Yuki drove too smoothly.
She kept both hands on the wheel, back straight, eyes forward, and that smile sitting at the corner of her mouth.
The electric van moved south.
Too smooth for someone who claimed she only stole cars.
Ren sat in the rear seat with Shizuka beside him.
Sato sat in the passenger seat, rifle across her lap, eyes moving between the road, the mirror, and Yuki’s hands.
Amamiya sat behind them with the toolbox between his shoes.
South Gate TC had taken in both of them behind their gates, rules, and armed people who charged for care.
Safer than the road.
The system hovered over Ren’s vision.
— VEHICLE ROUTE: SOUTH — — DRIVER: YUKI — — DRIVER SKILL: HIGHER THAN CLAIMED — — CURRENT CREDIT BALANCE: 874 — — UNKNOWN THIRD SIGNAL: TRACKING — — DISTANCE: VARIABLE — — SAFE WINDOW: LOW — Ren looked at the driver mirror.
Yuki caught his eyes.
“What?” “You drive too well.” “Thank you.” “That was not praise.” “It sounds to me like praise.” “Don’t.” Yuki smiled.
“Eighteen.” Shizuka’s hand moved to the katana.
Yuki kept her eyes on the road.
“See?
Responsible driver.” Sato looked sideways at her.
“Responsible drivers do not count kisses by traffic distance.” “I changed it to flat rate.” “You changed nothing.” “I am trying to improve.” Amamiya leaned his head against the van wall.
“I trust the ants more than her improvement.” Yuki glanced at the mirror.
“That hurts.” “No, it doesn’t.” “It gives me character development.” Sato said, “Eyes on the road.” Yuki smiled less and drove.
Ren leaned back.
His shoulder still hurts.
The medical patch helped, but not enough.
His ribs pulled when the van turned.
His right hand kept wanting to check the handgun at his waist.
The system opened.
— USER INJURY STATUS — — RIGHT SHOULDER: RECOVERY PARTIAL — — RIB STRAIN: ACTIVE — — HANDGUN CONTROL: IMPROVED — — RECOMMENDATION: PRACTICE UNDER SUPERVISION — Ren closed it.
Sato saw his eyes shift.
“You saw something.” “No.” “Don’t waste that one,” Yuki said from the front.
Ren ignored her.
Sato turned in her seat and looked at him properly.
“You need practice with your gun.” “I know.” “You need someone to teach you.” Ren did not answer.
Yuki lifted one finger from the wheel.
“I volunteer.” “No,” Sato and Shizuka said at the same time.
Yuki sighed.
“Everyone is jealous of my talent.” “You steal,” Sato said.
“That is talent.” “Not for teaching firearm safety.” Yuki clicked her tongue and kept driving.
The phone in Ren’s pocket vibrated.
Once.
Then again.
Everyone inside the van went still in a different way.
Ren took it out.
One bar.
Then none.
Then one again.
The old group chat opened when the message loaded.
For a second, Ren thought the screen had lied.
Then the text appeared.
~~ Hayato: Alive.
Before anyone gets dramatic.
~~ Shizuka froze beside him.
Ren tilted the phone so only she could see.
Her hand gripped his sleeve.
Another message came in.
~~ Hayato: Signal has been dead for a while.
The TC I was at got overrun by ants.
~~ ~~ Hayato: We escaped.
Narrowly.
I hate that word now.
~~ Shizuka’s voice came out quiet.
“Hayato.” Ren nodded once and typed.
~~ Ren: Where are you?
~~ The reply lagged.
The signal dropped.
Then came back.
~~ Hayato: Not sure.
South of the old TC.
Moving between shelters.
Roads are bad.
~~ ~~ Hayato: Also boars.
Big ones.
They run around like someone paid them to hate buildings.
~~ Shizuka took the phone from Ren.
Her thumbs moved fast.
~~ Shizuka: Are you hurt?
~~ Ten seconds.
No reply.
Then: ~~ Hayato: Pride, yes.
Body, less than expected.
