The ventilation shaft shook violently again as the Apex Mutation slammed against the outside metal structure somewhere behind them. Rust and dust rained down endlessly while the narrow vent groaned loudly under the pressure. Hot steam moved through surrounding pipes, making the cramped tunnel feel suffocatingly warm.

Akari froze completely."...You’ve got to be kidding me."

Another violent impact echoed through the shaft.

BOOOOM!!

The metal bent inward slightly behind them.

Arata continued crawling forward calmly despite the chaos. "Keep moving."

"That thing is literally inside the walls now!" she said.

"Yeah." Arata replied.

"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS SOUND SO CALM?!"

"Because screaming won’t help."

Akari stared at the back of his head in disbelief while crawling after him through the narrow vent.

"...I’m starting to think you were emotionally manufactured in a laboratory."

"Possible."

"That wasn’t a joke!"

"Maybe it was."

"...You’re evolving."

For one brief second, Akari almost smiled again despite the situation.Then another roar echoed directly behind them.

Much closer this time.The mutation’s claws suddenly ripped partially through the ventilation shaft behind them while twisted black fingers reached inside violently.

Akari’s eyes widened instantly.

"MOVE FASTER!"

Both immediately crawled faster through the vent while the creature tore through the metal structure behind them. The shaft shook continuously now while sparks exploded from broken electrical cables nearby.

Ahead, faint light finally appeared through another vent opening.

Arata kicked the metal grate outward instantly before dropping into a dark maintenance storage room below.Akari quickly followed afterward moments before the entire ventilation shaft behind them collapsed violently.

BOOOOOOOM!!

Metal crashed everywhere while the mutation roared furiously behind the fallen debris.Dust filled the storage room immediately.Akari coughed heavily while staring toward the destroyed ventilation opening in horror.

"...I officially hate underground places."

Arata stood quietly while scanning the room surroundings carefully.The storage room looked old and abandoned, filled with emergency railway equipment and rusted supply shelves. Flickering backup lights illuminated the room dimly while distant thunder echoed faintly somewhere above the city. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Most importantly No infected, For now.

Akari leaned heavily against nearby shelves while catching her breath.Her entire body hurt now.Bruised ribs, Cuts, Exhaustion.

And somehow—Her heart still beat strangely fast whenever Arata got injured earlier.

That part annoyed her most.Arata suddenly crouched beside an old emergency supply crate nearby before opening it carefully.

His eyes narrowed slightly afterward.

"...Useful."

Akari slowly walked over before looking inside.Several old military supply cases remained stored within the emergency railway room. Ammunition. Flashlights. Survival kits.

And—Akari blinked, "...No way."

Arata quietly lifted a pump-action shotgun from the crate.The weapon looked dusty but intact.Akari stared at it like someone discovering treasure.

"...That’s beautiful."

"You’re weird."

"You don’t understand." She carefully grabbed the shotgun afterward while examining it excitedly. "This is emotional support."

"...That explains concerning amounts about you."

Akari ignored him completely while loading shells into the shotgun with visible satisfaction.

Then suddenly—She froze.Her eyes slowly moved toward another weapon inside the crate.A metal baseball bat, New, Undamaged.

Silence filled the room instantly.Arata noticed immediately. "...You okay?" he said.Akari slowly picked up the bat afterward.

Her fingers tightened around the handle quietly. "...Feels nostalgic."

Arata watched silently while she tested the weight slightly. Then unexpectedly—A small smile appeared across her face.

Arata looked away immediately afterward.Which Akari noticed instantly.

"...What was that?"

"What?"

"You looked away suspiciously."

"I didn’t."

"You definitely did."

"...You’re imagining things again."

Akari narrowed her eyes slightly while stepping closer.

"...Interesting."

Arata immediately recognized that tone.Dangerous tone.

"What?" he asked.

"You think I’m pretty." she said.

Silence, Complete silence, Arata stared at her blankly.

"...What?" he said.Akari crossed her arms proudly. "Your reaction confirmed it."

