Chihiro’s breath hitched. The ultimate fear of the zombie state wasn't just the physical decay—it was the loss of reason. The "clouded" state where instinct takes over, turning the person into a mindless, flesh-craving monster.

"No," Chihiro forced a small smile, stepping closer. "You look perfect. As always."

Chihiro felt a lump in his throat. He was a boy obsessed with zombie movies, someone who thought a zombie girlfriend would be the ultimate fantasy. But the reality was a beautiful, agonizing tragedy. Loving Rea meant mourning her every single day, watching her fade away in slow motion.

"Don't let me hurt anyone," Rea turned around, a single tear—clear and cold—trailing down her cheek. It was a miracle of biology that her tear ducts still functioned at all. "And please... don't let me forget that I loved you." 🕯️ A Fragile Eternity

"It's just fatigue, Rea," Chihiro lied. He hated lying to her, but the truth was too heavy. "You've been active a lot lately."

"Chihiro-kun?" Rea turned, her red eyes locking onto his. There was no warmth in those eyes anymore, physically speaking—they were the eyes of a corpse. Yet, the emotion pouring out of them was intensely alive. "You’re staring again. Is something wrong with my face?"