Lin Shuo: I'll spend some proper time with you all this week

On the way back to Lumina Square, Lin Shuo leaned against the skyrail carriage window, watching the night scenery rush past.

Lights streaked across the glass like flowing fire, reflecting the complicated expression on his face.

The mission notification on the system interface still flashed at the edge of his vision: [Section 6's temporary instructor]-duration undetermined, generous rewards, but the price was temporarily leaving the "home" he had built with his own hands.

"Home," huh...

Lin Shuo closed his eyes, and face after face surfaced in his mind.

Yuzuha leaning over the ramen stall counter, her green eyes curving into crescents as she said, "Lin Shuo, the broth smells so good today";

Lucia secretly sticking a note on the fridge before slipping into a Hollow at midnight: "Off to play with Little Lantern~";

Lin You and Lin Yue huddling on their floor bedding, quietly arguing over "whose fried eggs Daddy likes better";

Little Mu hugging Lucia's arm, her sleeping face as peaceful as a little lamb's.

And Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuō-the Tailed Beasts who had become Bangboo. Though they said things like "I'm no pet," "Elegance is king," and "Don't disturb my sleep," whenever he came home late, he would always find Shukaku crouching at the door pretending to watch the stars, tea Matatabi had brewed waiting on the table, and Isobu rolling over and muttering, "Now that you're back, hurry up and sleep."

These noisy, warm, trivial everyday moments were the "peaceful life" he truly wanted.

But now...

"I have to leave for a while."

Lin Shuo rehearsed those words in his mind, bitterness rising on his tongue.

Not a few days, but at least a few weeks-he most likely wouldn't be able to return until he helped Hoshimi Saki stabilize the Nine-Tails' power.

And that little fox with red eyes and black hair, though the oldest of his daughters he knew about, was also the most dangerous. A rampage by the complete Nine-Tails would be enough to raze all of New Eridu.

He couldn't ignore her.

Not because of the system mission, nor pressure from Section 6, but simply because-she was his daughter.

Even if they came from different times and worlds, even if they had different mothers, his blood flowed through all of them, and they all called him "Daddy."

And he, Lin Shuo, a man who had grown up in a laboratory with parents who treated him as nothing more than a test subject, knew better than anyone what it felt like to be abandoned.

"So I'll never let my daughters experience that feeling."

Lin Shuo clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

Even if it meant temporarily leaving the home he had worked so hard to build, even if it would worry Yuzuha and leave the children lonely-he had to go.

Because a father's responsibility had never been a multiple-choice question.

Lumina Square, the ramen stall.

At eight that evening, the last bowl of ramen was served.

The customers were familiar faces-a few middle-aged men from a nearby construction site, slurping noodles as they gossiped about construction work in the Hollows.

"Did you hear? They dug up more ruins over in the Lemnian area!"

"Another Heliobus vein?"

"No, apparently it's some laboratory ruins from the Old Capital era... the Defense Force's sealed it off."

Lin Shuo's hands paused as he wiped a plate.

Laboratory ruins... the Old Capital era...

He remembered the white room where his parents had worked, those cold instruments, and those faces wearing goggles.

"What do you think, Boss Lin?"

One of the men turned to ask him.

"...Your noodles are getting cold," Lin Shuo said.

"Hahaha! Still not much of a talker, are you, Boss Lin!"

The men finished their noodles amid laughter, paid, and left.

The ramen stall fell quiet.

Lin Shuo turned off the gas and began cleaning up.

His movements were slower than usual-he was waiting.

Waiting for the family's "night owls" to come home.

At nine sharp, the sound of a door opening came from the second floor of Kaidan House, followed by chattering and footsteps.

"I'm home~"

Yuzuha was the first to rush downstairs, her red twin tails bouncing under the lights.

"Lin Shuo! How was business today?"

"Not bad." Lin Shuo didn't look up.

"Where's Lucia?"

"Coming! Little Mu fell asleep, so she's carrying her~"

Before she finished speaking, Lucia came down the stairs with the sleeping Little Mu in her arms.

