Chapter 54: Chapter 10.7: The Space Between Breaths Asha observed the spectacle. "The Crawlers aren’t getting past that door. They’d require either some hefty cutting implements or a nice little explosive to make an entrance."
"Yeah, I know," Jin said, but he couldn’t help stepping back from the door. His hands were a little shaky as he tried to concentrate on what he’d learned. The sounds continued, now accompanied by what sounded like clicking noises, as if multiple creatures were communicating with each other.
"Can you analyze those sounds, Asha? What are they doing?"
"Sound pattern analysis suggests they’re testing the door’s structural integrity. The scraping indicates claw examination, while the guttural vibrations may be a form of echolocation. They’re methodical, I’ll give them that."
Facing reality was tough for him; it was overwhelming. He felt this deep fear inside, but it wasn’t about dying—he had dealt with that before. What really stressed him out was the thought of letting the girls down. They relied on him, and he didn’t want to be weak.
He couldn’t help but worry that he wasn’t fast, strong, or tough enough. Every doubt he had only made things worse, drowning out his focus and making the pressure feel unbearable. Instead of using his fear to motivate him, it threatened to hold him back, leaving him unsure if he truly belonged with them.
[Skill Progress: Stealth +0.8%]
The sudden alarm surprised him. He hadn’t intended to be stealthy, but somehow he was gliding along more quietly and effortlessly than usual. It seemed that fear was revealing things to him that courage never could.
Jin closed his eyes and let his instincts take over, crafted over years of practice. As the Kageyoshi twirled through the air, it wasn’t just about skill—it had its own unique style. Each move flowed effortlessly into the next.
He practiced the ’Kagerō no Kata’—the Shadow Form, a technique designed for evasion and misdirection. The blade creating patterns in the air that seemed to bend light around him. The sounds from behind the door faded into the background as he focused entirely on the rhythm of his movements.
In his mind, he envisioned the Crawlers surrounding him. He imagined himself skillfully navigating through them, the blade striking at their joints and weaknesses, turning their own momentum into his advantage.
[Skill Progress: Predator Instinct +1.2%]
He suddenly realized, "The Crawlers feel fear just like we do." Beneath their hunger and rage, they used to be people, facing the same dread of death and loneliness that we all do. They’re not just mindless monsters.
"Just so you remember," Asha pointed out with a hint of seriousness in her voice, "engaging in deep philosophical discussions isn’t going to deter them from feasting on your face."
"Good point," Jin said, thinking it over. "But I think if I really get to know them better, it’ll help me predict what they’ll do next. The more I understand how they think, the easier it’ll be to see their next moves."
He transitioned to the ’Arashi no Kata’—the Storm Form, a more aggressive series of movements designed for close-quarters combat. The blade whistled through the air as he practiced combination strikes, each one flowing into the next with increasing speed. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, dripping onto the floor beneath him.
He pushed through his training, sweat dripping off his forehead. Each sweat drop showed his dedication, and with every practice, he solidified his determination to be their protector, ready for whatever came next.
Asha remarked, ’Your alignment with the combat protocols has increased by 7% in the past ten minutes. If you keep this up, you might actually survive long enough to meet a heroic end, rather than, well, a more ignoble one.’
[Skill Progress: Kensei Kōryū +0.5%]
Before he knew it, time had slipped away. The sound of the Crawlers faded into the background. It was just him, lost in his own groove, breathing profusely.
After a long silence, Asha broke the stillness. "It’s been two hours," she remarked, eyeing the clock. "I’m sure the girls are starting to wonder where you’ve vanished."
"Let’s go," he said, sheathing the Kageyoshi with a soft click. "We’ve got things to do."
---
The metallic echo of Jin’s training blade still resonated in his mind as he made his way through the dimly lit corridors of the Command Wing. Two hours had passed since he’d completed his intensive practice session, the memory of the Kageyoshi’s song still fresh in his thoughts. The Vault’s energy conservation protocols had cast most areas into shadow, creating an almost sacred stillness that contrasted sharply with the coming storm.
As he approached the engineering bay, a soft blue light caught his attention. The door was slightly ajar, and the familiar hum of Clara’s work filtered into the hallway. What he saw through the crack made his protective instincts surge.
Clara was slumped over her workbench, head resting on her arms amid a chaos of technical diagrams and energy drink containers. On a special display stand, the team’s shield emitters rested in their charging cradles, connected to several diagnostic monitors that pulsed intermittently, casting an eerie glow across Clara’s exhausted features. Even in sleep, she looked worn out, with dark circles beneath her eyes and her glasses askew on her nose.
Jin slipped inside silently, his movements practiced and economical from years of training. He noted how her lab coat had slipped off her shoulders, revealing the simple tank top she wore for practicality. The cool air of the workshop caused her to shiver slightly in her sleep.
He retrieved the lab coat from where it had fallen and gently draped it over her shoulders. His hand lingered for a moment, feeling the tension in her muscles even in rest.
"Clara," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You’ll hurt your back sleeping like this."
"Jin?" Her voice was a husky whisper, laced with sleep. She pushed herself up, her hand flying to her face. "My glasses..."
She fumbled for them, nearly upsetting a tray of precision tools.
"Easy there," Jin said, his movements swift and precise as he caught the tools before they could fall. He retrieved her glasses with a gentle touch. "You’ve been pushing yourself too hard again, haven’t you?"
Clara adjusted her glasses, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I-I had to finish! The shield emitter modifications needed... the power cycling took f-forever, and then the containment field tests, and I kept worrying they might not hold up against the Crawlers, and—"
"Clara," Jin said, his tone serious but warm as he knelt to meet her eyes directly. "You need to take care of yourself. How can you help anyone if you collapse from exhaustion?"
