"So...do you by any chance...know how to break into a warehouse?"

I ask after a short silence

"Uh...Know how to do...what?"

Was the answer Saeko gave me

"Well, you see...there is this warehouse

And it is locked...and i need to get inside

Buuut...the door is blocked off, the windows are too high and the shutters are down

I also can't make too much noise as i got...unwanted guests roaming about"

I explained my problem to Saeko once again

And a couple of minutes later, i got an answer

"Hmm...i can't say i can think of anything...sorry"

A negative one that is

"Hum...Maybe Takagi can think of something?"

I turn my head towards the window next to me as i speak

"Takagi?...umm..

...There are two Takagi's in the room right now Naier...could you...be more specific?"

(Ohh right...of course...

uh...Why do suddenly feel like Saya is glaring at the radio now...)

"The one...that is probably glaring towards your direction?..."

I could hear Saeko trying to hold back a giggle as the radio went silent

And then

"Huh? What did you tell her idiot, why is she laughing?"

Saeko gets replaced by an annoyed voice

(Bullsfucking eye)

"Hmm? i just asked her to give the radio to the person who looked the most grumpy in the room"

I answer casually

"...what?!...

You are a god damn idiot! You know that!?"

Saya comes back with an o so original statement

"Well...i have you to keep reminding me, don't i?"

All i got as an answer was a 'HUM"

I could actually feel the chundere-ism all over from the radio to be honest

"So, what do you want?"

Saya asks, sending the conversation back towards its main point

(Uhh...doesn't this thing have a loudspeaker or something?)

I sigh under my breath as i explain to Saya about the warehouse...again

"...Did you try forcing the door open? You...do have a weapon with you right?"

"Nope as the noise of will probably cause the corpses around here to surround the area again, i am not going to risk getting stuck in there

and uhhh...all i got is a handgun...not enough to blast a door open"

The response i got...was an annoyed sigh

"Ughh...why do you even need to get in there...

Actually, why are you there in the first place?"

Saya asks

"Huh...what'd ya mean why i'm here..didn't your mother explain that?"

"She said that you are going to make the power plant safe for the engineers to go and take over,

so the people would get a more positive view of you, by helping the ...community'"

I could feel some obvious sarcasm seeping out of Saya's tone at the word 'community'

...Also

(Yuriko lied to her?

...She doesn't know why i'm really here for?...

Ughh...god damn it Yuriko you have to warn me if you are going to pull stunts like that...i could have easily said something wrong and without even realizing it blow the whole thing apart...)

"Uhhh...yea..i just figured...the warehouse might have something i could use...you know...stuff..."

I quickly make up an excuse...a pretty...lame one too

And hear Saya groan over the radio again

"...You...really are an idiot...you should just focus on what you need to do and come back

Needless side trips like these can get you killed"

Saya was actually speaking rather calmly now

I on the other hand...

"Y..yea...sorry...i...i didn't think you'd be...that worried about me..."

Was trying to hold my self back from snickering

"W..wha..i...

i'm not worried about you!

Who said that i was worried about you!"

(...well...that's cute)

"You did"

I answer bluntly

"I did not!...

...MAMA!...STOP...GIGGLING!

UGHH...i'm surrounded by IDIOTS"

The radio then gets abruptly cut off

(...Saya needs to understand that as long she reacts like this

she will be too fun not to mess with...

And i could use a little break from all the corpses, running and bullcrap i had to deal with ever since saving Alice...

I guess...i owe one to Saya now for lightening up the mood...she does not need to know that though...

And i hope Kohta is not TOO pissed at me right now)

"You sure seem to know which buttons to push to my make my daughter fly off the handle...don't you?"

The radio comes alive once again

"Umm...well...isn't it that Saya just flips out at the drop of a hat?"

I answer back to Yuriko who was now on the line

"So..uhh...i am to make the powerplant safe..."

My tone...probably sounded slightly sarcastic as i spoke

"Yes, so focus on going back to the main building"

Yuriko just kept on with the story, so i guess Saya did not bolt out of the room

or if she did the others were still there

"Roger that...main building it is then"

I shove the radio back inside my side pocket and look around one last time before turning on the engine

(Alright, time to focus back on the task at hand

For starters, i will drive towards the main building, then shut down the engine mid-way as i did before

Then see how to act from there)

And with that, i step on the pedal and start driving towards the main building

(Hmm...did i ever mention to the group that i can drive?...i don't think i did...

Ohh well..whatever)

After the location i first used to exit the facility came into view i shut down the engine once again

And after a couple of meters, i turn to the right climbing over the toppled west fence

The main entrance along with the other vehicles coming into view as soon as i took the turn

(Well looks like leaving with the jeep was the best decision after all

I don't see that group that blocked off the door anywhere...

Could it be that the group i saw 'parading' down the street earlier was the same group flocking the entrance?

