(So...four bullets left in the rifle

Two shells in the shotgun

And uhh three bullets in the p220...along with one eight-round magazine in the backpack

...Yea...I am in dire need of ammo here)

I think as i look at the guns that laid on the same bed i used last night

Which...well...was definitely beyond saving now, as i used it as a table while i cleaned the guns after taking them apart

(Hmm...Fat chance Souichiro will give me any ammo for the type 89 though, as it uses 5.56 x 45 mm's

And the ammo we brought with us consisted of shotgun shells and 7.62 ×51mm's

So i need to either get the Ar-10 or M1-A1 from Kohta or Rei...

Or...i can just get more shells for the shotgun, seeing as it's the only weapon i have with me right now that we had ammo for, before arriving here

And honestly, with how powerful the shotgun is...it might just be all i'll really need)

I take my eyes off the guns and stare at my backpack, the bokken i used against Saeko strapped on its side

...After i finished my little sparing match against Saeko i decided to 'borrow' the bokken i used, as the only close-range weapon i had was the combat knife

Then i spent a good one hour trying to get the rifle and handgun back from Kohta

Who took it upon himself to personally 'teach' me the history of each weapon before returning it to me

Though i think he just wanted to buy more time before returning the guns

The group and i then stayed under cover and waited for the rain to stop...

Or well...that was the initial aim...

As we ended up hearing a bunch of refugees talking shit about Souichiro

And Saya being her usual self wanted to go and yell at them for bad-mouthing her dad...

..If this sounds familiar...its because it is...the whole thing seemed to head straight towards the opening event of the last episode of the anime

So I decided to split from the group then

Even though i did want to go with Saya...and i get the feeling that the stink-eye she gave me was because i bailed on her when she was going to..uhh...pick a fight...i had other stuff that needed doing..

And so, i first went to check the garage with the humvee for anything i could use, this is where found the two shotgun shells

Then i went to grab something to eat...before pretty much locking my self in this room

I also watched a bunch of online videos before actually deciding to check the condition of my guns

And...that's about it

(Though...the Humvee gave me an idea...

Why try to use a car that won't even start to temporary block a barricade and risk getting eaten alive

When i can use a fully functional one?

While there is the risk of losing the humvee and i need to get the keys first

...The risk of losing the whole estate outweighs the humvee by far...

Even if i have a soft spot for that car

As for the keys

Well, if they are not with Shizuka then she will probably know where they are...i hope)

I turn my head and look at the phone that was on the bed next to me

(Seven and ten pm...hmm

Based on what the guards said, they should have gone to the 'center' barricade at twelve and thirty

Then change after three hours to the right one

So...they should have stayed at the right barricade...until six and thirty

Meaning they must be at the center one again...or the left one

Anyway...time to move

That humvee plan sounds solid enough so i will work on it

Seeing how this way i can block the barricade even if some corpses manage to get through it before i manage to get there...

While pushing the non-functioning jeep would put me in danger of getting chewed by a corpse ...

Also even if relatively slow, the humvee is obviously faster than my running speed)

I load the magazines back in the guns and strap them on me

Then throw the backpack over my shoulder

(Alright...let's find Shizuka and get my self a Humvee)

I nod to my self and leave the room

And...uhh...well

The main new problem became obvious pretty fast

(Where...exactly is Shizuka at?...)

I walked around the hallways in hopes of running into her

But to no avail

(Why when you need something...it always disappears?)

I groan under my breath as i keep moving down the hallway

(Maybe i should check the garage with the Humvee before looking for Shizuka...she might have contracted the 'leave keys near car' disease that everybody seems to carry around here)

I nod to my self as i head towards the building's main exit, hoping to end this search before it can actually begin

The moment i got out i noticed that the rain had stopped

The sky was now a deep shade of orange

(...Crap...i'm running out of time..)

I quicken my pace as i moved towards the garage

(So far..i can think of...

