"Utaha, be patient. You know how strong Kitahara is. Even if something happened, he'd be able to handle it."

Yukino Yukinoshita leaned casually against the wall, organizing supplies from a backpack. Her cheeks had a healthy glow, suggesting that the time they were missing wasn't entirely miserable.

Utaha Kasumigaoka stopped pacing and stared anxiously at her. "Yukino-nee, are you sure everything's okay over there? The gunfire earlier was intense… and then it suddenly stopped. That can't be a good sign."

"Stop overthinking."

Yukino handed her a box of milk and offered a soft smile. "Judging from the gunfire, they probably made it into the terminal already. Besides, those two survivors we rescued confirmed that Kitahara is with a policeman, right? They're probably just gathering supplies."

"Yeah! Don't worry, Utaha," Yui Yuigahama chimed in. "With Kitahara's personality, if there was nothing worthwhile over there, he would've already come back."

Yukino let go of Yuigahama-san's hand and turned to reassure Utaha again, but before she could finish her sentence, a group of women marched up to the entrance of the bookstore. The leader, dressed in a bright pink down jacket, stood arrogantly at the door and shouted at a visibly panicked Rin Kaori.

"You bitch! Get out here!"

Utaha instantly straightened, eyes sharp and brows arched like drawn blades. She glared coldly at the intruding women.

Yukino's older sister, Haruno Yukinoshita, didn't waste time either. She casually grabbed a shotgun and with a click-clack chambered two shells, aiming it toward the woman in pink.

"Coming here to cause trouble? Just because you've got numbers, you think we'll hand someone over that easily?"

"Don't try to scare me with that gun. You think you're the only ones armed?"

The pink-coated woman sneered and jabbed her finger toward Rin. "This is a personal matter between me and this slut. You've barely known her two weeks, so is she really worth it to risk turning the whole camp against you?"

"Haruno, I'm begging you... please don't hand me over. If you do, they'll kill me!"

Rin collapsed at Haruno's feet, clutching her legs in a panic. But Haruno's brows furrowed. She pulled her leg back and coldly replied, "Didn't you say you didn't know anyone here? Now they suddenly show up?"

"No! I met them on the plane, not here! I had no idea they'd be at this airport too. Please, I'm begging you!"

Haruno sighed, drew a handgun from her waist, and looked at the woman across from her.

"She's not one of us, just a civilian we happened to rescue. But storming in like this and demanding we hand her over? Do we look like pushovers to you? And just a reminder… the man in our group has a nasty temper. Do you really think he'll let this slide when he gets back?"

"Ha! What man? You mean your boyfriend? Even if he's still alive, I doubt he made it out of the terminal. If they went to the airport lobby like we heard… they're already zombie chow."

The woman gave a smug laugh, full of schadenfreude. Her words struck hard, especially for Yuigahama-san, who swayed on her feet and whispered, "No… that can't be. I… I doomed him."

"Auntie, don't listen to her. Only an idiot who doesn't know Kitahara would say something like that. Trust me, he's on his way back right now."

Utaha raised her rifle and shouted, "Get out! I'm counting to three. If you're still here, you'll be the one getting turned into swiss cheese."

She glanced at Asou Kota with disdain. "And you after we saved your ass, this is how you repay us? If you want to try your luck, go ahead. Let's see who pulls the trigger first."

"Click click."

Two more rifles chambered behind her.

"Whoa, whoa! Ladies, no need to get all worked up. Can't we talk this out?"

The oily voice belonged to none other than Maeda the flabby corporate guy who waddled into view, his eyes already scanning Haruno from head to toe.

He leaned against the bookstore's doorframe with a sly grin. "Come on, now. It's just a lovers' spat. Rin tried to seduce Koyuki's boyfriend to escape. Surely, you can understand why we'd want her back."

"I said get lost. Can't understand plain Japanese?"

Utaha's tone was icy, gun still leveled at Maeda's face. But he merely shrugged, unfazed.

"Listen, sweetheart. I know you're the boss lady around here, but once your man doesn't come back… who's gonna protect you? You know what happens to women alone in a place like this. But if you get on my good side "

"As if you're worth my time."

Haruno's reply was a gunshot.

The glass wall beside Maeda exploded in crimson shards, making him shriek like a pig and fall on his ass.

"You bitch! You'll regret this! When you're starving and desperate, I'll make you crawl back to me, begging for "

"RATATATATAT!"

Maeda's furious rant was drowned out by a burst of gunfire. Everyone hit the floor, expecting Utaha or Haruno to go ballistic, but the shots weren't coming from them.

"BANG!"

The fire door burst open with a metallic scream. The doorknob flew off from the force of a kick, and in strode a man covered in weapons and gear, smoke still curling from the barrel of his assault rifle.

"I heard someone wants to play with my woman? Step forward and say that again."

"KITAHARA!"

A familiar voice screamed his name.

A slender, gorgeous figure sprinted straight toward him Utaha, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Sosuke Kitahara opened his arms and caught her, holding her tight.

Utaha buried herself in his embrace, her soft body trembling against his chest.

He could feel the moisture on his face tears from her cheeks. He gently pushed her back and wiped them away.

"You're a grown woman, why are you crying like a kid? I liked you better when you crossed your arms and looked down on everyone."

"Liar. I never looked down on anyone!"

She tried to act tough but couldn't stop the tears. Her fingers caressed his face with unhidden affection.

Kitahara smiled and gently patted her shoulder. "There, there. I'm fine, aren't I?"

"Yeah, you are. And I can't keep hogging you. Others are waiting too."

She stepped back, giving space.

Yukino and Haruno stepped forward next. When Yukino approached, Kitahara stretched out his arms.

Without hesitation, Yukino stepped into his embrace, whispering, "I knew you'd come back. I just knew."

"Even if it's just to see you again, I'd survive anything."

She didn't linger too long and stepped back.

Now it was Haruno's turn. She didn't wait for an invitation. She boldly hugged him, pressing her body close.

Her generous chest molded against his open jacket, and Kitahara couldn't help but feel something stirring inside.

Haruno noticed too. She gave him a playful glare and stepped back before things got out of hand.

But then Yuigahama-san quietly whispered, "Kitahara…"

Her eyes shimmered, lips trembling, unsure if she should.

Seeing her like that, Kitahara's feet wouldn't move.

He wanted to hold her too.

Just say it's gratitude, he told himself.

She stepped forward.

Unlike the younger girls, her scent was mature and intoxicating. Kitahara wrapped his arms around her, feeling the soft warmth against his chest.

"Um… Kitahara… maybe I shouldn't…" she murmured, her voice flustered.

...