The blue-haired girl moved gently, Little Mu curled up in her arms, her sheep horns gleaming softly under the lights.

"Lin Shuo..." Lucia said quietly.

"Little Mu wore herself out playing with Ethereals today and fell straight asleep..."

"Put her in my room."

Lin Shuo said, "The bed's made."

"Thanks~"

Lucia carried Little Mu upstairs, while Yuzuha bounced over to sit at the counter, propping her chin in her hands as she watched Lin Shuo clean.

"Lin Shuo."

"Hmm?"

"You've... got something on your mind today." Yuzuha tilted her head.

"You've been distracted ever since you came back."

Lin Shuo's hands stopped for a moment.

"...Is it that obvious?"

"Super obvious!" Yuzuha leaned closer, her green eyes fixed on him. "Even Little Shukaku noticed-right, Little Shukaku?"

In the corner of the counter, Bangboo Shukaku's screen face displayed an "I wasn't paying attention" expression, but his tail gave an honest wag.

"Matatabi noticed too~"

The elegant mechanical rabbit poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Lin Shuo, your chakra flow today is 13.7% more erratic than usual."

"...You're all too observant."

Lin Shuo sighed and put down his cleaning cloth.

"Call everyone downstairs. I have something to say."

Five minutes later, the ramen stall's first floor was packed with "people."

Yuzuha, Lucia, Lin You, Lin Yue, Little Mu, who leaned sleepily against Lucia after being shaken awake, and the five Bangboo Tailed Beasts-Shukaku crouched on the counter, Matatabi sat elegantly on a chair, Isobu lay on the floor yawning, Xiao Kong studied the model of a newly purchased power bank, and Kokuō narrowed her eyes as though dozing.

Lin Shuo stood behind the counter with both hands braced on its surface.

"For the coming week," he began, his voice calm but clear, "I'll stay at the shop as much as possible."

"Huh?" Yuzuha blinked.

"You mean... you won't be opening the stall?"

"No, I'll open as usual."

Lin Shuo said, "But I'll shorten business hours and close at three in the afternoon-the rest of the time, I'll spend with you."

The room went quiet for a few seconds.

Lin You was the first to react. "Daddy's taking a vacation?!"

"Something like that." Lin Shuo nodded.

"So this week, if there's anything you want to do, anywhere you want to go, any dishes you want to eat... just tell me."

"I want to go to the beach!" Lin You raised her hand. "I didn't get to play enough last time!"

"I want Daddy's omurice..." Lin Yue said quietly.

"I-I want to explore a Hollow with Mommy..." Little Mu said, rubbing her eyes.

Lucia hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no! It's too dangerous!"

"Then let's just go to the outskirts of a Hollow~"

Yuzuha smiled. "I can be the guide! I know a safe zone over by Lemnos Hollow where you can see really pretty ether fluorescence!"

Shukaku snorted. "I'm not going to the beach. Sand gets in my joints..."

"Then you can watch the house," Lin Shuo said.

"W-who said I wanted to do that! I'm coming too!"

"Matatabi would like to buy new clothes~"

The mechanical rabbit swished her tail elegantly. "The fabric you bought last time wasn't soft enough, Lin Shuo..."

"Isobu... wants to sleep..."

"I've finished studying the power bank model. I need to test it in practice." Xiao Kong raised the device in his hand.

Kokuō yawned. "Wherever the landlord goes, I go..."

For a while, the scene descended into chaos.

Watching them, Lin Shuo's lips curved upward without him realizing.

This was his everyday life-noisy, disorderly, full of all kinds of demands, yet utterly real.

"One at a time," he said. "Let's make a schedule first."

Monday, shopping day on Lumina Square's main street.

"Lin Shuo! How about this one?"

Inside the clothing store, Yuzuha held a light blue dress up in front of the mirror.

"Looks good."

Lin Shuo stood at the entrance, already carrying three shopping bags-all clothes Yuzuha had tried on but hadn't bought.