Hmm...Well...all the better for me, this place seems to be empty now, so i can more freely

I let the car roll to a stop near the rest of the vehicles, take the keys out of the ignition and put them into my pocket

Then exit the vehicle and silently close the door behind me

(Alright, let's get this over with)

I nod to my self and slowly start walking towards the main door of the building

Upon reaching the door i stop in front of it and inspect it

(The door is made out of glass...There are a couple of cracks on it too)

I give the door a tug

(Locked...figures)

I then look through the glass, at the building's main hallway

The sight...was not very uplifting

Corpses were roaming the inside of the building

Some of them were Souichiro's men too

The silver lining was, that the stairs on the far end that probably led to the second floor, were barricaded

(Well...shit..that's not a good way to start off is it?)

But there was also something else that caught my eye

A metal piece of equipment dangling on the side of one of Souichiro's men

(Is that...a Type 89?...

...Well...now i REALLY need to get in there..)

I look around before moving towards a nearby window

Once there i give the window a push, then try to pull it and finally try to push it to the side

(Nope...no good...)

I back off the window and look around again

To my left, i could see the part of the structure that extended to towards the south

Yet none of the visible windows looked open from where i was standing

(I'll go on a limb and say that all the windows are shut tight

God, i should have invested in lockpicking...

I could look around the building...but i don't know how good of an idea that is...especially if the back of the building has corpses that got stuck there after hearing that horn...)

I then look at the second floor

The windows up there were either shaded, or the sun reflected in such an angle that did not let me see the insides and again

(All of em are closed

So...time for plan B)

I 'sheath' the knife by passing the blade under the belt that had gun holster on

And then pull out the gun

(And as with all my plan B's

Tis a stupid as fuck plan)

I think as i point the gun at the window

But right before i pull the trigger

(Hmm if i'm going in loud and stupid..i could make use of it)

I lower the gun and run back to the door

(let's see...

The main hallway is rather spacious..think of a school building entrance without all the lockers

It also has...five corpses roaming about

Along with a couple of bodies on the floor near to the main door..no idea if they are really 'dead' though

...Two of em are to the left next to the entrance of a hallway that leads to the other parts of the structure

One is to the far right, next to a door that probably leads to a room

The one with the gun is by the stairs...

And...uhh...there is one next the main door 'staring' at me

Other than the two corpses that are huddled together to the left

The others are by them self...so how do i go about this...

Going from the main door is stupid...corpse standing next to the door aside, too many bodies on the floor

I could enter by smashing a window either to the left or right

The left...has an extra corpse soo...to the right it is)

With that, i nod to my self and move to the second window to the right

Point my gun towards the window

And pull the trigger, three times

The glass window, being it a single-paned commercial glass didn't hold much against the gun after getting shot at point-blank

The first shot made a clean hole with a couple of cracks surrounding it

The second shot landed on the cracks created by the first shot, causing the cracks to spread out even further

And the third shot finally caused the glass to partially shatter

Using the grip of the gun i then start hitting the rest of the glass causing it to give way until the hole was big enough for me to pass

Before going inside though i headed back to the main door

And aimed the gun again, at the corpse with the Type 89

I fired a single shot that pierced right through the glass front door

And landed into the corpse's face

Causing it to stumble backward before falling against the barricade on the stairs

I then walked back to the window took off my bag and used it as a cushion in order to climb over the shattered window

(Just to make sure i don't end up cutting my self with the glass fragments)

As the fourth shot was behind the main door the corpses were now heading towards that door, ignoring the shattered window

I climb over and land on the other side, the glass cracking under my boots as touch the ground

I turn my sight to the left looking at the three corpses that upon hearing the cracking glass turned to me

Then look ahead of me at the fourth corpse that had long left the door by the corner and was also walking towards me

(Ughh, Of course they had to hear this)

I grab the bag and throw it towards the right side of the corpse that was straight ahead of me, then run past it from the left and head straight to the corpse that had fallen against the barricade

And point the gun to its face

(Better safe than sorry...)

The corpse's head jerks to the side as another round goes through its head

I kneel down and shove my gun in its holster then take the assault rifle off the sling

And the moment i managed to get the gun in my hands, i take off its magazine and look inside it

(Still has bullets)

I quickly shove the magazine back inside and pull the charging handle back causing a single bullet to fly out of the ejection port

(It had a bullet in the chamber?)

I let go of the charging handle

The handle travels all the way to its initial position signaling that the gun had a new bullet in the chamber

I turn around, assault rifle in my hands and stare at the four remaining corpses...

(...This is probably one of my most stupid ideas so far...)

I lift the gun and aim it at the corpse that i just run passed as it was getting a bit too close for my comfort zone

Then switch the rifle to semi-auto and aim at the corpse's head as i look down the sights

The moment i pulled the trigger i could feel the difference in power compared to the pea shooter i was using some time ago as the gun's recoil pushed against my shoulder

Thankfully, all the 'fun' training i had before the outbreak let me hold the muzzle relatively steady

And with a loud 'Crack' the bullet priced the corpse's head and went on flying behind it, embedding itself into the wall

I then turn my sight to the entrance and at the tree last corpses that were shambling towards me

I look down the sights once more take a deep breath

Three more shots echoed in the building

Three more corpses fell down to the floor never to get up again

I take my eyes off the sights and look at the corpses as i rest the gun's stock on the side of my hip

(I just ringed the dinner bell for every corpse in the vicinity...didn't i?)

