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Chapter 69: The Agenda [User: Riku Hayashi 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖 Level: 8 Experience Points: 31,634/52,435 SP Balance: 760,256 Armory Shop: Skills: [[Skill Points Available:0] Weapons Handling: Lv. 3 (30/60 SP) Melee Weapon Proficiency: Lv. 3 (30/60 SP) Hand-to-Hand Combat: Lv. 3 (30/60 SP) Stamina & Endurance: Lv. 3 (30/60 SP) Scavenging: Lv. 2 (10/20 SP) Tactical Awareness: Lv. 2 (20/30 SP) Driving: Lv. 1 (0/10 SP) Piloting: Lv. 1 (0/10 SP) Maintenance & Engineering: Lv. 2 (20/30 SP) Medical Knowledge: Lv. 2 (10/20 SP) ] The date was October 5th, 2025. Riku just woke up from his sleep in the manager’s office and when he left the room, he saw the survivors were already awake and preparing for today. They were having breakfast and Murata saw him coming out. "Riku, come on in and get yourself some food," Murata offered. "We should be saving our food supply and not use it up by eating three times a day." Riku approached the long folding table where several survivors sat, paper plates and mismatched bowls in their hands. What passed for breakfast was spread across the surface, half-open bags of chips, crackers with broken edges, chocolates melted and re-hardened in their foil, even a few packs of sweet bread that looked more like bricks than food. He pulled out a chair and sat down, eyes moving over the assortment. "Snacks," he muttered. Murata nodded, chewing a biscuit slowly. "We’re saving the good stuff. Canned goods, instant noodles, rice. Anything that’ll last." He gestured toward the shelves behind him, where boxes of preserved food had been stacked neatly. "What we’re eating now won’t keep another month. Some of it’s already stale, but it fills stomachs." One of the teenagers, still taped up in makeshift armor from yesterday’s sweep, popped a chocolate into his mouth and shrugged. "Better than nothing. Tastes almost normal, if you don’t think too hard about it." Riku picked up a small pack of crackers and turned it in his hand. Expiry date: September 2025. Just past. He opened it anyway, the faint whiff of staleness hitting his nose. "You’re right," he said. "These are better off eaten now before they rot completely. Good call." He faced Murata. "Anyways, I’m going to leave and get us some weapons. I have a weapons cache stored in my inventory not far from here." "Weapons? You mean just like your M4 Carbine? Just where are you getting those weapons, especially given the strict policy in gun control," Murata said. "Are you seriously going to question me again where I found the weapons?" Riku said. "No, I’m not. So who are you bringing along?" "Well, I’m planning on going alone. I don’t trust that you will open the door for me, so I’m leaving the girls here," Riku said. Murata chuckled, though there was a shame in it. "I’m sorry." "Well as long as you don’t do it again. Please, come on." "I swear I won’t do it again," Murata pledged. "So, when are you going to leave?" "At nine o’clock, I will inform my classmates first and then go," Riku said. "Okay, suit yourself. If you need anything, just ask." Riku excused himself from the table after finishing the last of the stale crackers. In the basement, several tents had been pitched along one corner, where families and smaller groups could rest away from the main bustle. Riku made his way toward the one where his sister and the girls slept. The flap rustled as he pushed it aside. Inside, Suzune, Miko, and Ichika were sitting up, their hair messy, eyes heavy with leftover sleep. Hana was curled between them, but even she was awake, rubbing her eyes with the back of her fist. "Riku?" Suzune asked, blinking at him. "It’s early." Riku crouched down inside the tent, his eyes moving from each of them before settling on Hana. "I need to tell you something. At nine, I’m heading out. There’s a cache of weapons I have to secure and bring back here." That snapped the girls awake. "What? You’re leaving? Alone?" Miko’s tone was sharp, disbelief cutting through her grogginess. Ichika leaned forward, frowning. "Why not take us? We’ve fought too. We can handle ourselves." Riku shook his head, firm. "No. You’re staying here. Someone has to keep Hana safe. That’s non-negotiable." Hana blinked up at him, still hugging the blanket to her chest. "But... what if they hurt us when you’re gone?" The fear in her voice tugged at him harder than he wanted to admit. Suzune and Miko exchanged a look, both of them grim. "She’s right," Suzune said softly. "You’ve seen how some of them look at us. What if they decide the moment you’re gone is their chance?" Riku met her gaze. "They won’t. Not after yesterday. They know better now. If anything happens, just inform me through the walkie-talkie." Ichika’s scowl deepened. "And if you’re too far?" "Then Murata will step in," Riku said. "He gave me his word he wouldn’t pull that stunt again. I’m trusting him to keep order until I’m back." Miko folded her arms, her lips pressing thin. "Still sounds like a gamble." "Everything is a gamble," Riku replied. He reached out and ruffled Hana’s hair, softening his voice. "But I promise you, I’ll come back. As soon as possible." Hana’s small hand grabbed his wrist. "You promise?" Riku crouched lower, his eyes meeting hers. "I promise." Her grip tightened, then slowly let go. She nodded, even if her lips trembled. Suzune adjusted the blanket around Hana’s shoulders, then looked at Riku. "We’ll watch her. Just... don’t take longer than you have to." "I won’t," he said simply. He rose to his feet, giving them all one last look. Three girls sitting shoulder to shoulder, and his little sister clinging to them for comfort. Riku exhaled through his nose, pushed the tent flap aside, and stepped back into the basement where the other survivors are starting their day. Nine o’clock couldn’t come soon enough. But first, he needed a watch to track the time.