"Please papa ? i know our place there will be small but i can't leave hirosaki by himself in tokyo!"
Shigeo crossed his arms
Thinking really hard about his daughter's request
The restaurant was basically fine now and shigeo was no longer needed
He took this as a sign to finally go back home to tokyo
As much as he wanted to relocate aihara, he didn't want to be a competitor with his friend in osaka, so he made the decision to finally move back.
With kotoko starting her last year in nursing, he figured that she can start the upcoming term there. And do her placement at tonan hospital
But coincidentally, akiyoshi's son hirosaki
Is headed to tokyo as well for a business meeting
He will be staying there for a while so he needed a place to stay.
Hirosaki can easily get an apartment for himself
But kotoko was worried that he would be lonely , especially without hanako there.
"Kotoko it's fine, we don't have to always be together" hirosaki pointed out
"I know but you'll be so lonely, and you might start skipping meals, or lose your things"
"I'm not a child"
"Having you stay with us is not the problem hirosaki-san, i'm just not sure if our living arrangements will be okay with you… we only have a small house there, and i haven't even seen it personally.. I'm ashamed it might not meet your expectations" shigeo blushed
"A small place is fine, even though my father is a millionaire, i live at my own expense, if it really is okay with you, i will be glad to pay rent and help out around the house" hirosaki reasoned
"Then it's settled. You don't have to pay rent, with everything that your family has done for kotoko and i, i will be glad to have you stay as long as you want" shigeo nodded at the boy
Kotoko yelled in delight
The loud screech disturbed their ears
Hirosaki shot her a look
"Oh" kotoko paused in realization
That's not how a proper lady gets excited
"Um… yey?" she softly cheered
Hirosaki laughed
And shigeo joined in the laugh as well.
They continued to eat , it's been awhile since shigeo had dinner with his daughter
But he was grateful for her friend hirosaki, it was clear that he always looked after her.
He would always bring her home when she worked over-time.
He always cooked kotoko dinner whenever shigeo would come home late
Sometimes he would catch the two clean around the apartment.
He smiled as the two bickered at each other like a married couple.
Hirosaki reminded him of akiyoshi, hirosaki was as expressive.
He would correct, annoy and scold kotoko, but he also smiled her way, patted her head whenever she did something right, he would laugh at her stupid mistakes,
It reminded him of akiyoshi when they met a long time ago, back to those days when they were young adolescents
When Akiyoshi was only a business college student
He always treated shigeo and shigeki out at the most expensive restaurants
Those were the moments when shigeo tasted the high end japanese food that he never got to try
Because the 3 men all loved to eat and drink often
Akiyoshi's restaurant was their hang-out spot.
It's amazing how after all these years, they were still connected.
Even their kids were connected.
"I think i can make this" kotoko claimed
"Oh yeah? Just a few month's of culinary classes and you already think you're a pro like your father?" hirosaki chuckled
"I never said that i was a pro"
"Seemed that way"
"Why you…"
Hirosaki winked at her "don't worry, maybe now your father can finally teach you more about cooking, especially since you've already mastered the basics"
"You think so ?" kotoko's fist-punching motion disappeared to a bubbly hopeful smile
"Maybe" hirosaki finished the remainings in his bowl
Shigeo yawned "it's getting late, i'm going to head to bed, kotoko please clean up… hirosaki, please stay as much as you want, and remember to bring some food for hanako and ryuu on your way home"
"Yes otou-san, thank you, oyasumi"
(AN : yes that wasn't a mistake, he really calls him father. Just because shigeo insisted. Not because of the reason you have in mind LOL)
Shigeo heads to the bedroom and closes it shut.
He has to wake up early to open the restaurant in the morning, he has been extremely busy teaching the chef's everything he knows before he finally goes back to tokyo.
Kotoko and hirosaki silently stared at each other
Kotoko groaned
"Ahhhhhh i don't want to clean up"
Hirosaki shot her a look again
"Well i don't really have a choice right?" she untied her hair
"I'll help you, here" he hands her a plate
"really? "
"Yes, yes, look at you. you must be sore from that arm work-out earlier"
Hirosaki gathered the plates as kotoko cleaned up the table
"Can you tell? I have no upper body strength" she blushed
"You'll get there…. Slowly"
She used her hip to shove him
"OI! I'm trying to help you and you… what an ungrateful little brat"
Kotoko giggled
"What?"
"You always get so annoyed but in the end, you always end up helping me out"
"Well i can't help it, you don't look capable of doing anything right"
Kotoko turned to him with a serious face
"I'm joking. Of course you look like like a strong independent woman now, thanks to me" a smirk formed his lips
"Here, i'll wash and you dry" he offered
Kotoko did as told
Hirosaki's voice was so automatic for her. Everytime he ordered something , she would quickly follow. It was a natural flow.
They were both silent as hirosaki started washing the bowls
"So" he started, breaking the awkward tension
"Are you ready to face him?"
"You mean…"
"Yes kotoko, you know exactly who i'm talking about"
"I don't know"
"Come on, cheer up a little. You knew this day would come"
"Yeah i know, but i never knew it was this soon"
"It's been more than a year kotoko, don't you miss him?"
"What are you talking about?" she was stuttering , a faint blush spread across her face
"I can tell you still love him"
"How can you say that"
"I just know, kotoko, i'm with you everyday. I basically know you more than you know yourself"
Kotoko let out a soft sigh
"I don't know if i can face him, especially with sahoko by his side"
Hirosaki looked at her closely
He pats his hand on her head, some soap landing on her hair
"It's okay. This time, you have me by your side. You don't have to be afraid anymore"
He assured her
And kotoko smiled
Feeling at ease, knowing that hirosaki will indeed be there by her side.
She is not alone
AN:
Just a note, i always envisioned hirosaki as the japanese actor kento yamazaki
(If anyone knows him) He just has a very kind and gentle face. Comment if you agree! Haha! His facial features are
Not as intimidating as yuki furukawa, but he's adorable! And has such great talent for acting! as i was writing the story… i always envisioned his face, i don't know if it fits your taste, but it certainly does for me!
Also, I apologize for the slow updates in the previous chapters !
Was just caught up on a lot of things, but here you go!
Hope the chapters are enough to make the weekend better !
Please leave a review! Love you all :)