"Asuka, Asuki. We're heading out today. Our supplies are running low, so when we go scavenging, you both need to stay quiet, okay?" Haruka spoke firmly, gently brushing her hands against her younger twin siblings' cheeks. Asuka and Asuki nodded obediently, flashing her small smiles.
The three of them exited the crumbling building, backpacks slung over their shoulders. The twins walked closely beside Haruka, their steps careful and deliberate.
They navigated through the desolate streets and narrow alleys, staying alert and checking every corner before proceeding. When they reached a nearby convenience store, Haruka entered first, scanning the area to ensure there were no zombies near the entrance.
"All clear. Come in." She called softly to the twins.
The two followed her inside, their eyes darting around the store.
"I'll grab whatever we need. Don't wander off too far." Haruka instructed, her tone sharp yet protective.
She moved quickly to the food aisle, grabbing essentials and stuffing them into her bag. Just as she reached for supplies in another section, one of the twins tugged at her sleeve.
"What is it?" Haruka turned to Asuki, about to speak further, when movement from her right caught her eye. In the distance, a zombie stumbled into view.
Reacting swiftly, Haruka grabbed both twins and pulled them back, intending to retreat, but another zombie appeared on her left. They were cornered.
With steadying breaths, Haruka forced herself to stay calm. She glanced at her siblings, pressing a finger to her lips as a silent signal to stay quiet. Both nodded, their faces pale.
When one of the zombies charged at them, Haruka kicked it squarely in the head, sending it sprawling backward. She snatched a can from a nearby shelf and hurled it at the second zombie, hitting it directly on the skull.
Blood splattered across the floor and even onto Haruka's sleeve. She narrowed her eyes at the crimson stains and pulled a tissue from her pocket to wipe the blood off her cheek.
"You two okay?" She asked, turning her sharp gaze to the twins. Her eyes scanned them thoroughly, searching for any injuries.
"We're fine." Asuka replied, his tone steady.
"What about you, sis?" Asuki asked softly, concern evident in her voice.
"I'm fine." Haruka nodded, though her right hand trembled faintly.
"But your hand... it's shaking." Asuki pointed out worriedly.
Quickly, Haruka hid her trembling hand behind her back. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me." she said firmly, ruffling Asuki's hair to reassure her.
Before Haruka could lead them to another aisle, another zombie suddenly emerged just a few steps behind her. She instinctively prepared to strike but froze when she heard voices nearby.
"Over here!"
GRAAAAGH!
The zombie let out a guttural roar and lunged. Haruka's breath caught, she was out of time.
"Shit!"
THUD!
The zombie collapsed before it could reach her. Haruka, dragged backward by her twin siblings in panic, fell to the ground. She looked up to see a man standing in front of her.
He had stark white hair and piercing red eyes, dressed entirely in black—from his hoodie to his track pants and even his cap. His expression was as cold and unreadable as his gaze, which now locked onto Haruka like a predator assessing its prey.
"You alive?" His tone was curt, devoid of concern.
Haruka's jaw tightened as she met his gaze, nodding stiffly. She didn't trust herself to speak, her focus instead shifting to her younger siblings, who clung to her arms.
Another figure stepped forward—a man with the same white hair but dark, obsidian eyes. He extended a hand toward Haruka, his demeanor calm but detached. Haruka didn't hesitate to slap his hand away, her eyes narrowing in silent defiance as she pushed herself to her feet.
The man didn't react, merely glancing at her as though she were beneath his notice. His attention drifted to the twins beside her.
"Those two yours?" His voice was quiet, but the underlying edge was unmistakable.
Haruka nodded again, saying nothing.
The first man exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. Without warning, he grabbed Haruka's arm in a firm grip, yanking her closer. The move forced her to tilt her head up to meet his gaze, now dangerously close. His voice dropped to a low, cold whisper, each word sharp and deliberate.
"Just because I saved your life doesn't mean I care about it. You owe me, Haruka. Don't forget that." His free hand came up and patted her cheek lightly.
Haruka's glare was ice against his fire. Her lips curled into a tight sneer. "I didn't ask for your help, Akihito."
The weird window appeared before her once again.
