then…”

Shinichi and Ryoko turned to face Atsushi.

“…Enough already… I’m leaving…”

“It’s not over yet.”

As Atsushi attempted to stand from the sofa, Shinichi stopped him. Atsushi’s parents stood frozen in the corner of the room, their heads hanging low.

Click

The sound of the front door opening echoed through the room.

“Our final guests have arrived,” Shinichi announced.

Five men entered the room. They varied in age, appearing to be in their 30s or 40s. They silently lined up behind the sofa where Shinichi and Ryoko were seated.

“Mr. Matsunaga, do you know who these five men are?”

“…No clue…” Atsushi muttered, sulking slightly.

“Then allow me to enlighten you. These five men are—”

For a brief moment, an eerie silence filled the room.

“—the husbands of your other mistresses, aside from Akiko.”

“!?”

Atsushi’s head shot up in shock at Shinichi’s words.

The five men glared at him, their faces twisted with rage.

The reckoning was far from over—