On the balcony, Yukino Yukinoshita stood in a white lounge dress. One hand rested on the railing, the other held a thick stack of cash.
Her hair was a glossy, jet-black curtain, and beneath it were delicate features that looked almost too perfect to be real.
"How much?" she asked, earnest and direct. "I'll buy the roast chicken in your hand."
She had heard the commotion from Natsuki Yuu's side earlier, but she had not interfered in his fight with the Yoshino family.
The moment she saw him pull out a second roast chicken, Yukino understood.
He had supplies. Plenty of them.
So she chose the simplest method.
Money.
Natsuki Yuu blinked up at her.
She looked like she had just finished washing up. Tiny droplets still clung to her hair. Beneath the soft white fabric, her bare legs were revealed, slender from the ankles up, and her feet in simple flip-flops were… distractingly delicate.
As expected of Yukino Yukinoshita.
Poised. Beautiful. An ice queen standing tall.
Natsuki Yuu's mind turned, and he snorted with amusement.
"This roast chicken isn't for sale."
"I'm willing to pay five times the price."
"I said it's not for sale."
Natsuki Yuu tore off a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.
Then, with grease shining on his lips, he slowly licked his fingers clean like he was doing it on purpose.
Yukino's throat bobbed.
She swallowed.
Normally, she would never touch something this oily.
But right now, she was starving.
For an entire day, she had lived on water alone, her stomach hollow enough to ache.
"Sooner or later, this disaster will end," Yukino said, voice tight. "This is a difficult time. Shouldn't we be helping each other? What you're doing is inhumane."
Like the Yoshinos, Yukino believed help would come and everything would return to normal.
"Oh? Is that so…"
Natsuki Yuu sucked his fingertip again, slow and shameless.
"If you call me 'husband' just once, I'll give you a chicken wing."
"Idiot. Don't joke like that."
Yukino glared.
"I'm not joking." Natsuki Yuu tilted his head toward Mashiro. "Right, Mashiro-chan?"
He stuffed the leftover chicken bones into Mashiro Shiina's mouth.
"Mmm… husband…" Mashiro mumbled obediently.
"Mashiro, you're really doing this?"
Yukino clearly knew her. Seeing Mashiro eating his leftovers and calling him that made Yukino freeze in shock.
"Yukinoshita-senpai, husband is really nice," Mashiro said earnestly. "He's super strong, and he has lots of food."
"Too talkative."
Thunk.
Natsuki Yuu flicked Mashiro's forehead.
"Mmph!"
Mashiro pouted, holding her head.
"You bastard," Yukino snapped, her voice sharpening. "What did you do to Mashiro? Why is she in your apartment?"
Then her eyes widened, as if a horrible thought struck her.
"Mashiro, you didn't…"
"Haha. Exactly what you're thinking, senpai."
Natsuki Yuu pulled Mashiro into his arms possessively.
"Mashiro-chan is smart. She came to my place last night."
He grinned like he was proud of it.
"Free food, a warm bed… senpai, do you want to come too?"
"You really are trash!"
Yukino's teeth clenched so hard it looked like she might crack them.
"This is a crime. I'll report you. I'll have you arrested!"
"Senpai, you're hilarious."
Right in front of Yukino, Natsuki Yuu leaned down and kissed Mashiro loudly.
Yukino stomped her foot in fury.
"Mashiro! Push him away! Why would you…"
"Still don't get it?" Natsuki Yuu cut her off, his tone turning cold. "Look at the Blood Corpses down there. This is the apocalypse."
Then he tilted his head slightly, eyes cruel with amusement.
"If you want food, drop the high-and-mighty attitude. Beg like a dog. Low. Humble. Desperate."
"In your dreams."
"Dream or not," Natsuki Yuu said, staring her down, "we'll see."
Yukino took a deep breath, forcing herself to steady her voice.
"Mashiro. I'll come save you."
With that, she turned and went back into her apartment.
Natsuki Yuu threw his head back and laughed.
"Senpai, I'll be waiting for the day you come begging."
He was not in a hurry.
Let her bounce around for a few more days.
When she was hungry enough, she would come.
As for Mashiro-chan…
She was already starting to take his shape.
Natsuki Yuu lounged lazily on the balcony for a while.
During that time, more residents stepped onto their balconies, staring at the roast chicken in his hand like starving wolves.
Begging.
Cursing.
Threats.
Natsuki Yuu ignored them all.
"Mashiro, have you reached Tsukino-sensei?" he asked.
Even while showing off, he did not forget Tsukino-sensei.
As long as he killed Tsukino-sensei, he could obtain an ability.
There was no way he would miss that.
"Not yet, husband…" Mashiro said softly. "Could Tsukino-sensei maybe…"
Mashiro had changed how she addressed him, too.
That sweet, breathy "husband" made Natsuki Yuu feel annoyingly pleased.
Natsuki Yuu shook his head.
"No. Tsukino-sensei is definitely still alive."
"Mhm!" Mashiro nodded hard. "Sensei will survive."
Then she added, "Oh, husband… people in the group chat are talking bad about you. They want you to hand over your food."
"Oh?" Natsuki Yuu raised a brow. "Let me see who's got the guts."
He took the phone and glanced at the messages.
Just as he expected.
The same people who had been on their balconies earlier were leading the charge.
They had even snapped photos of him eating roast chicken and posted them into the group.
Natsuki Yuu chuckled, not even angry.
"These idiots…"
"Husband, should we curse them back?" Mashiro asked, indignant on his behalf.
"No."
Natsuki Yuu simply took a close-up photo of the roast chicken and posted it.
"Come and look. Hot, juicy roast chicken. Delicious."
The group chat exploded instantly.
"Holy crap, it really is roast chicken!"
"Just one bite, please, just one bite. I'm starving!"
"Name your price. I'll buy it."
"That looks so good… big brother, can you share a little?"
…
Property Manager Kameda Taro:
"This is an emergency. I ask that this resident share their food with everyone."
Natsuki Yuu:
"Kameda, have you finished dealing with the Blood Corpses?"
Kameda Taro:
"We are currently handling it. We will soon clear out all the Blood Corpses in the building. After that, everyone must follow arrangements and hand all food over to me for management. Anyone who refuses will be expelled from the apartment building."
It was a threat, plain and simple.
Natsuki Yuu:
"Alright, alright. If I don't want to get kicked out, then I guess I should finish eating all my food first."
The moment Kameda Taro saw that reply, the veins on his forehead bulged.
Fine.
So you want to play games.
Sooner or later, I'll kill you.
Kameda Taro drew a deep breath, forcing the murderous urge down.
"Haha! Trash Blood Corpse. I took it down."
Ichiro Honda, covered in blood, posted the message after barely finishing off the first Blood Corpse. It had taken him a lot of effort.
"Well done!" Kameda Taro laughed loudly.
"Keep going. Let's clear every Blood Corpse in the building today."
"Got it!" Ichiro Honda was fired up.
At the same time, Kameda Taro contacted the two security guards hiding downstairs in the guard room.
Once Ichiro Honda, that idiot, finished clearing the Blood Corpses, Kameda Taro could use the guards and Shungo Konoe to seize control of the building.
And then…
Heh.
Women.
Food.
He wanted it all.
As he imagined it, a certain woman's figure formed in his mind, making his blood itch with desire.
Mrs. Yukino…