Chapter Text
Prologue
A man clad in a plain dark jeans, a grey hoodie, a beanie and a pair of quite big sunglasses went inside a small café and looked around. The place was perfect, secured from prying eyes by being located in a back alley yet it was stylish and homy. The man was sure that no know will disturb him here; no paparazzi, no reporters and no screaming teenage girls. That’s what always frightened him the most, his crazy fans, Akanishi Jin fans.
Jin sat at the table in the corner. The spot was great; he could see the entrance and people outside the café but no one from the outside could see him. He smiled satisfied with his choice and took off his sunglasses and a beanie. He was aware that people in the restaurant recognized him but there was no further reaction. That made the man even more happy, he didn’t need any new scandal at the moment.
A waiter came to his table and Jin ordered two cups of coffee, a glass of orange juice and a piece of strawberry pie. When the man went to prepare the order a small bell above the door rang. Jin looked at the entrance and smiled widely while standing up. A high squeal startled the customers but after seeing a source of it, they could only smile at the view. A small, 3 year old girl, rushed towards Jin happily.
“Papa!” The girl jumped into her father’s arms. Jin lifted his daughter and gave her a kiss on the cheek. The girl giggled and hugged him tightly.
“Hi, sweetheart. Did you have fun with mom?”
“Un! Theia had lots of fun!”
“That’s good.” Jin put the girl on the chair next to him. “You like strawberries, right?”
“Hai! Theia loves them!”
“Then wait a little and waiter-san will bring us a strawberry pie. Here’s a paper and crayons. Why don’t you draw something?” Jin said while giving the items to his precious girl.
“Yay!”
The girl grinned widely and started drawing. Meanwhile Jin greeted the girl’s mother with a small smile and a short nod. The woman sat down on a chair on the other side of the table and took off her sunglasses, putting it next to Akanishi’s. The two adults were looking at each other for a minute. Jin fidgeted slightly under Kuroki Meisa’s serious expression and averted his gaze towards his daughter’s drawing. The woman sighed.
“Listen, Jin-kun.” The man looked at her. “I got a role in a new movie. Unfortunately I can’t bring Theia with me and I don’t want to bother our parents. I know that you have your own work but I think it would be good if she could spend at least some time with you.”
“I would love to take care of Theia for now but what about the time when I’m working? I can’t leave her alone in the house.”
“I know but it’s still better if she has at least one parent at her side,” the woman said. “Don’t worry though, I thought about it. I found a babysitter for Theia.”
“Oh…”
The waiter came with two coffee’s and a piece of cake. When the small girl saw the sweet treat she immediately forgot about her drawing and bounced happily in her chair. The parents chuckled before giving their little daughter a spoon. They watched as the girl eats joyously the strawberry pie, from time to time cleaning up her red face.
“So… about the babysitter?” Jin asked after a while.
“Ah, yeah. I checked a lot of people but no one seemed good enough. Actually, I even considered to find a kindergarten that would take Theia in.”
“But you said you’d found a babysitter after all.” Jin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
“Yes and I’m really happy I did. He seems like a perfect choice. He…”
“Wait a minute! He?!” Jin’s eyes widened.
“Yes, Jin-kun, it’s a ‘he’. But you don’t need to worry. He has a lot of experience with children.”
“But why a guy! I mean… aren’t women like, more appropriate? Mother’s instinct and such?”
“Maybe but… Okay, let me tell you everything. It was a week ago…”
* * *
# One week earlier #
Meisa sat on the couch heavily and hid her face behind her palms. She was tired, after checking more than twenty babysitters, the woman lost almost all hope – she would never find someone good enough to take care of her sweet, little daughter. When the doorbell rang again, Meisa had a huge urge to just ignore it but the well-being of Theia was more important. The woman stood up from her place and went to the door. She couldn’t hide her surprise at the sight of a young man.
“How can I help you?” she asked nicely, thinking that the black-haired man just made a mistake.
