Kael spent most of the morning staring at his notebook. He had written down the family’s expected expenses, crossed out a few things he thought they could live without, then added them back after remembering that Noah still needed more supplies.
The numbers weren’t the problem. He could handle numbers. The problem was that he had no idea how much money a family like his would need next month, let alone a year from now.
He rubbed his forehead and looked at the small pile of receipts beside him.
"You’re making that face again," Sera said from the sofa.
Kael looked up. "What face?"
"The one you make when something is bothering you but you don’t want to talk about it."
"I’m not making a face."
Sera raised an eyebrow. "You have been staring at those papers for almost an hour. Even Noah has spent less time looking at the ceiling."
Kael glanced at his son, who was lying safely in his crib. Noah had been quiet for the past few minutes, his tiny hands moving occasionally as he stared at the world around him.
"He’s got better things to do than worry about bills," Kael said.
"That’s because he’s a baby."
"Exactly. I should learn from him."
Sera laughed softly. It wasn’t a loud laugh, but Kael found himself looking at her for a moment longer than necessary. Since arriving at the apartment, she had started to look less exhausted. There were still dark circles under her eyes, and she sometimes fell quiet whenever her thoughts drifted toward her old life, but at least she no longer looked like she might collapse at any moment.
Kael returned his attention to the notebook.
"I need to figure out our finances," he explained. "I don’t want us to run into trouble because I didn’t plan ahead."
"That makes sense," Sera replied. "Have you considered opening a savings account?"
Kael paused. He had been thinking about expenses and income so much that he hadn’t given the simplest option enough attention.
"I have," he admitted. "I just don’t know which bank would be best."
"Then compare a few. Check their fees, interest rates, and what you need to open an account. You don’t have to decide today."
Kael looked at her. "You make it sound easy."
"It isn’t. But making yourself miserable won’t make it easier."
"You’re surprisingly good at giving advice."
"I come from a family that enjoys making decisions for other people," Sera said, her smile fading a little. "You learn to think about money and security when your entire future can be decided in a room you’ve never been invited into."
Kael didn’t answer immediately. He remembered what she had told him about her engagement. Her father had chosen a man for her, and she had been expected to accept without complaint. Even now, Kael didn’t know how much of her current situation had been caused by that decision.
He wanted to ask, but he decided against it. They had enough to deal with today.
"You’re right," Kael said. "I’ll compare the banks first."
"Good. And don’t forget to eat something."
"I ate breakfast."
"You ate two eggs and a piece of bread. That doesn’t count as a proper meal."
"It counts if you’re the one who cooked it."
Sera gave him an unimpressed look. "Your fried rice yesterday was almost a crime."
"Almost?"
"I’m trying to be kind."
Kael put a hand over his chest. "I appreciate your kindness."
"You’re welcome."
For the first time that morning, Kael closed the notebook without feeling like he was giving up. He could work on the plan one step at a time.
By late morning, Kael had settled on three banks to investigate. He sat at the small dining table with his phone, comparing account requirements and fees while Sera rested on the sofa nearby. Noah had just finished feeding, and she was watching him with a quiet smile as he settled down.
Kael found that some accounts required a minimum balance, while others charged fees if the account holder didn’t meet certain conditions. A few offered better interest rates, but he didn’t understand all the details. He wrote down the information he could understand and left the ones that needed more research for later.
After nearly forty minutes, he leaned back.
"This is harder than I expected," he muttered.
"What is?" Sera asked.
"Choosing a bank. Some of them have so many conditions that I need a second phone just to read everything."
"Then don’t rush into it," Sera said. "You can visit a branch and ask questions. Sometimes it’s easier to understand when someone explains it to you."
Kael nodded. "That’s probably what I’ll do."
He looked at the notebook again. His budget had three main sections now: regular expenses, emergency savings, and Noah’s future needs.
The last section was mostly empty.
He had no idea what school fees would look like years from now or how much it would cost to raise Noah as he grew older. He couldn’t even predict what kind of job he would have by then. Still, leaving the page blank felt wrong.
Kael picked up his pen and wrote one sentence beneath the heading.
Start saving early, even if the amount is small.
It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was a start.
A faint chime sounded in his mind, and Kael’s pen stopped moving. A familiar translucent screen appeared in front of him.
