[multi-chap] Life (Re)Starts Here Ch.7/9
Title: Life (Re)Starts Here for vicco_vicky
Author: Saana
Pairing: Sakuraiba
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, slice of life, family life, fluff, angst
Disc.: this is a fanfiction, which means I’m a fan and this is fiction
Summary: Sho’s life falling apart in an instant and as he finds himself a single father with a five-year old boy, he decides to move back to the small town on the Chiba coast where he spent his childhood, trying to pick up the pieces of his life and raise his son…
Previous chapters:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
On Sunday evening Sho made sure to call Jun and let him know that he’ll need to take off the next week since Shin was sick. Though Jun sounded worried and very accomodating when they talked, Sho did not expected him to show up on his doorstep the next morning.
“Jun-kun! What are you doing here?” he asked yawning, rubbing his face as he tried to make sense of the sight of his friend at his door at such an early hour.
“Good morning to you too, Sho-san,” Jun said inviting himself in and heading straight to the kitchen. “I made some chicken soup for Shin-chan and some pasta for you. I thought I could spare you some trouble while you care for your boy. You mentioned once that you can’t cook, didn’t you?”
“I have you know that I’ve improved a lot in that area!” Sho retorted indignantly. He might have been touched by Jun’s thoughtful gesture despite the almost rude comment that accompanied it, he felt the need to correct Jun’s opinion of him regarding his cooking skills.
“Did you now?” Jun asked back skeptical and he kept unloading the food he brought with him.
“Yes! I’ve… taken lessons…” he said a bit vaguely and avoided to look at Jun before he asked details of those lessons. Jun might misunderstand what was going on with Masaki. Even though there was nothing going on actually, was there?
“I see, good for you. Then I guess I can just take these back home. Or maybe Toma would want it…”
“No!” Sho cut in quickly, grabbing the Tupperware container full with pasta from Jun’s hand. “We’ll humbly take it. Thank you very much!” he mumbled bowing his head to his friend. Jun was a fabulous cook after all.
“You’re very welcome,” Jun replied with a wide grin. “I also brought over some documents you can work on even while you have to stay here to take care of Shin-chan. Nothing urgent so take your time. This way you can keep your vacation days to… you know, go on an actual vacation later…”
Not knowing how else to express his utter gratitude toward Jun for his kind gesture, Sho just bowed his head again. It looked like Masaki was right. He had more help around than he would’ve thought at first. He might’ve become a single parent but obviously he didn’t have to do everything alone…
Two days later Satoshi stopped by in the afternoon, bringing a pot of curry with himself like it was the most natural thing to do. This time Sho just burst out laughing when he saw the visitor.
“Don’t get me wrong, I totally appreciate the free food but I think I should feel offended by your lack of trust in me being able to feed us,” Sho complained but let Satoshi enter. “Will you join us for dinner, Satoshi-kun? I’m sure Shin would love to see a face other than mine,” Sho said joking.
“Sure,” Ohno nodded laughing. “How is he anyway?”
“Getting better. Today was the first day without fever at all but he’s already fed up with having to stay in bed all the time,” Sho said, not going into details of how he had a meltdown each time Shin’s fever returned. Or that he got scolded by the doctor for calling each time he imagined Shin’s condition had worsened even though it was only the matter of changing cooling pads on the boy’s forehead.
“Glad to hear that,” Satoshi nodded, not asking more as he sensed that Sho still felt insecure about his parenting abilities. “Want me to keep him company until dinner?”
“Wait, Satoshi-kun! Before that… can I… talk to you about… ehm… something…?” Sho asked suddenly as he finished setting up the rice cooker. He had no idea from where this sudden burst of courage came but he want with it anyway before he had the chance to talk himself about of breaching the topic to his friend. He turned toward Satoshi with a determined face but found his friend smirking at him with a knowing glint in his eyes.
“It’s about Masaki, isn’t it?” he asked, his grin widening.
Sho’s eyes widened with shock and he felt his cheeks heating up.
“How did you…?” he gaped.
“I have my sources but… I’m sorry to say this, but you’re also quite obvious around each other,” Ohno said still grinning as if he enjoyed his friend’s squirming though Sho knew that he wasn’t that type. “It’s okay. I approve,” he said graciously. “If it was anyone else but I you, I wouldn’t, but I know you and I trust that you’ll to protect Masaki if needed, won’t you?” he asked, his facing turning serious in an instant.
“I will, I promise!” Sho said, nodding firmly. They both knew that Sho’s parents won’t be ecstatic if they hear about Sho’s new partner but Sho was determined to fight even them if needed.
“Good,” Ohno said nodding himself seriously before smiling slowly. “I’m happy for you,” he added gently before leaving the kitchen.
