At six in the morning, Lin Shuo's body clock woke him right on time.
He stared blankly at the ceiling for three seconds before realizing what had happened last night-it hadn't been a dream.
Clattering came from the kitchen.
Lin Shuo rolled out of bed instantly, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan already active by the time he rushed to the kitchen doorway.
Then he froze.
Lin You stood on tiptoe on a little stool, struggling to wield a spatula taller than she was as she tried to flip the... fried egg in the pan.
If that blackened lump could still be called a fried egg.
"Daddy... good morning!"
Lin You turned, bits of egg stuck to her face, her green eyes curving with her smile. "I'm making breakfast! Future Mommy said you always skip breakfast before setting up your stall, and that's bad for you-"
"Get down."
Lin Shuo's voice was still hoarse from sleep, but it was enough to make Lin You obediently put down the spatula.
He walked over, turned off the gas, and glanced at the charred substance in the pan. "Are you making an Ether Corruption sample?"
"I just didn't get the heat right!"
"Go wash your face." Lin Shuo lifted her off the stool. "I'll make breakfast."
"Aww-let me try one more time! I promise this time-"
"No."
Lin Shuo opened the fridge and took out eggs, bacon, and toast.
His movements were practiced: he lit the stove, heated the pan, and cracked an egg one-handed. The egg spread perfectly across the pan, its edges turning golden and crisp.
Lin You leaned against the counter and watched, muttering, "...You're so good at it, but you still pick on me."
"Because I don't want to eat my way into the hospital." Lin Shuo didn't turn around.
"And you were using my backup cookware-that set was expensive."
"Cheapskate."
"Say whatever you want."
Seven minutes later, two breakfasts sat on the table.
The fried egg on Lin You's plate had been cut into the shape of a little bear, with a crooked smiley face drawn in ketchup beside it.
"...Childish," Lin Shuo remarked, but he didn't swap the plate back.
Lin You giggled and picked up her fork. "Thank you, Daddy~"
Breakfast passed in silence, with only the clinking of cutlery.
Lin Shuo ate quickly, a habit developed in the military.
Lin You took little bites, sneaking glances at him now and then.
"What's the plan for today?" she finally couldn't resist asking.
"Buy supplies in the morning, prep tonight's ingredients in the afternoon." Lin Shuo wiped his mouth. "You're staying home."
"Huh? I want to go too!"
"No."
"Why not? I'll be so bored home alone-"
"Because you have no legal identity in the past." Lin Shuo looked at her. "In New Eridu, eight-year-olds must be accompanied by a guardian and carry an identity card. Do you have one?"
Lin You wilted.
"So." Lin Shuo stood up. "My first task is to get you a fake identity within these seven days-at least one that'll pass routine checks."
[System notice: Time-limited mission "Lin You's Identity" updated. Current progress: 0/7 days. Suggested approach: Contact former colleagues from Obsidian Camp and exploit loopholes in the Defense Force archive system.]
Lin Shuo clicked his tongue inwardly.
Contact former colleagues? Who? Captain Willowisp? That guy was probably on a mission in some Hollow right now, beyond even communication range.
Orphie? That clone girl was easy enough to talk to, but the "Willowisp" consciousness beside her was too perceptive. One careless move and the secret would be out.
The other members... Trigger, Seed, Soldier 11-none of them were easy to deal with.
"Looks like I'll have to visit Scott Outpost," Lin Shuo murmured to himself.
"Scott Outpost?"
Lin You had sharp ears. "Is that the Obsidian Camp base where you used to be stationed, Daddy?"
"Yeah. A logistics officer there owes me a favor."
Lin Shuo began clearing the dishes. "We'll deal with the stall today and go there tomorrow."
"Then this afternoon-"
"You're coming to the stall with me."
Lin You's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Better than leaving you home alone to tear the place apart." Lin Shuo glanced at her. "But three ground rules: first, no running off. Second, no saying strange things to customers. Third-"
He paused. "If you see a girl with red hair, green eyes, and twin tails, don't throw yourself at her and call her Mommy."
