[Junda] Turning Point - Chapter 3
Title: Turning Point - Chapter 3
Chapter Title: Warming Up
Author: pautami
Pairing: Taguchi/Ueda
Genre: AU, romance, angst
Rating: PG-13 for this chapter
Summary: Ueda Tatsuya lost his wife when their daughter, Eri, was only 5 years old. Since then his life revolved around his daughter. He resigned from his job and opened a restaurant. That venture, though, necessitated them to leave their house in the suburbs. The move made him cross paths with a young doctor. How much of Tatsuya's life will change after meeting Taguchi Junnosuke?
Warning(s): unbetaed.
A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. Work has been pretty busy and I wasn't able to finish this until today. I hope this chapter makes up for being late. *bows*
Recap: Tatsuya and Eri moved to an apartment closer to the restaurant. Eri's starting in her new school so Tatsuya thought of welcoming her home with milk crepes. Failing to get Kazuya's help, Tatsuya solicited assistance from a neighbour who knocked on his door.
Chapter 2: Moving Forward
CHAPTER THREE
Warming Up
Tatsuya used to be careful in trusting strangers and tried hard to do things on his own. But now that he’s a single father, he learned the hard way that he can’t do everything on his own and it’s not wrong to ask for help now and then. He’s a bit desperate that’s why he solicited the help of the first person who knocked on his door.
Standing in the middle of his messy kitchen was Taguchi-san. He seemed out of place in his light-blue polo-shirt and black slacks. Tatsuya wasn’t able to hold back his chuckle. Taguchi cocked his head to the side wondering what’s funny.
“Sorry.” Tatsuya said biting his tongue to stop himself from laughing. “I just thought what you’re wearing looks out of place in the mess around you.”
Taguchi laughed heartily. “So let me tell you now that I am not the best when it comes to baking. We might even mess your kitchen more.”
“Ueda Tatsuya,” he introduced himself with a bow. “Yoroshiku.”
Taguchi smiled brightly. “We’re making milk crepes, right?”
“Yes. We just moved and my daughter is starting in her new school today. I just thought I’ll make something for her.” Tatsuya explained.
“That is so sweet. What about your wife?” Taguchi asked while he prepares another set of ingredients. Tatsuya tries to clean up the mess he made earlier.
“She died a few years back. It’s just me and my daughter now.” Tatsuya tried to say it with nonchalance but he still felt that throb in his heart. Will he ever get over the pain of losing Michiko?
Taguchi might have noticed the change in Tatsuya’s mood because he dropped the subject. He was a quiet for a few minutes focused on making the crepe. Taguchi might not be used to the quiet because he broke the silence after a while.
“Where do you work?”
“I run a small restaurant with my friends a few blocks from here. Oh! I remember seeing you come in a few weeks ago.” Tatsuya said, his smile back in place.
“A few weeks ago? Do you mean the restaurant Basics?”
“Yes. That was the only time you came. Did you not like the food?”
“I liked it. A friend recommended it to me. I was meaning to go there again but work has been busy. I run the clinic downstairs and I work at the children’s hospital twice a week.” Taguchi explained.
Tatsuya nodded. “You should visit. I’ll treat you to a meal for helping me out today.”
Taguchi smiled wider. The two finished up the crepe and cleaned up the kitchen. They were just putting away the rags and the bowls used earlier when the front door opened.
“Tadaima.” The cheerful voice of Eri rang before a pitter-patter of feet resounded along the hallway. Like his father, Eri got the habit of walking barefoot around the house.
“Okaeri, Angel.” Tatsuya greeted back, opening his arms to capture Eri who bounded into them.
Eri noticed the tall man leaning on the counter of their kitchen. Extracting herself from her father, she approached their visitor. Tatsuya smiled at her daughter before turning to the stove to boil some tea.
“Hajimemashite. Ueda Elizabeth to moushimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” She said with a bow. Taguchi smiled fondly at the polite girl in front of him. He introduced himself in the same manner.
“Are you Papa’s friend?” She looked up at Taguchi, eyes lighting up in curiosity. She’s only met her father’s friends from the restaurant.
“You could say that.” Taguchi replied smile still in place. “I live next door. I heard some noise so I came over to see.”
“Taguchi-san helped me prepare this.” Tatsuya interjected serving the milk crepe and tea on the dining table. Eri raised her eyebrow at her father before turning back to Taguchi.