Four ways this can play out

One

Nothing happens

The blast will be during a change, or the barricades will be closed

Seeing how this world tries to stick to the events of the anime and manga though... i don't think we'll be this lucky

Two

A barricade open with no crashed cars

Leaving an open hole that can be closed relatively easy

Three..

Crashed car at the barricade

While it probably won't be as bad as with Shido

Depending on how and where it will crash

It could make it hard to block the hole it might create

And four

Open barricade and a crashed car at the barricade

Honestly...if this happens...then i'm going to sue whoever is responsible for me being here after i get eaten alive

Along with whoever was driving that crashed car)

And so a couple of minutes later

I was at the garage

The place was empty, like the last time i checked

(Guess the mechanic did not need to fix our car...as we did not crash this time around

Though it makes me think...can a humvee be damaged that bad from a crash like the one from the anime?

I mean..even with all the customizations it is still supposed to be military-grade)

I walk by the car while letting my hand run along its hood

(Still...i will miss this bad boy if we lose it...

I sort of have linked it with the Hotd anime...

Plus you know...it's an awesome car for a zombie apocalypse)

I pat the Humvee on the hood

(Guess i will have to try and keep you alive as well huh...)

I then move to the driver's seat

Upon opening the door i sit inside and grab the steering wheel before looking at the ignition switch to my left

(No keys, but the doors were unlocked

...speaking about it...i remember in the anime right before they bailed the burning estate

Shizuka turned on the car with a switch, meaning in the anime...the car didn't use keys...

Weird...then again...in the anime smartphones didn't exist either...something we obviously have here...

Uhh whatever, keys, keys)

I then start looking around in the car

Glove box...negative

Next to hand break...negative

Visors...the car does not have visors

Between the seats...negative

On the seats...negative

Under the seats...is that a cigar?

(Hmm... can't see them anywhere around here)

I exit the car and then go behind it towards the workbench

(This is where i found the two shotgun shells...and obviously no keys here)

I rest my hands on the table and let out a sigh

(Shizuka it is then)

I think as i lift my head and look straight at the tool rack on the wall

And freeze...

A key...hanging there...right in front of me

(...Uhh...yea...

Not a chance)

I take the key none the less go straight to the Humvee and put it in the ignition switch after sitting on the driver's seat

The key slides in without any resistance

(...Yes, a chance)

Then turn the key

And the humvee comes alive

(Ohh...I'm a happy panda now...err...penguin)

I chuckle to my self as i kill the engine and remove the key

Then move back to the workbench

As i was about to put it back on the wall

(... Somebody might have the bright idea and try to escape with the only working vehicle after the panic starts)

I pocket the key and leave the garage

As i walked back towards the main building of the estate i looked at the open main gate

(Ever since Souichiro returned they have been leaving the gate open for people to move about

...Well that's good for me actually

Less time wasted opening the gate after the bomb goes off

I will just have to be quick about this so they don't close the gate before i can actually drive out of the estate

And well...hope the humvee actually works...even if the six-wheeled hybrid vehicle had shown no signs of existence in the estate so far...

You never know how bad your luck is until it hits you in the face)

I let out a huge sigh and look at my phone

(Didn't Saeko tell Takashi that men should not sigh?

Ehh whatever

Seven and thirty...

What are the chances of the bomb not going off...

Hmm..that would have to mean that the ship that was responsible for taking care of that nuke did not get overrun

I don't think anything i do will matter on that fact...that ship is will probably get overrun no matter what i do)

Upon closing towards the main building i spot Shizuka hopping about excitedly

Before she proceeds to hug Alice

After what seemed to be a small chat she extends her arm...and yanks Takashi's phone out of his hands

I stop dead in my tracks...

(This...Oh shit)

I slowly take several steps back

And after i made sure that nobody from the group had realized i was there...

I quickly turn around and walk away

The moment i was out of their sight i break into a dead run

(...fuck, fuck, FUCK,

Seven-thirty, seven-thirty

That should be...

