The control room's holographic map cast shifting blue patterns across their faces as Clara worked, her fingers dancing across the console. The discovery of her father's log had left her shaken but determined, her grief now fueling a fierce focus.
"I'm accessing deeper systems now," she murmured, her voice steadier than before. "There are... encrypted files. About Project Phoenix's final protocols."
Jin stood beside her, his presence a quiet shield. He didn't understand the data streams, but he understood the woman reading them, her shoulders still tight with a tension he wished he could soothe.
Sera paced behind them, her movements restless. "Anything about why the Vault's failing? We can't stay here forever."
"Working on it," Clara said without looking up. "The cascading failures started in Sub-Level Engineering. If we could—"
A low rumble cut through her words, a deep, guttural groan from the Vault's very bones. It grew until the floor vibrated beneath their feet, a violent shudder that sent tools skittering across the console. Dust rained from the ceiling as the lights flickered violently, plunging the room into strobing darkness.
Panic flashed hot in Jin's chest. He took three sharp, steadying breaths, forcing it down. "Seismic event!" he shouted, his voice calm but sharp. He grabbed Clara's arm, pulling her toward the wall. "Everyone against the wall! Now!"
The Vault groaned around them, metal stressed beyond its limits. A section of ceiling collapsed nearby, sending debris skittering across the floor. In the chaos, Jin spotted a maintenance alcove—barely wide enough for two people, let alone four.
"In here!" he yelled, guiding Clara toward the recessed space. Sera and Rosa followed, the tremor forcing them together in the cramped shelter.
The alcove pressed them into an awkward tangle of limbs and bodies. Jin found himself wedged against the back wall, his pipe held vertically to save space. Clara was pressed against his left side, Sera to his right, and Rosa was directly in front of him, her back to his chest. The air grew thick with their combined body heat and the metallic scent of dust.
'Structural integrity at 47%,' Asha's voice noted clinically in his mind. 'Congratulations on finding the one alcove in this Vault small enough to turn a survival situation into an Ecchi Event. Your Accidental Charm skill is working overtime.'
Jin ignored her, focusing on the situation. He could feel Clara trembling against him. He shifted his weight slightly, creating a fraction more space for her. "Easy," he said softly, his voice a low rumble she'd feel more than hear. "It's just shaking. It'll pass."
"Jin," Sera's voice was tight with strain, her body molded to his right side. "If you're enjoying this—"
"Focus," he cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We're not safe yet."
Rosa, however, seemed to take the chaos as an invitation. She leaned back into him, a deliberate, soft pressure. "It's kinda tight here, right... H-E-R-O?" she whispered, her breath tickling his ear. "Good thing I don't mind getting... close."
Jin's jaw tightened. "Rosa. Not now." It wasn't a plea. It was a boundary. He had a job to do: keep them safe. Distractions were dangerous.
Just then, a deeper, more violent shudder ran through the Vault. The metal floor groaned, a loud, protesting screech of stressed steel. Jin instinctively braced, his body tensing to protect the others. In the violent lurch, his hand, already slick with grime and sweat, slipped on the pipe. His palm brushed firmly against the soft curve of Sera's breast.
Panic flashed again—hot and sharp. He took a single, deep breath, forcing it down. "Sorry," he said, his voice low and steady as he immediately pulled back. "You okay? Did I hurt you?"
But the tremor wasn't done. His foot caught on a loose floor panel. He stumbled forward, his hands flailing for a moment to maintain his balance. In the cramped space, there was nowhere to go. His palms landed firmly on Rosa's hips, his fingers brushing the warm, exposed skin where her cryo-suit had torn. At the same moment, his shoulder pressed against Clara's chest, and Sera, who was directly behind him, was pressed flush against his back.
For a heartbeat, the world was a chaotic mess of soft curves, panicked gasps, and the metallic scent of dust.
He took another deep breath, forcing the panic down. His priority was their safety. "Everyone okay?" he asked, his voice calm and clear as he carefully planted his hands and pushed himself upright, his movements deliberate now, not clumsy. "Is anyone hurt?"