~~ Another message loaded.
~~ Hayato: Airi made it out too.
~~ Shizuka’s fingers stopped.
Ren looked at the screen.
The next message came slower.
~~ Hayato: Mrs.
Takane did not.
~~ Neither of them spoke.
The van kept moving.
Yuki glanced at the mirror, then looked back to the road.
Sato saw Ren and Shizuka go still.
The next message came in pieces.
~~ Hayato: Last thing she said was, “Go.
Take Airi with you and go.” ~~ ~~ Hayato: So I did.
~~ ~~ Hayato: I hate that I did.
~~ Shizuka’s hand tightened on Ren’s arm.
Ren did not take the phone back.
Airi was with Hayato.
Mrs.
Takane was not.
Ren took the phone gently from Shizuka.
~~ Ren: Supplies?
~~ The reply came faster this time.
~~ Hayato: Low.
Not dead-low.
Annoying-low.
~~ ~~ Hayato: The place we reached has people.
Not friendly.
Not hostile.
~~ ~~ Hayato: They charge for charging phones.
Civilization continues to disappoint me.
~~ Ren typed again.
~~ Ren: Stay where people are.
Do not travel alone.
Avoid ants.
Avoid boars.
Avoid white bands.
~~ ~~ Hayato: That is a lot of avoiding.
~~ ~~ Hayato: What do I do for hobbies?
~~ Shizuka reached over and typed.
~~ Shizuka: Stay alive.
~~ The reply came after a pause.
~~ Hayato: Scary.
Clear.
Understood.
~~ Ren took the phone back.
~~ Ren: We are moving south.
Send location when you can.
Road sign, landmark, building name, anything.
~~ ~~ Hayato: Signal comes and goes.
If I disappear again, assume the signal died.
Not me.
I am too annoying to die quietly.
~~ The signal dropped.
One bar.
No bar.
One bar.
Then one last message came.
~~ Hayato: Also, Ren.
~~ ~~ Hayato: If you are with Shizuka, stay safe.
Don’t make Shizuka worried.
~~ Shizuka stared at the message.
Ren looked away.
The signal died.
The last reply Ren tried to send stayed grey.
Not delivered.
The system opened.
— COMMUNICATION LINK LOST — — LAST SOURCE REGION: NORTH / NORTHWEST — — CREATURE ACTIVITY: HIGH — — BOAR-TYPE MUTATION REPORTS: CONSISTENT — — EVOLVED ANT ACTIVITY: CONFIRMED — — AIRI STATUS: ALIVE — — HAYATO STATUS: ALIVE — Ren closed the phone.
Shizuka still held his arm.
He did not tell her to let go.
Sato turned halfway.
“Hayato?” Ren nodded.
“He is alive.
Airi too.” The van changed.
Not safer.
Lighter by a small amount.
Yuki let out a breath.
“Good.” Amamiya lowered the toolbox from his chest.
“What happened?” Ren looked at the dead screen.
“The TC he was at got overrun by ants.
They escaped.
Signal is bad.
Supplies low.
Mrs.
Takane did not make it.” No one joked.
Sato’s voice stayed quiet.
“He has Airi?” “Yes.” Shizuka looked out the window.
“Mrs.
Takane told him to take her and go.” Yuki’s hands tightened on the wheel.
“That is heavy.” Ren said nothing.
Sato faced forward again.
“We keep moving.
When the signal comes back, we get his location.” Ren nodded.
That was enough.
The radio crackled.
Yuki flinched.
“Not me.” Sato turned the volume knob.
The emergency broadcast came through in broken waves.
“National emergency reporting continues.
Confirmed reported collapse cases have risen to 1,896,000 nationwide.
Officials again stated this figure only includes medically reported sudden-collapse cases.” The system opened.
— PUBLIC REPORTED COLLAPSE COUNT: 1,896,000 — — REPORTING BASIS: MEDICAL CONFIRMATION ONLY — — DATA RELIABILITY: INCOMPLETE — — PUBLIC PANIC INDEX: HIGH — The broadcast continued.