Weird as it was though i did not see any other corpses roaming towards me from the hallways

(Locked in some other room perhaps?)

I move to where my bag was and pick it up

I was about to throw it over my shoulder when

"Don't move!"

I freeze in spot and look around

(Behind me)

I turn my head to see a guy dressed in the outfit Souichiro's men wore standing over the barricade

A Type 89 in his hands aiming straight at me

"I uhh...come in peace?..."

I say as keep my finger off the trigger and lift the hand that held the bag

"Sure you do, by attracting every single monster here!

Drop the gun, hands in the air! Now!"

(Well...just perfect)

I slowly crouch down and let go of the assault rifle, then take the handgun and leave it next to the other gun and finally, i let go of the bag and stand up again and raise my arms

"Uhh...i know it sounds weird...but...i'm actually the rescue team..."

I say as i keep my voice as calm as i can

The dude's eyebrows...almost fused together from the expression he took

And before he could speak

"I was sent by Yuriko Takagi to...find Souichiro Takagi along with any survivors

As the estate is in a bit of a...pinch you might say"

The guard just stares at me, the gun still pointed at me

I sigh through my teeth

(For fuck's sake dude..i probably just summoned every single corpse in the facility and you are wasting my time with this crap)

"I have a radio in my pocket that you can use speak to speak with Miss Takagi"

I say as i lift my left knee and point my hand towards the side pocket on my pants

The guard narrows his eyes but still says nothing

"Ohh for crying out loud, you said it your self, i probably just ringed a dinner bell for every single thing in the area

Just let me take the radio and give it to you, then you make your decision"

"No sudden movements... or you get one in the head"

Was all the guard said

(Ohhh if i find you in a dark corner at the estate...)

I slowly lower my arm and put it in my pocket, i could see the guard tensing up the moment my hand disappeared in my pocket

I pull out the radio by the antenna with my thumb and index finger and show it to him

"See...radio"

I say as i wave it at him

The guard finally seems to relax a little and lowers his gun a bit

He motions me with his gun to come to the barricade

I nod and slowly walk to the barricade

Once there the guard looks at the radio

"Leave the radio on the barricade and back away"

I do as the guard says and leave the radio on one of the messily put together tables then take a few steps back

The guard clumsily holds the gun with one hand by the grip as he moves down the steps and reaches for the radio with his free hand

(If that guy shoots me by accident with the way he is holding that gun...i'm going to gift him to Saeko as punching bag after i castrate him...)

The guard finally takes the radio and pushes the speak button

"Is this Miss Takagi?"

He speaks up

(No it's a radio you dork)

Yea that guy was getting on my nerves

The guard moves the radio to his ear, apparently listening to the response

He then turns to look at me

"How do i know this is Miss Takagi and not some random woman?"

(OH FOR FUCK SAKE, THIS GUY AND HIS PARANOIA)

"Just...take the radio...to Mr. Takagi...please?"

I could fill my left eye starting to twitch...yep..this guy...was ticking me off

The guard just stared at me

"Ohh no i am not leaving this spot for you to do as you please buddy"

The guard responds

(Ok... it's official... i hate that guy)

"Then call somebody to take the radio to him..it's not that hard..is it?"

I tried to stay as calm as i could while i spoke...if i flipped out here...well...i would probably get shot by mister paranoia over there

The guard stares at me as he leaves my radio on the handrail that was next to him and takes another radio that was in his chest pocket

And shortly after a second guard appears...and turns to stare at me as well

(Ohh god...they are multiplying...somebody call an exorcist)

The second guard then takes the radio and runs up the stairs

Now it was just me and the guard again...oh...and the corpses that had gathered outside flocking at the front door once more

Did i forget to mention that?

Yep, corpses had gathered outside...

(God i hope they don't get inside...with that idiot over there

I truly believe he will tell me to not move even if they break in)

"Just great...now even more of them have gathered outside

Some 'rescue' you turned out to be"

The guard had an obviously sarcastic tone in his voice

(Why didn't you die at the beginning of the outbreak again?)

The guard opens his mouth to speak when

"Let him though"

A commanding voice echoes from the top of the stairs

The guard darts his head to the top of the stairs as he straightens his posture

"Y..YES!"

He quickly moves down the stairs and starts undoing the barricade

I move to my guns and bag pick them up and turn the safety on , on both guns

(Fucking finally)

I then walk up to the corpse that i took the gun from

With the barricade moved, it was now laying flat on the ground

I kneel down and take off the sling it was wearing then give it a quick pat-down for any extra magazines before getting up and walking up the stairs

I could see the guard giving me a funny look as i walked up the stairs

(What, never played a looter-rpg bub?)

I just ignore the guard and walk past him as i fix the sling on me and attach the gun on it

(Thank god it is a three-way sling as well)

Upon turning to go up the second flight of stairs i see the big boss

Souichiro in all his glory

Staring or...well..glaring at me...good thing i know that this is his...casual face

(Wait he has a sword with him?...

...Hmm...wait...in the anime, he DID have a sword...but he never gave it to Saeko

She got hers at the shrine...

