*The Book Reading Bonanza*
The day of the much-anticipated book reading event had arrived, and the bookstore buzzed with excitement. The decorations sparkled under the sunlight streaming through the windows, and the cozy reading corner was ready to welcome the energetic children. Kyoshi, Noriko, and Kota stood near the entrance, greeting the families as they arrived.
Kota, perched on Max hip, surveyed the crowd like a tiny emperor inspecting his kingdom. He gave the occasional approving nod, his expression clearly stating, *“Yes, you may enter my domain.”*
A mother with twin boys approached, smiling warmly. “Good morning! Is this the event for the kids?”
Max nodded. “Yes, welcome! Feel free to take a seat in the reading corner. We’ll be starting soon.”
One of the twins looked at Kota and pointed. “Who’s the baby?”
Kota narrowed his eyes at the boy, his expression conveying, *“Who’s the baby? Look in the mirror, pal.”*
Noriko quickly stepped in, laughing. “This is Kota. He’s helping us host the event today.”
Kota crossed his arms, clearly pleased with Noriko’s introduction. The twin boys giggled and ran off to find seats, leaving Kota to bask in his perceived superiority.
---
The event began with Noriko stepping up to the small podium they had set up in the reading corner. She held up a brightly colored book and smiled warmly at the children seated in a semi-circle.
“Good morning, everyone! We’re so excited to have you here for our book reading event. Today, we’re going to dive into some amazing stories that I think you’re going to love!”
The children cheered, their energy infectious. Kota, sitting on a special cushion next to Max, clapped his hands with exaggerated enthusiasm. His expression seemed to say, *“Finally, some entertainment worth my time.”*
Max leaned down to whisper to him, “You’re enjoying this, huh?”
Kota gave him a look that said, *“Obviously.”*
---
Noriko started with a classic fairy tale, her voice animated as she brought the story to life. The children were captivated, their eyes wide as they listened intently. Even Max couldn’t help but smile as he watched her.
“She’s really good at this,” he murmured to Kota.
Kota glanced at him, his expression smug as if to say, *“I know. She’s mine.”*
When Noriko finished the first story, the children clapped enthusiastically. She smiled and handed the book to Max. “Your turn!”
Max hesitated for a moment before stepping up to the podium. He cleared his throat and opened the book. “Alright, kids. This one’s called *The Adventures of Brave Bear.*”
As Max began to lead, his deep voice added a dramatic flair to the tale. The children were enthralled, leaning forward with anticipation. But it wasn’t long before Kota decided to spice things up.
He toddled over to Max and tugged at his pant leg, his expression mischievous. Kyoshi paused and looked down.
“What is it, Kota?”
Kota pointed at the book, then at himself, his face clearly saying, *“Let me read. I’ll do it better.”*
The children burst into giggles, and Noriko covered her mouth to hide her laugh.
Max smirked. “Oh, you think you can do better, huh?”
Kota nodded confidently, then plopped down in front of the podium, crossing his legs like a little professor ready to take over.
Max shook his head and handed the book back to Noriko. “Alright, I’ve been upstaged. Your turn again.”
---
The rest of the event continued with laughter and excitement. Noriko read another story, incorporating silly voices that had the kids in stitches. At one point, Kota got up and mimicked her, waddling around dramatically to imitate her gestures.
The children loved it, clapping and laughing as Kota stole the show. One little girl whispered to her mother, “That baby’s so funny!”
Noriko gave Kota a mock glare. “Are you trying to take my job, Kota?”
Kota grinned, his expression saying, *“Maybe.”*
---
As the event wound down, Max and Noriko led the children in a craft activity where they could create their own bookmarks. Kota supervised, walking around and inspecting the kids’ work.
One boy held up his bookmark for Kota to see. “What do you think?”
Kota tilted his head, his expression serious as if evaluating a masterpiece. Then he gave a single nod, his approval making the boy beam with pride.
Max watched from the sidelines, shaking his head with a smile. “He’s really taking this boss thing seriously.”
Noriko laughed. “He’s a natural leader. Or maybe just a natural dictator.”
Kota turned to glare at them, his face clearly saying, *“I heard that.”*
---
By the end of the event, the bookstore was filled with happy chatter as the children showed their parents their bookmarks and talked excitedly about the stories they had heard. Noriko stood by the door, handing out small goodie bags as the families left.
“Thank you for coming! We hope to see you again soon,” she said with a warm smile.
Max stood beside her, holding Kota, who was starting to yawn but still maintained his dignified air.
When the last family left, Noriko sighed and leaned against the counter. “That was amazing. Exhausting, but amazing.”
Max nodded, adjusting Kota in his arms. “The kids loved it. And you were incredible, as always.”
Noriko blushed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You weren’t so bad yourself, Mr. Dramatic Reader.”
Kota, half-asleep in Max’s arms, gave a small huff as if to say, *“Don’t forget about me. I was the real star.”*
Max chuckled. “Alright, boss. We know. You were the highlight of the day.”
Noriko reached over to gently stroke Kota’s hair. “You were amazing, Kota. Thank you for making everyone laugh.”
Kota’s lips curled into a faint smile as he drifted off, his tiny hand clutching Max’s shirt.
Noriko looked at Max, her eyes soft. “He’s really special, isn’t he?”
Max nodded, his voice quiet. “Yeah, he is. Just like his future mom.”
Noriko’s breath caught, and she glanced up at him, her cheeks flushing. “Max…”
Before she could say more, Kota stirred, mumbling something unintelligible in his sleep. They both laughed softly, the moment passing but leaving behind a warm glow.
As the three of them locked up the bookstore and headed home, they couldn’t help but feel that the day had been more than just an event. It had been a celebration of stories, laughter, and the little moments that made life so special.
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...