“Movement restrictions remain active in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and parts of Sendai.” Sato looked at the road ahead.
“Ration centers are becoming targets.” Amamiya said, “Food is the new bank.” Yuki glanced at the side mirror.
“Money died fast.” Ren said nothing.
The broadcast hissed.
“Major ports remain restricted.
Yokohama, Kobe, Osaka, and Nagoya ports report severe cargo backlog.
Several cargo vessels have refused docking instructions and remain offshore pending security guarantees.” Sato’s jaw tightened.
“That is worse than delay.” “Why?” Yuki asked.
“If ships refuse docking, then the crews think the ports are not safe.” The radio cracked again.
“Domestic air travel remains limited.
Haneda, Narita, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, and New Chitose airports report partial suspension of passenger service.
Emergency flights remain priority.” Another burst of static.
“Foreign naval presence remains in international waters off Japan.
A carrier strike group continues to hold position outside territorial waters.
Officials have declined further comment.” Then the last part.
“Overseas agencies continue to investigate unverified reports of abnormal survivors.
Witness footage from South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States shows individuals displaying abnormal strength, heat resistance, and rapid wound closure.
Authorities warn citizens not to approach such individuals without official assistance.” The broadcast died.
The van kept moving.
The system opened.
— AWAKENED INCIDENT REPORTS: GLOBAL — — PUBLIC CLASSIFICATION: UNVERIFIED — — ACTUAL PROBABILITY: RISING — — RECOMMENDATION: OBSERVE / DO NOT IDENTIFY SELF — Ren closed the system.
Sato looked back at him.
“You keep agreeing with things.” Ren said, “You keep noticing.” “I am police.” “Were.” Sato’s eyes narrowed.
“Careful.” Yuki smiled again.
“Older sister is angry.” Sato looked forward.
“Eyes on the road.” “Yes, elder officer.” “I can still arrest you in my heart.” Yuki laughed once.
The road dipped under a long concrete bridge ahead.
A river channel ran beneath it, mostly dry except for dark water in the middle.
Service roads curved along both sides.
Tall grass grew through cracks.
Old traffic cones lay scattered near the support pillars.
The system opened.
— ROUTE UPDATE — — BRIDGE UNDERPASS AHEAD — — VISUAL ANOMALY DETECTED — — VEHICLE SIGNATURE: LARGE — — OBSTRUCTION: SHADOWED — — RECOMMENDATION: SLOW — Ren leaned forward.
“Slow down.” Yuki did.
No argument.
The van rolled down the service road under the bridge.
Concrete swallowed the sunlight.
The air changed.
Cooler.
Damp.
A shape sat in the shadows behind one of the thick bridge pillars.
Large.
Boxy.
Armored.
Ren’s eyes narrowed.
Yuki stopped the van.
Sato lifted the rifle.
Shizuka’s hand moved to the katana.
Amamiya sat up.
“Is that an armored truck?” The system opened.
— HIGH VALUE VEHICLE DETECTED — — TYPE: ARMORED TRANSPORT TRUCK — — STATUS: LOCKED — — EXTERNAL DAMAGE: LOW — — LOOT STATUS: UNTOUCHED — — LOCATION: CONCEALED UNDER BRIDGE — — PROBABILITY OF DELIBERATE HIDING: HIGH — Ren looked at the truck.
Not crashed or overturned or abandoned in the open.
Parked.
Hidden.
Someone had placed it there and planned to return.
They never did.
Yuki whispered, “That is a treasure chest.” Sato’s voice sharpened.
“Or bait.” Ren nodded.
“Both until we check.” The system opened wider.
— VEHICLE MARKING DETECTED — — COMPANY ROUTE TAG FOUND — — NAVIGATION APP LINK DETECTED — — ROUTE SERVER ACCESS POSSIBLE — — ATTEMPT ACCESS?
— Ren stared.
The system did not wait for his answer.
