Chapter 18: Agendas Among The Dead
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN, MILES AWAY FROM JAPANESE SHORES…
Right now, it's been more or less a month since the outbreak spread around the globe and gone rampant in other nations, not just in Japan. With some of the world's leaders succumbing to the infection like their citizens, chaos reigning in the form of dead people, preying on survivors that are desperate to live amidst the ongoing danger.
"Commander, this is getting out of hand! It's not enough that we've lost contact with some of our men in our waters, but now that nuke took out our electricity in the mainland!"
The Japanese military vessels, even though they are functioning and stable, its crew members are apparently unstable, but much less compared to the survivors struggling harder on land. "What is the situation right now in the capital?"
"Recently, one of our aerial surveillance units got eyes on the city, and the situation continues to worsen with reports of anarchy among citizen groups, dispatched military personnel have gone rogue, and that's just most of the intel that we've gathered from the center in the mainland. I fear that the worst is happening around the globe…" The lieutenant fell silent as he grew increasingly anxious, skimming through a heavy compilation of pages and files that were all providing an apocalyptic description of their country's current condition.
"General! I'm picking up a message!"
In the midst of the silent tensions, the naval surveillance caught a message from an anonymous source. The general paused for a few seconds, thinking that it's risky to make contact, but after losing connections with other men in the fleet, he reluctantly nodded to take it and pick up the call with the click of a button on the huge radio.
MEANWHILE, AT THE ONBETSU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL…
"Steady…steady…now!"
*Kadonk!*
It's been a day since Takashi and Rei reunited with their parents at the rescue shelter, an elementary school that's walled and secured by the police led by Rei's father, Officer Tadashi Miyamoto. And in the school, even though everyone's advised or just assured to have no need of weapons with the presence of the men in uniforms, those with Takashi are allowed to keep their stuff, which also means including their weapons and personal provisions.
As a result of this, they're stigmatized within the shelter by onlookers and fellow survivors, brimming with fear and envy. Rumors have started spreading that there is some manner of favoritism between the highschoolers' group and the officer leading what's left of their entire squad.
However, that didn't stop or faze the team from taking their time to settle down a little in the shelter. Especially for the teacher-student lovebirds and their seemingly prospective redhead for a daughter, an odd combination. And to kill some time in their stay, the stalwart blonde yankee thought to make something productive out of it with a little fun—teaching Alice how to shoot with a slingshot.
"I-I hit it!" Alice rejoiced, though nearly knocked Kiri's crown jewels if not for his reflex of dodging the waving knuckle duster that's built into the slingshot.
"Yatta! Good shot, Alice-chan!" Shizuka clapped happily with glee before setting up another empty plastic bottle on the plastic waste segregation bin, located at the side near the bike rack lot. "C'mon! One more time!"
"After five screws, not bad," Kiri chuckled before aligning Alice's shooting posture while she's armed with his brass knuckle slingshot and another screw in its pouch. "I used to screw up with seven stones to shoot a tin can."
"I-I wanna get better at this, to help you, and everyone!" Alice feels pumped from a dose of adrenaline and the motivation to lend a hand this time, learning all that she can at the moment.
"Nice, now let's try again. Wanna bet if you can do three screws this time?" Kiri playfully suggested a gamble.
"Kiri-kun! Bad! Gambling is bad! Betting is bad!" Shizuka reprimands with an angry pout while cupping Alice's ears, though a little too late for that.
"C'mon, it's not involving cash or money or anything. Just a little fun, you know what you do to some of the patients back at school, before all this— you know," Kiri recalls a memory to justify his antics.
"But that's totally different! Treating patients and giving them candy is very different from playing games for a reward!" Shizuka points out in protest.
"Ah, right, you got me there. Sorry Sense—"
Suddenly, the busty nurse glares at him with pursed lips and puffed pouting cheeks.
"Sh-Shizuka…san," Kiri hesitated in calling her on a first-name basis.
"Hagh, okay. Let's try again, Alice-chan," Shizuka cheers on.
"Hai, Shizuka-nee-chan!" Alice happily replied with a nod.
"So it would seem that you are spending great quality family time?"
Able to conceal her presence amidst the bustling and crowded shelter was the elusive stoic warrioress of the team Saeko Busujima, eavesdropping at the moment— though it was unintentional. She just stood there with a grin while keeping her palm on her katana. "B-Busujima-senpai!"
"Saeko-chan! Is there something troubling you?" Shizuka curiously asks.