But...

Saeko did not get the shrine sword...so...she will get this one?...

And if she does...Does the one at the shrine still exist?...)

Realizing i have been 'staring' during my inner monologue i slightly shake my head and speak up

"Mister Takagi i presume?"

I ask as i strap the backpack on my back

"Yes, i am Souichiro Takagi,

And you must be Sepfier Naier, from what my wife informed me"

He answers as he turns his head away from me

I turn to see where he was looking at only to see the guard still staring at me with a disapproving face

At least he did so until he realized that Souichiro was staring at him

He quickly moves to fix the barricade afterward

"Did miss Takagi inform you about the...situation back at the estate?"

I ask

"Not in detail"

He bluntly replies

"But we can not leave right now, not until the power plant is operational again"

He continues

(Well...just great

It is not like it will all be for naught after the nuke blast anyway

Or do powerplants to have some sort of safety measures?

Uhh whatever...more importantly)

"Somebody is trying to gather the people at the estate in order to take control of it by..uhh...a majority of vote?

And well, from what i've been told...he seems to be doing a pretty good job so far...the refugees apparently already listen to him"

(Well i don't know if that's what he is really trying to do but...

I don't care, as long as it gets Shido kicked out)

"The name of the person is Koichi Shido"

I fold my arms as i finish speaking

I remember from the anime that Souichiro had some sort of affiliation with his father

He also did not have his father in very high esteem if i remember correctly

I hoped that this would be enough motivation to make him come along

"Even so, the guards at the estate should be more than enough to deal with one stray dog that thinks itself a god"

Souichiro replied

I sigh under my breath after hearing his answer

"That guy ain't an idiot...if he has the support of the unarmed civilians the guards won't be able to do too much"

Souichiro just folds his arms and looks at me

"If he forces a conflict between the armed guards and the refugee's nobody is going to win

...other than him

The guards are by far outnumbered as they have to patrol the perimeter outside the estate and if they open fire against unarmed civilians not only it will be a perfect reason to label them as' ineffective' at keeping order and blame it on you

It can also lead to a revolt...and i'm pretty sure he is more than capable on fueling the fire

And with their numbers, the guards will be overrun sooner or later...

I can also guarantee you that should he get the chance he will also use your wife or daughter as a hostage to get what he wants"

Souichiro just kept staring at me..

I could not see much of a change in his expression to be honest

(Also Shido wants me dead...you know...nothing really important)

"A driver, with me, i am returning to the estate"

(Pfew)

The annoying guard lets out a silent groan as he moves to undo the barricade he just finished setting back up

"I can drive"

I say as i take the car keys out of my pocket

(It's not that i don't want to stay here with ya lads...

But i would rather be hanging around with Saeko..or Saya...or Kohta...or Shizuka...or Zeke...)

The people around just look at me

"Ain't you a bit too young to drive"

One of the guards speaks up

"I'm too young to have a car license

And right now...i don't need a license to drive"

As i finish another guard speaks up

"You can't expect a kid to drive in a situation like this, one mistake could prove fatal"

(Ughh...kid this kid that..now i see why Saya was getting extra grumpy in the estate)

"Well..i did deal with the giant horde in the warehouse..and the group that was blocking the entrance...while uhh..borrowing one of your jeeps...

And i'm still here...so i think i can manage"

I actually grinning under my mask as i spoke

"If you say you can drive then you better be able to take the responsibility of your words"

Souichiro speaks up causing whatever protest there was from the guards to cease

"And somebody radio in with the guards in the warehouse

If the horde was really driven away and they are still alive

Tell them to return here and keep guard

Otherwise, continue as you were, i want the powerplant up and running by the time i am back."

And with Souichiro's order, the men scatter

Without a word, i move down the stair and look at the front door

(Well looks like shooting a gun...was...not a very bright idea after all)

Saya's father followed up behind me and stared at the exit

"Hmm wait here"

Was all he said as he walked back up the stairs

(There is another exit up there?...

Hmm...No...he said that i should wait...so he should return

...He got a bazooka stashed or something?)

My question was answered a couple of minutes later as Souichiro walked down the stairs

A pair of red long thin sticks in his hand

(...Ohh...

OHHH...

This guy loves his dynamites)

"The noise will draw the ones blocking the door away

and as we are taking a car, we will also use the second one to draw them away from the facility"

Souichiro starts walking towards the broken window i used to enter the building

Lights up one of the dynamites with a lighter

And with a strong throw, he tosses the dynamite towards the oncoming horde in the distance

(And i was supposed to save this dude?...

Yuriko must be pulling my leg)

Seconds later a loud explosion shook the ground

Needless the say with a noise that loud the door was clear of corpses in a matter of seconds

"Move out"

Souichiro orders as he starts moving towards the door sword in hand as he sidesteps over the bodies

Once he was at the door he opens it after unlocking it and then starts moving towards the parked vehicles

I just followed behind him

"Which car did you use?"

