raspberries and mocha | heejake

1

The clatter of dishes and the hum of conversations filled the air as Heeseung expertly moved between tables, balancing plates and glasses with ease. The restaurant was bustling tonight—just like every night—but for Heeseung, this was routine. The polished floors, the scent of fresh herbs wafting from the kitchen, the murmured requests of wealthy patrons—it was his life now. Yet, no matter how busy things got, his thoughts always circled back to one person: Nishimura Riki.

Riki, his kid—though not by blood. Heeseung could hardly believe the boy he'd raised was now a famous influencer, with millions of followers hanging onto his every word. He wasn't sure how it had happened, but Riki was everywhere these days. Flashing smiles for cameras, collaborating with brands, living a life Heeseung could only watch proudly from afar. It didn't matter how famous he got; to Heeseung, he was still the kid he'd found alone in a quiet corner of Japan.

As he cleared another table, his mind drifted back to that fateful day. He'd been just 15, still awkward and unsure of the world. His parents had taken him to Japan for what was supposed to be a relaxing trip, though it never felt that way. They were always busy, always occupied with things that didn't involve him. So, like most days on that trip, he had wandered the streets alone, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds.

That's when he saw him. Riki.

He was sitting on the cold pavement, knees pulled up to his chest, eyes vacant as the world moved on without him. Something about the boy's loneliness had struck a chord with Heeseung. It wasn't just the look of abandonment—it was the silence, the way the boy seemed too numb to even cry.

Heeseung couldn't walk away. He couldn't just leave him there. He remembered crouching down beside the boy, speaking in broken Japanese, asking where his parents were. But there had been no answer. Just silence. And in that silence, Heeseung made a decision that would change both their lives.

He brought Riki home.

Even now, years later, he wasn't sure how he had convinced his parents to let him keep the boy. Maybe it was the desperation in his voice. Maybe it was because they were rarely around to argue. Either way, Riki had become part of his life from that moment forward.

Back in the present, Heeseung let out a soft sigh as he straightened up, stacking a few more dishes. Riki had grown into something much larger than either of them could have expected. It was strange, watching him transform into a person the world adored when Heeseung was still getting used to the idea of being a parent. He didn't know if he'd done it right, but Riki had turned out okay. More than okay, actually.

But tonight wasn't the night to think about that. Heeseung shook the thought from his head and went back to the rhythm of the restaurant. Work, routine, serve, repeat. It was simple, predictable, and for the most part, it kept his mind from wandering too far.

At least until Riki walked through the door.