"Nyaaah!" Rosa purred, a delighted, playful sound as she leaned into his touch for a split second before he moved away. "Still in one piece, hero. Though if you wanted to get closer, you could've just asked, you know."
Clara gasped, a bright red blush flooding her face, but her hand tightened on his sleeve, a shy spark of gratitude in her eyes. "I-I'm okay, Jin. Thank you for... catching us."
Sera's breath hitched, her tsundere facade cracking under the pressure. "Clumsy idiot," she muttered, but her flush deepened. She was already looking past him, her mind racing. "The tremor's getting worse. This alcove won't protect us from another big one. We need to move. Now."
'Jin,' Asha's voice cut through his thoughts, 'repeated high-stress social interactions have resulted in a skill evolution. 'Accidental Charm' has reached its maximum potential. Reclassifying as 'Accidental Harem Magnet.'
A new window flickered in his vision.
---
[LEVEL UP! Skill Mastery Achieved: Accidental Charm → Accidental Harem Magnet (Max Level)]
Through repeated, fortuitous physical interactions, Subject 01 has transcended mortal clumsiness to become a beacon of unintended allure. The Phoenix Core acknowledges this… peculiar talent.
Skill Effect: Accidental Harem Magnet (Passive, Max Lv. 5)
• +25% chance to trigger Ecchi Events in close proximity to female allies.
• +15% affinity gained during physical contact scenarios.
• +10% Charm stat in all social interactions.
• Special Ability: Harem Synergy Pulse – Once per 24 hours, Jin can emit a subtle aura that increases all ally affinities by 5% and reduces hostility by 20% for 10 minutes.
Cooldown: 24 hours.
Stat Boost: Charm +10, Agility -5 (due to increased distraction risk).
Achievement Unlocked: Magnet of Mayhem – +150 EXP.
---
'Congratulations,' Asha continued, her tone dry. 'Your physical ineptitude has evolved into a tactical social asset. My data logs are fascinating. Recommendation: Proceed with caution.'
Jin ignored the ridiculous notification and faced the three girls, who were all looking at him with varying degrees of amusement, shyness, and irritation. He didn't make excuses. He met their gazes directly, his expression sincere and focused.
"Sera's right," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This space isn't safe. Let's focus on getting out of here." His directness and immediate pivot back to the mission cut through the awkward tension like a knife.
As if on cue, the tremor subsided as suddenly as it began, leaving them in strained silence. The only sound was their ragged breathing and the soft *tink* of cooling metal. In the quiet, a faint scraping sound echoed from the wall beside them.
Before anyone could move, Clara gasped. "Look!" She pointed through the opening, her voice filled with sudden urgency. "The wall... it cracked!"
Jin immediately moved, carefully extricating himself from the alcove. "Everyone out. Slowly." He helped Clara first, then Sera, his touch professional and brief. Rosa followed with a playful pout that he pointedly ignored.
"What is it?" Sera asked, her composure returning as she focused on the new discovery, her cheeks still flushed.
Jin approached the cracked wall, his pipe held ready. "Some kind of hidden compartment." He ran his fingers along the edge. It wasn't a standard panel. A fine line of dust trickled from the fissure, revealing a dark space beyond.
Rosa peered over his shoulder. "Ooh, secret passages? I love secret passages."
Clara joined them, her earlier embarrassment forgotten in the face of a new technical puzzle. "The schematics didn't show any maintenance access here." She pulled up her datapad, her fingers already flying. "The seismic stress must have ruptured a false wall."
Jin looked between the dark passage and his companions. The alcove had been awkward, but this was a potential answer. A risk, but one worth taking.
"We check it out," he said, his voice leaving no room for debate. It wasn't a suggestion. It was a decision.
He met each of their eyes, his gaze firm and confident. He had felt their fear during the tremor, and now he was giving them direction. A clear, simple plan.
"Stay close," he added, his voice softening slightly. "And watch your step." He led the way into the darkness, his beam of light cutting a steady path forward.
---
[HUD – GROUP SYNCHRONIZATION]
Team cohesion improved through shared crisis and decisive leadership.
New dynamic: Mutual protection instinct awakened.
Probability of successful navigation through restricted area: 78% (increased from 52%).
---