Central barricade)

And as i run

A blindingly bright flash in the sky

But i didn't stop

Instead...i run even faster

By the time i arrived at the garage, the light in the sky had already subsided

I swing the humvee's door open, take off the two guns and place them on the passenger's seat along with my bag as i seat behind the steering wheel

I shove my hand in my pocket and pull out the key

As i was about to put it in the ignition i hit my hand on the steering wheel making me drop it after losing my grip

"Well, this is fucking Cliche!" I shout as i bend down and grab the key that fell next to the pedals

Then shove it in the car's ignition switch

(Please, please, PLEASE work)

I turn the key

And feel the whole car shaking as the engine comes alive

"YES! You beautiful bastard!" I slap the steering wheel with one hand as i stomp on the pedal

(Ok...focus, focus, calm down

I need to get to the central barricade pronto

On the way, i can check the left barricade from afar

That leaves only the barricade to the right unchecked but it should not be used right now)

As i sped down the yard i could feel every single person present here staring at the car

(I bet my leg that ninety-nine present of them think i'm trying to flee right now

The rest are probably still wondering why the sky just turned into a temporary Fourth of July)

The moment i passed through the gate i kept driving until i reached the intersection that led to the three barricades

I turn the car to the right before hitting the brakes causing it to slightly skid as it came to a halt

I open the door and lean my upper body outside of the car as i look behind me, towards the 'left' barricade

(Clear)

I close the door as i pull my body back to a normal sitting position and with a roar from the engine the Humvee starts moving forward again

Driving down the road i felt my heart beating all the way up to my ears

(I really wish there was a pause button right now

Because i can't seem to be able to calm my fucking self down)

Upon closing in on the next intersection i slow the car down and prepare to look to my left

If this barricade was also clear, then the right one would be the last one i would have to check

And then, we would be home free

Yet...i got my answer...faster than i expected

As i saw a guard appear from the left side of the next intersection, running like total lunatic

(...Not...good...)

I press on the pedal harder as the guard starts to frantically wave at me

I speed past him before pulling the hand brake while turning the car left on the intersection

And...well...

(Already?!)

Corpses...lots of them...had already moved past the barricade and were slowly shambling towards us

Behind them, i could see the barricade

One of its concrete blocks was on the forklift that was next to it

A couple of corpses were also munching on what seemed to be the remains of the second guard that was still seated on the forklift

(Why...why no matter what i do things seem to always end up like in the anime?

Even without Shido here...)

I look at the guard that was still staring at me

I open the door slightly

"Why are you still standing there you dumb fuck! Go warn the estate!

NOW!" I slam the door as i shout

The guard snapping out of whatever trance he was in nodded multiple times as he turned around and started running again

I look back at the oncoming corpses...

Then close my eyes and take a deep breath

(What if no matter what i do...

Things will always somehow end up playing like in the anime...

Having to accept that Saeko will be fucking with Takashi will be the least of my worries...

...Saya fleeing her own burning home with her parents still inside

Kohta breaking down after shooting Asami...)

I open my eyes and look at the barricade in the distance as i grip the steering wheel

"No...Fuck...that...

Fuck all of it

I'm either stoping this

Right here...

Right now...

Or...i'm dying on this god damn street "

I step on the pedal as i release the handbrake and drive head-on to the oncoming corpses, straight towards the barricade

"If i have to be a viewing bystander as everything around me falls...

...Then fuck this world and everything it stands for"

Seconds later the first corpse collided with the hood of the humvee only to be followed by another and then another

And soon...the bumping sound of corpses crushing their skulls against the car was the only thing i could hear

The only thing i did care for though...was for the car to keep moving, to reach that barricade

Which it did

I hit on the brakes causing the humvee to start skidding as it closed in on the barricade

Being bigger than the hole the car ends up hitting the corners of the nearby concrete blocks, causing them to slightly slide along with the car like a two-door gate

The impact ended up sending me violently forward, making me hit my forehead head against the steering wheel

"Ughh...Second time the mask saves my face from blunt force trauma...

...This thing really needs some seatbelts..."

I groan as i look at my left...to see that the car actually had seatbelts...