"But the team is counting on me," she whispered, her voice cracking. A single tear escaped, tracing a glistening path down her cheek. "If I miscalculated something and you all get hurt because of it..."
"Hey," Jin said firmly but gently, pulling up a chair to sit beside her. "We’re a team. You’re not carrying this responsibility alone."
"But I’m the one who s-suggested the enhanced frequency modulation," Clara’s voice cracked, tears beginning to fall. "If the shields fail during combat..."
Jin wrapped his arms around her in a comforting embrace. "Clara, you’re brilliant. The shields will hold because you’ve thought through every possible scenario. And we’ll all be careful out there because we have each other’s backs."
Clara pulled back slightly, looking up at him with wide, teary eyes. "E-each other’s backs?"
"Of course," Jin said with a confident smile. "You, Sera, Rosa, and me—we’re a unit. I won’t let anything happen to any of you. That’s a promise."
"The romantic tension in this room could power a small reactor," Asha noted dryly in his mind. "And you’re completely oblivious, as usual."
Clara’s hands still gripped his shirt from the hug, and she seemed to suddenly realize how close they were. "J-Jin, I should... probably check the c-calibration one more time..."
"You should rest first," Jin said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "When’s the last time you ate something besides ration bars?"
[Accidental Harem Magnet - ACTIVE]
Clara shot to her feet, the sudden movement knocking her chair back. "The alarm! I need to check the final calibration!" Her foot caught on a thick power cable. A soft cry escaped her as she pitched forward.
Jin’s reflexes took over. He caught her, but her momentum was too much. His chair scraped against the floor and tipped backward. He twisted, hitting the ground with a solid thud and absorbing the impact. Clara landed on top of him, a soft, warm weight. Her hands braced on either side of his head, her hair falling around them in a fragrant curtain. In the scramble, her hand had gripped his shirt for balance. There was a sharp, decisive ’riiiip’.
Fabric tore away, exposing the hard, sculpted planes of his chest and abdomen. Clara’s eyes went wide, her gaze locking onto his skin. A flush crept from her neck to her hairline. "I... I’m so sorry," she breathed, the words barely audible. She tried to push herself up, but her palms slid against his sweat-dampened skin. The friction drew a shudder from her, a sharp intake of air. Her tank top had ridden up, exposing a sliver of soft stomach, and the frantic motion to pull it down only pressed her more firmly against him.
"Stay still," Jin’s voice was a low growl, strained. His hands, which had gone to her waist to steady her, now felt the intense heat of her through the thin cotton. His thumbs traced slow, deliberate circles on her skin, and she gasped, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment. "You’ll hurt yourself."
"The... the glasses," she managed, her mind a haze of sensation.
He helped her off him, his hands lingering on her waist before reluctantly letting go. After finding the glasses, he knelt before her again. This time, as he slid them onto her face, his fingers lingered on the delicate shell of her ear. "There."
Clara just stared at him, her heart a frantic drum against her ribs.
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
The containment field alarm shrieked, shattering the moment. Clara jumped. "The power cycling! I forgot to finalize the sequence!"
She scrambled for the console, but Jin was faster, blocking her path. "We’ll do it together."
They worked together to stabilize the power cycling, Jin’s calm presence helping Clara focus despite her flustered state. He leaned over her shoulder to check the screens, offering suggestions when she seemed stuck, completely unaware of how his proximity affected her.
"There! All fixed!" Jin said with satisfaction. "See? When we work together, we can handle anything. Now, let’s get you that food I mentioned."
As he guided Clara out of the workshop, her small hand found its way into his. Jin gave it a reassuring squeeze, thinking she was probably still shaken from her falls.
"T-thank you, Jin," Clara whispered. "For everything. For being so kind even though I’m so clumsy and awkward..."
"You’re not awkward," Jin said earnestly. "You’re brilliant, and you’re passionate about your work. Never doubt that."
He leaned in. The space between them vanished. Her eyes fluttered closed, her lips parting slightly in anticipation. He could feel the warmth of her breath, taste the air between them. Just as their lips were about to meet, he paused, a hair’s breadth away. Then, with a ghost of a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he pulled back.
"You should rest," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through her.
Clara could only nod, her legs feeling like they might give out. As he led her from the workshop, his grip on her hand was the only thing keeping her grounded.
---
[HUD NOTIFICATION – INTERACTION EVENT COMPLETE]
Subject: Clara Vance
Encounter Type: Intimate Workshop Event / Heightened Tension
Location: Engineering Bay, Sublevel C
[RELATIONSHIP UPDATE – CLARA VANCE]
Affinity +18
> New Total: 80 / 100
> Trust Level: Absolute
> Emotional Bond: Intimate
> Clara now views Jin as a primary romantic interest
STATUS:
• Clara will now actively seek private moments with Jin
• Unique Romance Dialogues Unlocked
> [Clara Route – Phase 3: The Unspoken Promise]
[SKILL TRAITS UPDATED]
> Empathy (Physical & Emotional Synthesis): +7%
> Charisma: +4%
> Tech Affinity (Intuitive Synchronization): +5%
> Dating Sim Flag Triggered: [Clara Route – The Almost Kiss]
[SYSTEM FLAG – PASSIVE EFFECT ACTIVATED]
Passive Trait: [Accidental Harem Magnet] – ACTIVE
Effect: Romantic tension now creates feedback loops, amplifying affinity gains.
Asha: "I am deleting all combat protocols and installing a library of romance novels. Clearly, that is your new primary battlefield."
[JOURNAL ENTRY UNLOCKED]
"Clara: The Space Between Breaths"
[MISSION TIME REMAINING: 7h 35m]
Recommended: Meal Intake, Rest, Tactical Review (Preferably Alone)