[Family Man System]
[Task: Prepare a Long-Term Financial Plan]
[Progress: 75%]
[Additional Requirement: Establish a Regular Savings Plan]
[Status: Incomplete]
Kael kept his expression neutral while he read the notification. Seventy-five percent. He had made more progress than he expected, but the system was still waiting for him to establish an actual savings plan. Writing about saving money wasn’t the same as doing it.
The screen disappeared after a moment.
Kael placed the pen on the table and glanced at Noah. "All right," he whispered. "We’ll get there."
"Did you say something?" Sera asked.
Kael looked at her. "I said we’ll get there."
Sera tilted her head. "Get where?"
"Financial stability."
"Oh." She smiled faintly. "That’s a big goal."
"It has to be. I have two people depending on me now."
Sera’s expression changed at his words. For a moment, she looked as though she wanted to say something, but she lowered her eyes before he could ask.
Kael wondered what she was thinking, but he didn’t press her.
Around noon, Kael decided to step outside. He needed to buy a few groceries, and he also wanted to visit one of the nearby bank branches. He had spent enough time reading information on his phone. It was time to ask a real person some questions.
Sera offered to go with him, but Kael shook his head.
"You should rest," he told her. "I’ll only be gone for a little while."
"I’ve rested enough."
"You were barely able to stand properly when you arrived here."
"That was yesterday."
"And yesterday wasn’t a year ago."
Sera folded her arms. "You know, for someone who claims not to be making a face, you’re very good at looking stubborn."
Kael smiled. "I learned from the best."
"Who?"
"You."
Sera stared at him for a second before shaking her head.
"Fine. But don’t buy anything unnecessary."
"I won’t."
"And don’t come back with more of those instant noodles."
Kael stopped halfway toward the door. "What if they’re on sale?"
"Kael."
"All right, all right. No instant noodles."
He left before she could add anything else.
The bank was only a short walk from the apartment building. Kael spent some time asking about savings accounts, minimum balances, account fees, and the documents he would need. The employee explained the options patiently, and he wrote down the details in his notebook.
He didn’t open an account immediately. He wanted to compare the information with what he had found online before making a decision.
It felt strange to be thinking about savings instead of worrying about whether he could afford rent. A few days ago, his biggest concern had been getting through another shift at the convenience store. Now, he was planning for a child who would depend on him for years.
The responsibility was frightening, but it also gave him something he hadn’t had in a long time: a reason to look forward to tomorrow.
After leaving the bank, Kael bought vegetables, rice, eggs, and a few other necessities from a nearby grocery store. He checked the prices carefully, resisting the temptation to buy things simply because they looked useful.
When he returned to the apartment, he found Sera sitting beside Noah’s crib. She looked up as he entered.
"You’re back sooner than I expected," she said.
"The bank wasn’t far away."
"Did you open an account?"
"Not yet. I wanted to compare everything first."
Sera nodded. "That’s sensible."
Kael placed the groceries on the kitchen counter. "How was Noah?"
"He slept for a while. Then he woke up, ate, and decided that the world had personally offended him."
Kael looked toward the crib. "Sounds serious."
"Very serious. I think he was upset that nobody was carrying him."
"That’s understandable. He’s got high standards."
Sera smiled as Kael washed his hands and began putting away the groceries. After a few minutes, she spoke again.
"Kael, can I ask you something?"
He turned toward her. "Sure."
"Are you planning to return to work?"
His hands paused over the cupboard. He had known the question would come eventually. He had been avoiding it because he didn’t have a clear answer yet.
"I haven’t decided," he said honestly. "I spoke to my boss this morning. He gave me until the end of the week to sort things out."
"Because of Noah?"
"Because I suddenly have a lot of things to deal with."
Sera looked down at her hands. "I’m sorry."
Kael closed the cupboard and faced her. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Because you wouldn’t be dealing with any of this if I hadn’t shown up at your door."
Kael was quiet for a moment. It was true that his life had changed overnight. He had gone from living alone to sharing an apartment with the woman who had disappeared after their encounter and the son he hadn’t known existed.
But looking at Noah, Kael couldn’t honestly say he wished the boy had never arrived.
"My life was simple before you came," he said. "Simple doesn’t always mean good."
Sera slowly lifted her head.
