There were actually two reasons why Kazuichi went out to get some fresh air... no, make that three.

First and foremost, he wanted to get some fresh air since the smell of Hybrids underground was getting on his nerves. Quite frankly, he felt like the smell was choking the life out of him, and it wouldn’t take long before he went feral due to how intense the scent was.

Secondly, he wanted to eat something. He knew that there might be food being served underground, but Kazuichi wouldn’t dare risk his sanity over a bowl of food. Besides, it wouldn’t do him good if he were to eat with other Hybrids. It would just trigger his instincts and he might attack someone or slice someone’s head off before he realized what he was doing.

This also worked out the better for them since Shig actually brought rice and some freshly-cooked viand for them to eat. Shig actually thought that their group might get hungry in the middle of the auction, and that’s why he packed some meals for the three of them.

Then again, he didn’t consider that Kazuichi might know someone in the auction. But that was easily overlooked since Shig actually brought food for five people. After all, he knew just how ravenous Kazuichi could eat, he witnessed it firsthand during their first meal together.

’And as for the third reason... well, we’ll see soon enough.’ Kazuichi said to himself as a smirk appeared on his face. If what he thought would come to pass, then that means he had cracked the code of the human brain... well, not really, anyone would’ve come to the same conclusion.

And the only reason why it was commendable for Kazuichi to think that was because he was a shut-in before... and shut-ins don’t really have the interactive experience when it came to conversing with other people and knowing their intents and feelings.

"As always! Let’s dig in!" Kazuichi excitedly said as Shig placed the pot of rice in the middle of the group. He then handed each of them plates and silverware, and then he brought out the viands.

"Whoa~ this is a feast~! Do you always get to eat like this?" Ayaka exclaimed as she addressed Shig. This was the first time she saw rice, and it was comfortably hot at that!

"Not really... it’s just that..." A gentle smile appeared on Shig’s face as his eyes got a little teary. "I owe Kazuichi and his group a lot. The only thing I could do is cook, so I did my best."

"You’re putting us up too high on a pedestal." Kazuichi let out a laugh. "All we did was eat and accompany you to the auction. Whereas you’ve served us two feasts already."

"This is embarrassing." Shig scratched his head as he turned his face a little bit away from Kazuichi. "Please, do help yourselves. We have enough for everyone."

"Then I won’t hold back! Gyaaa~ I haven’t had rice since forever!" For a moment, Ayaka wanted to ask Shig who his supplier was. But now that she thought about it, she was fairly certain that all the other farms had been destroyed.

This could mean two things— one, Shig knew someone who has a small plot of land. Or two, Shig was growing rice himself, and if that was the case, then he was way too generous to be giving it away to a couple of bodyguards.

"I brought some canned goods as well. Help yourselves. They’re on the more expensive side, hehe~" Ayaka added as she put out a couple of luxurious canned goods. There was even caviar in there!

"This is really looking like a feast. I haven’t had good food for so long." Shig’s eyes widened when he saw the canned salmon. Nowadays, getting salmon was like getting gold. It’s too expensive, even the canned ones were sometimes sold in auctions.

"Let’s eat!"

"Let’s eat!"

It was a hearty meal, and the group enjoyed little conversation since they relished the food more than the talk. As a shut-in, Kazuichi actually preferred this atmosphere, and it reminded him of the time when his parents would be at home to eat with him.

All those memories felt like a long time now. Even his memories in the orphanage, as well as the bullying he experienced, were all distant past and he’d rather not remember it. Then again, if he were to compare it to the outbreak, he knew that the outbreak was a much better experience.

He’d do anything to have his adoptive parents back. They were the ones who gave him everything, and he wouldn’t have survived his earlier years in life if it weren’t for them.

Sniffle~

"Are you crying?" Ayaka whispered, rubbing Kazuichi’s back to console him. Then again, she too felt like crying due to how warm the food was. Somehow, the food just reminded her of her family post-outbreak. If this was a normal day, they’d be having lunch together by now.

But no, the outbreak just had to come, and now she had no idea whether her family was alive or not.

"No, I’m not crying... you’re crying," Kazuichi commented. He only said that to say something in return, but to his surprise, Ayaka was actually crying.

"Guys, don’t do that." Shig let out as his eyes were getting a little teary as well. To his side, he also saw that Tris was on the verge of letting her tears out as well, and it convinced him to hold back his tears so there would be a non-crying person in the group.

Somehow, the food tasted a little warmer, and the group reminisced the memories of the past when the outbreak hadn’t begun. And while they were reliving those memories, a group of Hybrids actually had the gall to approach them and interrupt their meal.

"..."

"..."

Just when Kazuichi was about to reach for the final spoon of rice on the pot, a Hybrid had the gall to step in the middle of their group and step on the pot of rice. Not only did he smash the pot with his foot. He also wasted the last spoon of rice as if it was nothing.

"Having a group crying session out here, I see." The Hybrid commented.

One look and Kazuichi immediately realized that the Hybrid was one of the North Yamanashi Stronghold Leader’s subordinates.

The third reason finally came. Somebody really did go out of their way to cause trouble for them since it wasn’t allowed in the vicinity of the auction. Moreover, the troublemaker actually had the gall to waste food!

Within a second, the air around the group suddenly changed, and Ayaka stepped forward in an instant. As for Kazuichi, he had no idea what happened, but his vision dimmed, and the next thing he knew was that he was holding the Hybrid by the neck, wringing him dry as he activated his Blood Art.

Fwip~!

Before Kazuichi could actually kill the Hybrid and drain him of his blood, he heard a whipping sound. And then, out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Ayaka flicker from one side of the circle to another. When she reappeared, her hands were already in the form of blades, and the Hybrid that stepped on their rice was instantly minced into little pieces.

The only piece of him that wasn’t diced was his neck, which was being wrung by Kazuichi’s ballooned arms.

"You dared step on our precious rice, you bastards... you’re going to pay." Ayaka’s eyes turned bloodshot as she charged at the group of Hybrids that surrounded them.