“I’m sorry for the trouble my father has caused you.” Eri bowed deeply.
“Eh? No trouble at all.”
Eri shook her head. “Papa is the worst in the kitchen. I’m sure he was a handful.”
“Oi!” Tatsuya protested. “Can you not go into the topic of my cooking skills and let’s just eat?” He ushered the two to the dining table.
“That’s not a nice way to talk about your father, don’t you think?” Taguchi said.
“I love Papa dearly but I was just telling the truth.” Eri said with a pout. “If he was left alone in the kitchen, who knows what state it would have been when I arrived.”
Taguchi laughed so hard, remembering how Tatsuya looked like when he opened the door. Tatsuya sulked having a good guess why Taguchi was laughing his ass off. Eri turned her attention to the cake in front of her with a smug look on her face. She just know her father really well.
It turns out, that would not be the last time Taguchi and the Uedas will share a meal together. There would be days when Taguchi will invite himself over with the excuse of making sure Eri would not be eating burnt food. Something that Eri appreciated.
Eri warmed up quickly to Taguchi, who she now calls Uncle Junno. On days when she doesn’t have a homework, she will drag Tatsuya to Junno’s apartment to play with the doctor.
“Uncle Junno!” Eri waved at Junno while the latter was sending off a patient. She ran to him when he waved back.
“How’s school?” He asked.
“It was good. We don’t have homework today.” Eri beamed. “Can I come over and play?”
“Only if your father gives his permission.”
“Okay! I’ll tell him. See you later, Uncle Junno.” Eri ran up to the entrance of the building to the elevator.
As soon as she was home, she picked up her toys that she played with last night and washed the dishes that was left on the sink. She needs to make sure that her father will not have a reason to say no.
“Tadaima.” Tatsuya greeted when he came home that night.
“Okaeri, Papa.” Eri met him at the genkan. “Are there plenty of customers today?” She asked as Tatsuya shuffle out of his shoes.
“Plenty enough to keep Kame and Massu busy.” Tatsuya planted a kiss on top of Eri’s head as he passed her. “You showered already. What do you want for dinner?” He said opening the refrigerator.
“Can we go to Uncle Junno’s place to play?” Eri gave her best puppy-eye look to her father.
“What about your homework?” Tatsuya peered at her from behind the door of the fridge.
“No homework and it’s a weekend.”
“You still have your toys out.”
“Cleaned them up already and I washed the dishes too.” Eri added with a sweet smile. “Please. Please. Please.” She tugs at her father’s arm.
Tatsuya sighed. “Fine but we couldn’t stay long. We don’t want to bother Taguchi-san.”
“Hai~” Eri said with a mock salute that made Tatsuya roll his eyes.
A few minutes later, Tatsuya found himself knocking on the apartment next door. Junnosuke opened the door with a big smile on his face.
“You’re here! I was just setting up the table when you knocked.” He opened the door wider.
“Good evening, Taguchi-san. Sorry for the intrusion.” Tatsuya greeted.
“Mou~ I told you not to call me that. It sounds so formal. Call me Junno, okay?” Junno led them to the dining room where dinner was laid out beautifully. “It’s not as good as the food at your restaurant but I hope you enjoy dinner.”
“They look good. I’m sure they taste better than my cooking.” Tatsuya said as they sit around the table.
During dinner, Eri holds the conversation by telling stories about school and what she’s been up to the whole day. The adults listened and commented which urged Eri to tell more.
“I’ll do the dishes since you cook dinner.” Tatsuya offered while they clean up the table.
“Ah, thank you. I’ll start my laundry then while you do that.”
“Can I help?” Eri asked.
“You know how to do laundry?” Junno asked, amused.
“I do. I help Papa to make sure he won’t mix the colors with the whites. He turned his white shirts to pink one time he did the laundry by himself.”
“That story is getting old, little girl.” Tatsuya said laughing. He used to be embarrassed about his failures at housework. Now, it was just a reminder of how much he has changed and improved. It makes him feel good that he is still able to take care of Eri these past years even though there are things he’s lacking.
“Then I should call you Uepi.” Junno said while laughing. Tatsuya made a face that had Eri laughing too. “I’ll call you Uepi until you stop calling me Taguchi-san.”