After the longest week of their life, the doctor finally deemed Shin healthy enough to return to the daycare. It was hard to decide whether father or son was happier to hear the news that they could return to their normal life.
As the past week went on, Sho quickly had to realize how hard it was to keep a boy in bed all day, sick or not. He quickly ran out of reasons and excuses how to keep Shin there when he was not sleeping since the boy quickly got bored and irritated for having to stay in bed or later in the apartment because even though he was getting better Sho wouldn’t take his chances of taking him out if only to the playground. Sho felt bad for forcing Shin to do something he didn’t want to but the scare of him hospitalized was still all too fresh in his mind. And it was also for Shin’s sake so his condition won’t worsen, so Sho tried to look at is as another step on the rough road of parenthood.
Now that they had returned to normal, Sho was intend to face one more issue he had the chance to think a lot during their self-imposed lock down. And the perfect chance to do just that came a week later in the form of a client meeting that kept dragging on despite it should’ve had ended an hour ago. Asking for a brief break, Sho slipped out of the meeting room to make a call.
“Hi, Sho-chan, how are you? How’s Shin-chan?”
Sho couldn’t keep the smile off his face as soon as he heard the cheery voice at the end of the line.
“Hey, Masaki-kun! We’re good, thanks. Ehm… Sorry I have to ask your help again. I kind of stuck in a meeting with a client for a while longer so if you could pick up Shin-chan at the daycare you’d really save me. I mean… only if you’re free now…” Sho asked, cursing himself inwardly for not being able to present it more smoothly.
“Sure, I’m done with my classes so it’s no problem”
“Oh, great… Thanks!” Sho said and even if he expected a positive answer - after all Masaki himself pushed him to rely more on his friends, himself included - he was a bit surprised how quick Masaki agreed. He wondered if he will agree just this quick for his other question as well
“Is there something else?”
Masaki’s tone sounding gentle and reassuring which always made Sho feel that he can tell him anything. As if he could see through him and just knew that it was exactly what Sho needed at that moment. Even when they were talking on the phone.
“Yeah, actually… Would you… I mean only if you have no other plans or anything… you could… stay for dinner… Tonight. If you want… It’s totally okay if you’re not! If you have plans already or…” Sho blabbered anxiously like a teenage boy who tried ask out his crush for the first time.
“I’d love to”
Masaki’s voice cut through Sho’s nervous rush of words and he would’ve bet anything that he was secretly laughing at him. Well, he was being ridiculous so he deserved it probably and he felt too relieved to be bother of being laughed at.
“Okay. Great…” he said as a stupidly wide grin crept on his face. “Then… see you at home!”
“See you there, Sho-chan!”
“Shin-chan, do you need help to change your clothes?” Masaki asked shouting while he poured iced tea in two glasses in the kitchen.
They arrived back just a few minutes ago but Masaki already felt the excitement vibrate in the pit of his stomach when he thought that Sho might also arrive back soon. It’ll be the first time they’d meet since he confessed and though he probably shouldn’t get his hopes up, he just couldn’t help himself.
“No! I can do it alone!” Came Shin’s indignant answer from his room and Masaki couldn’t help but chuckle at this.
“Of course you can, you’re such a big boy already…” he mumbled with a soft smile; he was just as smitten with the boy as he was with the father.
When he heard the knocking, Masaki was surprised for a moment only before his smile widened more. Sho might try to act all proper and collected all the time, but he had his clumsy side - which just made him all the more adorable in Masaki’s eyes - so maybe he couldn’t find his keys or something.
“Did you forg… Who are you?...”
Sho approached the apartment with hurried steps and a giddy feeling that threatened to burst out of his chest. After weeks, he’ll finally see Masaki again in a few minutes and maybe… He just couldn’t wait!
He didn’t expect to find Masaki sitting on the steps of the apartment complex though.
“Hey, Masaki-kun! What are you doing here?” he asked with a smile but seeing the younger man’s blank face, his smile slowly disappeared. “Where’s Shin?”
“He’s in the apartment,” Masaki said simply.
Sho frowned confused. Something was wrong. After last time he doubted that Masaki would let Shin out of his sight even for a moment. Let alone leaving him unattended in the apartment. Shin might not be a baby anymore but it was still dangerous to leave him all alone. Something was wrong….
“He’s… not alone, I assume…” Sho said, trying to keep his tone neutral. The last thing he wanted now was to start a fight with Masaki.