"I’m not saying this is easy," Kael continued. "I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. I spent an embarrassing amount of time this morning trying to figure out how much money a baby needs. And I still haven’t figured out how to make decent fried rice."
"That’s true," Sera said quietly.
Kael gave her a look. "You could pretend to disagree."
"I’m sorry. I can’t lie about the fried rice."
He laughed, and Sera joined him. Then Kael’s expression softened.
"But I don’t regret Noah being here," he said. "I need time to work out the rest, but I’ll do it."
Sera stared at him. Her eyes grew slightly moist, though she quickly looked away.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You don’t have to thank me for taking care of my own son."
"I know. But I still want to."
Kael didn’t know what else to say, so he returned to the groceries and gave her a little space. He had a feeling that she was carrying more guilt than she wanted to admit. He couldn’t make it disappear with a few comforting words, and he wasn’t going to pretend that everything between them was fine.
For now, they could at least be honest about what they needed to do next.
That evening, Kael sat at the dining table again. He had added the information from the bank to his notes and adjusted the budget. The plan was still rough, but it now included a possible savings account, a monthly contribution, and a small emergency fund.
He also needed to decide what to do about his job.
Returning to the convenience store would provide regular income, but the shifts could be difficult to manage with a newborn at home. Quitting without another source of income would be foolish, especially when he had no idea how long his current money would last.
He couldn’t simply assume that everything would work out.
Kael stared at the page for a while, then wrote down another task.
Find a reliable source of income that allows enough time for family.
He underlined it.
A quiet cry came from the living room, and Kael stood up immediately. Noah was awake again, moving his arms and letting everyone know that he wasn’t happy about it.
"I’ve got him," Kael said.
Sera, who had been folding the clean baby clothes, looked up. "Are you sure? I can take him."
"I’ll try first."
Kael checked Noah’s diaper and found that it needed changing. He took care of it, then held his son against his chest and gently rocked him.
"There we go," Kael murmured. "You can’t keep calling emergency meetings every hour, little man."
Noah continued fussing for a few seconds before gradually settling down.
Kael walked slowly around the living room, supporting the baby’s head and keeping him close. He was still learning how to recognize every cry, but the process was becoming a little easier.
Sera watched them from the sofa. "You look more comfortable holding him now," she said.
"That’s because I’m finally learning which end needs the most support."
"Kael!"
"What? It’s important information."
Sera covered her mouth to hide her laughter. Kael smiled down at Noah. The baby had stopped crying and was staring vaguely in his direction, his tiny fingers curled against Kael’s shirt.
For a few minutes, Kael forgot about the budget, the bank, and the uncertain future waiting for him.
Then the familiar system notification appeared.
[Family Man System]
[Task Progress Updated]
[Prepare a Long-Term Financial Plan: 90%]
[Additional Requirement: Establish a Regular Savings Plan]
[Status: Incomplete]
Kael read the message without changing his expression.
Ninety percent.
He was close, but the system still wanted him to put the plan into action. He would need to choose a bank, open the account, and decide on a regular amount to save.
He could do that. He didn’t need to solve everything tonight.
The notification faded from view. Kael adjusted Noah carefully and looked over at Sera.
"Tomorrow, I’ll finish the savings plan," he said. "Then I’ll work out what to do about my job."
Sera nodded. "And I’ll think about what I can do to help."
"You should focus on getting your strength back first."
"I can do both."
Kael studied her face. She wasn’t asking for permission, and he knew better than to turn their conversation into an argument.
"All right," he said. "We’ll talk about it tomorrow."
Sera seemed satisfied with that answer.
Kael carried Noah back to his crib and lowered him gently onto the fitted mattress. After making sure he was lying safely on his back, Kael stepped away.
The apartment was quiet again. He looked around the living room, at the groceries in the kitchen, the notebook on the table, and the baby clothes Sera had folded into neat little piles.
A few days ago, he had lived alone and worried about nothing beyond his next shift. Now he had a son, a complicated history with the boy’s mother, and a future he couldn’t predict.
It was a lot to handle.
But when Kael looked at Noah sleeping peacefully in his crib, he knew he wasn’t going to run away from it. He would find a way to provide for them. He would figure out his work situation, build up their savings, and learn how to be a better father.
He didn’t have all the answers yet, but for the first time in a long while, he had a clear idea of what he wanted his life to become.
And that was enough for tonight.