Tatsuya wasn’t able to retort back because Junno had already walked away with Eri to start the laundry. Shaking his head in disbelief that he got himself a new nickname, he turned back to the dishes he was washing.
After the dishes were dry and the laundry was hung, Junno and Eri flopped themselves in front of the console. Tatsuya sat on the couch behind them to watch the game.
It didn’t take long for the two of them to be engrossed in their game. They were shouting and laughing. At the beginning, Tatsuya was laughing at them. But fatigue from work made him settle further on the couch resting his head on the backrest.
Junno realized that Tatsuya was quiet so he looked back and find the man sleeping. He nudged Eri’s shoulder and pointed at her father.
“Eh? Now what do I do?” Eri whispered.
“Why?” Taguchi asked.
“He’s grumpy when his sleep is disturbed.” Eri explained.
“You can stay over tonight. Your Papa looks really tired.” Junno said staring at Tatsuya’s tired sleeping face. “Save the game while I get the futon. You don’t mind sleeping on the futon, right?” Eri shook her head with a smile. She saved the game and put away the console.
Junno came out with the futon to find Eri sitting beside her father. When she saw Junno, she smiled shyly and helped him with the futon. “We don’t want to wake up Uepi so you sleep on the futon and he can have the couch.” Eri nodded with a yawn.
When the futon was laid out, Taguchi tucked Eri in. “Oyasumi Eri-chan. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your Papa is comfortable, ne?”
“Oyasumi Uncle Junno.” She said before snuggling deeper under the blanket. Junno patted Eri’s head before he got up.
Eri is already sleeping soundly when Junno came back with the pillow and blanket for Tatsuya. Carefully, he pulled Tatsuya from sitting position and made him lie down on the couch. Tatsuya stirred a little and rubbed his nose. Junno smiled, finding the gesture cute. He covered him with a blanket and brushed the hair the fell on his forehead.
“Oyasumi, Tatsuya.” Junno whispered. He get up and entered his bedroom.
==================
How was this chapter?
I know some of you may think that Eri seems a bit tactless and straightforward. But Tatsuya is a bit like that too, ne?
Now that Tatsuya slept over at Junno's apartment, how do you think their relationship will progress?
Chapter Title: Warming Up
Author: pautami
Pairing: Taguchi/Ueda
Genre: AU, romance, angst
Rating: PG-13 for this chapter
Summary: Ueda Tatsuya lost his wife when their daughter, Eri, was only 5 years old. Since then his life revolved around his daughter. He resigned from his job and opened a restaurant. That venture, though, necessitated them to leave their house in the suburbs. The move made him cross paths with a young doctor. How much of Tatsuya's life will change after meeting Taguchi Junnosuke?
Warning(s): unbetaed.
A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. Work has been pretty busy and I wasn't able to finish this until today. I hope this chapter makes up for being late. *bows*
Recap: Tatsuya and Eri moved to an apartment closer to the restaurant. Eri's starting in her new school so Tatsuya thought of welcoming her home with milk crepes. Failing to get Kazuya's help, Tatsuya solicited assistance from a neighbour who knocked on his door.
Chapter 2: Moving Forward
CHAPTER THREE
Warming Up
Tatsuya used to be careful in trusting strangers and tried hard to do things on his own. But now that he’s a single father, he learned the hard way that he can’t do everything on his own and it’s not wrong to ask for help now and then. He’s a bit desperate that’s why he solicited the help of the first person who knocked on his door.
Standing in the middle of his messy kitchen was Taguchi-san. He seemed out of place in his light-blue polo-shirt and black slacks. Tatsuya wasn’t able to hold back his chuckle. Taguchi cocked his head to the side wondering what’s funny.
“Sorry.” Tatsuya said biting his tongue to stop himself from laughing. “I just thought what you’re wearing looks out of place in the mess around you.”
Taguchi laughed heartily. “So let me tell you now that I am not the best when it comes to baking. We might even mess your kitchen more.”
“Ueda Tatsuya,” he introduced himself with a bow. “Yoroshiku.”
Taguchi smiled brightly. “We’re making milk crepes, right?”
“Yes. We just moved and my daughter is starting in her new school today. I just thought I’ll make something for her.” Tatsuya explained.
“That is so sweet. What about your wife?” Taguchi asked while he prepares another set of ingredients. Tatsuya tries to clean up the mess he made earlier.
