– The less you get close to us the better.

She had the same cold tone as when she saved us from that monster.

—¿Why?

– Just don't do it, it will be a nuisance.— She turned around and faced me– Tomorrow we will help you and that that’s it, so keep your distance until then.

I looked at her for a few moments.

—You don't hate me, right?

My question seemed to unsettle her. I continued talking.

– If you did, you wouldn't have asked your father to help me, so... why do you want me to stay away? I doubt someone like you would be a jealous sister.

–What makes you so sure of that?- I didn't answer, causing her to sigh- I still don't trust you, but I don't hate you.

—Then, why?

—Maybe you've already noticed, but despite their appearance, my family is very sentimental. You'll be leaving tomorrow and we probably won't see you again, either because you die or our paths simply won't cross again.— She crossed her arms.— If they get too attached, it will be problematic in the future.

— They can't get attached to me in just one day.

The emotion in her eyes intensified even more when she heard me.

—Right?- I asked now, unsure.

– We don't usually deal with new people, at least not with people who don't have bad intentions towards us. Not to mention that they understand your situation. It's common to get a little attached to someone you sympathize with.

— Is that why you helped me?

She was startled by my question, totally caught off guard. She opened her mouth a couple of times but didn't say any words until she finally cleared her throat and was able to speak.

— I-I only did it for that idiot Mak. If I didn't, that fool would have wanted to run there himself.

I found kind of cute the way she avoided my gaze. But if I dare to mention it, I have a feeling that she'll knock me out with one blow.

—Thank you very much.

—You better be grateful and don't even think about wasting this opportunity, brat.— She pointed at me and I felt like she was a mother scolding her daughter.—Make sure you rescue your little brother, okay?

Then I understood. She sympathized with me and let me come because she somehow saw herself reflected in me. I don't know her very well, but I can tell how much she cares about Makoto just like I do about Liam. That's why she's helping me. These aren't just empty words, she really hopes I can find Liam.

My eyes start to burn and tears threaten to come out, but I refuse to cry. I nodd determinedly.

– I will.

Her expression relaxed and she looked at me satisfied with my answer.

– Well, let's get back. Dinner should be ready.

She walk past me and before I could turn around, a hand rest on my head ruffling my hair.

— You should wear your hair down. You look better.— She said in a barely audible whisper but I managed to hear it.

She let go of my head and I heard her walk away. I had to take a few seconds to compose myself from the unexpected compliment before following her to the old residence.

I would like to say that dinner was quiet but I can't. The Nishimura family is much more lively than it seems and from time to time the sounds of gunshots could be heard. This last thing upset me but the rest seemed not to hear anything and continued conversing normally.

The yakuza are on another level.

I made sure to keep myself in a corner and speak only when strictly necessary. I decided to comply with Yuriko's request and stay as far away from her family as possible. Anyone else might have been hurt by the rejection, but it's really nothing new to me so it didn't affect me at all. 

Instead, I could only agree with her point of view and understand that the best strategy now is for us to not form any sort of bond. 

I tend to be a person who makes her decisions based on her reasoning rather than her feelings. Because of that, I'm aware that even if I do take a liking to them I could never risk my life for them, much less choose them over Liam. 

The only thing important to me now is finding my brother, and joining up with other people could benefit me as well as harm me. But I'm not sure I want to take that risk. Not when Liam's life is at stake. 

I've always been better off alone anyway. 

It was time to sleep and I was taken to a guest room. The decor is extremely simple without losing traditional elegance. On the floor there’s a futon that I assumed would be my bed for today.

I put on some light pajamas that Yuriko had borrowed and lay on my back, leaving Liam's katana next to me.

I'm not stupid enough to sleep in a stranger's house in the middle of an apocalypse without a weapon nearby. Much less if those strangers are dangerous people.

I stared at no particular point on the ceiling. My mind was blank. I was afraid that if I started thinking I would feel more anxious or collapse again like I did in the tunnel. The wounds that didn't hurt before because of the adrenaline were now starting to do so.

To top it off, my cell phone broke in the fall and the Nishimura family's cell phones have no signal. Probably no one in the city has one. The only thing I can do now is rest and get enough energy for tomorrow.

My life has always been hard, but never, not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I would have to fight monsters, ask for help from the yakuza and enter an infested city to look for Liam.

– ¿Is this your way of making fun of me?—I whispered to god, fate or whoever was messing with me.

It seemed like an eternity when I finally felt my body heavy and I knew I was falling asleep. But to my bad luck, as soon as I closed my eyes the sounds of gunshots were heard. Followed by screams. I was still a little dazed when the sliding door opened abruptly, revealing to me a blurry and upset Yuriko.

Before I could say anything, the redhead spoke.

— Get up, the monsters came in.

I leaned on my elbows and blinked repeatedly trying to process the information.

«¿Monsters? They came in, ¿where?»

She came over with long strides and grabbed my arm, pulling me up to stand up.

— Aren’t you listening? Monsters have entered the mansion, it’s not safe anymore. We have to get out of here.

Suddenly, reality hit me like a bucket of cold water and I woke up completely. I put on my glasses and grabbed my gun as quickly as my drowsiness would allow before letting Yuriko pick me up off the ground. She looked both ways down the hallway and then turned right.

I followed her and had to make a great effort to get as close to her as possible.

Yes, I had already fought one of those things. But the one who really knows how to fight (probably) and has a machine gun here is her. Not to mention that the poor visibility my glasses give me doesn’t help much.

With two paths again, we turned left but my guide stopped dead making me crash into her back. In front of us was a huge spider eating something, and from the red puddle under it I could tell what it was. 

We walked backwards hoping it wouldn't hear us, and luckily it was too focused on its prey to notice us. Almost at the end of the hallway, Yukiro took the lead. Once again she had to decide between one side or the other. She turned right. 

I was barely turning when a creaking sound caught my attention and a millisecond later the wall between both hallways broke into pieces. My first reaction is to jump back and luckily I did it just in time. 

Between Yuriko and me appeare a humanoid monster. Its body is covered in old feathers, with bird feets and from its back protrude large but filthy wings. Its black and sunken eyes looked at me. 

–¡Aisha!