I Thought This Was a Slice of Life

Shuya said helplessly.

The young ladies nodded subconsciously; although they hadn't officially debuted yet, their training volume was staggering.

They had only been afraid to speak up due to the director's status, but they had likely been complaining in their hearts for a long time.

"Uncle Tanaka, let's record my part first."

Shuya had to step in to resolve the situation: "Let my dad go take a break."

Before Tanaka could speak, Inoue Hikoo was already lying flat on the ground, wailing: "No! I can still be saved!"

Shuya moved his short legs, patted Inoue Hikoo on the back, and coaxed: "Alright, alright, everyone knows you've worked very hard, Dad. But this isn't the way to go. Be good, don't cause trouble for everyone."

"I don't want to! I can keep going! Waaah!"

"I know you can keep going, but everyone has days when they aren't in top form, right?"

"Not in top form... yes, yes, that's it! I'm just not in top form, that's why I'm like this!"

Having found an excuse to step down, Inoue Hikoo was overjoyed and quickly scrambled up to run to the side.

What a pain...

Shuya shook his head.

"Helpless Shu-chan-senpai is so cute!"

"So cute!"

"So cute!"

Shuya couldn't help but cover his face. That's enough, you foolish Japanese girls!

The Staff Members brought over the small step stool specifically for Shuya, who climbed up and adjusted the height of the microphone.

"Then we'll leave it to you, Shu-chan-senpai."

Uncle Tanaka called out jokingly.

"OK, leave it to me."

Shuya smiled and gestured toward the glass.

He felt a bit of pressure, not because of nerves, but because he needed to pass perfectly to break the gloomy atmosphere caused by Inoue Hikoo.

Alien Baby Hikari-chan's first appearance was at the end of Part A of the first episode, where Uesugi Yuichi curiously explores a park and hears the faint sound of a baby laughing.

Shuya wasn't holding a script; he just focused on the simple visuals, having memorized everything since there weren't many lines.

Everyone watched Shuya's small back, their expressions turning serious as they worried if he would be affected by someone else's performance.

Except for Inoue Hikoo, who was watching Shuya with the smile of a proud father, as if he had already succeeded.

In the crude footage, Uesugi Yuichi sneaks into the park cautiously.

Suddenly, he stops and looks around in confusion.

Staring at the screen, Shuya knew the moment had arrived. His little face relaxed into joy, and the crisp laughter of a baby rang out.

"Amazing!"

The young ladies' hearts tightened.

Closing their eyes, they could even imagine the adorable scene of an innocent, cute baby rolling on the grass.

I'm dying!

"As expected of Shu-chan-senpai."

In the control room, the sound director, Uncle Tanaka, couldn't help but say to his colleagues on either side.

The Staff Members nodded one after another.

Especially when contrasted with the trash from before, Shuya's excellence was even more apparent.

Section 5: I recognize this, it's the Urban Legend series!

Shuya hadn't only done voice acting once when he was six months old.

In the years that followed, he often volunteered for his dad's animations.

His mom's agency also relied on him to hold things down, and he had been to quite a few sets.

He had filmed many TV commercials, news segments, and photoshoots.

He had even done dubbing for movies from other administrative districts a few times.

He was the industry's youngest "Shu-chan-senpai" in every sense of the word.

With five years of experience, he was no longer a newcomer.

He had even won a newcomer award for voice acting, but given his skill and popularity, winning was only natural and not worth being proud of.

In the first episode of Alien Baby Hikari-chan, Shuya didn't have many lines, so the recording went quickly.

Uesugi Yuichi discovers a large crater in the park, and when he leans in to look, he is shocked.

Lying there was a chubby little baby.

The baby spotted him, let out a giggle, and reached out both hands, begging to be held.

Shuya provided the voice-over vividly, improvising the mysterious language of an infant.

It was lifelike.

His presence was stronger than any of the other voice actresses.

Uncle Tanaka didn't call for a cut the entire time because he felt it was perfect.

On screen, just as Uesugi Yuichi was about to give up, a sudden downpour began.

"Waaah---!"

