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-Lucicelo

Tea party

Sitting on the floor, inside of his apartment, Takano adjusted the flower crown on top of his head before it fell down his back again. Finding no embarrassment in going along with Tamiko's tea parties, he jumped at the chance to play with her. When Ryota was her age, he drew pictures and loved exploring. Ryota's imagination expanded an otherwise boring apartment into an adventure.

Venturing into Tamiko's interests brought a different set of rules this specific child followed with a fierce diligence. Rules that Tamiko told her usual tea party guests when she first invited them to sit at her table.

Number one: No yelling.

Number two: No swear words on front of Mama Onodera and momma. (They would confiscate the cakes and cookies.)

Number three: Talk in a fancy voice.

And, number four:

She enjoyed hosting the parties more than anything. Tamiko spoke in a fancy voice she heard during a movie night and almost stayed in character the whole party. Ryota and their dad amused her and tagged along at home.

Tamiko, wore a large sunhat, courtesy of her mom, poured cold tea in a teacup. She asked him with a big smile. "So? How was your day today? No headaches from working too hard?"

Takano thanked her and sipped from his tea cup. "Great. Nothing to complain about. How about you? How was school?"

Tamiko bit into her lemon cake. "Good, good. I pushed a kid down when he tried to bully me."

Takano nodded in approval. "Never let a boy push you around. He won't bother you again, I'm sure of it. Amazing job, Tamiko."

She beamed in response.

Leaning against the kitchen entrance, Onodera shook his head at Takano's response. He knew Hanako lectured Tamiko in using violence to solve her problems, but Takano had to put in his own input. This sight was almost a repeat of Ryota's problem with a bully who pushed him around. After shoving the kid back, he became one of Ryota's friends.

Kids were so strange.

As he watched Takano play with Tamiko, he smiled at the sight. Takano softened in the presence of the kids, more so with Tamiko. Onodera never imagined Takano being the type to sit around and sip cold tea to appease a child. Although, Takano saw himself as a parental figure to them, so Takano's actions shouldn't have shocked him.

Tamiko broke out of character when he saw him and waved in delight. "Mama!"

Takano didn't flush or even dry to downplay his role in Tamiko's tea party. Turning his head to look up at him, Takano motioned for him to move to the empty space beside him. "Why don't you join us? Better yet, call Ryota in here. Tamiko has been telling me this amazing story about defending herself."

Tamiko giggled. "Ryo-chan knows already!"

Takano shrugged his shoulders. "He didn't hear it in the voice."