The sun hung lazily in the sky, reflecting off the calm waters of the lake. A soft breeze rustled through the trees, and the only sounds were the occasional chirping of birds and the plop of a fishing line breaking the surface of the water.
Max and Kota sat on a small wooden dock, their feet dangling over the edge, fishing rods in hand.
It had been peaceful so far.
Too peaceful.
Kota swung his legs back and forth, eyes locked on the water. "Dad... how long does it take for a fish to bite?"
Max shrugged. "Depends. Sometimes it takes minutes. Sometimes hours."
Kota's mouth fell open. "Hours?!" He dramatically flopped backward onto the dock. "I knew we should've just bought fish from the market. Way less suffering."
Max chuckled, reeling his line in slightly. "Patience, Kota. Fishing isn't just about catching something. It's about enjoying the moment."
Kota groaned. "Enjoying the moment? Dad, we're literally sitting here, waiting for a fish to ruin its day."
Max smirked. "Some call it waiting. Others call it the thrill of the hunt."
Kota sat up, giving his dad a deadpan look. "We are hunting with worms, Dad. That's not thrilling. That's just gross."
Max let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Let's talk about something else. How's school?"
Kota brightened up. "Oh, great! I'm killing it in school! Outstanding performance!"
Max raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Outstanding, huh?"
Kota puffed out his chest. "Absolutely! Teachers love me! I make 'em laugh, I participate, I—"
Max cut in. "And the quiz?"
Kota's entire body stiffened.
Sweat began forming at the back of his neck. His grip on the fishing rod tightened slightly.
He forced a confident smile. "Oh! The quiz? Pfft. Easy. Aced it."
Max hummed. "Mmm-hmm."
Kota swallowed. "Yep! No problems at all! Just another day of academic domination for Kota, the Scholar!"
Max nodded. "I see. 10/20."
Silence.
Kota blinked. "Huh?"
Max turned to look at him, a smirk playing on his lips. "10/20. That was your score, wasn't it?"
The blood drained from Kota's face. He let out a nervous chuckle. "W-Who told you that? Lies. Slander. Fake news."
Max casually reeled in his fishing line. "Your teacher gave me the quiz paper."
Kota gripped his rod like it was his lifeline. "...T-That's not possible. I burned it."
Max smirked. "You what?"
"I mean—uh—I filed it. Neatly. In... uh... the trash."
Max sighed. "Kota."
Kota let out a very forced laugh. "Oh, come on, Dad! It's just one little quiz! Who cares about a single number on a piece of paper?"
Max set his fishing rod down and ruffled Kota's hair. "I don't care about the number, Kota. I just want you to pass."
Kota looked up at him, surprised. "Wait, you're not mad?"
Max chuckled. "If I got mad every time you messed up, I'd have gray hair by now."
Kota snorted. "You do have gray hairs."
Max's eye twitched. "Watch it, kid."
Kota grinned, then looked down at the lake, kicking his legs again. "So... you're really not upset?"
Max shook his head. "Nope. Just pass your classes, that's all I ask."
Kota let out a relieved sigh. "Man, I thought I was gonna have to run away and live in the forest."
Max smirked. "You wouldn't last a day."
Kota scoffed. "Oh, please. I'd be a jungle king."
Max chuckled, reaching over and playfully nudging him. "Sure, Your Majesty."
The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment, just watching the lake.
Then—
Plop!
Kota's fishing rod suddenly jerked forward.
Kota's eyes widened. "DAD, I GOT A BITE—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the rod yanked so hard it pulled Kota off the dock—
KER-SPLASH!
Max burst out laughing as Kota surfaced, gasping for air.
Kota flailed his arms. "THE FISH IS TRYING TO DROWN ME—"
Max doubled over, clutching his stomach. "That's what you get for lying about your grades!"
"DAD, THIS ISN'T FUNNY—HELP ME!"
Still laughing, Max reached down and hauled Kota back onto the dock.
Kota lay there, drenched, breathing heavily.
Max wiped a tear from his eye. "So... did you catch the fish?"
Kota groaned, rolling onto his side. "I caught humility."
Max grinned. "Good lesson."
Kota scowled. "I hate nature."
Max patted his back. "Don't worry. Nature hates you, too."
Kota grumbled, but as Max handed him a towel, he couldn't help but smile a little.
Even if the trip had already been a disaster, it wasn't all bad.
And as he looked at his dad, chuckling and shaking his head, he
realized something.
This wasn't just about fishing.
This was about them.
And somehow, that made all the craziness worth it.
CHAPTER END 🫠