Ch. 6 Daichi Day

The next morning begins with a loud banging on the office door.

“BOY! OPEN THIS DOOR BEFORE I TAKE IT AS A CHALLENGE!”

Hana jolts up and falls off the bed with a thud, she hears Kenta's door open, footsteps calm and steady despite the noise outside.

Another slam on the door. “KENJIRO KENTA! I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE!”

Hana sits up, her hair a mess as she tried to blink the sleep away. What kind of person just shouts like that this early? She throws on a hoodie, one she "borrowed" (stole) from kenta because it was big enough to cover her like a lazy dress. She peeks out of her room just in time to see Kenta unlocking the door.

The moment it opens, a massive man barrels inside carrying grocery bags, a potted plant, and an entire… rice cooker? He is broad shouldered, bright-eyed and handsome in a rugged way as if this man could split a piece of wood with his bare hands. He had messy black hair, almost like a small mane as well as a strong beard. She knew Kenta was a big and strong guy but this man was on a different level. Kenta looked strong like a wolf perhaps but this guy could take down a bear. But despite this, he was grinning ear to ear, brightly as the sun itself.

“MY SON!” He laughs loudly, setting the groceries down before he gives him a hug. “You look better than last month!”

Kenta remains the same as ever. “Good morning father.”

Hana freezes in the hallway as the man spots her, his eyes widen and he points dramatically. “YOU HAVE A GIRL LIVING HERE?!”

“She is an employee.” He answers and the man gasps with enough air to fill a dozen balloons.

“THIS IS HOW IT STARTS!!” Hana can’t help but burst out laughing at the man's theatrics, his father was so much different than him.

The man turns to her and marches over, putting his hand out for a shake with a big grin. “Miss employee, I am Daichi, father of this emotionally constipated oak tree!”

Hana giggles as she shakes his hand and he immediately takes it in both of his.

“Thank you.”

She blinks. “For what?”

“For getting him to smile. I haven’t seen his eyes look that bright in years.”

Hana looks around the big man to Kenta. “You smile?”

“It was isolated.”

Daichi roars with laughter. “He did it again, just now!”

Kenta pinches the bridge of his nose. “Father, why are you here?”

The man spreads his arms wide. “To bring food, inspect your living conditions, and bless this union.” He winks at Hana and despite the embarrassment she can’t help but laugh.

“There is no union.” Kenta states and Daichi pats his back hard enough that Kentas whole frame shakes.

“Yet!”

Hana is now laughing so hard that she holds onto the doorframe for support. This guy was a riot, it was a nice unexpected change in pace.

Daichi points to the kitchen. “Enough talk, I brought ingredients, let us feast!”

“I have breakfast plans already.” Kenta states and the man scoffs.

“Protien shakes do not count.”

“They are nutri-”

Before Kenta can finish, Daichi parrots him in a mocking tone. “ThEy ArE nUtRitioNalLy CoMPleTe. They are spiritually offensive, my son.”

Hana coughs from laughing so hard, sinking to her knees as tears well up in her eyes. “Oh my god my stomach hurts! Holy hell!”

Daichi notices her messy hair and softens. “You just woke up didn’t you? That means you’re sleeping well here.” He then glares at Kenta. “See? This one is looking healthy already, she’s the one Tamaki mentioned right? That you found in a collapse state?”

Kenta crosses his arms. “She is following a stable schedule.”

Just as Hana gets up from easing her laughter she loses it again when Daichi responds. “Yeah well maybe you should date her schedule then.”

Kenta stays still for a few seconds before stating. “I regret opening the door.”

Daichi slaps him on the back hard enough to echo through the entire town. “GOOD! REGRET BUILDS CHARACTER!”

He storms into the kitchen like a king who conquered this room and was moving on to the next. Kenta looks at Hana as she tries to contain her laughter and his cheeks and ears blush faintly as he looks away, embarrassed.

Hana felt her heart flutter again, he just looked too cute. Maybe his fathers laughter just put her in a good mood but she really wanted to pinch his cheeks.

“WHERE IS YOUR PAN?! WHY IS THERE A SPREADSHEET INSIDE THE FRIDGE?!”

Kenta closes his eyes like he’s accepting his fate as Hana wipes tears from her eyes. “So…”

He opens one eye. “Yes.”

“I like your dad.” She grins with a giggle and Kenta exhales slowly.