[ Status Window ]
└ Name: Asahi Akihito
└ Age: 18
└ Unique Traits: Sharp Instincts, Calm Under Pressure
└ Specialized Skills: Krav Maga, Tactical Awareness, Fencing, Improvised Weapon Mastery
Just like before, it disappeared instantly after she read all of it in one skim.
His grip tightened ever so slightly before he released her with a sharp push, a smirk ghosting across his face. "Doesn't matter. Debt's still there."
She wanted to retort, but the twins stirred beside her, their wide, frightened eyes anchoring her temper. Instead, she directed her energy toward them, murmuring softly to keep them calm.
"Move." Another voice from their group came. It was low and authoritative, cutting through the tension like a blade.
Haruka turned her head slightly to see the others gathering, their faces grim as the distant sound of groaning grew louder.
"Zombies are closing in." One of them warned, gripping a makeshift weapon tightly.
Akihito's crimson gaze flicked toward the horizon. His voice was as cold as ever when he barked. "Run."
Before Haruka could object, his hand was on her arm again, dragging her forward without care for her protests. The twins clung to her, stumbling to keep pace as the group broke into a sprint.
"Behind us!" Someone shouted, the urgency in their tone sending a chill through the air. Haruka glanced back to see the horde spilling into view, their grotesque forms relentless in their pursuit.
"Keep moving." Akihito snapped, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The others scooped up the twins and bolted, their footsteps echoing through the abandoned streets as the zombie cries grew louder behind them.
They came upon a locked gate. One of the men, visibly irritated, cursed as he tried to force it open.
"I told you this was a bad idea!"
"Focus on the gate!" Another snapped.
A zombie rushed ahead of the horde, nearly reaching them—only to be slammed to the ground by a bat-wielding figure. Blood sprayed across the pavement as the man swung his weapon with brutal precision.
"Hurry up!" He yelled.
Haruka covered her siblings' eyes, shielding them from the grisly scene. With one final push, the gate creaked open, and the group slipped inside, slamming it shut behind them.
Panting, Haruka looked up to see two familiar faces among the group—her old friends, Kousuke and Daisuke. Relief flooded her.
[ Status Window ]
└ Name: Jino Kousuke
└ Age: 18
└ Unique Traits: Calm Under Pressure, Observant Tracker, Quick Reflexes, Resilient
└ Specialized Skills: Fencing, Tactical Awareness, Improvised Weapon Use, Parkour, Close-Quarter Combat
[ Status Window ]
└ Name: Naoki Daisuke
└ Age: 18
└ Unique Traits: High Pain Tolerance, Adaptive Fighter
└ Specialized Skills: Survival Tactics, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Knife Throwing,
Haruka starts to get weirded out by the weird things appearing before her. It's not like she's in a game so why?
"You okay?" Kousuke asked.
Haruka nodded.
Asuki clung to Haruka's leg, trembling, while Asuka remained stoic. Haruka knelt to comfort her sister, brushing her hair gently.
"Upstairs! Let's go!" Akihito called from ahead.
The group ascended cautiously, Haruka's eyes scanning the bloodstained halls of the school.
"Why did we even help her? She almost got us killed." One of the men muttered.
"Because she needs help and we're all trying to survive," another countered.
"Well, nothing really pleases you, Yuki," Akihito said casually. The light blond-haired guy rolled his eyes upward in response.
Haruka glanced around as they continued walking together. Asuka seemed comfortable talking with Akihito, which irritated Haruka. Not because of Asuka, but Akihito. Still, Haruka decided to let it slide for now.
"I'm Retsu." A young man introduced himself to Haruka. He had light blue hair and dark blue eyes, dressed in a white t-shirt, paired with a jacket and black sports pants.
"Huh?"
"I'm Retsu." He repeated, smiling warmly as he extended a hand toward Haruka.
[ Status Window ]
└ Name: Sakae Retsu
└ Age: 18
└ Unique Traits: Resourceful, Quick Decision-Maker, Stealthy, High Stamina
└ Specialized Skills: Taekwondo, Tactical Awareness, Trap Setting, First Aid, Parkour
"What's your name?" The guy asked.
