CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 10.2: THE WORKSHOP

[MEMORY INTEGRATION COMPLETE]

The dojo fell apart like broken glass. Jin found himself on one knee in the Vault’s cold training room, leaning on his wooden staff as tears rolled down his face. Even though the simulation was over, he still felt a deep emptiness in his chest where his mom’s warmth used to be.

"Hey, Jin," Asha said softly, her voice gentler than usual. "Your stress levels and emotions are off the charts. The memory integration was way more intense than we thought."

Jin tightened his grip on the staff—it was no real sword, but it would do for now. He could still remember her hands guiding him, showing him the forms.

"The blade protects," he murmured, pushing himself to stand. The tears were still there, but alongside them, a fierce determination started to grow inside him, fueled by his mom’s spirit.

Now he had people to look out for: Clara, Rosa, Sera—the girls in their pods. They were his responsibility, just like his mom had once cared for him.

"Your biometrics are looking better," Asha chimed in. "The memory integration seems to have worked. You’ve got better access to the Tsurugi techniques now."

"She’s still here, teaching me," Jin said softly, starting to flow through the first kata his mother had taught him years ago.

With every swing of the wooden staff, he reconnected with those deep-rooted patterns in his soul—

Outside the training room, ten hours stretched ahead of them, but it felt like just an hour had passed since he last saw his mom.

"I won’t let you down, Mom," Jin promised in his head. "I’ll keep everyone safe."

[COMBAT SIMULATION COMPLETE]

User: Jin Tsurugi

Environment: Vault Training Room – Level 2

Performance Rating: B+

Time to Response: Moderate

Combat Adaptability: High

Neural Sync Response: Stable

Emotional Stability: Variable

Skill Progression

• Melee Weapon Mastery: +2.1%

• Predator Instinct: +3.4%

• Athletics & Mobility: +1.8%

• NEW: Tsurugi Sword Forms (Incomplete): 7% Recovered

↳ Style Integration Level: First Recall

Neural Integration: 18% Synced

Status: Partial

Obstruction: Psychological Barriers Detected

Emotional Anchor Interference: Active

Recommendation:

Additional exposure to memory stimuli may improve sync rate.

Controlled emotional stress advised under supervision.

────────────────────────────

Two hours had passed since Jin wrapped up his training, and the Command Wing’s hallways felt super quiet. In an effort to save energy, most systems were running on low power. As Jin strolled through the calm corridor, he felt drawn to the workshop where Clara had set up her improvised lab.

The door was slightly ajar, with a soft blue light spilling into the hallway. Curious, Jin peeked inside and immediately felt a twinge of worry.

Clara was slumped over her workbench, with her head resting on her arms. Multiple screens displayed complex designs and detailed tweaks, while a modified baton sat in a testing cradle, buzzing occasionally from extra energy. Her workspace was a mess, with empty ration bar wrappers and containers from energy drinks everywhere.

"Clara’s been overworking herself again," Jin thought to himself, a real look of concern on his face.

Jin quietly walked into the room, being careful not to disturb her. As he got closer, he noticed the dark circles under her eyes, even while she was sleeping. Her glasses were slightly crooked on her nose, and her hair was all over the place, spilling onto her cheek. She had chosen to wear a comfy tank top and shorts—probably for convenience while she worked—and he could see she was a bit cold in the cool air.

Jin casually glanced around for something to throw over her. He noticed a lab coat hanging close by and tossed it over her shoulders.

"Clara," he said softly, placing a warm hand on her shoulder. "Clara, you’ll hurt your back sleeping like this."

She stirred, blinking sleepily as she lifted her head. "J-Jin? What... what time is it?" Her voice was groggy, and as she rubbed her eyes, she accidentally knocked her glasses off entirely. "Oh! My g-glasses—"

She reached for them, nearly knocking over a container of tools in the process.

"Here, let me help!" Jin quickly caught the tools before they could crash to the floor, then retrieved her glasses. "You’ve been working too hard again, haven’t you?"

Clara fumbled to put her glasses back on, her cheeks already turning pink. "I-I had to finish! The modifications needed... the power cycling took f-forever, and then the containment field tests, and I kept worrying it might explode when you use it, and—"

"Clara," Jin said earnestly, kneeling down so he was at eye level with her. "You need to take better care of yourself. How can you help everyone if you collapse from exhaustion?"

"B-but I can’t rest!" The words tumbled out in a rush, her eyes filling with tears. "You’re g-going out there tomorrow because of my plan! If my calculations are wrong, if s-something happens to you because I didn’t double-check everything—"

"Hey, it’s okay," Jin said, his voice full of genuine warmth. He pulled up a chair to sit beside her. "You’re not responsible for keeping everyone safe by yourself. We’re all in this together!"

"But I’m the one who s-suggested overcharging it," Clara’s voice cracked, tears starting to fall. "If you get hurt..."

Without hesitation, Jin pulled her into a comforting hug. "Clara, you’re amazing... Your modifications are going to work perfectly because you’re the smartest person I know.... And I’ll be extra careful out there because I have important people to protect!"

Clara pulled back slightly, looking up at him with wide, teary eyes. "I-important people?"