“Good morning, um, Kuroki-san? I’m here because of the job advertisement,” the man answered nervously but politely, bowing lowly.
“Oh… Um… Are you sure you get it right?”
“…You’re not looking for a babysitter, then?” the guy asked uncertainly scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Ah, yes but… I’m sorry. Please, come in.” Meisa invited him in, the man hesitated a little but followed the woman inside. “I’m surprised, though. It’s rare to see a man who wants to be a babysitter.” She smiled trying to encourage the nervous guy.
“I think I understand what you mean. I just like taking care of kids.” The man smiled lightly and sat on the place pointed by Meisa.
“Good to hear that. What’s your name?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Kamenashi Kazuya.” The man bowed deeply again.
“Okay, Kamenashi-san... May I know how old are you? You look rather young.”
“I’m 23.”
“Really? I thought you’re less than 20,” Meisa looked at Kamenashi with big eyes.
“I get that a lot.” The black-haired man chuckled.
“Well, anyway you said that you like looking after children. Why didn’t you became a teacher or a worker of an orphanage? Isn’t it a more stable job than being a babysitter? Most babysitters are teenage girls and students after all.”
“Um… unfortunately, some life circumstances happened and after high-school graduation I started working.”
“What kind of circumstances?” Meisa asked narrowing slightly her eyes in curiosity.
The man smiled tenderly looking at the floor. The woman saw that he was deep in his thoughts for a while before he looked at her again, still with the same smile plastered to his face. Somehow, Meisa knew that whatever the black-haired man will tell her, she will believe him. There was just something in his eyes that showed all the honesty and seriousness the man had. Maybe in any other cases Meisa would be shocked by Kamenashi’s words but with the way the man spoke and the look in his eyes, she only could think about one thing.
The one that will take care of Theia, the one she was looking for, the perfect babysitter.
It's him.
* * *
“Sooo…. What were those ‘life circumstances’ the guy was talking about?” Jin asked after listening to the mother of his child.
“Sorry, Jin-kun, but I won’t tell you.” Meisa sipped calmly on her coffee.
“Huh?! Why not? I’m Theia’s parent as well, I should know the guy that will be taking care of her!”
“Look, I know Kamenashi-san’s story and I know he’s perfect for our girl. What had happened to him doesn’t really matter though I won’t say that it didn’t help with my decision. The matter is rather… complicated and… special.”
“I don’t like the sound of it,” Jin said unconvinced.
“Will it ease your mind if I tell you that he’s been taking care of kids for five years now?” Akanishi crossed his arms but the information helped, even if just a little bit.
“I don’t know Meisa. If he’s so good, why was he jobless until now?”
“Well… he actually had a stable job but had to change his workplace recently. One of the reasons was money. Besides that he said that his working hours were supposed to change and he couldn’t afford working at those times.”
“So you pitied him and gave him the job?” Jin raised one eyebrow, dissatisfied.
“No! Of course not, Jin.” Meisa sighed. “Listen. Just give him a chance, okay? If there will be something wrong, just call me and I will fire him. Is that okay with you?”
“…Fine,” the man grumbled.
“But, please, Jin-kun, it’s better to be a good reason and not something like ‘he left the light turned on’ or ‘he put Theia to sleep a minute later than he should have’.”
The woman looked at her ex-husband meaningfully and Jin wanted to protest but changed his mind watching how Meisa’s eyes narrowed dangerously. The man gulped and nodded agreeing to the conditions. He didn’t like the idea of having a man taking care of his little daughter but Meisa always was more responsible than him so he believed her judgment. He just couldn’t imagine how there could exist in the world something like ‘male babysitter’ but if the man was as good as his ex-wife made him to be, Jin was going to step back and just let the time show him the whole truth.
‘Kamenashi Kazuya, better be as good as Meisa thinks you are or else I promise you, one wrong move and I will make sure you won’t find a job in this country ever again.’ Jin thought while looking outside the window with a frown and sipping on his, already cold, coffee…