"Nothing but boredom, if I were to be honest. Things are peaceful here, ignoring the ramblings of other survivors," Saeko smugly said. "I commend how productive the three of you are amidst the commotion."
"Well, we kinda have been quite the talk of the town the moment we come around," Kiri agrees with a nod. "But all of that aside, is something wrong? You don't look like the sightseeing type."
"Yes. I'm sure you know that most of the people here are on edge with us around. And some of the more "unstable" ones have been harassing our friends and other loved ones for no reason," Saeko explained in brief detail.
"...So you need me to give them the evil eye, is that it?" Kiri guesses in annoyance, which worries his weak-willed girlfriend.
"No, that may not be necessary. But I believe you should keep an eye on your loved ones in the classroom. Unlike us, they are more prone and vulnerable to violence with the irritable animals they have for neighbors," Saeko sternly suggests.
"...Shizuka-san, I need to check on something, take care of—"
"Alice-chan can stay with me. Be careful," Shizuka permitted with a gentle nod and a smile on her face, making Kiri hesitant to leave.
"Teach me to shoot again when you get down here again!" Alice excitedly adds.
"...I promise to get back as soon as I can. Help your nee-san when she needs some. See ya!" Kiri bade after patting her head before running out to enter the school building.
"...I see that your bond has blossomed much deeper than I've anticipated, Sensei," Saeko smirked, catching the airheaded nurse off guard that her face imploded bright red in embarrassment. "I believe you two will be better than any of us in caring for Alice."
"Mmmm, I think Shizuka-nee-chan can make a good mommy!" Alice nods and huffs with crossed arms in a similar manner as Kiri's.
*Bow!* Zeke agrees with a nodding pant.
"M-M-M-Mommy!? B-B-But I-I—"
"That settles it, I suppose," Saeko chuckled with a smile, wondering about her relationship with Takashi.
MEANWHILE WITH KIRI…
'Well, this feeling feels familiar…'
Down the dimly lit corridors within the school building, survivors that went through all kinds of hell are anxious with the sight of a yankee delinquent among them. A troublemaker with a rough demeanor and shark eyes, responsible for any possible sort of bullying and delinquency. However, not all of them have the same opinion of him…
"Ayasaki-san! How are you and Hanabi holding up?" Kiri greeted, waving at her sitting on a chair near the entrance of a classroom full of a few other mothers or parents and their own children.
"Ah, Kato-kun! Thank you for everything you have done for us!" Nagi thanked with heartfelt gratitude. "Because of you, we're safe right here instead of our old home. We've planned to let things go, but after you… I just don't know how we could repay you…!"
"It's nothing. Your husband's quite the man. He's got backbone to protect you and Hanabi well," Kiri complimented.
"Thank you. And lately, he has been thanking everyone else in your group for welcoming us and is searching for ways to help us and this shelter," Nagi replied.
"Cool, cool. Anyways, take care of yourselves, I gotta go find someone," Kiri bade.
"You too! Be careful!" Nagi bade before noticing Hanabi slowly waking up, locking her innocent gaze on Kiri's sharp shark eyes and suddenly grinned with a toothless smile on her pudgy little face.
"...I…'m gonna leave now. See you later," Kiri slowly racewalks away, close to dying from the innocent cuteness.
Seconds later traveling to another classroom, where the children familiar with him were staying, things are not looking too good from the inside when he notices some sort of barking argument between Kawamoto and a strange older man, with her shielding the homeroom teacher of Takuro and Sena.
"Don't make me hurt you! I will if I have to!" Misaki barked, with her hand preparing to pull out her knife if needed.
"Back off, brat! You're just bein' a killjoy and paranoid! I jus' wanna chat!" says the reckless gyaru-oh with dyed blonde hair and stubble.
After noticing how frightened the children were with him bothering their teacher, the redhead rationalizes whether to go wild or to just threaten him to back off, only to be a second too slow as her tough-as-nails crush Kiri, grabs the man by the back of his black collar and yanks him away to put some distance away from them.
"What luck! Just when I was getting bored…!" Kiri grinned, locking the guy's arm into a painful bend that made him retaliate with a fist.
"Kiri-kun!"
But much to Misaki's worry, Kiri parried the fist by the forearm and then caught the arm right below into his armpit before tripping his legs to make him fall on his face using the weights of their bodies, putting the poor idiot in a sorry state of pain on the floor.
"See, now that ain't so hard, right?" Kiri smirked and pats the dust off on his hands.
"Th-thanks. He was being inappropriately persistent till you came," Misaki nervously replied.
"Just checking on everyone. If you need me, Imma go see what Ojou-chan has in store," Kiri replied. "Catch you guys later!"