"Of course! You, Sera, Rosa—you’re all precious to me," Jin said with his characteristic sincere smile. "I won’t let anything happen to any of you. That’s a promise.."

"Honestly, it’s almost remarkable how completely unaware you are of the romantic tension.," Asha noted dryly.

Clara’s hands were still gripping his shirt from the hug, and she seemed to realize how close they were. "J-Jin, I should... probably check the c-calibration one more time..."

"You should rest first," Jin said firmly but kindly. "When’s the last time you ate something besides ration bars?"

[Accidental Harem Magnet - ACTIVE]

Clara tried to stand up quickly, flustered by their closeness, but her foot caught on a cable. "Kyaa—!"

"Careful!" Jin reached out to steady her, but Clara’s flailing knocked into him. His chair tipped backward, and suddenly they were both falling.

Jin hit the floor with a soft "oof," just as Clara came crashing down on him. She quickly put her hands on either side of his head, her hair spilling around like a curtain. In the mix of it all, her glasses went flying and skidded across the floor.

"I-I-I’m so sorry!" Clara’s face was bright red, her words coming out in a stuttering rush. "I’m so c-clumsy, I didn’t mean to—I’ll get up right now—"

She tried to push herself up but only managed to shift her weight, making her even more aware that she was straddling him. Her tank top had ridden up slightly, and she frantically tried to pull it down while also trying to get up, resulting in her nearly falling over again.

"It’s okay! Are you hurt?" Jin asked, his hands automatically going to her waist to keep her from toppling over. "That was a pretty hard fall."

"She’s sitting on top of you in shorts and you’re asking if SHE’S hurt. Classic Jin," Asha commented.

"I-I’m fine! But Jin, this is... I’m... we’re..." Clara couldn’t form a complete sentence, her face burning hotter with each attempt.

"Oh! Your glasses right?" Jin said, completely focused on the practical problem. "Don’t move, you might hurt yourself. I’ll find them!"

He carefully picked her up and moved her to the side, then started crawling around to find her glasses. Clara sat there, a bit confused and flustered, watching him search with total focus.

"Found them!" Jin proclaimed triumphantly. He carefully placed them back on her face, adjusting them gently. "There"

Clara could only nod, overwhelmed by his kindness and proximity. "J-Jin... you’re too nice..."

"Huh? I’m just doing what anyone would do!" Jin said with a bright smile. "Now, come on. Let’s get you some proper food and rest. The baton modifications look perfect, so you can relax"

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

The containment field alarm suddenly went off. Clara jumped up in panic. "Oh no! The p-power cycle! I forgot to—"

In her rush, she tripped over the same cable again. This time Jin caught her properly, pulling her against his chest.

"Careful!" he said, holding her steady. "Are you sure you’re okay? You keep stumbling."

"I-it’s just... when you’re near me, I get all..." Clara mumbled against his chest, her words barely audible.

"What was that?" Jin asked innocently, still holding her.

"N-nothing! The alarm—I need to—"

"I’ll help" Jin said enthusiastically. "Just tell me what to do!"

They were able to get the power cycle stable, but Clara couldn’t help but be distracted by how close Jin was. He kept leaning over her shoulder to check the screens, totally oblivious to the impact he was having on her.

"There! All fixed!" Jin beamed at her. "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 tiny hand found its way into his. Jin gave it a comforting squeeze, thinking she was probably still a bit rattled from her tumbles.

"T-thank you, Jin," Clara whispered. "For everything. For being so kind even though I’m so clumsy and awkward..."

"You’re not awkward! You’re wonderful just as you are, Clara," Jin said earnestly. "Never think otherwise!"

Clara felt a flutter in her heart at his heartfelt words. He might not have been aware of how romantic it was, but it was obvious that he really cared about her.

There were seven hours left before the mission, but for now, Clara was just happy to be strolling side by side with the sweetest guy she had ever known.

[HUD NOTIFICATION – INTERACTION EVENT COMPLETE]

Subject: Clara Vance

Encounter Type: Emotional Support / Workshop Event

Location: Engineering Bay, Sublevel C

[RELATIONSHIP UPDATE – CLARA VANCE]

Affinity +4

New Total: 70 / 100

Trust Level: Strengthened

Emotional Bond: Deepened

Clara now feels emotionally safe around Jin

STATUS:

• Clara is now more likely to seek Jin out during rest events

• Unique Support Dialogues Unlocked

• Potential Romance Route Progressed

[SKILL TRAITS UPDATED]

Empathy (Supportive Response Recognition): +3%

Charisma: +1.5%

Tech Affinity (Shared Diagnostics): +2.2%

Dating Sim Flag Triggered: [Clara Route – Phase 2 Initiated]

[SYSTEM FLAG – PASSIVE EFFECT ACTIVATED]

Passive Trait: [Accidental Harem Magnet] – ACTIVE

Effect: +Minor Affinity growth with nearby characters when unaware of romantic tension

Asha Commentary Likelihood: Increased

Asha: "I’ll begin drafting a support protocol... or a dating guide. You clearly need one."

[JOURNAL ENTRY UNLOCKED]

"Clara: Burnt Circuits & Warm Hearts"

[MISSION TIME REMAINING: 7h 12m]

Recommended: Rest, Meal Intake, Tactical Review