"Got it! Your distant niece, right? I know!"
Lin You hopped off her chair. "Then I'll go get changed! What are you wearing today, Uncle? Want me to pick an outfit for you? Future Mommy said your fashion sense is awful. Always black, white, and gray-"
"No need."
"Don't be shy! I remember Mommy saying that plaid shirt you wore on your first date was a total disaster-"
Lin Shuo lightly slapped the dishcloth onto her face.
"Go get changed."
The morning supply run went smoothly.
The butcher was an old acquaintance and threw in an extra half-jin of pork bones; when the flour shop owner heard that a "relative's child" was visiting Lin Shuo, she insisted on giving Lin You a bag of candy.
"Thank you, Auntie!" Lin You's words were sweet as honey.
"Your dumplings are the best, Auntie! Uncle buys them for me all the time!"
Lin Shuo: "..."
When had he ever bought dumplings?
The shop owner beamed. "Oh, what a sweet talker! Little Lin, this child is much cuter than you. Bring her by more often!"
"Mm." Lin Shuo nodded noncommittally and led Lin You away.
"Uncle, how was my acting?" Once they were outside, Lin You looked up proudly.
"Overdone." Lin Shuo stuffed the candy back into her hand. "Don't improvise extra scenes."
"But that auntie was clearly happy! It's called managing relationships. Future Mommy taught me!"
"What on earth has Yuzuha been teaching you..."
"She also taught me how to identify Ether anomalies in Hollows, how to prank people with tanuki curses, and how to disguise vegetable juice as cola-"
"Stop." Lin Shuo pressed his temples. "I don't want to hear it."
At three in the afternoon, preparations began at the ramen stall.
Lin You was assigned vegetable-washing duty. She sat on a little stool with a large basin of lettuce in front of her, carefully washing each leaf with her little hands.
"Uncle, how many customers will we have tonight?"
"Usually thirty to forty servings." Lin Shuo was simmering the broth, and the aroma of pork bones had begun to spread. "More on Wednesdays, because..."
"Because Mommy comes?" Lin You's eyes shone.
"...Because she brings her classmates."
Lin Shuo didn't deny it. "That Spook Shack bunch always orders the most expensive set meals, then chats for ages after eating. It affects table turnover."
"But you never chase them away."
"That's called being polite."
"You obviously just like Mommy-"
A scallion bulb landed squarely on Lin You's head.
"Wash your vegetables."
At five in the evening, the ramen stall opened right on time.
The first customers were construction workers from nearby. They ordered the signature shoyu ramen with practiced familiarity, eating heartily as they chatted about their experiences doing construction in Hollows.
Lin You was placed on a little stool behind the stall, with a children's picture book Lin Shuo had bought on short notice in front of her-though after two pages, her expression already said, "This is way too childish."
"Uncle, can I help collect payments?"
"No."
"Then can I help serve the noodles?"
"You'll spill them."
"I can learn!"
"Next time."
Lin Shuo handled customers' orders, his hands never stopping.
Cooking noodles, rinsing them, filling bowls, adding toppings-every movement flowed seamlessly into the next.
The Sharingan had no use in this sort of daily routine, but he had long since grown used to it. He could maintain the Three Tomoe state for a long time, and the chakra it consumed was negligible to him.
At six thirty, the rush began.
Lin Shuo was too busy to keep watching Lin You, only glancing over occasionally to check that she was still behaving and staying put.
Until a familiar voice rang out-
"Lin Shuo! The usual, two special tonkotsu ramen, double chashu!"
The strainer in Lin Shuo's hand paused for half a second.
He looked up.
Red hair, twin tails, green eyes, a mischievous smile.
Ukinami Yuzuha wore her corporate school uniform today, with a light gray cardigan over it and a schoolbag in her hand.
A tall figure stood beside her-red-and-black hair, conspicuous canine ears, and a nearly two-meter height that made the surrounding customers instinctively give him room.