— ACCESS ATTEMPTING — — NETWORK STATUS: DEGRADED — — SERVER RESPONSE: PARTIAL — — CACHE NODE FOUND — — ARMORED TRANSPORT ROUTE DATA FOUND — Ren felt the map behind his eyes shift.
Lines spread.
Markers blinked.
Not only this truck.
More.
Too many.
— MAP UPDATE AVAILABLE — — ARMORED TRANSPORT MARKERS ADDED — — POLICE VEHICLE LOCATIONS ADDED — — POLICE VAN LOCATIONS ADDED — — AMBULANCE LAST KNOWN POSITIONS ADDED — — SMALL CLINIC LOCATIONS ADDED — — POLICE POST LOCATIONS ADDED — — MILITARY VEHICLE REPORTS ADDED — — CONFIDENCE: VARIABLE — — WARNING: SOME LOCATIONS MAY BE LOOTED / MOVED / OCCUPIED / DESTROYED — Then another line appeared.
— I FOUND SUPPLIES FOR US — It vanished.
— CORRECTION — — SUPPLY MARKERS IDENTIFIED — Ren exhaled slowly.
The system had just reached into a server.
Not a device in front of him.
A server.
Broken network.
Old cache.
Still enough.
Sato watched him.
“What?” “Map updated.” “With what?” Ren looked at the armored truck.
“Supply targets.” Amamiya stared at him.
“From that?” “From its GPS data.” Sato’s eyes sharpened.
“You can do that now?” Ren did not answer.
Yuki whispered, “Awesome.” Shizuka said, “Quiet.” Yuki nodded.
“Quiet awesome.” Sato opened the passenger door.
“Clear first.
Touch nothing until I say.” Yuki looked offended.
“I am the driver now.” They stepped out.
The underpass smelled of wet concrete, river mud, and old oil.
Sound carried strangely under the bridge.
Every footstep came back twice.
The system marked the area.
— CREATURE PRESENCE: LOW — — HUMAN PRESENCE: 0 — — HIDDEN THREAT: UNKNOWN — — VEHICLE LOCK TYPE: ELECTRONIC / MECHANICAL HYBRID — — RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL: AMAMIYA / REN — Ren looked at Amamiya.
“Lock is electronic and mechanical.” Amamiya stared at him.
“Why are you looking at me?” “You and me.” Amamiya pointed at himself.
“I hate being volunteered.” Yuki slipped along the pillar, knife in hand.
“Clearing left.” Shizuka took the right, katana low.
Sato stayed near Ren.
Not in front.
Beside.
Ren looked at her.
“What?” “You are still favoring your right shoulder.” “I am moving fine.” “That is not what I said.” He looked away.
Sato stepped closer.
“Stop hiding it.” “I’m not hiding anything.” “You are.” Yuki called from the pillar.
“Left clear.” Shizuka said, “Right clear.” Sato did not move away from Ren.
“We’ll check it later.” “No.” Sato’s eyes narrowed.
“Later was not a question.” Yuki slowly turned her head.
Shizuka’s aura changed by a little.
Sato looked at Ren’s shoulder once more.
“For now, move slower.” “I am moving fine.” “Still not what I said.” Amamiya whispered, “Somehow the truck is less scary than this.” Sato looked at him.
“It has not been opened yet.” “That does not make me feel better.” Ren focused on the armored truck.
Safer.
For now.
Amamiya crouched near the driver door.
“Electronic lock.
Mechanical override.
Not simple.” Yuki joined him.
“Simple is boring.” Sato pointed at Yuki.
“No touching.” Yuki froze with two fingers near the handle.
“I was observing.” “With your fingers?” “My eyes have assistants.” Amamiya opened the outer panel.
“Someone shut it down properly.” Sato looked around.
“The driver hid it.” Ren nodded.
“Looks like it.” Yuki looked under the truck.
“No bodies.” Shizuka scanned the pillars.
“No blood.” That made it stranger.
The truck had been hidden.
Not abandoned after a fight.
Ren placed his hand near the panel but did not touch it fully.
