I’m Kotaro Inoue, 40, living with my wife Misato, 35, our son Sosuke, 6, and daughter Mashiro, 1½. Recently I got hooked on an idol and told Misato all about her, suggesting we go to a concert as a family. But Misato, angry at me for neglecting my role as a parent, ultimately demanded a divorce. A few days later, on my way home, I ran into my fellow fan Shimizu at the station rotary.
I never thought I’d tell Shimizu, who’d advised me on my idol hobby, about my divorce. Seeing the trust between him and his wife made me realize I’d never faced my marriage properly. Now even my idol’s songs just remind me of that moment. It wasn’t the idol—it was inevitable. Regret won’t turn back time.