“That makes one of us.” Kenta says it with such dry sincerity that Hana starts to laugh all over again.

A loud metallic crash can be heard from the kitchen followed by. “FOUND THE PAN!”

Kenta sighs and turns without a word, walking into the kitchen with the weary posture of a man who has gone through this many times before. “That’s the lid.”

“Then where’s the pan?!”

Hana follows, stopping in the doorway to see Daichi has somehow already covered the entire kitchen. Veggies are chopped, rice is steaming, eggs are lined up, a glass cutting board with a picture of him and Kenta on it (they…make custom photo cutting boards?) has appeared out of nowhere.

“We have a rice cooker here, why did you bring another one?”

Daich looks offended. “In case his got depressed.”

“The current one functions well.” Kenta states.

Daichi points his spatula at him. “Machines know when they are unloved.”

Kenta just silently helps out, putting things where they belong but his father swats his hands away. “Stop tidying while I cook.”

Hana leans against the doorway smiling. “This is amazing.”

Daichi beams. “See? She understands culture. You can cook like a 5 star chef but this kind of cooking has SOUL!”

Kenta looks at her like a sad puppy in the rain, as if he’s been betrayed. “Hana do you encourage disorder?”

“She is encouraging LIFE! Let us LIVE LIFE!” He turns on a radio at that moment, blasting classic rock, singing along and dancing as Kenta further looks like he wants to crawl into the cabinets and never come out.

Hana laughs and sits at the table, watching everything play out, singing along with the dad to some parts she knew, laughing at how fun he made the morning, making her easily forget any worries she could possibly have.

He turns down the music and asks. “Have you eaten at least a bit yet? I know this is taking a while.”

She shakes her head. “No but I’m okay with waiting.”

He gasps dramatically. “Boy! You let a guest wake hungry?”

“She lives here.” He states so his father gasps again, correcting himself.

“Then you let family wake hungry!”

Kenta pauses and Hana does too. Daichi realizes what he’s said, and the kind of tension it created so he doubles down.

“Yes! Family! If she survives two of your conversations in a row, she qualifies!”

Hana's face warms and Kenta turns on the stove. “I will prepare tea.”

Daichi grins so smugly that the pride radiating off of him could be felt from space.

Twenty minutes later the table is full, rice, soup, omelet, vegetables, sliced fruit, pancakes, sausage, bacon, the list goes on and on. It could feed probably ten people.

Hana stares. “This is breakfast?”

Daichi puffs out his chest. “This is an apology for this morning.”

Kenta sets tea down in front of Hana carefully. “Be careful, it’s hot.”

Daichi slams a hand on the table, causing the other two to flinch. “WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT?!”

“What?” Kenta asks and Daichi puts a hand over his face, his voice wobbly.

“Protective instincts! We’re making progress!”

“I can describe temperature.”

“AND DESIRE SAFETY FOR YOUR LOVED ONES!”

Hana nearly inhales her rice laughing.

“Father?” Kenta sits down slowly.

“Yes, son?”

“Please chew before speaking.”

They begin eating, Hana compliments his cooking and Daichi points his chopsticks at Kenta. “You hear that? It’s the love.”

“Love is not an ingredient.”

“It is.” Daichi and Hana both say and they lock eyes, giving each other a high five in agreement and Kenta huffs lightly.

“I can cook too.”

“Yes but you cook like the world will go to war if you don’t make it perfect.”

“It is nut-” Kenta stops himself, knowing his father will mock him again. “Hana called it luxury.”

Daichi gasps. “Are you bragging?”

“I should have continued working yesterday.”

His father gasps again. “You got him to stop working?!”

Hana nods. “We went to an arcade and watched a movie.” She grins at Kenta. “Just enjoy having breakfast with your dad and employee family.”

“That is not a category.”

“It is now.”

Daichi wipes a fake tear. “She’s perfect.”

“She is eating eggs.” Kenta states flatly.

“And healing this household! This house will finally be a home!”

After they eat and clean up, Daichi cracks his knuckles. “Now then.”

Kenta narrows his eyes. “That tone is dangerous.”

“Inspection time.”

“You did that alr-”

“PHASE TWO!”

Daichi points to the two of them. “Ya like games?”

Hana perks up instantly. “Oh?”

Kenta visibly deflates. “No.”

Daichi takes a box out of a bag he brought. “I brought board games!”

