Carrying Wu Yi in his arms, Wu Shen dashed like the wind up to the rooftop, on the top floor.
He looked around carefully to make sure no one else was there, then propped open the iron door leading out to the rooftop and gently set Wu Yi down.
"Why did you come to school today?" Wu Shen asked.
Though Wu Yi's sudden classroom appearance had saved him earlier, Wu Shen still had to worry about her safety. What if some creepy stranger abducted her?
Wu Yi puffed out her chest proudly, showing no hint of regret. "Because staying home is boring. Also, I wanted to see the place where Dad and Mom met—and what Mom looked like when she was young!"
Wu Shen sighed deeply. "You're lively, sure, but you're nothing like Utaha's calm personality."
What could be more tragic than having a mischievous daughter?
"Oh! And Dad, your progress is amazing. You're already talking about stockings with Mom?" Wu Yi teased, clearly having caught his earlier slip of the tongue.
Wu Shen's mouth twitched in embarrassment. "That was just a mistake."
Changing the subject, he asked, "Since you came from the future, do you know how Utaha and I met?"
Wu Shen was lost on what to do next, but maybe his future daughter held some clues.
Wu Yi shrugged helplessly. "I know a little, since you and Mom always showed your affection. But you don't tell me anything 'inappropriate,' so I don't know the details."
Wu Shen breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing he wanted was to hear a detailed description of his future romantic escapades!
Wu Yi pouted. "Whenever you try to tell me about your 'great deeds' on your wedding anniversary, Mom drags you away blushing. Then… stuff happens that no one knows about."
Wu Shen's curiosity peaked. What exactly happened after that?
"But the room is soundproofed so well! I tried to eavesdrop but couldn't hear a thing. You two are too mysterious!"
"It's not about being mysterious…" Wu Shen muttered, clearly embarrassed.
"The only thing I know for sure is that you and Mom met through a novel."
"A novel?" Wu Shen connected the dots. Kasumigaoka Utaha always read novels in class—maybe that was the key!
"Mom's a novelist! And a best-selling one at that! One of her works was even adapted into an anime and became super popular!" Wu Yi's eyes sparkled with admiration.
A novelist? Anime adaptation? Could Kasumigaoka Utaha really be writing light novels?
Wu Shen found it hard to imagine the usually dignified, serious literary prodigy secretly being an anime-loving light novel author. What kind of romantic comedy was this?
But no matter the truth, it was an important lead.
"Do you know the name of Mom's debut work?" Wu Shen asked.
"I saw it in her study. It's called Love Metronome. I think she wrote it in high school."
Wu Shen nodded. If Love Metronome was already published and sold, that could be his perfect conversation starter with Kasumigaoka Utaha.
After sending Wu Yi home, Wu Shen returned to class, enduring the rest of the school day until dismissal at 3:30 PM.
After briefly saying goodbye to Nishimura Hideki and Aki Tomoya, Wu Shen headed to a nearby bookstore he knew well.
As an anime otaku, Wu Shen had read many light novels and often bought them to improve his Japanese. With Aki Tomoya's enthusiastic recommendations, he kept track of new releases, debut novels, and award winners.
However, when he checked the shelves for Love Metronome, he found no sign of it.
"Wu Yi said Mom's work was famous and she was called a promising newcomer. Why don't I remember this book? Did I miss it? Or is it a very recent release?"
Puzzled, Wu Shen stepped deeper into the bookstore.
The shop was tucked away in a quiet alley beside a busy commercial street. Outside, a simple ramen stall was the only neighbor.
Inside, the atmosphere was peaceful—the perfect place for a bookstore to survive.
The owner, an elderly lady, had an uncanny knack for stocking the newest books quickly, including light novels.
Wu Shen searched the new release section carefully but still found no Love Metronome.
"Maybe the owner misplaced it?"
He scanned the shelves again, but still no luck.
With no other choice, Wu Shen headed to the cashier to ask the owner about the book.
In his hurry, his view was blocked by a tall bookshelf—and he accidentally bumped into someone.
Books scattered everywhere.
Wu Shen quickly crouched to help pick them up.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there."
"It's okay, I was in a rush too."
A clear, familiar female voice caught Wu Shen's attention.
He looked up—and froze.
It was Kasumigaoka Utaha.