Kai stood in front of Hao's room, watching as the boy carefully arranged toy soldiers into neat rows on the floor. The child's brows were furrowed, his tiny hands meticulous as he positioned each figure with the seriousness of a commander.
"Are they ready for battle?" Kai asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Hao looked up, grinning widely. "Not yet! They need a plan first. That's what you always say, right, Daddy? No mission without a plan!"
Kai froze at the word. Daddy. It still felt strange to hear it, but there was something warm in the way Hao said it—something that made him want to live up to the title, even if it wasn't truly his.
"You're right," Kai said, stepping into the room. He crouched beside Hao, picking up one of the toy soldiers. "What's the plan, then?"
