New Dawn Chapter: 0115

Marin's smile faded a bit, and she sat back. Her voice softened, "Okay, okay. You can't just drop something like that and then not tell me anything." She leaned forward. "Give me something to work with, at least."

Tysone hesitated, unsure how much he wanted to reveal. "It's... like trying to juggle chainsaws while also trying to bake a soufflé. In a hurricane." He started, opting for a ridiculous metaphor that she, as a fellow eccentric, might appreciate. "Everything's important, everything's dangerous, and if I drop one… well, it could ruin everything."

Marin tilted her head, processing the bizarre analogy. Then, a small, knowing smile touched her lips. "Chainsaws and soufflés, huh? Sounds like a typical Tuesday."

Tysone sighed, managing a faint, tired smile in return. "More like a typical every damn day since I got here. But tonight… tonight felt like everything just decided to tangle up at once." It wasn't like he hadn't foreseen something like this; he wasn't that oblivious.

He looked past Marin, his gaze distant as he recalled the sequence of events:

Saya's sudden, bold move; Mai's heartbroken retreat; Miku's intense scrutiny. It was a three-ring circus of emotions, and he was the unwilling ringmaster, trying to keep the acrobats from crashing while the lions escaped their cages.

The lions in this case were zombies, and they made actual lions look like household cats.

"I feel like…" He paused, searching for the right words. "Like I'm being pulled in too many directions at once. Like I owe something to… to different people. And I don't know how to balance it without screwing someone over." He didn't name names, didn't need to. The weight in his voice, the fatigue etched on his face, spoke volumes.

Marin listened, her initial playful curiosity giving way to genuine understanding. Her experience with cosplay wasn't just about making costumes; it was about understanding characters, their motivations, their relationships.

"It's like…" She murmured, picking up on his theme. "Like you're the protagonist, right? And you've got all these… these strong supporting characters. Each with their own arcs, their own feelings. And somehow, you're connected to all of them."

Tysone blinked, surprised by her phrasing. She was seeing it through her unique lens, and it was… strangely accurate. More than she could possibly know. "Yeah. Something like that."

"And now..." Marin continued, leaning forward slightly, her eyes bright with a kind of analytical intensity that Tysone was starting to find familiar in the geniuses around him. "The storylines are intersecting in ways you didn't expect."

"Exactly." He nodded.

"So, who are the players?" She asked, her voice low, almost conspiratorial, as if they were discussing a plot twist in a shared favorite series. "The loyal childhood friend with hidden feelings? The cool, mysterious beauty who suddenly becomes vulnerable? The wildcard, maybe someone unexpected who throws everything off balance?" She paused, a knowing look in her eyes. "Or maybe… maybe all of them?"

Tysone hesitated. Naming them would make it too real, too specific. But Marin's questions were hitting uncomfortably close to the mark.

"It's…" He sighed again, running a hand over his stubble. "It's complicated. Everyone here… they've been through hell. They've lost so much. And somehow, they look to me. For leadership. For safety. And maybe… maybe for something else too."

His gaze drifted, seeing Saeko's quiet strength in his mind's eye, Shizuka's steady presence, Mai's fragile hope, Saya's unwavering support, Miku's desperate intensity. They were more than just characters; they were people, people who relied on him, who felt things for him, who were things because of him.

Tysone didn't know if his presence there made them real, or they were real in spite of him coming into this world, but regardless, they were walking, thinking individuals that weren't reading off a script. He had dealt with that long before the apocalypse happened. He had already accepted them as real humans.

"And I'm just trying to keep them safe. Keep this place running. Train. Prepare for… for whatever comes next." He gestured vaguely towards the windows. "And on top of all that… this." He looked back at Marin. "This emotional stuff. It feels… overwhelming. Like something I can't process right now. Not when everything else is so critical."

Marin nodded slowly, her expression sympathetic. "Yeah. I get that. It's like the game suddenly added a whole new 'Relationship Management' mini-game, right when you were trying to level up for the final boss."

Tysone actually chuckled at that. "Pretty much. And the tutorial was definitely missing."

"So." Marin said, her voice practical now, switching modes from analyst to problem-solver. "What do you usually do in games when you hit a wall like this? When the emotional side quest is messing with the main quest?"

Tysone pondered. In games, he could usually just ignore the side quests, grind for power, or consult a guide. But this wasn't a game. He couldn't just skip the emotional cutscenes or power through the complicated dialogue options without consequence.

