I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. Rei was sitting beside me, watching me sleep. It was a strange sight, seeing Rei in the light of day. I watched her as she continued looking at me, her fingers gently tracing circles on my abdomen as she quietly hummed a tune. There was a distant look in her eyes, and I could see her mind wandering as she stared at me. Suddenly, she looked away, her face turning red as she averted her gaze. Obviously shy after what happened last night. We were both unsure if this had been a mistake.

We got dressed and got ready. Rei went to check on Miya and Ayato while I cooked breakfast. I had looted a couple fresh foods including eggs yesterday and cooked it in the boats marine stove. I cooked the food, setting the table and placing the plates on the table. We ate together, talking about Ayato's favourite anime and Miya's favourite idol, it was apparent both were eight years old although they hadn't been able to show it with the undead at every corner. After eating, we packed the remaining food into storage containers for later use and put them in the fridge, I was lucky the boat's electricity came from the solar panels on the roof.

I greeted Ayato and Miya with a wide grin as they stepped into the cabin, happy to see them again after the long night. Ayato, however, looked exhausted and groggy, rubbing his eyes in a daze. I could see the fierce protectiveness in his eyes as he stood there, a determined look on his face, despite his tiredness. I knew how much he cared for his sisters, and it was clear that he would do anything to keep them safe.

On the other hand, Miya's face lit up as she saw me, her eyes twinkling with excitement. She was a cheeky little girl, always teasing me with her mischievous grin. Despite her young age, she had a caring and gentle demeanor that made her endearing. "How was your first night?" she asked me, clearly curious about how things had gone.

I turned to Rei, unsure of how to answer the question. "It was... okay," I said, trying to hide the mixed feelings that I had about the previous night.

"Okay isn't bad," Rei said with a reassuring smile, making me feel a little more at ease.

"Yeah, it wasn't too bad," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

Ayato and Miya seemed unfazed by our conversation, and they both replied positively when I asked them how they were doing. However, Miya couldn't resist teasing us about what had happened between Rei and me the previous night, causing both of us to blush and look away in embarrassment.

Both Ayato and Miya noticed our discomfort and chuckled, but Ayato's expression quickly turned serious when he caught sight of Rei's bright red face. "You better not have done anything to my sister," he growled menacingly, his protectiveness flaring up.

I raised my hands defensively, "Hey, hey, relax! I wouldn't do anything," I assured him, trying to keep the situation from escalating.

Rei let out a small laugh, seeing the tension ease up. "Don't worry, Ayato. We're all just friends here," she said, trying to calm him down.

Ayato didn't seem entirely convinced but let out a small huff before turning to me with a critical eye. "You better take care of her," he warned me, making me feel a little more pressure to be on my best behavior.

"Don't worry, Ayato. I'll make sure she's safe," I promised him, hoping to ease his mind.

Miya, who had been watching the interaction with interest, couldn't help but interject with a playful grin on her face, "You two are so cute!" she teased, causing both Rei and me to blush again.

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Ayato rolled his eyes at her, "Stop it, Miya," he scolded, clearly not in the mood for her teasing.

Despite the awkwardness that still lingered in the air, I was grateful for the opportunity to spend time with everyone. The tension had dissipated somewhat since the previous night, and I was determined to make the most of the day ahead. So, I suggested that we go fishing, hoping to distract ourselves from the recent events.

To my relief, everyone seemed to be on board with the idea. We made our way to the side of the boat, and I rummaged through the leftover breakfast in search of some bait. The rest of the group followed suit, and soon we had lines cast out into the water.

I didn't have much experience with fishing, but I enjoyed the peacefulness of the moment. The gentle lapping of the waves against the boat, the salty scent of the sea, and the sun warming our skin all combined to create a sense of tranquility that I desperately needed. To my surprise, we managed to catch a few fish in a matter of minutes, and I felt a sense of accomplishment as I reeled in my first catch.

As we made our way back to the cabin, carrying our fish in a bucket, I couldn't help but feel content. The simple act of fishing had brought us together, and for a moment, we forgot about our troubles. It was a much-needed respite from the chaos of the previous nights, and I was grateful for the moment of peace and normalcy.

