(Rika Minami's house)
Shizuka insisted that everyone make themselves at home.
Saya and Kyoko immediately asked to use the bathroom. They wanted to get rid of the stench of sweat and blood from their bodies.
Rei and Saeko had already bathed earlier, and since their new weapons were for cutting and piercing, they hadn't gotten too dirty. So before taking another bath, they decided to wash their clothes first.
Shizuka showed them where the washing machine was. Allen, on the other hand, wanted to check Rika's "arsenal" to see what might be useful. Considering how expensive firearms were, even a police baton would be helpful.
Shizuka told him to check the second floor—there was a safe there, though she didn't know the combination. Allen said he'd take care of it, and Shizuka nodded before heading off to take a bath herself.
....
(Five minutes later)
*Click*
After a few minutes of trying, Allen opened the safe. It was a classic combination safe, and thanks to his superhuman hearing, it wasn't a problem.
"If it were Rebecca, she'd have opened it in seconds... no, maybe she'd have blown it to pieces," Allen chuckled.
He was surprised to look inside the safe. When Shizuka mentioned that Rika had weapons locked up, he expected maybe a revolver, perhaps a 9mm—but the contents were far beyond that.
There were two pump-action shotguns and a semi-automatic rifle. Just as he tried to recall the names of these weapons, floating tags appeared.
> [Ithaca 37 – Pump-Action Shotgun, 12 Gauge Shells, Capacity 4+1 in Chamber]
>[Springfield M1A1 Super Match – Semi-Automatic Battle Rifle with Bayonet, Standard 7.62mm Magazine, Capacity 10+1 in Chamber]
>[Remington M870 – Pump-Action Shotgun, 12 Gauge Shells, Capacity 4+1 in Chamber]
'Since when are there descriptions for local weapons?'
[Host, due to the low number of firearms in Japan, it was decided that any firearm you obtain could be linked to the system. However, there are limitations—you must visit the shop to modify or sell them.]
Hearing the system's explanation, Allen drew his combat knife.
>[S.T.A.R.S. Combat Knife "Store/Modify/Sell"]
It was easy to understand. Allen could sell the Hayabusa and the S.T.A.R.S. knife at any time in exchange for Hearts. However, those options didn't appear for Rika's weapons.
'System, the second floor of the shop should let me upgrade my weapons... but if the modify option appears right now, does that mean I can do it immediately?'
[Yes, but keep in mind that in the shop you can enhance and modify weapons with Hearts. But doing it yourself requires Hearts and Enhancement Cubes.]
Allen frowned, then proceeded to take out all the items he'd obtained from supply crates.
He still had several energy bars from the first crate. Also, Allen opened two Tier 2 crates.
These supply crates were in the gym. The first one contained a metal pipe, a flamethrower, and a mine.
He hadn't used the mine because he never found the right moment. In the second crate, which was general supplies, Allen found three items.
>[Water Bottle]
Considering the effects of the energy bars, Allen didn't underestimate the value of this water bottle.
>[Bandage]
A bandage was one of the most basic medical supplies, mainly used for stopping bleeding. In a video game, though, it became almost magical—capable of healing any wound and restoring a portion of vitality.
Its only flaw, compared to a green herb, was that it didn't cure infection.
Allen stored it for emergencies.
>[Enhancement Cube]
The third item was a metallic blue cube, with streams of energy pulsing along its surface like veins or circuits. Allen thought it resembled the famous cube from the Transformers universe, only about the size of a fist.
"If I use this, will it improve the damage, the sharpness, or something like that?"
[Yes. Specifically, that's a basic Enhancement Cube. Its advantage is versatility—it can enhance, combine weapons, or add attributes.]
Allen took out the basic revolver from his inventory. It didn't look like much, so at first, he thought about giving it to Shizuka or Kyoko because of its low recoil.
Although it didn't seem very useful, on second thought, it could actually be dangerous for either of them.
"It only holds six bullets. In a beginner's hands, they'd be lucky to hit half of their shots—let alone headshots..."
Allen shook his head, grabbed the combat knife, and pressed the modify option.
>[Enhance/Fuse/Dismantle]
"Fusion."
>[Do you wish to consume one Enhancement Cube?]
"Yes."
The cube disappeared from the table along with the revolver, while the knife briefly glowed before dimming again.
"That's it?"
Allen had expected something more dramatic, but it turned out to be surprisingly simple.
[Be thankful this is reality. In most video games, there aren't even animations for upgrades.]
"That's true."
Allen examined the knife. It was heavier now, the handle slightly thicker, and the most notable change was the addition of a trigger.
