Morning came with a gray sky and cold wind.

The truck sat on the ridge like a lone survivor of the night, its frame streaked with soot. Below, the valley still burned—black smoke twisting upward where the Burners had moved through.

Riku stood outside, arms crossed, staring down at the destruction. He hadn't slept. His rifle leaned against the hood, a habit more than a need.

Suzune joined him, pulling her jacket tighter. "They're still burning it."

"Yeah," Riku said quietly. "They'll move north when they're done."

"Toward us?"

"Eventually."

For a moment, neither spoke. The only sound was the wind moving through the dry grass.

Behind them, Ichika was trying to warm a can of soup over a small camping stove. Hana and Ken sat close together under a blanket, watching the flames. The rescued woman from last night—still unnamed—was sitting near the back of the truck, silent, her eyes empty.

Suzune nodded toward her. "She hasn't said a word since we left the valley."

"She lost everything," Riku said. "Give her time."

Suzune frowned. "Time doesn't heal much in this world."

"No," he said. "But it keeps you moving."

Ichika called out, "Food's ready. What's left of it anyway."

They gathered around the small stove. Each had a small tin bowl—barely half full—but no one complained.

Hana handed hers to Ken. "You can have some of mine."

He shook his head. "No, I'm okay."

Suzune smiled faintly. "You two share better than most adults I know."

Ichika glanced at Riku. "So what's the plan? You said higher ground last night. How high are we talking?"

"Northwest," he said. "There's a mountain pass that leads toward Takayama. Roads might still be open."

"'Might'?" Ichika repeated.

Riku shrugged. "Nothing's certain anymore."

Suzune looked over the map spread across the truck hood. "That route crosses the Kiso Mountains. Cold, thin air, no fuel stations. We'll be on our own."

Riku nodded. "That's why it's safer."

Ichika sighed. "Safer meaning we'll freeze instead of burn."

"Exactly," he said dryly.

They packed up after breakfast, loading the last jerry can into the back. The rescued woman climbed in without a word. Her hands still shook whenever she saw the horizon.

As the truck started rolling again, Hana whispered, "What's her name?"

Suzune answered quietly, "She hasn't said."

The road ahead wound through forests of blackened pines. Ash drifted like snowflakes, sticking to the windows. Every few kilometers they passed burned-out cars—some with skeletons still inside.

Ichika muttered, "How far do you think the Burners' reach goes?"

"Farther every week," Riku said. "They follow the main highways. It's easy fuel, easy pickings."

Suzune kept her eyes on the roadside. "Then we stay off the highways."

They turned onto a smaller path leading deeper into the hills. The incline grew steeper, and the engine began to strain.

Ken leaned forward between the seats. "It smells like rain."

Riku nodded. "Storm's coming. We'll need to find shelter before it hits."

Hours later, the clouds broke. Rain poured in thick sheets, hammering the windshield. The wipers barely kept up. The mountain road turned to mud, forcing them to crawl forward at a walking pace.

Visibility dropped to almost nothing. The world outside became a blur of gray and moving shadows.

Ichika cursed under her breath. "This is suicide. We can't see a damn thing."

"Better than waiting down there," Riku said, nodding toward the valley behind them. "Keep it steady."

Suzune leaned forward. "There's an old service tunnel up ahead—looks clear on the map."

"Good," Riku said. "We'll park there until it passes."

They found it half an hour later—a short concrete tunnel carved into the rock, once used for maintenance trucks. The entrance was half-collapsed, but there was enough space for the Rezvani to squeeze inside.

The engine echoed as they entered, the sound bouncing off damp walls. Riku parked near the back and killed the lights.

Rain drummed heavily outside.

Ichika leaned back with a groan. "I swear this country's cursed."

Suzune gave her a small smile. "It's not the country. It's everything."

They settled down for the night. Riku checked the perimeter while Suzune cleaned her rifle. Hana and Ken shared a blanket again, whispering softly.

The rescued woman sat alone in the corner, knees pulled to her chest. Her name finally came out in a whisper when Suzune brought her a bottle of water.

"Emi," she said faintly. "My name's Emi."

Suzune crouched beside her. "You're safe now, Emi."

The woman shook her head. "No one's safe."

Suzune didn't argue. She just stayed there a moment before returning to her post.

Night came fast.

The rain slowed, replaced by mist drifting through the tunnel entrance. Ichika was half asleep against the wall when Riku's voice cut through the quiet.

"Movement outside."

Everyone tensed. Suzune was already on her feet, rifle in hand.

"What kind?" she whispered.

