Chapter 16: Success

Universal Special Anti-Inflammatory Shot (Zombie Virus Edition): Eliminates every known apocalypse virus, including rot bacteria. Guarantees a full cure with zero side effects.

Price: 200 points.

May stared at her lonely 50 points and felt her heart sink.

She was still 150 short.

Where was she supposed to get another 150 points?

Her gaze drifted, almost against her will, to the several sleeping figures in the truck bed—walking heat sources that might as well have been point ATMs.

No more hesitation.

She clenched her teeth. To save his arm, she was willing to go all out today.

Pretending the truck’s jolting had thrown her off balance, she inched closer to the nearest one—Jack.

Let’s start with the purest, most straightforward softie.

"Mm..."

A soft, weak sound escaped her as she let her body tip sideways, collapsing gently toward him as if she no longer had the strength to sit upright.

Her hand reached out "accidentally," searching for support—and landed squarely on Jack’s rock-hard pectoral muscle.

The solid heat of it burned through the fabric, making her fingertips curl.

Jack froze completely, his large frame going rigid like a statue. Even his breathing stopped.

[Ding.]

[Physical contact with Target No. 4 "Jack" (chest muscle). Ambiguous tension rated "Good." Reward: +20 points.]

[Current total: 70.]

Only twenty.

May’s mind raced, but her face stayed the picture of a startled, still-dazed girl.

Her hand remained "weakly" resting on his chest as she looked up at him with wide, watery eyes full of residual panic.

"Jack, I didn’t mean to. The truck just rocked and I lost my balance..."

Jack’s honest face flushed from the neck all the way to his temples. He shrank into himself like a cooked shrimp, wishing he could disappear into his own chest.

"I-it’s fine... Just... sit steady, okay..."

His words came out in a stammer. His eyes stayed locked on his own feet; he didn’t dare meet her gaze.

Tsk. Pure-hearted big teddy bear. One touch and he’s already like this. Anything more intense and he’d probably short-circuit on the spot.

May grumbled internally even as she reluctantly pulled her hand away from the hot, solid muscle.

Still 130 points short.

Her eyes swept the truck bed and settled on the corner where Mitch sat with his arms crossed, looking thoroughly irritated.

Him next.

She drew a deep breath, then deliberately "lost her balance" again and pitched toward Mitch.

"Ah—"

A perfectly timed little cry left her lips as she threw herself forward, both hands clamping tightly around the nearest "lifeline"—Mitch’s strong, iron-hard forearm.

The explosive power in it hit her instantly. Even through the thin combat fabric she could feel the thick, wild muscle coiled beneath.

Mitch stiffened so hard he nearly jumped.

He looked down at the girl clinging to his arm like a koala and his face went pink in a flash.

"What are you doing? Let go."

His voice was rough and sharp, but the quiet flush creeping up the tips of his ears completely betrayed the chaos inside him.

[Ding.]

[Deep embrace (arm) with Target No. 5 "Mitch." Ambiguous tension rated "Good." Reward: +30 points.]

[Current total: 100.]

Still not enough.

Panic tightened in May’s chest. She held on even tighter, burying her face against his arm and letting a thick sob color her voice.

"Mitch... I’m scared. The wound on my leg hurts so much. I don’t have any strength left..."

Come on, give me more. I know you’re soft underneath that tsundere shell.

Mitch felt the arm she clung to burn like it had been set on fire.

He wanted to shake her off, but the sight of her thin shoulders hitching with sobs made the "get lost" stuck in his throat die before it could leave.

In the end, only a few gritted words escaped.

"What are you crying for? You’re going to turn into a messy little cat."

He scolded her, yet his body stayed locked in place, letting her hold on. The ever-tightening muscles were the only giveaway of how unsettled he really was.

[Ding.]

[Severe emotional fluctuation detected in Target No. 5. Protective instinct triggered. Bonus points: +100.]

[Ding. Total points reach 200. Exchange conditions met.]

Success.

Joy exploded in May’s chest, but her face stayed tearful and pitiful.

She released Mitch’s arm, wiped nonexistent tears with the back of her hand, and whispered,

"Thank you!"

Mitch yanked his arm back as if burned.

Without another word, he turned away, presenting her with a rigid back that screamed "don’t mess with me."

May silently flashed him a victory sign in her mind, then immediately exchanged the Universal Special Anti-Inflammatory Shot in the system shop.

The medicine dissolved into a thin, colorless, odorless stream of warmth that sank into the water flask she always carried.

Only then did she put on a worried expression and bring the flask over to Ray.

Theo had just finished checking him and was frowning hard.

"He needs physical cooling right away. If the fever cooks his brain, even a god won’t be able to save him."

May spoke up at once, unscrewing the flask. "Drink some water."

Ray was half-delirious from the fever, but instinct still made him open his mouth and take several swallows from her hand.

Once it was done, May finally exhaled and stayed by his side, waiting for the medicine to work.

In the second half of the night, everyone was exhausted to the bone.

The truck rolled alone through the dark. In the bed, the group slumped against one another and slept in their clothes.

Space was so tight that, to give the injured May and Ray a little more room to lie down, the others mostly sat or curled into the corners.

The night wind was sharp, sinking cold into their bones.

May was drifting in and out of sleep when a sudden rush of frantic muttering and violent thrashing broke out beside her.

"Fuck—stay back—die already!"

It was Alex.

Whatever nightmare had him, he was punching and kicking in his sleep as if fighting a whole pack of zombies.

One foot slammed into the truck wall with a loud bang.

The noise jolted May wide awake.

The moment her eyes opened, she saw Alex’s leg sweeping straight toward her.

"Ah!"

Terror shot through her. Without thinking, she dove into the narrow gap between Jack and Mitch’s bodies.

Like a startled hamster, she burrowed in, her head landing solidly on a firm, warm "meat pillow."

One of her legs, flung out in pure panic, landed squarely across another solid stretch of...

Inside the truck bed, the only sounds left were the rumble of the engine and Alex’s ongoing muttered curses—until several breaths suddenly turned rough and heavy.

May could feel, with perfect clarity, that the "pillow" under her head was Jack’s forearm, hard as forged iron and packed with muscle.

And the leg she had thrown across had come to rest on Mitch’s... well. To be continued.