The morning sun painted the eastern sky as Neo-Tokyo began to stir. Kazuya roused himself from his warm blankets, basking in the sunlight streaming through his window as he welcomed the start of a new day.
"Good morning, Kazuya. Are you up yet?"
His mother's voice drifted into Kazuya's room as she entered, a gentle smile gracing her features as she looked upon her son.
"Morning, Mom. Yeah, I'm up."
Kazuya replied with a smile of his own, swiftly getting dressed as he prepared for the day ahead.
"Breakfast will be ready soon, so hurry up or you'll be late."
His mother reminded him. Kazuya nodded with a smile and hurried to the kitchen.
Sitting down with his family for breakfast, Kazuya discussed his plans for the day and school matters. His father read the newspaper while his mother cooked, both lending an ear to Kazuya's chatter.
"Kazuya, isn't there a project presentation at school today?"
His mother inquired.
"Yeah, there is. I'm teamed up with some friends. Looking forward to it."
Kazuya replied.
"Good luck, and be careful on your way back home."
His mother said with a warm smile.
After his mother's warm words, Kazuya hesitated for a moment before deciding to bring up the topic that had been on his mind. Clearing his throat, he spoke up.
"Hey, Mom, Dad, I wanted to tell you something... Yesterday, I found this really interesting book at the library about Time Manipulation. It's about this ancient art that lets people control time. I thought it was fascinating and wanted to ask what you guys thought about it."
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air as Kazuya's parents exchanged a glance. Then, his father cleared his throat awkwardly, while his mother busied herself with the dishes.
"That's... um, interesting, Kazuya," his father said, his tone slightly strained. "But, uh, you know, those books can sometimes be... uh, not entirely accurate. You shouldn't believe everything you read."
Kazuya furrowed his brow, feeling a pang of disappointment at his parents' reaction. It was unlike them to brush off his interests so easily. Sensing the awkwardness in the air, he quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on it any longer.
"Yeah, you're right, Dad. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the project presentation today. Gotta head to school now. See you guys later!"
With a forced smile, Kazuya grabbed his backpack and hurried out the door, leaving his parents behind in the kitchen. As he walked to school, his mind churned with questions about the strange reaction from his parents and the mysteries surrounding the ancient art of Time Manipulation. But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the day ahead.