He turns to me as he speaks

And i point at the jeep that was parked a bit further away from the rest of the vehicles

He nods turns around and starts walking towards the jeep i pointed out

Once there i enter the driver's seat as he got on the passenger's seat

After putting the keys back in the ignition and starting the engine Souichiro lowers the window

"Move towards the west fence"

He orders once again

(Yes master)

I chuckle silently as i turn the car around and drive towards the toppled fence

And the moment the jeep left the premise of the facility Souichiro lights up the second dynamite

And tosses it out of the window, away from the facility

I press on the pedal a little harder causing the car to speed up

And then, a second deafening explosion

"So..now that that's done

...Could you direct me towards the estate?

I don't know this place very well"

I say as i glance at him

He just nodded while taking a radio out of his pocket

"Yuriko i am returning to the estate

Inform the guards to find Koichi Shido and bring him at the estate's entrance"

Just as Souichiro stops speaking

"Uhhh... Actually it will be for the best if i am not seen with you when you meet with Shido"

Souichiro turns to me as i speak

"Yuriko informed me about your problem...it will not be necessary

The people that want to follow Koichi are going to share the same fate as him"

Souichiro turns to look at the street ahead after he was done speaking

(The same...fate?

...And i like this guy's daughter?...

I must have a god damn deathwish)

"After we have climbed over the hill turn right on the next intersection, then keep going straight"

I just nodded and kept my eyes on the road

"It didn't seem like your team needed any rescue in the end"

I speak up a couple of seconds later

"Because we didn't

We were unlucky that during the attack our long-range communication equipment got destroyed

We managed to contain the invading horde in one part of the facility

But we were unable to relay the information, so the estate was left with the knowledge that we're being overrun by a horde

Understandable that Yuriko wanted to mount a rescue team

...I did not expect just one person though"

Souichiro keeps looking down the street as he speaks

"Neither did miss Takagi

This whole thing was my idea

As she was opposed to me coming here alone...

And was going to send a normal rescue team tomorrow

But with how Shido was going after my neck at the estate

Sitting on my thumbs hoping for something to happen...was not an option

...In any case...i still think i should not be present in the meeting with Shido

If he does not know i helped, then he will have one less thing to count on"

I lean my head back as i finish speaking

"Do as you wish then"

He answers

And with that, the car fell back into silence

(...hmm...how many days do we have till the nuke?

Right now it should be...one day before the estate if we base it on the anime

And in the anime...they stayed there for a day...or two?...uhhh...

At least the sun is still out...so i got some time before this day ends

Should i try to...E.M.P proof some equipment?

But how do i explain that to the others...i don't think i look THAT paranoid...yet)

Some time later

"Turn left here

We should end up by an open barricade

The guards have been informed that we are coming

If you want to get out

Now it's the time"

I nod as Souichiro speaks

And as he said a barricade came into view not long after

Two guards standing there, guns in hand

Getting near the barricade i start to slow down the car until it finally stops next to the guards

I exit the car and look at the guards

"You two again?...small world..."

I say as i look at the guards

"Ohh...Ninja boy

What's the matter? Go on, Miss Takagi has informed us of your arrival"

The guard speaks up with a grin

"There has been a change of plans, one of you will drive Mr. Takagi to the estate

...I got an errand to run"

And the grin instantly disappears from the guard's face as he stares at the jeep behind me

(Have fun saying jokes next to scary big boss)

I smirk as i start walking away rifle hanging on my sides

(Still...better than Ninja penguin...)

I look at the buildings that surrounded the street as i kept walking

"Hey! are these buildings clear?"

I shout as i turn my head towards the guards

"Yes and they have been licked clean so you won't find any chocolate bars in there!"

The guard speaks up before entering Souichiro's car

(Hmm..interesting)

I continued walking down the street, the estate now visible to my far left

(So...how do i go from here

I need to get back inside...undetected)

I think as i take a turn to the left upon reaching the first intersection

(For now... let's get near the entrance)

I heard the jeep's engine zoom past behind me as it kept going straight instead of turning to the left as i did

(And now i want chocolate...retarded ass guard and his retarded ass jokes...

At least i did eat while i was being held captive, so it is not like i'm starving or something)

I chuckle to my self as i keep walking down the street

After several minutes i reached the next intersection and take a turn to the right

The estate was now a straight road ahead from where i was

(Wonder what he will do...

He seems more than capable to handle Shido without causing a fight to break out

Or...well...I hope he is)

As i closed in towards the estate i could make out figures behind the gates...lots of them

I stop and look around at the houses that were next to me

(I better not show up yet...to many people at the gates

I can stay in one of the nearby houses for some time...until the estate's driveway clears out)

As i could not think of any better plan i move to the side of the road, towards the fence door of a house and give it a push

The door opens with no resistance

The moment i walked inside i lift my rifle and look down the sights

(They did say the houses are clear

But i'm not taking any chances)

I looked around the yard before turning my sight towards the house itself

The windows that lead into the house were also wide open

The curtains blowing outwards, giving me a clear view of the insides

(Looks clear)

I slowly move towards the window and peek inside

(Is clear)

I walk inside the house and do a quick scan of the room

(Looks like a living room, the building is a two-story apartment so there should be a staircase somewhere)

I moved deeper into the room

The living room was next to the kitchen and between them a hallway that continued to the right

(A kitchen next to the living room and with no wall between them?

