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 7

At night, in a ten-story, white apartment building near Shinichi’s house, light was leaking from the window of a corner room on the seventh floor.

“Where’s Misaki?”

“She’s in the bath now.”

“I see.”

In the living room, Aika sat on the long sofa, and her father, who had just returned after talking with Shinichi, exchanged worried looks and words.

Misaki, who had witnessed her mother Akiko’s affair, strongly refused to return home. She had come to Aika’s apartment instead.

Because of the circumstances, Aika’s father had taken Misaki in for the time being and then called Shinichi to explain the situation.

“I told her, ‘Let’s take a bath together,’ but she said, ‘I’m okay by myself.’”

“Thanks, Aika.”

“But just now, I went to check on her outside the bathroom…”

Aika’s face showed pain, and her voice trembled.

“Misaki… she was crying in the bath… sometimes she kept making gagging sounds… it seemed like she was still trying to throw up… even though there’s nothing left to throw up… she kept crying and gagging… it was so pitiful…”

“I see…”

Aika’s father, sitting across from her on the sofa, sighed deeply.

“Dad…”

“Have you ever… cheated?”

“Of course not.”

“Sorry if this is a weird question, but… why have you never cheated?”

“Well, because I love and care for your mom.”

“But… Mom’s dead, though?”

“Yeah, but I still love her.”

Aika hesitated for a moment, thinking.

“Then… does that mean Misaki’s mom stopped loving Misaki’s dad?”

“I don’t know. I can’t say for sure.”

“Cheating… it’s betraying your family, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Is it really worth betraying your family just to sleep with someone else?”

Her father’s eyes widened in surprise at Aika’s words.

“I’m sorry, Dad. But… I asked because I really want to know.”

“…Well then, I have to answer seriously.”

Her father met Aika’s gaze firmly.
“I think s3x is very important for men and women, and especially for married couples. It’s an act that confirms their love for each other and also a way to create children, the fruit of that love. On the other hand, it can also be the reason for fights or divorce. Sexual desire is one of the strongest urges humans have, so maybe it’s something natural.”

“Yeah…”

“But even so, betraying your family or doing it with anyone… I don’t understand that feeling. People have reason, right?”

“Reason…”

“Yes. If people only acted on instinct and emotion, the world would be chaotic.”

“Misaki’s mom… was she acting just on instinct and emotion…?”

“I don’t really know the situation. But it’s true that there are people who get lost in cheating, affairs, and s3x, acting just based on their instincts and emotions.”

Aika quietly shed a tear.

“I still don’t get it… I don’t know if it feels good or what, but to betray your family… your daughter… for something like that… Is it just about making yourself feel good, not caring about anything else? I can’t believe it. You’re an adult, right? Even I, as a child, think it’s strange… Why…”

The father stood up quietly and sat next to Aika. Then, he gently stroked Aika’s head as she leaned against him.

“It’s sad, but that’s also part of being human. There are all kinds of people, all kinds of adults. Dad and Misaki-chan’s mom are among them. What kind of adult you become depends on you, Aika. From now on, I think a lot of sexual temptations will be waiting for you. You need to properly learn about s3x, think about how to act, what kind of results will follow, and what risks women have to take. You need to think carefully about all.”

“Dad, I’m sorry for suddenly bringing up s3x when I’m still in the first year of middle school. But thank you for answering seriously without getting angry.”

“Yeah, I’m glad we could talk about s3x, Aika. I promise, I will never make fun of you or get angry. I know it’s a delicate topic, and it might feel embarrassing to talk about s3x, but you can ask me anything.”

“Yeah, thanks, Dad!”

In response to her father’s smile, Aika also beams with a full smile.

“I’ll do my best to support you, Misaki.”

“Don’t try to shoulder everything by yourself, Aika. Rely on Dad.”

“Yeah, got it! Oh, I need to prepare Misaki’s change of clothes!”

She must have forgotten to prepare a change of clothes. Aika hurriedly went back to her room. Her father watched her with a smile.

However, that expression is clouding over.

“Do you really want to have s3x with someone else to the point of betraying your family?”

“Is it that as long as you’re fine, you don’t care about anything else?”

“Even as a child, I thought it was strange… why…”

The words of my first-year middle school daughter weighed heavily on my heart. They were probably Aika’s honest feelings. As a parent and as an adult, I wanted to clearly say to Aika, “That’s not true” or “It’s a mistake,” but such words held no meaning after seeing the figure of Misaki’s mother.

“Damn it… pathetic… how pathetic adults are…”

Aika’s father clenched his fist tightly on his lap, his face showing frustration.