SHADOWS FROM THE PAST

Shadows from the Past

The sun shone brightly through the window as Max strapped Kota into the baby carrier, excitement bubbling in his chest. It had been a tough few weeks, but today was different. Today was about bonding. No work, no stress—just a day at the mall, picking out new clothes for Kota and maybe grabbing a treat or two. 

"Alright, little guy," Max said, gently patting Kota's head. "Today's all about us. You ready?"

Kota gurgled in response, kicking his tiny legs in excitement.

"That's the spirit."

Max smiled as he left the apartment, the weight of fatherhood feeling a little lighter today. They deserved this—some fun, something normal.

---

The mall was bustling with families, couples, and groups of friends, but Max didn't feel out of place for once. As he and Kota strolled through the aisles of a children's clothing store, Max couldn't help but grin at the tiny shirts and onesies with funny slogans. 

"How about this one, Kota?" Max held up a tiny shirt that read *Daddy's Little Champion*. Kota reached out with his tiny hands and giggled.

"Good choice," Max said, tossing it into the cart. "You'll look great in this."

They wandered through the store, picking out outfits, and Max felt the warmth of the day settling into his bones. Every time he looked at Kota, the baby's eyes wide with curiosity at the world around him, Max felt something close to peace.

They left the store, Kota now sporting a brand-new pair of shoes—his first ever—and Max couldn't help but feel proud. They made their way to the food court, where Max indulged in a slice of pizza while feeding Kota mashed bananas. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so relaxed, just enjoying time with his son.

After they ate, Max decided to stop by a clothing store for himself. He hadn't bought new clothes in ages, and though money was tight, he figured he deserved a small splurge. 

---

Inside the store, Max flipped through racks of shirts and jeans while Kota quietly napped in the carrier. Everything was going smoothly, until—

A flash of familiarity caught Max's eye. At first, he wasn't sure, but when he turned his head, there she was—Saki.

She stood by a rack of designer dresses, her back to him, but Max would recognize that long, sleek black hair anywhere. She wore a fitted, expensive-looking dress, paired with luxury-brand accessories that screamed wealth. Max felt his stomach drop. He hadn't seen her since the day she left him, and now here she was, looking like she had walked out of a high-end magazine.

"Saki?" Max called, the name escaping his lips before he could stop himself.

She turned at the sound of her name, her eyes widening for just a moment. Max saw something flicker in her expression, but before she could say a word, a tall, sharply dressed man approached her, wrapping an arm around her waist. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Saki laughed softly, resting her hand on the man's chest.

Max stood frozen, watching as the man—someone clearly wealthy—held her close. He looked like the kind of guy who had everything together: expensive clothes, polished shoes, the confidence of someone who had never struggled a day in his life.

For a moment, their eyes met. Saki's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't. She just stood there, letting the man hold her, and then—just like that—she looked away.

Max felt a sharp sting in his chest. He quickly turned and left the store without another word. His mind raced, every painful memory flooding back in full force. She hadn't changed. If anything, she had upgraded her life, moving on to someone wealthier, more successful. Someone who, unlike Max, had something to offer her.

He walked out of the mall in a daze, his heart pounding in his chest. His hand instinctively tightened around the carrier straps, feeling Kota's weight pressing against him. He had to get out of there—away from the reminder of what he'd lost, or maybe, what he'd never really had.

---

The walk home was quiet, the sun now dipping below the horizon. Max tried to keep his breathing steady, but his chest was tight, his emotions threatening to spill over.

As they passed a familiar street corner, Noriko appeared in the distance, carrying groceries. Her eyes lit up when she saw Max and Kota.

"Max! Kota!" she greeted with a warm smile. "What are you two up to?"

Max forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just… getting some air," he replied, his voice strained.

Noriko noticed something was off immediately. She set her groceries down and placed a gentle hand on Max's arm. "Are you okay?"

Max opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. His mind was still reeling from seeing Saki with that man, the way she had laughed like she didn't have a care in the world.

"Why don't you come over for dinner?" Noriko offered, her voice soft but firm. "I was just about to make something. You both look like you could use a good meal."

Max hesitated, but the weight of the day pressed down on him, and he found himself nodding. "Yeah… yeah, that sounds nice."

---

Dinner at Noriko's place was quiet, but comforting. She made a simple meal of stir-fried vegetables and rice, which Max ate in silence while Kota nibbled on soft pieces of bread. Noriko didn't press him to talk, but her presence was enough to keep Max from completely falling apart.

After dinner, Noriko put on some soft music and let Kota crawl around on the floor with a few toys she had stashed away. Max watched his son, but his mind was elsewhere. The image of Saki with that man haunted him, swirling around in his head like a storm he couldn't escape.

When Kota finally drifted off to sleep, Max slumped back on Noriko's couch, exhausted. Noriko sat next to him, her eyes kind and understanding.

"Want a drink?" she asked gently.

Max hesitated. He wasn't much of a drinker, but tonight, the weight of everything felt like too much to carry on his own. "Yeah… I could use one."

Noriko brought over two small glasses of whiskey. Max took a tentative sip, feeling the warmth of the alcohol spread through his chest. It helped, but only a little.

One glass turned into two, and by the third, Max was feeling light-headed. He was a lightweight when it came to drinking, and Noriko must have known because she poured him small amounts each time. Still, it was enough to make his emotions surge to the surface.

"She left me," Max muttered, staring down at his empty glass. "She just… left me."

Noriko didn't say anything, letting him talk.

"I wasn't good enough for her," Max continued, his voice cracking. "And now… she's with some rich guy, living the life she always wanted, I guess. And I'm here, barely holding it together. I don't even know if I'm doing any of this right."

He wiped at his eyes, but the tears came faster than he could stop them. "I love Kota. I do. But sometimes, I don't know if I'm enough for him either."

Noriko set her glass down and pulled Max into a hug, her arms wrapping around him tightly. "Max," she said softly, "you're doing more than enough. You're doing the best you can, and that's more than enough."

Max's shoulders shook as the tears spilled over. He hadn't cried like this in years. He felt like a child again, completely vulnerable and broken. But Noriko held him, her touch gentle and reassuring.

"You're a good dad," she whispered, her voice steady. "You're doing a great job. And you're not alone, Max. You don't have to do this alone."

Max sobbed into her shoulder, all the pain and frustration of the past few months pouring out in waves. For the first time in a long time, he let himself cry without holding back, without pretending he had everything together.

And for the first time in

a long time, he felt like maybe—just maybe—he could start to heal.

---

*End of Chapter 8.*