After a while, the sound of water stopped.
But the figure behind the frosted glass didn't move. Silence stretched in the air.
"…That…" Eriri's timid voice finally came.
"What is it?" Yami asked, his tone flat but curious.
"C-could you… get me some clothes?" Her voice grew smaller and smaller, nearly disappearing with embarrassment.
"Oh."
He walked over to the shelves. Sure enough, there were stacks of clothes both men's and women's different styles neatly arranged.
"I don't know your size. You'll have to tell me."
"Eh!?" Eriri let out a squeak, flustered beyond measure.
"I mean, I can't guess your underwear size. Give me some reference data at least." Yami sounded helpless, but not teasing though the situation itself carried enough weight to make her blush crimson.
"U-uh… my height is 158 centimeters… bust, 79.9… waist, 56… hips, 86… uuugh…"
Her voice cracked into a sob at the end, mortified.
Yami casually sorted through the clothes with her numbers in mind and picked out a few options.
"Alright."
Click.
The bathroom door lock clicked, the glass door sliding open just slightly. A pale, slender hand reached out from the gap, grasping for the bundle.
But the clothes were too many for her to hold.
"Hah." Yami sighed and grabbed her wrist, hanging the clothes on her forearm.
"Wah!" Eriri lost her balance from the sudden pull, pressing her body against the glass.
And that's when Yami's eyes caught the faint outline through the frosted surface the soft curves, the pale tone of bare skin, and the subtle blush of two small dots revealed in silhouette.
"…"
A second of silence.
Then the door slammed shut with a flustered bang.
"Guess I'll take that as a reward," Yami muttered to himself with a faint smirk.
—
A few minutes later, Eriri emerged, now dressed in simple sportswear. A practical choice for a dangerous place like this.
Her face was still red like a freshly picked apple, eyes darting away, refusing to meet Yami's gaze.
"I-I'm done… Tsukishiro-san."
"Good. Then choose a weapon you'll use." Yami's calm voice cut through her embarrassment like it was nothing.
[Ranking]
1st place: Yami Tsukishiro – 2300 pts
2nd place: Nishikigi Chisato – 35 pts
...
"Yami…"
At a supply point deep in the dungeon, Kasumigaoka Utaha sat with her back to the wall, carefully wrapping a wound on her hand.
Her gaze lingered on the glowing leaderboard above, eyes narrowing at the absurd gap in points.
"2300…" she whispered.
Her own efforts, every bullet fired, every mutated beast downed barely moved the needle.
And yet he, that man, stood so far above them all it was like looking up at a wall that reached the heavens.
She exhaled a short laugh, bitter and fragile. "I really am just… a vase."
Her words were self-deprecating, but there was no self-pity in her eyes only a quiet understanding of her limits.
If she missed her chance to grow stronger, that was on her. She would bear it, just as she bore her own life.
---
"Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!"
Gunfire rattled like fireworks.
"Yeahhh! Isn't this fun!?" Chisato swung her Gatling gun with a manic grin, the barrels spinning as they spat out flames.
Two mutant beasts were shredded instantly, chunks of meat scattering before they dissolved into points of light.
"Chisato…" Takina Inoue sighed, lowering her rifle. "That's overkill. You could've taken them out with a single shot."
"But Gatling is waaay more fun~!" Chisato winked, striking a pose as the barrels spun down.
Takina's mouth twitched. Fun. Right.
Nakahara Mizuki adjusted her glasses. "The mutant beasts are more feral than yesterday. And the numbers… they've clearly increased."
"Mm." She tapped the screen of her tablet. "If we go out now, we'll be surrounded. It's safer to defend the supply point."
Chisato slung the Gatling over her shoulder. "Then we just farm here, right? Rack up kills, push our rank."
"Exactly," Mizuki nodded. "Since the system even shows a ranking board, it must mean something. Surviving and placing high will matter later."
"Agree!" Kurumi shot her hand up, practically bouncing in her seat.
She was a top-tier hacker, not a fighter. Running out to be pincered by monsters from both sides? Not happening. Staying holed up with her laptop was her best bet.
---
"Yo~ looks like you're holding up pretty well."
A smooth, unfamiliar voice cut through the air.
Kurumi froze. Slowly, she looked down.
The shadow at her feet… moved.
"Eh?"
Her eyes widened as the black pool stretched into the shape of a door. From it, Yami Tsukishiro stepped out, Eriri trailing behind him like a nervous kitten.
"..."
Kurumi's jaw dropped. She reached over and pinched Mizuki's arm with all her strength.
"AHH—it hurts!" Mizuki yelped, clutching her arm.
Kurumi exhaled in relief. "Good. If it hurts, it's real."
Mizuki facepalmed. "Pinch yourself next time."
"Tsukishiro-san?" Chisato's eyes lit up as she and Takina ran forward.
"We saw your name on the ranking board, but… I didn't think you'd actually show up here," Takina said with her usual flat tone, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward.
"I came to check on you," Yami said casually, one hand in his pocket. He gestured at the girl beside him. "This is Eriri. I brought her along… as a pet."
"...???"
Eriri's head snapped up, her face full of disbelief. Pet!?
Mizuki, Kurumi, and the others exchanged awkward looks, but none of them dared say anything.
After all, when a monster like Yami Tsukishiro called someone a pet, who were they to question his "hobbies"?
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