"That’s not how confirmation works."

"You looked away."

"Because you’re saying weird things."

"You’re blushing slightly."

"I’m literally covered in blood."

"...That’s actually fair."

Despite herself—Akari laughed again.And somehow hearing that sound made the ruined underground room feel warmer instantly.

Then suddenly—A loud mechanical sound echoed somewhere nearby, Both froze immediately.Old railway systems slowly activated around them while flickering lights brightened across portions of the maintenance room.

Arata frowned slightly, "...That’s new."

Akari immediately grabbed the shotgun again. "Please tell me underground zombie trains aren’t becoming a thing."

Before Arata could answer—A weak voice suddenly echoed through nearby speakers.

"...Hello?"

Both instantly turned toward the sound.Static crackled through the old station intercom system afterward.

"...Is... is someone alive down there?"

Akari blinked in surprise. "...That’s a human voice." Arata quickly approached the control panel nearby before pressing the damaged communication button.

"Who are you?"Several seconds of static followed, Then—

"My name is Yuna!" Both froze instantly.

Akari slowly turned toward Arata afterward.

"...You know another girl named Yuna?"

"...Unfortunately."

The speaker crackled loudly afterward.

"ARATA?! WAIT— YOU’RE ALIVE?!"

Yuna’s voice sounded emotional and furious simultaneously somehow.Akari immediately looked interested now.

Arata quietly sighed, "...Yeah."

"YOU DISAPPEARED WITH A HOT GIRL INTO UNDERGROUND TUNNELS FOR HOURS!"

Akari’s eyes slowly widened, Then immediately moved toward Arata again.

"...Hot girl?" Arata instantly regretted everything.The speaker crackled loudly again afterward. "You have ANY IDEA how worried everyone was?! Airi nearly cried! Reina punched three infected through pure stress! Kaede threatened a soldier!"

Akari stared toward the speaker before glancing back at Arata again.

"...Airi?" Akari said.

"...Doctor." he replied

"Reina?" she asked again

"...Soldier." he replied calmly again.

"Kaede?"

"...Archer."

Akari slowly narrowed her eyes afterward.

"...How many girls ARE following you exactly?"

"This conversation isn’t important right now."

"It suddenly feels VERY important."

The speaker crackled again.

"Who’s the girl with you?!"

Akari immediately stepped toward the microphone first, "I’m Akari."

Several seconds of silence followed afterward.

Then— "...Oh."

Akari blinked slightly. "...Oh?"

Another long silence, Then suddenly—

"IS SHE PRETTY?!"

Akari stared at the speaker in disbelief.Arata quietly covered his face with one hand.

"...I’m surrounded by insane women."

Akari immediately grabbed the microphone afterward.

"Yes. Extremely."

"...Excuse me?" Yuna sounded offended instantly.

Akari smiled sweetly. "Arata looked away earlier."

The speaker exploded with static from pure emotional damage.

"HE WHAT?!"

Arata stared at Akari in betrayal.

"You’re enjoying this too much."

"Correct."

For the first time tonight—Arata genuinely almost laughed.

And Akari noticed immediately.Her teasing expression softened slightly afterward.

Because suddenly—She realized something.

She wanted seeing that expression again.The thought hit her unexpectedly hard.

Then Yuna’s furious voice exploded through the speakers again.

"WAIT— DID YOU JUST LAUGH?!"

Akari slowly looked toward Arata dramatically.

"...You’re doomed."

"Probably." he said.

The intercom crackled continuously afterward while distant voices echoed faintly behind Yuna somewhere.Then another voice suddenly appeared through the speakers.

"...Arata?" and that was Airi.

Even through damaged speakers, concern filled her voice immediately.

"Are you hurt?" she said.

Akari quietly glanced toward Arata afterward.

And noticed it instantly.His expression softened again.

"...A little," Arata answered quietly.

"A little?" Yuna shouted somewhere behind Airi. "HE SOUNDS HALF DEAD!"

"I’m okay." Arata said.

