-Moving on-

Takashi entered the room which Rei had been occupying ever since their arrival at the Takagi mansion. Everyone else in the group was gathered already. Hirano standing by one of the windows, hands on Alice's shoulders, Zeke at her feet. Saeko sat on a chair, Saya on her left, leaning against the antique table that stood against the wall opposite the door. Yuriko leaned back against the wall adjacent to the door, while Shizuka sat on the bed, keeping an eye on Rei, who lay down on it. Takashi took his place leaning against the table, on Saeko's right. Somewhat fitting, considering the three were an item.

Once she'd made sure Takashi had taken his place, Yuriko moved to close the door shut and allow them to commence their meeting.

Takashi felt like he had to be the one to start, but he wasn't entirely sure. He looked around the room for ideas.

As if sensing his discomfort, Saya said, "All of us are here. Takashi, would you like to start?"

Takashi nodded and stood up straighter, and began. "First off, I'd like to thank everybody for agreeing to meet here today. We've been through a lot together, and I can safely say that we wouldn't be here without each other. We can be proud of what we've accomplished, but unfortunately, the world will not let us rest. We need to continue to fight – for our sanity, and for our survival…To that end, I'd like to introduce Miss. Yuriko Tanaka, Saya's mother. All of us know who she is. We are currently safe in the Takagi estate, thanks in large part to her help. She has expressed a wish to join us on our journey, wherever it takes us next, and I hope I speak for the group when I say that we will never turn away anyone who means us no harm. She has agreed to help us however she can."

Everyone in the room knew that Yuriko was joining their group and had expressed no concerns at the development. Except Rei. She seemed to take the news in her stride, making no comment.

Takashi waited for a while longer, and when nobody raised any objections, he went on, "Okay, since there are no objections, let's formally welcome Yuriko-san to our ragtag company...So, Yuriko-san, welcome to our group!"

Everyone chorused, "Welcome Yuriko-san!"

Yuriko looked around the room, smiling. "Thank you everyone", she called out.

Then, they all laughed at the absurdly dramatic scene they had just enacted. Things like these were what kept them sane. They needed it more than they could have known.

Once they'd recovered, Takashi said, "All right. We called this meeting to discuss what each one of us will be doing, once we leave the Takagi mansion. Based on what I gathered from Takagi-sama, Saya's father, he will collect whoever would like to follow him and leave here in another ten days. He will lead that group to the Okunako dam, and reclaim it so that we could possibly get electricity again across Tokonosu. To be clear, I believe that is everyone's best chance of survival. I'd be lying if I said otherwise. But, I will not go that route. I need to look for my mum on the east side. Rei lives around there as well, and had expressed a desire to search for her parents as well. In addition, we have also arranged to meet Rika-san, Shizuka-sensei's friend at the Taiei shopping complex. I've talked to everyone previously about what they would like to do, so I do have a rough idea. But, I'd like to formalize it. Know that there are absolutely no hard feelings if you choose to go a different route – I do understand if you decide not to stay on with me in case you believe your chances of survival are better going down another path. It is completely your choice."

He looked around the room. Saya was the first to speak. "Well said, Takashi-kun. And I will go with you, to whatever fate awaits. We have been together and had each other's backs for as long as I can remember, and I have no intention of letting that change." She smiled at Takashi.

Saeko was the next to talk. "I'd like to go along with you as well, Takashi-kun. I honestly have no attachments to speak of in the city, and this group has become a sort of extended family to me. I would like to keep traveling with everyone and lending whatever aid I can." Saeko looked evenly at him.

Yuriko spoke next. "Well, I'm the newest member of your group, and I will follow and aid everyone in whatever way I can. Thank you for having me!" She smiled around at everyone.

"Komuro! I'm with you, bro, all the way!", piped up Kohta.

Alice spoke next. "All of you took care of me after Papa died protecting me. I have no real family now, but you guys took me in and made me a part of yours. For that, I'd like to thank all of you. Please continue to take care of Zeke and me."

"Of course, Alice-chan, don't you worry! Trust in Uncle Kohta!" said Kohta, picking up the little girl and petting her.

Everyone laughed.

Then, Shizuka said, "I'll come with you, Takashi-kun. You need a medic, and hopefully, I can meet Rika-chan soon!" She smiled happily.

Rei was the only one left. "I'm coming too; I have to find out if my parents are okay. Even if they aren't, I couldn't live with myself if I didn't confirm it with my own eyes, at the very least. It goes without saying, but I will try to help as much as I am able to, even though I'm currently somewhat indisposed", she said.