Who the hell wants to constantly smell food when sitting in the living room?)

I move to the hallway and with the gun still ready, i move in

And there i finally found the staircase that led to the second floor

I climb the stairs and end up on another hallway that extended to my left and right

There was also a closed-door straight ahead of me

(Well..all clear so far)

I look around the hallway and decide to go to the right

As it was the corridor with the room that would let me see the estate's gate

I peek through the open door before completely opening it

(A bedroom...empty)

I enter the bedroom and close the door behind me

I then move to the window and get out on the balcony

The gate at full view

I nod and move back into the room, doing a quick last check

Closet, room corners, ceiling, under the bed...the usual stuff

(No corpses, ghosts or evil spirits

Time to finally sit down and relax)

I move back out to the balcony close the window behind me and sit down, then lean my back against the railing

I take off my rifle and remove the magazine then unload all the bullets left in it

(Two, three, Five, plus counting the one in the chamber

Hmm...gona need to restock when i get back in the estate)

I start loading the bullets back in the magazine...

And let out a Yawn in the process

(Guhh...common i'll sleep later at the estate, leave me alone)

I shake my head and finish loading the magazine, then slap it back in the gun

Then turn to stare absentmindedly at the gate

I could still see the mass gathered near the gate...but that's about it

I could not 'hear' any sort of commotion

(What's happening in there...

Ehh...whatever does not concern me...yet)

I turn my head to the sky

(I wonder if any of the 'stuff' happened while i was gone

Like Saya going ballistic about her parents

Or Kohta having to fend off the people that wanted his guns

...Though in the anime this happened after Souichiro returned

...What i do know is that Takashi and Saeko should not be as close as they were in the anime during the events at the estate

I mean..for one they did not go to the shrine so...they should not be so...intimate with each other

...I mean...i hope they are not...

...

Bleh...time to change the subject...)

And like this, time started to pass

Ten minutes? twenty minutes...two minutes?

I lost track of time since nothing was really happening

(I think i'm going to fall asleep if this goes on...)

I think as i look back at the gate

Except this time...it was wide open

(H..Huh?)

I reflexively lower my body

And intently keep staring at the gate

I could see two figures moving away from the estate

(Somebody is leaving?)

Shortly after two more figures started walking behind the other two while still keeping a good distance from them

I just kept staring until finally, i could make out the features on the two people on the front

(A snake...and a donkey...)

In other words Shido and Tsunoda

I jump to my feet and run back into the room

(They got kicked out?

Ohh shit...Oh shit oh shit oh shit

This...this could be it...

My proof that things can change...

No Shido and no bus means no crashed barricade

No crashed barricade means no housing collapse...no..

no no calm down

Even if Shido is getting kicked out there is still the possibility of another truck hitting the barricade

Or the missile striking while the barricades are being moved by the forklifts

There are still a lot of things that can go wrong...

Still this is a BIG step towards what i'm looking for)

My brain was going into overdrive as i jumped down the stairs

I exit the building from the same way i entered it and stop behind the concrete fence wall

(From the direction they were going, they should probably pass from here

I should stay hidden so Shido won't see me and start flapping his mouth)

With that, i kneel down next to the concrete wall and wait

And a couple of minutes later

"You don't understand! I never did anything wrong, they are lying, they are trying to frame me!"

A voice could be heard in the distance, slowly getting louder

"And why the fuck only the two of us are getting kicked out! Yuuki gets to be spared because she can fake her tears?!"

I could hear another voice now, this one sounding rather angry, pissed off

(Chunoda...hmm...wait...Yuuki was spared?...how come?

Well, she is shown to be able to seduce people in the manga and the anime...but i doubt Souichiro would fall for that..

Did the guards protect her?...uhh...whatever

Problem to deal with...later)

"All i did was try to protect you people, why don't you understand that!

You still have time to make this right!

Don't make this mistake!"

I pushed my back against the wall as Shido's voice got closer and closer...not that it mattered..but ehh..reflexes

(The way they run their mouths...seems like the guards are not on 'their' side, good..for me that is)

And soon i could hear them right outside the house still talking, still shouting

"Come on man, we won't survive out there like this

I am just a school kid! what you expect me to do

Wrestle with these monsters barehanded?!

You are going to kill us!"

(Tsunoda is really going at it)

"OHH for the love of...Will you two shut up already, no matter how much to scream at us things won't change

This decision was made by Mister Takagi because of your actions during his absence"

One of the guards, probably fed up by all the yapping speaks up

"You are doing a fatal mistake!"

Shido was probably about to snap, as he was just shouting now

And as the seconds passed their voices started to fade away again

I peeked outside to see that the guards along with Shido and Tsunoda had moved passed the fence door and were moving towards the barricade that was located down the road

I silently walk out the door and start walking behind them

Other than a forklift i could also see no guards at the barricade..meaning the only guards around here were these two

Once we got near the barricade i moved to my right and entered the nearest house hiding behind the concrete wall once more

Shortly after i hear the sound of an engine coming alive

"You take one step towards the wrong direction, you dead..understood?"