Shuya's little face scrunched up, and a pitiful cry came out instantly.

"So pitiful!"

"So pitiful!"

"So pitiful!"

Hey! You guys finally changed your lines!

Shuya keenly heard their hushed exclamations.

"But so cute!"

"So cute!"

"So cute!"

"Wuuu-waaa---!"

Shuya cried even more realistically.

He couldn't help it; he was crying from their stupidity.

"Perfect!"

Uncle Tanaka slapped his thigh.

The following scene depicted Uesugi Yuichi gritting his teeth and jumping into the pit amidst the sound of crying and police sirens, pulling the baby into his arms and rushing home through the torrential rain.

There was a small detail: while running, Uesugi Yuichi accidentally slipped, and he instinctively shielded the baby tightly, checking on the infant's safety before even trying to get back up.

In the middle of the storm, that handsome uncle Uesugi Yuichi held the adorable baby, locking eyes with his dark, round pupils. The moment of relief and tenderness in Uesugi Yuichi's eyes was later selected as one of the iconic scenes, a focal point where countless housewives and young girls would drool over their screens and scream "husband."

As the scene progressed, Uesugi Yuichi dodged the crowds and snuck the baby home, haphazardly tidying up the room and cleaning both himself and the infant.

The first episode was nearing its end.

Just then, the exhausted Uesugi Yuichi lost his footing, bumped into a wardrobe, and fell.

The rickety wardrobe wobbled and tipped over toward him.

Uesugi Yuichi panicked, quickly turning his back to the wardrobe and shielding the baby with his arms.

He closed his eyes and waited for a moment, but the expected impact never came.

He slowly opened his eyes and discovered that a light was emanating within the cramped room.

The baby Uesugi Yuichi had picked up was floating in mid-air, glowing with a soft light.

This light blocked the wardrobe and protected Uesugi Yuichi.

Shuya laughed innocently in sync with the screen, his voice a cute, milky tone.

Normally, at this moment, Uesugi Yuichi would stutter, "Su-supernatural powers---?!"

But since Inoue Hikoo was playing dead, the scene ended right there.

"Brilliant."

"Amazing."

Everyone applauded without reservation.

Shuya bowed politely.

"That's my boy for you."

Inoue Hikoo picked up Shuya and kissed him hard.

Shuya wiped his face with an expression of disgust.

Inoue Hikoo placed Shuya on a seat to the side and walked to the microphone with a calm, composed air.

Holding the script, he said without looking back, "Alright, let's continue with my part."

Tanaka said, "...Don't you need to rest a bit longer?"

"No need. Watching Shu-chan's performance, I've already caught the feeling."

Inoue Hikoo shed his goofy persona and coolly acted the part.

Tanaka took a deep look at Inoue Hikoo's back. "Then let's begin."

The next moment, Shuya felt Inoue Hikoo's aura change.

Becoming decadent.

The scene returned to the beginning of Part A of the animation, where the art class was about to begin, and under the expectant gaze of Yuzuki Sasaki, a handsome middle-aged man pushed open the door.

"Good morning~ Ha... ugh."

Uesugi Yuichi let out a yawn the moment he arrived.

The voice actresses trembled all over, looking at Inoue Hikoo in disbelief.

His voice just now was exactly the Uesugi Yuichi they had imagined.

Within that magnetic, sexy voice, there was a lingering sorrow hidden away, blowing into their hearts like a gust of wind.

Is this... the strength of a famous director... Inoue Hikoo?

The young ladies looked at Inoue Hikoo's handsome appearance, momentarily dazed.

This recording session went incredibly smoothly, as if he had turned into a completely different person.

"Old man, what kind of change in mindset is this?"

Shuya helped everyone ask the question they were all concerned about.

"Well, about that."

Inoue Hikoo rubbed his stubbled chin and said sentimentally, "I was thinking, if you hadn't cooperated and cried back then, and the company had gone bankrupt, and you and your mother had starved to death, just how decadent would I have become... Once I immersed myself in that thought, the emotions just came out."

Shuya: "..."

This is definitely his biological father, no doubt about it.

Screw you!