If Natsuki Yuu really had no food, Yukinoshita Yukino would never believe it.
There was no way all those photos from before were fake.
What made it worse was how disgusting his words were.
Honestly, anyone with food wasn't planning to "contribute" it in the first place. Who knew how long the disaster would last? Food was obviously safer kept in your own home.
But under Kameda Tarou's threats and organizing, everyone reluctantly agreed.
Then Natsuki Yuu popped up and, just like that, those fence-sitters started wavering again.
Who would willingly share their food with others?
Especially when it meant giving it away for free, with nothing in return.
Yukinoshita Yukino was starving too, and she wanted her share, desperately.
But she wasn't the type to force people into things.
So even though she hated Natsuki Yuu's guts, she still didn't expose him.
"It's just…"
She lay there weakly on the bed.
"I'm so hungry…"
Ding dong!
"Senpai, your gourmet delivery has arrived. Please receive it."
Bang!
Something smacked against her balcony's glass door.
He was being kind?
Yukinoshita Yukino instinctively thought Natsuki Yuu was cooking up another rotten trick.
But the hunger tearing through her body dragged her to the balcony anyway.
There really was something there, a lump made from a crumpled KFC bag.
"KFC?"
Her eyes lit up.
"Is he really that generous?!"
"No. He's trying to bribe me because I know he has food."
She didn't even have time to think it through. She grabbed the bag and tore it open immediately.
There wasn't any food inside.
Just a pile of chicken bones.
Yukinoshita Yukino nearly blacked out from anger.
Ding dong!
"Senpai, enjoy today's chicken bones, okay? Love you (づ￣3￣)づ╭～."
She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
Don't get angry.
Anger wastes energy.
"Oh, right. I smeared them with my secret honey sauce. Hope you enjoy licking, Senpai."
"Who would lick that?!"
She almost threw the bag out of her hand.
But…
Grrrnnnng.
Her stomach growled shamelessly.
Hungry.
So hungry.
Grrrnnnng!
Staring at the bones, Yukinoshita Yukino swallowed hard.
They were just bones, but there were still thin strands of meat clinging to them, and a sticky white layer smeared over the surface. She guessed it was cheese.
Something rich. Something nourishing.
But the cheese was mashed and spread so perfectly over the bones that it blended into every crevice.
If she wanted to eat it…
She could only do it little by little.
With her tongue.
Yukinoshita Yukino instantly understood his vile intention.
Ding dong!
"Remember to send a selfie while you eat, Senpai. I'll give you a reward."
Yukinoshita Yukino clenched her teeth and replied with a voice message.
"Like I'd care about your reward, baka!"
It felt like those words drained the last of her strength.
She held the chicken bones in both hands, and in the end, she still didn't throw them away.
When Natsuki Yuu received her reply, he grinned.
"Ohhh, Senpai is so fun."
"Inukai still hasn't accepted my friend request. I can't even mess with her properly."
"And the Snow Lady next door isn't replying anymore either. Who knows what she's doing…"
"And as for… Megumi. I actually almost forgot about her!!!"
Only then did Natsuki Yuu remember there was another heroine, Katou Megumi.
Her presence was so low it was unreal.
Natsuki Yuu knocked his knuckles against his forehead.
"Megumi. I should check on Megumi."
He sent Katou Megumi a friend request.
No response.
"Fine. I'll wait."
Natsuki Yuu tossed his phone aside.
"Chihiro-chan, a little higher."
"Okay, Husband-sama."
Shiina Chihiro lifted her hands a little.
"Is this pressure okay?"
"Mm. Nice."
Natsuki Yuu looked thoroughly satisfied.
He was leaning back with his head resting on Shiina Chihiro's thighs.
A lap pillow from a pretty girl really was something else.
…
Some laughed while others suffered.
Kameda Tarou's plan to gather everyone's food had been completely ruined by Natsuki Yuu.
Now no one wanted to contribute anything.
And outside, it still wasn't safe.
Kameda Tarou and Konoe Shungo had made it to the first floor and met up with the two security guards hiding in the guard room.
But they were trapped there.
Outside were blood corpses moving in packs.
And inside was Honda Ichirou, barely sane.
Honda Ichirou still had the agility of a human, but with a zombie's ferocity layered on top.
When he saw Kameda Tarou and Konoe Shungo, he got even more excited than when he faced Karen Inukai.
Kameda Tarou and Konoe Shungo valued their lives. Neither of them wanted to deal with Honda Ichirou and risk getting infected.
So they were stuck in the guard room.
Along with the two guards.
"Manager, what do we do? There's no food here. We'll starve!"
"Yeah, Manager. You told us there'd be food, that's why we came to help. Now we're trapped!"
"Stop whining!" Kameda Tarou snapped. "Of course I can get food. This is because you cowards can't even handle a Honda Ichirou!"
"Like we don't want to handle him. That guy is just freaky. We don't want to die."
Neither guard was willing to risk their life.
"Tch. Cowards."
"Enough," Konoe Shungo said coldly. "Do you want to attract the blood corpses?"
"You're the clever one," Kameda Tarou said, shoving a cigarette toward him. "Talk. What's the plan?"
Konoe Shungo spoke flatly.
"Simple. The Yoshino family clearly hates that foreign guy. We use that. We get the Yoshino family to go after him. Once he's dealt with, whether he actually has food or not, we can claim he did in the group chat. Then everyone else will hand theirs over."
"Brilliant," Kameda Tarou said, unable to hide his excitement.
"But we can't even get out," one guard complained. "And the food isn't ours."
"Idiot." Konoe Shungo gave a strange smile. "We lure them with food and make them deal with Honda Ichirou. Whoever kills Honda Ichirou gets the most food. I already have the perfect candidate."
"Hahaha!" Kameda Tarou slapped Konoe Shungo's shoulder. "Konoe-kun, you really are smart."
Konoe Shungo shot him a disgusted glance but hid it well. Kameda Tarou didn't notice.
"Spare me the useless talk. My boss wants you to control this building as soon as possible, especially the women inside. The best ones are not for you. They get handed to the boss first. The rest, you can pick."
Kameda Tarou sighed, feeling a stab of regret.
But then his eyes brightened again.
"Those plump married women are still worth tasting. Especially the Snow Lady next door…"
Konoe Shungo cursed silently.
A brain full of filth.
Out loud, he said, "We need to move fast. There's an idiot outside giving out food for free. Once the residents find out, we won't be able to tempt them with food anymore."
"There's someone that stupid?"
"The world's big. You see all kinds." Konoe Shungo narrowed his eyes. "That guy seems to be called Tsukino…"