“No. No, he’s not,” Masaki said, finally getting up from the steps, looking at Sho with cold eyes and a hard expression. “He’s with your wife…”
A/N: hey there! sorry for missing a few weeks of updates, as you can see at the top, I was busy finishing this story. also, sorry for making this chapter a bit more angstier and for the cliffhanger. wait no, I'm actually not sorry for the cliffhanger. I love them and neclected them until now in this story so it was time for one 🤣 anyway, I hope you forgive me. let me know what you think! ❤💚
Author: Saana
Pairing: Sakuraiba
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, slice of life, family life, fluff, angst
Disc.: this is a fanfiction, which means I’m a fan and this is fiction
Summary: Sho’s life falling apart in an instant and as he finds himself a single father with a five-year old boy, he decides to move back to the small town on the Chiba coast where he spent his childhood, trying to pick up the pieces of his life and raise his son…
Previous chapters:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
On Sunday evening Sho made sure to call Jun and let him know that he’ll need to take off the next week since Shin was sick. Though Jun sounded worried and very accomodating when they talked, Sho did not expected him to show up on his doorstep the next morning.
“Jun-kun! What are you doing here?” he asked yawning, rubbing his face as he tried to make sense of the sight of his friend at his door at such an early hour.
“Good morning to you too, Sho-san,” Jun said inviting himself in and heading straight to the kitchen. “I made some chicken soup for Shin-chan and some pasta for you. I thought I could spare you some trouble while you care for your boy. You mentioned once that you can’t cook, didn’t you?”
“I have you know that I’ve improved a lot in that area!” Sho retorted indignantly. He might have been touched by Jun’s thoughtful gesture despite the almost rude comment that accompanied it, he felt the need to correct Jun’s opinion of him regarding his cooking skills.
“Did you now?” Jun asked back skeptical and he kept unloading the food he brought with him.
“Yes! I’ve… taken lessons…” he said a bit vaguely and avoided to look at Jun before he asked details of those lessons. Jun might misunderstand what was going on with Masaki. Even though there was nothing going on actually, was there?
“I see, good for you. Then I guess I can just take these back home. Or maybe Toma would want it…”
“No!” Sho cut in quickly, grabbing the Tupperware container full with pasta from Jun’s hand. “We’ll humbly take it. Thank you very much!” he mumbled bowing his head to his friend. Jun was a fabulous cook after all.
“You’re very welcome,” Jun replied with a wide grin. “I also brought over some documents you can work on even while you have to stay here to take care of Shin-chan. Nothing urgent so take your time. This way you can keep your vacation days to… you know, go on an actual vacation later…”
Not knowing how else to express his utter gratitude toward Jun for his kind gesture, Sho just bowed his head again. It looked like Masaki was right. He had more help around than he would’ve thought at first. He might’ve become a single parent but obviously he didn’t have to do everything alone…
Two days later Satoshi stopped by in the afternoon, bringing a pot of curry with himself like it was the most natural thing to do. This time Sho just burst out laughing when he saw the visitor.
“Don’t get me wrong, I totally appreciate the free food but I think I should feel offended by your lack of trust in me being able to feed us,” Sho complained but let Satoshi enter. “Will you join us for dinner, Satoshi-kun? I’m sure Shin would love to see a face other than mine,” Sho said joking.
“Sure,” Ohno nodded laughing. “How is he anyway?”
“Getting better. Today was the first day without fever at all but he’s already fed up with having to stay in bed all the time,” Sho said, not going into details of how he had a meltdown each time Shin’s fever returned. Or that he got scolded by the doctor for calling each time he imagined Shin’s condition had worsened even though it was only the matter of changing cooling pads on the boy’s forehead.
“Glad to hear that,” Satoshi nodded, not asking more as he sensed that Sho still felt insecure about his parenting abilities. “Want me to keep him company until dinner?”
“Wait, Satoshi-kun! Before that… can I… talk to you about… ehm… something…?” Sho asked suddenly as he finished setting up the rice cooker. He had no idea from where this sudden burst of courage came but he want with it anyway before he had the chance to talk himself about of breaching the topic to his friend. He turned toward Satoshi with a determined face but found his friend smirking at him with a knowing glint in his eyes.
“It’s about Masaki, isn’t it?” he asked, his grin widening.
Sho’s eyes widened with shock and he felt his cheeks heating up.
“How did you…?” he gaped.
“I have my sources but… I’m sorry to say this, but you’re also quite obvious around each other,” Ohno said still grinning as if he enjoyed his friend’s squirming though Sho knew that he wasn’t that type. “It’s okay. I approve,” he said graciously. “If it was anyone else but I you, I wouldn’t, but I know you and I trust that you’ll to protect Masaki if needed, won’t you?” he asked, his facing turning serious in an instant.
“I will, I promise!” Sho said, nodding firmly. They both knew that Sho’s parents won’t be ecstatic if they hear about Sho’s new partner but Sho was determined to fight even them if needed.
“Good,” Ohno said nodding himself seriously before smiling slowly. “I’m happy for you,” he added gently before leaving the kitchen.
After the longest week of their life, the doctor finally deemed Shin healthy enough to return to the daycare. It was hard to decide whether father or son was happier to hear the news that they could return to their normal life.
