"Wait, wait, wait… Wait."Sakane's head spun. "You're a god? A system? And my fiancé?! Which one even are you!?"
Jin opened his mouth—
—and a shriek rang out in the hallway.
He rolled his eyes. "And the award for worst timing goes to whoever's screaming in a zombie-infested building."
Sakane frowned. The voice—it was familiar.
Her eyes lit up. "Usumi! The theater club president!"
She yanked the door open. "USUMI!"
From down the hall, a tiny red-haired figure sprinted straight toward her.
"WAIT—!" CRASH.
Usumi slammed into her like a runaway shopping cart. They both tumbled back into the room in a heap of limbs.
Jin, ever useless in a crisis, calmly closed the door behind them. "Two girls, one pile. Nice."
"Ughh…" Sakane winced, pinned beneath her former classmate.
"Usumi?"
The small girl blinked, chest heaving. "You—you called for me! Thank you, I thought I was gonna—"
She hugged Sakane tightly.
"OW—OW! Boobs—ribs—compression—!"
Usumi squeaked and pulled back, blushing. "S-Sorry! I didn't mean to—"
She was tiny. Barely over 4 feet, her red bob swaying as she adjusted her blue Alice headband. Her freckled face was streaked with tears. "I thought I was alone..."
Sakane groaned. "Ow…boob to rib contact is not fun…"
Usumi blinked down at her. "You—you called my name." Her voice cracked. "You saved me!"She hugged Sakane tightly—too tightly.
"OW! OKAY—ease up there, strong arms!"
The girl pulled back, red-cheeked. She was tiny—barely over 4 feet—with freckled cheeks, bobbed red hair, and a bright blue Alice headband. She looked like a child dropped into a horror film.
"You okay?" Sakane asked gently.
"I—I think so," Usumi nodded. "I thought I was alone…" Her voice trembled.
Sakane softened. "Not anymore."
Then she paused.Wait a second…
"Who closed the door?"
Usumi blinked. "You… didn't?"
"No…" Sakane turned. "Jin?"
He gave a lazy wave from the corner.
Usumi didn't even flinch—she didn't see him.
"…She can't see you," Sakane muttered.
Jin nodded. "Of course not. You're the only one marked."
"Marked?"
He rolled up his sleeve and pointed to his wrist. A faint sigil glowed—like fire shaped into a crest.
"You can see me because you were chosen. Apostles aren't gods. We're agents. And I've made you my heir."
Sakane's heart skipped. "You… chose me?"
"You accepted my hand, remember?" he said softly. "That wasn't a joke. That was a contract."
Usumi squinted. "Who are you talking to?"
Suddenly, she flinched. A warm hand touched her shoulder. She turned—
"OH MY—when did he get here?!"
Jin grinned. "Right on cue."
He offered his hand. "Jin. Apostle of the Eighth Flame. You must be the adorable friend."
Usumi blinked fast. "I… uh… hi?" She took his hand. He kissed it gently.
She turned redder than her hair.
"Wow, okay," Sakane muttered. "You flirt with every living thing, don't you?"
He turned, gently took her hand too—and kissed it. Then leaned closer.
"Only the ones I'd go to war for."
Her cheeks betrayed her by flushing. She shoved him back again.
"Usumi," Sakane changed the topic, "why were you screaming?"
"I—I panicked," she said, embarrassed. "I heard something moving. I ran. I thought I was gonna die…"
Sakane sighed. She looked so much like her little sister when she was scared.
She looked at Jin. "How bad is it?"
He turned serious. "There were over 1200 students in this school. Maybe 25 teachers. Now? You've got about 350 humans left. Give or take."
The room fell silent.
Jin touched their foreheads, murmuring something under his breath. Warmth flooded through them, like a breeze cutting through nausea.
"You okay?" he asked.
Sakane nodded slowly. "Thanks…"
Jin leaned against the wall. "You've got a choice. You can try to help them. Or you can save your sister before it's too late. You won't have time to do both."
She hesitated. "But…"
She looked at Usumi. "What would you do?"
The girl trembled—then clenched her fists. "I want to help people. Let me come with you!"
Sakane smiled. "Then we're in this together."
Something pulsed under her skin. The same burning mark on her wrist glowed for a moment—And warmth rushed into her body. Like a new energy being unlocked.
Jin watched quietly. "You just unlocked your first Apostle trait."
"What… happened?"
"You formed a bond. Allies like her? They amplify your strength. Your charisma just jumped, by the way."
"No numbers," Sakane muttered. "This isn't an RPG."
"Fine," Jin smirked. "You just got cooler."
"But Jin…" her voice dropped. "What are you really?"
He stared at the ceiling. "Not a god. Not a system. Just an Apostle—a soldier chosen by a divine to fight in their name. I've seen worlds fall. Fought wars against other Apostles. Made and lost…a lot."
He looked at her.
"And now, I'm making you one."
"But why me?"
"I chose you, Sakane. Because this world is tipping. And it needs champions. I can't fix it for you—but I can make you strong enough to survive it."
"So that whole 'fiancé' thing…"
Jin grinned. "Still true. Apostles don't lie. Much."
Usumi blinked. "Wait, are you saying Sakane has powers now?"
"She will," Jin said. "If she survives long enough to awaken them."
Then the air shimmered again—like the bond deepened.
Jin grinned. "Looks like your first mission just dropped."
Mission: Prove Your Aim
Objective: Kill 250 Infected to gain a significant reward.Reward: To be revealed
"TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY?!" Sakane yelled. "Are you out of your Apostle-ass mind?!"
Jin smirked. "Oh darling, I can be—if you want."
"Y-you PERV!"
She stomped toward the door, checking her weapon. "I'll do your dumb challenge. Just don't get in my way."
"I can't," Jin said simply. "I can't interfere too much, or I risk drawing out other Apostles—and their gods. The peace between us is… fragile."
Sakane nodded. "Then I'll get stronger. Fast."
He gave her a rare, sincere smile. "That's my girl."
Usumi whispered, "Sakane… I still don't get all this, but I'll follow your lead."
Sakane held the scissors, adjusted her ribbon, and cracked the door. "Then let's start saving people."
Jin whispered with a grin, "I think I chosen the right candidate...don't you think so...Gaia..."