safe. But I'm covered in nasty bird blood now look, you've got it all over you."
Sosuke patted her back and gently pushed her away. But Utaha just shrugged with a carefree smile. "Doesn't matter. I was gonna get dirty sooner or later anyway."
She said it casually, but Sosuke's mind instantly recalled the memory of a drunken Utaha with dreamy eyes, sucking on her pale fingertip, and parting her red lips in a way that sent his pulse racing.
And of course, Utaha caught that little spark in his eyes. Her cheeks flushed, and she shot him a playful glare before opening her arms toward Yukino. "We can't leave little Yukino out now, can we?"
"It's alright. I'm fine."
But before she could finish, Utaha had already pulled her into a hug. Yukino's chest tightened. She gently pushed Utaha away and said, "We really need to get moving. It's not safe to stay at sea. Those birds might come back."
"They probably won't for now. With easier targets around, they won't bother coming back here. But you're right. We can't stay on the water."
Sosuke walked over to Haruno's side, peering through the binoculars at the distant coastline. "How long can the yacht hold up? Couldn't find where the leak is, but the lower deck is already flooded up to my shins."
"I honestly don't know. The yacht could give out at any moment. We just have to take it one step at a time."
Haruno's brows furrowed. She looked deeply troubled and managed a bitter smile. "Let's hope it holds out a little longer."
About an hour later, the yacht's speed had dropped dramatically. Suddenly, sparks burst from the dashboard, and a burnt smell filled the air.
Haruno let out a sigh. "Looks like this is as far as it goes."
"This much is more than enough."
Sosuke set down the binoculars and stashed them in his backpack. "Judging by the distance, we're about one nautical mile from shore. That's nothing for the inflatable boat."
He stepped outside. The others quickly followed and worked together to get the inflatable raft into the water. With the yacht sinking deeper by the minute, it wasn't long before the three girls were safely aboard the raft.
"Sosuke! What are you still doing up there? Get down here!"
Utaha shouted when she noticed he hadn't followed. But what she saw next made her stomach turn.
Sosuke was dipping chunks of frozen meat into the black blood smeared across the yacht's deck like he was basting them for a barbecue. In no time, the chunks were covered in dark filth.
He hopped aboard with the foul-smelling meat in hand. All three girls visibly recoiled.
He chuckled. "What? I just thought the corpse fish might be picky eaters. Figured I'd marinate the bait a little."
"Look!"
Haruno's expression twisted in horror. The surface of the sea was teeming with shadowy shapes. The corpse fish were gathering, drawn by the scent.
They'd seen these creatures in action before moving in packs, tearing zombies to bone in minutes. Yukino shuddered and muttered, "I remember Sosuke saying they can't survive outside water, right? But this raft is really low… do you think they could jump up and bite someone?"
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