"Today, I'm giving you girls a free training day,"Gantsuke's voice drew the attention of Meenda, Mari, Issy, and Molly, who were in the middle of breakfast. They all turned to look at him at the head of the table.
After the battle with the zombies and the Wolf mercenary gang at the village of Laduk, the girls had undergone three intense days of training. Gantsuke figured it was time they got a little break.
"What do you mean?" Issy frowned.Thanks to some medical supplies from Earth, the wounds from shattered glass on her body had healed without leaving a single scar.
"I mean—no training. We're taking the day off."
"Yay! I'm so happy! Gantsuke, are you taking us out somewhere?"Mari beamed, clapping her hands.
"Uh, that's not exactly what I meant…"Gantsuke was beginning to regret this idea.
"Good! We haven't been to a mall in forever."Molly chimed in cheerfully.
"Wait, you too, Molly?"Gantsuke felt his chest tighten.
"We're women. And women need women's essentials."
"I 100% agree with Molly!"Mari practically leapt to hug the girl sitting beside her.
"Aren't you afraid zombies will drag you off and eat you?"Gantsuke raised an eyebrow.
Click. "You think I'm scared?"Issy chambered a round in her pistol with an icy glare that made Gantsuke's skin crawl.
"What do you think, Lemo?"Gantsuke turned to Lemo, who was just coming in from the right.
"Take them, Tiger.If they made it through that night, I don't think you've got much to worry about."
Lemo's smile gave Gantsuke a sense of ease.
"Alright then… we're going to the mall."
"Yaaay! I love you, Gantsuke!"Mari squealed, running over to hug and kiss his cheek.Her soft hair and warm, unbra'd chest under her thin white tank top pressed against him, making the back of Gantsuke's neck tingle.Everyone chuckled at the sight of Mari, overjoyed beyond words.
"Hey—Mari! You trying to kill me with a machine-gun kiss attack or something?"Gantsuke laughed as the girl fired a barrage of kisses."Smooch! Smooch! Smooch!"
"I'm just so happy! There's something I've really wanted from the mall!"Mari's cheeks glowed pink, her smile so cute that it made Gantsuke's heart melt.
"Alright, let's finish breakfast and gear up.I doubt we're the only ones who thought about looting the mall."
"Roger that!"Mari gave a playful salute and skipped back around behind Meenda and Issy to her seat.
The sight of all the girls' happy, smiling faces filled Gantsuke with joy.He didn't know what dangers might be waiting in that mall,but right now, seeing their glowing expressions and bright eyes,he truly began to believe they could take care of themselves.
They've gotten stronger,Gantsuke smiled to himself.He felt proud for having brought them through training,and more than that—he was relieved to see that they could now look out for one another.