Hiroshi adjusted his glasses as he entered the bookstore once again. He had always loved the quiet atmosphere of the place, with its neatly arranged shelves and soft murmurs of customers flipping through pages. The scent of books was comforting, like a warm embrace.
He approached the counter, where Max was stationed. Kota sat beside Kyoshi, perched on a high chair, chewing on a teething toy. The baby’s wide, curious eyes locked onto Hiroshi the moment he walked in.
“Excuse me,” Hiroshi began, his voice soft but clear. “Do you have the book *The Garden of Eternal Love*?”
Max glanced up from the computer and gave a slight nod. “Let me check. Hold on.”
Hiroshi shifted awkwardly on his feet, noticing Kota’s intense stare. Trying to break the awkward silence, he crouched down to Kota’s level. “Hey there, little guy,” he said with a friendly smile. He reached out and gently pinched Kota’s cheek. “You’re so cute!”
Kota immediately frowned, pulling his cheek away with a loud babble. Translation: *Cute? That’s the best you can come up with? I’m a baby, not your pet.*
Hiroshi laughed nervously, unsure what the baby was trying to say but feeling slightly judged. “You’ve got a strong personality, huh?”
Max , still typing on the computer, smirked. “He’s probably mocking you. Kota’s got a talent for making people feel small in his baby language.”
Hiroshi chuckled nervously. “That’s... comforting to know.”
Max looked up. “The book’s in the third aisle, second shelf from the top. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Thanks,” Hiroshi said, giving Kota one last glance. The baby narrowed his eyes and stuck out his tongue. Translation: *Later, glasses boy.*
Hiroshi shook his head, laughing to himself as he walked toward the aisle.
---
The book was exactly where max said it would be. Hiroshi pulled it off the shelf and settled into one of the chairs by the reading area. He flipped open the cover and started to read, his shoulders relaxing as he lost himself in the words.
But it wasn’t long before his thoughts drifted. As much as he tried to focus on the story, his mind kept wandering to the girl he had seen last time he was here. She wasn’t like the other girls at his school. There was something about her—something vibrant and unpredictable.
Hiroshi sighed, setting the book down on his lap. His cheeks warmed as he thought about how she had looked at him that day. He couldn’t tell if she was interested or just amused by his awkwardness, but the memory was enough to make his heart race.
Suddenly, movement outside the bookstore caught his attention. Hiroshi froze, his heart skipping a beat. It was her.
She was walking past the storefront, her long hair swaying gently as she glanced at her phone. Hiroshi panicked, instinctively ducking behind the bookshelf. “Why now?” he whispered to himself. “Why here?”
Peeking out cautiously, he noticed something that made his chest tighten. She wasn’t alone.
Walking beside her was another boy—tall, broad-shouldered, and confident. He was laughing at something she had said, and she was smiling back, her expression bright and carefree.
Hiroshi clenched the book in his hands, his knuckles turning white.
---
Kota, perched on his chair at the counter, had been watching the entire scene unfold. His sharp little eyes caught every detail: Hiroshi hiding behind the shelf, the girl outside, and the tall boy walking beside her.
YOU ARE READING
THE FIRST TIME DADDY
Любовные романыMax 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...
