Most people in the city of mutant beasts hadn't even lived through the third or fourth waves of attacks.
And yet before dawn had fully broken, the fifth wave had already arrived.
Some people didn't know what was going on. Others had already pieced it together from the only thing they could trust: the leaderboard.
[Ranking]
1st: Yami Tsukishiro – 11,800
2nd: Chisato Nishikigi – 210
…
"...No way."
The entire city buzzed in disbelief.
The mysterious Yami had jumped from 4,800 to 11,800 in the span of a night. And the number wasn't stopping, still climbing, dozens or even hundreds of points at a time.
No one could explain how. No one dared to.
For some, the sight of that number brought tears of relief. Hope. Maybe this nightmare can actually end.
For others, it was pure despair. How are we supposed to climb the rankings if someone like that exists?
But what really turned heads was a new entry in the top ten:
9th place: Utaha Kasumigaoka – 41
Chisato and the others were already checking the board as soon as they woke up.
"… …"
But Eriri wasn't looking at the numbers. Her eyes were fixed on that single name.
Utaha Kasumigaoka.
The sudden climb, the way it seemed to synchronize almost perfectly with Unknown's own rise…
Too similar. No exactly the same as what had happened with her, Takina, and Kurumi.
"...Don't tell me…"
Eriri bit the nail of her thumb, her expression twisting.
She desperately hoped it wasn't the Utaha she knew. She prayed that her classmate hadn't been dragged into this mess.
She also prayed that her ranking wasn't connected to the same mysterious force behind Unknown.
But those hopes were crushed in an instant.
Because the shadows began to ripple across the floor.
And stepping out from the black tide was Yami Tsukishiro, carrying a sleeping girl gently in his arms.
A girl Eriri recognized instantly.
Her breath caught.
"Yami-kun… that's…!"
She rushed forward before she could stop herself, heart pounding with both fear and relief.
Yami Tsukishiro gently pressed his finger against his lips, signaling her to stay quiet.
Eriri finally noticed the bandages on Utaha's body, the exhaustion etched across her sleeping face. She had clearly been through hell.
Seeing her usually sharp-tongued rival looking so vulnerable, Eriri's voice softened.
"...Yami-kun, is she okay?"
"She's fine. Just asleep. I'll lay her down."
He carefully placed Utaha onto the bed. Just as he moved to loosen her arms from around his neck, her eyes fluttered open in a daze.
"...Am I dreaming?" she murmured, her gaze hazy.
Then, to everyone's shock, she reached up, tugged Yami down and their lips touched.
"Click!"
Eriri's mind went blank, lightning striking through her skull. Her eyes widened in horror.
"U—Ta—Ha—Ka—Su—Mi—Ga—O—Ka!!!"
The shout snapped Utaha awake completely.
Realizing what she'd just done, her eyes went wide. She immediately pulled back, sitting upright as her entire face burned crimson.
"Yami-kun! I—I'm sorry! That was… that was just an accident!"
Her voice tried to sound calm, but the way she fumbled over her words and covered her mouth gave her away.
"You… you bastard!" Eriri lunged forward like an enraged lion, grabbing Utaha by the collar and shaking her violently.
"E-Eriri?!" Utaha blinked at her, overwhelmed.
Chisato, Takina, and Kurumi exchanged glances, their eyes landing on Yami with the same silent question.
Yami raised his hands helplessly.
"Relax. I found her on the way and brought her here."
…
Once introductions were over, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Utaha crossed her arms, her sharp tongue flashing as she locked onto Eriri.
"Oh, so that's how a certain golden retriever managed to get on the leaderboard. I was honestly shocked when I saw your name—turns out you've been hugging Yami-kun's leg this whole time."
"You…!!" Eriri's hair practically bristled as she snarled like a cat ready to pounce.
"You have no right to say that, you cow! You only got in the rankings thanks to Yami-kun carrying you here!"
"Correction," Utaha smirked, lifting her chin proudly. "I killed six mutant beasts myself. Yami-kun even praised me."
Her smugness was infuriatingly obvious.
"I-I… I…" Eriri stammered, unable to fire back. Because deep down, she knew she had relied on Yami and Chisato from the start.
Takina tilted her head at the sight.
"Chisato… are they supposed to be… legendary love rivals?"
Chisato chuckled nervously.
"Looks like it…? I think?"
Meanwhile, Mizuki ignored their bickering entirely.
"Yami-kun, what about the fifth wave of mutant beasts? Shouldn't we keep hunting them?"
"No need," Yami said calmly. "I've already wiped out most of them. The ones left are scattered. And besides—" his eyes narrowed slightly,
"This wave is different. They're faster, stronger, and they hunt in packs. It's smarter to let them die out on their own."
"That's… amazing!"
Kurumi clapped her hands happily, bouncing in place.
"Finally, some peace! Ugh, this place doesn't even have a computer, so boring!"
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