The last day of April.
After a week of continuous rain, the downpour had lessened. The bad weather was finally ending.
As usual, Haizaki exercised indoors. Squats, sit-ups—these exercises that required no equipment were the best way for him to stay active.
Not far away, the husky drooped its head, eyes fixed on Haizaki, watching him go up and down. It seemed to find his squats amusing.
It had been terribly bored lately. Two days ago, it had rushed out into the rain to play, returning drenched like a soaked chicken, only to be scolded by Haizaki. Since then, it had obediently stayed inside, not daring to go out.
Spring was a rainy season, but endless gloomy days could dampen anyone's mood. Still, Haizaki and Yukino managed to adjust—reading, gaming, or other activities. The husky, however, as a high-energy animal, was forced to stay indoors. With Haizaki present, it didn't dare cause trouble. When bored, it could only gnaw on lamb bones to pass the time.
"Awwooo…"
The husky howled again, restless. It wanted to go out and wander.
Haizaki, finishing his workout, stretched to relax his muscles. Hearing the husky's howl, he smiled helplessly. It was protesting its boredom the only way it knew.
He understood. Dogs were energetic. Being cooped up indoors was hard.
"Want to go out?"
Haizaki walked to the bed and looked outside. Light drizzle, mild wind, a gentle breeze. Not ideal for going out, but much better than before.
"Alright, go wander. But don't stay out too long—we won't wait for you at lunch."
He figured when the husky returned, he'd need to blow-dry its fur. Otherwise, the whole room would be damp.
"Awwooo…"
Hearing Haizaki's permission, the husky barked excitedly. Its big tail wagged furiously as it rushed to Haizaki, hugging his leg, trying to lick him.
"Don't lick me, you silly dog."
Haizaki waved him off, looking annoyed. Yesterday, after being licked by the husky, he had gone upstairs to Yukino, only to be silently "lectured" by her sharp gaze.
Snow Cat Yukinoshita was sensitive to dogs.
The moment he entered her room, she noticed the strong husky smell clinging to him. She hadn't said anything, but Haizaki cared. Compared to the husky, he valued Yukino's feelings more. It was a practical choice.
"Whimper…"
The husky looked dejected. Its affectionate gesture had been rejected, leaving it crestfallen.
But when Haizaki opened the door, its spirits revived instantly. Forget everything—time to play outside.
The husky darted out, sprinting freely. The outside world was freedom itself. It could run without fear. Rain? What was that? When it returned, someone would take care of it.
"Awwooo…"
Its howl was full of excitement, releasing a week's pent-up energy.
Upstairs, Yukino heard the husky's cry. A faint smile flickered across her cool features. This life… perhaps it wasn't so bad. If it continued like this, maybe it would be fine.
But she knew—once her body recovered and the weather cleared, they would set out for Tokyo. The crystallization virus was still a reality they had to face.
They hadn't been infected yet. But in a month, a year, five or ten years—could they really remain uninfected?
She doubted it. The virus had infected nearly all of humanity, killing billions. How could it spare just the two of them?
She guessed the virus's strongest infection period had passed. But with time… A vaccine was necessary. Or some solution.
…
After the husky left, Haizaki closed the door. He tidied the living room, then prepared to go upstairs to read.
Suddenly, the door banged loudly—followed by scratching claws.
"Awwooo…"
The husky howled urgently.
Back already? So soon? Couldn't handle it? Pathetic.
"Awwooo…"
Its howl was anxious, completely different from its usual silly whining.
Haizaki sensed something was wrong. He quickly opened the door, alert.
The husky darted inside.
Several dark figures lunged at Haizaki.
His pupils contracted. He hadn't expected—crystallization mutants.
Humans transformed into mutated creatures by the virus and incomplete vaccines. Unable to move under sunlight, they roamed at night or in rain, attacking all living things. Before sunrise, they returned to shelter. How they sensed the sun was unknown. But they were violently aggressive, especially toward humans.
And now, mutants had appeared in the town again. Had they wandered here from nearby villages?
Haizaki guessed that was most likely.
He raised his leg and kicked hard. The leading mutant staggered back, roaring. The two behind it stumbled as well.
That bought him time.
Haizaki stepped back, grabbed the door, and slammed it shut. This wasn't the time to fight them. Who knew how many more were outside? Barehanded, he was at a disadvantage.
"Bang…"
The door slammed shut.
"Roar…"
The blue-white faces of the mutants twisted as they howled, slamming against the door.
"Thud, thud, thud…"
The sound of them battering the door echoed.
"Duke, upstairs! Protect Yukinoshita-san!"
As he locked the door, Haizaki shouted to the husky. The mutants might climb to the second floor and reach her room.
"Awwooo…"
At Haizaki's command, the husky sprang forward, racing up to the second floor. Its sprinting body burst forth with unprecedented speed. It had to protect its mistress.
