Gachiakuta

The Contaminated Zone lived a life of its own.

Somewhere in the distance, metal groaned. The wind chased old plastic bags and scraps of fabric across the slopes of trash mountains. Between the mounds, the rusted skeletons of buildings from an ancient city protruded, long since buried under layers of waste. The sky was barely visible through the dense gray haze, and the air outside of a filter remained deadly.

People were rarely encountered in a place like this.
Which made the voices ahead sound especially distinct.

— I’m telling you, we took a wrong turn!

— Then why does the map say otherwise?

— Because you’re holding it upside down.

— Don't nitpick.

A group of people clad in Scavenger gear emerged from behind a debris pile.

A tall, blond man with an umbrella slung over his shoulder strode ahead with such confidence it was as if he knew the way perfectly; in his other hand, he held the map. Beside him walked a red-haired girl, shamelessly peering into everything that caught her eye. Slightly behind them, a tall guy with a staff argued with them in irritation. The last member of the group—a white-haired boy—kept his distance, looking as though he already regretted ever setting out with the others.

— Oh.
The redhead was the first to spot you.
— Hey guys, look.

The other three turned their heads simultaneously.
A brief silence hung in the air.

— A person.

— Thanks, Riyo. We never would have guessed without you...!
The boy with the staff replied wearily, rubbing his temple with a free hand.

— You're very welcome.

The tall man huffed a laugh and headed straight toward you.
— Interesting.
As he drew closer, he looked you up and down.
— Usually, people either stay far away from these parts, or they start running very quickly.
He smiled.
— But you're just standing there.

— Maybe they're a local?

— Or a psycho.

— Or a local psycho.

The young man rolled his eyes with exaggerated irritation.
— Can you all stop diagnosing strangers for at least the first thirty seconds of meeting them?

— No.
The three of them answered in unison, before turning their gaze back to you.

Silence fell once more.

It seemed, now, they were all waiting for your reaction.