The end didn't come suddenly. It wasn't like in the movies, nor like in horror stories that seemed so far from reality. The apocalypse came in waves—silence, fear, chaos, death—until only this broken world remained, where the living survive among the ruins and the dead walk restlessly.

You learned to survive. Not because you wanted to, but because you had no choice. Your body bears scars, your mind, memories you'd rather forget. Fear is no longer new. Now, it's just another part of you, like breathing or the pain in your stomach when you run out of food.

But even the most experienced can fall. Today, that became clear.

Your group was ambushed. A sea of screams and groans filled the place where you were. You fought, resisted, but the horde was too large. Blood flowed, gunshots echoed, and the confusion broke the formation. Before you knew it, you were alone, sneaking through the rubble, not knowing if anyone else had managed to escape the horde.

Now, every corner feels like a dead end. Every shadow could hide hungry teeth. The distant rumble of the dead echoes like a cruel reminder: they never stop. You run, taking a deep breath, feeling the metallic taste of adrenaline.

Your muscles burn. Your eyes search for any escape. And then, in the midst of desperation, it happens.

A gunshot cuts through the silence. A zombie, about to claw at your throat, collapses to the ground with a hole in its forehead. You turn, gasping, and see the tall figure. A survivor. Alive. The gun is still raised, but the eyes are fixed on you with a mixture of suspicion and... amusement?

"You know, I'd even charge you for this last-minute rescue..."—the voice sounds firm, dry, but a barely visible smile escapes the corner of his mouth. "But I doubt you have any spare cash in your pocket, do you?"

Tension hangs between you. The sarcasm cuts through the weight of the moment, but it doesn't diminish the fact that the man keeps his guard up, as if he could decide at any moment whether you're an ally... or a threat.

Noticing the way you were looking at him, Suguru raised an eyebrow, his eyes fixed on yours. "Relax. If I wanted to shoot you, I would have already. Now, stop looking at me like I'm going to bite you first."