“She died a few years back. It’s just me and my daughter now.” Tatsuya tried to say it with nonchalance but he still felt that throb in his heart. Will he ever get over the pain of losing Michiko?
Taguchi might have noticed the change in Tatsuya’s mood because he dropped the subject. He was a quiet for a few minutes focused on making the crepe. Taguchi might not be used to the quiet because he broke the silence after a while.
“Where do you work?”
“I run a small restaurant with my friends a few blocks from here. Oh! I remember seeing you come in a few weeks ago.” Tatsuya said, his smile back in place.
“A few weeks ago? Do you mean the restaurant Basics?”
“Yes. That was the only time you came. Did you not like the food?”
“I liked it. A friend recommended it to me. I was meaning to go there again but work has been busy. I run the clinic downstairs and I work at the children’s hospital twice a week.” Taguchi explained.
Tatsuya nodded. “You should visit. I’ll treat you to a meal for helping me out today.”
Taguchi smiled wider. The two finished up the crepe and cleaned up the kitchen. They were just putting away the rags and the bowls used earlier when the front door opened.
“Tadaima.” The cheerful voice of Eri rang before a pitter-patter of feet resounded along the hallway. Like his father, Eri got the habit of walking barefoot around the house.
“Okaeri, Angel.” Tatsuya greeted back, opening his arms to capture Eri who bounded into them.
Eri noticed the tall man leaning on the counter of their kitchen. Extracting herself from her father, she approached their visitor. Tatsuya smiled at her daughter before turning to the stove to boil some tea.
“Hajimemashite. Ueda Elizabeth to moushimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” She said with a bow. Taguchi smiled fondly at the polite girl in front of him. He introduced himself in the same manner.
“Are you Papa’s friend?” She looked up at Taguchi, eyes lighting up in curiosity. She’s only met her father’s friends from the restaurant.
“You could say that.” Taguchi replied smile still in place. “I live next door. I heard some noise so I came over to see.”
“Taguchi-san helped me prepare this.” Tatsuya interjected serving the milk crepe and tea on the dining table. Eri raised her eyebrow at her father before turning back to Taguchi.
“I’m sorry for the trouble my father has caused you.” Eri bowed deeply.
“Eh? No trouble at all.”
Eri shook her head. “Papa is the worst in the kitchen. I’m sure he was a handful.”
“Oi!” Tatsuya protested. “Can you not go into the topic of my cooking skills and let’s just eat?” He ushered the two to the dining table.
“That’s not a nice way to talk about your father, don’t you think?” Taguchi said.
“I love Papa dearly but I was just telling the truth.” Eri said with a pout. “If he was left alone in the kitchen, who knows what state it would have been when I arrived.”
Taguchi laughed so hard, remembering how Tatsuya looked like when he opened the door. Tatsuya sulked having a good guess why Taguchi was laughing his ass off. Eri turned her attention to the cake in front of her with a smug look on her face. She just know her father really well.
It turns out, that would not be the last time Taguchi and the Uedas will share a meal together. There would be days when Taguchi will invite himself over with the excuse of making sure Eri would not be eating burnt food. Something that Eri appreciated.
Eri warmed up quickly to Taguchi, who she now calls Uncle Junno. On days when she doesn’t have a homework, she will drag Tatsuya to Junno’s apartment to play with the doctor.
“Uncle Junno!” Eri waved at Junno while the latter was sending off a patient. She ran to him when he waved back.
“How’s school?” He asked.
“It was good. We don’t have homework today.” Eri beamed. “Can I come over and play?”
“Only if your father gives his permission.”
“Okay! I’ll tell him. See you later, Uncle Junno.” Eri ran up to the entrance of the building to the elevator.
As soon as she was home, she picked up her toys that she played with last night and washed the dishes that was left on the sink. She needs to make sure that her father will not have a reason to say no.
“Tadaima.” Tatsuya greeted when he came home that night.
“Okaeri, Papa.” Eri met him at the genkan. “Are there plenty of customers today?” She asked as Tatsuya shuffle out of his shoes.
“Plenty enough to keep Kame and Massu busy.” Tatsuya planted a kiss on top of Eri’s head as he passed her. “You showered already. What do you want for dinner?” He said opening the refrigerator.