"...Haruka." She replied, shaking his hand briefly before they both let go.
"Your younger siblings?" Retsu asked, gesturing toward Asuka and Asuki.
"Yeah."
"What are their names?"
"Asuka's the boy, and Asuki's the girl," Haruka explained. She noticed that the others had begun approaching them.
"What are you two talking about?" A brown-haired guy looked between Haruka and Retsu with curiosity.
"Just introducing ourselves. After all, they'll be with us for a while." Retsu said nonchalantly.
Haruka froze at Retsu's last sentence. Staying here with these guys? No way. Nope. Not happening. She was only here to rest for a few hours before leaving the school with her siblings.
"Knowing their names won't keep you alive." the light blond-haired guy muttered, clearly unimpressed.
"Don't say that! It's already a blessing we all met." Retsu countered, attempting to stay positive.
"Blessing? Ugh! More like a curse." The blond rolled his eyes again, clearly still annoyed.
"I'm Ikkyou." The brown-haired guy introduced himself with a small smile. Haruka noticed his striking red eyes, same as Akihito's — an unusual sight for her.
[ Status Window ]
└ Name: Isamu Ikkyou
└ Age: 19
└ Unique Traits: Sharp Instincts, Calm Under Pressure, Strategic Thinker, Observant, High Stamina, High Pain Tolerance
└ Specialized Skills: Fencing, First Aid, Firearm Handling, Parkour, Improvised Weapon Mastery
"High schooler, right?" He guessed. Haruka gave a slight nod, seeing no point in lying about her age.
"Everyone here is 18, except me. I'm 19." Ikkyou said. Haruka nodded again in understanding.
Ikkyou shifted his gaze to Akihito, silently urging him to speak. Akihito, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, finally acknowledged the weight of the silence.
"What?" He said flatly, his tone void of interest. His crimson eyes flicked briefly to Haruka before looking away again. "She knows who I am already. No need for introductions."
Haruka's gaze hardened, her posture stiffening as her lips pressed into a thin line. The tension between them was palpable, unspoken yet unmistakable.
Ikkyou's eyes flicked between the two, his expression unreadable. "You could at least pretend to be civil." he said, his voice low but firm.
Akihito let out a sharp exhale, not quite a sigh, but enough to convey his annoyance. "Don't waste your time, Ikkyou. She doesn't need anything from me, and I don't need anything from her."
Haruka's fists clenched at her sides, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Trust me, the feeling's mutual."
The air grew colder, the animosity between them undeniable. Neither moved, their silence louder than words, until Ikkyou finally broke it with a sharp command.
"Enough. This isn't the time for personal grudges."
Without waiting for a response, he turned away, leaving Akihito and Haruka to stew in their shared resentment. Akihito's gaze lingered on Haruka for a moment longer, his expression unreadable, before he followed Ikkyou without another word. Haruka stood frozen, her glare burning into his retreating figure, the weight of their unspoken history hanging heavy in the air.
Ikkyou shifted his gaze toward Kousuke and Daisuke, who both shrugged, silently confirming that Haruka already knew them as well.
Finally, Ikkyou looked at the light blond-haired guy, raising an eyebrow at him. The guy groaned audibly, clearly annoyed.
"I'm not doing this. It's pointless." He snapped, glaring briefly at Haruka.
"If you won't introduce yourself, I'll just call you Grumpy Boy or maybe Emo Boy." Haruka said flatly. It sounded cringe-worthy, but she didn't care—she was annoyed with him anyway.
The nickname earned her a sharp glare from the blond, who let out a loud huff before exhaling in frustration.
"Names Yukito. Don't stick around here too long. You're just another burden to carry." He said coldly before walking off.
[ Status Window ]
└ Name: Kariyama Yukito
└ Age: 18
└ Unique Traits: Quick Reflexes, Stealthy, Resourceful
└ Specialized Skills: Climbing, Parkour, Archery
Don't worry, I won't. Haruka thought to herself.
"Yeah… Yuki's always like that." Retsu said with a resigned sigh.
"Sorry if his words offended you. Want to come in?" Ikkyou asked, changing the subject and gesturing toward classroom A-3. Haruka nodded and followed the group inside.