"Miko?" Suzune repeated, and all of them turned their eyes to Miko, who was already pointing at herself.
"Me? Why me…" Miko asked bashfully.
"I need someone that I can rely on, and you are the one who fits the bill," Riku casually explained. "I noticed the behavior of your group. Ichika always being on the side of Suzune meant that she is closer to her than Miko. Miko was the person who confronted me first when you opened that door. And Suzune needs someone next to herself because of her injury."
"Isn't it because you're interested in Miko?" Ichika teased, grinning as she nudged Suzune with her elbow.
Miko immediately turned crimson. "W-What are you saying?!"
"That's not—" Riku paused, sighed, then scratched the back of his head. "Look, whether I'm interested in her or not doesn't matter right now. What matters is safety. And I trust her to watch my back."
"Ufufu~ That's what someone who is interested would say," Ichika giggled, clearly enjoying the situation far more than she should.
Suzune gave Ichika a small glare. "Cut it out, Ichika. This isn't the time to be messing around."
Ichika shrugged, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay."
Miko fiddled with the hem of her shirt, her eyes darting between Riku and the floor. "If… if you really want me to come, then I'll go with you. I might not be good at fighting but… I'll do what I can."
"That's all I ask," Riku said with a small smile.
"Now, I'm going to get dressed in my bedroom. Miko, there must be clothes from my mother's closet that you can use."
Riku entered his bedroom and quietly closed the door behind him. The moment it latched, he exhaled through his nose and approached the corner where he had stashed the gear.
"Alright… time to suit up."
He opened his system interface and scrolled through the inventory. With a single tap, a soft glow lit up the room. One by one, the items materialized before him—folded neatly, organized like military gear in a weapons locker.
First, he slipped into the SWAT Tactical Combat Uniform. The fabric was heavier than civilian clothes, but it fit snugly, with armored inserts across the chest and thighs. He then strapped on the Oakley SI Assault Gloves, followed by tightening the velcro on his reinforced boots.
Next came the FAST Ballistic Helmet. It clicked into place perfectly, lightweight but durable—designed for urban engagements and protection from low-velocity rounds or debris. A clear visor slid down over his eyes like a visor from a sci-fi movie, but he quickly raised it back up for now.
"Primary and sniper," he muttered, turning to the glowing outlines of the two weapon cases beside the bed.
He opened the first briefcase: inside lay the M4A1 Carbine. Suppressed, foregrip installed, flashlight attachment on the right, and a 60-round drum already slotted in. He checked the bolt, gave the foregrip a firm test squeeze, and nodded with satisfaction.
The second briefcase contained the M24 Sniper Weapon System. Its matte-black finish reflected none of the morning light. A suppressor was already mounted at the barrel, and the rangefinder scope was calibrated to perfection. A separate box beside it held 100 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, arranged in neatly packed rows.
Riku closed both cases with a satisfying click and stood up, now fully geared in military attire. He glanced at himself in the mirror.
From a regular high school student… to this.
He grabbed both briefcases by the handles and opened the bedroom door.
As he stepped out into the living room, the girls all turned to look—and froze.
Suzune's eyes widened first. "W-Wait, Riku… what are you wearing?!"
Ichika's mouth hung open slightly. "Is that… a military uniform?"
Even Hana blinked rapidly. "Onii-chan… what's in those boxes?"
Riku set the briefcases down on the table and flipped both latches open.
Inside, the girls saw the glint of steel.
Ichika gasped. "A-Are those real guns?!"
Suzune's jaw dropped. "You… have a sniper rifle and a carbine?!"
"Riku-san…" Suzune took a step closer, her expression confused and borderline accusatory. "I believe I told you this before. Japan has incredibly strict gun laws. Where did you get these? This isn't something you just find lying around!"
Even Hana stared up at him in awe. "Onii-chan… how do you have army stuff like that?"
Riku scratched his cheek, letting out a small chuckle. "Let's just say… my dad had some secrets of his own. It's all… from him."
The girls stared at him in stunned silence.
Suzune narrowed her eyes. "Your… dad?"