"Bye, Kiri-nii-san!" Takuro and Sena waved him bye.
'Now then, where is everyone else…'
He proceeds up the stairs again, finding another corridor of classrooms filled with adults of mid-30s or 40s. Some seem to be parents or single mothers with infants or toddlers, others are just ordinary civilians. All was well, as things should be.
"Ow! What's up with you, fu—"
"I know what you're doing! You think I wouldn't notice!?"
Then the peace breaks, again. The loud yelling seems to be coming from a classroom just straight ahead to the right. And as Kiri passes by the corridors like any normal person, some onlooking gazes turn away when he almost makes eye-contact. That didn't bother him though as usual, and he finds Saya with Kohta and Asami. However, the noble nerdy girl seemed not amused being stuck with two modest lovebirds while reclining on an office chair with a table full of trashed gadget parts.
"Hm? Ah, Kiri! H-Hey!" Kohta calls him to come in.
"Yo, wazup? Some jolly environment back there," Kiri snickered, referring to the background noise of some grumbling adults.
"Yeahhh, sorry 'bout the noise. They need to tone down on the fighting. They're just bored to hell in here," Kohta joked with a grin, making Asami chuckle in response and Saya facepalm from his corniness.
"Whatcha doin', 'Jou-chan?" Kiri wondered.
"Stuck in a deadend. I thought I could make anything work with this pile of junk we've accumulated and kept, but apparently I don't have the magic to restore a single phone, thank you very much!" Saya lengthily ranted in frustration.
"Huh, so what do you need me, an idiot, to do for ya?" Kiri grunted.
"Well, not so much. You can go back to Sensei. You deserve a good time for once," Saya bluntly replied.
"Wah—what you blabbering about!?" Kiri barked, bursting in embarrassment from her remark.
"You know what I mean, you dumbass yankee."
"Bah, that's it, I'm outta here!"
So Kiri storms out of the room to save some face, making the nerdy noble smirk and huff with satisfaction and the gun-wielding lovebirds laugh at his response. Now, at this point, he's got nothing much to do as almost everyone in the team is taking a long breather after going through thick and thin, blood and gore in their journey together among the infected. But, the dead walking outside are not always the scary ones…
"Hey! That's mine!"
"No! It's mine! You stole it from me!"
People can also be scary. Like the policemen that scoffed and mocked him in the past, the teachers that frowned upon his rebellious appearance, humans can be just as worse and unpredictable as the ones that are already dead. Well, change occurs for the best or for the worst among humans, so not surprising when they switch to their "fight-or-flight" instincts, especially with things as they are now. It's not his thing to snoop, but sometimes, trouble just ambushes you like a nuisance.
"Wah!"
"Oi, gotcha," Kiri catches a woman by her shoulders and then sets her back on her feet.
"T-Thank you," the woman sheepishly replied.
"The hell happened here?" Kiri looked unamused, barking in his usual rough tone.
"It's um—"
"Oi, yarou! Leave the bitch alone! She ain't yer business!" One middle-aged man in a t-shirt replied in a rough tone.
"Yeah? So you get to hit women?" Kiri blabbed as he shot a glare at the guy.
"S-She stole a milk carton from our supplies, that thieving witch!" the man replied.
"That milk was meant to be for my child, but she stuck her greedy hands where they're not supposed to!" Says one woman carrying an infant close to her bosom.
"That baby's too young to drink this kind of milk! And your way of rationing food is too uneven for some of us!"
"Mama!"
One little girl runs and embraces the woman next to Kiri, probably the child of the woman.
"If you working adults got a problem with these two, I can take them off your hands, somewhere other than here," Kiri replied, clenching his fist under his crossed arms while keeping a polite business smile on his vein-pumping face.
"Kiri! Takashi's calling for us! And I think something bad went down, like right now!" Kohta called out from afar, just before Kiri might blow a fuse.
Still pissed off, he merely snorted with a scary glint in his glare towards the rude person as he reluctantly let him off to warn him. Just as he walks away to Kohta and the gang, the daughter of the woman he helped call out to him.
"Thank you, onii-chan!" The girl waved her hand with glee, with Kiri waving the back of his hand as he walked.
ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS NEAR THE POLICEMEN'S POST…
"What's going on now?"
Down somewhere near the school walls that keep the rotting corpses away from the people in the campus, a number of policemen with badges and standard revolvers or batons are murmuring in a group, and at the middle of them all, Chief Miyamoto looks like he's about to break from all the pressure.
