Accidentally become a father

_

"Papa."

"What is it?"

Yuna didn’t answer right away.

Her eyes remained fixed on—

The karaoke parlor.

Its lights were bright.

The faint sound of music spilling out.

"Papa..."

"Hm."

"I want to go to karaoke."

I turned my head.

And looked at her.

"Why all of a sudden?"

"If you want to sing, you can do that at home."

"I know..."

Yuna gently gripped the hem of her shirt.

"But... I want to."

I stayed silent for a moment.

Watching her.

"Oh..."

I turned around.

"Alright then."

"Let’s go."

I immediately changed direction.

Heading toward the karaoke parlor.

Yuna froze for a second.

Then—

Her expression shifted instantly.

A little surprised.

A little happy.

"Eh... really?"

I didn’t answer.

I just kept walking.

We went inside.

_

The air inside was different.

Cooler.

More fragrant.

Dim lights in soft colors.

"I’d like a room for one hour."

I looked over at Yuna.

"A coffee for me... and for you, Yuna?"

Yuna looked a bit nervous.

"Mm... iced milk."

I nodded.

And finished paying at the counter.

_

"Alright, right this way."

Click.

The door to the room opened.

We stepped inside.

The room wasn’t large.

But it was enough.

A large screen at the front.

Two speakers on either side.

A long table in the middle.

And two sofas facing each other.

"Wow..."

Yuna stepped in slowly.

Her eyes wandering the room.

"It’s spacious..."

"Yeah."

I took a seat.

"Not bad."

Yuna sat down across from me.

Still looking around.

Like a child in a brand-new place.

"Papa..."

"Hm."

"Have you ever been to karaoke before?"

"No."

"...Why not?"

I leaned back.

Staring straight ahead.

"Isn’t it obvious?"

"I have no interest in it."

"And no one’s ever invited me."

I turned my head slightly.

"What about you?"

Yuna gave a small smile.

"Never."

"We’re the same... hehe."

_

Click.

The door opened.

An employee came in.

Carrying our drinks.

Coffee.

And iced milk.

They set them down on the table.

Then left.

Yuna immediately picked up her glass.

And took a slow sip.

I picked up my coffee.

Breathed in the aroma for a moment.

Then took a sip.

"...Not bad."

"Yeah..."

Yuna smiled.

"It’s good."

Silence.

A few seconds passed.

I pulled out my phone.

Glanced at the screen.

The date.

The time.

And—

The statistics.

For the novel that had been contracted.

The numbers were moving.

Going up.

The payment had come through.

"...Not bad."

I set the phone down.

Took another sip of coffee.

And looked ahead.

Yuna—

Was just sitting in silence.

Not singing.

Not picking a song.

Just looking around the room.

Taking a sip of her drink every now and then.

"Yuna."

"Yes, Papa?"

"What did you come here to do?"

Yuna fell silent.

For a moment.

"...To sing."

"And?"

"...I’m embarrassed."

I let out a soft laugh.

"Hahaha..."

"Embarrassed?"

Yuna lowered her head slightly.

"Alright..."

I reached for the tablet with the song list.

And started looking.

One by one.

Scrolling.

Nothing caught my eye.

"What song are you looking for, Papa?"

Yuna leaned in a little closer.

I stopped.

Paused for a moment.

There was nothing interesting.

I put the tablet down.

Picked up my phone.

And connected it to the system.

The screen lit up.

A title appeared.

_

[ Endless Battle of the Kingdom ]

( You can listen to the song here.

Link : https://... )

Yuna looked at the screen.

"Mm... what song is that, Papa?"

Hohoohoooo...

Hohoohoooo...

A male choir echoed from the sound system.

Low.

Deep.

Like it was coming from a vast, empty space.

The lyrics began to appear on the screen.

I picked up the mic.

Took a breath.

And started to sing.

🎶

"Cobblestone squares, the crow of the dawn

Same old faces, every day born..."

🎶

A low voice.

A slow tempo.

Not high-pitched.

Not trying to sound beautiful.

Just... straight.

The music played on.

🎶

"The baker’s warm bread, the blacksmith’s strong clang

A steady rhythm, the kingdom’s sweet sang..."

🎶

The song felt like a preparation for war.

Calm...

yet heavy with tension.

🎶

"Then the trumpets blared, a discordant, shrill cry

Iron gates rattled, beneath a dark sky..."

🎶

Like a war without end.

A kingdom.

That just keeps enduring.

🎶

"Endless battles, a crimson-stained blur

Every morning, a new enemy stir..."

🎶

Against monster attacks that never ceased.

The atmosphere in the room shifted.

No one spoke.

🎶

"No cheers for the victor, no songs for the brave

Just the next wave of darkness..."

🎶

Quiet.

Somber.

The song ended.

_

Silence.

"Papa..."

Yuna’s voice was soft.

"That was really good..."

"But... a little sad."

I set the mic down on the table.

"Thanks, but I’m nowhere near a pro."

I leaned back in my seat.

"Let alone someone like you... you have a singer’s blood."

Yuna looked at me.

