4. February 14

Sprawled across the floor with nothing but a thin blanket that doubled as both cover and bedding, Shin snored softly, exhaustion etched into his sleeping face. Nearby, Suzune and Elena sat in silence, eyes flicking between each other and the CCTV monitors as they took turns watching for any signs of danger.

It was already morning, though the sun barely entered their hidden room which did not even have fresh air in it.

"Shin is strong," Elena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I envy him. He's adjusted so quickly… Always putting us first, even if it means staying up all night searching for food. Knowing he could die out there at any moment."

Suzune offered a soft, proud smile. "My sweet boy's always been like that. Resilient." Her eyes grew distant as she looked down. "Even after his parents died in a car accident when he was just ten, he never let it break him. He moved in with me and my husband out here in Okutama. Coming from a big city like Tokyo, I thought he'd struggle to adapt, but he never complained."

Elena's eyes widened slightly. "He lost his parents that young…?"

Suzune nodded gently.

Elena looked down, her fingers tightening slightly. "Then… we're the same. My mom died of cancer when I was a kid. I've spent my whole life wondering what a mother's love feels like. I used to curse the world for taking her away. My dad was all I had left… I just hope, like Shin said, he's still alive somewhere."

Before Suzune could respond, Shin stirred suddenly in his sleep. He let out a soft whimper, his body twitching, then jolted upright, gasping as though he'd just escaped a nightmare.

"Shin!" Suzune rushed to his side, sitting beside him. She placed a wrinkled hand on his forehead which was hot with fever.

His entire body trembled as he looked at her, panic still clinging to his wide eyes.

"Granny… y-you're alive!" he breathed, then collapsed into her arms.

She wrapped him tightly, rubbing his back as he buried his face in her shoulder, tears flowing freely.

It was just a nightmare, he told himself. Just a nightmare…

But the images still burned in his mind—his grandmother, bloodied and lifeless on the floor, and a shadowy figure vanishing after dropping a small axe.

"I'm here, sweetheart. It's okay. Don't cry," Suzune whispered, soothing him.

After a while, Shin pulled away, wiping at his face with his elbow.

"You had a nightmare?" she asked softly, cupping his cheeks.

He nodded, but didn't speak. He didn't want to say what he saw.

Elena stood from the monitor desk and approached with a bottle of water. She crouched in front of him and handed it over. "Here. Drink this."

He took it with a quiet "Thanks," and downed half the bottle before glancing at the two women, both looking at him with deep concern.

"Sorry for worrying you," he said, getting to his feet. "I'm okay now. I'll take over the monitors."

Elena gently grabbed his shoulder. "No. You've done enough for one night. Let me handle it for now. Go rest."

He hesitated, then glanced at the floor.

"Elena…" he muttered, fidgeting with his fingers. "Today's the 14th. Valentine's Day. I… I kinda promised my grandfather I'd ask you out today."

She blinked, eyes widening slightly.

"I know this is a terrible time and place to bring it up," he said, forcing a nervous chuckle. "But… if things were normal, I would've asked you out on a date."

There was a pause. A breath, then a small, surprised gasp escaped Elena's lips. She stared at him, speechless.

Shin quickly sat back down and wrapped himself in his blanket.

"You don't have to say anything," he murmured. "Just… forget I said anything."

Elena returned to her chair silently. She didn't say a word, but something in her chest felt a little warmer—a flicker of warmth in this cold world.

Suzune smiled softly from her bed. Her body had begun to tremble, a sign that she had missed her type 1 diabetes insulin which was left behind in their old home. But she said nothing. She wouldn't tell Shin. She knew he'd go out, put his life in danger to find it for her.

Before long, Shin had drifted off to sleep again, the night's exhaustion claiming him.

Meanwhile, outside their hideout, the world had changed.

Darren had formed a brutal collective—his own loyal crew of skilled survivors. He'd taken control of nearly every valuable resource left in town. Supermarkets, luxury homes, and even people.

His strategy was cruel but effective: take the women he found attractive under his wing, force them to kill the less desirable captives to help them level up and survive the looming Second Elimination Round.

Some of his men became guards. Others were hunters—tasked with capturing survivors and dragging them back to Darren, feeding the twisted cycle of blood and power.

But not everyone obeyed.

Among his ranks was Akira, a former soldier. A man who refused to kneel.

He and a few like-minded rebels escaped during a supply run. They made their new base in an abandoned condom factory—ironic, yet secure. They called themselves The Scavengers.

Unlike Darren, they didn't kill for fun or dominance. They hunted to recruit—to build a force strong enough to fight back if Darren had to decide to attack them, and they'd go to any lengths to get members to join their crew.

And so, on February 14th, as one boy dreamed of love in a broken world, two groups began to rise.

One ruled by fear.

The other built on resistance.

TBC