Hours had passed fishing, we had caught about 4 cherry salmon fish and 3 Japanese squids. We cleaned the fish, and I prepared them for cooking. Rei helped me out with the filleting and prepping, and I was glad for her assistance. I also took the opportunity to talk about Rei, sharing with them how I had met them at the pharmacy and the events surrounding my escape from the facility. They seemed interested and listened attentively.

After dinner, we decided to watch a movie, something light-hearted and funny. There was a selection of DVDs in the cabin, so we were able to find one that was suitable for an eight year old. We watched 'Two Piece: Film Blue' which was pleasant and entertaining. We were enjoying ourselves tremendously, especially since we finally had some time to relax. As the credits began to roll, I saw that Rei was staring at me although she quickly turned away.

The peace we had experienced in the aftermath of the apocalypse was short-lived. The sound of a loud blast ripped through the air, shattering the stillness that had settled around us. Was it the sound of a flare or the sound of a gas bomb exploding? My heart pounded in my chest, and I turned to look at Ayato and Miya. The two siblings were visibly shaken, their faces pale with fear. Miya, who had been a cheeky and mischievous little girl just moments ago, was now clinging to Ayato for safety, her shy and timid side resurfacing.

Rei, however, reacted quickly, jumping up from her seat and running to the front of the boat, her makeshift spear clutched tightly in one hand. I followed her, unsure of what we were up against. As we reached the bow of the boat, I saw what had frightened her. A huge vessel, three times the size of our boat, was headed straight towards us, carrying about 14 people. They were all heavily armed, wielding machetes and harpoons with a ruthless look in their eyes.

I could feel the panic rising within me, but I tried to remain calm for the sake of the others. We had no choice but to face the attackers head-on. Suddenly, one of them launched a harpoon at us. It hit the side of our boat with a loud thud, the spear embedding itself deep into the wood. I saw another person taking aim at Rei, but I reacted quickly, grabbing her and pulling her out of harm's way just in time.

The situation was escalating quickly, and we were running out of options. We were completely outnumbered, and our boat was no match for theirs. I knew we had to come up with a plan, and fast. The adrenaline was pumping through my veins as I looked around, searching for any possible escape route or weapon. We were being attacked, and I had been foolish to think that the sea would be a peaceful place. I couldn't help but wonder how many others had been taken by surprise like we had.

The sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air as the enemy boat crashed into ours. The impact was jarring, and I stumbled forward before catching myself. The attackers boarded our boat, their faces twisted in rage and bloodlust. I could see the fear in Miya's eyes and Ayato's attempts to stay strong amidst the chaos.

Without hesitation, I sprang into action. Pulling a knife from my cargo pocket, I quickly sliced the rope of the harpoon lodged in our boat before pulling Rei inside. We were sitting ducks outside, and we had to come up with a plan fast. I grabbed the remaining soju bottles, ripped up a cloth, and stuffed it inside the bottles. I handed three of them to Rei, along with a lighter, while I kept the other three and a box of salt. We didn't have two lighters, but I knew I could light the matches faster than Rei. I would rather put myself in danger than her.

Running to the boat's kitchen, I grabbed four knives and prepared to fight for our lives. As we ran back out, a loud thud sounded as the enemy boat connected with ours. The attackers boarded our boat, armed with machetes and spear guns. I acted quickly, throwing the salt in the faces of three of them. They were temporarily blinded, giving me a moment to light up my first soju bottle and hurl it at one of the attackers. The bottle hit a man with a scruffy beard and crooked teeth, setting him ablaze as he writhed in agony before falling off the side of the boat and into the water.

But there were still more of them. Five more boarded our boat, and I knew we were in trouble. Rei used her spear to stab and rip open the stomach of one attacker, but another knocked her off balance with a machete swing. Rei then threw a soju bottle, hitting the attacker in the leg and shattering the glass. Meanwhile, I slashed and stabbed at the attackers with my knife, managing to take one down.

But we were quickly outnumbered. Three attackers surrounded Rei, pushing her back and almost causing her demise. I saw her struggling and barely avoiding death. As I moved to help her, I was suddenly kicked and slammed with my head against the boat, causing blood to drip down my face. I dropped to the floor, dazed and disoriented, while the attackers closed in on us.