Chapter 7

Kai slowly raised himself to his feet, his body throbbing from the struggle. He gazed at Mai, gratitude evident in his eyes. "You saved me," he whispered, his voice raspy.

Mai nodded and dropped her attention to the floor. "I...I couldn't just stand there," she admitted, her voice shaking.

Kai limped toward her, every step sending spikes of pain through his legs, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You were amazing," he said, his voice soft. "Thank you."

Mai swallowed hard, her face flushing with emotion. "We're friends, right?" she asked, her gaze still fixed on the floor. "We've got to stick together."

Kai nodded, his gaze drifting to the spot where the yomigaeri had disappeared. "We're more than friends," he replied. "We're family.

With those words, a tenuous smile spread across Mai's face. She looked at Kai, her eyes meeting his for the first time since the fight had ended. "You should check on the others," she said, gesturing towards the aisle where Shiro and Kanoe had been huddled.

Kai nodded, his mind already racing ahead to his friends' safety. Together, they made their way to the corner, the store quiet but for the sounds of their footsteps. As they neared, they heard a soft whimper.

Kai had a worried glance as he approached the corner, their hearts pounding in their chests. Shiro was hunched over Kanoe, her arms protectively around the girl's shoulders.

The instant Kai and Shiro met each other's gaze, their fear and exhaustion melted away. A subtle, but genuine smile flickered across Shiro's features as the realization sank in that Kai was alive, her relief palpable.

"Thank goodness,"Shiro breathed, her eyes glistening with emotion. Kai's heart swelled as he saw the worry leave her face, his own eyes reflecting a similar gratitude.

Kanoe's face was pale, her skin slick with sweat. She was breathing in shallow gasps, her fingers wrapped tightly around a gash in her side.

"Kanoe," Shiro whispered, her voice filled with worry. "Are you alright?"

Kanoe's eyes fluttered open, her gaze finding Shiro's. "I'm okay," she managed, her voice weak.

Just as Kai and Mai switched their focus to Kanoe, a distant, strained grunting echoed across the store aisles.

Kai's heart skipped a beat when he realised Kaori was alone, attempting to lift the heavy shelf that was pinning Ren to the ground. Frantic worry flooded his thoughts, and he dashed to her rescue, Mai close following.

Kaori looked up, her expression filled with distress. "I can't do it alone," she said, her voice hoarse with sorrow. "We have to help him."

Kai nodded, the weight of their situation pressing down upon him. He took hold of the edge of the shelf, gritting his teeth against the pain coursing through his injured muscles. "On three," he said, his gaze fixed on Kaori. "One...two...three!"

Together, they heaved, their bodies straining against the weight of the shelf. For a moment, it seemed like it wouldn't budge, and then, with a groan of protest, it began to shift.

Ren was revealed beneath, his face pale and his breath shallow.

Kai and Kaori dropped the shelf with a clang, both rushing to Ren's side. Kai's hands trembled as he took Ren's pulse, waiting for the reassuring beat to pass through his fingertips.

Finally, he felt it: a weak but steady heartbeat. "He's alive," Kai said, comfort filling his body. But as he looked at Ren's injuries, his heart fell. There was a deep gash on his chest, and blood was flowing through his torn shirt.

Kanoe struggled to her feet, her hand reaching for Ren's shoulder. "We have to stop the bleeding," she murmured, her voice shaking with fear.

Kai nodded, his thoughts already racing ahead. "Kaori, we need a tourniquet. Can you find something in the pharmacy aisle?"

Kaori didn't hesitate. She darted off, sprinting towards the pharmacy with her long legs devouring the distance.

Kai turned to Shiro. "Help me get him into a sitting position. We need to elevate his legs."

With Shiro's assistance, Kai managed to prop Ren into a semi-upright position. As they worked, Ren's eyelids fluttered open, his eyes unfocused and dazed.

K-kai?" Ren murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "What...what happened?"

"You're hurt," he replied, his eyes roaming over the injuries. "But you're going to be alright, we're going to take care of you."

Then, the faint sound of footsteps reached their ears. Kaori returned, her arms filled with bandages, medical tape, and a tourniquet.

With Kaori's assistance, Kanoe and Kai managed to stop Ren's bleeding, applying a tourniquet to his injured arm and applying pressure to his chest wound.

With Ren wounded and Kanoe still recovering from her injuries, Kai was acutely aware that the group's situation was risky. The mysteries Mai's presence, while welcome, compounded the uncertainties.

They couldn't linger. Their safety beckoned, and with the resources they had retrieved, they needed to get back to the hideout as soon as possible.

"We need to move," Kai replied, his voice full of urgency. "We're not safe here, and the longer we wait, the more danger we're in."

Kai's gaze scanned the room, taking in the devastation left in the aftermath of their conflict. The store had turned into a warzone, with damaged shelves and strewn merchandise littering the floor. The eerie silence heightened his anxiety.

"Take what you can carry," he instructed, turning to Mai. "But only the essentials." We'll need to go quickly and lightly."

Mai nodded and moved deliberately as she began gathering supplies. Ren, eyes still closed, let out a faint groan, which echoed around the store like a warning.

As the group made their way out of the store, a sound stopped them in their tracks. It was a faint scratching, like claws on glass, coming from the shattered windows at the front.

Kai's heart skipped a beat. He turned, his gaze fixed on the shadows outside, and in the darkness, a pair of glowing, malevolent eyes met his.

The yomigaeri were back, and they were waiting.

"Run!" Kai shouted, his voice ringing with alarm. "We have to move now!"