"Okay okay, quiet down you lot! What's with all the hubbub?!"
Like a roaring lioness, Kiriko Miyamoto enters the conversation and easily silences the spineless policemen giving her husband a hard time.
"What are they doing out here instead of helping around?" Kiri raised an eyebrow, meeting with Kohta and Saya, who were with the others.
"Miyamoto-jii-san's in a bit of a pickle right now," Takashi points out, scratching the back of his head.
"And now 'Kaa-chan's entered the fray," Rei facepalmed.
Then, one brave smirking idiot, seeming to be in his forties and about Captain Tadashi's age by appearance, comes up to her tilting his glasses frame.
"Miyamoto-san, the people inside are growing more irritable by the minute. Some of the adults started trying to control their own group of people and there were not enough supplies for everyone else," the smug man in shirt-and-trousers with glasses replied.
"But how can that happen? We've done careful regular supply runs around nearly the entire block around the school!?" One policeman barked, standing by the Miyamotos' side.
"Hmph, stupid."
"Who said that!"
Responding to the angry barking boomer with a piercing yet composed glare is Kiri Kato, the hothead highschooler that showed up with the daughter of the police captain and her classmates.
"I did, and so?" Kiri humphed with his arms crossed and his head held high.
"Stay out of this conversation, bozo. You children will not understand," the smug cop berates the unmoved yankee.
"Hey!" Rei barked in protest.
"Okay mister, you took a step too far!" Takashi sides with Kiri's defense.
"Settle down, everyone. Takashi-kun, Rei-chan, please don't make this harder for the rest of them," Tadashi kindly asks.
"With all due respect sir, this is not our first time," Takashi adds in the team's defense.
Slowly yet swiftly, the whole team gathers, with Saya, Misaki, Shizuka and Alice standing behind Kohta, Asami, Kiri, Rei, Saeko and Takashi; along with the tiny protector Zero and the big Shepherd bully Panzer.
"...Heyo kiddos, I—whoa, what's all the ruckus?" Old Man Shimada enters the scene strolling by, holding a toddler girl by the hand close to his side.
"Shimada-jii!" Kiri noticed him calling from afar.
"Stand back, sir. This is none of your business," one policeman on the side of the smug officer warns.
"Well, I'd say the same if I were ya," Shimada shrugged without a care.
"Huh?"
"Trust me, I bet my whole wallet and all innit that you won't last a second against any of those kids, well, mostly the big blonde yankee."
Shimada huffed with a grin on his face.
"Sir, I'm warning you, there is no need to stir any more trouble than what we have," the policeman says.
"Well, yer choice, kid," Shimada scoffed before walking in the other direction and keeping the kid close, this time carrying her up and over his shoulders.
"I'm not a kid! I'm twen—"
"See ya kids later," Shimada bade, ignoring the policeman as he walks away.
"...Ahem! Well, I don't know about you, rookie, but I'd listen to the man if I were you," Tadashi then sides with the kids, including his daughter, with Kiriko standing and leaning onto his shoulder.
"Yeah! We've seen lots of horrors outside, much more hell than the rest of you in this little cage!" Misaki barked angrily.
"Still, I don't think you are in any shape to call some shots. And I'm lookin' at you, Komuro," Tadashi sternly warns, keeping his eyes on Takashi.
"But sir, with all due respect—"
"Takashi…"
Saeko clings her soft palm on his sleeve and shakes her head, stopping Takashi from making the tension rise again in silence. This feels all too familiar, like back at the Takagis' Manor. Whether they survived a hellish nightmare and fought through thick-and-thin, they're still viewed as kids in the eyes of adult strangers that they've barely met. And it does not seem like Rei's mother could say more on their behalf.
"Okay, looks like we're through here then! You kids can go on ahead. We still have lots of things to do here," Tadashi huffed.
After a short awkward pause and staredown between the unruly teenage girls and the smug overconfident policemen, the meeting adjourns with nothing productive coming out of it as Takashi's group quietly walks away from the scene. And once they are far enough around the small bike lot and parking lot area…
"Takashi, what happened back there!? Why didn't you stand up to my dad?! You knew what we've all been through, more than what they could've handled?!" Rei complained her heart out as she berated her ex.
"Rei!" Takashi yelled back, not in the usual gentle voice he's used towards her. "...I respect your dad as much as you do, and I know that we have been through rough things back then! But I don't want to burden your father like a spoiled brat just because we think we know better how to deal with those "things" outside!"
"But!"
"Miyamoto-san, I advise you to please calm down. As much as I share your sentiments, we must act accordingly and refrain from making things messier with them," Saeko adds.