Kenta looks at the grocery bag it came out of as if it betrayed him, that's where the food is supposed to go.

Hana grabs one excitedly. “This first!”

There is a knock on the door and before they can ask who it is, Daichi opens it and a familiar face runs in, arms out to hug Kenta who dodges. “Ken-chan! You dad invited me over for game day!”

Hana smiles. “This is great.”

“This is how civilizations fall.” Kenta says as he allows Tamaki to hug him, he opens his arms to hug Hana too but Kenta quickly grabs him by the collar, his face as flat as ever but his eyes blazing with doom. Daichi grins and laughs to himself in a sing-songy voice. “Protective instincts~”

Tamaki dangles from Kenta's grip, still smiling as if nothing could damage his mood. “Ken-chan, you’re getting stronger!”

Hana laughs, still holding the board game box. “Can he breathe like that?”

“He is capable.” Kenta replies.

“I am capable!” Tamaki mimics, mid-dangle.

Daichi claps once, loud enough to pop someone's eardrum if they were too close. “NOW EVERYONE IS HERE, LET’S BEGIN!”

“I brought snacks, Ken-Chan!” Tamaki smiles as Kenta puts him down. Typically he would be uninterested but after his snack run with Hana he has acquired a fascination with trying them.

Hana begins to set up the board game at the table as everyone settles, she choose it because it has cute creatures on it but she realizes it’s a strategy game and finds herself reading through more pages of instructions than she ever has for a board game. The game included ownership of land, managing resources, you could have alliances or go to war, it was a whole big thing. She does her best to read it so everyone understands the game and despite how loud everything was, everyone listened to her when she spoke, asking questions here and there and discussing how they interpret the rules.

“This is a simulation of societal collapse.” Kenta states and Daichi grins.

“I thought it would be up your alley, uses a lot of brain.”

Hana pouts as she looks at the pieces. “I just wanted to play this cute little kitty guy, didn’t know it was so complicated.”

Tamaki smiles warmly. “I’m sure you’ll do fine, Hana-Chan.”

The quiet time setting everything up is quickly gone once the game actually starts. Kenta is silently mapping out optimal strategies for every possible outcome, Daichi is loudly announcing his every move, Tamaki is emotionally invested in protecting his little characters and Hana keeps looking back to the instructions to make sure she and everyone is playing this properly.

“Are you having fun?” Hana leans over to Kenta, amused by how seriously he’s taking this.

“I am processing variables.”

Hana nods. “Too busy thinking to talk, got it.”

His eyes don’t leave the board as he states. “I am not experiencing distress.”

Hana smiles. “Your version of saying you’re happy, that’s good.”

Kenta doesn’t confirm nor deny and Daichi slams a card on the table. “DISASTER EVENT! VOLCANO!”

Tamaki puts his arms around his area and playfully whines. “Noooooo, my little friends!”

Hana laughs, using her reserves to build a moat as Kenta makes his move. “This is recoverable. Terry the lizard shall not cease to exist and will survive this event.”

Daichi grins. “Said like a hero!”

“I stated a fact.”

Hours pass, the game devolves into chaos. They took a break for lunch but wound up eating while playing as certain rules are ignored and home brew ones are put into place. Daichi has brute forced his way into getting more resources for his empire, Tamaki is gathering resources to offer to make peace treaties and Hana is just doing whatever, more amused by watching the others than caring about winning.

Hana leans back in her chair. “Ah, I might as well give up, Kenta is clearly going to win.”

“I have a chance!” Daichi grins and Tamaki pouts.

“Can’t we just try and win by advancing our technology until the end instead of conquering each other's land?”

“A singular winner displays intellect.” Kanta states and Daichi laughs.

“You haven’t changed.”

Tamaki smiles, nodding in agreement. “Ken-Chan is always scary when focused.”

Hana laughs at their banter and Kenta glances over to her, his eyes briefly flicking over to see her laughing before looking at the board again. Normally he wouldn’t break focus but watching Hana’s joy was a sight that he liked to see.

The game winds up ending with unclear conditions as Daichi ‘accidentally’ spills skittles onto the board, mixing things up when retrieving them. Tamaki is tired and lies on the living room floor cuddling a blanket, Hana is slumped against the couch, exhausted from using her brain so much and Daichi is munching away on more snacks. Kenta tidies up the pieces, cleaning the area while everyone takes a break.

Hana watches him. “You can wait to do that later, it doesn't hurt to rest a bit.”

