Lesson Learned

An Uncomfortable Subject

Mitsuko looked around warily. "...That I've done something wrong and need to fix it?"

"Wait, what?!" Gakushuu looked horrified.

She tensed, looking around when everyone looked similarly confused. "Well, she's my girlfriend...I know she isn't always right but when she's upset I feel upset like it's my fault and I have to fix it." She shrugged. "So sometimes I get angry when I don't know how to fix it...I used to take out a lot of my anger out her when we were friends before I realised that was wrong so I'm trying not to do that and make her happy..." She sighed. "So I don't like bothering her with stuff that might make her upset...I don't want her to break up with me because I'm too much work."

Everyone was silent.

Dr Yokoyama was silent, his expression passive if not faintly horrified. "....How about we take a ten minute break?"

***

As soon as they all stepped out of the office Mitsuko was dragged off by her mother to a far corner of the building near a large window.

"Mom!" Mitsuko frowned at being man-handled.

Mom turned to her sternly. "Did Nakamura tell you it's your fault for making her upset?"

"What? No, of course not." Mitsuko's frown deepened. "I just figured it out for myself." She shifted on the spot. "Dad is always pressuring Rio to keep me happy and she always tries because she's a good girlfriend."  She sighed quietly. "I don't like seeing her under pressure like that so I try not to bother her too much with things..."

"Okay..." Mom nodded, placing her hands on her shoulders.

"I don't like seeing Rio upset, so I'm trying to be more sensitive to her feelings and keep her happy..." She told her, feeling sick. "I don't want her to leave."

Mom looked horrified. "No, sweetie don't say..." She covered her mouth like she'd cry. "Oh, God. This is all my fault!"

Mitsuko winced, wondering what she had said to make her upset. "Hey, no don't cry, mom. Why are you upset?"

"You're going to end up like me and your father." She looked close to sobbing.

"What?!" Mitsuko's eyes widened. "Mom, Rio is nothing like dad," she said fiercely, mortified by even the concept. "Rio would never hurt me, and I would never let her treat me like...our relationship isn't like that!"

Rio was a good person, and she wasn't obsessive or controlling like dad. There was no way in a million years she would mistreat her, if anything Mitsuko felt lucky that she was willing to put up with so much! Mitsuko felt guilty, wondering if she'd made things even worse after what she had said.

What if her parents stopped her from seeing Rio altogether?!

"I know Rio isn't like that," mom said softly, staring at her sadly. "I'm not worried about her, I'm worried about you."

Mitsuko frowned. "Why?"

Mom made a choked sobbing sound and pulled her into a hug. "The fact you don't even know is the problem!"

***

Dr Yokoyama took a deep breath once they were all sat down again.

"Mitsuko, I'll explain my concerns," he said promptly while she looked around hesitantly. "The main issue isn't Nakamura, in fact I think she's completely oblivious to the issue." He sighed, massaging his temples. "From what I've analysed, you clearly have self-esteem issues, insecurity. You rely on pleasing people."