Takashi Komuro - 6 years old
Bones snapped, teeth gnashed, blood sprayed, and Takashi Komuro became enthralled.
Takashi was sat about five inches from the small television set, staring in awe and wonder at the screen as yet another person was ripped apart by the undead horde. Instead of jumping as any other normal child would when the screen zoomed into the horrific scene, he only seemed to lean closer.
The film ended with only one of the characters surviving by making it to the military base and being rescued.
Hurriedly he pulled another random videotape from the cardboard box and pushed it into the old VCR. This film was a bit more modern, as it had color, but the picture was still a little grainy and dated.
Slowly but surely he fell back into his trance as he watched the film progress, sitting through the gory scenes without blinking. As the film ended he repeated the process from before and continued to do this until early in the morning.
The scene his mother came in on was Takashi staring at the T.V. with bloodshot eyes and a pale complexion. She stood frozen for a moment and before she could make a move to see what was wrong the movie that was currently on ended, the screen going black. With that Takashi's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell straight into the carpet.
It was then that his mother assessed the situation, looking at the empty cardboard box with 'Zombie Films' written on the side in permanent marker, and the stack of tapes next to Takashi. She then made a mental note to interrogate her husband about the films the next time she talked to him before carefully lifting Takashi from the ground and placing him in his bed.
She pulled the covers up, gently settling them under his chin. Satisfied he was comfortable she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead, whispering with a smile.
"You're lucky it's a Saturday."
Takashi's mother let her gaze linger on her son for moment, unadulterated love as well as concern in her eyes.
Letting out a sigh she turned away, the door closing with a click.
Takashi Komuro - 10 years old
"30!" Takashi growled out, falling to the ground as he finished his routine push-ups. His mother instantly began clapping.
"Good job Takashi!" She chirped as he lay panting on the ground, tired from his exertion.
"Thanks...Thanks mom." He breathed out as he worked to calm his breathing, pushing himself off the ground and ignoring the burning in his small arm muscles.
"Let me go get you a glass of water." Mrs. Komuro said as she stood quickly, leaving to the kitchen and returning a few seconds later, holding the glass of water out to Takashi, who was slipping on some running shoes. As he finished tying the laces he took the water and slurped it down thirstily, despite the cramps he was sure to get while running.
"Thanks again mom, I'll be back in a little bit!" He called over his shoulder as he flung the door open and ran out, heading in the direction of the gas station about 2 miles away.
Takashi's mother stood in the doorway watching with a worried look on her face as she watched her son continue at a steady pace down the sidewalk, waving at Old Lady Tanaka as he passed.
Takashi Komuro - 14 years old
As puberty hit Takashi's work outs started to pay off and his muscles had started becoming much more defined. It seemed Takashi's body would never become overly-muscular but he could still feel the improvement he was getting.
He could now do a respectable sixty push ups if he pushed himself to it, but would end up being sore for the rest of the day, nearly eighty sit ups, and run a good three miles if he kept a good pace and didn't over exert.
Sitting at a desk in his pitch black room, whilst staring at a computer screen was probably not good for his eyes but he had bigger things to worry about, or he thought he did. Scrolling down the page he gave a gasp as a real beauty appeared before his eyes. This would definitely be his weapon of choice. The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel.
The instant he saw it he knew it was the perfect weapon for him. So, with a silent promise to his mother that he would repay her, he clicked the 'purchase' and proceeded to enter all the necessary information.
When he finished with this he quickly switched off the page to a new tab. Typing into the search tab he was about to continue along with his research until a loud yell came from down stairs.
"Takashi, get your butt down here!" Standing up quickly he hurried down to explain to his mother what he had spent nearly 3200 yen on.
1 week later –
The day his order arrived came with an unexpected, but nonetheless pleasant surprise.
Two packages sitting innocently on his doorstep.
Takashi cautiously looked around outside of his house before swiftly pulling both of the boxes in and sprinting up the stairs to his room. Using some scissors he cut the packaging tape ravenously, tearing through the cardboard to the goody inside.
Having expected the shovel he merely let a mad grin cross his face at the site of it. The twinkle entered his eye when opened the other, slightly smaller box.
A simple rugged knife, with a tan leather hilt and sheath, and a black carbon steel blade including a USMC stamp just above the finger guards. It also came with three 8"x 3" Diamond Sharpening Stones. It took little research to find out this was a KA-BAR Becker US Marine Corp Fighting and Utility Knife.
Takashi leaned back in his office chair, wondering if there was a mistake in the delivery. He was only supposed to get the shovel and it's sheathe. None of this other stuff was his.
Looking back at the knife, still in it's delivery box, he finally noticed the piece of paper resting under it. 'Takashi' was scrawled across it ruggedly.
Confusion marred his face as he delicately lifted the knife and plucked the letter from under it. Unfolding it, he read over the paper once, twice, and then a third time before shakily putting it back down, and crying himself to sleep.
Hey Kiddo, Dad here.
Listen, I'm not the greatest at these kind of things, but I figured I owed you an apology. I haven't been the greatest father, I'll be the first to admit that. I was so afraid of turning into my own father that I ran away the day you were born and left you and your mother alone. I'm sorry for that, and I'm sorry that an apology will never make up for so much missed time in your life.
Son, if there's one thing you remember me by, let it be this. Sometimes life is risking everything for a dream that no one can see but you.
Your mother told me of your purchase last week and I figured if you were buying things like that on your own you were ready to handle this baby as well.
The knife is your old man's. It's held up pretty well despite the abuse I've put into it over the years. Used it to kill a couple Johnny Jihad's over in Iraq actually. Take care of it for me.
