I'm Daddy's Daughter!

I'm Daddy's daughter! Time was passing faster than expected. Glancing out the window, class time was approaching sooner than I'd thought. I stood there blankly for a moment. ...What do I do?

I couldn't take Psi with me, but leaving her alone didn't feel right either. After agonizing over it briefly, I cautiously spoke up. "...Um, Psi."

I tried to sound as gentle as possible. "...If I told you to stay in the room alone... would you cry?"

Before I could even finish, Psi clutched my clothes tightly. She shook her head. Her eyes were already brimming with tears, ready to spill over at any second.

"Daddy..." Psi said in a quivering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice. "You promised last time..."

Her tiny hand gripped my shirt even harder. "You said you'd never leave me alone..."

Psi mumbled with her head bowed. "...Are you gonna leave me behind now that I've turned human?"

She clung to my clothes even tighter, as if she'd never let go no matter what. I was speechless for a moment. Psi pressed herself even closer into my arms.

"I don't want that..." She shook her head slightly. "I'm going with you."

I gazed at her with a troubled look. To be honest, I wanted to take her along too. With a sigh, I said, "...Psi."

"I want to take you, but..." I said awkwardly, scratching my head. "...you don't have any clothes."

Psi stared at me for a second. Then she replied matter-of-factly, "I don't mind."

I shook my head right away. "...I do."

I thought it over some more. Finally, I made up my mind. "Hang on a sec."

I pulled out my phone and dialed one person. A moment later...

"Hello."

Yoon Sera's voice came through. I spoke carefully. "...Principal."

"Could I ask you for a favor?"

There was a brief silence on the line, then she replied with evident curiosity. "A favor from me?"

"That's a new one."

She chuckled. "What is it? Let's hear it."

I hesitated before saying, "...Could you grab some girl's clothes... and whatever else?"

Silence stretched out. Yoon Sera's tone dropped a notch. "...A girl's?"

I added cautiously, "...Around 11 years old."

She went quiet again. Then she let out a soft laugh. "...Understood."

"Just wait there."

The call ended. I set the phone down. Psi was still nestled in my arms. I sat on the sofa, hugging her close. Dmol perched on my shoulder, her tiny wings folded slightly as she watched us.

I sighed and muttered, "...This is spiraling out of control."

Psi giggled softly from within my embrace.

It wasn't long before a knock came at the door. I hurried over and opened it. Yoon Sera stood there, holding a large shopping bag.

I instinctively hid Psi slightly behind me. "...You came?"

Without a word, Yoon Sera lifted the bag lightly. "Here you go."

She glanced around the room. "So, where's the owner of these clothes?"

I was about to respond when Psi popped out from behind me. "It's me!"

She raised her hand confidently.

Yoon Sera paused. She looked at me, then back at Psi. "...You."

She tilted her head thoughtfully. "When did you have a kid?"

I was at a loss for words. "No, it's not—"

But Yoon Sera was already scrutinizing Psi. She stroked her chin. "Hm."

"Pretty cute kid." Her gaze drifted downward. "...And a tail too."

Psi wagged her tail casually, unfazed. Yoon Sera shot me a sidelong glance.

"Explain."

It was a curt command. I opened my mouth, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but she cut in first. "Anyway."

"Let's get her dressed first." She handed the shopping bag to Psi. "Go change in that room over there."

Psi nodded. "Okay!"

A short while later, the door opened. Psi stepped out in new clothes. I froze.

"...Huh?"

She was wearing the school uniform from our academy—sized perfectly for her small frame. Under the skirt, I spotted shorts for easy movement. Psi spun around ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once.

"Daddy." "How do I look?"

I blinked, then said, "...You look cute."

Psi beamed. "It's the same uniform as Daddy's!"

Yoon Sera watched, then spoke up. "I threw in some casual clothes and underwear too."

She turned to me. "Get the rest yourself."

Crossing her arms, she continued. "Now."

"Time for that explanation."

But Psi beat me to it. "I'm Psi!"

She grabbed my arm tightly. "Daddy's daughter!"

Psi puffed out her chest proudly. Yoon Sera narrowed her eyes.

