A chill quietly crept into the hearts of Yukino and Haruno as they exchanged glances with Sosuke Kitahara, their eyes now tinted with an indescribable complexity.

Only now did they begin to fully realize just how cold and ruthless Sosuke could be when dealing with strangers. For a boy around their own age, this side of him was terrifyingly distant from the one who had saved them from the zombie horde at the hotel the one who had held Yukino tightly as he soared through the air.

Was this his true self?

A deep curiosity stirred within Yukino. What had he gone through to become like this?

The atmosphere in the car turned heavy. Even the usually bright and confident Haruno found herself unsettled. She clearly remembered that Sosuke had not only fulfilled his promise to her but had far exceeded it.

But now, she began to question the sincerity of his earlier words about "the friendship we gained." Were those words perhaps a veiled warning?

Haruno suddenly felt a sense of helplessness. She realized she was nothing more than a lamb, while Sosuke was a beast one that had clawed his way to survival on the unforgiving grasslands.

Utaha Kasumigaoka, on the other hand, remained relaxed. She had known Sosuke the longest and had long since understood his character. As long as no one crossed his bottom line, Sosuke would never abandon her.

Sosuke caught their expressions in the rearview mirror but didn't mind.

Though the allure of collecting points was significant, there were things that needed to be made clear now to avoid misunderstandings later.

"There's something I need to tell you all in advance," Sosuke began frankly. "The situation will be much worse than you expect."

His sharp gaze swept over the three women, his tone firm. "It will be worse than your worst imagination. We'll face dangers far beyond what we saw at Chidori Hotel. Besides zombies, you must also factor in the danger posed by other survivors. I hope you can proactively adapt to this world, instead of waiting for it to force you to adapt. Trust me you won't enjoy the pain of losing people."

"Will it always be this bad?" Yukino asked, her face pale.

Just as Sosuke was about to respond, static crackled from the car radio before a clear broadcast came through:

"Attention all remaining citizens in Tokyo! Do not attempt to head to the Minato Ward. The area is now under strict military lockdown. Anyone attempting to breach or enter without authorization will be treated as an infected and shot on sight. Please remain calm, stay indoors, and store essential food supplies. The Self-Defense Forces are gathering and will soon begin sweeping operations in Tokyo..."

"Attention all remaining citizens in Tokyo..."

The broadcast repeated over and over. For the three women, this was the most hopeful message they had heard since the outbreak, and their excitement was evident.

But Sosuke remained completely calm. A faint, cold glint flickered in his eyes.

He remembered hearing this exact broadcast in his previous life. Back then, he had also stayed in Tokyo, waiting with a few other survivors, hoping for rescue.

But the promised help never came.

Half a month later, their food supplies ran out. They barely escaped with their lives, thanks to a chance encounter with a retired train engineer, who helped them flee to Osaka at great cost.

Sosuke turned off the radio, his expression steady. He glanced at the rearview mirror and said flatly, "Don't believe the broadcast. You might not trust me now, but time will prove I'm right."

Noticing the growing tension, Utaha Kasumigaoka chuckled lightly and said, "Anyway, I'm sticking with you from now on. As long as you don't mind, I'll always follow you."

"Alright," Sosuke replied with a slight smile.

Haruno, however, looked conflicted. "I want to go back to Chiba. No matter what, I need to see it for myself."

"Me too," Yukino added softly.

By rail, the trip from Tokyo to Chiba via the JR Sobu Line Rapid Train would normally take about forty minutes. It was relatively close, but in their current situation, they couldn't risk heading to Tokyo Station. Even if the station hadn't fallen, boarding a train carried its own deadly risks. If an outbreak occurred mid-journey, they could easily become trapped in a metal coffin.

"Then we'll go to Chiba," Sosuke agreed.

He currently had no pressing destination. As long as they could get out of Tokyo, he planned to spend the next two months focusing on improving his and his team's combat abilities. As long as they could reach the survivor camp where he was destined to meet Sayuri within three months, everything would stay on track.

Yukino and Haruno exchanged glances, joy lighting up their faces.

The car cruised at a steady pace. Occasionally, they encountered a few fleeing vehicles, and sometimes, a lone zombie would wander aimlessly across the road. Whenever possible, Sosuke would avoid them. Only when absolutely necessary would he run them over. Not because he didn't value the points, but because hitting zombies reduced the score awarded. Plus, the windshield was already smeared with pus and blood the wipers couldn't clear it completely, and too much buildup would impair visibility.

They were now not far from the Bayshore Route. Once they got on, it would be a straight shot to the Tokyo Bay port. If all went smoothly, they should reach the port before nightfall.

The car eventually pulled into a gas station the fuel gauge had dipped dangerously close to empty. Sosuke wasn't sure how much farther they could go, so he had no choice but to stop and refuel. It was also a chance to restock some food supplies.

After parking the car, Sosuke grabbed his katana and scanned the surroundings carefully.

A few crashed cars were scattered nearby. One of them, a striking black Mercedes G-Wagon, had unfortunately slammed into a wall, its windshield shattered. It would have been a much more comfortable ride.

Bloodstains and corpses littered the ground. Dry leaves rustled in the wind, and the desolate silence weighed heavily on the air.

At least there were no moving zombies in sight.

That was good news.

Sosuke glanced at the gas station's convenience store. The glass doors were closed, and the shelves blocked his view of the interior.

"Everyone out. Haruno, refuel. The rest, stay alert. I'll check inside."

"Let me go instead," Haruno offered, handing him the gas card. "There can't be more zombies inside than there were at the hotel."

"I'll go with you," Yukino added, gripping her sharpened wooden spear tightly. After a quick touch-up with a knife in the car, the tip was once again sharp enough to pierce a zombie's eye socket.

"Alright."

Sosuke nodded and took the gas card, stepping aside to let them take the lead.

The gas station was self-service. No staff were required just insert the card, enter the amount, and the pump would start.

But instead of immediately refueling, Sosuke went to the trunk and conducted a quick inspection. Soon, he found a small metal device hidden under a box.

"A tracker, huh."

He pocketed the device without a change in expression.

"I'll check the cars for supplies."

Utaha Kasumigaoka carefully approached the black G-Wagon. Suddenly, a hand shot out from inside, startling her so badly she nearly fell over.

"What happened?" Sosuke asked sharply.

"Nothing, just a zombie. I can handle it."

The zombie flailed wildly but was firmly strapped in by the seatbelt, unable to rise. Its gray eyes glared hungrily as it let out an eerie, bone-chilling growl.

Utaha circled to the other side, quickly finishing it off with her knife.

Opening the rear door, she peeked inside and immediately lit up with excitement. "Don't open the front door yet. There are weapons in this car!"

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