As the night deepened, the sounds of the undead outside seemed to intensify. The occasional groan or scrape against the walls of the building reminded Ryuichi that even behind fortified doors, they were never truly safe. He sat in the corner of the room, sharpening his blade, his mind racing with thoughts of survival. Aiko was curled up on a small couch, clutching her bat, her breathing steady as she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Haruka, their unexpected companion, sat near the window, staring out into the darkened streets. The faint light from a flickering candle illuminated her face, revealing her sharp, delicate features. Her short black hair was tousled, streaked with dirt and dried blood from the day’s events. Her skin, pale and almost ghostly in the dim light, was bruised and scratched from her desperate fight with the zombies. Despite her injuries, there was a quiet strength in her gaze, her dark eyes intense as she watched for any signs of danger.

Her slim, athletic build suggested she had been active even before the apocalypse. Her clothes, a torn and blood-stained white hoodie and black jeans, clung to her frame, barely protecting her from the cold night air. She looked weary, but her posture remained alert, as if always ready to jump into action.

Ryuichi noticed the subtle tension in her body—the way her fingers twitched near the metal pipe she still held loosely, and how her eyes scanned the streets with methodical precision. She was clearly a fighter, but there was more to her than just survival instincts.

He stood up, stretching his stiff muscles before walking over to where Haruka sat. “You should get some rest. It’s been a long day.”

Haruka shook her head, her eyes not leaving the window. “I’m fine,” she said quietly. “I’m used to staying up. Can’t sleep when I know those things are out there.”

Ryuichi nodded, understanding her hesitation. “Fair enough. But you can trust this place for tonight. We’ve prepared for this. You’re safe here.”

She turned to look at him, her expression hard to read. “Safe,” she repeated, almost as if the word was foreign to her. “I haven’t felt safe in days. Not since the first outbreak.”

Ryuichi leaned against the wall, studying her. “Where were you when it all started?”

Haruka sighed, rubbing her forehead as if the memory caused her physical pain. “I was at my apartment. It was supposed to be just another day, you know? Then… it all went to hell. I tried to get out, but the streets were already swarming with those things. My neighbors turned. People I knew, people I’d seen every day. It all happened so fast.” Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, but she quickly composed herself, eyes hardening again. “I barely made it out alive.”

Ryuichi nodded in understanding. He had seen similar horrors in his previous life, but he knew better than to delve too deep into that. “It’s happening everywhere now,” he said grimly. “But you made it this far, and that’s something. That takes strength.”

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Haruka glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Strength, or luck. I’m not sure which.”

“A little of both, maybe,” Ryuichi replied with a shrug. “Either way, you’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Haruka’s smile faded as she looked back out the window. “What’s your plan?” she asked quietly. “You seem… prepared. More than most people I’ve seen. Like you knew this was coming.”

Ryuichi stiffened slightly at her words. He hadn’t told her—or anyone except Aiko—about his knowledge of the apocalypse’s timeline. He couldn’t risk sharing that information yet, not even with someone like Haruka who had proven herself capable. “I’ve been paying attention to the signs,” he said carefully. “When the reports started coming in about the outbreaks, I knew it was only a matter of time before it reached us. So, I made preparations.”

Haruka nodded, accepting his explanation for now, though her gaze lingered on him a little too long, as if she wasn’t entirely convinced. “Well, whatever your reasons, I’m glad I ran into you two. I wouldn’t have lasted much longer out there on my own.”

Ryuichi pushed off the wall and offered her a small smile. “You’re welcome to stay with us as long as you need. We could use someone with your skills.”

Haruka looked at him, surprised. “You barely know me.”

Ryuichi shrugged. “I’ve seen enough to know that you’re a survivor. That’s all I need to know.”

She studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. “Thanks. I’ll… take you up on that. At least for now.”

There was a brief silence between them, broken only by the distant groans of the undead outside. Ryuichi glanced over at Aiko, who was still asleep, her bat resting by her side.

“You care about her a lot, don’t you?” Haruka asked, her voice soft as she followed his gaze.

“She’s my sister,” Ryuichi said simply. “I promised I’d keep her safe.”

Haruka nodded, a hint of sadness crossing her face. “I lost my brother when this all started. Couldn’t get to him in time.”

Ryuichi’s heart clenched at the thought, but he didn’t know how to respond. The weight of loss hung heavily in the air, a grim reminder of what they were all fighting against. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

Haruka shook her head. “It’s the world we live in now. We just have to keep moving forward.”

Ryuichi nodded in agreement. “Yeah. And we will.”

As the night wore on, they took turns keeping watch, the atmosphere heavy with the knowledge that the apocalypse had only just begun. The crystals they had extracted from the zombies earlier now sat in a small pile on the table, glowing faintly in the darkness. Each one represented the death of a creature that had once been human. But to Ryuichi, they were more than just remnants of the dead—they were power. Tools for survival.

Haruka noticed them and frowned. “What are those?”

Ryuichi glanced at the crystals. “They’re from the zombies. Their brains form these when they reanimate. I don’t fully understand it yet, but they’re… useful.”

Haruka raised an eyebrow. “Useful how?”

Ryuichi hesitated for a moment, then reached for one of the crystals. “They hold energy. It’s… difficult to explain, but I’ve been able to tap into that energy before. It might be the key to surviving this whole thing.”

Haruka looked at him, curiosity piqued. “You’ve used them before?”

Ryuichi shrugged. “Once or twice. I’m still figuring it out. But I think they’re important.”

Haruka nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing as she studied the crystals. “If they really are as powerful as you say, then we’re going to need a lot more of them.”

Ryuichi smirked. “Exactly.”

The night continued, and the weight of the apocalypse settled in around them. With each passing moment, the world outside grew darker, more dangerous. But inside the apartment, Ryuichi, Aiko, and now Haruka, formed a fragile alliance, bound by survival and the faint hope that they could make it through the hell that awaited them.