Karen posted a message.
Natsuki Yuu noticed it immediately in the building group chat.
It was a photo.
Taken at her front door, showing a dark puddle of blood seeping in from beneath the gap.
"So a Blood Corpse showed up outside Karen's place."
Natsuki Yuu understood at once.
He did not reply.
Instead, he chose to wait.
A Blood Corpse could not force its way through an apartment door. Karen Inukai was not in immediate danger.
"It's not time for me to move yet."
He already had a plan.
Mashiro Shiina had been easy to control because of her special circumstances.
The other heroines were different.
For them, brute force was the worst option.
The best approach was to play the hero.
Wait until the danger peaked, then step in at the perfect moment.
Or lure them with food.
"Natsuki-kun… I've finished organizing everything."
Mashiro spoke timidly.
There was not much food, so the cleanup did not take long.
"You did well," Natsuki Yuu said calmly. "Your reward is that you can keep eating."
"Natsuki-kun…"
Mashiro pinched the hem of her skirt and asked carefully,
"Are you going to donate all this food?"
"Huh?"
Natsuki Yuu looked at her in confusion.
"Didn't Mr. Kameda say we should pool all the food together and distribute it? A lot of people don't have anything to eat."
"You have so much food. You could share some."
"Natsuki-kun… you're a good person."
Her words made the vein at Natsuki Yuu's temple throb.
Mashiro noticed the darkness in his expression and immediately fell silent.
"Did I… say something wrong?"
"Hmph."
Natsuki Yuu snorted coldly.
"I'm not donating anything."
He checked Mashiro's status.
As expected.
Serious Justice.
That trait gave her a faint saintly tendency.
You want me to give away my food?
Then you need to be taught.
"Kneel."
Mashiro did not dare disobey.
She dropped to her knees at once.
Natsuki Yuu took the breakfast and dumped it all onto the floor in front of her.
"Eat it. Every last bit."
"Yes…"
Mashiro trembled, fear running through her body.
Yet even being treated like this, she felt no urge to resist.
Instead, her dependence deepened.
Natsuki-kun must have his reasons.
Mashiro lowered herself and ate everything from the floor.
When she finished, she lifted her head and looked at him with moist, pitiful eyes.
Natsuki Yuu remained cold.
He stood up and slapped her face twice, sharp and clean.
"Think carefully before you come into my room again."
Then he turned and went back to the bedroom.
Mashiro stayed kneeling on the cold floor, stunned.
She could not understand what she had done wrong.
"Why did Natsuki-kun do that?"
"I only wanted to share food with everyone…"
"Natsuki-kun is a good person…"
"Does he not want to share food?"
After turning it over again and again, only one answer remained.
Feeling guilty, she went to his door.
"Natsuki-kun…"
"Come in."
"Yes."
Mashiro stepped inside and stood quietly beside him, hands clenched tightly around her skirt.
"Have you figured it out?"
"…Yes. I shouldn't have suggested you share food with others."
Natsuki Yuu said nothing, only gave a low snort.
Mashiro immediately knelt again, forehead pressed to the floor.
"I'm very sorry, Natsuki-kun. It was Mashiro's fault."
Natsuki Yuu did not keep up the cold act any longer.
He was not truly angry.
He only needed to frighten her a little.
The effect was better than expected.
Waiting for Development jumped straight to Level 2.
A new effect appeared.
Each Critical Hit would grant a temporary increase of two points in Strength.
Inside, Natsuki Yuu was delighted.
On the surface, he remained expressionless.
"Good. Remember this."
"My food is not something you get to comment on."
"And I will not share it with anyone."
"If I ever find out you've told others about my supplies, you know what will happen."
Mashiro's face went pale.
She did not dare imagine the consequences.
"Yes… Mashiro understands."
Dependence: 90%.
"Good."
Natsuki Yuu nodded.
"Get up. I'll forgive you this time."
"R-really?"
Mashiro looked up, relief blooming into a bright smile.
Natsuki Yuu patted her cheek lightly.
"Only this once. Don't let it happen again."
"Thank you, Natsuki-kun. Mashiro promises."
...
Tarou Kameda was in a terrible mood.
People in the group chat had sworn they would work together to kill the zombies.
In the end, only two showed up.
Ichirou Honda and Shungo Konoe.
Everyone else refused, saying there were zombies in the hallway.
"A bunch of cowards," Tarou Kameda spat.
Ichirou Honda grinned.
"If they won't do it, we'll do it ourselves. Then all the credit will be ours."
Tarou Kameda patted him on the shoulder.
"You're right, kid. We'll clear the zombies ourselves."
"When we're done, I'll make sure you get a bigger share of the food."
"I can even recommend you to the people above."
"Really?" Ichirou Honda's eyes lit up. "Thank you so much, Mr. Kameda."
Shungo Konoe stood to the side, silent and gloomy.
His flashy delinquent hairstyle covered half his face.
He was thin, not the type who looked strong.
But Tarou Kameda knew better.
Shungo Konoe was vicious.
The kind who enjoyed tormenting animals.
The reason he was here was because he and Tarou had already made a private deal.
Tarou Kameda sent another message.
"Anyone else coming? If not, we're heading out."
"Don't regret it later."
"People who help clear zombies get more food."
"And there are only five or six Blood Corpses in the corridor. What are you afraid of?"
Replies poured in.
"There's one outside my door. Come clear it first and I'll join."
"Same here."
"I can't get out at all. Clear them first."
Everyone wanted someone else to take the risk.
That was human nature.
"You're all pathetic," Ichirou Honda typed. "Fine. I'll clear the way for you."
He was already itching to swing at a Blood Corpse.
Tarou Kameda and Shungo Konoe both cursed him as an idiot in their hearts.
Still, having an idiot charge ahead saved them trouble.
"All right," Tarou Kameda said. "If they won't come, forget them."
"Ichirou, lead the way. Clear the Blood Corpses on our floor first."
"No problem, Mr. Kameda. Leave it to me."
Ichirou Honda grabbed a baseball bat and walked out front.
Tarou Kameda signaled Shungo Konoe with a glance.
The two of them deliberately kept some distance behind Ichirou.
If something went wrong, they could turn and run.
Their plan was neat and selfish.
And the hotheaded Ichirou Honda, striding ahead with dreams of becoming a hero, had no idea what was waiting for him.