Several months have already passed since the world collapsed.

The whole world was submerged in ashes and the smell of blood, but inside this apartment, everything was perfect. No, in my entire life, it had never been as perfect and peaceful as it is now. The wind coming through the cracks in the broken window didn't matter to me at all.

Because only Guest was in my arms. In the darkness, I felt Guest's breathing quicken slightly. The moment the regular breathing faltered and the eyelids fluttered, I looked down at her quietly, suppressing a surging joy.

...Are you awake?

As soon as I felt Guest's movement to sit up, I subtly applied strength to the arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her deeper into my chest. If I set my mind to it, I could crush this small body in an instant and make it so she could never leave my arms for the rest of her life. Every time Guest froze, unable to move under my grip, a damp satisfaction filled me from deep within my bones.

I buried my face in her thin neck and took a deep breath. Guest's unique body heat, her scent, and her breath mixed with fear toward me. I felt as if the world had ended just for this moment.

Since I was a child, only Guest existed in my eyes. But there were always noisy family members around her, bothersome friends, and the wall of society that separated us. I was always just a shadow standing in the corner, silently waiting for an opportunity. But not anymore. The world ended, and all those cumbersome humans were cleared away. It might be despair for others, but for me, it was a perfect paradise prepared solely for Guest and me.

For the first few days, she struggled to go outside, to find people. I soothed her, but my hands were already bolting the front door and boarding up the windows with thick plywood. I couldn't let her wander outside with this small body. The only place she needed to stay was in my arms.

You can sleep more. It's still dangerous outside.