Ch 25 Going Home

Day 148

November 29, 2012

The sun was slowly going down when we arrive at the parking lot, while Yuki-chan started to wonder where Zach is.

Yuki- "Megu-nee, where's Zach-kun?"

Megumi- "Get in."

Yuki- "Eh?"

Megumi- "Please…"

Yuki- "?!..."

Looks like she realized we left Zach inside the mall.

Yuki- "W-We have to go back...We-"

She turns around and starts walking back to the mall but I hug her from behind.

Megumi- "I'm sorry, Yuki-chan…. but It's too late."

Tears already start falling from my face. I guess this is my limits.

Yuki- "N-No, It's not too late, we...we…*sniff*..."

Yuki- "ZACH!"

She began to cry.

The others started to cry too except the new person who has joined us.

Once everyone calms down including me, we get in the car and I let Kurumi use my car while I use Zach's car.

I'll be leading the way while she follows me from behind.

I remember which road to take from following Zach's earlier, so this won't be a problem.

I start the engine as we drive away from the mall.

The only passenger with me in this car is the new person.

I got plenty of question to ask her.

Megumi- "What's your name?

Miki- "Naoki Miki from class 2B."

Judging from her school uniform, she's a first-year student from our school.

Miki- "Are you a teacher?"

Megumi- "!"

I was slightly startled when she said that.

Megumi- "Y-Yes, I am."

Megumi- "Sakura Megumi, please to meet you Naoki-san."

Miki- "Same here."

I can only take glimpses on her since I'm keeping my eye on the road.

Megumi- "When you met Zach, what's the situation is he in?"

Miki- "!"

Miki- "So his name is Zach…"

Miki- "He's in a bad situation."

Miki- "He was dealing with 4 male adults who are armed with weapons."

Miki- "Luckily he pointed which direction I should go when he distracted them."

Megumi- "I see…"

Miki- "Is he...very important to you all?"

Megumi- "!...Yes...Yes, he is."

Miki- "But why didn't we go back and help him?"

Megumi- "Trust me I wanted too but when I heard those gunshots and remembering our discussion before going on this trip. I...I have to make a decision to leave and follow what he has said for my student's and his sake..."

Miki- "But that doesn't make sense, if we went back we could have-"

Megumi- "DO YOU THINK I HADN'T THINK OF THAT?!"

Miki- "?!"

Megumi- "!"

Megumi- "Sorry…"

Megumi- "I didn't mean to raise my voice like that…"

Miki- "N-No It's my fault for being insensitive and pressuring you by these questions."

I smile when she said that. It made me slightly better.

Megumi- "Naoki-san, would you mind we continue our talk later?"

Miki- "Y-Yes of course."

Honestly...this is all my fault to being with.

Meanwhile on Megumi's car.

Yuuri- "..."

Ruu- "...*Grim*"

Yuki -"...*Sob*"

Kurumi- "..."

The atmosphere inside this car is grim. Everyone is unhappy with what just happened including me.

Kurumi is driving the car while Yuki-chan is next to her, Ruu is with me at the passenger seat. Right now I'm just I looking out of the window while thinking of what just happened on the mall and remembering the promise I made with Zach during the time were at his old base.

*Flashback*

This was during the time when I was inside the convenience store along with Zach while everyone is busy with something.

Zach- "Yuuri, do you still remember the discussion I gave to everyone during breakfast?"

Yuuri- "Ah yes, I still remember clearly Zach. What's wrong?"

Zach- "Well, can you promise me one thing."

I tilt my head to the left and wonder what promise his going say.

Yuuri- "Promise?"

Zach- "Yes, promise me to stop Ruu, If that were to happen."

Yuuri- "Eh?"

Zach- "You're the only who can do this. So please promise me alright?"

Yuuri- "..."

Yuuri- "You sounds like you're confident that's going to happened to us sooner or later."

He was slightly surprised by my comment there but he chuckled and replied.

Zach- "Well, not really but I just had a talk with her earlier in the car."

Zach- "She said many things that could lead her to potential danger."

Zach- "I know she's strong but she's still a kid."

