The scream wasn't far. Maybe two blocks. But in the swirling ash and half-lit ruins of the city, everything felt further… more dangerous.
Kenji led the group down a cracked alley, crowbar in hand. The fire axe gleamed in Akari's grip beside him. Rei kept low, her eyes sharp and calculating. Tetsuo clutched a flashlight like a club. Akane, half-distracted, hummed a nervous tune under her breath.
"Got a visual," Rei whispered.
Ahead, a small convenience store stood with its windows busted out. A flickering emergency light inside revealed a figure huddled behind a counter, sobbing.
A girl. Long twin braids. Torn school uniform. Her body shook violently.
Kenji raised a hand, motioning the group to halt. "Cover me."
He stepped closer, careful, slow.
"Hey… it's okay," he said, voice low. "We're not infected."
The girl jerked up—and the fear in her eyes almost stopped his heart.
"M-My friend… she ran inside with me… but they got her…"
Rei checked the room. No movement.
"Clear. For now."
Akari stepped forward. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"M-Minami… Minami Tsukino."
[System Notification]
New Survivor Detected: High School Female – Minami Tsukino (Age: 18)
Bond Potential: Compatible
Perk Identified – [Medic Student: Basic Healing Knowledge]
Survivor Type: Support / Emotional Trigger
Warning: High Emotional Instability Detected.
As they pulled her from the wreckage, Kenji noticed the way Minami clung to his hoodie, like he was her last tether to sanity. Her face was pale beneath the ash, lips trembling. But she didn't let go of him. Not once.
Back at the community center, Minami sat wrapped in blankets while Rei checked her for wounds.
"She's lucky," Rei muttered. "No bites. Just trauma."
"Should we let her rest?" Akane asked.
But Kenji couldn't ignore the way Minami's eyes followed him. Like she knew he was the one making the calls.
He crouched beside her. "You're safe now. I promise."
She nodded slowly. "You… you killed one of them with your bare hands, didn't you?"
Kenji blinked. "You saw that?"
"I saw it. You're… different. Not like the others."
[System Notification]
Minami's Affection +15
New Trait Acquired: [Shelter Instinct] – Survivors naturally gravitate toward your leadership. Emotional bonds form faster.
Lust Meter: 69% (Caution)
Warning: Multiple Bonded Female Survivors now entering high-arousal states due to proximity + Stress Relief Effect.
Later that night, tension thickened.
The group had cleaned up, taken turns in the community center's broken showers, and gathered in the common area. The heat from a makeshift fire cast golden light across skin and shadows.
Akari leaned against the wall in a sports bra and low-slung sweats, her muscles glistening.
Akane stretched out on a mat, shirt riding up just enough to tease.
Even Rei, uncharacteristically casual, sat with her long legs crossed, tank top damp from a wipedown.
Minami lay curled beside Kenji, resting her head on his lap. Her breath was warm. Her fingers... lightly traced his thigh.
"Do you mind?" she whispered. "I just feel safer like this…"
Kenji's body tensed.
And the system exploded.
---
[System Alert]
Lust Meter Critical: 75%
Sexual Distraction Penalty: Enabled – Stat Drop Incoming unless Release Achieved within 12 hours.
New System Perk Option Unlocked: [Release Route Selection]
→ [Romantic Route – Build emotional intimacy and initiate private relief session.]
→ [Dominant Route – Assert alpha authority and initiate control dynamic.]
→ [Suppression Route – Resist for temporary XP boost, but increased instability after.*
→ [System Override – Random Release Event Triggered based on Lust Party Conditions.]*
Choose Wisely, Kenji Toma.
His eyes met Rei's. She was watching him closely.
Akari smirked from across the fire. "Looks like someone's got a fan club forming."
Akane raised a brow. "We sharing him now, or what?"
Kenji didn't answer.
But the pressure was rising.
Fast.
And then—
BANG.
A gunshot. Right outside the main doors.
Tetsuo jumped to his feet. "Shit! That wasn't random."
Kenji stood, blood pounding, body torn between instinct and desire.
Because that wasn't just a gunshot.
It was a signal.
Something—or someone—was coming.
And the heat between them all would have to wait.
[System Update]
Shelter Status: Compromised.
Lust Meter: 75% – Critical Threshold Reached.
Party Members: 6 | Casualties: 1 | Threat Level: Rising
New Objective: Defend the Shelter OR Evacuate Before Midnight.
And somewhere in the shadows… a new faction was watching.