"Or i need to stop being blind"

I turn my sight towards the windshield to see a sea of corpses ahead of me

My eyes go wide as i dart my head around before moving towards the hatch on the car's roof

The moment i opened the hatch whatever ambient noise existed got swallowed by the constant sound of moaning and growling

I pull my self up on the roof and look around

Half of the humvee had moved past the barricade

With the concrete blocks touching the humvee on the sides

Effectively blocking the hole

Before i could celebrate though, i felt the car shaking before moving slightly backward

I look towards the hood of the car to see an ever-increasing number of corpses pushing against it

"OH SHIT! HANDBRAKE!"

I duck back down and pretty much jump towards the handbrake before pulling it

And the car, finally stops moving

I let out a huge sigh as i lift my head

"There goes another two years from my life"

I grab the guns and bag before going back out

And once i was outside again i looked back at the remaining corpses that were inside the estate's perimeter

"All this noise caused the corpses to turn around and head towards me

This should effectively keep the estate safe"

I then turn and look at the amassing horde

And...

The realization hit me

I've actually done it...i managed to block the barricade

Even with their numbers they did not seem to be able to get over the humvee as they just kept clawing the burning hood

"We are closed, go home...dipshits..."

I turn back to the corpses that had now started to surround the trunk of the humvee

"...And i just trapped my self...perfect"

I peek back inside the car and randomly pick one of the bags that were there

Then bring it up on the roof as i rest my back against the open hatch door

"Hmm..black clothes?

Did Takashi leave them here?" I ask my self as i open the bag and start poking inside

As i kept searching i also found a small carton of...

Energy bars?

"...confiscated.."

I open the box and take one of the packaged bars form inside as i throw the bag back into the car

Then take off my mask and pass it over my arm before pulling the balaclava and do the exact same thing with it

With nothing blocking my face now, i take a bite out of the energy bar

(...Did i...really just save the estate?...

This...seemed too easy...

There...could be another hole somewhere...

No...don't think like that...especially now that you are stuck here and can't do jack shit)

I shake my head and turn to the corpses to my right

"You hobos want some?" I grab a second bar from the carton and point it towards their extended arms

"No?...fine more for me"

I turn my body back towards the car's hood, making sure that no corpses had actually managed to climb up before looking back at the street that led to the estate

"...This is taking them awfully long...hope everything is ok at the estate...

If i have done all this for nothing...then

...No...just...wait..wait for...

Uhh?"

And speaking of the devil

A group of humans appeared at the intersection

After a short stop of what seemed to be them...staring...They started moving towards me

As they got closer i could see they were also dressed in full firefighter attire

Just like when we first got rescued

They also had the same gear as last time

The compressed..water guns or what they are supposed to be

I guess they didn't get affected by the emp?...no electronics in them?...

Maybe they had spares that worked...

I don't know...

The moment they got close they started taking out the ones that had strayed too far from the mini horde that had gathered at the car's trunk

One person shot them with the gun

Then the other decapitated the corpse with a fire axe while it was still on the ground

I just stayed on the humvee chewing on my energy bar as i kept staring at the group that dealt with the corpses...and...occasionally looked behind me

Soon i also noticed that Takashi, Saeko and Rei...no actually

The whole group was there

Including Saya's parents

Takashi and the two girls were just ahead of the rest

And they were helping the members of the adult group

So i guess they managed to pursue the adults to let them help...

Or you know...time of crisis and morals go out of the window

I also saw Saya awkwardly aiming a gun before Kohta moved close to her and started pointing at something

Judging from her facial expression as she turned to Kohta...She did not look really all that pleased with the intervention

(Hmm she got the luger?)

As the whole group got closer the corpses surrounding the back of the car started to turn around a shamble towards them

I pulled out my handgun aimed at the closest corpse with one hand then pulled the trigger

The noise causing the corpses to stop and turn around again

Only for the firefighters to move in and take out another couple of corpses

Making the whole group turn towards them again

And me shooting at them...again...