Line of sight was enough now, but proximity helped.
The system opened.
— SECURITY MODULE VISUAL LOCK: STABLE — — ACCESS ATTEMPTING — — POWER WAKE: MINIMAL — — FALSE MAINTENANCE SIGNAL GENERATED — — LOCK RESPONSE: PARTIAL — Amamiya blinked.
“It just started on its own.” Ren said, “Keep going.” “I am keeping going, but I want the record to show I hate when machines start by itself.” Yuki smiled.
“Ghost boyfriend.” Shizuka turned.
Yuki stepped back.
“Ghost assistant.” The lock clicked once.
Then stopped.
The system opened.
— MANUAL RELEASE REQUIRED — — TOOL RECOMMENDED: FLAT PRY / LOCK PIN — Ren looked at the lock.
“Manual release.” Yuki pulled a thin tool from her sleeve.
Everyone looked at her.
“What?” Sato stared.
“Where did that come from?” “My sleeve.” “Why?” “Because pockets are for amateurs.” Ren looked at the tool.
Yuki slipped it into the lock and worked it with quick fingers.
The truck clicked open.
She looked at Ren.
“Good?” Ren hesitated.
Shizuka’s eyes narrowed.
Sato watched with interest.
Ren said, “Good.” Yuki froze.
Then smiled slowly.
“That gives me butterflies.” “No.” “Nineteen.” Shizuka sighed.
Sato muttered, “He walked into that one.” Amamiya opened the driver door.
Inside smelled of stale air and plastic.
The cabin was clean.
A half-empty bottle of tea sat in the cup holder.
A tablet was locked into the dashboard.
A jacket hung from the seat.
No driver.
No guard.
No signs of struggle.
Ren reached for the tablet.
The system opened.
— ROUTE TABLET DETECTED — — LOCAL CACHE AVAILABLE — — ACCESS ATTEMPTING — — SECURITY: COMMERCIAL GRADE — — BYPASS SUCCESSFUL — — LAST ROUTE: INTERRUPTED — — FINAL MANUAL ENTRY: UNDER-BRIDGE HOLD — Under-bridge hold.
Someone had ordered the truck here.
Or the driver had typed it.
The back compartment stayed locked.
Amamiya moved to it.
Yuki crouched beside him.
Sato watched the road.
Shizuka watched the bridge shadows.
Ren watched the system.
— CARGO COMPARTMENT — — LOCK STATUS: ACTIVE — — CONTENTS: UNKNOWN — — SECURITY RESPONSE: LOW — — OPENING MAY TRIGGER LOCAL ALARM — Ren looked at Sato.
“Alarm risk.” “How loud?” The system answered.
— LOCAL ALARM ONLY — — RADIUS: 80 M — “Eighty meters.” Sato scanned the underpass.
“Creatures?” The system opened.
— CREATURE ACTIVITY: APPROACHING — — SOURCE: RIVER CHANNEL — — COUNT: 5 — — SPECIES: EVOLVED ANT — — CREDIT VALUE: HIGH — Sato gave Ren a flat look.
“Bad timing.” Yuki smiled.
“Farm?” Ren looked at her.
Sometimes she saw too much.
The ants came from the dry river channel.
Five evolved ants, moving through reeds and broken concrete.
Not rushing yet.
Searching.
The alarm had not sounded.
They came anyway.
The system opened.
— CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — TERRAIN ADVANTAGE: UNDERPASS PILLARS — — RECOMMENDATION: CONTROLLED ENGAGEMENT — Sato lifted the rifle.
“Training continues.” Ren stared.
“Now?” “Best time to learn is when missing hurts.” “That is insane.” “That is life now.” She handed him the rifle.
“Two shots.
I cover.” Shizuka moved to his left.
Yuki climbed the low concrete curb near the pillar.
Amamiya stayed by the truck door with his handgun and fear.
The first ant came around the pillar.
Sato stood behind Ren.
“Right shoulder.” Ren looked at her.
