Jean sat by the fire, talking animatedly to Lucas about a recent anime they'd both watched. "Dude, it's literally like Attack on Titan out here. Like, any minute now, something could just pop out and wipe us all out. I'm just saying, this whole situation has major anime vibes."Lucas chuckled, nodding in agreement. "For real, bro. We're like the worst squad in an isekai. I mean, look at us—a bunch of nobodies trying to survive the apocalypse. Where's our overpowered MC when we need him?"Jean laughed, but just as he was about to reply, Akira scooted up right next to him, closing the space between them to almost nothing. She shot Lucas a look that could freeze water, her intense gaze practically burning into him.Lucas blinked, swallowing hard as he felt her eyes on him. "Uh... right. I, uh... I just remembered, I left... my, uh... snack stash back by the bus," he stammered, glancing between Jean and Akira. "I'll just... go check on that."With an awkward chuckle, Lucas backed away, giving Jean a knowing look before practically scurrying off.Akira watched him go, her expression softening the second he was out of sight. She turned to Jean, her eyes glimmering with an almost unsettling intensity. "Jean," she said sweetly, leaning even closer, "I noticed you didn't get much to eat."Jean blinked, taken off guard. "Oh, I'm fine, Akira. I got enough. Don't worry about it."She tilted her head, smiling in a way that was both innocent and oddly possessive. "But, Jean," she insisted, holding out her portion to him, "I don't mind sharing. You need to keep up your strength, right? I can even... feed you." Her voice softened, her eyes never leaving his face.Jean felt his cheeks flush, and he cleared his throat, managing an awkward smile. "Uh... nah, I'm good. Really, I got enough." He tried to play it off with a light laugh. "I mean, if I started letting you feed me, the guys would never let me live it down."Akira's smile faded slightly, but she nodded, pulling her food back with a small sigh. "I just... want to take care of you, Jean. You know, make sure you're safe. I'll always be here for you, you know that, right?"Jean shifted uncomfortably, giving her a polite nod. "Yeah... yeah, Akira, I know. And I appreciate it." He took a quick look around, hoping for a distraction, but the rest of the group seemed busy with their own conversations.Akira continued to look at him, her gaze unwavering. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere, Jean. I'll be right here, watching over you."Jean forced a small smile, feeling both grateful and slightly unnerved as he kept his eyes on the fire.***The night settled in around the camp, the fire casting long shadows across the trees as Jean and Akira took the first shift, keeping watch while the others slept. Jean rubbed his eyes, still trying to wrap his mind around everything that had happened. The quiet of the forest only seemed to emphasize the surrealness of it all.He sighed, breaking the silence. "I can't believe this is real. One minute, we're just living our lives, and the next... all of this. We left our families behind, everything we knew. I don't even know if they're safe."Akira, sitting beside him, didn't respond right away. Instead, she gave him a soft, almost dreamy look, her face illuminated by the fire's glow. "It doesn't bother me," she said simply, her voice calm and even. "As long as I'm with you, that's all I care about."Jean shot her a sideways glance, her words catching him off guard. "What do you mean? Aren't you worried about... you know, your family?"Akira shrugged, her gaze unwavering. "They're fine. Or they're not. Either way, they're not here. You're here, Jean. That's what matters to me." She leaned a little closer, her smile almost unsettlingly sweet. "I'd go anywhere if it meant staying by your side."Jean felt a chill run down his spine, and he shifted uncomfortably, scooting back just a bit. "Uh... yeah. I mean, I'm glad you're here too, Akira. Really. But, like... let's keep things cool, yeah?" He tried to force a chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood. "We're all in this together, after all."But Akira's expression didn't change. She continued to edge closer, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that was hard to ignore. "Of course, Jean. We're all here... but it's not the same. I'd do anything for you. Anything."Jean felt his pulse quicken, suddenly very aware of the proximity between them. He scooted back again, but the log shifted beneath him, and he lost his balance, toppling off with a surprised yelp and landing unceremoniously on the ground.Akira's eyes widened slightly, her hand reaching out as if to help him, but her face held an expression of mild amusement. "Careful, Jean. I'd hate for you to get hurt." She leaned over, looking down at him with a soft smile. "I'm here to catch you, you know."Jean forced a laugh, getting to his feet and brushing himself off, trying to keep things light. "Yeah, thanks, Akira. Guess I got a little too comfy." He adjusted his posture, putting a bit more space between them as he sat back down. "Let's just... keep an eye on things. Make sure we're good for the night."Akira nodded, her gaze softening as she leaned back slightly, though her eyes never left him. "Of course, Jean. I'll always be watching. You don't have to worry about a thing."As the silence returned, Jean kept his gaze forward, trying to focus on anything but the intensity of Akira's presence beside him, the weight of her words lingering in the air like a promise—and a warning.Q: Have you watched Future Diary before?