Zach- "She can kill zombies with no problem since I made her overcome that but with a living human being, I beg to differ."

Zach- "So If that were to happen, she'll be a burden to me."

I do understand what's his saying. I couldn't even bring myself to kill zombies from the past. Well right now, I can due from Zach and Ruu's help but with another living human being, I don't think I could kill a living person and be a murder. I might go insane.

But what makes me wonder is...

Yuuri- "Zach, have killed a living person before?"

Zach- "..."

It was a moment of silent like he doesn't want to answer me, then he replies.

Zach- "I did, I killed my best friend Yuno, who got bitten and was begging for me to kill him."

I was surprised and felt I shouldn't have said that but I'm glad I did since I learn what happened to Yuno and what caused him to die also who killed him in the end.

Yuuri- "Sorry."

Zach- "No, It's fine."

Zach- "I understand why you would ask that."

Zach- "But would you promise me to stop Ruu?"

Yuuri- "Yes, I promise."

I decided to keep the promise.

*Present*

Yuuri- "..."

Yuuri- "(I wonder what could have happened if we went to help Zach.)"

I started to think about a possible outcome if we did went and help him.

A lot of bad ones and good ones appeared in my head.

Then I let out a sigh.

Yuuri- "...(But.)"

Even we left him there, I don't believe he is dead.

I know I was sad and conflicted by leaving him behind earlier, I even cried at some point but right now since I'm over it, I can think.

Plus I know him too well. I know he always told us that his not planning to die yet, he knows more about survivability and about the zombies then all of us.

I know he's still alive, I won't give up him.

And as the president of the club, I must also remind my fellow club members who Zach really is and it's not too late to give up on him.

And not to be so gloomy right now.

With determination and optimistic feeling I'm having, I said.

Yuuri- "Everyone!"

I got everyone attention by raising up my voice.

Yuuri- "I have an announcement to make as the president of the club!"

Yuuri- "Don't be so gloomy because we lost Zach."

Yuuri- "Believe on him, believe he would return to us."

Yuuri- "Because we don't know if his truly dead."

Kurumi- "Rii-san, I do understand you're optimistic but with that many zombies on the third floor when we left, I don't think he-"

I point at her.

Yuuri- "Kurumi, bad!"

Kurumi- "E-Eh?"

Yuuri- "You're giving up on him to early!"

Yuuri- "You must believe his alive!"

Kurumi- "But…"

I stare at her.

Yuuri- "No buts!"

She sighs.

Kurumi- "Yes, yes I shall do so madam."

Kurumi- "I just..., don't want to have false hope you see."

Yuuri- "All of us do...but it's better than thinking his already gone."

Kurumi- "..."

She didn't respond for a bit then Yuki steps in.

Yuki- "Rii-san is right, we must not give up on him."

Yuki- "Because I too think, his not dead yet. Zach-kun won't fall that easily."

Kurumi saw Yuki believing, then she smiles as she responded to me.

Kurumi- "If you put it that way...well alright, I'll believe Senpai will return."

Kurumi- "And once he did return, we should beat him up for making us all worried."

Yuki- "Oh sign me up!"

I smile at how everyone is feeling slightly better now.

All that left is...my little sister.

I looked at her and she still looks mad about me stopping her but I know she understands, she must…

Yuuri- "Ruu, how about you?"

Ruu- "...Nee-san, I hate you for stopping me but I also hate Nii-san for telling you to do so."

Ruu- "But I do agree because I know Nii-san and as Yuki said, he doesn't fall that easily."

Ruu- 'Although this doesn't mean I forgive you Nee-san."

Yuuri- "Yes, yes hate me all you want because I understand why you're mad."

I said as I pat her head.

Ruu- "Hmpm!"

Even we do still have this slight feeling of dreadfulness at least we're all better now.

Then Megu-nee pops up to my mind. Which made me think about something.

Yuuri- "Everyone, once we reach home and transfer all these supplies in."

Yuuri- "I think we must comfort Megu-nee about this."

Yuuri- "Becuase I know she's the most conflicted one then all of us right now because we lend her to do the choice."

