**Chapter 18: Kota's Adventure**
The sun streamed through the kitchen window as Max prepared breakfast, the aroma of toast and scrambled eggs filling the air. Kota sat at the table, swinging his little legs, his favorite dinosaur-shaped plate in front of him. His hair was still tousled from sleep, and he was yawning adorably as he poked at his food.
“Good morning, champ!” Max said cheerfully, placing a glass of milk in front of Kota. “Are you ready for another adventure today?”
Kota’s eyes lit up at the mention of adventure. “Yay! Adventure!” he exclaimed, pumping his tiny fist in the air.
Max grinned, his heart swelling with pride. It amazed him how such a small person could bring so much joy into his life. “I was thinking we could go to the park today. Maybe have a picnic and play on the swings?”
Kota’s face broke into a big smile. “Swing! Swing!” He hopped up and down in his chair, his excitement infectious.
After breakfast, they packed a small backpack with snacks, drinks, and Kota’s favorite toy dinosaur. Max couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation as they walked to the park. It was a perfect day for a picnic—bright and sunny, with just a hint of a breeze.
Once they arrived at the park, the sight of children playing and families enjoying the day brought a smile to Max’s face. He found a nice patch of grass beneath a shady tree, laying out their picnic blanket. Kota immediately dashed toward the swings, shouting, “Daddy! Push me!”
Max laughed, chasing after his son. He gave Kota a gentle push, and the little boy squealed with delight. “Higher! Higher!”
“Alright, alright! Just hold on tight!” Max said, pushing him a little higher, feeling the carefree spirit of the day wash over him.
After several rounds of swinging, Kota decided it was time for a break. He flopped down onto the blanket, panting slightly from the excitement. “Snack time!” he declared, and Max quickly reached into the backpack to pull out some sandwiches and juice boxes.
As they munched on their snacks, a nearby group of children caught Kota’s attention. They were playing with a frisbee, and his eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Can I go play?” he asked, pointing.
Max hesitated for a moment, thinking of how quickly kids could get overwhelmed, but Kota’s pleading eyes melted his heart. “Sure, but stay close, okay?”
Kota nodded vigorously before running off to join the other kids. Max watched as his son jumped right into the game, laughing and chasing the frisbee like he’d known them forever.
Just as he settled back onto the blanket, a voice interrupted his thoughts. “Looks like your little guy is having a blast.”
Max looked up to see a woman standing nearby, watching Kota with a warm smile. She looked to be in her late twenties, with short, curly hair and a friendly demeanor. “He’s so cute!”
“Thanks,” Max replied, feeling a bit shy under her gaze. “He’s got a lot of energy.”
The woman chuckled. “I can see that. I’m Mia, by the way. I come here with my daughter. She’s the one in the pink dress over there.” She pointed to a little girl twirling in a nearby patch of flowers.
Max nodded, feeling the conversation flow a little easier. “Nice to meet you, Mia. I’m Max, and that’s Kota.” He gestured toward his son, who was currently attempting to catch the frisbee, much to the delight of the other kids.
Mia smiled as she watched the boys play. “It’s great to see kids having fun outside. With everything going on these days, it feels like they spend too much time indoors.”
“Yeah, I totally agree,” Max said, glancing at Kota. “I try to get him out as much as possible. He loves exploring.”
Mia’s eyes brightened. “Kids are the best at finding adventure in the simplest things. My daughter loves the swings, just like him.”
They continued chatting as they watched the kids play, exchanging stories about parenting and their favorite local spots. Max found himself enjoying Mia’s company more than he expected. She was easy to talk to and had a contagious laugh that made him feel at ease.
After a while, Kota ran back to them, cheeks flushed from the excitement. “Daddy, I made a new friend!” he announced, his eyes sparkling.
“That’s great, buddy!” Max replied, ruffling his hair. “What’s your friend’s name?”
“Ben!” Kota exclaimed, pointing back to the group of children. “He’s super fast!”
“Looks like you had a fun time,” Max said, beaming with pride at his son’s social skills.
As the afternoon wore on, they finished their snacks, and Kota requested one more round on the swings. Max obliged, pushing him as he giggled with glee.
After a while, they sat back down on the blanket, and Max noticed that the sun was beginning to lower in the sky. “Alright, Kota, how about we start packing up? We’ve had our adventure for the day.”
Kota pouted a little, clearly not ready to leave. “But I want to stay!”
“We can come back again soon,” Max promised, giving him a reassuring smile.
As they gathered their things, Mia approached them once more. “Hey, it was nice meeting you, Max. I hope to see you and Kota around here more often.”
“Definitely! It was great meeting you too, Mia,” Max replied, a sense of warmth spreading through him. “Maybe our kids can play together again sometime.”
“Absolutely! I’ll bring my daughter next time,” she said with a smile, waving goodbye as she headed off.
Once they were home, Kota fell onto the couch, exhausted but happy. “Can we go to the park every day?” he asked with a yawn.
Max chuckled, grabbing a blanket to drape over his son. “Maybe not every day, but we can make it a regular thing.”
As Kota’s eyes began to flutter shut, Max felt a sense of contentment wash over him. Today had been a reminder of the simple joys in life—of laughter, connection, and the small adventures they could create together.
As he tucked Kota in, Max paused for a moment, looking down at his sleeping son. It was moments like these that made all the challenges worth it.
He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Kota’s forehead. “Goodnight, buddy. Sleep tight.”
With that, he stepped out of the room, ready to tackle whatever came next—whether it was another day at the bookstore, navigating the ups and downs of fatherhood, or maybe, just maybe, exploring where things with Noriko might lead.
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*End of Chapter 18.*
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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...
