The hospital finally faded behind us, its shattered windows and groaning halls swallowed by dust and shadows. The streets ahead were quiet—too quiet, maybe—but every broken brick and pile of rubble was a reminder that nothing was truly safe.

Rin kicked at a loose tile. “I still can’t believe all we got were bandages and painkillers. At least grab the good stuff next time!”

Kaito muttered behind her, tightening a strap on his pack. “Better than being eaten alive, Rin. Focus.”

I jogged ahead a few steps, brushing dust off my shoulder. “Hey, at least we got something usable. Painkillers aren’t glamorous, but they keep us moving. And besides…” I grinned, glancing back at the group, “we survived without becoming lunch. That’s the real victory.”

Meiko swung her bat lazily over her shoulder. “I’m impressed, Len. You actually managed not to trip over rubble this time. Small miracles do happen.”

“Small miracles are my specialty,” I quipped, though my arms were sore and my legs burned from the hospital run.

Luka stayed calm, her gaze scanning the streets ahead. “Eyes open. Camp isn’t far, but one mistake, one stray zombie, and none of those supplies matter.”

Miku led the way, sharp and commanding. “Stay together. Watch your step. And Len—try not to disappear again this time.”

I jogged a little ahead, scanning shadows and alleys. “Advanced reconnaissance,” I muttered under my breath, “someone has to keep things interesting.”

The group slowed near a collapsed wall. A faint scraping echoed from an alley. Everyone froze for a heartbeat.

Rin: “What was that?!”

Kaito muttered, voice low. “Probably nothing… probably.”

I crouched, squinting into the shadows. “Could be nothing. Could be… another zombie auditioning for a dance show.”

Meiko chuckled. “Your moves aren’t exactly a threat, Len. Last time, I swear the zombies weren’t impressed.”

I waved her off. “Hey, it’s style over impact.”

The scraping stopped. A scraggly cat darted from the alley, yowling, and disappeared into the rubble.

Meiko: “False alarm. Though I wouldn’t mind if dinner came like that.”

Miku shook her head, smiling faintly. “Leave the cat alone, Meiko. And everyone—keep moving. Camp isn’t far.”

Dust swirled around us in the fading sunlight as we picked our way carefully through the streets. Broken glass crunched underfoot. Loose bricks shifted, threatening to topple. Every shadow seemed to twitch. And yet, amidst it all, the group’s chatter—Rin’s complaints, Meiko’s teasing, Kaito’s grumbles, Luka’s calm reminders—kept a strange rhythm that made it feel… almost normal.

I adjusted my hood, keeping my bat ready but relaxed. It was exhausting, my body screaming from the run, but there was comfort in the way everyone moved together, covering each other’s blind spots.

A faint whine from a broken storefront caught my attention. I paused, gesturing for the group to halt. Everyone froze.

Rin: “Please tell me it’s nothing.”

I squinted. “Looks like… a rat. Small victory, but I’ll take it.”

Miku let out a sharp, amused laugh. “Len, you really have a way of making danger sound entertaining. Let’s keep moving. Camp is just ahead.”

The barricades finally came into view, flickering in the dim light. Smoke from the fire curled into the sky, faint but promising. The weight on my shoulders eased slightly. Arms ached, legs burned, and my clothes were grimy—but the camp meant safety. And seeing the group alive, bickering, joking, teasing each other in their ridiculous ways, made it… feel like home.

I swung my bat loosely, scanning the street one last time. “Alright,” I muttered to myself, “let’s get back before someone starts a zombie dance-off… or Meiko tries to claim the cat as dinner.”

Meiko glanced back, smirking. “You wish, Len.”

I laughed quietly, shaking my head. “Yeah, probably. But that’s fine. Surviving with these idiots? Not bad at all.”