"Then what about this one?"

Yuzuha picked up a red one. "Does it match my hair?"

"...Yes."

"Lin Shuo-ge, you're just humoring me!" Yuzuha puffed out her cheeks.

"You have to say, 'It matches perfectly. Yuzuha looks good in anything'!"

Lin Shuo said, "...It matches perfectly. Yuzuha looks good in anything."

"Hehe~"

Yuzuha smiled in satisfaction and turned toward the fitting room.

Beside them, Lucia was helping Little Mu try on children's clothes.

The blue-haired girl held a sweatshirt printed with a little sheep up against Little Mu.

"You'll look so cute in this, Little Mu~"

"Mommy..." Little Mu said softly, "can I have that one with pockets? I can put ether crystals in them..."

"Of course~" Lucia said gently. "But you have to promise Mommy not to put too many in, or you'll trip when you walk."

"Okay!"

On the other side, Lin You and Lin Yue were "teaching" the Bangboo Tailed Beasts how to choose clothes.

"Little Shukaku, this bow would look great on you!"

Lin You held up a pink bow hair clip.

"I'm male! Male! What would I wear a bow for!" Shukaku's screen face switched to an angry expression.

"Big Sister Matatabi, what about this scarf?" Lin Yue picked up a pale purple silk scarf.

"Mmm~ how elegant~" Matatabi gladly accepted it.

"Uncle Isobu... this turtle-shell-shaped backpack..."

"Zzz... (asleep)"

Watching them, Lin Shuo suddenly felt that going shopping like this once in a while wasn't bad.

Though it was noisy, though he had to carry lots of bags, though the shop assistants watched them with looks that said, "What a lively big family"...

It was warm.

Tuesday, exploring the outskirts of Lemnos Hollow.

"Stay close, everyone~"

Yuzuha walked at the front, holding a homemade "urban legend map"-really just a doodle covered in all kinds of strange symbols.

Lin Shuo followed behind her, keeping his Sharingan active as he constantly scanned the surrounding ether fluctuations.

The safe zone really was safe-only a few scattered Antimony-class Ethereals wandered in the distance, and after sensing Lucia's presence, they even avoided them of their own accord.

"Look! Over there!"

Yuzuha pointed at a patch of fluorescence ahead-ether moss growing on the Hollow's rock walls, emitting pale blue light in the dim surroundings, filling their vision like a starry sky.

"Wow..." Little Mu's eyes widened. "So pretty..."

"Can we pick some?" Lin You was eager to try.

"Yes, but only a tiny bit," Lucia said.

"Picking too much ether moss will upset the Hollow's ecological balance."

The children began carefully gathering moss.

Lin Shuo and Yuzuha stood a little distance away, watching them.

"Lin Shuo," Yuzuha suddenly said.

"Hmm?"

"You actually... really hate to leave, don't you?" Yuzuha turned her head, fluorescence reflected in her green eyes.

"I'll have to leave here for a while."

Lin Shuo fell silent for a few seconds.

"...Yeah."

"Then why go?"

"Because..." Lin Shuo looked toward Little Mu in the distance-she was holding a small clump of glowing moss, happily showing it to Lucia.

"Because some responsibilities can't be avoided."

Yuzuha stared at him for a long time, then smiled.

"That's true."

"That's just the kind of person you are, Lin Shuo," she said softly. "You say you hate trouble, but when someone really needs help, you're always the first to rush in."

She paused, then added, "But this time, you won't be going alone."

Lin Shuo blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean-" Yuzuha rose onto her toes and patted his shoulder. "I'll be making regular 'prison visits' to Section 6's base! With lunch boxes, care packages, and everyone's best wishes!"

"...That's not a prison visit."

"Close enough~" Yuzuha stuck out her tongue.

"And if you dare fall for that 'Void Hunter section chief' while you're there..."

She narrowed her eyes, her smile turning impish.

"I'll use Akame's curse to keep you from eating ramen for a whole month!"