“That is the injured side.” “I know.” “Then why?” “Because it will be the side you will shoot.” He did not answer.
Sato stepped closer behind him.
“I’ll take part of the recoil.
You focus on the sight.” Her hand came around to adjust the front grip.
The other braced over his right shoulder and upper arm.
Her chest settled against his back.
Not by accident.
Enough to make Ren freeze.
“Lean forward,” she said.
Ren did.
“Not stiff.
Forward.” “I am trying.” “You are bracing for me, not the rifle.” Yuki made a sound like she was dying.
Shizuka stepped closer.
Sato kept her voice calm.
“Breathe.
Stock tight.
Let the recoil come back into both of us.” Ren swallowed.
“You are doing this on purpose.” “I am making sure the rifle does not worsen your shoulder.” “You are enjoying it.” “I can do both.” Shizuka’s aura dropped cold.
Amamiya looked at the armored truck.
“Can the truck explode now?
It might be safer.” The first ant rushed.
Sato’s voice stayed near Ren’s ear.
“Wait for the joint.” Ren aimed.
The rifle felt less alien.
“Now.” Ren fired.
The shot hit the joint.
Not perfect.
Enough.
The ant stumbled.
Shizuka cut through the weakened leg.
Sato finished with one shot.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 18 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 896 — The second ant rushed faster.
Ren fired too early.
Missed.
Sato did not scold.
“Again.” He fired.
Hit shell.
Sato fired into the underside when it lifted.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 14 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 918 — The third ant climbed onto the side of the bridge support.
Yuki threw a broken cone at it.
It snapped at the movement.
Amamiya fired once.
Missed.
The bullet hit the pillar near Yuki.
She looked at him.
“I am over here.” “I noticed after.” Sato fired.
The ant dropped.
Shizuka cut.
Ren fired into the underside.
The ant went still.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 9 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 940 — The last two came together.
One normal.
One thicker, darker, half-hard-shell.
Sato’s voice sharpened.
“AP.” Ren switched magazine with hands that worked better than before.
Not smooth.
Better.
The normal ant charged Shizuka.
She stepped in and cut once.
Katana opened the joint.
Sato finished it.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 7 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 962 — The thicker ant rushed Ren.
Sato braced him from behind again.
“Hold.” He held.
“Hold.” The ant filled the sight.
“Now.” Ren fired.
The AP round punched into the front joint.
The ant dipped.
He fired again into the underside.
This time the shot mattered.
The ant collapsed to one side.
Shizuka cut the rear leg.
Sato finished it.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 5 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +28 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 990 — The underpass went quiet.
Ren breathed hard.
Sato took the rifle from him and checked the chamber.
“Better.” Ren looked at her.
“That is all?” “Much better.” Yuki dropped from the curb.
“He got praised.” Sato looked at her.
“He earned it.” Yuki narrowed her eyes.
“I also opened the truck.” Sato nodded.
“You did.” Yuki blinked.
Yuki did not expect Sato’s kindness to feel so dangerous.
Sato looked at Ren again.
“Your shoulder?” “Fine.” Yuki inhaled.
Ren glared.
She smiled but said nothing.
Shizuka watched Sato.
Still angry.
Still quiet.
That was worse.
Amamiya cleared his throat.
“Can we open the treasure box now?” Ren turned back to the armored truck.
The system opened.
— CARGO LOCK RESPONSE: WEAKENED — — ALARM SUPPRESSION AVAILABLE — — REQUIREMENT: FOCUS / 10 CREDITS — Ren stared.
“Ten credits to suppress alarm.” Sato looked at him.
“Do it.” Ren confirmed.
— SYSTEM INTERFERENCE ACTIVE — — LOCAL ALARM SUPPRESSED — — COST: -10 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 980 — Amamiya and Yuki worked the cargo lock.
The final click sounded too loud.
The rear door opened.
Inside were locked cash cases, two sealed security boxes, three emergency battery packs, a first-aid case, one compact safe, a handheld radio charger, and two security batons.
No guns but still good.