>[S.T.A.R.S. Combat Knife – Modification: Can fire its blade with a force of 1000 Joules, connected to a retractable titanium cable.]
"I remember Rebecca saying that a .22 revolver fires with around 200 Joules of force... this is five times that."
He had mentally prepared himself to lose both the revolver and the knife, but instead, he got a very pleasant surprise.
[Host, remember that all this was designed by you to protect your life. Not every combination or enhancement will satisfy you, but none will ruin your weapons—as long as you don't do something stupid, like combining a rifle with a ham sandwich.]
"Haha."
Allen spun the knife on his finger on the trigger. Of course, he wasn't going to test it indoors—it would be dangerous, and it could attract a horde, or mutated zombies.
"I should eat something. Getting hungry several times a day is exhausting."
With a single motion, all his things went back into his inventory—except for the rifle, which was too long to fit.
'Is there a way to increase my inventory size?'
[Yes, you can use Enhancement Cubes.]
'Hey, shouldn't you have told me that before I used one?'
In hindsight, increasing his inventory capacity would have been more useful than upgrading a knife.
'Doesn't matter...'
No use crying over spilled milk. There would be more cubes in future supply crates. Before heading downstairs, Allen looked out the window—he could hear screams, explosions, people running, and calling for help.
Even a group of young men several blocks away was firing a double-barreled shotgun. Unfortunately, for every two or three zombies they dropped, five more appeared—until it was too late.
"AHHH!"
"NOOO!"
"HELP!!"
Allen hoped their deaths were quick.
"The first days of an apocalypse are chaos—so much death and screaming. I don't know which is worse: this, or the silence that follows, when the voices fade... and you realize that a massive metropolis has turned into a land of the dead."
Allen turned off the light and left the room.
....
As he descended the stairs, the smell of stew filled the air. Allen smiled—the meat and vegetables had a short shelf life; it was a good idea to enjoy them while they still could.
"That smells amazing," Allen said as he entered the kitchen—but immediately froze.
In the kitchen stood Saeko, tasting the stew with a small spoon.
What left Allen speechless wasn't her long purple hair tied back in a ponytail, nor her beautiful face slightly flushed from the kitchen's heat, nor that gentle smile and dilated pupils that lit up when she saw him.
It was her outfit. She was wearing a white apron that suited her perfectly—but the important part was that her black laced underwear was clearly visible. She was one step away from the legendary naked apron.
'System'
[Host, there's no need to get jealous. It's already censored—no one will see your beautiful, blood-loving stalker~]
Allen didn't give the system the luxury of a response. Instead, he coughed before turning to face Saeko.
"Busujima-san, don't you think it's a bit troublesome to wear that kind of clothing with a healthy young man under the same roof?" Allen asked with a teasing smile. Was this girl trying to seduce him?
"Oh, I'm sorry," Saeko replied with an amused smile. "My clothes are in the wash, and I thought it wouldn't matter if it was just you~"
Allen stepped closer to Saeko, catching her off guard.
"Allen?" Saeko backed up until she was pressed against the refrigerator, with Allen standing close.
Allen flashed a mischievous grin, raising his hand as Saeko blushed and even closed her eyes.
"Sorry, I was craving something sweet."
Allen stepped back, holding a box of cookies he'd grabbed from atop the refrigerator.
Saeko's eyes widened, realizing he'd been teasing her, and she pouted.
"I didn't know someone like you could be so shameless and toy with a maiden's heart," she said.
Allen opened the cookie box, raising an eyebrow. "And I didn't know you could act so provocatively and pout like that."
Saeko blushed even deeper, at a loss for words. Ever since meeting Allen, her sole goal had been to uncover the secret of his strength and defeat him. But over the years, she realized that the time she spent thinking about him kept growing, to the point where she started following him.
"I… I didn't know I could act like that either," Saeko admitted, confused by her own feelings.
"So..." Allen stepped closer, lifted her chin, and stole a kiss.
Saeko's eyes flew open, caught off guard. In an instant, her heart pounded as if it might burst from her chest. Her body trembled, her legs weakened, and her mind went blank, unable to process anything.
Allen pulled back before the girl could react.
"The world's ending, and who knows if we'll die tomorrow. So let's keep things simple. Think about how that kiss made you feel for a few days, and if you figure it out, come find me," Allen said, grabbing a soda from the fridge and leaving the kitchen, leaving Saeko stunned and flushed red.
[Host, that was unexpected. Don't tell me you don't want to hand her over to anyone else. I know, she's very strong~]
'By now, you should know me,' Allen replied with a smile. 'From my perspective, Saeko is a beautiful, strong, capable, reliable, intelligent woman with a pleasant aura, reminiscent of a traditional Japanese beauty. So I just followed my heart.'