As the past week went on, Sho quickly had to realize how hard it was to keep a boy in bed all day, sick or not. He quickly ran out of reasons and excuses how to keep Shin there when he was not sleeping since the boy quickly got bored and irritated for having to stay in bed or later in the apartment because even though he was getting better Sho wouldn’t take his chances of taking him out if only to the playground. Sho felt bad for forcing Shin to do something he didn’t want to but the scare of him hospitalized was still all too fresh in his mind. And it was also for Shin’s sake so his condition won’t worsen, so Sho tried to look at is as another step on the rough road of parenthood.
Now that they had returned to normal, Sho was intend to face one more issue he had the chance to think a lot during their self-imposed lock down. And the perfect chance to do just that came a week later in the form of a client meeting that kept dragging on despite it should’ve had ended an hour ago. Asking for a brief break, Sho slipped out of the meeting room to make a call.
“Hi, Sho-chan, how are you? How’s Shin-chan?”
Sho couldn’t keep the smile off his face as soon as he heard the cheery voice at the end of the line.
“Hey, Masaki-kun! We’re good, thanks. Ehm… Sorry I have to ask your help again. I kind of stuck in a meeting with a client for a while longer so if you could pick up Shin-chan at the daycare you’d really save me. I mean… only if you’re free now…” Sho asked, cursing himself inwardly for not being able to present it more smoothly.
“Sure, I’m done with my classes so it’s no problem”
“Oh, great… Thanks!” Sho said and even if he expected a positive answer - after all Masaki himself pushed him to rely more on his friends, himself included - he was a bit surprised how quick Masaki agreed. He wondered if he will agree just this quick for his other question as well
“Is there something else?”
Masaki’s tone sounding gentle and reassuring which always made Sho feel that he can tell him anything. As if he could see through him and just knew that it was exactly what Sho needed at that moment. Even when they were talking on the phone.
“Yeah, actually… Would you… I mean only if you have no other plans or anything… you could… stay for dinner… Tonight. If you want… It’s totally okay if you’re not! If you have plans already or…” Sho blabbered anxiously like a teenage boy who tried ask out his crush for the first time.
“I’d love to”
Masaki’s voice cut through Sho’s nervous rush of words and he would’ve bet anything that he was secretly laughing at him. Well, he was being ridiculous so he deserved it probably and he felt too relieved to be bother of being laughed at.
“Okay. Great…” he said as a stupidly wide grin crept on his face. “Then… see you at home!”
“See you there, Sho-chan!”
“Shin-chan, do you need help to change your clothes?” Masaki asked shouting while he poured iced tea in two glasses in the kitchen.
They arrived back just a few minutes ago but Masaki already felt the excitement vibrate in the pit of his stomach when he thought that Sho might also arrive back soon. It’ll be the first time they’d meet since he confessed and though he probably shouldn’t get his hopes up, he just couldn’t help himself.
“No! I can do it alone!” Came Shin’s indignant answer from his room and Masaki couldn’t help but chuckle at this.
“Of course you can, you’re such a big boy already…” he mumbled with a soft smile; he was just as smitten with the boy as he was with the father.
When he heard the knocking, Masaki was surprised for a moment only before his smile widened more. Sho might try to act all proper and collected all the time, but he had his clumsy side - which just made him all the more adorable in Masaki’s eyes - so maybe he couldn’t find his keys or something.
“Did you forg… Who are you?...”
Sho approached the apartment with hurried steps and a giddy feeling that threatened to burst out of his chest. After weeks, he’ll finally see Masaki again in a few minutes and maybe… He just couldn’t wait!
He didn’t expect to find Masaki sitting on the steps of the apartment complex though.
“Hey, Masaki-kun! What are you doing here?” he asked with a smile but seeing the younger man’s blank face, his smile slowly disappeared. “Where’s Shin?”
“He’s in the apartment,” Masaki said simply.
Sho frowned confused. Something was wrong. After last time he doubted that Masaki would let Shin out of his sight even for a moment. Let alone leaving him unattended in the apartment. Shin might not be a baby anymore but it was still dangerous to leave him all alone. Something was wrong….
“He’s… not alone, I assume…” Sho said, trying to keep his tone neutral. The last thing he wanted now was to start a fight with Masaki.
“No. No, he’s not,” Masaki said, finally getting up from the steps, looking at Sho with cold eyes and a hard expression. “He’s with your wife…”
A/N: hey there! sorry for missing a few weeks of updates, as you can see at the top, I was busy finishing this story. also, sorry for making this chapter a bit more angstier and for the cliffhanger. wait no, I'm actually not sorry for the cliffhanger. I love them and neclected them until now in this story so it was time for one 🤣 anyway, I hope you forgive me. let me know what you think! ❤💚