Komano Manato.
Yuzuha's classmate, a member of Spook Shack, and one of Lin Shuo's regulars.
"You're early today."
Lin Shuo nodded and went back to cooking noodles.
"Because Manato said he was starving~"
Yuzuha squeezed up to the stall with practiced familiarity and leaned on the counter to watch Lin Shuo work. "The broth smells extra good today, Lin Shuo. Did you change the recipe?"
"No."
"Aww-so cold."
Yuzuha tilted her head, her gaze suddenly sweeping behind the stall.
She blinked.
"Lin Shuo, whose kid is that?"
Lin Shuo's heart tightened, but his hands didn't stop. "A distant niece. Her parents died in a Hollow accident, so I'm looking after her for now."
His tone was flat as he spoke, as though he were stating today's weather.
"Oh," Yuzuha said, her expression turning unusually serious. "I see... I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
"What's her name?"
"...Lin You."
"You?" Yuzuha smiled. "Just like in my name! What a coincidence!"
Lin Shuo didn't respond, only transferring the cooked noodles into bowls.
Just then, Lin You looked up from her picture book.
Their eyes met.
Green eyes facing green eyes.
Lin You blinked, then suddenly gave an innocent smile. "Uncle, this girl is so pretty!"
Yuzuha froze, then laughed. "Oh, what a sweet talker! Your name's Lin You, right? How old are you?"
"Eight!" Lin You hopped off the stool and ran to the edge of the stall, but obediently stayed behind the counter. "What about you?"
"I'm eighteen~ Ten years older than you!"
"Then can I call you Big Sister Yuzuha?"
"Of course!"
Yuzuha bent down to meet Lin You's eyes. "What do you like to eat, little You? How about I treat you to ramen?"
"Uncle already made some for me!" Lin You said sweetly. "Do you come here for Uncle's ramen a lot, Big Sister Yuzuha?"
"Yep, every week! Lin Shuo's ramen is the best in all of Lumina Square!"
"I think so too!"
The two redheads with green eyes chatted back and forth, the scene so harmonious that Lin Shuo felt a little dazed.
Komano Manato scratched his head beside them. "Yuzuha, the noodles are going to get cold."
"Oh, right! Lin Shuo, we'll go sit down!"
Yuzuha carried the two bowls of noodles while Manato helped with the chopsticks and water.
They settled with practiced familiarity at a folding table beside the stall-a spot Lin Shuo had specially reserved for regulars.
Watching Yuzuha walk away, Lin You whispered, "Daddy, Mommy really was so cute when she was young..."
Lin Shuo lowered his voice. "Don't keep staring."
"Got it~"
But Lin You's eyes still sparkled.
For the next half hour, Lin Shuo served the other customers while keeping an eye on that table through his peripheral vision.
Yuzuha and Manato were chatting about something-apparently school matters, as well as commissions Spook Shack had received.
Manato spoke very little, spending most of his time bent over his noodles, occasionally nodding or making a sound of acknowledgment.
Yuzuha spoke animatedly, gesturing wildly and breaking into clear laughter from time to time.
Lin You pretended to read her picture book, but she was actually listening intently.
Until-
"Oh, right, Lin Shuo!" Yuzuha suddenly raised her voice. "Spook Shack is going to Lemnos Hollow next week to investigate an urban legend about 'Midnight Cry.' Want to come along?"
Lin Shuo didn't even look up. "No."
"Aww-why not? It'll be fun! Besides, we need someone who can fight. Manato can fight, but sometimes he's a little slow on the uptake-"
"Hey," Manato protested.
"I'm just telling the truth!"
Yuzuha sounded perfectly justified. "You used to be in Obsidian Camp, Lin Shuo. You've got plenty of experience with Hollows. We'd be safer with you around!"
"I'm retired."
"But didn't Captain Willowisp say you could come back anytime? Just think of it as a part-time job! The pay's really good!"