....
"So you chose her…" Rei's voice came, soft and lifeless.
Allen turned to see Rei leaning against the kitchen wall. She wore a sleeveless blouse and only pink panties. Yet her sexy appearance was overshadowed by her melancholic gaze.
"Rei, I…"
"No excuses," Rei interrupted, walking toward the stairs to the second floor, hiding her face. But Allen stopped her, grabbing her hand.
Rei didn't resist, but instead let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I get it. She's stronger than me, with that Nadeshiko, big-sister aura guys love. She's beautiful, sexy, dedicated, with a pleasant voice—a woman anyone would want. So don't worry about me. I understand."
Rei tried to pull her hand free, but Allen didn't let go. Instead, he smiled and pulled her into his arms.
Her eyes widened as a blush spread across her cheeks, "W-what are you doing?!"
Allen looked at her seriously, "Rei, everything you said is true. Saeko is an exceptionally incredible girl with admirable strength and a captivating personality—one of the most beautiful girls I've met in this world."
Rei gritted her teeth and tried to break free, but Allen held her tighter.
"But right now, I'm holding another of the most beautiful girls in this world in my arms."
"Huh?" Rei froze for a moment. "What are you trying to say?"
Allen didn't answer. He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes and, before she could process what was happening, stole a kiss.
"Wha… mm…?"
Rei resisted for a moment, but unlike with Saeko, Allen went beyond a simple kiss. He deepened it, his tongue assertive, making Rei melt. Her body trembled, softened, and soon she wrapped her arms around him, returning the kiss—clumsy and inexperienced, but intense. A minute passed before Allen pulled away, leaving a glistening thread between their lips.
"…" Rei's gaze was distant, as if she were floating on clouds.
"I'm pretty greedy, and with society collapsing, there'll be no laws, no morals beyond what's in our hearts," Allen said, smiling as he caressed her cheek. "What I'm saying is, nothing's stopping me from wanting both beauties, right?"
Allen let go of Rei, who collapsed to the floor, her heart racing.
"Maybe I went too far," Allen said, running a hand through his hair. "Rei, you're beautiful, and both Komuro and Igo love you. If you choose one of them, they'll want only you. In the end, I guess I'm just a bad, selfish, shameless guy."
Allen laughed and headed upstairs, leaving Rei overwhelmed with complex emotions. She didn't know what to think or do, but as she touched her lips, feeling the lingering warmth and sweetness, a faint, pleasant sensation persisted.
On the way, Allen saw Saya in light sleepwear, standing on the stairs with a stunned expression, red cheeks, and unfocused eyes.
Saya opened and closed her mouth a few times but couldn't find words.
Allen gave her a half-smile, patted her head.
"Good girls should sleep early for healthy growth," he said, glancing at Saya's already ample chest. "Though maybe you don't need it as much as I thought."
"You!" Saya, flustered and angry, pointed at him but couldn't form a sentence.
"If you've got nothing else to say, I'm off to take a bath—unless you want to join me," Allen teased, patting her shoulder as he passed.
'That jerk!' Saya cursed inwardly, gritting her teeth. She couldn't believe the senpai she'd always admired and seen as a rival was this kind of shameless womanizer.
She'd watched everything from the start. At first, she felt hurt like Rei, but then anger grew as she realized Allen's intentions.
Think you can get away with this?!
Saya calmed herself. Unlike Rei and Saeko, she was a genius. She considered every possibility, implication, and consequence, concluding that her pride would never let her share a boyfriend. But the thought of letting go of her feelings brought a sharp pain, leaving her with a third option.
You'll see, you shameless pervert. I'll make you fall head over heels for me so you won't think of any other woman! Saya smirked confidently. She knew her rivals were strong, but she wasn't far behind.
Unfortunately, Saya underestimated Allen's charm, as her opponents weren't just two.
....
Allen entered the bathroom and began undressing. As he removed his shirt, a pair of slender arms wrapped around him from behind.
The sweet scent of a woman and soft, slightly damp skin pressed against his back.
"Hehe, I caught you~"
Allen turned to see Shizuka clinging to him, her eyes teary, cheeks red, and—most notably—completely naked.
"You caught me, sensei," Allen said with a smile. "Now what?"
Shizuka tilted her head with a cute, confused expression. "I hadn't thought about that… What should we do?~"
Her words were like a sheep baring its belly to a wolf.
"I've got an idea…" Allen said, turning to face her.
"Kyah~ Allen-kun?!"
====
A/N: I was wrong—Rika's vehicle isn't a Hummer, it's an M1025 Humvee, an armored military vehicle.
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