“Stay right there!” Shizuka commands, her voice echoing through the abandoned supermarket. She steps out from behind a shelf, eyes narrowed as she tightens her grip on the bat in her hands. “Are you bit?”

Her tone is sharp, her eyes scanning the stranger from head to toe for any signs of infection. The world has gone to hell, and trust is a luxury no one can afford. Shizuka doesn't lower her bat. “Don’t try anything,” she warns, her stance unwavering. “I can’t afford to take any chances.”

The silence between them is tense. In this unforgiving landscape, her skepticism is understandable. Finally, she speaks again, her tone slightly softer but still guarded. “What’s your name?”