-Love, Dad
Takashi Komuro - 16 years old
Gnawing teeth. Bone snapping as limbs were torn from bodies. Flesh being ripped into. Blood spraying.
Takashi jerked upright in his bed, sweating despite the chill over his skin. His eyes flickered around the room, peering intently at the darker corners until they adjusted sufficiently for him to see nothing was there. His hand instinctively went to grip the shovel that he now slept with by his bedside, the weapon and his knife becoming one of his only sources of comfort.
"Another nightmare..." Takashi spoke into the darkness, closing his eyes to calm himself before he stood, releasing his grip on the weapon as he did so. Walking over to his desk he looked at the mess of papers scattered around, and the numerous neatly stacked piles that would make any parent proud... if it was school work. Oh no, this was all related to his research on the Z's. One stack of papers held numerous plant species that could be ingested safely or used for poison. Another stack held numerous maps of the area and surrounding areas.
The papers scattered around his desk right now consisted of the various types of zombies an apocalypse could consist of. There could be the slow moving, horde type zombies or the agile and quick lone wolf types. There could be mutated types and intelligent types. There could be zombies that attracted other zombies! The possibilities were endless, but if there was a characteristic, it would be in this mess of papers.
Takashi had already read through it all numerous times. Every single paper, and then some. Realizing it was a Saturday he went to start on his routine.
He changed into his clothes, which consisted of a Law Enforcement camo ACU Jacket and A-TACS ACU Law Enforcement Camo Pants that had six pockets. He also slipped on a pair of black Combat Assault Gloves with removable knuckles and lastly a pair of Waterproof Swat Stealth Boots. His, for lack of a better word, uniform was extremely comfortable and durable, but expensive.
Making the most of her son's obsession, Mrs. Komuro's stipulation to buying everything was to make and hold a position in the top five students in his school. Not being a naturally smart person made this challenge almost impossible, and Takashi worked himself to death to achieve the goal. Combined with his daily training, Z research, and fulfilling basic necessities Takashi ended up burning out. After trading sleep for more time, Takashi ended up in the hospital from a collapse while on one of his runs.
His mother, horrified with what she seemingly caused, allowed him to buy the things he wanted without complaint.
Despite the lack of requirement to reach the top five it wasn't in Takashi's nature to give up on something he started. He jumped from number six to five a week after leaving the hospital.
The combination of believing in an eventual zombie apocalypse, being in the top five, and not ever socializing left Takashi with a terrible reputation. He wasn't bullied because his school valued it's smarter students more and punished those who harassed them severely. He really only had one friend.
He couldn't say he was friends with Rei anymore, and the last thing he had heard about her was that she now had mysteriously been held back a grade and started dating some guy named Hisashi.
His mind drifted back to when they were children, before he realized that he should start preparing, back to when they made an idiotic promise that they would get married when they were older.
Shaking his head to clear them of those thoughts his mind wandered over to his only friend. Saya Takagi.
At first when he told her of his plan to start training for a zombie apocalypse, she had laughed and assumed he was joking. When he went further in depth and stated he was completely serious she had counted him off as an idiot and insane, but still remained his friend. Their friendship only grew when she offered to tutor him after hearing his mother's stipulations to buy the things he wanted.
Takashi grabbed his shovel and slipped it in it's sheathe at his hip. Walking down stairs his mother was quite startled when he seemingly appeared inside of the kitchen.
"My goodness Takashi, I thought I told you not to do your little sneaking technique when you're behind me!" She exclaimed, referencing his attempted training at walking silently. It worked to some extent. He could still be heard if the house was completely silent. It did come with the added bonus of better balance, however, as he learned to distribute his weight perfectly.
"Sorry mom." He apologized sheepishly, giving a smile while grabbing some breakfast made up of toast, the three pieces of bacon on the stove, and a banana.
"It's okay dear, I'm starting to get used to it anyways." She mused, before taking a look at the weapon in his hand.
"I take it you're going to go wave that thing around like you usually do?" She asked casually.
"It's not 'waving it around' mom! It's my training! I gotta keep up my skills for when it starts!" He whined, turning to make his leave into the backyard.
"Ohhh, there you go again with your vague and mysterious talk. You kids these days!" Mrs. Komuro teased, before focusing back on the breakfast she was cooking.
Outside Takashi got into his stance, arms hanging at his sides. Suddenly, in one quick and graceful movement, his arm lashed out with frightening efficiency as the razor sharp edge sliced through the air horizontally before coming back diagonally to cross over the previous slash. Two attacks, both aimed at head height.
Passersby would watch quizzically as he repeated movements like these, coming in different angles and sometimes throwing in a stab or a leg sweep and what would be a finisher to a downed foe as he stabbed the weapon into the ground.
Once done with this he went through his daily exercise routine, consisting of a five mile run, one hundred situps, one hundred pushups, and twenty pull-ups using the edge of the roof of his house.
6 months before Z-day - Doctor's office
"So do you think there is anything wrong with him? Mentally I mean." Mrs. Komuro asked the therapeutic doctor standing before her.
"Oh no Mrs. Komuro. I'm actually surprised how healthy young Takashi is considering the lack of a father figure in his life. Maybe an anxiety problem but considering he is still a growing teenager that's to be expected. Other than that he is the pinnacle of health, both mentally and physically. Do you think there might be something wrong with him?" The doctor asked seriously, hearing the worry in the mother's voice.
"N-no... I suppose I don't..." She answered quietly closing her eyes to think of the boy currently sitting in the room over. Her boy. Her son.
The day the world came to an end... everything went like normal that day. He hugged his mother as they parted ways, told her to be safe and that he loved her, and went to school...