Cold morning sunlight slowly began appearing through the ruined city skyline while smoke drifted endlessly above broken buildings and abandoned streets. The night finally started fading after endless fighting, bloodshed, and chaos. Yet despite the sunrise, the world still looked dead. Burned cars remained scattered across the roads while dried blood covered the sidewalks beneath shattered streetlights. Distant infected screams still echoed occasionally through the city, reminding everyone that this nightmare was far from over.

The group continued moving carefully through downtown after rescuing the trapped survivors from the convenience store. The older man and woman walked together behind Reina while the little girl held tightly onto Akari’s sleeve now instead of her grandfather’s hand.

Akari looked deeply confused about how this happened.

"...Why are you attached to me specifically?"

The little girl looked up innocently. "Because you’re pretty."

Yuna instantly pointed dramatically from nearby. "See? Even children notice things."

Akari looked emotionally exhausted already. "...Please stop talking."

"No."

Arata quietly walked several steps ahead of everyone while scanning the streets carefully for infected movement. His injuries still hurt constantly despite Airi’s treatment earlier. Every muscle in his body felt heavy now after nonstop combat underground.

But strangely—His chest felt lighter.Maybe because everyone survived.

Maybe because hearing laughter again after so long felt unfamiliar but comforting.

Or maybe—His eyes unconsciously shifted toward Akari again.

She walked beside the little girl while trying unsuccessfully to avoid Yuna’s nonstop teasing. Morning sunlight reflected softly across her dark hair while the baseball bat rested against her shoulder casually. Despite dried blood covering portions of her clothes, she still somehow looked alive in a way most survivors no longer did.

Loud, Annoying, Emotional, Human.Akari suddenly noticed him looking briefly, and Their eyes met.Then both instantly looked away again.

Yuna saw everything.

"...Interesting."

"STOP SAYING THAT," Akari shouted immediately.

"Then stop acting suspiciously."

"We are literally just walking!"

"Together."

"There are other people here!"

"But emotionally you’re isolated together."

"...What does that even mean?!"

Reina laughed loudly nearby while Kaede quietly shook her head.Meanwhile Airi silently watched the interactions beside Arata.Her soft silver eyes lowered slightly afterward.

Because deep down—She noticed something changing too.Arata looked different around Akari.Subtle changes, Tiny expressions, and Almost-smiles, Softer reactions.

Things nobody else usually saw from him anymore.And honestly— That realization hurt slightly more than she expected.

The group eventually reached a partially intact office building near the center district. Several military vehicles remained abandoned outside while emergency barricades blocked portions of the road nearby.

Reina carefully checked the entrance first. "Looks empty."

Kaede quietly nodded after scanning upper windows. "No infected movement."

"Temporary shelter then," Arata decided.

Everyone entered cautiously afterward.The inside of the building remained surprisingly untouched compared to most places across the city. Desks and computers still filled portions of the lobby while emergency generators weakly powered a few ceiling lights overhead.

Most importantly— The building had secure upper floors, For now.

The older couple immediately thanked everyone repeatedly after reaching safety while the little girl quietly sat beside Akari on one of the lobby couches, Yuna stared at that suspiciously too.

"...Why do children instantly trust you?"

Akari blinked slightly. "...I don’t know."

The little girl smiled innocently. "Because she smells nice."

Silence.

Then Reina burst into laughter again, Yuna pointed dramatically. "SEE?!"

Akari slowly covered her face with both hands. "...I miss the zombies."

Meanwhile nearby, Airi carefully reopened Arata’s bandages while examining the wounds again beneath the lobby lights.

"You need proper rest now."

"I’ll rest later."

"That’s exactly what you said yesterday."

"And?"

"And yesterday you nearly died underground."

"...Minor detail."

Airi sighed softly afterward while cleaning dried blood from his arm carefully.Akari quietly noticed the scene from across the lobby.

And once again— That strange uncomfortable feeling returned.She hated it already.Because it made absolutely no sense.

Airi was kind, Gentle, and Beautiful honestly.

Of course she worried about him.So why did watching them together bother her so much?

Yuna slowly sat beside Akari afterward with the expression of someone preparing emotional terrorism.

"...You’re jealous."

Akari nearly choked instantly. "WHAT?!"

"Your face becomes grumpy whenever Airi touches him."

"That is absolutely not true."

"You literally frowned three seconds ago."

"I did not."

The little girl suddenly nodded helpfully. "You did."

Akari stared at the child in betrayal.

"...Tiny traitor."

Yuna looked victorious. "Children detect romance naturally."

"There IS no romance"

"Yet."

"...I’m going back underground."

Yuna grinned proudly afterward while Akari looked emotionally defeated already.

Meanwhile across the lobby, Arata quietly glanced toward them briefly.Then frowned slightly.

