Chapter 12

Sato's gaze, fixed on Mai, weighed heavy with the knowledge that her presence had sparked this disruption among the survivors.

"Mai," he began, his tone even and measured, "you've been through a lot. We found you injured, with symbols on your arm that we've never seen before."

Mai's eyes darted around the room, taking in the skeptical expressions of her new companions. "Symbols?" she repeated, her brow furrowing. "I don't understand." She stated looking at her arms and was shocked by what she saw there.

Sato sighed, sensing the mounting unease in the gathering. He understood that their survival depended on trust and clarity. "Yes, symbols." They appear ancient, possibly connected to the old world before the disaster. "Do you remember how you got them?"

Mai shook her head slowly, a look of genuine uncertainty on her face. "No, I do not." "The last thing I remember is passing through the gate with the others, followed by darkness..."

One of the survivors, a tall man named Kenji, moved forward, his voice filled with disapproval. "How can we trust her? For all we know, she might be a spy or a threat."

Sato raised his hand to pacify Kenji. "We will not jump to conclusions.

Sato asked Mai for details on how she was able to kill the yomigaeri, but she could only offer one explanation: she was motivated by a strong desire to defend Kai, a guy who had offered to save her from hell she has been in. With nothing except the desire to save his life, she found herself facing the Yomigaeri, unsure of what she was doing but resolved not to let Kai die in a horrific manner.

Although Sato's expression remained serious, there was a slight change in how he was thinking about what Mai had said. With a soft voice, he said, "I believe you." "You behaved fearlessly, showing no fear for your own security. That reflects well on your personality."

Kenji's voice took on an agitated tone that interrupted Sato's flow of thought. He yelled, "We can't just take her word for it!" "How can we be certain she wasn't sent to infiltrate our hideout, to trick us into trusting her?" He looked around at the others, his eyes moving from one to the other, looking for support. "Everyone has heard the tales. A desperate survivor will stop at nothing to live, including murdering one another to obtain resources. What if she's one of them?"

Mai recoiled, terror and a mounting sensation of dread taking the place of her confusion.

With a tone full of irritation, Kai gave Ke ni a resentful gaze. "You can't just accuse her without any proof," he yelled. "She is only a young child. The Yomigaeri at the store killed her entire family, but she managed to survive. It truly is a miracle.

His gaze softened as he turned to Mai. Her eyes still glued on the floor.

Ren ended the verbal exchange since he was finally tired of the conversation. With a thundering face, he stood up. "All of this is all and well, but it doesn't alter the fact that we are in danger at this location. Imagine that she's a spy. What if she is collaborating with the Yomigaeri or some other group that want to exterminate us for supplies? With a pointed and accusing tone, he turned to face Sato. "How can you risk all our lives on a hunch that this girl is telling the truth?"

Evidently finding it difficult to maintain his cool, Sato faced Ren.

He glared with a steely gaze into Ren's eyes. With a measured but assertive response he replied, "I'm not risking anyone's life." "We're exercising caution. However, there isn't enough information available to us at this time to consider her a threat. We still don't know enough. Furthermore, I refuse to watch while you harass a girl who has already endured a great deal."

Ren's fingers clenched at his sides as his jaw tightened. "You're not serious at all. We ought to be moving as far away from her as we can.

At last, Kanoe, who had remained silent until now, said something. She stated, "I can understand Ren's concern," casting a compassionate glance at Mai. But Sato is right. It's not always a threat just because we fail to understand something. Perhaps these symbols are simply further examples of how the world has evolved. Before making any assumptions, we must gather more information."

Sensing tension in the gathering, Sato held out his hand to signal silence. "Both viewpoints have been heard. We now have a decision to make."

He read the reactions on the survivors' faces as he surveyed them. "We'll cast votes to decide what to do about Mai. Raise your hand if you agree with letting her stay.

Thirteen hands shot up in the air while he was speaking.

After giving a nod, Sato looked around at the other members of the group. "And those who think she should leave?"

Slowly, five hands were raised.

With gloomy and unreadable features, the three survivors maintained their neutrality. For a minute, Sato contemplated their quiet, analysing the consequences of their uncertainty.

When he finally said, "Very well," he exhaled. "A choice has been taken. Mai will stay with us, but we'll thread with caution.

There was a general murmur in the room as some people grimaced while others expressed relief at the verdict. With decisive and unambiguous words, Sato raised his hand to quell the agitation.

"There's something else we should talk about," Sato said, turning to face the gathering. "We must create a new watch schedule since that Kazuo is no longer among us. Volunteers are needed to take turns guarding the hideout from potential human threats as well as Yomigaeri attacks."

The survivors took a moment to process what he had said, thinking about their own responsibilities and capacities. Ren finally raised his hand in spite of his prior protestations. He said firmly, "I'll take the first shift," offering his services.

The discussion continued as the survivors debated their next steps, each voice contributing to the decision-making process. But in the back of their minds, a looming question lingered: Was Mai truly an ally, or a threat yet to be revealed?