Lin Shuo handed a bowl of noodles to a customer before finally turning toward her. "Yuzuha."
"Hmm?"
"I told you, I hate trouble."
Yuzuha pouted. "How is this trouble? It's an adventure! Uncovering the truth behind urban legends! How fun is that?"
"Not interested."
"...Stingy."
Yuzuha turned away in a huff and slurped up a big mouthful of noodles.
Manato said quietly, "Yuzuha, Lin Shuo has his reasons."
"I know! It just feels like a waste..." Yuzuha propped her chin on her hand. "He's so strong, but all he wants to do is sell ramen."
"There's nothing wrong with selling ramen," Lin Shuo suddenly said.
Yuzuha froze for a moment, then turned around.
Lin Shuo was wiping down the counter, his profile sharply defined beneath the stall's light. "Everyone has the right to choose their own life."
Yuzuha stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.
"That's true." She picked up her chopsticks. "Then I'll pester you every time I come for noodles-until you agree!"
"...Suit yourself."
Lin Shuo turned around and went back to cooking noodles.
No one saw the corners of his mouth briefly lift.
Lin You watched it all, covering her mouth to hide her giggles.
By eight that evening, the customers had begun to thin out.
Yuzuha and Manato had already left-before leaving, Yuzuha had made a point of waving goodbye to Lin You and promising to bring her candy from Kaidan House next time.
Lin Shuo began packing up the stall.
Lin You helped hand him tools and asked softly, "Dad, you were actually a little tempted, weren't you?"
"By what?"
"Mom's invitation." Lin You's eyes curved into crescents. "You hesitated for zero point three seconds. I saw it!"
"...Which eye did you see that with?"
"Both of them!" Lin You declared smugly. "And when Mom left, you watched her walk away for two extra seconds-mmph!"
Lin Shuo gently covered her mouth with the cleaning cloth.
"We're going home once we're done packing."
"Mmph, mmph, mmph!"
On the way home, Lin You skipped ahead, humming an unfamiliar tune.
Lin Shuo pushed the stall cart, his thoughts somewhat tangled.
Yuzuha's invitation... He really had hesitated.
Not because of the urban legend or the pay, but because Yuzuha had said, "We need someone who can fight."
That little devil had been a test subject herself and lived through all that darkness, yet she still spent her days diving into Hollows.
She had Manato beside her, along with the other members of Spook Shack, but...
"Uncle!" Lin You suddenly turned around and pointed at the sky. "Look!"
Lin Shuo looked up.
In the distant sky, a dark red pillar of light shot upward, followed by a muffled explosion.
A Hollow alert.
The location was... Lemnos Hollow.
Lin Shuo's pupils contracted.
That was the place Yuzuha had just mentioned investigating next week.
The cart's handle creaked under his grip.
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated instantly, his gaze piercing the night to make out the scene farther away-Defense Force vehicles were assembling, the Obsidian Camp insignia reflecting light on their sides.
"Dad..." Lin You clutched the hem of his shirt, her voice a little tense. "That direction..."
"It's a long way from here." Lin Shuo withdrew his gaze and continued pushing the cart. "The Hollow shows no signs of expanding. It's just a routine, small-scale outbreak. The Defense Force can handle it."
"But Mom's going there next week..."
"Which means she won't be going there for now."
Lin Shuo's voice was calm. "Until the Hollow alert is lifted and the Defense Force finishes clearing it out, that area will be sealed off.
"Yuzuha likes adventure, but she won't force her way into a restricted area."
Lin You relaxed a little, but she still didn't let go.
After they had walked a while, she asked softly, "Dad, did you used to deal with things like this a lot?"
"...Yes."
"Were you scared?"
Lin Shuo fell silent for a few seconds.
"I got used to it."
It wasn't that he wasn't afraid. He had just gotten used to it.
Used to the sickening sensation of Ether Corruption, used to the howls of Ethereals, used to the sound of teammates falling.