"I… I don't know." He admitted. "I've never… had this before. Not like this."

Marin watched him for a moment, the silence punctuated by the distant sounds of the mansion settling down. Then, she offered a suggestion, simple but profound. "Maybe… maybe you don't have to process it all right now."

Tysone looked at her, confused.

"Just… acknowledge it." Marin shrugged, her voice soft. "Like, okay, this is happening. These feelings are real. They're important. But they don't have to be solved tonight. Or tomorrow. You've got enough on your plate, right?" She gave a small, wry smile. "Just… add it to your quest log. 'Deal with relationship drama: status – ongoing.'"

He stared at her, processing her words. It was so simple. So… logical. Like Saya's approach to problems, but applied to the messy, illogical world of human emotions.

"You mean… just… compartmentalize?" Tysone asked.

He didn't know if that was the right way or not. After all, Mai was still somewhere out there, crying.

"Kind of." Marin shrugged. "Or just… accept that it's there. Like the rain outside. You can't stop it, but you can put up an umbrella, you know? Or wait it out." She looked at him directly, her eyes kind. "You don't have to be the perfect leader, Tysone. Or the perfect friend. Or the perfect… whatever. Just… be human. Even humans get overwhelmed. And even humans get complicated."

Tysone leaned back. He didn't have to solve everything, not all at once. He could just… exist in the middle of it. Acknowledge the storm, but keep his focus on navigating the immediate path.

He managed a genuine, grateful smile. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're right." He stood up again. "Thanks, Marin. I… I appreciate it. More than you know."

Marin returned his smile, a sense of accomplishment in her eyes. "Any time, Tysone. Just… try not to crash the whole game, okay?"

"No promises." He said, the teasing glint back in his eyes. He walked towards the door, then paused, looking back at her. "You too, though. Remember what I said. Don't stop doing what matters to you. Not for anything or anyone. Not even… this." He gestured vaguely to the room, the mansion, the world outside.

Marin nodded, her smile softening. "I won't. I promise."

Tysone gave her a final, grateful nod, then slipped out the door, closing it gently behind him.

Truth was, he did feel a little better about it.

There was no need to panic.

It would be solved, and if it couldn't, then it couldn't.

And that was all there was to it.

However, relationships could not be ignored. He couldn't pretend like nothing was happening between them. As much as he appreciated Marin's counsel, Tysone couldn't simply compartmentalize this away, even as tempting as that prospect might be.

As he made his way down the stairs, he stumbled upon someone unexpected.

Saeko was there, leaning against the wall, eyes closed, as if in deep meditation.

However, the moment he stepped near her, her eyes fluttered open. Her gaze, sharp and alert, fixed on him.

"You're back."

"..."

He didn't say anything.

"Mai is outside, in the front yard," Saeko said.

Her voice was calm, but there was something in it—something steady and cool, like the steel she wielded.

Tysone stopped in place, jaw tightening. Of course Mai was outside. Of course she had wandered off into the dark alone. He should have gone after her first.

"I was going to go talk to her." He muttered, almost to himself.

Saeko nodded slowly. "You should. But not until you're ready."

Tysone glanced at her. "She's hurting. I can't just leave her out there—"

"And you are hurting, too." She said gently, stepping away from the wall. "You cannot mend someone else's wound when your own hand is still bleeding."

He sighed. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I didn't mean for any of it to get this complicated."

Saeko tilted her head, studying him. "Because you thought feelings could be kept simple in a world like this?"

"No." He said quietly. "Because I thought I could keep myself out of it."

She gave a small, almost sad smile. "You are strong, Tysone. In body. In will. In spirit. But you are not made of stone. No matter how you try."

There was silence between them for a moment. Tysone met her gaze. She didn't look angry. Or disappointed. Just… understanding. And that somehow made it worse.

"I don't want to hurt anyone." He said. Certainly not the women he had grown fond of. 

"I know." Saeko stepped closer, her tone never rising. "And yet you already have. Not because you were cruel. But because you are the kind of man women will fall for."

He laughed bitterly. "That's not something I ever planned for."

"No one does." She paused, letting her words settle. "But the truth remains. We live in a world where death comes quickly. Where every sunrise is a miracle. Emotions… desires… they burn brighter now. Louder. Women will follow strength, especially when it carries kindness."

Author's Note:

If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at P@treon.com/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.