Author's Notes: Before we start, I want to clarify some things.
First off, since Naoto is busy being dead, the series will be changing quite a lot. The most obvious thing is fhat it will be focused on the four girls, as well as a few new characters.
To add to the previous statement, I wanted to give Yoshi and Sakura full names, cuz I feel like if we know their full names it'll feel easier to dive into their personalities a bit more. I know that 'Yoshi' can be used as a name in Japan, but I can't help seeing the dinosaur from Mario when I think of it. So I decided to make 'Yoshi' a nickname for 'Yoshida', so I'm going to change her full name to 'Yuri Yoshida'
For Sakura, I'll simply leave her name intact and give her a surname. Her full name will be "Sakura Sasaki" ( 'Saki' for a Nickname)
That's all. Enjoy the new chapter!
"Hayase! Wake up." The loud yelling of a best friend. The creaking sound of footsteps agains the wooden floor. The dim light of the bulb illuminating the room at morning along with the natural light from the sun. After a few weeks, Nagatoro had gotten used to waking up to these sounds. "I'm up. I'm up!"
Gamo watched as her friend jumped down from her bunk bed before stretching. "Good morning, Maki."
Gamo looked outside, seeing the massive barricade outside. The fact that it was the only thing to divide the settlement of survivors from the raging apocalypse outside. "Hey." Nagatoro called out to her. "Where's Senpai?"
"...He went out for a walk. He should be back soon." Gamo responded. Nagatoro perked up, her neutral face turning into a slight grin. "Great! I'll make sure to wait for him to get here." The girl said, sitting down at the table. Gamo nodded quietly. "Yeah. You do that. I have to go do some stuff."
"I haven't been here in a long time." Yoshi said to herself as she walked trough the woods. She always liked to hang out here alone when her thoughts got too real. It was the perfect place to calm oneself down. It was quiet, it was near the town, and it had a sense of peace to it.
"It really seems like I've lost almost everything." The girl continued talking to herself, staring at her hands. A small bird found itself in her grasp, a small injury making it unable to fly. "Maybe I can protect you."
She pondered if Gamo had already noticed her absence. While they were technically allowed to exit the settlement at any time, Maki had constantly advised against it. She considered it an unnecessary risk. "Stupid Gamo." The girl pouted as she scratched the birds head. "If I hadn't left, I wouldn't have found you."
A quiet groan could be heard trough the forest, causing Yuri to freeze in her step as a Zombie slowly emerged from the bushes. The girl froze, before quietly hiding behind a small log. The Zombie groaned and walked around for a few seconds before turning around as it started to leave.
Yoshi quickly got up, aiming back towards the Settlement. The girl, however, was unlucky enough to step on a stick, causing it to crunch loudly as the Zombie turned around. It looked her directly in the eyes, before starting to run in her direction. She booked it as fast as she could, jumping trough small gaps on the floor and trying to lose the Zombie without losing sight of the small bird in her hands.
Despite her best attempt, the inability to use her hands lead to her tripping not soon after as she turned around to see the Zombie get closer. She instinctively wrapped her arms gently around the tiny animal, trying to keep it safe. As it got within a dangerous distance, the Zombie was suddenly tackled. Gamo held Naoto's Axe strongly against the Zombies neck, preventing it from biting her. She made quick work of the creature by slamming the handle against its head, before double tapping it with an Axe against its face.
"Maki! Thank God you're here-" The girl was interrupted by Gamo as she grabbed her by the shirt. "Shut the hell up. Why the hell do you insist on leaving constantly?"
"...I'm...sorry."
Gamo sighed in response. "It's no use. You'll simply leave again inevitably. We have enough problems and your stupidity isn't making anything better."
The girl slowly opened her hand, revealing the tiny bird. "I found it injured around here. If I hadn't found it, I don't know what would've happened."
Gamo looked at the tiny bird, before sighing. "This is the third time you've brought an injured animal to the settlement, and the other two didn't survive. You're just risking yourself for nothing."
She gave Gamo and empty stare, before looking down at the injured animal. "But... I can keep it safe."
"They wouldn't have wanted this. You know it." Gamo held Yoshi by the shoulder as she picked up the bird. "They wouldn't have wanted you to get in danger. Their desire to protect you is what got us here."
Yuri quietly nodded as she sighed. "You're right..." She quietly responded as the two of them walked back to the settlement. She opened her palm as she stared at the small bird. It reminded her too much of herself. So defenseless, depending on someone to come and save her. "It's the reason we lost everything." The girl thought to herself.
"It's my fault. For being weak."
Gamo had returned Yoshi to the settlement, leaving her with Nagatoro. It was exhausting and hard to keep everything togheter. After Naoto died, everything had collapsed. Despite them all having some sense of safety with the settlement, nothing would be the same. They had experienced too much.
Gamo wandered around the neighborhood, careful not to alert any Zombies. Every step and every second outside the settlement brought her spirits deeper down. But she had to keep her morale up. For her friends, and for the people who got them here.
A small bundle of flowers placed in her hand, Gamo walked trough the neighborhood. She knew this place was dangerous. She had just warned Yoshi about the danger of being outside. But she had to do this. The girl eventually reached a house. It looked just like every other house nearby, yet it had so much more meaning. To her and her friends.
A bundle of flowers laid upon the doorstep. She could still see the blood splattered on the door, reminding her of who was here. The girl knelt down, placing the flowers next to the others. "To another day of being alive."
"Why am I alive? I thought I died. Everything feels so cold. Like a black hole that sucks everything into itself, my body feels empty and cold. And despite that, I still remember. I remember all of you. I don't know what happened to me, or why, but I'll find you..."
"I'll find you."