Morning at Scott Outpost was awakened by the reveille at precisely five thirty, as always.
Lin Shuo opened his eyes. The ceiling of the military dormitory looked a cold, hard gray in the morning light.
He sat up, and the first thing he did was check the system interface-
[Time remaining: 56 hours, 42 minutes] [Orphie's affection: 71%] [Host's internal acceptance: 78%]
Just a little more.
But every little bit felt like walking a tightrope. The slightest misstep could hurt someone.
He washed up and changed into his training clothes.
As Lin Shuo stepped out of his room, light footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.
"Good morning, Dad!"
Lin Yue trotted over, her orange hair tied into two little buns-clearly Orphie's handiwork, though they were crooked.
She was still wearing that oversized training outfit, but the cuffs had been carefully secured with safety pins.
"Morning."
Lin Shuo ruffled her hair. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah! Mom told me a bedtime story-though it was from a tactical manual..."
Lin Yue stuck out her tongue.
"But Mom said it's an Obsidian Camp tradition!"
"It is a tradition."
Lin Shuo nodded.
Orphie also emerged from her room. She had faint dark circles under her eyes, but she seemed fairly energetic.
When she saw Lin Shuo, she paused, the tips of her ears flushing slightly. "G-good morning, Lin Shuo."
"Morning." Lin Shuo looked at her.
"Thanks for last night."
"It was nothing..."
Orphie lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers. "Um... did your talk with Miss Yuzuha... go well?"
Silence hung in the air for two seconds.
Lin Yue looked up, her Three-Tomoe Sharingan darting between them.
"...It went fine," Lin Shuo finally said.
"She accepted it."
"That's good."
Orphie breathed a sigh of relief, but her expression was still somewhat complicated. "Then... what's the plan for today?"
"Training in the morning. I need to head back to Lumina Square this afternoon."
Lin Shuo looked at Lin Yue.
"You're coming with me."
"Huh?" Lin Yue's eyes lit up.
"To see Auntie Yuzuha?"
"Yes. And Lin You-your other older sister."
Lin Yue blinked. "My other... older sister?"
"It's a little complicated to explain."
Lin Shuo said, "Anyway, you'll meet a girl with red hair and green eyes who's about your age.
"She came from the future too-but from a different future."
A curious gleam flashed in Lin Yue's Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
After breakfast, at the training grounds.
Today's exercise was a combat simulation-Lin Yue had to evade pursuing Ethereals in a simulated Hollow environment while collecting scattered "data cores."
"The rules are simple."
Soldier 11 stood at the control console, her orange eyes calm. "Last fifteen minutes, or collect three cores. Are you ready?"
Standing at the entrance to the training grounds, Lin Yue nodded firmly. "Ready!"
"Begin."
The gate rose, and Lin Yue shot inside like an arrow.
The holographically projected environment was highly realistic-shattered streets, warped buildings, and Ethereals made of light.
Lin Yue wove nimbly between the obstacles, her Three-Tomoe Sharingan fully activated as she anticipated every attack's trajectory.
"Very fluid movements."
Trigger stood on the observation platform, the indicator on her eye covering flashing an approving green. "She lacks stamina, but her technique makes up for it."
"She is that guy's daughter, after all."
Willowisp's tail rested on Orphie's shoulder. "She's got the genes."
Orphie watched the screen nervously, both hands clenched into fists before her chest.
Whenever Lin Yue narrowly dodged an attack, she let out a quiet gasp; whenever Lin Yue successfully collected a core, relief spread across her face.
Lin Shuo stood beside her, observing quietly.
He could sense Orphie's emotions-that mixture of worry, pride, and a certain maternal instinct.
It was complicated, but very real.
"You really care about her."
Lin Shuo spoke suddenly.
Orphie startled. "Huh? I-I just..."
"There's nothing wrong with that."
Lin Shuo interrupted her.
"Lin Yue needs someone to care about her."
Orphie blushed. She lowered her head, her voice very quiet. "I... I don't know how to be a mother-I can't even take proper care of myself..."
"But you're already trying."
Lin Shuo looked at the screen-Lin Yue was using a Sharingan genjutsu to disrupt an Ethereal, successfully securing her second core.
"Look, she trusts you. That's enough."
Orphie followed his gaze.
On the screen, Lin Yue's first reaction after getting the core was to look back toward the observation platform-even though she couldn't see outside, that movement was clearly her looking for Orphie.
Orphie's heart gave a hard thump.
By the end of the training, Lin Yue had collected four cores, exceeding the objective.
When she emerged from the simulation area, her little face was flushed with excitement. "Dad! Mom! I did it!"
"Well done." Lin Shuo handed her a towel.
"You're amazing, Xiao Yue!"
Orphie crouched down and helped wipe Lin Yue's sweat away.
"That genjutsu just now was especially clever!"
"Mom taught me!" Lin Yue said with a smile.
"Mom said the Sharingan isn't just for fighting. It can protect me too!"
Orphie froze for a moment. "I... did I say that?"
"Mom in that timeline said it!"
Lin Yue nodded firmly. "Mom said Dad always pushes himself too hard, so I have to learn to fight smarter."
Lin Shuo and Orphie exchanged a glance.
The atmosphere grew a little delicate.
"All right." Lin Shuo broke the silence.
"Go get changed. We're getting ready to leave."
"For Lumina Square?" Lin Yue's eyes lit up.
"Yes."
At one in the afternoon, the skyrail train headed toward Lumina Square.
Lin Yue leaned against the window, her Three-Tomoe Sharingan curiously surveying the scenery outside.
"This place seems... a little different from our timeline."
She said quietly, "The buildings are more intact, there are more people... and there aren't as many guard posts."
"Because Hollow disasters are better controlled here," Lin Shuo explained.
"That timeline..." Lin Yue's voice grew quieter. "Is it already beyond saving?"
Lin Shuo fell silent for a few seconds.
"I don't know," he finally said.
"But since you made it here, that means there's still hope."
Lin Yue turned her head, looking at him with green eyes. "Dad... if I can go back one day, will you miss me?"
The question came suddenly.
Lin Shuo looked at her-that face so much like Orphie's was now filled with unease.
"Yes." His answer was firm.
"No matter which timeline you're in, you're my daughter."
Lin Yue's eyes reddened.
She buried her face in Lin Shuo's arms and said quietly, "I'll miss you too... and Mom in this timeline..."
Lin Shuo gently patted her back.
The scenery outside the window flew past.
They arrived at Lumina Square.
As they stepped out of the station, the familiar air of the streets greeted them.
Lin Yue held Lin Shuo's hand tightly, her Three-Tomoe Sharingan vigilantly scanning their surroundings-a habit she had developed in that timeline.
"No need to be nervous," Lin Shuo said.
"It's safe here."
"Okay..." Lin Yue nodded, but her grip remained tight.