This cycle continued even after i run out of ammo and changed to the extra magazine i had in the bag

Until finally the number of the remaining corpses was too small to pose a real threat

I just holstered my handgun and continued chewing on my energy bar then

By the time we were done, the sun had also completely set

Meaning it was night, and the estate was not overrun...yet

After all the corpses had been dealt with

I pick up my stuff while leaving the energy bar carton on the roof and slide down the trunk of the humvee

The moment i touched the ground i saw one of the firefighters giving me a thumbs up, i return the motion and start walking away while shaking my legs to get rid of the numbness

"You did this?" Saya's father walks up to me as he looks at the humvee

I turn around and look at it as well

"As you saw...corpses were already over the barricade...

I focused on plugging the hole before too many could pass though" I turn to Souichiro to see him nod

"Looks like your quick thinking did really save us this time...

Good job, Naier" I just nodded at him...slightly wide-eyed by how...nice he acted

Souichiro then turns around and looks at the firefighters

"Search every nook and cranny for any infected that might have escaped!

and double-check all the barricades!

Letting even one of them escape can prove fatal!" He shouts at the adult group

(And...he's back)

They replied by spreading out and beginning the search

"I will return to the estate, we might have lost all of our electrical equipment

But we still need to figure what to do with that" He points at the sea of corpses that was making a racket on the other side of the barricade

With that

He walked away as the rest of my group came up to me, including Saya's mother

"You have a knack for doing things that nobody agrees on, don't you?" Saya's mother speaks up

"He has a knack for being a huge frigging idiot!" Saya butts in as she leans towards my face before i could even speak

"If you are going to say that i acted on my own again...

I am going to say that you all just acted way too slow instead..." I say as i point the energy bar in my hand at Saya's face

She stares at the bar for a couple of seconds before huffing and looking away...as per usual chundere reaction

"Yet the fact still stands

As my husband said

Your actions saved us from a very bad situation

Still, how did you know?" Yuriko puts her hand under her chin as she looks at me

"That the barricade being used might fail?" I ask as i take my mask and balaclava out of my hand and wear them

Yuriko just nods

"I noticed that forklifts were the only thing being used to open and close the barricades...

After the emp blast, i figured there is a chance that the forklift might get busted while moving the blocks

And...sadly...i was right..." I turn to look at the forklift that still had the remains of the unlucky guard on it

(...The two guards on the barricade duty today...were the same ones i spoke with several times during my stay here...were they not?...

So this is...

...Rest in peace...this is all i can offer you now)

"...We should head back...

Mister Suoichiro is right...we're not out of the woods yet..." I turn my head back towards the group before i start walking away

(...The horde might not be in the estate...

But it's still way too close for comfort...we need to get rid of it before i can give the world and its knack for following the anime the middle finger...

Though...i do have an idea...and seeing how Souichiro seems to acknowledge that i managed to stop this..even temporarily

Hmm...yea...it could work...)

I nod to my self and pick up the pace as i walked toward the estate

Upon reaching the main gate i turn around and wait for the group to gather

"You all got a minute...think i have a plan on how to deal with this horde that is camping outside"

The group looks at each other before turning to me

"And...it includes all of us this time?" Saeko 'asks'

I just chuckled

"Yes, it includes all of us, because it also includes us leaving the estate" I say as i fold my arms

The group looked slightly surprised, but they quickly refocused on me as they nodded

"It's actually pretty simple

We use the humvee to lure away the horde" As i spoke the group just...stared at me

"...UHH...You want me to tell you that you are an idiot now...or after you explain to us how this is even going to work" Saya replies

"When i was at the powerplant your father used dynamites to lure away a horde

We can do the same, both to clear a way for the humvee to drive though

And to get the horde to follow us as we drive off" I answer to Saya

"Wait...they have dynamite here?" Kohta asks right after

I turn my head to Khota and answer with a nod

(There is also a second part to my plan...but i'll keep to my self...for now)

Seeing as we were short on time

And we were planning on leaving the estate anyway

The group agreed to my plan as they could not think of anything better

So we moved inside, towards the estate's main yard

Where Souichiro was talking with several other men

And as we got close

"We need to get them to move away from the barricade as quicky as possible

We don't even know if that car can hold up against so many infected pushing against it

What if they break through?" A man in a white uniform was speaking with Souichiro

"I know, we will have to reinforce the barricade...