One of the guards speaks up

(Hmm one of em is using the forklift?)

And after a minute or so

"Out"

One of the guards barks

"At least give us something to defend our self's with"

Shido probably had given up on getting spared so now he was begging for equipment

I heard one of the guards groan

"...Fine...Catch!"

I could not actually see what was happening...but by the snickering i could hear, i had a pretty good idea

"Dude i am not giving you my knife later, now that you tossed yours"

The other guards speak up

"You people...are a disgrace to humankind

Do you enjoy making people suffer?"

(Ohh Shido found himself a mirror or something?)

"Shut up and get out, you wanted a knife, you got a knife now scram"

Seconds later i heard the sound of a gun bolt 'clacking'

"Don't make me repeat my self...sir"

(That...was the most sarcastic sir if i ever heard one...i already like that guy)

"Ok..ok we are leaving, we are leaving..."

I turn to look at the rifle in my hands

(...If he leaves now..he still might make it to the evacuation zone...like in the manga

...I will follow him for a bit, see if i can make out what he will try to do next

...No time to lose)

I get up and run into the house ending up into a living room once again

(Same layout as before)

I run to the stairs that were in the hallway climb them and then turn to the left and run down the corridor until i was at the door in the far end

I enter what used to be a kids room and run to the window on the left wall of the room

And then looked outside

(Bullseye)

I had a clear view of the whole thing now

Shido and Tsunoda were going straight down the road

(So...they are going straight...the next intersection is a good distance away... so i should be able to track them)

Several seconds later Tsunoda runs up to the side of the road kneels down and picks something up

Before turning back to walk down the street next to Shido

(He has the knife?...good to know...)

I turn my sight to the guards that had just finished fixing up the barricade and were walking away

(Alright...no time like the present)

I grip my gun and run back down

Once at the fence door i peek outside and see the guards walking away towards my left

I wait for a couple of seconds before taking a deep breath and exit the house from the fence door

Then turn to the right and head straight towards the barricade

(Jumping over that might be a problem with that barbwire on the top

...Hmm..i could enter the house next to the barricade and jump over the fence wall...

..Ok... let's do that)

With that, i move to the right once more and walk to the fence door that was right next to the barricade

I enter it and once inside the yard i turn to the left and run towards the concrete fence wall

Using the momentum i climb the wall and stay up there, checking what was on the other side and the surrounding area

I could see corpses moving around..nothing too freaky though

(Guess they are focused on keeping some barricades clear of corpses?

They will probably want to use a road after abandoning the estate so they try to keep them clean?)

I jump down the wall and walk straight towards the barricade

Once there i look to my right at the road that extended ahead

I could see two figures jogging in the distance

(There ya are)

I look at the corpses around me as grab the rifle with both hands switch the safety to semi-auto and start moving down the road

I was still a bit far from them so they could easily mistake me for a corpse if i acted like one

Yet they never looked back they just kept going forward

And soon they stopped jogging and started trying to walk around any corpse that would block their way

(Wonder if Tsunoda's flip flops make noise when he walks...)

Thanks to the fact that i was alone...and better prepared

I was able to close the distance between us pretty fast

And as their figures became clearer

My mind kept repeating the same question over..and over again

(...I could...end Shido right here and now...

Should i really...go through with this though?

It is one thing killing a corpse that is pretty much a walking meat bag with no cognitive ability what so ever...

And...another killing a living human being...even if that human being tried to kill me...

two times...

Still...what will the others think if they find out that i went and actively tried...or...did kill somebody

And well...they do say that if you go down that path...

But...if i let him go and the whole thing continues the way the manga did after the anime finishes...

He will get to the evacuation center

And i will be at a huge disadvantage there...for one...if i am still alive till then...it will be after the last chapter of the manga...meaning...no knowledge of what will happen...and Shido proved one too many times he wants me dead... and his third try...might be his lucky one)

I grip my rifle a little harder

(No...i...

I should follow them for now...maybe...he will have different plans

No need to jump the gun...even if i hate his ass)

And step by step i got closer

Up to a point...that i could hear them talk

"...going to do now sir...we won't survive out here alone.."

After Tsunoda finished his question Shido turns his head to him

"I heard from the refuges that there is an evacuation zone at the Shintoko Third Elementary School

we will head there"

Tsunoda's face turns to a scowl after hearing Shido's answer

(...Well...shit...)

"What?

That is way too far...we will never make it"

Shido nods before he starts speaking

"So...we will return to the estate to...borrow some equipment"

I could see Shido's face turning to a smirk

"As you saw the barricade was unmanned...it won't be...too hard to get back inside a little later

After that we just wait for an opportunity...and trust me one will come, these people are not trained soldiers...they will make a mistake, sooner or later

And if not...we can create a situation that would benefit us...say for example...an ill-placed barricade"

(Oh that son of a...no...no no...stay calm...just...listen...don't overreact...not...yet)

Tsunoda lets out a sigh as Shido finishes speaking

"Ohh i do want to get back at the bastards...

Though i wish i could do so myself rather than let these undead freaks do the job for us"

Tsunoda stabs the air around him in quick motions as he speaks

"And that slut Yuuki...