"So? Do you think..."

A slight hesitation.

"I can sing like Mother?"

I gave a small shrug.

"Something like that."

Yuna fell silent for a moment.

Then, her expression shifted.

A spark of excitement.

"Alright... I want to try too."

She picked up the mic.

Still a little hesitant.

"I... want to sing Mother’s song..."

She selected a track.

The screen changed.

The music began.

Soft and gentle.

_

Song — (Sayaka)

Title: "Searching and Waiting."

🎶

"Beneath the ever-changing sky, I stand... searching for your name

Amongst a thousand voices

There is only one I reach for... that I seek..."

🎶

Yuna’s voice rang out.

Higher.

Lighter.

🎶

"My steps are small, and could never reach you

But I know... you are still out there

Even if the world changes

I will keep walking... to reach you."

🎶

She sang with her heart.

But...

🎶

"If one day I lose my way

And do not know where to go

I will remember one thing

There is still a place... waiting for me to come home..."

🎶

It still felt like... she was just reciting from memory.

🎶

"This sky is vast and boundless

Yet I have but one heart

As long as you are still out there

I will... keep stepping forward..."

🎶

The song ended.

Yuna slowly lowered the mic.

And looked at me.

"What did you think, Papa?"

I didn’t answer right away.

I just looked at her.

...

"Pretty good."

Yuna’s face brightened a little.

"You have a naturally good voice."

She gave a small smile.

"But..."

Her smile faltered.

"You still haven’t figured out how to capture the mood of the song."

Yuna stayed quiet.

"You’re just... singing it cheerfully."

I reached for a glass.

"Going entirely off memory."

I took a sip of the drink.

"And you aren’t stepping into the song at all."

Yuna stared at the floor for a moment.

Reflecting.

"Oh... how did you know that, Papa?"

"I worked behind the scenes for a long time."

I set the glass back down.

"You should know that."

"Mm... I understand..."

My throat felt a little dry.

I reached for Yuna’s glass again.

And took a small sip.

Yuna immediately noticed.

"Just a little bit, Papa... don’t finish it. That’s mine."

"We’ll buy another one later."

I handed it back to her.

Yuna stayed quiet for a second.

Then... she reached for my coffee.

And took a sip.

I just threw her a passing glance.

And didn’t say a word.

_

"By the way, Papa..."

Yuna was still holding her glass.

Looking at me.

"My friends... invited me to go to karaoke."

She paused for a moment.

"Can I go?"

I didn’t answer right away.

Just looked at her.

...

"Will there be an adult accompanying you?"

"Yes."

Yuna nodded quickly.

"My friend’s older sister is coming too."

I took a slow breath.

"Hm..."

"In that case... alright."

"Yay..."

Her voice was small.

Almost a whisper.

But her tone lifted.

"Thank you, Papa."

She immediately grabbed the tablet.

Her eyes lighting up again.

"Papa, listen closely."

She turned her head quickly.

"Teach me how to sing well."

I raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Why the sudden request..."

"Isn’t it obvious?"

She looked back at the screen.

"So I don’t embarrass myself when I sing later."

I leaned back.

"Alright then..."

_

Yuna started again.

One song.

Then another.

Sometimes stopping in the middle.

Repeating certain parts.

"Papa, how about this one?"

"You ran out of breath there."

"Oh..."

She tried again.

"And that time?"

"Don’t rush it."

Yuna nodded.

Looking serious.

Time passed.

Without us realizing.

One hour.

Gone by.

Added another hour.

Then another.

I didn’t say much.

Just sat there.

Listening.

Correcting her every now and then.

Yuna kept trying.

Her voice began to change.

Becoming more stable.

Little by little.

Finally.

We headed out.

_

The door to the karaoke parlor opened.

The outside air felt different.

Cooler.

More breathable.

We walked.

Side by side.

"Papa..."

"Hm?"

"That was fun."

She stared straight ahead.

"Let’s go to karaoke again sometime."

"If you just want to sing... you can do that at home."

"But it’s different."

Yuna answered immediately.

"The sound is so much clearer here."

She turned her head slightly.

"You’ll come with me again, right?"

I let out a short sigh.

"Just go with your friends."

Yuna pouted a little.

"Going with friends is one thing..."

She looked straight ahead again.

"But going with you is different, Papa."

I stayed silent for a moment.

"Alright... alright..."

I threw her a glance.

"But not too often."

"Why not?"

"I prefer staying at home."

"Oh..."

Yuna fell silent.

Thinking.

Her pace slowed slightly.

_

"So..."

She started speaking again.

"Is that why you only go shopping once a week?"

"And..."

Yuna continued.

"Is that also why we’re going to so many places at once today?"

I gave a small nod.

"Pretty much."

Yuna looked like she was piecing something together in her head.

Like small puzzle pieces finally fitting into place.

We kept walking.

_

Up ahead.

An electronics store.

The building looked old.

Its paint slightly faded.

Its lights dim.

I stopped for a moment.

Looking toward it.

Then—

I changed direction.

Yuna didn’t ask any questions.

She just followed along.

__