Distract Yu to get some one-on-one time with her cousin

"We'll circle back to world-saving ideas later," you say shiftily. "I'll put this override program through its paces first, you know, to verify whether there are any bugs or blind spots my powers have."

"It's best to be thorough," Yu agrees. "Lina?"

Lina's expression is stoic. "No comment."

Agitated, you glance at Yutong. You love your friend, but you can hardly put Lina through her paces with Yu hovering over your shoulder. "You don't have to stick around for this, Yu," you say. "It's probably going to be boring."

"On the contrary," she says, "exploring your powers is fascinating."

You groan internally. If it's impossible to tear Yutong away from boring things, how much more impossible will it be to distract her from something actually interesting, such as the recreational reprogramming of her cousin? This calls for a distraction.

"Exactly. So wouldn't you rather be up in your room with the other two of you, Yu-2 and Yu-3?" you ask. "Your mental link is unprecedented for humanity. Doesn't it merit scientific exploration too?"

The suggestion gives Yu serious pause. "Of course it does, but... I should stay with you in case something goes wrong and you need my help." But the idea of joining her copies has her thinking.

You push the advantage. "Well, I don't need your help for this, and you'll be a shout away if I'm wrong" you reason. "Like I said before, I don't want to monopolize your help. Go ahead and help yourself for a minute if that's what you want."

Yu's hesitance crumbles and she gives a shy smile. "Okay, but... call for me if anything happens."

Before you can assure her that you will, Yu scampers off, leaving Lina all to you, unsupervised.

Geeze, she's more excited about her clones than you thought. Yu's a hard read sometimes with things like that.

"Why did you trick Yu into leaving?" Lina suddenly asks.

Alarmed, you whip about. You've been caught red-handed. The slim, older girl gives you a questioning look, folding her arms.

"Well, I, the thing is-"

"You wanted to do something sketchy," she guesses, wrinkling her nose you. "Well. She's gone. Let's get it over with."

Her candor takes you off guard. "You're not going to try to stop me?"

Lina shakes her head. "Not my fight. You own who I am, don't you?" she asks. "And I said it before, I really don't care."

"Seems kind of defeatist to me."

She shrugs. "Would it make a difference if I did?"

"Likely not, but still."

"You're some real kind of asshole, guy," observes Lina. "Why's Yu even friends with you, anyway?"

Her words sting. You're a good guy. You're a good friend. Power doesn't change that, even if you took a misstep here or there. Who's she to tell you you're not allowed to make mistakes? Sully, Pearl, even Lina, anyone in your shoes would've done just as bad, or worse.

What does Yu's random cousin know about you? Nothing. She's not Yu. Her opinion doesn't matter. Who she is, what she thinks, what she wants, none of it matters. You grit your teeth, clench your hands into fists, and remind yourself that you're in control here.

What matters is that Lina's hot, Yu's gone, and you can do anything you want.

(commissioned chapter)