Lin Shuo: "..."

He knew she was joking, but why... did he feel a chill down his back?

Wednesday, the family cooking competition.

The ramen stall's ground floor became a temporary kitchen.

"I hereby announce!"

Standing on a chair, Lin You held a ladle like a microphone. "The first New Moon Pavilion Family Cooking Competition begins now!"

"Our contestants: Team Daddy Lin Shuo versus Team Mommy Yuzuha!"

"Our judges: Big Sister Lucia, Little Mu, Lin Yue, and five Bangboo judges!"

Yuzuha wore a pink apron, brimming with fighting spirit. "Today, I'm definitely going to make something that'll impress you, Lin Shuo!"

Lin Shuo wore a black apron, his face expressionless. "I'll try not to blow up the kitchen."

The rules were simple: each team would make three dishes, the judges would score them, and the team with the highest total would win.

Team Yuzuha's first dish was-"Love-filled omurice!"

"Watch my secret move!" Yuzuha cracked an egg one-handed. The egg traced a beautiful arc through the air and landed squarely in the pan.

Then...

"Huh? I think the heat's too high..."

"The egg-the egg's burning!"

"Wait, let me flip it... Ah! It flew out!"

Lin Shuo silently walked over, took the spatula, and turned the charred egg into perfect, golden omurice in three seconds.

"Cheating!" Yuzuha protested.

"Lin Shuo isn't allowed to help!"

"I was just keeping the kitchen from exploding," Lin Shuo said.

For the second dish, Team Lin Shuo took the stage.

"Daddy's special-chakra ramen!" Lin You provided commentary beside him.

"He uses chakra to knead the dough faster, making the noodles ten times springier!"

Pale blue chakra covered Lin Shuo's hands as the dough spun, stretched, and took shape at incredible speed.

His movements flowed like water, like some form of art.

"Wow..." Little Mu stared in awe. "Daddy's amazing..."

"Of course~" Lin You said proudly. "Daddy's ramen is the best in the whole universe!"

The final dish was a joint effort-"Whole-family hot pot."

Yuzuha prepared the broth, Lin Shuo handled the ingredients, Lucia arranged the platters, the children washed the vegetables, and the Bangboo... handled taste-testing (Shukaku: "I'm no taste-testing tool!").

When the steaming hot pot reached the table, an enticing aroma filled the entire ramen stall.

"Let's eat~"

Everyone gathered around the table, chopsticks flying.

"This meat is so good!"

"Did Big Sister Yuzuha make the broth? It's so flavorful!"

"Matatabi wants that tofu~"

"Isobu... don't steal my meat..."

Amid the noise, Lin Shuo watched the scene, and a soft place in his heart filled up.

This was the everyday life he wanted to protect.

Even if he only had a week, he would etch every second into his memory.

Thursday through Saturday brought more "firsts."

Their first trip to the movies as a family-though the animated movie nearly put Lin Shuo to sleep.

Yuzuha: "Lin Shuo was clearly watching very attentively!"

His first time teaching all his daughters the basics of Taijutsu-Lin You learned fastest, Lin Yue had the most precise form, and Little Mu... kept accidentally releasing steam.

His first time playing the "Hollow Adventure" board game with the Bangboo Tailed Beasts-Shukaku kept cheating, Matatabi kept winning gracefully, and Isobu kept falling asleep halfway through.

His first time hearing Lucia tell the complete legend of the Night Watchers-Little Mu was the most enthralled, and eventually fell asleep hugging Lucia's arm.

His first time sitting outside with Yuzuha, watching the stars after the ramen stall closed-they said nothing, simply sitting quietly side by side, yet time seemed to pass far too quickly.

Sunday, the last day.

At three in the afternoon, the ramen stall closed early.

Lin Shuo made a lavish dinner-not ramen, but an assortment of home-cooked dishes: sweet-and-sour ribs, steamed fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, miso soup, and Yuzuha's favorite strawberry daifuku for dessert.

