"Stepfather?"

Sosuke Kitahara blinked, then slowly nodded. Tilting his head curiously, he gave the girl a strange look and asked,"Alright, let's talk. By the way, what's your name? You still haven't told me."

"I'm Mami Nanami... so? Cute name, right?"

As she spoke, she scooted even closer to him. Sosuke gently pushed her hand away and gestured toward the rowdy group in the distance."Pretty lively over there. They look like they're about to fly off the handle."

"Ugh, ignore them. Let me tell you my stepdad is completely nuts. Every time he drinks, he starts bragging about how he used to be some bigshot in his youth. Like seriously, look at him now not even a low-ranking official. Does he really think he's Superman?"

She snorted with disgust, clearly unfiltered."And get this, he told everyone he's going to hijack a plane. What's worse? They actually believed him. It's laughable. A bunch of brainless morons…"

Once she started, it was like a dam broke."Listen, onii-chan, don't ever try reasoning with that old bastard especially when he's drunk. He turns into a different person. One wrong word and he'll lash out. I seriously don't get why my mom insists on staying with him. If we weren't stuck like this, you think I'd still be with that piece of trash?"

"Violent when drunk, huh? Sounds like scum," Sosuke muttered."By the way, that little boy he your brother? You two don't really look alike. Half-siblings?"

He gestured subtly across the way.

There sat Nanami's stepfather's wife serene, composed, and entirely separate from the surrounding chaos. She quietly fed the boy next to her, their world seemingly untouched by the collapse outside.

Her calm, dignified expression stood out like moonlight in a pitch-black room. She didn't have the aura of some everyday housewife. Not even close.

"Tch. If that wimp was really my brother, I would've beaten some sense into him already. He's just my mom's student top of the class, apparently. Like that even matters anymore. In the real world, he's nothing but dead weight. Nearly got me killed too, the idiot…"

Sosuke raised an eyebrow."Sounds like there's some history there?"

Nanami scoffed and stood up, lazily stretching and yawning."Whatever. It's in the past. I'm gonna go sleep now. Night-night, onii-chan."

Sosuke watched her bounce away, shaking his head.

Then he turned to Yui Yuigahama's mother beside him."You can rest now. I'll keep watch for a bit. When I get tired, we'll switch."

"I napped a little earlier. Not sleepy now," she replied gently, stretching her arms."You've done enough for one day, Sosuke. Get some rest."

He didn't argue. With a quiet sigh, he closed his eyes and let exhaustion pull him under.

…

In the black silence of night, the only sound came from the flickering campfire logs crackling faintly as they burned. The stewardesses' earlier revelry had faded into deep sleep. Sosuke was long lost in his dreams.

Only Yui's mother remained awake, curled up near the bookstore's entrance, her hands gripping a rifle, posture unchanged for hours.

She stifled a yawn and glanced at the sleeping Sosuke. Her cheeks flushed slightly. Quietly, she pulled out a small mirror, checked her reflection under the dim light, and smiled softly.

"You really can't see it anymore…"

A moment later, her smile faded. Something somber crossed her face.

She touched the wedding ring on her finger.

Then… slipped it off.

With a sigh, she tucked it into a hidden compartment in her bag, curled up with her knees to her chest, and bit her lip silently crying.

Just then, faint footsteps echoed nearby light but approaching.

Alarmed, she quickly stood, crouching low and staring toward the bookstore door.

"Sosuke, wake up," she whispered urgently.

Still groggy, Sosuke blinked awake. He immediately noticed her tense expression and the urgent finger pointing toward the fire pit.

A squat, broad man staggered into view.

The wavering flames lit up his red, drunken face. Even from a distance, the overpowering stench of alcohol reached them.

He wore a uniform, a pistol dangling loosely from his hand unloaded, but real. Mumbled words spilled from his lips as he swayed to the fire's edge.

And then, all at once, he racked the slide, jammed the barrel into his shoulder, and hissed through clenched teeth:"Don't blame me... You all deserve it. Even if you escape alive, the law will never forgive your sins. This is my duty. Hope you're reborn better next time!"

Click.

A cold mechanical snap echoed in the night.

He pulled the trigger again… and again… and again.

Though the magazine was empty, his shoulders jerked violently with every motion, like he was actually shooting. The barrel waved wildly in all directions he mimicked execution after execution, sweat pouring down his face.

"…Is he sleepwalking?" Yui's mother asked in disbelief.

Sosuke stared in silence, then nodded."Looks like he's... performing an execution. But Japan rarely carries out death sentences. Even if they did, there's no way he was involved. Unless…"

"…he used to execute people with a gun?" she finished, horrified.

Sosuke's expression darkened."Whatever it is, this guy clearly has serious psychological issues."

Across from them, the man Kazuhiro Kiichiro stood drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, his arm limp.

