Candles flickered to life in the room.
Across the table from Sosuke Kitahara sat Haruno Yukinoshita, elbow propped casually as she toyed with her spoon, scooping up bites now and then while her eyes sparkled mischievously at him.
Kitahara held his bowl and chopsticks, eating heartily. The food was his own cooking he still didn't feel comfortable relying on others' hands, not in tis like these.
"How's the taste?" Haruno asked, lips curling upward, her gaze full of laughter.
Kitahara swallowed a mouthful of rice mixed with vegetables, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and gave her a firm thumbs-up. "Delicious. I didn't expect your cooking to be this good, Haruno-nee."
"Of course. Utaha's isn't bad either," he added quickly, unwilling to play favorites.
Utaha Kasumigaoka sipped from a small bowl of soup, her long black hair veiling half her face. Under the flickering candlelight, her slender fra seed cloaked in mystery.
"Yukino and I learned cooking a long ti ago. With Utaha holding the chef's post, this was nothing," Haruno said, brushing a stray lock behind her ear before glancing at her younger sister. "Besides, you could even call it part of a bride's training, right?"
"Don't spout nonsense. Cooking and housework aren't 'bride training,' they're just life skills," Yukino replied flatly. She set down the paring knife and handed over a freshly peeled apple. "Eat this quickly, before it goes bad."
Night deepened. Few lights remained beyond the window, leaving only the trembling glow of candles and a clear wash of moonlight spilling inside. Yukino knelt gracefully, lips pressed tight yet softened by a faint smile as her eyes shone like twin stars.
As Kitahara reached for the apple, his fingers brushed against hers soft, cool, fleeting. A strange warmth welled up in his chest. Sohow, without realizing it, he had begun to feel as though these three remarkable won were family. Everything between them felt natural, harmonious.
After dinner, fruit was set out. Kitahara dug in unceremoniously, chomping noisily.
Yukino couldn't help but let a smile slip as she watched him, her brows softening like the curve of a crescent moon.
A knock suddenly broke the mood.
"Knock, knock."
Everyone turned toward the door. Yukino's expression instantly flattened back into her usual cool mask. She frowned slightly. "I'll check."
Peering through the peephole, she caught sight of Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Shizuka-sensei?" Yukino opened the door.
"Yo. Still eating, huh?" Hiratsuka glanced around the room.
"Yukinoshita…"
"Good evening, senpai."
To Kitahara's surprise, standing with her were Hayama Hayato, Hikigaya Hachiman, Hikigaya Komachi, and Isshiki Iroha. Almost every face he knew from Sobu High's group was gathered at his door.
What are they all doing here?
Kitahara blinked and stood. "Eh? What's with everyone showing up at once?"
"Of course we ca to visit you, senpai!"
Komachi exchanged a quick glance with her brother before beaming brightly at Kitahara.
Isshiki lifted a stack of lunchboxes. "We heard you played a big role in gathering supplies. The warehouse is overflowing now, and everyone's relieved. So we made so snacks to thank you."
Hachiman gave a short nod his usual understated acknowledgnt. anwhile, Hayama was already exchanging greetings with the Yukinoshita sisters.
"Co in," Kitahara said. The room was cramped, and he honestly disliked too many guests, but since they'd co and since they were schoolmates of the Yukinoshitas he couldn't just send them away. He turned back inside. "Haruno, Utaha, can you clear the table a little?"
Utaha murmured an "Mm," and with her usual calm expression, gave the newcors a slight nod. In the dim light, there was no need for extra pleasantries.
"We just finished eating, so it's a bit ssy," Kitahara explained as he helped gather dishes and carry them to the sink.
Isshiki placed the lunchboxes on the low table, while Komachi looked around, smiling. "It's been ages since I made snacks. I don't know if they'll taste good, but if not, you can just throw them away."
"Thanks," Kitahara said warmly. "It's the thought that counts."
"That's right!" Komachi's smile widened before she suddenly straightened, bowed deeply, and said with solemn sincerity: "My brother told that without you today, he might not have survived. From now on, senpai, you're Komachi's benefactor. Whatever you need, please just ask!"
Hayama looked uncomfortable, rembering how he had instinctively dodged danger earlier, leaving Hikigaya exposed. Thankfully, the shadows had hidden his face.
Hachiman stiffened, clearly embarrassed by his sister's bold declaration. He resisted until Komachi tugged sharply at his sleeve, forcing him into a reluctant bow.
"Don't… don't do that. I don't deserve it. We're a team. Helping each other is natural," Kitahara said with a chuckle, motioning them upright. He fetched paper cups, poured mineral water, and set them on the low table.
"So, Shizuka, how did you all end up together?" Haruno asked curiously. Seeing Hiratsuka with Hayama and the Hikigaya siblings made sense but the short-haired girl looked younger than even Yukino.
Hiratsuka folded her arms, sighing. "Iroha is Komachi's friend. Komachi heard about the mall incident and insisted on thanking Kitahara. I wasn't comfortable letting her go alone, so I ca along."
"Not comfortable?" Kitahara caught on the phrase, his brows drawing together. "Aren't we safe inside the settlent?"
"The outside world isn't nearly as simple as you think."
Hiratsuka's gaze lowered, a tremor running through her cheek as old mories surfaced. Her voice tightened. "Before I t Fujishima, I was with six other male teachers. We went to a small supermarket to look for supplies. I didn't even see what it was a shadow flickered past, and in the next instant, all six heads hit the floor. The shelves beside us were drenched in blood. Out of seven, only I escaped."
"A shadow?" Haruno frowned. "Was it a dog?" She recalled the mont Hayama had been attacked at the mall.
"Eh? Sensei, you never told us this!" Hayama blurted.
"What good would it do? I didn't even see it clearly. Why add more fear?" Hiratsuka shook her head, weariness heavy in her expression.
Dogs don't sever heads, Kitahara thought grimly. His brows furrowed as a mory stirred, sothing horribly out of place.
Heads dropping clean to the ground… could it be that thing?
His pupils tightened.
But no the timing was wrong. Sothing like that shouldn't be appearing in Chiba yet. Unless… unless soone had been reckless enough to eat zombie flesh.
Who the hell would be that desperate?
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