A QUIET KIND OF CARE

 A Quiet Kind of Care

Max paced back and forth across the small living room, his heart racing as he glanced down at Kota, who lay bundled in blankets on the couch. The little boy's face was flushed, and his small body was radiating heat, his tiny breaths uneven and strained. Kota had been irritable all morning, but when his fever spiked that afternoon, Max knew he was in over his head.

Panicking slightly, Max fumbled with his phone, quickly dialing Kenji's number. His foot tapped anxiously against the floor as he waited for the line to connect.

"Come on, come on," Max muttered, listening to the repetitive ring.

After what felt like an eternity, the call went to voicemail. "Yo, this is Kenji. I'm probably out doing something cooler than answering your call, but leave a message, and I'll think about getting back to you."

Max groaned, hanging up and running a hand through his hair. "Great, of all the times to ghost me…"

He stared down at Kota, feeling the weight of his helplessness settle in. What was he supposed to do now? He'd never had to deal with this before—he wasn't even sure if Kota just needed rest or if it was serious enough for a doctor. 

A wave of guilt hit him. Shouldn't he know this stuff? Shouldn't he be more prepared? Max shook his head. There was no time to beat himself up. He needed help.

Without thinking twice, Max scrolled through his contacts and tapped Noriko's name. His fingers trembled slightly as he brought the phone to his ear, praying she'd pick up.

After only a couple of rings, Noriko's voice came through the line, calm and familiar. "Hey, Max. Everything okay?"

Relief washed over him. "Noriko, hey. I—uh—I don't know if I'm overreacting, but Kota's got a fever, and I'm kind of freaking out. Kenji's MIA, and I don't know what to do. Could you… maybe come by? I could really use some help."

There was a brief pause on the other end, then Noriko's voice softened. "Of course, Max. I'll be right over. Don't worry, we'll figure it out."

Max let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Thanks, Noriko. Really."

"Just hang tight. I'll be there soon."

---

It wasn't long before Max heard the sound of Noriko's knock at the door. He hurried over and opened it, a mix of relief and nervousness flooding through him. Noriko stood there with a small bag in hand, her expression warm and reassuring.

"Hey," she greeted softly, stepping inside. "How's Kota?"

Max gestured to the couch where Kota lay, his small body curled up under a pile of blankets. "He's still burning up. I've been trying to keep him comfortable, but…"

Noriko gave him a gentle smile and placed a hand on his arm, a calming gesture that instantly made Max feel a little more grounded. "You're doing fine, Max. Let's take a look at him."

She knelt beside the couch, her movements calm and practiced. As she gently placed a hand on Kota's forehead, Max watched, a mix of gratitude and admiration welling up inside him. Noriko had this way of bringing a sense of peace with her, even in moments like this when everything felt overwhelming.

"His fever's definitely high, but nothing too alarming," Noriko said quietly, her voice soothing. "We'll keep an eye on him and make sure he stays hydrated. Have you given him any medicine yet?"

Max shook his head. "No, I wasn't sure what was safe for him."

Noriko smiled gently, reaching into the bag she'd brought. "I brought some baby fever reducer. Let's give him a little of this, and then we'll see how he's doing in an hour or so."

She measured out the right dose and carefully administered the medicine to Kota, who whined softly but took it without much fuss. Max hovered nearby, feeling useless but trying to absorb everything she was doing.

"You're a lifesaver," he murmured.

Noriko glanced up at him, her eyes kind. "I'm just glad I could help."

They both sat beside Kota for a while, watching over him as his fever slowly began to subside. The apartment was quiet, save for the occasional soft sound of Kota stirring under his blankets. It was a strange feeling for Max, sitting there with Noriko in this shared, quiet space of caring for his son. 

There was something intimate about it, not in the romantic sense, but in the way that they were both there for Kota—working together, united in their concern. 

---

As time passed and Kota seemed to be resting more comfortably, Max finally allowed himself to relax a little. He sat back against the couch, letting out a long breath. "I don't know how you do it," he said, glancing over at Noriko. "You're so calm about everything."

Noriko smiled softly, settling back next to him. "I guess I've had some practice. My little sister used to get sick a lot when we were younger. I kind of became the 'go-to' when it came to taking care of her."

Max nodded, his gaze softening. "Well, you're a natural. I was pretty much in full panic mode before you showed up."

Noriko chuckled. "You're doing better than you think, Max. It's normal to be scared when your kid is sick. But look at you—you knew to reach out, you're staying with him. That's what matters."

Max stared at her, a deep sense of appreciation growing. "I just… I don't know what I'm doing most of the time. I'm trying to figure it out, but it's hard. I didn't expect any of this."

Noriko met his gaze, her eyes soft with understanding. "No one really knows what they're doing when they become a parent. It's a lot of trial and error. But you're doing it, Max. You care about Kota more than anything, and that's what makes you a great dad."

Max swallowed hard, her words hitting him in a place he hadn't let himself acknowledge before. He looked away for a moment, his voice quieter. "Thanks, Noriko. That… means a lot coming from you."

There was a pause between them, a comfortable silence that felt charged with something just beneath the surface. Max couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was an energy in the room—something gentle, unspoken, but undeniably there.

Noriko shifted slightly, leaning back against the couch beside Max. "It's nice, being here," she said softly, her voice thoughtful. "Just… spending time with you and Kota."

Max turned to look at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah… it is nice, isn't it?"

They sat there, side by side, the soft sound of Kota's breathing filling the space between them. The weight of the day seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of calm that neither of them had expected. It wasn't anything grand or life-changing—it was just the quiet understanding that they were becoming more than just acquaintances or coworkers.

Max glanced over at Noriko, noticing the way her hair fell gently over her shoulder, the soft glow of the evening light casting her features in a warm hue. For a moment, he allowed himself to wonder—what if this was the beginning of something? Something that could grow over time, slow and steady.

But he quickly pushed the thought aside. It was too soon for anything like that. He wasn't ready—neither of them were. And yet, the connection was there, even if it was subtle. It was enough for now.

As Noriko shifted to stand up, she smiled down at Max. "I should get going. Kota's doing better now, and you'll need to get some rest too."

Max stood, his heart feeling a little lighter. "Thanks again, Noriko. For everything."

She smiled, lingering by the door for a moment. "Anytime, Max. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything."

As she left, Max stood in the quiet apartment, feeling the warmth of her presence still lingering. He looked down at Kota, who was now peacefully asleep, and couldn't help but smile. Things weren't perfect, but they were getting better.

And maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something more.

---

*End of Chapter 12.*