"Huh? Saeko-senpai? What's going on here—?"
Takashi Komuro's eyes widened as he stared at Saeko Busujima, who was leaning against the shoulder of an absurdly handsome young man, like a demure little bird resting in the crook of his arm. For a moment, Takashi wondered if he was hallucinating—or dreaming. Where on earth did such a breathtakingly good-looking guy come from? And how could he possibly be this close with Saeko?
Takashi had never said it out loud, but among their entire group, Saeko Busujima was undoubtedly the strongest fighter. Her presence meant that their chances of surviving this hellish world were just a little higher.
But now? That same Saeko Busujima—their most capable fighter—had seemingly found someone else. A guy. And not just any guy, but one so freakishly attractive it bordered on unfair. Their closeness sparked something primal in Takashi's chest: a sense of danger.
It wasn't just jealousy. It was survival.
After all, if Saeko left with this guy, what would happen to the rest of them?
That unease only deepened as he glanced at the man—Kevin Cross.
This guy wasn't just handsome. He exuded a calm, quiet strength. If even Saeko had fallen for him, what about the others? What about Rei Miyamoto—Rei, whom Takashi had secretly loved, who'd gone off with his best friend, only to come back to him after that friend died?
If Rei also got swept up by this devastatingly attractive man…
Takashi's eyes narrowed slightly as they settled on Kevin, a subtle but unmistakable flicker of hostility emerging in his gaze.
Kevin caught the look and raised an eyebrow in confusion. What's with the hostility? Is this guy trying to make a move on my girl?
Saeko, on the other hand, immediately noticed the shift in Takashi's demeanor—and a dangerous glint flickered through her eyes.
Takashi was a decent fighter, sure. But he wasn't someone Saeko trusted. Not like Kevin. There was no question in her mind—Kevin was her man. Her chosen partner. And while it might have been a little premature to kill a fellow survivor—after all, society had only just collapsed—Saeko had no qualms about removing unnecessary complications.
She might not be ready to spill human blood just yet, but that didn't mean she couldn't deal with Takashi in other ways.
"This is my boyfriend, Kevin Cross," Saeko said coolly. "I left earlier to meet up with him."
"Boyfriend?" Takashi repeated, his voice tight. "But… Kevin Cross? That doesn't sound like a Japanese name."
"No, Kevin's from Huaguo," she replied with a faint smile. "But he lived in New York before all this."
"Huaguo and New York? That's… impressive." Takashi forced a chuckle.
"Nice to meet you," Kevin said politely, offering a nod—for Saeko's sake more than his own.
"H-Hey, yeah, nice to meet you too!" Takashi stammered. "We were all wondering where Saeko-senpai went. She was gone for a long time… We were worried. But I'll go let the others know she's back!" He gave an awkward smile and beat a hasty retreat into the building.
Once he was gone, Saeko leaned in, her lips brushing Kevin's ear as she whispered, "Kevin, leave Takashi Komuro to me."
"Hm?" Kevin glanced sideways at her.
"He sees you as a threat. That makes him an enemy. And it's always better to deal with enemies early." Saeko's voice was calm, but there was steel behind it.
There was something unique about Saeko—something deeply rooted in the traditional Yamato Nadeshiko archetype. Alone, she might seem cold or aloof. But once in a relationship, she would dedicate herself fully. She would center her world around her partner, removing obstacles before they ever became burdens.
Takashi's hostility? In her eyes, it was nothing more than a minor nuisance—one she would handle herself.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you," Kevin said, unconcerned. If she decided to take care of Takashi, he wouldn't stop her. Frankly, he preferred there to be no other guys hanging around his girlfriend.
Footsteps echoed from inside the room as Takashi spread the word. Soon, the others began to appear.
Even with men among them, these young women—raised in a culture that often encouraged deference to male authority—still instinctively gravitated toward Saeko. Her return was a comfort. A symbol of strength.
But when they saw the man at her side—Kevin Cross—everything changed.
Even Shizuka Marikawa, Saya Takagi, and Rei Miyamoto froze for a moment as if struck by lightning. Their eyes sparkled with unmistakable admiration.
"He's gorgeous!"
"Who is he?! How can someone be this handsome?"
"Oh my god… I suddenly want to get married."
The moment they laid eyes on Kevin, all three women felt something stir within them.
"Shizuka-sensei, Takagi-san, Miyamoto-san," Saeko said with a spring-like smile. "This is my boyfriend, Kevin Cross. Kevin, this is Shizuka-sensei, Takagi Saya, and Rei Miyamoto. Oh, and the one bringing up the rear is Hirano Kota."
"Wait—Saeko-chan has a boyfriend? And he's this handsome?" Shizuka gasped. "He's totally my type. If only I'd gotten to him first… But alas, teachers can't go stealing their students' boyfriends!"
"Shizuka-sensei!" Rei hissed, mortified. She stepped forward, cheeks pink and voice soft. "I'm… I'm Rei Miyamoto. Please take care of us, Kevin."
"I'm Saya Takagi," Saya said with her arms crossed and a tsundere tilt to her chin, trying to hide her interest behind a haughty mask.
"A-A-And I'm Hirano Kota! P-P-Please t-take care of me, Mr. Kevin!" Hirano stammered nervously, even more flustered than the girls.
Kevin greeted them all with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you."
"You're not from our school, right?" Shizuka leaned in with a teasing glint in her eyes, practically pressing herself against Kevin. "If someone like you had been in my class, I would've definitely remembered. You shine like a firefly in the dark."
"No, I was living in New York until recently," Kevin replied, giving her a polite nod—though his gaze couldn't help lingering for a moment.
Shizuka was… generously proportioned. Even more so than Saeko. And despite her figure, she moved with surprising grace. It was hard not to notice.
"New York? That's amazing," Shizuka sighed wistfully. "I always wanted to go abroad, but I never had the chance. And now, it looks like I never will… Say, Kevin, will you tell me all about New York?"
Somehow, without realizing it, she had already begun calling him Kevin—like they were longtime friends.