Kurumi- "You're right, I bet she's blaming herself about what happened."

Yuuri- "Mhm, so hear me out. I have a plan."

I told them about my plan on how we shall comfort Megu-nee.

Once we reach home It's already night time, the school campus was empty which was great that we don't have to worried about zombies attacking us.

We slowly move the supplies we gotten from the city inside the school.

Including Zach's stuff.

When that's all done, we went to take a shower because we're all sweaty from doing heavy lifting work.

Afterward, we ate dinner and went to bed.

I stayed up for a little bit and sit alone inside the clubroom.

Regretting my choices from the beginning.

Megumi- "..."

Yuki- "Megu-nee."

Megumi- "..."

Yuki- "Megu-nee!"

Megumi- "!?"

Megumi- "Y-Yes Yuki-chan?!"

I didn't notice her calling me.

She's sitting on a chair which is beside me. Then I realize something.

Megumi- "Wait, why are you still awake?"

Megumi- "Didn't I said everyone head to bed already."

Yuki- "I know but I wanna to talk you privately."

Megumi- "Eh?"

I wonder what she wanted to talk to me about.

Yuki- "Megu-nee, do you believe Zach is still alive?"

Megumi- "!."

Yuki- "You see, we all know you're blaming your self because of what had happened."

Yuki- "But the truth is, It's all my fault that this has happened because I brought out the idea."

If she starts blaming herself because of this, she might go back too- I must not let her think that way.

Megumi- "Yuki-chan, that's-"

Yuki- "But!"

Yuki- "I'm not sad anymore!"

Yuki- "Nor I feel guilty!"

I was surprised at a moment when she raises her voice.

Yuki- "Because I know Zach could turn this down but he still agrees and we went on a field trip to make me happy despite the possibilities of something bad will happen."

Yuki- "Not like I'm blaming him for my mistakes but I want to believe his beliefs!"

Megumi- "Yuki-chan…"

I'm speechless. I don't know what to say.

Yuki- "I just heard the talk you all have without me from Yuuri-san."

Megumi- "(She told her?!)"

Yuki- "From that, It made me think so many things."

Yuki- "And made me say all this to you."

Yuki- "So Megu-nee, do you believe he's still alive?"

Yuki- "Because we all are."

I realized and understand why she's asking me that question.

All this time, I'm not believing on Zach and think his truly dead while blaming myself for it. I must believe he's still alive.

Feeling like an idiot I reach out to Yuki-chan.

Megumi- "Yuki-chan…I….I…"

She went to hug me.

Yuki- "We shall believe on him and wait for his returned, okay Megu-nee?."

I tears start flowing down on my cheeks.

Megumi- "Mm…*Sob*."

Even were not so sure he is still alive, I want to believe, If I mope around and blaming myself, It won't do anything good to me but I'm just going back to my old self. I bet Zach would flick me on the head once again if he saw me like this.

I know Zach, and I shall not give up on him. I'm such a fool that I did so from the very beginning when we left the mall.

So the best thing I could do right now is to stops being so sad and do what I must as a teacher and an advisor to my student and wait for Zach's return.

Afterward, we stop hugging each other and wipe my tears as I question Yuki-chan about something.

Megumi- "Who made you say all this?"

Yuki- "E-Eh?"

She's slightly surprised.

Megumi- "The Yuki-chan I know isn't so fluent to express such words like earlier."

Megumi- "Which is so acting out of character."

Megumi- "I wonder who told you to say all those words to me hm~."

I looked at her suspiciously while she panics a little.

Yuki- "U-Uhh, you're so harsh Megu-nee! Do you think I'm not fluent enough?!"

Megumi- "Of course I do, as your teacher, I would know."

Yuki- "Meanie!"

Yuki- "I'm going to bed!"

She dashed towards the exit.

Megumi- "Hey come back here!"

And then she left. I let out a sigh and then a smile.

It doesn't matter who was it, but at least It made me feel better and realizing something very important. I shall thank all my students tomorrow morning.

Ch 25 Going Home End