After the gathering ended, Koku was stuffed full by everyone, his little belly had no room for anything else, and he was feeling quite bloated. If it weren’t for his upbringing that taught him to maintain his image in public, he would have leaned against his brother, Tezuka Kunimitsu, using all his strength to digest the delicious food he had eaten today.
Tezuka Kunimitsu, whom Koku was leaning on, appeared calm on the surface, but he was actually worried about his brother’s stomach being overstuffed. When he returned after talking with Fuji Shusuke, he realized that his brother had been fed too much by their club members!
Counting the sushi plates Koku had finished, Tezuka Kunimitsu helplessly found that his brother had eaten way more than his usual amount, even several times more. But seeing the club members enthusiastically feeding his brother, Tezuka Kunimitsu felt that even if he wanted to stop them, he probably couldn’t!
He thought it would be best to have their mom prepare some digestive tablets for Koku when they got home.
“Koku, we’re getting ready to go home.” When everyone had almost finished eating, Tezuka Kunimitsu quietly settled the bill while no one was paying attention. Then, under the enthusiastic hospitality of Kawamura’s father, he ended up taking back quite a few desserts.
“These are desserts prepared by Kawamura’s father for everyone, come and take them yourselves!”
“Great, there’s my favorite wagashi!” Seeing the desserts Tezuka brought, Kikumaru Eiji leaped over to Tezuka Kunimitsu, happily picking up two wagashi to share with Koku.
But his action was stopped by Tezuka Kunimitsu, “Eiji, Koku has eaten enough today, we can’t let him eat more.”
“Huh?” Kikumaru Eiji was stunned for a moment before realizing what his captain meant. He then reflected that indeed, everyone seemed to have given little Koku too much food today. And Koku, being so good-natured, didn’t refuse anyone, so everyone fed him based on their own portions, not realizing he was just an eight-year-old kid who couldn’t possibly eat as much as they did!
Koku wouldn’t be overstuffed, would he? Kikumaru Eiji started to worry.
So he put down the wagashi and quietly observed Koku’s expression. Seeing no signs of discomfort or reluctance on Koku’s face, Kikumaru Eiji finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But now he didn’t dare to casually give Koku food, and even when others wanted to feed Koku, he would playfully distract Koku.
Thanks to his antics, Koku barely ate any of the special desserts Kawamura’s dad had prepared.
“What’s wrong, Koku, do you want to eat?” Kawamura Takashi, sitting next to him, noticed Koku’s eyes fixed on the desserts on the table and asked softly.
“Koku can’t eat anymore.” Although curious about the taste of the desserts, Koku knew he couldn’t eat more, or his body wouldn’t be able to handle it.
So he shook his head, indicating he didn’t want to eat the delicious-looking wagashi in front of him.
But Kawamura Takashi could see through the little one’s words. So he found an excuse to run to the kitchen, asking his father to make an extra wagashi for Koku to take home after the gathering.
“Dad, the captain’s brother is here today, and I want to prepare a wagashi for him as a gift. Could you help me with that?”
“Tezuka-kun’s brother?” Kawamura’s dad recalled the guests who came to the store today and asked his son excitedly, “Is it that small, especially cute kid who came today?”
“Yes, yes, Koku is really cute and well-behaved, everyone likes him.”
“Everyone was too enthusiastic today, feeding Koku too much, so he couldn’t eat your special desserts. It’s such a pity, so I thought you could prepare an extra wagashi for him to take home!”
To persuade his father, Kawamura explained earnestly, though he didn’t know his father was actually overjoyed inside, just pretending to be nonchalant, waving him off to leave the kitchen, “Got it, you go wait, I’ll prepare it for you soon!”
And when he left the kitchen, Kawamura’s dad couldn’t help but clench his fist in celebration.
You see, when Koku entered the store today, Kawamura’s dad had noticed him right away.
Small in stature, always smiling at those around him, he seemed obedient and sensible, and so delicate-looking, he was exactly the kind of child Kawamura’s dad had always imagined his son to be.
What no one knew was that despite his fierce appearance, Kawamura’s dad had always wished for a cute, obedient child. But due to strong genetics, all the Kawamura kids were just like him, honest and sturdy, looking like they were cut from the same mold.
So Kawamura’s dad always envied other people’s cute and obedient kids, and whenever he saw one, he couldn’t help but prepare extra food for them.
When Koku entered the store, Kawamura’s dad had been secretly watching him. He was just wondering how to find an excuse to approach the little one when his son came over asking him to prepare desserts for the child, which was just too lucky!
So when the tennis club was about to leave, Kawamura’s dad came out of the kitchen with the desserts he made for Koku.
Refusing his son’s attempt to take the desserts, Kawamura’s dad went directly to Tezuka Kunimitsu and Koku, politely handing the desserts to Tezuka Kunimitsu, “Tezuka-kun, these are special desserts I made for little Koku.”
“I heard from Takashi that the little one ate too much today and couldn’t try my special desserts, so I prepared an extra portion for him to take home!”
“This is too much trouble for you, we already bother you so much, how can we let you specially prepare desserts for us?”
“It’s nothing, I’m just happy you all come often.” Then he turned his gaze to Koku, who was standing quietly listening to his brother, “Besides, it’s Koku’s first day here, I have to prepare a gift for him, right?”
Gift? Koku, who had been focused on his overstuffed belly, immediately lifted his little head upon hearing this keyword.
But since he didn’t know the uncle in front of him, he just sneaked a peek and then quietly hid behind his brother again.
However, this time Tezuka Kunimitsu didn’t allow him to hide, instead, he brought him in front of Kawamura’s dad, introducing him, “Koku, this is Kawamura’s dad, you should call him uncle!”
“Kawamura uncle prepared a gift for you, what do you say to him?”
“Hello, uncle! Thank you for the gift!” Although he didn’t know what was in the bag, Koku politely expressed his gratitude, “Koku really likes uncle’s gift~ I will cherish it!”
“Hahaha—” Amused by Koku’s adorable response, Kawamura’s dad couldn’t help but laugh, then he squatted down, seriously telling Koku, “You don’t need to cherish the gift, just enjoy it, okay?”
Although he didn’t understand why the uncle was laughing, Koku was friendly towards others’ kindness, so he nodded obediently, indicating he would enjoy it!
In his world, adults who were willing to squat down and communicate with him at eye level were all good people!
And Kawamura’s dad even gave him a gift, so he was definitely the best of the best!
Even though he looked a bit fierce, at this moment in Koku’s heart, Kawamura’s dad was the epitome of a “great person”!