In episodes 9 and 10 of ‘Our Dining Table’ two hearts finally beat in harmony.
Episode 9: Something Sweet, Something More!
In his office, Yutaka reminisces about the past few days. He realizes that Minoru hasn’t contacted him yet and is worried. He is next seen at his office’s rooftop with Rei where she is lamenting about the problems she currently has in her relationship. Yutaka feels for Rei but is also amazed by her determination to face her problems head-on.
A little while after, Yutaka receives a message from his brother. He leaves it be.
On the flip side, Minoru looks as if the world has turned on him. Oblivious to his brother’s misery, Tane continues to tease him, asking if Yutaka will come soon as he promised that they will visit the shrine together. When Minoru doesn’t reply, Tane takes a good look at his brother and finally notices how sad he is. Tane asks him if he had a fight with Yutaka and says he will go and apologize to him, himself.
Although it took some time, Yutaka finally mustered up the courage to come home. As his brother, Yuta, opens the door to welcome him inside, the awkward tension between the two estranged brothers bubbles, especially considering their last conversation in the grocery store. Yuki informs him that their parents went out to buy some ingredients for their meal, to which Yutaka silently nods in reply.
They continue to make awkward small talk as Yuki finally asks him why he never visits. In usual Yutaka fashion, he says nothing but a string of apologies. Yuki is confused and concerned by this behavior of his. He asks why he always apologizes.
Yutaka musters up the courage to reply with candor. He tells his brother that he is sorry for taking Yuki’s family and he is now back because he has found his place somewhere else and will no longer be in his way.
To Yutaka’s surprise, however, Yuki is just baffled by his response. The older brother reveals that yes at the start, he felt irritated by Yutaka’s presence as he was young and foolish but he adds that Yutaka never gave him a chance to be close as the boy completely shut down any of his older brother’s attempts to bond with him later on. Yuki ends his response by firmly saying that this is Yutaka’s home too.
Their parents arrive at the right moment to share sweet and cute anecdotes of the boys growing up. Although Yutaka doesn’t necessarily remember these moments in the same light, they are still a warm reminder that he was and is loved. It is also revealed that the hallucination he had in the previous episode of a boy who went over to check up on him while he was sick was actually his brother. Their mom adds that Yuki would always stay all night to take care of him when he fell ill.
Meanwhile, Minoru’s dad approaches his son and asks him if something happened, seeing his sad state. He says to him that although a lot of things happened to him in the past year, he is happy to know that meeting Yutaka made him smile. After, he basically forces his son out the door to face the music and go to Yutaka.
During the cold winter night, Minoru is running in the direction of Yutaka’s home but shortly after, Yutaka is also seen running towards him. They meet in the middle, breathing each other’s air.
In the playground where they first met, Yutaka finally opens up. He says that he first thought of Minoru as scary but immediately adds that now, not only does he bring him comfort but he makes him want to come out of his shell. He tells him that with him he feels seen and understood when growing up he felt like he belonged nowhere.
Yutaka finally says that he was gonna say that he liked Minoru too when he confessed prior. Minoru, who is flustered with all of these sudden confessions, stands up and apologizes for making him uncomfortable. But Yutaka is quick to dispel this by adding that Minoru is very important to him and that the word like isn’t even enough to describe what he feels for him.
Yutaka holds Minoru’s hand and caresses it, feeling its warmth. He notices their loud heartbeats and mentions it. As the night draws to an end, their bodies also draw closer until their faces are a feather away from touching. Finally, they share a sweet kiss that is unfortunately cut short by the loud bell signaling the last day of the year.
They agree that they definitely can’t be the same as before.
