"Dad, wake up!"
In the darkness, Wu Yi's crisp voice rang out, and at the same time, Wu Shen felt a slightly heavy object pressing against his lower abdomen.
"Hmm… huh? Is it morning already?" Wu Shen propped himself up and realized that Kasumigaoka Wu Yi was sitting directly on his stomach.
"Luckily, you're not that heavy." Wu Shen chuckled, picked her up, and set her on the edge of the bed.
"I'm very slender and light, okay?" Wu Yi protested, swinging her limbs indignantly.
Freed from the "sleep paralysis," Wu Shen rubbed his eyes and glanced at the still-dim sky outside before checking the time on his phone.
"Only a little past six? My alarm hasn't even gone off yet. Why wake me up so early?" he yawned.
School started at 8 a.m., and since his apartment was close by, he normally got up after seven. Thanks to Wu Yi, he was up more than an hour early today.
Daughter-brand alarm clock (physical)… truly priceless.
"Dad, did you forget you need to make my breakfast and lunch?" Wu Yi pouted.
"Oh—right, haha." Wu Shen scratched his hair and stood up quickly, feeling a bit guilty.
Breakfast was easy enough—there was still bread, a toaster oven, some frozen sausages, and eggs. Soon the bread was toasting, the eggs sizzling, and the sausages browning in the pan. Within minutes, breakfast was plated alongside jam and bottled milk.
While the pan was still hot, he stir-fried chopped green peppers with diced chicken for Wu Yi's lunch, covering the plate with plastic wrap and storing it in the fridge.
"Wu Yi, you said you can use a rice cooker?"
"Yes!"
"That's good," Wu Shen nodded, washing his hands before joining her at the table—only to find she hadn't touched her food.
"What's wrong? Not hungry? Or you don't like this kind of breakfast?" he asked.
"Hehe, I wanted to eat with Dad!" Wu Yi beamed as he sat down.
…My daughter couldn't possibly be this considerate, could she?
After eating together, Wu Shen grabbed his bag and headed for the door.
"Have a good trip, Dad! I wish you success in seducing Mom today!"
"I'm going to school, not picking up girls! And kids shouldn't say things like 'seduce'!" Wu Shen sighed and left.
Today he arrived unusually early. As he entered the classroom, he noticed Utaha in the first row glance up at him.
"I've been waiting for you. Come to the rooftop later—I have something to talk about," Utaha said quietly as he passed.
"???" Wu Shen froze, resisting the urge to ask right away—better not to spark rumors.
He waited until she left the classroom, then followed at a distance. By the time he reached the top floor, she was already waiting near the rooftop entrance, a yellow file folder in hand. Definitely not a love letter.
Just as he was imagining her saying, "Only dead men can keep secrets," Utaha finally spoke.
"Wu Shen, are you interested in light novels?"