“If it needs doing, I do it.”

“You really don’t stop, do you?”

Kenta looks over at her. “I remain when others do not.”

The room suddenly feels much more silent, Daichi’s hand freezes in the chip bag, Tamaki turns his head slightly and Hana sits up with a frown, speaking gently. “That sounds… a little lonely.”

Kenta's eyes narrow slightly as if to reject the idea. “It is efficient.”

Hana nods slowly. “Yeah… but it still sounds lonely.”

Daichi breaks the sad silence with a loud clap. “ANYWAY! SLEEP TIME!”

Tamaki puts his hands up and cheers. “Sleepover!”

They all fuss over who sleeps where but in the end Kenta agrees to share his bed with his father, Tamaki takes the couch and Hana sleeps in her own room as usual. Tamaki and Hana sleep first, Kenta still awake, finishing the cleaning he started earlier because of course he would. When he returns to his room, his father is lying on the bed, a book in hand.

Seeing his son enter he puts the book down. “Hey, how’re you holding up bud?”

“I am fine.” Kenta states after a moment of thought, the current silence is familiar but tonight it feels different. Less guarded maybe.

Daichi laughs softly. “You always say that even when you’re not fine.”

Kenta turns back towards the hallway and Daichi asks. “Where are you going, didn’t you finish cleaning?”

“Checking in on Hana, I want to evaluate her condition after an entire day of social exposure.”

Daichi smiles. “You can talk with her tomorrow, I’m sure she’s tired and asleep already.” He decides to add after a moment. “You’re worried about her a lot.”

“It is practical to care for my employee for maximum efficiency.”

“Sure.” Daichi laughs, not believing it for a second. “You did something as inefficient as play a game all day just to make sure she can work later at maximum efficiency, uh-huh.”

Kenta turns back and closes the door, walking into his closet to change into his pajamas. Daichi looks out the window as he does, looking up at the stars. Kenta notices his gaze when he walks back out.

“He liked naming the stars you know, your brother.” Daichi says casually, like he’s talking about a memory that’s playing before his eyes. “He made up his own constellations, saying the current ones were too boring.”

Kenta stills at the mention of his brother, his fingers tightening into fists at his side but only for a moment, releasing the tension by ignoring his fathers words as he gets into bed. “Goodnight.”

“Sorry… That probably killed your mood.” Daichi exhales out a sigh.

“It is acceptable.” Kenta states, his version of it’s okay.

Daichi snorts. “That’s a problem you really need to fix, you know. You think that carefully wording what you say will ensure nothing breaks.”

Kenta doesn’t deny it, just listening.

“But things break anyway. Whether you’re careful or not. You may have a bit of a cheat code since you can see someone's condition by looking at their soul but no two people are the same.” Daichi puts his hand on Kenta's head and ruffles his hair gently. “You always try to manage every outcome but you’re just surviving like everyone else, you can’t control the world and nobody expects you to.” He smiles and his tone becomes gentler. “So let yourself live a little more like you did today, okay? Listen to Hana.” He laughs softly and Kenta smiles as he closes his eyes to sleep.

“I do.”

—-------

Later in the night, Hana wakes up thirsty so she puts her slippers on and pads softly into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. The night air is cool and still, she doesn’t expect anything but when she reaches the kitchen she freezes, seeing Daichi is awake. He’s standing by the window with a cup in his hand, looking out at the night sky like he’s been there for a while.

Hana hesitates. “Having trouble sleeping?”

Daichi doesn’t turn immediately. “Yeah I’ll get to sleep but, just not now when my thoughts are loud.” He gestures to the counter. “Water?”

“I was getting some, yeah.” She fills a glass, the silence isn’t uncomfortable but after how happy he was earlier, it was strange seeing Kenta’s father like this.

“He doesn’t usually bring people here.”

Hana pauses slightly. “Kenta?”

Daichi nods with a hum. “Mm.”

“I kinda gathered that.” Hana leans against the counter, taking a sip of her water.

“He’s better now than he used to be at least.” Daichi exhales a small laugh.

Hana looks up at that. “I’ve only known him for about a week, what was he like?”

Daichi doesn’t answer right away and looks out the window again. “After his brother died, he stopped being a child even though he wasn’t even ten yet.”

Hana’s fingers tighten around her glass, her stomach sinking but she doesn’t interrupt.

