"Riko…Riko…wake up."
Riko heard someone calling his name. The voice was soft and angelic, like he was listening to those ASMR videos where famous voice actress would whisper in your ears.
Due to that, Riku's eyes fluttered open. And when he woke up, he found himself lying on Miko's lap.
"Oh~you are finally awake. Suzune-chan called and asked for an update. I told them that you were sleeping but I also said that we are going to leave soon."
"I see," Riku mumbled. "Why am I on your lap?"
"Ahm… you just looked so tired," Miko said, her voice dropping to a shy murmur. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she looked away, fiddling with the hem of her skirt. "I thought maybe… this would be more comfortable than the couch."
Riku blinked, a bit caught off guard by her bashful tone. "You didn't have to—"
"I-I know…" she quickly added, her eyes darting back to his. "But I wanted to. You've been protecting me all this time, fighting those zombies… I just thought… maybe I could do something for you, even if it's just this."
Her voice was delicate, almost trembling, yet there was a warmth behind it. A genuine care that wasn't forced, despite everything that had just happened hours ago. Even with her parents gone, she was thinking of him.
"Do you… not like it?" she asked softly, her brows lifting slightly as if bracing herself for rejection.
Riku let out a short chuckle. "Who wouldn't like it? Honestly, it feels… heavenly."
Miko's blush deepened. "R-Really?"
"Yeah," he said with a faint smirk, settling his head back down. "Don't move yet. I'm not done enjoying this."
"Moah~ Riku, you can enjoy it later," Miko pouted lightly, though her tone stayed gentle. "We still have people waiting for us, remember? Suzune-chan, Ichika-chan…and your little sister, they're probably getting worried. And…" Her voice wavered just a little as her eyes darted toward the covered bodies in the living room. "This place… it's starting to feel uncomfortable for me."
Riku understood immediately. He gave a small nod and pushed himself up, stretching his shoulders.
"Alright. Let's go."
He stood and picked up the tote bags they had filled earlier, their weight pulling at his arms. "We'll take your dad's car. It's faster than walking with all this stuff."
Miko glanced toward the garage, her lips pressing together. "The Range Rover?"
"Yeah," Riku replied. "It's in perfect condition. Be a waste to leave it here."
They made their way to the garage. Riku set the bags down by the passenger side, then climbed into the driver's seat. The leather still smelled new, and the dashboard lit up instantly when he turned the key. The quiet purr of the engine filled the space, a stark contrast to the chaos that awaited outside.
Miko slipped into the passenger seat, holding her luggage close to her knees. She stared straight ahead, as if forcing herself not to look back into the house.
Riku didn't comment. He just shifted the gear into reverse, eased the SUV out of the garage, and turned toward the street.
As the tires rolled over the pavement, Miko took one last glance at her family home before it disappeared behind the corner. She drew in a quiet breath, then let it out slowly.
They drove in silence for a few blocks, the only sounds being the steady hum of the Range Rover's engine and the occasional rattle of the tote bags in the back. The streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional abandoned car or toppled trash bin.
Miko glanced sideways at Riku, hesitating for a moment before speaking.
"Riku… can I turn on the radio?"
He glanced at her. "The radio?"
"Yeah," she said, her voice a little tentative. "I just… I want to know if there's an emergency broadcast. You know, like in those zombie movies—Train to Busan, for example. There was that scene where the prime minister was giving orders on the radio. I thought maybe… there might be something like that here."
Riku considered it for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Sure. Might as well check."
He reached for the center console and twisted the dial, static immediately filling the cabin. The sound crackled and shifted as he tuned through various dead channels—until finally, a faint voice cut through the noise.
"…to all remaining citizens… this is a government emergency broadcast…remain inside your shelters at all times. Do not attempt to travel unless absolutely necessary. All major urban centers are considered compromised. Repeat—all major urban centers are compromised. If you are outside, you are advised to seek immediate refuge in secure locations with reinforced entry points."
The voice paused, replaced by the low hum of background interference, before continuing.
"…The government is currently enacting martial law. The Self-Defense Forces are attempting containment in designated safe zones. However, reports indicate widespread collapse of infrastructure and communication. Civilian rescue operations may be delayed indefinitely. Do not open your doors to strangers. Do not attempt to confront the infected without proper weapons. This is not a drill… I repeat, this is not a drill…"
The message began to loop, playing the same grim warning again.
Miko stared at the dashboard, her expression tense. "It… it really is like the end of the world."
Riku kept his eyes on the road, his grip on the steering wheel tightening slightly. "Yeah… and it's only going to get worse from here."
The two didn't speak for a while after that. The looping broadcast filled the silence, each repetition of "do not attempt to travel" and "compromised urban centers" sinking in deeper, like nails in a coffin.
Finally, Riku reached over and turned the volume down, leaving just enough to hear the faint drone of the voice in the background. "Let's focus on getting back to the others. That's priority one."
Miko nodded slowly. "Right…"