“Can we go to Uncle Junno’s place to play?” Eri gave her best puppy-eye look to her father.
“What about your homework?” Tatsuya peered at her from behind the door of the fridge.
“No homework and it’s a weekend.”
“You still have your toys out.”
“Cleaned them up already and I washed the dishes too.” Eri added with a sweet smile. “Please. Please. Please.” She tugs at her father’s arm.
Tatsuya sighed. “Fine but we couldn’t stay long. We don’t want to bother Taguchi-san.”
“Hai~” Eri said with a mock salute that made Tatsuya roll his eyes.
A few minutes later, Tatsuya found himself knocking on the apartment next door. Junnosuke opened the door with a big smile on his face.
“You’re here! I was just setting up the table when you knocked.” He opened the door wider.
“Good evening, Taguchi-san. Sorry for the intrusion.” Tatsuya greeted.
“Mou~ I told you not to call me that. It sounds so formal. Call me Junno, okay?” Junno led them to the dining room where dinner was laid out beautifully. “It’s not as good as the food at your restaurant but I hope you enjoy dinner.”
“They look good. I’m sure they taste better than my cooking.” Tatsuya said as they sit around the table.
During dinner, Eri holds the conversation by telling stories about school and what she’s been up to the whole day. The adults listened and commented which urged Eri to tell more.
“I’ll do the dishes since you cook dinner.” Tatsuya offered while they clean up the table.
“Ah, thank you. I’ll start my laundry then while you do that.”
“Can I help?” Eri asked.
“You know how to do laundry?” Junno asked, amused.
“I do. I help Papa to make sure he won’t mix the colors with the whites. He turned his white shirts to pink one time he did the laundry by himself.”
“That story is getting old, little girl.” Tatsuya said laughing. He used to be embarrassed about his failures at housework. Now, it was just a reminder of how much he has changed and improved. It makes him feel good that he is still able to take care of Eri these past years even though there are things he’s lacking.
“Then I should call you Uepi.” Junno said while laughing. Tatsuya made a face that had Eri laughing too. “I’ll call you Uepi until you stop calling me Taguchi-san.”
Tatsuya wasn’t able to retort back because Junno had already walked away with Eri to start the laundry. Shaking his head in disbelief that he got himself a new nickname, he turned back to the dishes he was washing.
After the dishes were dry and the laundry was hung, Junno and Eri flopped themselves in front of the console. Tatsuya sat on the couch behind them to watch the game.
It didn’t take long for the two of them to be engrossed in their game. They were shouting and laughing. At the beginning, Tatsuya was laughing at them. But fatigue from work made him settle further on the couch resting his head on the backrest.
Junno realized that Tatsuya was quiet so he looked back and find the man sleeping. He nudged Eri’s shoulder and pointed at her father.
“Eh? Now what do I do?” Eri whispered.
“Why?” Taguchi asked.
“He’s grumpy when his sleep is disturbed.” Eri explained.
“You can stay over tonight. Your Papa looks really tired.” Junno said staring at Tatsuya’s tired sleeping face. “Save the game while I get the futon. You don’t mind sleeping on the futon, right?” Eri shook her head with a smile. She saved the game and put away the console.
Junno came out with the futon to find Eri sitting beside her father. When she saw Junno, she smiled shyly and helped him with the futon. “We don’t want to wake up Uepi so you sleep on the futon and he can have the couch.” Eri nodded with a yawn.
When the futon was laid out, Taguchi tucked Eri in. “Oyasumi Eri-chan. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your Papa is comfortable, ne?”
“Oyasumi Uncle Junno.” She said before snuggling deeper under the blanket. Junno patted Eri’s head before he got up.
Eri is already sleeping soundly when Junno came back with the pillow and blanket for Tatsuya. Carefully, he pulled Tatsuya from sitting position and made him lie down on the couch. Tatsuya stirred a little and rubbed his nose. Junno smiled, finding the gesture cute. He covered him with a blanket and brushed the hair the fell on his forehead.
“Oyasumi, Tatsuya.” Junno whispered. He get up and entered his bedroom.
==================
How was this chapter?
I know some of you may think that Eri seems a bit tactless and straightforward. But Tatsuya is a bit like that too, ne?
Now that Tatsuya slept over at Junno's apartment, how do you think their relationship will progress?