However, as she's clouded by her sense of jealousy towards the stoic swordswoman, she blew a fuse at the both of them with deafened ears and an envious gaze.
"Ugghh! I can't believe this!" Rei screamed at them before bolting away in disappointment.
"Rei!" Takashi couldn't stop her from leaving.
"Well, this day just got even better, backwards," Kiri facepalmed.
"Aghhh…Kiri, sorry if it's too much to ask but—"
"Yeah yeah, I know what you're gonna say. Be right back," Kiri waved his hand at him and nodded. "I just hope she won't stir up trouble, especially at these times. Well, who am I to say so, I was also close to punching those goons' lights out."
"Wha—! Just—don't do anything that can go wrong… please," Takashi kindly and begrudgingly asks, followed by a loud groan.
After Kiri nods in response, he gives chase walking in Rei's direction.
"Grrgh, of all times with that dumb girl. Can't we all have some time to ourselves without drawing much attention?!" Saya rubs the sides of her nose bridge, seeing the onlooking eyes of bystanding survivors of all ages. "Sensei, mind following the yankee? I doubt he is counseling material for any girl."
"Oh yes! I will! Come along, Alice-chan!" Shizuka calls as she nearly takes Alice by the hand, only to be intercepted by Saya's.
"Alone. I can take care of the munchkin right here," Saya huffed, holding Alice's hand.
"Oh, okay then…I'll be right back, Alice-chan!" Shizuka bade, waving goodbye before running precariously after Kiri.
"Bye bye, Shizuka-neechan!" Alice cutely waves back, with Zeke and Panzer barking in response.
"Was I…wrong to not stand up for the team?" Takashi muttered out loud, staring at his clenched fist upon reflecting the situation earlier.
"No Takashi, you're neither right nor wrong, but you've chosen the least threatening choice to be patient and respectful. And that… is what I respect in you," Saeko assures him in a sweet tone, gently caressing the side of his cheek and gently holding his clenched fist, prying and slipping into his hand followed by a smile and relaxed gaze in her eyes, but getting an ireful gaze from Saya.
MEANWHILE, WITH REI MIYAMOTO…
"Baka… Takashi, baka…"
Hiding beside the rows of lockers standing near the entrance, Rei sulks in shame and embarrassment with her head resting on knees close to her ample chest. She feels at a loss about Takashi not speaking up for them and all the reasons that they could have said to her father to make him view their team as more than just a bunch of kids. And it was not the first time they had issues with other survivors who underestimated them.
"All adults are still the same! No matter where we went! We saw more blood outside than they have here!" Rei cried and slumped on her tear-drenched knees.
"I hear ya, Miyamoto. The feeling is similar."
Like a ghost, Kiri suddenly appears beside the curled up Rei. He shook his head at her remarks and rants, being in her rebellious and adventurous state.
"But hey, not our first time to prove them wrong anyhow. We can handle 'em," Kiri cheers on, albeit not effective.
"Oh, uhm, hey. How long were you there?" Rei moped and muttered, her voice muffled resting on her knees.
"Just now," Kiri plainly answered, wiping his brass knuckle duster slingshot on the side of his leather jacket.
"Seriously, how could you put up with those guys!? I thought you would get all aggressive and angry or something when they push you around!"
"Not while Sensei and Alice are here. You're not the only one being looked down upon. I just happen to deal with it a lot," Kiri callously replied, shaking his head.
"Oh yeah? Then what can you do if they start messing with Sensei, or Alice for that matter!? You know you can't always swoop in to save them both!" Rei screams, making her point.
"You made your point, but what are you even trying to say, other than just the obvious?" Kiri raises an eyebrow.
"Look, we can change things if we do this one thing."
"And what's that?"
"We can prove that we are not just kids going through the flow! You saw how the older people treat us! Why don't we show them our nerves of steel?! Show them the balls you got outside when you were fighting with us!"
"You think that they'll listen to you if we pull a stupid stunt like that? It's stupid for a reason. The Ojou-chan would be real pissed."
"Actually, I beg to differ."
A familiar voice interjected behind Kiri, revealing to be the genius Ojou-chan and brains of the group, Takagi Saya.
"Whoa! Geez, don't do that!" Kiri grunted.
"Well sorry but I couldn't help to listen to your yammering. Takashi sent me to make sure the Yankee didn't start anything way worse," Saya deadpans, huffing with her hands on her waist
"Hey!" Kiri barked in protest.
