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 41

That night, after Shinichi and Ryoko grew closer, Saori’s house was filled with lively voices. In the kitchen, three women stood side by side, preparing dinner. Since Shinichi was told he was in the way and kicked out of the kitchen, he cleaned up the living room instead. Then, the four of them gathered around the table for sukiyaki. Later, they played party games on the TV game console Misaki had brought, making it a fun night filled with laughter.

As Ryoko was about to leave, Saori stopped her. At first, Ryoko hesitated, but after being encouraged by the three others, she agreed to stay for the night.

By the way, Misaki’s attempt to put Shinichi and Ryoko in the same room—

“Mi-sa-kiii!”

—was discovered just as she was about to move two futons into the living room. Unfortunately for her, her plan was stopped. Misaki ended up receiving a fist bump on the head, something she hadn’t experienced since childhood, but she had acted with good intentions in her own way.

In the end, Ryoko slept in the living room, Saori and Misaki shared Saori’s bedroom, and Shinichi slept in a separate empty room.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Late at night—

In the complete darkness, a shadow quietly moved toward the entrance. That shadow was trying to leave Saori’s house.

“Going out at this hour, Ryoko?”

Ryoko’s hand froze on the door. The voice belonged to Saori.

In the faint moonlight coming through the entrance, the two of them were dimly illuminated. As Ryoko slowly turned around, her face was in shadow, making it hard for Saori to see her expression.

“I thought something felt strange. Someone as considerate as you wouldn’t normally come to someone’s house empty-handed. You said you got a job at a company with a dormitory, but… that was a lie, wasn’t it?”

“……”

Ryoko couldn’t answer and slowly lowered her head.

“Ryoko, what do you think Shinichi would feel if you took your own life?”

“! ……”

Ryoko had grown tired of everything and had decided to die from the start. After kissing Shinichi and sharing her feelings with him today, she felt there was nothing left for her to do. However, Saori saw right through her.

“Shinichi wouldn’t be able to recover. He’d regret for the rest of his life that he couldn’t protect you.”

“I… I…”

As Ryoko lifted her face, Saori gently spoke to her.

“Today, when you were alone with Shinichi… what did he say to you?”

“……”

“I don’t know what Shinichi said to you or what kind of conversation you had. That’s why I want to know. What did he say?”

“……”

Silence filled the air.

“I have a feeling I know what Shinichi told you. But I want to hear it from you. Ryoko, will you tell me?”

Tears began to fall from Ryoko’s shadowed face. Her voice trembled.

“He… he said I was… very attractive…”

“Yes.”

“He said… I was cute…”

“Yes.”

“He told me… to smile…”

“What else did Shinichi say?”

“Ugh…”

Ryoko couldn’t hold back her sobs.

“He… said… I was… beautiful…”

Saori smiled gently at the crying Ryoko.

“Do you think Shinichi was just saying that to comfort you?”

Ryoko shook her head.

“That’s right. I believe those were his true feelings. Ryoko, you should have more confidence in yourself.”

“But… but I…”

Ryoko wanted to believe in Shinichi’s words. However, the deep wounds in her heart wouldn’t allow her to. She continued to drown in a sea of self-doubt.

“Ryoko, stay here tonight. If you still feel the same way in the morning, I won’t stop you. You can do whatever you want. But please remember this.”

Ryoko lifted her tear-streaked face.

“The person who would be hurt and grieve the most if something happened to you is Shinichi.”

Ryoko covered her face with both hands and sobbed quietly. Saori gently embraced her.

“Come on, let’s sleep in my room tonight. Misaki is there too, okay?”

At the last moment, Saori was able to reach out and stop Ryoko from throwing away her life. Ryoko grasped that hand firmly.

In the darkness, a pair of eyes watched them. Seeing Ryoko take Saori’s hand, the presence vanished as if relieved.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The next morning—

The four of them sat around the low table in the living room, having breakfast. They were eating the leftover sukiyaki from the night before, now turned into a small sukiyaki rice bowl with eggs. It was a slightly luxurious breakfast, and smiles appeared on their faces.

Misaki nudged Shinichi with her elbow.

“Dad, go ahead. You decided this yourself.”

“Ah, yeah.”

Shinichi straightened up.

“There’s something I want to say to everyone.”

“What is it, Shinichi?”

Misaki grinned, while Saori and Ryoko exchanged glances, wondering what was about to happen.

“Ryoko.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Well… would you live with us?”

“Huh?”

“I think it would be fun if we all lived together.”

“But…”

“In that case, I’ll say it more clearly.”

Shinichi looked straight into Ryoko’s eyes.

“Would you become part of our family?”

“!”

“Misaki agrees, and even though I’m telling Saori this now…”

“I completely agree.”

“Thank you, Saori. I’m not forcing you, Ryoko. But we would love to welcome you as part of our family. What do you think?”

Tears streamed down Ryoko’s face as she smiled with joy.

“Yes… please, let me join you.”

“Yes! Dad did it!”

Misaki was even more excited than Shinichi.

“Now, if only you two would get together, I’d feel relieved as your daughter. Ryoko, just push him down already!”

“Misaki! What are you saying?!”

As Shinichi held his head in embarrassment, the three of them laughed heartily.

“Ryoko.”

Saori gently spoke to her.

“Aren’t you glad you stayed?”

“Yes!”

“This is your home now.”

As Ryoko nodded happily, Saori smiled warmly.

Shinichi also smiled gently, and Misaki cheered with joy.

The four of them had never looked happier.

Together, Shinichi, Misaki, Saori, and Ryoko began building a new kind of ‘family happiness.’ What shape that happiness would take, no one knew. But they believed that as long as they held hands and faced the future together, they would find it.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Meanwhile, Akiko, who had abandoned her own family happiness—