"Today... is the last day."

Lin You spoke quietly as they ate.

The mood suddenly grew a little heavy.

"Daddy..." Lin Yue put down her chopsticks.

"When will you be back?"

"I'm not sure," Lin Shuo answered honestly.

"But I'll come back at least once a week-I promise."

"I'll visit Daddy too!" Lin You raised her hand.

"I can take the skyrail to Section 6's base!"

"I want to go too..." Little Mu said quietly.

"Then we'll all go together~" Yuzuha said with a smile.

"We'll form a 'Lin Shuo Family Visit Group' and go pester him once a week!"

"Yay!"

The mood brightened again.

After dinner, Lin Shuo began packing.

There wasn't much to pack-a few changes of clothes, toiletries, God Cutter, and some emergency medicine.

But the children still gathered around, stuffing all sorts of things into his bag.

Lin You put in a bag of "chakra dried fruit" she had dried herself (it was actually just ordinary dried fruit, but she insisted it had special effects).

Lin Yue put in a throwing knife-"From the first set Daddy taught me to use. Take it to protect yourself."

Little Mu put in a small, handwoven Ether Crystal charm-"Wear this, Daddy Shuo, and you won't get lost."

Lucia put in an "Ethereal Field Guide"-"You can read it when you can't sleep."

Yuzuha... put in a pink lunch box.

"This is tomorrow's lunch," she said, looking unusually serious. "I tried making a boxed lunch. It might not taste as good as yours, Lin Shuo... but you're not allowed to leave any!"

Lin Shuo accepted the lunch box and nodded.

"...Thank you."

At nine that evening, it was time for bed.

Lin Shuo tucked the children in one by one.

Lin You clung to his neck, refusing to let go. "Daddy, come back soon..."

"Yeah."

Lin Yue said quietly, "Daddy, be careful when you train."

"I will."

Little Mu was already asleep, but her small hand still gripped the hem of his shirt tightly.

Lin Shuo gently loosened her fingers and tucked her blanket in.

When he left the room, Yuzuha was waiting at the door.

"Lin Shuo."

"Hmm?"

"This is for you." Yuzuha handed him a red cord bracelet-the weaving was rough, clearly a beginner's work.

"I made it myself." She turned her face away, the tips of her ears faintly red. "They say it can keep you safe... though it probably won't do much..."

Lin Shuo took the bracelet and put it on his left wrist.

"It'll do plenty," he said.

Yuzuha lifted her head, her green eyes shining.

Then she rose onto her toes and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"Stay safe on the way," she said softly. "Eat properly, sleep properly, and don't get hurt... and remember to miss us."

Lin Shuo paused, then reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"...Yeah."

Early the next morning, Lin Shuo walked out of the ramen stall with his modest luggage.

He glanced back-behind the second-floor window, several little heads huddled together, secretly watching him.

Yuzuha stood in the doorway, waving to him.

Lin Shuo raised the hand with the red bracelet and waved.

Then he turned and walked toward the skyrail station.

Morning sunlight spilled over Lumina Square's stone-paved streets, stretching his shadow long.

The week had been brief, but full.

He had spent time with his daughters, with Yuzuha, and with this family.

And now, he had another responsibility as a father to fulfill-to help the daughter from a parallel spacetime who had the Nine-Tails sealed inside her.

"Hoshimi Saki..."

Lin Shuo murmured the name.

Twelve years old, his eldest daughter, and also the most dangerous.

But no matter what, he would protect her.

Because he was Lin Shuo.

He was these girls' father.

[System notification: The special period "Family Week" has ended. Progress updated for all subtasks of the main quest "Care for Your Daughters." Current daughter status: Lin You (emotionally stable, improved Sharingan control), Lin Yue (adapting well, relationship with Orphie progressing), Little Mu (Kokuō's slumber stable, bond with Lucia deepened), Hoshimi Saki (contact pending).]

[Approaching Hollow Special Operations Section 6's base. Please prepare yourself, host.]