"However, your proposal sounds like a huge challenge, a very risky one at that, Miyamoto. You do realize that everytime we are out there, our chances of surviving for periods of time is near to zero. Just one bite from any of those walking corpses, and it's game over."
"I know that! But, if it can help our situation by proving them wrong—"
"You mean proving Takashi wrong?"
Saya stabs Rei's words exposing her heart-wrenching motive. Rei stayed silent for a bit and averted her gaze from the glasses princess with a face of disgust.
"Miyamoto, you have to let go of your childish jealousy. I see the way you look at Takashi whenever he is with the samurai girl. Believe me, I understand, but I don't let my feelings come first over survival. Not just for myself, but for the rest of us."
Before Saya quietly leaves them, she slightly looks back at them…
"So think about that…before you do anything rash that can disappoint him…" Saya warns before strutting away around the corner of the entrance.
MINUTES LATER WITH TAKASHI…
"Nee, Senpai—"
"Takashi…"
"…S-Saeko…"
Long after the little dispute with older adults and the internal struggle from their own group with Rei, Takashi took some time off alone on the rooftop, gathering his thoughts and staring at the sky till the samurai girl, Saeko Busujima, strutted towards Takashi on her combat heels, still allowed with her sword at her side before kneeling down near him, motioning him to give him the best pillow known to man. The moment Takashi moves over to lay the side of his head on her voluptuous lap, a hot sensation lingered and swelled within her that she merely smiled at him with a soft gaze.
"Thank you. For everything."
"Why? I have only chosen to take your opinion into account. It is nothing to thank for," Saeko gently assures, stroking Takashi's spiky brown hair.
"To be honest, I felt really bad for bursting out on Rei," Takashi moped, recalling Rei storming away from his remarks. "Was I too harsh? I didn't mean to get her upset, especially in front of her parents!"
"In my perspective, you did nothing wrong, Takashi. I believe you did well as our leader and speaker on our behalf. You held us together when we were engaging with the adults, being patient and mature enough to endure their grumbling, and that is admirable of you," Saeko enlightens, lifting Takashi's spirit with her words before looking down on him, locking his gaze with hers. "However, you should remember that despite the fact we work together, not everyone will be in agreement with each other's choices…"
"And Rei was pissed with how I tried to keep things civil back there."
"I don't think so."
"How—what do you mean?"
"Takashi, you cannot deny that Miyamoto still harbors feelings for you. I have noticed it for a long while, and…I'm worried…"
"Worried?" Takashi pulls up from her lap to look at her incredulously, being taken by surprise from her response with a grin and raised eyebrow. "THE stoic swordswoman, Saeko Busujima, worried?"
"Yes, Takashi. Frankly, it is a serious matter," Saeko continues, taking Takashi's hand and holding it close to her bosom, catching him off guard.
"S-S-Saeko!?"
"Takashi, I may not look as if danger ever fazes me, but the very thought of losing you hurts me, so much that I'd commit seppuku if I could to follow you…"
The sight of the stoic female fighter looking and acting helpless and vulnerable on her knees right in front of Takashi, left him utterly speechless that his brain nerves short-circuited and his hand slowly got burned by the warmth of her beating heart in her chest. Before he could even say anything…
"However, if you still have feelings for Miyamoto-san, I respect your choices. I do not wish to be a burden for you to bear because I love you, Takashi. I love you with my heart, soul, and body, and I wish to give you happiness, even if…it does not come from me…"
That hit him hard. This is either the second or third time Saeko showed her vulnerable side, a part of her that only he gets to see—like a sad kitten in need of attention that can tug on your heartstrings. Suddenly his brain flashes all the good, the bad, the sweet, and the sour that he has been through with the group, especially with Saeko. She has been with him intimately and strictly through thick and thin, and despite not knowing her deeply before the apocalypse, she pulled on quite the show of impressing him in every way and being open about herself to him, unlike some people. WIth this realization coming into his mind, he takes one of her hands holding his, and lets her caress the side of his face before gazing into her eyes that are wide open, taken aback by his response before his reply.
"Saeko, don't ever say that," Takashi sternly replied with affirmation. "There is no other person who I'd rather be with…than you. Honestly, you are like a fairytale coming alive to me. To think a samurai girl who knows no fear… would feel this way for me, I'm just lost for words, and they can't even describe your sheer awesomeness!"
Takashi then holds her hand caressing his face and then quickly yanks her close for an embrace, catching her off-guard that her voice leaked a very weak yelp. He hugs her close to his bosom where her ear could sense the beating of his heart.