"Bang, bang…"
The pounding on the door grew more violent.
Lying in bed, Yukino heard the heavy impacts downstairs and immediately realized it must be crystallization mutants attacking. Nothing else could cause such a situation.
"Thud…"
The sound of something heavy landing. Yukino instinctively looked toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
A twisted mutant climbed over, crouching, its bloodthirsty eyes fixed on her, its mouth splitting open as if it had found a delicious meal.
Her pupils contracted. For a moment her mind went blank with fear, but reason quickly forced her to act. Ignoring the pain in her left waist, she reached desperately toward the bedside table.
"Crash…"
The window shattered, glass spraying everywhere. The thin glass offered no resistance as the mutant burst through.
Yukino gritted her teeth against the pain. The moment her right hand touched the pistol, she quickly disengaged the safety and adjusted her aim as trained. But… Too late.
Before she could align the barrel, the stench of the mutant filled her nose. It was already upon her, snarling hideously, ready to revel in its violence.
Was this the end? Her mind went blank.
Goodbye, then…
Haizaki's face flashed in her mind, a faint smile crossing her lips.
With a creak, the door opened. The husky's limbs tensed, exploding with power. Its ice-blue eyes burned with ferocity.
Weighing less than twenty-five kilograms, it snarled and lunged, ignoring its own pain, slamming into the mutant.
"Awwooo…"
It leapt, biting savagely at the mutant's neck, heedless of the virus's danger. What was the crystallization virus to it? Nothing. Protecting its mistress was more important.
The mutant roared, its twisted joints cracking unnaturally as it struck the husky. The dog yelped in pain but refused to let go.
"Duke…"
Yukino hadn't expected the husky to burst in and save her. The sound of that heavy blow made her heart ache.
She raised her pistol to aim, but fear of hitting the husky made her hands tremble. She didn't know what to do.
"Duke, let go."
Hearing its master's voice, the husky immediately released and darted aside. Only a fool would fight these monsters to the death.
"Bang…"
A gunshot rang out at the doorway. A bullet hole appeared in the mutant's forehead. It collapsed, twitching a few times before going still.
One down. Then…
"Bang, bang…"
Haizaki fired decisively again. A mutant leaping midair froze, then crashed to the first floor, two heavy thuds echoing.
Outside, in the drizzle, footsteps and roars drew nearer. The surrounding mutants had been attracted.
Haizaki had no time to check on Yukino. He stepped over the corpse and rushed to the balcony.
Groups of mutants gathered.
"About one hundred fifty…"
That number… This was a feeding raid.
Gunfire, howls, and the sight of living humans had triggered their hunting instinct. Their chaotic wandering instantly became a frenzied charge.
Haizaki wasted no time. He dashed back to his room, grabbed his backpack full of weapons, and returned to the balcony.
Escape was impossible. And where could they run? They had to fight. With weapons in hand, he would kill them all.
If they didn't wipe out the mutants, he, Yukino, and the husky would die.
"Is this a mutant siege?"
Haizaki gave a bitter laugh. He flipped the safety off his submachine gun, aiming at the nearest mutant.
"Bang, bang, bang…"
Gunfire erupted. Mutants fell one after another. But more surged forward.
Yukino, ignoring her pain, put on shoes and came to the balcony. She finally saw the situation outside.
The sight of hundreds of mutants overwhelmed her, making her stomach churn.
"Careful…"
Clenching her teeth, she suppressed her discomfort. Spotting a mutant lunging at Haizaki's right side, she shouted a warning.
Haizaki turned and shot without hesitation.
"Crash…"
Glass shattered. Mutants broke in from another direction.
"Yukinoshita-san…"
"I'll handle the door…"
She picked up a rifle. Heavier than a pistol, it felt awkward in her hands. She leaned against the wall, shouldering the stock, aiming at the doorway.
The locked door shook under repeated impacts. Each creak made her heart tremble. But her aim didn't waver. Even as pain urged her to relax, she held firm.
"Crash…"
The door finally gave way, collapsing. Grotesque mutants burst in.
"Ratatat…"
Yukino pulled the trigger. She controlled her breathing, her finger, firing in bursts. She reminded herself not to lose composure, to conserve ammunition. Reloading would be difficult for her now.
The husky, licking its sore side, heard the door break and quickly ran to Yukino for safety. When bravery was needed, it was fierce. But when cowardice was safer, it didn't hesitate.
With its masters fighting, it was content to watch. Grinning at the sight of mutants falling, it wagged its tail happily.
"Stay alert, Duke…"
Haizaki, having just repelled another wave, saw the silly dog hiding by Yukino and grew angry.
"And don't get too close to her."
The husky glanced up, then moved away from her. Remembering Haizaki's warning, its eyes sharpened, staring at the doorway, fully focused. Ready to pounce on any that slipped through. Its face radiated ferocity, its posture full of strength.
…