"You always say that," Airi whispered softly through the speakers.

Akari quietly lowered her eyes slightly.Because for some reason—Hearing another girl worry about him bothered her more than expected.And honestly—That realization irritated her immediately.Yuna’s voice returned afterward.

"We found temporary shelter above ground near the eastern station entrance. Can you reach us?"

Arata quickly checked an old underground railway map nearby, "...Maybe."

"Maybe isn’t comforting."

"There’s maintenance tunnels connecting toward your side."

"Good." Yuna immediately sounded relieved. "Then hurry back."

Akari crossed her arms quietly afterward.

"...She sounds attached." she said.

Arata looked confused. "Who?"

"Yuna." Akari replied.

"She acts like that with everyone."

"That answer sounded suspiciously experienced."

"...I’m starting to regret surviving tonight."

Akari smiled slightly afterward, Then suddenly—BOOOOOOOOM!!

The wall behind them exploded inward violently.The Apex Mutation burst directly into the storage room while roaring furiously.

"OH COME ON!" Akari shouted instantly.

The creature looked even worse now.Its damaged eye continuously leaked black blood while portions of its flesh twitched unnaturally across exposed muscle. The mutation’s body had evolved again during pursuit.

Longer claws, Sharper bones protruding from its back, And faster movement, Much faster.

The creature charged immediately.Arata pushed Akari aside moments before the mutation smashed directly through nearby supply shelves violently, Wood and metal exploded everywhere.Akari quickly rolled across the floor before raising the shotgun instantly.

"Okay." She pumped the weapon aggressively. "I missed having ranged violence."

BOOM!!

The shotgun blast exploded directly into the mutation’s damaged eye.Black blood sprayed across the room while the creature screamed furiously.Akari blinked slightly afterward, "...Oh that felt AMAZING."

Arata dodged another claw strike before slashing across the creature’s side instantly.

"Focus!"

"I AM focused!"

The mutation roared before attacking Akari directly now.

But this time—Akari smiled.She sidestepped smoothly before smashing the new baseball bat directly across the creature’s damaged face.

CRACK.

The impact staggered the mutation violently.Akari grinned proudly afterward.

"...God I missed this thing."

Arata watched her silently for one brief second.Then realized something dangerous.

Akari genuinely enjoyed combat now, Which honestly terrified him slightly.

The mutation suddenly grabbed part of the ceiling above them before tearing massive metal pipes downward violently.Steam exploded throughout the room instantly.

Visibility disappeared completely.Akari coughed heavily while gripping the shotgun tightly again.

"Arata?!" she said.

"I’m here." Arata replied.

Relief immediately hit her chest hearing his voice.Which annoyed her instantly afterward.

Then suddenly—The mutation lunged through the steam directly toward her.Too close.

Akari barely raised the shotgun defensively before the creature smashed her violently across the room.She crashed hard against nearby shelves while pain exploded through her ribs instantly.The shotgun slid across the floor uselessly.The mutation slowly approached afterward while growling deeply.

Akari tried standing quickly—But pain shot through her body again.

The creature raised its claw slowly.Then suddenly—Arata appeared from the steam.

His blade flashed across the darkness instantly.

CRACK.

One of the mutation’s claws severed completely before crashing across the floor.

The creature screamed in rage.Arata moved differently now, Faster, Sharper, His eyes looked colder again, More dangerous.

The system flickered violently before him.

[Combat Synchronization: 47%]

[New Skill Development Progressing]

The mutation attacked wildly afterward.

Arata dodged smoothly before driving his blade directly through the creature’s shoulder hard enough to pin it briefly against the wall.

Akari stared silently, Because right now—He looked terrifying, Not emotionally distant, Not exhausted, Just dangerous.The mutation roared before tearing itself free violently.

Then both monsters charged each other again.The storage room exploded into chaos once more.

Akari forced herself upright afterward while grabbing the shotgun again.

And despite the situation—One thought repeated endlessly inside her head now.

When did she start worrying about him this much?