I bet she seduced the guards to avoid getting thrown out

Now she is in there sitting safely on her ass while we are here trying to avoid being eaten alive"

He stops stabbing his imaginary foe and looks at the knife

"After we lost that bus...everything has been going to shit"

I could see Shido's face turning grim as Tsunoda spoke

"Yes...it was really unfortunate that we lost that bus...because of that transfer student and his little group...

And after that we lost everybody other than You and Yuuki...and now...even Yuuki betrayed us

Why did this have to happen...

Souichiro was supposed to be stuck at that powerplant based on what the guards said

Yet he just appeared shortly after that transfer student and his group arrived...

Did they have something to do with this?"

Shido narrowed his eyes as he spoke

"That fucking inbred hypocrite, i knew he was no good the moment we picked him up

We should have just left him back at the school to rot"

Tsunoda keeps looking at his knife as he speaks

(Keep talking shit donkey...it is doing real good for you right now...)

"Indeed...we could have avoided all of this...had we not picked him up

To think he even managed to split our group in two"

And after that, they continued walking in silence

(...Ok...they are definitely up to no good...so...what now?...i shoot them?

I can't let them sabotage the barricades...)

Tsunoda being unaware that i was about to decide their fates spoke up again

"That house...really belonged to the Takagi's?"

Shido sighs as he looks ahead of him

"Yes...a real shame we didn't manage to...persuade the people in there"

He answers

"Damn...that foul-mouthed bitch has more than just her looks huh"

Tsunoda chuckles to himself

"But she just had to tag along with that fucking retard and his friends

wonder what bullshit he filled her with to make her agree on leaving the safety of the bus

Ohh if i just had some alone time with her

I could show her what she was missing"

Tsunoda lifts his knife to head-high

"I would make her moan like a b..."

Yet...he never managed to finish his sentence, as he fell forward hitting the ground with a loud thud

A slight trail of gunpowder smoke coming out from my gun's muzzle

And Tsunoda...now laid motionless on the floor

Blood seeping out from the hole in his head painting the street under it red

Shido just froze for a couple of seconds...staring at Tsunoda's body

I stayed silent as i continued walking towards him with my gun now pointed at him

But the sound of the gun had already made it obvious that i was there

Shido turned his eyes to me, before turning his whole body towards me

Each step i took forward... was a step he took back

He opens his mouth to speak but nothing came out

Until...

"You...you killed him..."

Was the first thing he said

I didn't reply...i just kept walking towards him

"You've...you've gone crazy!

You...you just committed murder!"

He shouts, pointing his finger at me as he keeps taking steps backwards

Again..i didn't reply... i just kept moving forward...gun still pointed at his face

"St...Stay away from me!

Don't come any closer!"

He shouts

I lower my gun slightly and lift my head from the gun's sights

And then i stop walking

Shido's seeing that i...'listened' to his demand, stops moving and opens his mouth again

"I was right...you...YOU ARE..."

"Behind you"

I cut him off

He instantly stops talking as his eyes go wide...realizing that a pair of hands were going over his shoulders

And then

A scream

He falls forward as a corpse bites the back of his neck and falls on top of him

I start walking towards him again, this time stopping a few feet away from his flailing arms

"Congratulations...you just turned me into what you kept portraying me to be...

Feeling proud yet?"

Blood was flowing from the back of his neck as he kept trying to shake the corpse off his back

But...He was bitten, even if he did manage to somehow escape...he would not survive..not as a human

I turn around and walk past the corpse that was creeping up behind me and start walking forward

I gave Tsunoda's dead body a quick glance as i walked passed it from a distance, corpses slowly gathering around it

The sound of screaming was now slowly being taken over by the sound of dead moaning

Yet i just kept moving forward

Towards the barricade...

Which i reached in what felt like a split second

I vault over the same wall which i used to exit the estate's perimeter and then leave the yard from the open fence door

And start moving straight towards the estate's gate

My rifle still glued to my hands

With each step i took the gate seemed to grow larger

Yet before i could reach it

A voice stopped me

"Are you Naier?"

I turn to the questioning voice to see a guard looking at me

I nod

"Finally, where did ya disappear to?

Mr. Takagi asked us to find you after you took too long to appear at the gates"

The guard turns around and motions to me to follow him as he starts walking towards the gate

"You missed quite the show to be honest

Mister Takagi made quite the fool out of this Shido dude before kicking him out

Heh...even his followers bailed on him"

The guard says in a merry tone

I just kept silent and looked at the guard for a couple of seconds before turning my sight towards the gate

He then grabs a radio that was hanging from his chest pocket and speaks up again

"Miss Takagi we found Naier, bringing him at the gates right now"

And with that, we kept moving forward in silence

A couple of minutes later i could see people gathering behind the gates

And as we got close, i could see who these people were

The moment the gates opened, they gathered around me

Speaking...shouting...whispering...talking...

Yet could hear nothing

I just kept walking forward, moving past them without saying a word

I could feel their stares on my back now...

I stop and turn my head slightly towards them

"I'm...tired...i'm going to sleep..."