And not just this one, with the forklifts out of order we need to take countermeasures

Until we find replacement parts to make them functional again" Souichiro replies

"I think we can help with that" I speak up as i move towards the men

Other than Souichiro who kept serious face, the rest of the men turned to look at me with a...'funny'...look

"What you have in mind Naier" To their surprise though Souichiro motioned me to continue

"Dynamite" I answer

Souichiro raises an eyebrow as he looks at me

"I know you have dynamite here, you used it in the power plant...

We will do the exact same thing here

The humvee can still run

So we will use it to drive the horde away

It will give you time to seal the hole after the car is no longer there and hopefully drive most of the horde away from the estate" As i finish Souichiro nods

"Hmm..sounds solid...

But who would drive the Humvee?

You understand the ones driving might not be able to return" He asks

"We will" I answer as i point at the group behind me with my thumb

One of the men probably not being able to hold himself anymore speaks up

"What?...you expect a bunch of kids to do this?

There is no way..."

"Excuse me?" I interrupt the man

"Sorry but correct me if i'm wrong...

But while you all got caught trying to pull your pants up

I was out there doing your job by plugging a god damn hole you 'adults' opened and then failed to close" I fold my arms and lean slightly forward as i speak

"We were..." Before the man could open his mouth

"Enough" Shouchiro spoke up causing the man to pipe down

"If you want to do this, i won't stop you

Just know that you will have at maximum two days to return here

We will be leaving the estate for a more favorable position

If you're not back by then...All of you will be left behind..." He glanced at the group before turning around

"We will also need supplies"

Reacting to my voice Souichiro turns around again and looks at me...

And i could also feel multiple stares on my back now

"We will also be looking for Takashi's and Miyamoto's parents

So there is a chance we might not make it back in time

We would like to have some extra dynamite

Ammo for the guns we use, and fuel for the humvee"

As i finish one of the men speaks up again

"You little...what do you think you are..."

"Payment"

I cut him off

Souichiro folds his arms as he looks at me

"For saving the estate...twice" I say as i also fold my arms

Souichiro just stared at me

And he keeps staring...for a good two minutes or so...

Until he finally nodded

"You will take as much as you can fit in the humvee

You can decide what you what to take

The horde outside won't wait for us to get ready

So we will begin as soon as you are finished"

Saying that he then walks away, the men following behind him

I turn to the group and stare at them

Until finally...

"Not gonna lie...didn't think it would get this intense..."

I drop my hands to my knees as i take a deep breath then look back at the group

"So...we stick with ammo and fuel?" I ask as i lift my head

The group just kept staring at me before they all started slightly nodding

"Ummm...how are we even going to get everything to the jeep?...

Is it not stuck at the barricade?" Kohta asks

I look at Kohta with a smirk that he could obviously not see because of my mask

"Why...we do your favorite thing of course...we walk

A lot...

Multiple trips, carrying the stuff from here...to there" I say as i point towards the general direction of the humvee

Khota's eyes then go wide

"You gotta be kidding me...right?" He asks

"Nope...

And the faster we start, the faster we finish

...And i know i said ammo and fuel only, but as we have the free for all, we should also take some food and water to lasts us a day or two

So...let's get to it ya?"

The group nods at me before they all start heading towards their own direction

"Hey Kohta" I call out to him while he was pretty much dragging himself on the floor

He turns to me while still keeping the same posture

"You know all the new guns we got right?" I ask

He just nods

"Alright you are the only one who can do this...so

Decide what ammo is better to take with us and at what quantity

Oh...Except from shotgun shells...we are taking a mountain of them no matter what... because, shotguns"

Once you are finished ask whoever is in the 'armory' or whatever place they keep the ammo here to set up what we need

I will come to help you carry it once i get the chance"

Khota probably preferring this over carrying water bottles straightens his posture and he brings his hand under his chin

After thinking for some time, he gives me a thumbs up

"Consider it done boss" He then turns around and walks away

(Boss?...

