Day 5. Ryan's truck interior. Pre-dawn gray light seeps through the reinforced window. Ryan stands at the counter, hands moving mechanically over a tray of freshly harvested crystals.

Ryan continues his routine. The truck is quiet. Outside, the first undead of the evening begin to gather at the perimeter.

The door chime sounds. Something is different about this sound — or maybe Ryan is imagining it.

Ryan turns to face the window. What he sees there breaks something in him.

The reveal. Mira at the window, six A-grade crystals on the counter.

Close-ups on the crystals. Six A-grades. Ryan understands what they mean.

Mira's eye. Ryan can't look away from it.

Mira points at the menu. The System registers her grade.

Ryan's hands on the counter. Trembling. He sees the crystals. He sees the menu. He sees what happens next.

The trap crystallizes. Ryan sees both paths.

The System display. The quota. The clock.

Ryan's hand reaches toward the six crystals. He can't help it.

Flashback fragment. Ryan remembers the funeral.

Mira hasn't moved. She waits.

Ryan's internal debate. He talks to himself.

Ryan's eyes meet Mira's eye. The wordless conversation.

Ryan's hands move toward the knife. Then away. Then toward the ingredients.

Ryan starts cooking. The decision is made. The knife comes out.

The plate goes on the counter. Steam rises. Mira's reaction.

Mira eats. The System registers the restoration.

Ryan watches Mira finish the plate. Her eye never leaves him.

The suited corpse appears at the window. He's noticed what Ryan did.

Ryan looks at the suited corpse. Then at Mira. The weight of it.

End of day five. The queue grows. Ryan stands between two impossible choices.