"...Why does Akari look traumatized?"

Airi smiled faintly. "Yuna is talking to her."

"...That explains it."

Airi carefully finished wrapping his arm again before softly speaking. "You should try sleeping for a few hours."

Arata looked toward the shattered lobby windows afterward where morning sunlight slowly spread across the ruined city.

"...Can’t."

"Because you’re worried?"

"...Yeah."

Airi stared at him silently for several moments.

Then quietly asked:

"...Or because you’re not used to feeling safe anymore?"

The question hit harder than expected.Arata looked away afterward instead of answering.

Which became answer enough. Airi’s expression softened slightly.

"...You don’t always have to carry everything alone."

Silence followed quietly between them.

Then suddenly—

"ARATA!"

Yuna’s voice destroyed the emotional atmosphere instantly.He looked exhausted already. "...What now?"

Yuna pointed dramatically toward Akari again. "She got jealous."

Akari immediately stood up holding the baseball bat aggressively. "I WILL SWING THIS."

"VIOLENCE CONFIRMS EMOTIONS!"

"YOU ARE MAKING THINGS WORSE!"

Reina nearly fell off the couch laughing while Kaede calmly drank water nearby like this insanity was normal now.

Meanwhile Arata slowly stared at the ceiling above.

"...Maybe the apocalypse should’ve killed me."

Akari immediately looked toward him. "Don’t say things like that."

The response came too fast, Too emotional.

Everyone noticed instantly.Silence filled the lobby afterward.

Akari froze, Yuna slowly smiled like a demon discovering treasure.

"...Interesting."

"...I hate all of you."

For some reason— Arata smiled slightly again hearing that.

And once more— Everyone noticed.

The little girl pointed excitedly. "He did the smile thing again!"

Akari immediately looked away because somehow seeing him smile now affected her too much emotionally.

Which became extremely dangerous.

Hours passed slowly afterward while everyone rested inside the office building. Some slept. Some cleaned weapons. Others guarded entrances carefully.

Outside, infected still wandered endlessly through distant streets beneath the pale morning sky.

But inside the building— Warmth slowly returned, Tiny warmth, Fragile warmth.

The kind people forgot existed during apocalypse.

Arata eventually stood near one of the upper floor windows quietly while watching the city below. Burned buildings stretched endlessly toward the horizon while smoke drifted through the sky like ghosts haunting the remains of civilization.

Then footsteps approached behind him softly and it was Akari Of course.

She stopped beside him quietly afterward while crossing her arms against the cold morning air.

For several moments—Neither spoke.Then Akari quietly muttered:

"...Yuna’s insane."

"Very."

"She’s definitely misunderstanding things."

"Probably."

Silence again.Then Akari sighed softly.

"...But honestly... I kinda understand why she worries."

Arata glanced toward her slightly.Akari kept staring outside while speaking quietly.

"You keep risking your life without caring what happens to yourself."

Cold wind moved softly through the broken window beside them.

"...That’s dangerous," she continued quietly. "Not just physically."

Arata looked toward the ruined city again afterward.

"...People survive because somebody fights first."

"And what happens when that person breaks?"

No answer came immediately.Because honestly— He didn’t know.Akari slowly turned toward him afterward.

Her violet eyes looked softer now beneath the pale morning light.

"...You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think..." She hesitated briefly. "...you stopped believing your own life matters a long time ago."

Silence filled the room instantly, Heavy silence.Because once again— She saw directly through him.Arata quietly lowered his eyes slightly afterward.

Then unexpectedly— Akari gently flicked his forehead.

He blinked slowly. "...What was that?"

"You looked too depressing."

"...That’s your solution?"

"Yes."

"...Violence again."

"It’s emotional violence."

For one brief second—Arata genuinely laughed quietly again, Small, Warm, Real.

Akari froze afterward. Because hearing that sound this close— Felt unfairly nice.

Then suddenly their eyes met again, Closer now.

The atmosphere shifted softly around them while morning sunlight illuminated the broken office room quietly.

Neither looked away immediately this time.

Akari’s heartbeat slowly became louder inside her chest.Arata noticed her expression changing slightly.

Then suddenly— "OH MY GOD."bYuna’s voice exploded from the doorway behind them.

Both jumped apart instantly.

Yuna stared at them dramatically while holding emergency snacks. " i leave for two minutes. "

"There was nothing happening!" Akari shouted instantly.

"You were literally standing in romantic lighting!"

"That’s the sun!"

"The sun support my argument !"

Reina’s laughter echoed from the hallway immediately afterward while even Kaede quietly smiled nearby.

Meanwhile Arata slowly covered his face again with one hand.

And honestly—For the first time in years—

This chaos no longer felt unbearable.