Eh...whatever

So...what should i do now..

Kohta can definitely handle the ammo

So...fuel and food

I guess we could also add some extra clothes?

I mean all we got is that mass of black stuff...

Though...i also guess the mall will have some clothes to pick

Hmm...i will head to get the fuel...)

With that, i start heading towards the garage, hopefully, i could find somebody to redirect me from there

Or well that was where i was going...before spotting Shizuka with two big crates

Walking blindly forward as the boxes covered her face

I shake my head and run up to her

Once i was next to her i poked her arm

"Give me one of these before you end up air flipping to the ground" Shizuka looks at me with a smile

"Umm...ehehe...i think...i got a little...more than i can handle"

(This ain't a challenge you dumbo)

"Yea..." I say as i grab the top box and take it from her

"...Thank you" She finally starts speaking normally as she corrects her posture

"What is in here anyway?" I ask as i get a better grip on the box

"food and water" She replied

And So, we moved towards the Humvee..

It didn't take long for Shizuka to start chatting, probably bored from all the silence

"Why do you keep wearing that mask"

"I like it"

"Why do you keep wearing black"

"I like it"

"...Where did you learn to drive?"

"I li..errr..I did some lessons with my father when i was younger

I guess they just stuck to me"

"Ohh...sorry...i didn't mean..."

I turn my head to her as i raise an eyebrow

Only to understand what she was sorry about a second later

(Right father is on the other side of the globe)

"Don't be...

I might be away from my parents...

But... i was actually really lucky...because i was able to find you all...

...Trust me...it could all have been much worse...so don't let it drag you down" I say as i turn to look at the street ahead

Shizuka didn't reply

After a couple of seconds, i turn to my head again only to see her staring at me slack-jawed

"What?

Don't tell you thought i was not grateful for being here?" I ask

Shizuka shakes her head as she smiles

"No...it's just that...it is something else hearing you say it..."

I just laughed through my nose as i lowered my head...

Upon arriving at the barricade

I find Saeko, Takashi and Rei by the humvee

Several fuel canisters next to the car's trunk

"Looks like we will be taking some food with us after all"

Reacting to my voice the three turn around to face me

"Two boxes?

This should last us quite some time actually" Rei speaks up

"Ummm..actually one box is water, the other one is rations and canned food" Shizuka replies

"Hmm i think we have enough fuel and food

Remember we still need a good amount of space for the ammo and dynamites" I say after Shizuka as i leave the box in the car and look at the canisters

"Saya went to get the dynamites from her dad

Ammo...i don't know" Saeko replied

"I sent Kohta to deal with the ammo

So...

I guess we split into two groups now?

One to help Saya with the explosives and the other to help Kohta with the bullets

I already said to Kohta that i will be helping him, so i'm going for the bullets" I speak after Saeko

(Sorry Saya, but i ain't backstabbing Kohta by bailing on him...

Even though...it's really tempting...

...No...no no bad Naier

Never backstab a bro, never)

"Hmm i will go help Saya then" Takashi folds his arms as he speaks

"I will go with Takashi" Rei adds right after

"Ummm...where should i go?" Shizuka asks

"Go get Alice" I answer...

The rest of the group turns to look at like like i just spoke in a different language

I dart my head around as i look at them

"...what?" I ask

"Are you sure we should take a little girl with us?

She will be safer here.." Takashi scratches his head as he speaks

(True...)

"But what about her mental state?"

The rest of the group looked even more weirded out by my answer

I let out a silent sigh

"You all never wondered why Alice is still her cheery self when her dad died ...what...two..tree days ago?" I ask

They all just looked at each other before staring back at me

"You" I point at Takashi

"Me?" Takashi points at himself as he tilts his head

"Yes you, you dork

The moment her father died...

