**Chapter 7: Adjusting to the New Normal**
The soft chime of the doorbell rang as Max entered the bookstore with Kota strapped to his chest, as usual. It was his second week on the job, and though there had been plenty of moments where things felt overwhelming, Max was starting to get the hang of it.
Noriko greeted them with a warm smile. “Morning, Max. How’s Kota today? Not planning any meltdowns, I hope?”
Max grinned, giving Kota a playful nudge. “We had a pep talk on the way here. He promised to be on his best behavior.”
Kota gurgled in response, seemingly confirming the agreement.
“I’ll hold you both to that,” Noriko teased, handing Max a list of tasks for the day. “We’ve got a few new shipments to organize, but nothing too crazy. You can start in the children’s section—seems fitting for your little helper.”
Max chuckled and headed to the back of the store, his steps lighter than they’d been in a while. The routine was starting to feel manageable. Every day wasn’t perfect—far from it—but there was something oddly comforting about the steady rhythm of working in the bookstore. The smell of paper and the quiet atmosphere suited him, and Kota seemed to like being surrounded by so many colorful books.
As Max unpacked the new books, Kota sat contentedly in his lap, playing with a soft toy Noriko had given him. It was a small plush cat, and Kota had taken an immediate liking to it. He shook it, chewed on it, and occasionally tried to hand it to Max, as if offering to share his new best friend.
“You’re pretty good company, you know that?” Max muttered, stacking the new books on the shelf. “A little drool machine, but good company.”
Kota looked up at him with wide eyes, and Max’s heart did that strange little flip it had been doing ever since his son had come into his life. It was still surreal, the idea that he was responsible for this tiny person. But slowly, day by day, he was starting to accept it.
---
By midday, Max had settled into the flow of work. He moved between customers, helped organize books, and occasionally had to wrangle a squirming, giggling Kota when he got too bored in the carrier. Noriko, always kind, had even set up a small play area in the corner of the shop so Max could let Kota crawl around while he worked nearby.
Max was shelving some books when he noticed a young woman browsing nearby. She seemed a little lost, scanning the shelves with a furrowed brow. Kota, as always, was quick to notice new people and babbled loudly in her direction.
The woman looked over, smiling at Kota’s enthusiastic greeting. “Looks like someone’s got a lot to say.”
Max smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, he’s got opinions about everything. Need any help finding something?”
“I’m looking for a gift for my niece. She loves adventure stories,” the woman explained, still smiling at Kota, who waved his plush cat at her as if it were a magical wand.
Max walked over, scanning the shelves. “We’ve got a few good options. How old is she?”
“Ten,” the woman replied. “She’s into anything with magic or dragons.”
Max pulled out a colorful book featuring a brave young heroine battling a dragon. “This one’s pretty popular with kids around that age. It’s got magic, adventure, and some great illustrations.”
The woman’s face lit up. “Perfect. I’ll take it.”
As she walked toward the register, Max glanced down at Kota, who was busy gnawing on his toy. “You’re a pretty good wingman, you know that?”
Kota just drooled in response.
---
The day passed smoothly, and by closing time, Max felt more at ease than he had in months. He locked up the shop and headed home, Kota babbling happily as they walked through the quiet streets. It had become their little routine—work all day, then take a leisurely stroll home as the city settled into the evening.
Max was exhausted, but it was a good kind of exhaustion, the kind that came from feeling productive. Kota had been unusually cooperative, only crying once when he got hungry, and even then, Max had managed to calm him down pretty quickly. It felt like he was starting to figure things out.
But as they reached their apartment and Max laid Kota down for the night, a familiar weight settled over him. The apartment was quiet—too quiet. And in that quiet, the memories always crept in.
---
It had been about a month since Max had found out about Kota, and in that time, he had barely thought about Saki. He hadn’t had time to. But now, as he stood in the silence of the apartment, the memories of their breakup started to surface again.
Max sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall, the memory of that last fight playing in his mind like a bad movie on repeat.
---
“You don’t get it, Max,” Saki had said, her voice full of frustration. “You think everything’s just going to magically work out if you keep pretending things are fine, but they’re not! You’re not doing enough. We’re going nowhere.”
Max had felt a lump form in his throat. “I’m trying, Saki. I’m doing everything I can—”
“No, you’re not,” she had cut him off, her words sharp. “You’re doing the bare minimum, and it’s not enough. I need more. I deserve more.”
Max had stood there, his heart pounding in his chest, feeling like everything was slipping through his fingers. “I love you, Saki. Doesn’t that matter? Doesn’t that count for something?”
Saki had paused then, her eyes softening for just a moment before hardening again. “Love isn’t enough, Max. I need more than that.”
She had walked out the door that night, leaving Max standing in the middle of their apartment, feeling like his entire world had just collapsed.
---
Now, sitting in his empty apartment, Max couldn’t help but wonder if she had been right. Maybe he wasn’t enough. Maybe he never had been.
But then he heard a soft noise from Kota’s crib. The baby stirred, his little face scrunching up as he shifted in his sleep. Max walked over, gently placing a hand on his son’s back.
He wasn’t perfect. He didn’t have everything figured out. But he had Kota. And somehow, that made everything a little less overwhelming.
Max sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We’re going to be okay, buddy,” he whispered, more to himself than to his son. “We’re going to figure this out.”
Kota’s soft breathing was the only response, but it was enough.
Max climbed into bed, pulling the blanket over himself and letting the exhaustion of the day take over. Tomorrow would be another day—another chance to do better, to be better. For Kota. For both of them.
---
*End of Chapter 7.*
YOU ARE READING
THE FIRST TIME DADDY
RomanceMax never imagined his life would turn out like this: a single father raising a lively two-year-old while working at a quiet bookstore. Far from the successful man his wealthy parents hoped he'd become, Max is still finding his footing after years o...