He gave her a firm nod. "Yeah. I can't say more than that. It's complicated. But trust me, I know how to use them."
That explanation seemed to soften Suzune's suspicion just slightly. She stepped back with a quiet sigh.
"I see…" she said, though her eyes lingered on the M4A1 a little longer than necessary.
"Dad's keeping this."
The conversation was cut short when soft footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Miko emerged from the corridor, now fully changed into fresh clothes.
She wore a pale beige cardigan over a light lavender blouse, the sleeves slightly oversized and cozy. Her skirt was a simple navy blue plaid that reached just below her knees, swaying slightly as she walked. On her feet were clean white socks and a pair of slip-on indoor shoes borrowed from the entrance rack. The outfit wasn't flashy, but it carried a homely, delicate charm—something typical of a Japanese woman on a calm day off. Her pink hair was tied into a low ponytail that hung over her shoulder, and her thin-rimmed glasses caught the light as she adjusted them with her fingers.
There was something gentle about her appearance—soft, comforting, and entirely out of place in a world that had started to fall apart.
"I hope this is okay…" Miko murmured as she stopped by the living room entrance, nervously tugging at her sleeve.
Riku turned his head toward her—and for a split second, forgot what he was supposed to say.
And he regained himself.
"I didn't know Mom is a fan of contemporary outfits," Riku commented.
"Uhm…you look like a soldier," Miko noted.
"Yeah, I do. Now it's time to call your families."
Ichika, Suzune, and Miko opened their phones and started dialing the numbers of their family. Ichika and Suzune didn't have any luck contacting their families despite having a signal.
Miko on the other hand…
"Hello… Mama. Where are you… I'm safe."
The room went quiet. All eyes turned to Miko as she held her phone tightly to her ear, her lips trembling slightly as she listened.
"Mama—slow down, I can't… What? Zombies… in the subdivision?" Her voice cracked with panic.
Riku stepped forward instinctively. "Miko?"
She raised her hand slightly, asking for a moment, her other hand clenching the phone even tighter.
"They broke in through the back gate… What about Papa?! And Nee-chan?!"
Her voice rose with every word, tears brimming behind her glasses. Everyone in the room could hear the muffled, panicked voice of her mother from the other end of the call—urgent, terrified.
"They're still in the house?" Miko's knuckles turned white as she gripped the phone. "O-Okay, stay there. Don't go outside. I'll—"
Suddenly, the line cut off.
"Eh—?! Mama? Mama!?" Miko stared at her phone in disbelief. "No… no, no, no…"
Ichika stood up. "What happened?!"
Miko lowered the phone slowly, her hands trembling.
"They're at home. But there were zombies already breaking into the subdivision from the back alley. Mama said they barricaded themselves in the house, but… the call just dropped."
"Are you sure they're still safe?" Suzune asked, now standing despite her slight limp.
Miko nodded weakly. "Mama, Papa, and my older sister are all there. I heard them. They were trying to stay calm but… I could hear the banging on the windows. It's bad."
"Where exactly?" Riku asked, voice steady. "Tell me the place."
Miko turned to him, swallowing hard.
"It's… it's our house in Seijō, in Setagaya," Miko said, trying to steady her voice. "Mama said they were still inside, but there were already zombies in the neighborhood. Someone left a side gate open and… they got in."
"Seijō?" Riku repeated, already pulling out his phone. He tapped open the map and zoomed in on the area west of central Tokyo. It's an upper residential district, so Miko's parents are rich.
"How many are there?" Riku asked.
"My mom, my dad… and my older sister. They locked themselves in."
Riku stared at the screen. The streets around Seijō weren't commercial or crowded, which might work to their advantage—less chance of drawing a full swarm. But the distance…
"From here, that's a straight route west through Setagaya. Maybe six kilometers, give or take. Not easy. But not impossible either."
Miko's hands were shaking now. "Please, Riku… I know this is a lot."
Then, the system notification was prompted.
[New Mission Detected: Rescue Miko's Family.]
[Rewards: 5,000SP and 1,500 XP]
A mission to save her parents?
"We will see. We should go now," Riku said.