In episodes 7 and 8 of ‘Our Dining Table’ kisses are shared while feelings are bared.
Episode 7: A Christmas Miracle
In a memory, a young Yutaka is sick lying down on his bed. Someone comes in to check on him. In his delirious state, he thinks it is Minoru. While in real life, Minoru is tucking him on his bed after tending to him as his fever subsides. The next day, Yutaka wakes up and feels immediate relief course throughout his body. He checks his temperature but suddenly remembers bits and pieces of what went on during the night. However, he thinks that the medicine he drank made him delirious and sighs in relief with the knowledge that he didn’t share much.
As he gets up from his bed, he sees the gifts Minoru left for him, he also notices that Tane gave him a get well soon candy. A beautiful scarf is gifted to him by Minoru. He realizes that they gave each other the same thing.
Back at home, Minoru comes back and takes off his shoes. In his dad’s usual fashion, he teasingly says that he seems to really like Yutaka to which Minoru says no. The dad only laughs as he comes back inside the room.
When a new day comes, Yutaka, on the way to Minoru’s home, is seen wearing the scarf Minoru gifted him. As he arrives, the trio starts to have a late Christmas celebration. There is a cake that looks rudimentary on the table. Tane proudly reveals that they baked it themselves. Yutaka looks impressed. Minoru’s face reddens and he says that it’s only stacked pancakes. But he says that they made it for him.
Yutaka starts apologizing because he wasn’t able to come during their Christmas party but Tane just happily says he doesn’t have to worry about it because he’s happy that they get to celebrate Christmas twice. Tane excitedly receives his gift from Yutaka while Minoru shyly gets the scarf from the paper bag. Minoru sees the scarf he gifted to Yutaka beside him. Yutaka follows his gaze and shyly nods. Both share a silent realization. The three enjoy the cake as the afternoon surrounds them with a warm glow.
After a while, Yutaka and Minoru are left alone. The mood changes as the unaddressed tension comes back again to the surface from the last time they were alone together. Yutaka is about to start speaking when Tane barges in, excitedly showing off his brand-new coloring set. Thankfully, Minoru’s dad sees them and collects Tane so the two can have the room for themselves again.
Yutaka picks up Tane’s drawing of him and puts it in front of his face. He quietly asks if he can share his story. When Minoru agrees, he starts to shyly share about his life. Still holding the drawing, Yutaka shares that his biological parents died when he was young. When he turned eight, he was adopted into a rich family. Although his adoptive parents took good care of him, his older brother never accepted him into the family. Because of this, Yutaka felt pressured in their house every time. He started eating alone and revealed that because of it, he barely remembered the taste of food when he was young. Even after he moved out he still couldn’t eat with other people at the same table. He doesn’t have any good memories of food and he says that because he’s human, he knows deep inside that something is missing. He goes on to confidently say that after meeting Minoru and eating together with his family, he has begun to feel happy for the first time in his life. He extends his gratitude to Minoru for talking to him as he sheds tears.
Minoru is left speechless but he offers him tissues. Tane comes in and sees Yutaka crying. He thinks Minoru made him cry so he starts crying too, telling Yutaka to stop. Minoru and Yutaka start consoling him.
The scene cuts to Tane clinging to Yutaka. Tane asks why he cried. The child also offered that he could pat his head to calm him down. Tane stands up and slowly pats his head. Yutaka hugs him and thanks him. He says he is now okay.
On the way home, Minoru asks about Yutaka’s New Year’s plans. Yutaka says that he will finally show his face at home. Minoru walks speedily and as he runs the stairs, he asks Yutaka if he can try on his glasses. As the tamed pouring of snow surrounds them lit by the colorful Christmas lights still on display, Minoru admits that he is glad Yutaka is there with him.
Minoru gets serious all of a sudden and bursts out that it was actually Yutaka who talked to him first. Without saying anything else after, he walks towards Yutaka and kisses him.
