Saeko didn't sit to eat with the others. Instead, she ladled some of the stew into a small pot.
"I want to bring a portion to that lady… as a small token of thanks for saving us," Saeko explained.
"Don't worry, it's from my share. It won't affect anyone else."
"That lady..."
The others froze at her words.
Of course, they knew who she meant—in this apocalypse, in this base, the only one who could be called "that lady" was the mysterious girl with the blade.
At her mention, the air at the table grew heavy, the soft clinks of utensils fading to nothing.
Rei Miyamoto bit her lip, worry etched on her face. "Senpai... are you sure you want to go?"
Her voice trembled slightly, her mind involuntarily conjuring the image of Zeroy standing atop a mountain of corpses.
"What if..."
Saya Takagi set down her utensils, brow furrowing. "It's dangerous, that one."
She paused, lowering her voice. "And... no one can say what her attitude toward us really is."
"It's just to show gratitude, nothing to worry about."
Saeko shook her head gently, her voice calm and reassuring, with a small, composed smile.
"..."
Rei looked down in silence for a moment, lashes casting uneasy shadows, her grip on the spoon whitening her knuckles.
Confusion and worry filled her eyes until she finally whispered, "Senpai, what do you think her goal is? Is she... good or bad?"
"I don't know. People's hearts are hard to read."
Saeko's hands stilled as she tidied the tableware.
"But at least for now, she's saved us, given us shelter and supplies, and her blade isn't pointed at us."
"So I think, instead of guessing, we should remember this debt."
"…"
Rei fell silent again.
Just as Saeko was about to leave, Rei's hesitant voice rose. "Senpai... take my share too."
Saeko turned in surprise to see not only Rei but the others with the same idea.
Saya turned her flushed face aside, poking her potatoes with chopsticks. "And mine too... don't get me wrong, I just can't eat that much."
"Me too!" Shizuka Marikawa raised her hand cheerfully, her guileless smile lightening the atmosphere.
Saeko chuckled softly and nodded. "Alright, I'll take them all."
In the end, Saeko didn't go alone—Shizuka happily followed.
Rei and Saya, too nervous to face Zeroy, hid at the corner of the hallway.
They pressed against the wall, peeking out just enough to watch their friends.
Rei bit her lip, nails digging into her palm.
Saya pushed up her glasses, eyes tense behind the lenses, a sheen of sweat on her brow.
Knock, knock, knock.
At the sound of the door, both girls tensed, holding their breath. They fixed their eyes on the door, silently praying all would go well.
Creak…
The door opened, and Rei and Saya instinctively leaned back.
Saeko bowed slightly and spoke to Zeroy, while Shizuka waved in greeting.
Nothing happened—until Saeko stepped inside with Shizuka.
"They... went in?!" Rei whispered, her voice low and full of shock.
Saya clutched her sleeve, eyes locked on the door, half expecting to hear a scream or see a head roll.
...
"This is a small token from us."
Saeko set a clean cloth on the table and placed the steaming pot atop it. The aroma filled the room with a warm, inviting note amid the harsh world.
With Zeroy's permission, she went to the kitchen, washed a set of tableware, and placed it before her with careful respect.
"Thank you."
Zeroy accepted the utensils, her tone still flat.
Suddenly, Saeko paused, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
She'd expected a cold, wordless acceptance… yet there was warmth in the simple reply.
That warmth cracked her rigid perception of Zeroy.
Like everyone, she feared the cold, inhuman figure she'd seen. She came here only because she had a bit more courage and a more composed approach.
To her, showing gratitude was a duty.
But this brief exchange sparked something subtle.
Zeroy was still reserved, yet that "thank you" carried a trace of humanity.
Saeko studied her, her view shifting ever so slightly. Perhaps she wasn't an incomprehensible monster after all...
Shizuka sat nearby, smiling as ever, oblivious to the subtle shift.
She clapped her hands. "Try it—it's really good!"
Her cheerful voice broke the quiet, easing the mood.
"Mm."
The clink of the porcelain spoon was clear as Zeroy lifted it.
With her head lowered, blowing the steam, she looked no different from any other girl having a meal.
Saeko sat in silence, glancing at the half-eaten bread on the table, watching her swallow each bite… and realized their view of her had been too one-sided.
The towering corpse piles and merciless blade were part of Zeroy, but so was this moment of warmth over hot soup.
Maybe... they could try talking to her.
...
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