Very good.
The system opened.
— SUPPLY CACHE DETECTED — — CASH CASES: 4 — — SECURITY BOXES: 2 — — BATTERY PACKS: 3 — — FIRST AID CASE: 1 — — RADIO CHARGER: 1 — — BATON: 2 — — BLUEPRINT VALUE: MODERATE — — CASH CONVERSION VALUE: HIGH — Yuki stared.
“I love bridges now.” Amamiya stepped forward.
“I would like to say, as the person who suffered emotionally, I deserve one box.” Sato said, “No.” “I accept your decision under protest.” Ren loaded the cash cases into the warehouse first.
Then batteries.
Then the first-aid case.
Then the charger.
Then the batons.
Small movements.
Normal movements.
No one outside their group was watching.
Still.
Habit mattered.
The system opened.
— SPATIAL WAREHOUSE LOAD: 31% — — CASH INPUT DETECTED — — ESTIMATED YEN VALUE: ¥42,000,000 — Ren froze.
Forty-two million yen.
Old money.
New credits.
Yuki saw his face.
“How much?” Ren did not answer.
Sato stepped closer.
“Ren.” He opened the conversion window.
— XCHANGE CASH CONVERSION AVAILABLE — — INPUT DETECTED: JAPANESE YEN — — CONVERSION RATE: ¥1,000 = 1 CREDIT — — MAX OUTPUT: 42,000 CREDITS — — WARNING: LARGE CONVERSION MAY TRIGGER SYSTEM EXPANSION — Ren stared.
Forty-two thousand credits.
Too much.
Not too much in the world they were entering.
Too much for right now.
The system opened another line.
— RECOMMENDATION: PARTIAL CONVERSION — — REASON: USER STABILITY / SYSTEM STABILITY / TRACE RISK — The system was warning him.
Not because it could not take the cash.
Because taking it all would change something too fast.
Sato read his face.
“Bad?” “Big.” “How big?” “Too big for now.” Yuki whispered, “That sounds fun.” Shizuka said, “No.” Yuki sighed.
“Doesn’t count.” Ren selected a small portion.
One million yen.
Still insane.
Still tiny compared to the whole case.
— CASH CONVERSION SELECTED — — INPUT: ¥1,000,000 — — OUTPUT: 1,000 CREDITS — — CONFIRM?
— Ren confirmed.
— CONVERSION COMPLETE — — CREDIT GAINED: +1,000 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 1,980 — The system expanded.
Not visibly.
Internally.
A pressure behind his eyes.
A quiet unfolding.
— SYSTEM CAPABILITY EXPANSION — — CREDIT THRESHOLD REACHED — — BLUEPRINT LIBRARY PRIORITY INCREASED — — BULLET MAKING UNLOCK PROGRESS: 78% — — BLACKSMITH UNLOCK PROGRESS: 49% — — COPY SKILL RESONANCE: DORMANT — — MANA DENSITY REQUIRED — Then another line appeared.
— WE WILL NEED MORE SPACE SOON — It vanished.
— CORRECTION — — STORAGE EXPANSION MAY BE REQUIRED — Ren sat back against the armored truck.
Too much.
Too fast.
Sato crouched in front of him.
“Look at me.” Ren did.
Her voice changed again.
Older sister.
Not teasing.
Not training.
Firm.
“Breathe.” “I am breathing.” “No.
You are counting.” He stared at her.
She was right.
Credits.
Supplies.
Markers.
Cash.
Hayato.
Airi.
Ants.
The unknown signal.
All of it stacked in his head like the warehouse.
Sato put one hand on his right shoulder.
Not hard.
Enough.
Ren flinched.
Her eyes sharpened.
“There.” “I’m fine.” “You are not.” “Sato.” “Take your shirt off.” Ren froze.
“What?” “I need to see the bruise.” “No.” Sato’s eyes narrowed.
“Then I’ll take it off for you.” The underpass went silent.
Yuki slowly turned her head.
Shizuka’s aura changed so fast Amamiya took one step behind the toolbox.