Riku shook his head. "Too far to tell. Might be animals."

They listened.

Faint scraping. Then the soft crunch of boots on wet gravel.

Suzune's eyes narrowed. "That's not an animal."

Ichika loaded a shell. "Great. Visitors."

The noise came closer—slow, cautious. Then a faint glint appeared through the fog: a flashlight beam sweeping across the tunnel entrance.

Riku raised his hand, signaling silence.

Voices followed. Japanese, low and muffled through masks.

"Search the tunnel. They could be hiding here."

Burners.

Suzune mouthed the word, eyes hard.

Riku gestured quickly—two fingers down, one hand toward the far wall. Everyone crouched low. Emi covered her mouth to keep from crying out. Hana and Ken clung to each other, trembling.

The footsteps drew nearer. Light spilled across the floor.

Riku waited until the first silhouette entered. Then he fired.

The shot echoed like thunder. The Burner fell instantly, his torch clattering to the ground.

"Contact!" someone outside shouted.

Gunfire erupted. Sparks danced along the tunnel walls as bullets ricocheted off concrete.

Suzune returned fire, her rifle muzzle flashing in the dark. Ichika rolled behind the truck, pumping her shotgun and blasting at the entrance.

"Keep them pinned!" Riku shouted.

"Trying!" Ichika yelled, reloading.

Outside, shadows moved between flashes of light—five, maybe six figures advancing through the rain. They fired short bursts, organized, precise.

"These aren't raiders," Suzune muttered. "They've trained."

Riku ducked behind a support pillar. "Doesn't matter. We hold!"

A grenade clinked across the floor.

"Down!" Suzune screamed.

They hit the ground as the explosion ripped through the tunnel, shaking the earth. Dust filled the air, lights flickered, and Hana screamed.

When Riku stood again, his ears were ringing. The Burners were pushing forward through the smoke.

He grabbed a flare from his belt, struck it, and hurled it into the open. The red light filled the entrance—and with it, clear targets.

Suzune and Ichika fired in tandem. Two fell. Another staggered, bleeding. The rest pulled back, shouting for cover.

Riku moved quickly. "Now! Out the side!"

There was a maintenance hatch halfway down the tunnel. He kicked it open, revealing a narrow escape path leading up toward the ridge.

"Go!" he ordered. "Take the kids!"

Suzune grabbed Hana and Ken. Emi stumbled after them, coughing. Ichika was last, still firing bursts to cover the retreat.

"Riku, come on!" she yelled.

He turned one last time, throwing another grenade toward the entrance. The blast collapsed part of the tunnel mouth, sealing it with debris.

The air went still again—only the ringing in their ears and the faint hiss of rain remained.

They climbed the narrow path until they reached open air. The mountains stretched around them, endless and cold. The wind cut sharp against their faces.

Hana looked back, eyes wide. "Are they gone?"

"For now," Riku said.

Suzune panted, wiping sweat and soot from her face. "They tracked us. They knew where to look."

"They'll assume we died in the blast," he said.

Ichika sank onto a rock. "That's a big assumption."

Riku adjusted his rifle strap. "It's enough to buy us a few hours."

Emi sat down, shaking uncontrollably. "They never stop. They just keep burning."

Riku looked toward the horizon where lightning flashed faintly behind the clouds. "Then we go higher. They won't climb what they can't burn."

By morning, they reached an old mountain cabin half-buried in snow. The sign outside was written in faded kanji: Kiso Hiking Lodge.

The roof sagged, but it stood.

Inside, they found broken bunks, an old wood stove, and a miracle—two sealed boxes of canned food hidden under the floorboards.

Ichika grinned. "Finally, some luck."

Suzune inspected one of the cans. "Expiration date's a decade old."

"Still smells better than the soup from last night."

They set a small fire in the stove, warming the air for the first time in days. Hana laughed softly when she felt the heat on her hands.

Ken smiled too, faintly.

For a brief moment, it almost felt normal.

Riku stood by the window, watching snowflakes drift past the cracked glass. Suzune joined him quietly.

"They'll come again," she said.

He nodded. "Then we'll be ready."

She gave a small smirk. "You always say that."

"And I'm still here, aren't I?"

She chuckled. "For now."

Behind them, Ichika was teaching Hana and Ken how to stack cans properly, pretending it was a game. Emi was asleep at last, finally breathing without shaking.

For the first time in weeks, Riku allowed himself a small breath of relief.

The world outside was frozen and silent. But inside that little cabin, surrounded by snow and fading embers, they were alive.

And for now—just now—that was enough.

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