Untouched by the Outbreak

"Dr. Kurose," Sachiko had asked, "why is this particular research so important? Why are we focusing so much on these genetic tests?"

Dr. Kurose had looked up from his tablet, his eyes reflecting the weight of the information he carried. "Sachiko, what I\'m about to tell you stays between us. The government has been funding research to develop a virus that could, in theory, control population growth—using it as a biological tool rather than a weapon. But like all such things, it\'s dangerous, unpredictable."

Sachiko had listened intently, her curiosity piqued. "But is there a way to counter it if it gets out of control?"

Dr. Kurose had nodded slowly. "We believe there might be. We\'ve been working on identifying a genetic anomaly—a mutation that grants the host an exceptional immune response, something that could potentially counteract the effects of the virus. However, this mutation is incredibly rare, and we\'ve only encountered a handful of possible candidates."

"And what are we doing with these candidates?" Sachiko had asked, feeling a knot of unease tighten in her stomach.

"Testing," Dr. Kurose had replied, his voice grave. "We\'ve brought in several volunteers under the guise of drug trials, but in reality, we\'re searching for the one person who carries this mutation—a mutation we\'ve codenamed the X-factor. We need to know if it can neutralize the virus."

Sachiko\'s eyes had widened as she began to understand the implications. "So, these volunteers… they have no idea what they\'re really being tested for?"

Dr. Kurose had shaken his head. "No, they don\'t. It\'s better that way. We\'ve run tests on a dozen candidates, and so far, only one has shown any promise."

"Who?" Sachiko had asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Dr. Kurose had hesitated before answering, "There\'s a young man—a volunteer—who\'s responding differently to the virus than the others. He\'s shown signs of resistance that we haven\'t seen in anyone else. We\'ve kept him under observation for a full week, running every test we can think of. His body is adapting in ways we didn\'t anticipate."

"What happens to him now?" Sachiko had asked, her concern growing.

"We\'ve done what we can. He\'s been paid and released, but we\'re monitoring him remotely. If the virus ever spreads, he might be the key to stopping it. But for now, we can\'t do more without drawing unwanted attention."

Sachiko had felt a chill run down her spine. "And if the government decides to use this research for population control?"

Dr. Kurose\'s expression had darkened. "If they do, they\'ll regret it for the rest of their lives. The virus we\'ve created is too powerful, too unpredictable. It could wipe out everything, and the only hope we\'d have is finding that one person who can resist it."

With that, Dr. Kurose had left, leaving Sachiko with more questions than answers. At the time, she hadn\'t known who the young man was or the true extent of his importance. Now, sitting beside Ryo, the pieces began to fit together in her mind.

Unbeknownst to her, the young man Dr. Kurose had spoken of was right beside her—the man who had unknowingly become the key to humanity\'s survival. But with the outbreak in full force and the government hunting him, the path ahead was more perilous than ever.

Ryo glanced at Sachiko, noticing the distant look in her eyes as she sat motionless, her cup of ramen untouched. He frowned, tilting his head slightly as he observed her. "Why aren\'t you eating?" he asked, his voice cutting through her thoughts like a sharp blade.

Sachiko blinked, startled out of her reverie. She realized she had been lost in her memories, the weight of Dr. Kurose\'s words pressing down on her. The reality of the situation she was in began to settle in her mind—the man sitting next to her, the one who had taken control of her life, was the same person Dr. Kurose had unknowingly placed all their hopes on.

"I—I\'m sorry," she stammered, picking up her cup of ramen and forcing herself to take a bite. The hot noodles slid down her throat, but she barely tasted them. Her thoughts were too jumbled, too overwhelmed by the revelation that Ryo might be the key to ending the nightmare that had consumed the world.

Ryo watched her closely, his eyes narrowing slightly. He could sense that something was off, that there was more on her mind than just the fear of zombies or the strangeness of their situation. But for now, he let it go. Whatever was bothering her, she would tell him in time—or he would force it out of her if necessary.

"Eat up," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "We\'ve got a lot to do, and I don\'t need you passing out on me."

Sachiko nodded, trying to focus on the food in front of her. She couldn\'t afford to let her thoughts spiral out of control. Not now. Not when her life depended on staying close to Ryo, on keeping him from finding out just how much she knew—or suspected—about his true importance.

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As they continued their meal in silence, Sachiko resolved to find a way to tell Ryo what she knew. But how could she do it without putting herself at even greater risk? And if she did tell him, would he even care? Would he see himself as humanity\'s last hope, or would he turn his back on the world that had treated him so cruelly?

Ryo watched as Sachiko forced herself to eat, his sharp eyes catching every slight hesitation in her movements. He leaned back slightly, a grin spreading across his face, though there was something unsettling about it. "You need to eat everything," he said, his tone almost teasing, yet with an undercurrent of something much darker.

Sachiko nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she brought the ramen to her lips, trying to focus on the task at hand. The fear of disobeying him was stronger than her lack of appetite.

Ryo\'s grin widened as he observed her compliance. "Good girl," he murmured. "You\'ll need your strength for tonight. I\'ll need some company, and you better comply. Remember, you belong to me now."

Sachiko\'s heart pounded in her chest, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin. She kept her head down, not daring to meet his gaze, and continued eating in silence. The reality of her situation was suffocating, but she knew she had no choice but to go along with whatever Ryo demanded. Her survival depended on it.

After finishing their meal, Ryo packed up the utensils, placing them neatly into the box on the back of the scooter. Sachiko watched him quietly, her mind racing with the uncertainty of what was to come next.

Once everything was in place, Ryo called her over. She approached hesitantly, and together they climbed onto the scooter. Ryo started the engine, and the familiar rumble filled the air as they began their journey.

Sachiko glanced around, her anxiety rising as she looked at the zombies roaming nearby, but they kept their distance, wary of Ryo\'s presence. The scooter weaved through the deserted streets, the sun beginning to dip lower in the sky.

Sachiko finally gathered the courage to ask, "Where are we going?"

Ryo\'s smirk grew as he kept his eyes focused on the road ahead. "You\'ll find out soon," he replied, his voice dripping with a sense of anticipation. The mysterious tone in his response only added to Sachiko\'s unease, but she had little choice but to follow him, her fear mingling with a deep curiosity about what awaited them at their destination.