Takashi nodded and went on, "Good, so what I'm getting is this - we're sticking together. Honestly, that's gratifying to hear. I have come to rely on you guys as my comrades-in-arms in the short time we have spent together. Let's continue to rely on each other, make new, stronger bonds and get through this nightmare, being each other's strengths. Pick each other up when we're down, and no one gets left behind."

Yuriko commented, "An admirable notion, Takashi-kun. I'm glad that you're our leader."

Takashi looked surprised. "Huh, we don't really have a leader, per se, Yuriko-san."

"Oh, come off it. You're the leader, and stop whining about it", said Saya.

Saeko nodded in agreement, saying "Takashi, Saya is right. We all have strengths and weaknesses, attributes that serve us well in certain roles, and counts us out of others. In order to maximize our chances of survival, we will need to step up. You are obviously the one voice that everyone here is willing to follow, and that makes you the perfect choice."

Takashi coughed nervously and scratched his head. "I always look for consensus among everyone before making a choice. I'm not a leader…I'm more of a mediator."

Saya bopped Takashi on the head and gesticulated impatiently as if to tell him he was being stupid, while Saeko commented, "A leader can lead the group through consensus and mediation, rather than dictatorship. This sort of approach is not wrong or unheard of, after all."

There was silence for a while before, Kohta spoke up, saying, "I haven't really thought about what we've been doing until now…fighting zombies is something that you do only in video games or read about in fantasy books, after all. In the beginning, I was scared, but that was before I met all of you guys. To be honest, I think the first ones who really understood what was going on – that we were in a fight for our survival, were Takashi and Saeko. I don't think anyone will disagree when I say that Saeko is easily the best fighter we have…but that also means that she doesn't really have the time or possibly, the inclination to look after us and direct us…and she isn't really a leader. A general, maybe. Anyone who's seen her fight is in awe of her skills. Watching her create a symphony of destruction with her sword is something that is beautiful and terrifying. But, you know, she is not someone who really seems to care for leadership… at least from what I've observed. No offense, Saeko-san", he looked at her apologetically.

Saeko nodded and commented, "I agree with you completely, Kohta-kun. I am not a leader. I am fully aware that I lack the requisite understanding of people or how to work around their weaknesses, and amplify their strengths. I fear that I cannot drive them towards a goal, and work towards a plan. I can execute, but I cannot lead. I live for the fight and to protect people, and I need to be focused on that fully. You have read the situation admirably." She smiled at Kohta warmly.

Kohta blushed and smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Saeko-san. So, as I was saying, the only other person who realized the gravity of the situation, read what was required and really galvanized everyone to action was Takashi-kun. He identified what everyone's strengths were, and gave them the best tools on hand to utilize them effectively. He sounded everyone out on how we had to move on, planned the best course forward, given the circumstances, and took care of the whole group, making sure we stayed in one piece. We got the rest we needed, when we needed it. Every one of us had a role to play, and it was Takashi who suggested what we needed to do and gave us the belief to do it. Now, I'm not saying we're so good that we haven't been bruised. But the fact remains that, we put ourselves on the line for each other so many times since this began, and we scraped through it all, relatively intact. We owe a lot to each other, some more than others, but there's no doubt in my mind that the one directing us so far was Takashi. Saya-san planned things through and looked for avenues to reach our goals more efficiently. She was the battle master. I looked after the guns, Alice-chan looked after the ammo, and Shizuka-sensei drove and acted as the medic. Saeko-san was the frontline with Rei-san to help her out, her trusty sidekick, but Takashi was right where he needed to be, picking up the slack wherever it cropped up. And now, we all meet here again, and none of us want to leave the group. All the friendships and relationships we've made with each other over the last week or so has kept us together. And I don't want it to stop. I trust in the path you guys take forward, and I'll do whatever I can to back everyone up, to whatever end. Takashi-kun's leadership hasn't led us astray yet, and I trust that it never will."

Rei started clapping at that, and everyone slowly joined in, all except Takashi, who looked stunned at the proceedings.

Rei said, "Couldn't have said it better myself, Kohta-kun. Subconsciously, I think we've all been following Takashi-kun's directives because we trust in them. I think this is as good a time as any to formalize it."

Everyone looked expectantly at Takashi, who seemed to be frozen in place, expression akin to someone who'd just seen a ghost.

Saya walked up to him. "Earth to Takashi. Hello! You there."

Takashi's expression changed slightly, but he still looked dazed. His mind roiled with anxious thoughts, as he struggled to process what had just happened. He couldn't just become the leader of the group, just like that! He also struggled to process how this was sprung on him by everyone, almost like a pre-planned charade. This was not fair! He needed time to react…

Suddenly, he felt a warm pressure against his lips. This seemed familiar…and it felt so good. He melted into it, allowing Saya to deepen her kiss, stopping the thoughts flitting through his mind.

