NEW BEGGININGS OLD SCARS

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**Chapter 4: New Beginnings, Old Scars**

Max paced nervously in his living room, the phone pressed tightly against his ear. Kenji was on the other end of the line, and after what felt like the longest day of Max's life, the time had come.

"Alright, alright," Kenji said, his voice sounding far too relaxed for Max's liking. "I've got the results right here. Are you ready?"

Max stopped pacing, standing perfectly still in the middle of his cluttered apartment. Kota was on the floor, happily playing with a stuffed giraffe, completely oblivious to the fact that his father's entire life was about to change—for better or worse.

"Yeah," Max said, his throat dry. "Just… tell me."

There was a pause, long enough for Max's mind to race through every possible outcome. Maybe Saki had been mistaken. Maybe Kota wasn't his. Maybe…

"It's positive, bro," Kenji said finally, his voice softening just a bit. "You're the dad."

Max let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He sat down on the couch, his body suddenly feeling heavy with a strange mix of relief and anxiety.

"Thanks, Kenji," he muttered, trying to process the news.

Kenji laughed softly on the other end. "Hey, man, congratulations. It's not every day you find out you're a dad. You doing okay?"

Max glanced over at Kota, who had just discovered how to pull the giraffe's tail. The baby's giggles filled the room, and for the first time since Saki had dropped Kota into his life, Max felt… lighter. Scared, sure, but lighter.

"I don't know if I'm ready for this," Max admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I guess I don't have a choice, do I?"

Kenji chuckled. "Nope. Welcome to the world of diapers and sleepless nights. You're officially a dad."

Max smiled despite himself. "Yeah. I guess I am."

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The next day, Max woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. He was *Kota's dad*. There was no more questioning it, no more wondering if this was temporary. He had a son, and he needed to step up.

And that meant finding a job. A real one. With benefits. And maybe some kind of daycare plan.

After feeding Kota breakfast (and somehow managing to avoid spilling formula all over himself), Max dressed the baby in a tiny shirt that read "Daddy's Little Helper." It had been an impulse buy during his panicked shopping spree, but now, seeing Kota wearing it made Max's chest swell with pride.

"Alright, little dude," Max said, strapping Kota into the baby carrier. "We're on a mission today. Time to find a job."

Their first stop was a nearby office building where Max had heard about an entry-level position. As he walked through the doors, Kota nestled against his chest, Max tried to muster as much confidence as he could. But between the baby carrier, the diaper bag slung over his shoulder, and the faint scent of baby wipes clinging to his clothes, he felt anything but professional.

The receptionist eyed Max curiously as he approached the desk. "Uh, can I help you?"

Max cleared his throat. "Yeah, I'm here to apply for the—" Kota suddenly let out a loud gurgle, followed by a hiccup, and Max froze mid-sentence.

The receptionist raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking to the baby strapped to Max's chest. "The what?"

Max blinked, flustered. "Uh, the… the job. The, uh—" He glanced down at Kota, who was now drooling contentedly. "The entry-level position?"

The receptionist smiled, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Right. You can fill out an application over there."

Max mumbled a quick thanks and hurried over to the waiting area, feeling his face burn with embarrassment. He plopped down in a chair and grabbed the clipboard, trying to focus on the questions in front of him. But Kota had other ideas. 

Halfway through the application, Kota began to fuss, squirming in the carrier and letting out soft whines. Max sighed, bouncing the baby gently as he scribbled answers onto the form. "Come on, buddy, work with me here. Daddy needs this job."

But Kota wasn't interested in Max's job hunt. He wanted attention, and he wanted it *now*. Within minutes, he was wailing loud enough to make heads turn, and Max felt his chances of landing the job slowly slipping away.

"Alright, alright, we're going," Max muttered, packing up his things and making a hasty exit. He spent the rest of the day hitting up various job sites, but the results were the same. Either the positions weren't a good fit, or Kota's well-timed outbursts sabotaged his chances.

By the time the sun began to set, Max was exhausted, both mentally and physically. He trudged back to the apartment, Kota asleep against his chest, snoring softly. Max felt defeated. He hadn't even managed to get through a single interview without something going wrong.

Back home, Max laid Kota down in his crib and collapsed onto the couch, rubbing his temples. "Well, that went about as badly as it could've," he muttered to himself. "But hey, at least we survived."

Kota stirred in his sleep, and Max leaned back, closing his eyes for just a moment. His thoughts drifted, and before he knew it, he was back in a place he hadn't thought about in months.

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The memories came flooding back, uninvited and painful.

It had been the middle of the night, just like this, when Saki had ended things. She hadn't just broken up with him—she had torn him apart, piece by piece, with every word she said.

"I can't do this anymore, Max," she had said, her arms crossed as she stood in the doorway of his old apartment. "You're going nowhere. Your job is a joke, and you're barely keeping up with school. What am I even doing here?"

Max had stood there, his heart pounding, feeling like his entire world was slipping away. "Saki, please. I know I'm not where I want to be yet, but I'm trying. I'm doing my best."

"Your best?" Saki had laughed, but there was no humor in it. Only bitterness. "Your best isn't good enough, Max. You've been stuck in the same place for *years*. I want more out of life, and you're just dragging me down."

Max had felt the sting of her words, but he couldn't let her go. Not like this. She was the only person who had ever believed in him, the only one who had stuck by him through everything. He couldn't lose her. "Please, Saki. Don't go. We can fix this. I'll do better, I swear."

Saki had shaken her head, her expression cold. "There's nothing to fix. I need someone who's actually going somewhere in life. Someone who can *give* me something, not just hold me back."

Max had tried to argue, to convince her that things would get better, but she wouldn't listen. She had packed her things that night and left without looking back. And Max had been left standing in the doorway, alone.

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Max snapped out of the memory, his chest tightening as the weight of it all settled over him again. He glanced at Kota, who was still fast asleep, his tiny chest rising and falling with each breath.

He had begged Saki to stay, had clung to the idea that she was the only person who believed in him. But now, here he was—with a son. *Their* son. 

He wasn't sure how he felt about it all yet, but one thing was clear: Kota was hi

s now. And this time, Max wouldn't be the one left behind.

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*End of Chapter 4.*

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