Daichi continues, speaking slowly and softly unlike his bombastic energy from earlier. “They were twins, his brother was weaker than him, he was born with weak lungs and they collapsed multiple times but Kenta was fine. One day the doctors couldn’t stabilize his condition and Kenta blamed himself for being healthy as if he took it from his brother.”

He sighs shakily and rubs the bridge of his nose between his eyes. “I was part of a construction company, where the project was, we went. I was gone most of his childhood on a 10 year project too far from home so I just called and visited when I could. Eventually that grew less as I tried to work extra so it would be done sooner, and I did get back home after 8 years instead of 10 but I…”

Daichi takes a moment before continuing. “I wish I didn’t take that damn job… I thought I was providing for my family but we only grew apart. I wasn’t there for Kenta when he needed me and his guilt was taken advantage of. It made him very useful, and very alone.“

Hana looks down at her glass sadly. “That explains a lot…”

Daichi nods. “I’m not telling this to burden you, I just… Haven’t seen him make so much progress before.”

Hana blinks. “What do you mean?”

“You.” Daichi points to her, stating it like it's obvious. “He listens to you, I haven’t been able to play a game with him like that since he was a kid. Heck, he wouldn’t even eat chips if I gave them to him. I don’t know what you did, but it’s working. He likes you.”

Hana's face warms slightly. “I don’t think I do anything special, I just kinda threatened him with extremely inefficient things if he doesn’t take at least some of a break. I think he just feels responsible for me as his first and only employee. It’s not a big deal.”

Daichi shakes his head. “It’s a huge deal. Do you think we haven’t tried that? Have you seen Tamaki? He’s a walking ball of sunshine and he wants it to rub off on Kenta but after all this time it still hasn’t. He may act like he does everything just because he’s your boss but that’s because he’s never had a crush before. He likes you and just doesn’t know it.”

Hana takes a sip of her water, hoping it will cool down her cheeks. “I-I’m not so sure.”

“Thank you though, truly.” Daichi says gently, his eyes serious.

“What for?” Hana asks.

“For being kind to him, most don’t care to deal with his strange ways, it’s hard for him, but he’s always been trying to get back to normal.”

Daichi straightens, stretching as if letting a heavy weight fall from his shoulders. “Anyway, for what it’s worth, I’m rooting for you.”

Hana blinks. “What does that mean?”

Daichi shrugs with a grin. “I’ve seen enough in my life to know what certain things mean.”

Hana opens her mouth but a reply doesn’t come out as footsteps can be heard in the hallway. Slow, familiar, controlled.

“Speak of the devil.” Daichi grins.

Kenta stands at the edge of the kitchen doorway, scanning the scene in front of him with his usually neutral expression, but his hair is slightly tousled from sleep.

“Why are you both awake?”

They speak at the same time.

Hana lifts her glass. “Water.”

“Existential support.” Daichi crosses his arms proudly.

Kenta takes a moment to process. “I understand one of those less than the other.”

Hana laughs into her hand and Daichi points his thumb at Hana, unashamed. “I was informing her I am rooting for her.”

Hana nearly drops her cup. “You don’t need to repeat that!”

Kenta's gaze lands on his father. “Rooting for what?”

A grin spreads across Daichi's face, his chest puffed out with pride. “For romance.”

Hana turns away, hiding in the corner of the room as a strangled sound comes out of her. “Please stop saying words now.”

Kenta blinks, taking a moment to connect what he’s recently learned on romance. “That is not an active project.”

Daichi places a hand on his chest dramatically. “My son, love should always be an active project!”

“It is not on the schedule.”

“IT SHOULD BE!” Tamaki calls from the couch and all three look out of the kitchen to see him sitting up with blanket lines on his face, his eyes still closed.

“No one asked you.” Kenta states and Hana snorts with laughter.

“I ask me.” Tamaki says before he lies back down to continue sleeping.

Daichi pats Kenta on the shoulder. “Let’s get back to sleep and dream of the possibilities."

As they all go back to their rooms, Hana and Kenta brush shoulders, not looking directly at each other.

“Goodnight.” She mutters before going into her room.

“Goodnight.” He replies, watching her leave before going to his room, seeing his fathers happy face.

Kenta looks at him and Daichi looks back with a smug look on his face. “Please do not look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Triumphant.”

Daichi laughs and it can be heard through the whole building, making everyone smile, including Kenta. Even if it was just a little.