That was why he wanted to get away.
Back home, Lin Shuo told Lin You to take a bath first, while he sat by the window and watched the red glow gradually fade in the distance.
The system interface appeared silently:
[Related event detected: "Lemnos Hollow anomaly." Available side quest: assist Spook Shack in investigating the "Midnight Cry" urban legend (connection to main quest "Romance Ukinami Yuzuha": high). Accept?]
Lin Shuo closed his eyes.
After a long while, he said softly, "Accept."
The interface flashed: [Side quest accepted. Quest details will update as the event draws near.]
The bathroom door opened, and Lin You walked out, drying her hair.
"Dad, I'm done."
"Mm." Lin Shuo stood up. "Go to bed early. We're going to Scott Outpost tomorrow."
"Really? Can I meet your old comrades?"
"Not necessarily." Lin Shuo headed toward the bathroom. "I'm going to take a bath. You-"
He paused. "You did all right today. You didn't give anything away."
Lin You's eyes lit up. "Then do I get a reward?"
"I'll buy you underwear with a strawberry pattern tomorrow."
"Really?!"
"Yes."
"You're the best, Dad!"
The bathroom door closed, and the water started running.
Lin You hugged a pillow and rolled around on the bed, grinning like a cat that had stolen a treat.
"Strawberry underwear... Hehe... Then I can show off to Mom and tell her Dad bought them for me..."
She suddenly sat up, her green eyes shining in the dark.
"No, I've got to speed things up. Dad's taking too long. I need to give him a push..."
Outside the window, the red glow of the Hollow alert had completely vanished.
New Eridu's night remained brightly lit.
Meanwhile, in a certain gray porcelain craft shop, a red-haired girl was leaning over the counter, reading a message she had just received on her phone-
"There's an anomaly in Lemnos Hollow. The investigation's postponed. But the 'Midnight Cry' commission is still open. The client insists there's a phenomenon there unrelated to Ether anomalies. What do you think, Yuzuha?"
Biting her nail, Yuzuha sent a reply:
"Of course we're going to keep investigating! But we need a more reliable helper this time... Manato, do you really think we can't get Lin Shuo to come?"
A few minutes later, a reply arrived:
"I think Lin Shuo's worried about our safety. How about... we try inviting him another way?"
Yuzuha's eyes darted about, and she flashed a little devil's smile. "Good point~"
She opened another chat window and typed:
"Lin Shuo, are you free next Sunday afternoon? Kaidan House is holding a gray porcelain crafting workshop, and we need a helper. Payment is a lifetime twenty-percent-off ramen card~"
Sent.
Then she hugged her phone and waited for a reply.
Lin Shuo came out of the bathroom, drying his hair, and saw the message light up his phone.
He stared at the message for five seconds, then glanced at Lin You, who was pretending to sleep on the bed even as her eyelashes fluttered.
Finally, his fingers tapped the screen:
"What time?"
Yuzuha's reply popped up almost instantly:
"It starts at two in the afternoon! Lin Shuo agreed?!"
"Yes."
"Yay! It's a deal, then! No backing out!"
Lin Shuo set down his phone, walked over to the bed, and tucked the blanket around Lin You.
The little girl's breathing was even, as though she really were asleep.
But Lin Shuo knew she was pretending.
"I'm going to help out at Kaidan House next Sunday afternoon," he said quietly. "You're coming with me."
A muffled voice came from beneath the blanket. "Okay~"
"No saying things you shouldn't."
"I know~"
Lin Shuo switched off the light.
In the darkness, he said softly, "Go to sleep."
"Good night, Dad."
"...Good night."
Outside the window, New Eridu's neon lights continued to flicker.
And in a corner where no one could see, a certain damned system's interface quietly updated:
[Main quest "Romance Ukinami Yuzuha" current progress: 1.2%. Side quest "Assist the investigation" triggered. Please keep up the good work, host.]
The progress bar gave a tiny jump.
Just like someone's heartbeat.