"Saeko, I love you, very dearly. I never thought I would meet a woman like you, and although the situation is the worst of all, I'm kinda grateful for it because of being able to be with you…"
Although he couldn't see it, he could feel something wet on his shirt, followed by the slight trembling of her back and her hands gripping his shirt so tight in his embrace. At last, they became honest towards each other and with feelings clarified and confirmed. The two of them then stare and gaze into each other's eyes before sharing a quick and deep kiss, savoring this moment in their intimate company until they pull their tongues away and bask at each others' faces before laughing and getting back up on their feet. Saeko's leg limped from the numbness caused by kneeling too long, but Takashi caught her quick, astounding her with his improved reflexes.
"Whew, got ya," Takashi smirked before pulling her close again. "And I'm not letting you go!"
"…I'm not going anywhere, but I'll follow you, always…" Saeko smiled in response, holding his hand grabbing onto her waist. "…Till death do us part!"
For some reason— maybe it's the infatuation he deeply felt— that same phrase hit very differently when Saeko says it, followed by everything that they've been through. And…he likes it when it's from her that he breaks a smile.
IN A FACULTY OFFICE LOCATED IN THE THIRD FLOOR…
Most of the team made one of the faculty rooms their main base while others like Kiri and Takashi and Rei stayed with either the elementary kids or their parents. But in the room, Kiri and Rei are sitting across from each other's sides of a teacher's desk, coming up with a certain plan behind their leader's back. Besides them in the room are Saya, Asami, and Misaki.
"This is a bad idea, Miyamoto," Kiri warns, reclining on an office chair with his arms crossed. "I don't like this one bit."
"What!? Where's that spirit of yours!? This is the only way we could convince my dad that we can hold our own!" Rei argues.
"Really? A supply run in the apartment complex? Did you inhale something bad?" Kiri sat up and then stood up with hands on the desk. "There's gotta be more than fifty of those fricking "things" inside! It's a suicide mission!"
"We don't need to rope in others to join us! We can be a small team to just get what we can and need then just return before things could get out of hand!"
Watching the two hotheaded fighters bicker makes the twin-tailed wiz wince from the sheer loudness of their heated argument before facepalming in disgust.
"Can't believe Komuro left me with these two stubborn knuckleheads," Saya groaned, rubbing her nose bridge.
"Why? You have the authority to supervise them, don't you?" Asami points out the obvious.
"Oh yeah? Then what happens if I intervene in their heated argument! They're close to ripping out each other's throats!"
"KIRI-NII-CHAAAN!"
Suddenly, Alice bolts into the room with a sense of urgency on her face as she tackles Kiri from the side.
"Alice! What's going on!? Why are you—!?"
*Hick!* *Sniff!* "Help Shizuka-neechan! Please!" Alice cried out. "In the second floor, I-I think in the infirmary!"
Upon hearing this, the same sensation snapped within him, like the time with Shimada back then. He quickly runs on intrepid feet down the halls like a marathon sprinter before vaulting down the stairs and then going to the infirmary. He sees a multitude of people sticking out like barnacles seemed on edge for whatever's about to go down, but he could care less that he rushes through several grown men with ease before confronting the scene.
"Kiri-kun!"
In the infirmary's tiny medical room, he sees not one, not two, but three male strangers, one wearing a cap and long sleeves and another a blond gyaru-oh, both restraining Shizuka arms while one other guy with a skinhead cut seemed to be putting his hands on her huge bosom, which is partially unbuttoned from her collar. And from the side he sees Shimada being held in a headlock by a bigger bulkier dude with a bodybuilder's.
"Oi! Wanna join in the fun? Jus' wait yer turn over—"
Without saying any more because of his boiling fury, Kiri grabs the skinhead by the back of his collar and throws him onto the floor, knocking all the air out of him upon impact. He follows up with grabbing the guy by the collar and before another word is said, he beats and pummels and pounds his head down to the floor.
"Aniki!" The guy with the cap screamed, with legs trembling from watching his buddy out cold instantly.
"Took you long enough, brat!" Shimada smirked before feeling his headlock tighten.
"Yarou'! Chaa!" The blond gyaru-oh tries to attack Kiri with a jab, landing a solid hit on his back, but it doesn't seem to faze him.
In proper retaliation, Kiri returns the jab with a hook that connects flat onto his face with all of his fury and might, sending him off to the and into the infirmary bed by the corner. He then turns to the last one restraining Shizuka with what appears to be a glint of anger in his eyes.
"Hieee! I give! I give!" The guy with the cap cries and releases the busty nurse, not having any part of this with his tail tucked between his legs away from them.
