The streets were quiet again.
Too quiet.
Broken cars sat in the middle of the road, and the wind pushed dust through the empty city.
Rishiro walked ahead of the group as usual, the chainsaw resting casually on his shoulder.
Maru followed behind him, twirling the metal bat in her hand.
Daichi carried the fire axe while scanning the surrounding buildings.
Hikari walked slightly behind them, carefully watching every shadow.
They had been searching for stronger yokai for nearly an hour.
Then Maru suddenly stopped.
"…Wait."
She pointed down the street.
A girl stood alone in the middle of the road.
She looked about their age.
Her clothes were dirty and torn.
Her body trembled as if she had been running for hours.
When she noticed them, her eyes widened with relief.
"P-please… help me…"
Maru immediately stepped forward.
But Rishiro suddenly raised his hand.
"Stop."
The group froze.
Maru frowned.
"…What?"
Rishiro's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the girl.
Something about her felt wrong.
Too still.
Too quiet.
The wind moved across the empty street, but the girl didn't react to it.
"Don't go closer," he said calmly.
Maru stared at him.
"…Are you serious?"
Rishiro didn't answer.
His eyes never left the girl.
Maru clenched her fists.
"You've been acting like this ever since the apocalypse started."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Suspicious of everyone."
"Cold."
"You used to help people without thinking."
Rishiro finally looked at her.
But he didn't say anything.
That silence only made Maru angrier.
"You're not the same person anymore."
A small tear slipped from her eye.
She pushed his hand away.
"I'm going to help her."
Then she walked toward the girl.
"Hey! Don't worry," Maru called out.
"We're here to—"
The girl slowly lifted her head.
Her expression changed.
Her smile twisted into something unnatural.
Then—
Her neck stretched.
Long.
Thin.
Like a serpent.
Her head shot forward across the street.
Her mouth opened wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
A Rokurokubi.
Before the creature could bite—
A hand grabbed Maru's arm.
In the next instant—
They were gone.
Rishiro landed several meters away, holding her as he slid across the pavement.
He sighed.
"You never listen, do you?"
Maru blinked.
Realizing how close she had come to dying—
And the fact that Rishiro was still holding her—
Her face turned slightly red.
"L-let go!"
She quickly stepped away from him.
The Rokurokubi shrieked.
Its long neck twisted through the air and lunged toward them again.
Daichi stepped forward immediately.
"Not happening!"
He swung the axe upward, blocking the attack.
The creature recoiled slightly.
Maru rushed forward and smashed the bat into its stretched neck.
CRACK.
The yokai screeched.
Hikari shouted from behind them.
"It can extend its neck suddenly! Watch its movements!"
The Rokurokubi lunged again.
This time toward Daichi.
But Maru struck its side, forcing it off balance.
For a moment—
An opening appeared.
Rishiro stepped forward.
The chainsaw roared to life.
VRRRRRR—
The blade flashed once through the air.
Then silence returned.
The creature's body collapsed into black fragments.
The street became quiet again.
Everyone stood still for a moment, catching their breath.
Maru slowly walked over to Rishiro.
She scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
"…Hey."
Rishiro looked at her.
"…Yeah?"
She avoided eye contact.
"…Sorry."
"I should've listened."
Rishiro blinked.
Then shrugged.
"It's fine."
He turned and started walking down the street again.
Maru watched him for a moment.
Then she muttered quietly under her breath.
"…Dumbass."
But a faint smile appeared on her face.
End of Chapter 16