You were there to keep her safe when everybody else was going to leave her for the dead

Effectively replacing him as a father figure

Of course, she knows that you are not her real father

But she sees you as her protection and care

If you try to leave her behind, even if it is for her own good

She will think you abandoned her

You really think she will be able to handle getting left behind by two people she trusts with her life in rapid succession?"

Now they all just looked at me like a bunch of fish...even Saeko...

(...Really...is it that surprising?

Who the hell do they think i am? Fucking Hanibal?)

"...Wow...First saying that you feel really lucky to have had the chance to meet us...

And now this...

You really...are a nice person" Shizuka claps her hands together as she smiles

(...Of course...

She would go and spill whatever embarrassing thing i might have said to her to all the wrong people...

Fucking...ughhh)

I dart my head to her before turning around

"We are still standing next to a giant horde, let's get going" I say as i walk away

...And i swear...i could hear giggling behind me

(Note to self...

Never say embarrassing things to Shizuka...

...Sounds so obvious now that i said it to my self to be honest...)

As i kept moving i heard a voice coming from behind me

"Well...you're the last person i expected to see running away from something" Turning to the voice i see Saeko walking up to me

"I didn't run away from anything..." I say as i turn my head back towards the street

Glancing back her i could see her staring at me with an

'Oh yeah?' expression

"Uhh...fine i'm just not good with all that sugary stuff" I say as i turn to her

She just smiled as she covered her mouth with her hand

"Yes...i...kind of figured that" She says as she looks at me

After that, we kept moving in silence for a short while

"...Lucky...

Don't...take this the wrong way...

I am really glad that you consider your self lucky to have met us...

But...should you really trust people this easily?...

Some people...

Might not be what they appear to be..." Saeko didn't look at me as she spoke...

(...Wait...

Is she?...

Uhh...shit...hmm

ok...how do i go about this?...)

"...I don't trust people easily

But you all have effectively saved my life more than once

Being it by watching my back out there...Or by letting me stay in here

And...well

Name me one person who doesn't have a skeleton in their closet..." I say as i turn my head to her

"You?" She asks as she also turns to look at me

"Pfft!" I nearly choked as i tried to hold my self from snickering

(She's pulling my leg...right?

Let's see...

Stealing cash...

Lying through my teeth about god knows how many things to everybody in the group

Killing living humans without getting even slightly shaken...

...Wanting both Saeko and Saya...

And the list goes on)

I lower my head before shaking it slightly, then look back at her

"Saeko...Just look at me..." I say as i lift both arms

"My looks alone should say 'I am fucked up secrets reincarnate' " Saeko tilted her head as she kept staring at me

"Secrets...Like what?"

I just snickered to her question

"Now you don't expect me to just up and tell you...do you?

Not when you have not said a thing about your self to me..."

Saeko just stares at me before looking back towards the street

"True" She says before slightly lowering her head

"But...You should be careful what you wish for..."

Her voice was so weak that i think she didn't intend for me to hear this...

But well...i always had good hearing...

"Not something you want to talk about...understandable...there is a reason they are called secrets...

But...just so you know...I'm here if you need me

...After all, you kept telling me not to go off and do everything on my own"

Saeko just turned to stare at me again

And some seconds later

I dart my head to Saeko

"Ok, forget i just said that...way too cheesy..."

She just giggled

"A man must never go back on his word Naier..." She says as she kept staring at me

"Well...My offer still stands...

Just...uhh...forget the way i mentioned it?" I answer

She just closed her eyes and laughed lightly through her nose

Before turning to look at the street ahead of us

"...If i will ever feel the need...then i will...

Count on your offer..."

I just nodded as i kept walking towards the estate

(...I won't lie...if her opening up to me means us getting...closer...then i'm all in for it

But there is also the other part in this...and that is, her bottling up to the point of bursting

If i can make her accept her self...or make her believe that somebody accepts her...even without us getting closer...

It will keep her stable...and that is still as important)

I then glance at Saeko

(...Because...jokes aside...

If she does go berserk...

I don't think i'll be able to stop her...)