Ren stared at Sato.
“You cannot say that like that is normal.” “It is normal.
You are injured.” Yuki pointed at her.
“That is cheating.” Sato did not look away from Ren.
“It is a medical requirement.” Yuki’s eyes narrowed.
“With that face?” Sato finally glanced at her.
“What face?” “That dangerous face.” Sato smiled faintly.
“Then sit down and learn.” Shizuka stepped forward.
“Sato.” Sato raised one hand.
“I am checking his injury.” “You are enjoying it.” “I can do both.” Ren covered his face with one hand.
Amamiya whispered, “I missed danger being normal.” Sato did not wait.
She reached for Ren’s jacket.
Ren caught her wrist.
Sato looked at his grip.
“Good reflex.
Bad shoulder.” “I said I’m fine.” “Fine people do not flinch like that.” Ren looked away.
Sato held his gaze for one second longer than needed.
Then she let go.
“Later, then.” Ren looked back.
“What?” “Not here.” Yuki groaned.
“That sounds worse.” Shizuka’s voice was cold.
“There will be no later.” Sato stood.
“Then stop him from getting hurt.” Shizuka went quiet.
Ren did too.
Sato turned back to the supplies.
“We leave after scavenging the rest.” Ren nodded.
The system opened a new map layer.
Not by request.
By itself.
— MAP VALUE LAYER ADDED — — SUPPLY TARGETS PRIORITIZED — — NEAREST HIGH VALUE TARGETS — — POLICE VEHICLE: 1.2 KM — — SMALL CLINIC: 1.8 KM — — AMBULANCE LAST KNOWN POSITION: 2.4 KM — — POLICE POST: 3.6 KM — — ARMORED TRANSPORT MARKER: 5.1 KM — — WARNING: COMPETING SCAVENGERS LIKELY — Ren looked at the markers.
Other people would be looking for these places too.
Militias.
Thieves.
Shirakawa.
Desperate families.
Armed groups.
But Ren had the upper hand.
He did not only see roads.
He saw value.
He saw risk.
He saw what to take, what to leave, and what could be turned into something better later.
The system had started teaching the map to think like him.
Or maybe the other way around.
Yuki climbed into the van again and sat behind the wheel.
“So where to?” Sato looked at Ren.
“Clinic first.
Your shoulder needs more than a patch.” Ren opened his mouth.
Sato pointed at him.
“Do not say fine.” Yuki whispered, “Do it.” Ren glared.
She smiled.
“I want points, but I want to live more.” Shizuka looked at Ren.
“Clinic.” That settled it.
Ren sat beside Shizuka in the rear.
Sato took the passenger seat.
Amamiya climbed in with the toolbox.
Leaving the armored truck under the bridge.
Yuki started the van.
The motor hummed.
The phone buzzed once in Ren’s pocket.
He checked it.
No signal.
The group chat sat open.
Hayato’s last message remained there.
~~ Hayato: If you are with Shizuka, stay safe.
Don’t make Shizuka worried.
~~ Ren looked at it for one second.
Then locked the screen.
The van moved out from under the bridge.
Sunlight hit the windshield.
The unknown third signal knocked once beneath the road.
Farther than before.
Still there.
The system opened.
— UNKNOWN THIRD SIGNAL: TRACKING — — RESPONSE TO CASH CONVERSION: UNKNOWN — — RESPONSE TO MAP EXPANSION: UNKNOWN — — OBSERVATION CONTINUES — Then one more line appeared.
— IT SAW US GROW — It vanished.
— CORRECTION — — SIGNAL RESPONSE PATTERN CHANGED — Ren looked at the road ahead.
Yuki drove.
Sato watched the road and the map from the front.
Shizuka leaned her shoulder to his.
Amamiya hugged the toolbox like it owed him rent.
The van carried cash, batteries, medicine, ammo, blueprints, and the first real lead toward a supply network.
The world had become a scavenging field.
Ren had seen the map first.
Chapter 25 ~ End