Presently, Saya broke away for air, smiled at him impishly and asked, "You calmed down yet?"

Takashi nodded, before realizing that Saya had kissed him right in front of everyone! The thought brought a fierce red blush to his cheeks.

Saya looked around the room, and nonchalantly threw out, "Oh, and we're together."

Saeko shook her head, walked up to Takashi purposefully, and claimed his lips possessively. Once she'd broken away, she said, "Yeah, we are too."

Saya and Saeko then held hands and stood next to each other. Everyone looked stunned.

Takashi cleared his throat and tried to smooth over the situations saying, "Um, okay. So, we'll have to make preparations to leave. Shizuka-sensei, how long will Rei take to completely recover?"

Shizuka blinked a few times, and shook her head to compose herself. She contemplated the query, and at length, replied, "Another day, I think. She should be able to move around well enough after that."

Takashi nodded. "Okay, let's aim to leave the day after tomorrow. We'll use Rika-san's Humvee – it's already being refueled, and should be big enough to take all of us."

Kohta chimed in, "I'll make sure to double check the guns and armaments by then."

Takashi nodded and said, "Thanks, guys. Our immediate destination will be the Taiei Shopping Complex, near where Rei's and my parents live. We have already spoken to Rika-san, Shizuka-sensei's friend, and arranged to meet with her there."

Yuriko said, "And I'll try to get a hold of some maps of Tokonosu. Goodness knows what we might face out there, so it will help all of us to have a way to figure out our way to the meeting point."

Saya nodded and said, "Great idea, Mommy. I'll help you out and we can mark out the landmarks for anyone who gets lost."

Yuriko nodded, and then addressed Kohta. "Hirano-kun…I'm not sure if you loaded up on ammunition for my gun of choice."

Kohta shook his head, and said, "I'm not sure which one that is, Yuriko-san."

"An Uzi, and a Magnum."

Kohta smiled and replied, "I promise to get down to restocking on both of those as well. Thanks for letting me know. I think Saya also prefers the same ones."

Yuriko nodded and smiled at Kohta, saying, "Thank you, Hirano-kun."

Takashi clapped his hands, and said, "Okay, sounds like we have a plan. Let's all prepare for our moving out, everyone. Thank you all, for coming to this meeting."

Rei had been stunned by Saya, and then Saeko kissing Takashi. She had also noticed Saya and Saeko holding hands before and after the fact. Before, she'd hoped that Saya and Saeko alone were together, but the fact that they seemed so…close to Takashi didn't sit well with her. Even though Saya was Takashi's oldest and best friend, Rei had always thought that their friendship didn't go beyond just that. Even sibling love would have been okay. But, romantic involvement? She never ever imagined that it would go that route.

She had hoped against hope, that she had a chance, still. However, she hadn't considered that it could be three people, together in an intimate relationship. Did they all love each other? But, she loved Takashi and Takashi alone. She couldn't lose to the other two, especially since it looked like they also had the hots for each other as well. All of her love was for Takashi alone, with no one else to share in it. She definitely could not lose once Takashi had been convinced of it…could she? Takashi did love her…right?

She missed Hisashi. She missed the relationship she'd had before with Takashi, even if it always seemed like he preferred Saya to her. Even if she had never really been number one in his eyes. During their childhood, Saya had always come first, despite their promise to marry each other once they were old enough. Or, was it always a one-sided promise that Rei had made to Takashi? She had to make a play somehow. Anything to avoid the complete and utter defeat she felt at that moment. The moment when Takashi had been set upon and kissed by not one, but two girls. And none of the aforementioned girls was her.

Before she lost her nerve, she spoke up, asking, "Takashi, would it be okay if we could speak in private?"

Takashi seemed slightly surprised at the request, but he quickly assented to it, saying "Okay, sure. No problem. I'll wait outside, and come in once Shizuka-sensei checks you over."

Everyone filed out of the room in short order, to complete their outstanding tasks – Alice and Zeke with Kohta, Saya with Yuriko, and Saeko stuck around with Takashi, as he waited for Shizuka's check-up/treatment of Rei to complete.

-0—

Note: Been a while since I updated any of the stories, but I haven't really found much time with work and other pursuits. Also, it's going a lot slower now, probably due to the fact that I'm not writing as much as I used to. I'm trying to create a more regular writing schedule; hopefully, that'll speed up the frequency of updates.