What should have been a ringing march through metal passageways was dampened by Jin's passive Stealth skill, making his footsteps almost silent. The ability felt strange, almost supernatural, as if the Phoenix Core was subtly adjusting his body's interaction with the environment in ways he didn't fully understand.
A tremor shook the Vault without warning, the kind of deep, structural vibration that spoke of systems failing in distant sections. The group was forced to take shelter in a cramped maintenance alcove, their bodies pressed together in the confined space.
"Seismic activity detected, structural integrity at 47%. Jin, congratulations on finding the one alcove in this Vault small enough to turn a simple tremor into a full-blown Ecchi Event. Your Accidental Charm skill is working overtime."
"Asha, this isn't my fault! I didn't pick the alcove!" He protested loudly as all the girls heard him yell and are looking at him now.
"Seriously Jin you fooled us by going in this tiny room idiot, you lowly scum, what are you going to do with us?" Sera's sharp tongue lashed out to him.
"Yeah Yeah what are you planning to...do...with...us.. hero?" Rosa grin widely probably scheming something.
"I-I-I think Jin, didn't Intentionally p-plan this" Clara shyly glanced at Jin and everyone de-escalating the situation.
"Dont be fooled, Clara, this idiot is probably scheming something" Sera said while glaring at Jin.
"G-Guys.. I'm not, do I look that bad to you? I'm seriously hurt here" Jin tried to hide his red face.
'A-Asha...c-can you get me out of this situation?' Jin pleaded in his mind.
"Jin, your predicament scores a 9.2 on the 'Trapped with Suspiciously Attractive Women' scale. Probability of escaping without triggering a harem-route escalation: 3%. Recommendation: Choose your words carefully."
Jin's Dialogue Options (Phoenix Core HUD):
"Situation critical: Social conflict detected. Select response to de-escalate or advance affinities:"
Option 1: Reassure honesty ("I swear, I didn't plan this! I just want us safe!") – +3% all affinities, boosts morale, low ecchi risk.
Option 2: Deflect with humor ("What, me? I'm too clumsy to scheme anything this cozy!") – +4% Rosa, +2% Clara, 50% chance of Sera's tsundere backlash.
Option 3: Appeal to trust ("You know me, guys. I'd never trick you—we're in this together.") – +5% Clara, +3% Sera, risks Rosa teasing escalation.
Option 4: Accidental Charm flirt ("I-I didn't plan this, but… you all make tight spaces kinda nice.") – +5% all, high ecchi event risk, 60% chance of group flush.
Jin Choose: Option 3. "You know me, guys," choosing the most honest answer he knows as his voice softened and earnestly, his dark eyes meeting theirs "I'd never trick you—we're in this together."
His sincerity softened Clara's blush, eased Sera's glare, and drew a playful pout from Rosa.
"Option 3: Trust appeal. Solid choice, Jin, scoring a 7.8 for emotional impact. Clara's heart rate just jumped 15%, and Sera's tsundere meter dropped to 'mildly annoyed.' Warning: Rosa's pout suggests a 72% chance of retaliatory flirting."
Jin's cheeks burning as he braced for Rosa's next move. With her suit straining over her curves, which were highlighted by her boobs that appeared to be tearing at the shoulder, Rosa found herself squashed against Jin's side. A strip of her pale skin shows a smooth porcelain.
"It's kinda tight here, right....H-E-R-O?," Rosa whispered, her breath tickles his ear. Her hand rested against his chest, fingers splayed across the firm muscle beneath his torn jumpsuit. "Good thing I don't mind getting... close."
Jin's heart rate spiked, his HUD noting the physiological response with clinical detachment:
[Heart Rate: 30% above baseline. Recommend increased ventilation.]
But there was nowhere to go, no space to retreat, nothing to do but endure the sweet smell of Rosa's and the scent of her hair.
"Rosa's proximity has elevated your core temperature by 0.7 degrees. Jin, your Accidental Charm is practically vibrating. Probability of an unsolicited cuddle: 88%. Recommendation: Maintain composure, or you'll be drowning in pheromones."
"Ughhh!! I need t-to focus, Asha, otherwise my Johnny will burst out of my suit!" Jin grit his teeth focussing all his strength, Rosa noticing him giggling quietly.
"Jin, your… 'Johnny' is registering a 98% containment breach risk. Physiological data suggests you're one Rosa giggle away from a wardrobe malfunction of epic proportions. Recommendation: Divert blood flow to your brain, not your… enthusiasm. My humor circuits are overheating from this spectacle."
"A-Asha, I'm trying so hard to stay calm!" His voice was a sincere, flustered squeak, his cheeks blazing crimson as he glanced at Rosa. His earnest plea only made Rosa's grin widen, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Clara, meanwhile, had stumbled in the cramped space, her body pressing against Jin's other side as he automatically moved to steady her. The contact sent her own heart racing, particularly when she realized that her chest was now pressed against his arm, the thin fabric of her bra the only barrier between them.
"S-sorry, Jin," Clara stammered, her blush deepening to a shade that rivaled the emergency lighting. But despite her apology, her hand lingered on his, fingers intertwining in a gesture that spoke of trust and growing intimacy. "It's just... everything's so shaky down here."
"Affinity with Clara: +4% to 40%. Trust-building physical contact detected. Emotional synchronization improving," Asha updated with what sounded suspiciously like satisfaction.
"Clara's blush intensity: Code Crimson. Jin, your arm is now a trust-building device. Note: Prolonged contact may cause her to spontaneously combust or propose. Either way, my data logs are thrilled."
"Asha, I-I think she's just nervous?" He protested mentally.
Sera had been pushed against Jin from behind, her body molding to his back in ways that made rational thought extremely difficult. Her sports bra, already rendered translucent by the persistent humidity, clung to curves that seemed designed to drive him to distraction. The tsundere glare she typically wore had softened into something more vulnerable, more human.
"Watch your hands, idiot," she muttered, but the words lacked her usual sharp tone. Her blush betrayed her true feelings, spreading down her neck and disappearing beneath the translucent fabric that concealed nothing.
Jin's Accidental Charm skill chose that moment to activate, causing his hand to slip as he adjusted his grip on the bloodied pipe. His palm brushed against the curve of Sera's chest, the contact electric and immediate.
"Critical hit! Jin, your hand has achieved a 95% accuracy rate for Sera's… tactical zones. Tsundere backlash probability: 62%. Recommendation: Grovel, but make it cute—your survival depends on it."