The man didn't approach immediately. He stood still, his sharp gaze assessing the two girls walking toward him. Sunlight filtered through the cracked ceiling of the supermarket, glinting off the dusty visor of his helmet. He looked seasoned, his large frame marked by scratches and worn clothing, clear signs he was no stranger to this brutal survival landscape.
When Nozomi and Shion were about ten steps away, he raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"Hold it there," he said, his voice rough and low, not threatening but far from welcoming.
Nozomi instinctively tightened her grip on the axe, shifting to shield Shion behind her. She said nothing, only nodding slightly to acknowledge his words.
"Just a precaution," the man continued. "You two don't look infected, but I need to be sure. Especially with a wound like that."
His eyes flicked to Nozomi's bloodied arm.
Shion, leaning weakly against Nozomi, spoke in a trembling voice. "We're not infected… If it wasn't for your help, we'd probably be…"
"No need for thanks," he cut her off. "I'm not saving people out of some moral code. I just need to know you're not carrying anything dangerous. We're trying to keep this place safe."
"We?" Nozomi spoke for the first time, her voice low and wary.
The man gave a slight nod. "I'm not the only one here. If you want to come in, you'll have to follow some rules. And once you're in, you can't just leave whenever you want."
Nozomi tilted her head slightly. She understood his implication. This was a shelter, but it came with its own laws. Despite their desperate need for supplies, trust didn't come easily to her.
Shion gripped Nozomi's arm tightly. "Nomi-chan… I know what you're thinking. But right now… we don't have any other options. Compared to my last injury, yours is way worse!"
Nozomi didn't respond. Shion's worried expression silenced the words she wanted to say.
"We'll follow the rules," Nozomi said, her voice soft but clear. "As long as they're not unreasonable."
The man raised an eyebrow, then flashed an enigmatic smile. "Good. Follow me."
He turned without checking if they were following, his demeanor brimming with confidence—or perhaps the certainty of being in complete control.
Nozomi supported Shion as they walked slowly, her eyes never leaving the man's movements. Doubts swirled in her mind, but for now, they were alive. In a world like this, that was a victory in itself.
The supermarket's rolling shutter groaned as the man lifted it just enough for them to slip through. Inside, the air was damp and musty, but not entirely desolate. A few battery-powered lanterns hung haphazardly from shelves, casting small pools of light that revealed footprints and drag marks on the floor.
"Watch your step. Lots of broken tiles here," the man said without looking back.
Nozomi observed her surroundings closely. Some shelves had been pushed together to form makeshift walls, and stacks of cardboard boxes served as barriers to control pathways. The space wasn't large, but it had clearly been organized and repurposed as a shelter.
They were led to a back section where three others waited—two women and a younger man, sitting in a circle, guarding a few bags of supplies and a makeshift metal heater. Upon seeing the man with Nozomi and Shion, all three stood, their faces tense with caution.
"Relax!" the man said quickly. "They're both lucid, no symptoms."
"That girl's injured!" one of the women said, pointing at Nozomi. "You sure?"
"Sure," he replied curtly. "But we'll disinfect and monitor them. Get them some water and bandages."
"I don't agree," the other woman interjected. "This decision is risky and could endanger the group. Per our agreement, cases like this require a vote."
Nozomi's eyes sharpened with alertness, and Shion tightened her grip on her weapon, standing behind her.
"So, what do you propose?" the man asked.
"We can keep them…" the woman said with a cryptic smile. "But until we're sure they're not infected, we need to isolate them temporarily."
"Oh? Let's hear it," the man responded, his expression unsurprised.
"Don't we still have some handcuffs? Let them wear those for a few days. If they show no symptoms, we'll take them off," she said, pulling out two gleaming silver handcuffs.
"And the rest of you?" the man asked.
"I agree," the younger man said.
The other woman hesitated under the group's gazes but eventually nodded.
The man frowned briefly before turning to Nozomi and Shion. "See, it's not that I don't want to help you, but the rules are for everyone. And honestly, this request seems reasonable, don't you think?"
His tone was measured, but Nozomi caught the fleeting smirk on the woman's face behind him. She realized the danger was far from over.
"Nomi-chan, what do we do…?" Shion whispered.
Nozomi stayed silent. She was injured, and the group outnumbered them with weapons. Fleeing wasn't an option. Even if they escaped, their lack of supplies would doom them eventually.
But agreeing felt like surrendering their lives to these people's whims…
"Either path is the same…" Nozomi muttered, her brow furrowing as a sharp headache hit, worsened by overthinking and blood loss.
"Nomi-chan!" Shion cried out.
"Doesn't look like you have much time. Decide quickly," the man said, still infuriatingly calm.
Nozomi was too exhausted to speak, her vision starting to blur. She could only lean on Shion to stay upright.
Seeing Nozomi's deteriorating state, Shion knew she had to decide. Staying here felt unwise, but with Nozomi's condition, venturing outside was too risky.
"Fine, we'll do it," Shion said, her lips nearly bleeding from biting them so hard.
"Good," the man said, glancing at the others.
The cold metal handcuffs were brought forward. The woman with the fake smile approached, barely hiding her amusement at Nozomi's wary glare.
"Turn around," she said in a deceptively gentle tone, though there was no real choice. "Hurry, or your friend's blood loss will leave no one to save."
Shion hesitated, her eyes darting around for any escape, but she clenched her fists and gently supported Nozomi, whispering, "I'm sorry… just hang in there…"
Nozomi gave a faint nod, too weak to speak. Her eyes remained open, but her vision was fading. She felt her arms pulled behind her, followed by the cold, decisive click of the cuffs.
Shion was cuffed similarly. She bit her lip until it bled but refused to cry. Fear churned within her—not from the cuffs, but from the uncertain future awaiting them in this place.
"Done. Take them to the old section and lock them up for a few days," the woman said, her voice chillingly calm. "If they're clean, we'll uncuff them. If not… we handle it as usual."
"Watch that one. She's sharp," the man with the gun added. "And stronger than she looks."
"No need to tell me," the woman replied, signaling another to help escort them. "Mind her hands. Get blood on you, and don't come crying."
Cuffed behind their backs, Nozomi and Shion could only shuffle forward like prisoners, the clinking of metal chains echoing coldly.
The back of the supermarket was darker, damper, and reeked of mold. A rusty metal door creaked open, revealing a cramped room with broken tiles, tin walls, a tattered blanket, and two water bottles in the corner.
"Two days. If you're still intact after that, we'll talk," the woman said before slamming the door shut.
In the darkness, the sound of the lock was like a final verdict.
Shion inched closer to Nozomi, despite their bound hands. She called softly, "Nomi-chan… can you still hear me?"
Nozomi let out a heavy breath, her lips barely moving. "…Yeah…"
Though too exhausted to open her eyes, she was still alive. And in this world, that was all Shion needed to keep going.
"Hold on, Nomi-chan. No matter the cost, I'll protect you to the end… just like you've always done for me!" Shion said, her face filled with determination as memories of their past fueled her resolve.