Then, without warning, he turned directly toward them and roared:

"You two mother and daughter remember this. If you disobey me, you'll end up like them! I'll put a bullet through both your skulls!"

His rage was manic. His glare could kill.

Yui's mother clenched her fists in fury."People dream about what's in their hearts. For him to act this out even while unconscious he's a monster."

"…Yeah. He's not just drunk. He's dangerous."

Sosuke gently patted her shoulder, trying to calm her down.

Kiichiro, apparently finished with his twisted ritual, stumbled back to his bed and collapsed stiffly like a lifeless puppet.

Across the room, two figures stirred immediately.

Mami Nanami and her mother slipped over to him, one on each side. Silently, they pulled out fresh pistol magazines and tucked them under his pillow clearly a practiced routine.

Then, without a word, they let out a long sigh and returned to sleep.

Nanami caught Sosuke's eye.

But gone was the lively, sarcastic spark. Her eyes were hollow, empty. Her face devoid of emotion as she followed her mother away.

"She knew. They both knew," Yui's mother murmured, heart aching.

"No doubt. This isn't the first time," Sosuke said quietly."I guess that explains why Nanami tried to cozy up to me earlier…"

He sighed."Every family has its demons. Who knows what they've lived through."

Then he turned serious."Listen, tomorrow I'm heading out. I want to check the surrounding area maybe find markers my friends left behind. We'll probably stay here a few days until your leg heals. And while we wait... I want hot food."

"…Hot food?" she blinked.

"We've been eating dry bread and protein bars every day. If I can find a pot, I'll make hotpot. Let's see if we can lure them with the smell instead of the other way around."

…

Sosuke finally slept until morning.

When he woke, the others across the room were just starting to stir. Many reeked of alcohol, chatting in low voices. Some still snored, curled on the ground.

The self-proclaimed "leader," Maeda, showed no sign of distributing breakfast. He and the gun-toting Aso huddled in a distant corner, whispering suspiciously.

"Haah…" Sosuke stretched.

But something felt off.

Yui's mother still lay curled up on the ground unnaturally pale, her lips cracked from dehydration.

Sosuke immediately knelt beside her and pressed a hand to her forehead.

Scorching.

A chill shot through his chest.

Had she been bitten? Was this zombie fever?!

His mind spun but there was no sign of blackened blood.

No visible injuries.

He peeled back her eyelids, checked her gums, her tongue normal.

"…Whew. Just a regular fever," he muttered in relief.

But even a simple fever could be deadly in times like these. He usually carried trauma medicine bandages, antiseptic, antibiotics. But he had no flu meds.

And Yui's mother? She wasn't even Awakened yet.

Just learning to breathe properly. Her constitution wasn't built for this.

"How'd it come on so suddenly…?"

He glanced at her backpack.Maybe she had medicine inside?

"Is it... morning already?" she mumbled weakly, blinking up at him.

Sosuke steadied her gently."Don't move. You're burning up. You should've said something."

She tried to sit up and forced a smile."I have some cup noodles in my bag. Let me get them for you "

"Stop. Don't move. Just lie down," he said firmly. "Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

She blinked and touched her forehead."Oh… I do feel dizzy. I even dreamed I turned into a zombie..."

Sosuke rummaged through her backpack."Any cold medicine? My bag's all cuts and gauze no flu stuff."

She shook her head. "No, but I think I have a bottle of vitamins…"

"That'll have to do."

He popped one into her mouth and carefully helped her drink water.

"…It's just a vitamin, you know," she teased. "It won't do anything."

"Shut up and take your medicine. You're sick be quiet and listen."

Sosuke bundled his coat around her shoulders.She giggled softly.

"…It's not so bad, being sick," she whispered. "Someone's finally taking care of me. Usually, I'm the one looking after others…"

He smiled."Don't get used to it. Once you're better, it's your turn to take care of me."

She tucked herself into his coat like a kitten, voice barely audible."Sosuke… today's my birthday."

"…What?"

She gave him a shy smile.

"At midnight, I made a wish. That we'd all make it through this. That I'd see Yui again. That you'd find your friends. So no matter what happens please promise me. Don't take any reckless chances. Come back alive. Just… come back."

Sosuke nodded solemnly.

"I promise."

He bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to her burning forehead.

"Wait for me."

"…Okay."

She curled tighter into herself, blushing furiously.

Sosuke stood, adjusted his coat over her shoulders, and slung his rifle onto his back.

"Alright, I'm heading out. I'll try to get some real medicine. If I find a pot, we're having hotpot tonight. Let's see if they can resist the smell."

Then he added coldly:

"And if anyone dares step over the line I drew last night without your permission don't hesitate. Shoot them in the head. Understand?"

Yui's mother looked up at him."…Understood."