"Psi?" She tilted her head slightly. "That name..."

After a moment's thought, she looked at me. "...The dinosaur you were raising?"

I let out a resigned sigh. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Yeah."

I explained slowly. "It's that Psi."

Yoon Sera's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly. I shrugged helplessly.

"...Here's what happened."

I started recounting everything from the beginning. Truth be told, I didn't fully understand it myself.

"I don't really get it either," I said, scratching my head. "I just woke up one day, and she was human."

I pointed at Psi. "Probably because she wanted to be."

Psi nodded vigorously. "Yep!"

She declared boldly. "I wanted to become human."

Then she giggled to herself. "Heehee."

Clinging to my arm, she added, "Daddy's mine, after all."

I pretended not to hear that. "...Right."

I deliberately looked away, then at Dmol on my shoulder.

"So..." I pointed at her lightly. "Will Dmol want to do it too?"

Dmol tilted her head. She let out a small chirp. "Kieek..."

I studied her. For some reason... she seemed interested.

Then Psi piped up. "Of course!"

She looked at Dmol. "Big Sis did it, so Dmol can too."

I chuckled, then stopped short. "...Wait."

I stared at Psi. "Dmol's a girl too?"

Psi blinked at me, then cocked her head. "Daddy."

"You just figured that out?"

I was stunned. "...Oh."

Yoon Sera, who'd been watching, finally burst out laughing.

"Ha... haha."

She rubbed her forehead. "It's absurd, but..."

After catching her breath, she said, "I'll accept it for now."

She glanced between me, Psi, and Dmol. Then sighed.

"Whew..."

"Dinosaurs turning human." Yoon Sera shook her head. "In a world overflowing with awakeners, I guess it's not that shocking."

After listening for a while, she spoke again. "Anyway, a few questions."

She held up one finger. "First."

"Can she turn back into a dinosaur?"

Then a second. "Second."

"Can she use her abilities in that form?"

I thought for a moment and looked at Psi. "Psi."

"Can you?"

Psi nodded. She took a deep breath, and her body was enveloped in light.

The next instant, she was back in her small dinosaur form.

"Beep."

The familiar cry echoed in the room. I stared at her. Yoon Sera watched with keen interest.

A moment later, Psi glowed again and reverted to human form. Remarkably, her clothes stayed on perfectly.

I breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Good..."

Yoon Sera stroked her chin. "Hm."

"More stable than I expected."

She looked at me. "As for ability usage... we can test that slowly in class later."

I nodded. "Got it."

Yoon Sera stood. "That's enough for today."

As she headed for the door, she added, "This was entertaining, at least."

Before leaving, she tossed out one more line. "Good work."

Then she was gone. The room fell quiet again as the door clicked shut.

I looked back and forth between Psi and Dmol. "...Man."

I muttered softly. "Today's been a total whirlwind."

Psi giggled, clinging to my arm. Dmol nuzzled her little head against my shoulder affectionately from atop it.

I chuckled at the sight and stood. "Hungry?"

I took Psi's hand gently. "Let's go eat."

Psi nodded and squeezed my hand. Dmol settled naturally on my shoulder.

We headed to the cafeteria. But all the way there, I felt eyes on us.

Psi in human form. Dmol on my shoulder. We stuck out like sore thumbs.

I walked on, pretending not to notice. Soon, we reached the cafeteria.

I seated Psi and Dmol. "Stay put."

"Daddy'll grab the food."

Psi nodded. I got a tray, loaded it with food, and returned.

But as I approached, someone was talking to Psi. Bright pink hair—I recognized her immediately. Han Yura.

She was crouched in front of Psi. "Whoa..."

Han Yura's eyes sparkled. "You're so cute."

She smiled and asked, "You here alone?"

Psi shrank back a little, tense. She looked scared of the stranger.

I hurried over and said quietly, "That's enough."

Han Yura looked up. Standing by Psi, I added, "She's scared."

Han Yura stared at me. Her eyes widened. "...Huh?"

She blinked blankly, then exclaimed, "Wait, what?"

"It's Sung-jun?"