"Shizuka!"
"Kiri! Behind you!"
Thanks to her warning, Kiri was able to react in time as he blocked and took a heavy hook from the huge brigand-looking dude that caused Shimada unable to fight back with a headlock.
"Ouch, okay that hurts!" Kiri grunted, feeling the soreness throbbing around his forearms before narrowly dodging another hook with a backstep. "Whoa!"
"Kyaa!"
Time is not on his side, and so is his position getting too close to Shizuka. Before he could let the tyrant make this any riskier, he takes a risk facing him head on, dodging two hooks though they grazed his cheek. Dodging the last hook on his knees, he commits the greatest sin that only a savage beast could do: hitting a man in the family jewels. And not just any hit, it was a full-on heavy fist striking right in the bag and pipe, causing the giant to fall on his back with his hands on his precious things and faint with drool dripping on his mouth uncontrollably.
"Hagh…whoo…total knockout…!" Kiri grinned, flicking dust off his nose with his thumb before feeling his right arm throb in sore pains again. "Ugh! Aghh, whoo, that really left a mark."
"Hands up! This is the police!"
In the nick of bad timing, a couple of policemen have arrived at the scene with billy clubs and standard issue revolvers in hand, being led around by a couple of bystanders. They stumble onto the infirmary with three guys knocked out cold while one blond yankee stands over all of them with a glare in his eyes while holding his forearm.
"Stay down! Hands behind your head!" one policeman orders with a revolver pointing at Kiri.
"No! Wait! Officers!" Shizuka gets in between with her arms wide open to shield Kiri. "You're making a mistake! He's not a criminal! He saved me!"
"M-Ma'am, step away from the thug if you know what's good for you!"
If the man wasn't a policeman, Kiri would've pummeled him flat the moment he saw him gawking at his girlfriend's voluminous bosom, still left partially open.
'Pst. Sensei, your…b-b—your chest….'
"Eh? Ah!?" Shizuka quickly covers her chest and then tries to button up again facing Kiri and away from the curious gazes.
"What's going on here!?"
Coming in on behalf of the current captain of the police force is the hardened wife, Kiriko Miyamoto, with her three-pronged spear in hand. Behind her are the rest of the gang who followed her, including Takashi and Saeko.
"Seriously, Kato-kun. Can't you give yourself a break and not cause any trouble?" Kiriko deadpans, shaking her head.
"I wish. But when Alice told me that Shizuka-sensei was in danger, trouble found me instead by messing with us."
"Us, huh?" Kiriko raises an eyebrow.
"Obaa-chan, please let him go. Clearly he only retaliated in self-defense," Takashi intervenes.
"I can see that, Taka-chan. I believe he didn't want to fight unless he had to," Kiriko replied before looking at the policemen at her side. "Hey you guys, drag those guys asses onto the beds. Good thing they're already in the infirmary. Tell the doc to check on them."
"Y-Y-Yes ma'am!"
"You two, you're free to go."
By the wild mother's authority, Kiri takes Shizuka out of the infirmary while the police handle things from here on out. Upon meeting with the gang, he gets tackled by a worried Alice.
"Kiri-nii!" Alice cried, rubbing her tear-eyed face on his jeans.
"Oi oi, no need to cry," Kiri assures, carrying Alice in his left arm. "I'm not that weak to die from a fistfight, not yet."
LATER, IN THE THIRD FLOOR FACULTY ROOM USED BY THE GANG…
"THIS IS EXACTLY WHY YOU SHOULD"VE STOOD UP AND MANNED UP FOR ONCE, TAKASHI!"
Soon, they left and gathered around at their temporary meeting room and base, Rei flips out again on their leader.
"The more we become complacent around here, the more they will keep harassing us! It's like the mall all over again! Takashi—!"
"Hold it, Miyamoto!" Saya intervenes. "Enough with your meaningless rants! This is getting us nowhere. Do you even have a plan on how we can deal with this issue? You sounded so sure with all that talk."
Saya verbally corners Rei, making her confront Takashi with whatever is in her mind. However, with Saeko being present, the words could barely come out of her mouth for fear of being seen as incapable of a good plan.
"...Miyamoto-san…" Takashi says in a serious and formal tone, not sounding friendly in Rei's ears using her last name. "I really am trying my best, and I know that things got out of hand if not for Kiri and Obaa-chan helping out to protect ourselves. If you have a plan in mind, I would give it to your father in case something happens, to make sure that we got his back when things might go south with what you have."
"Takashi…I…"
"So what's the plan? What do you think we should do right now if not settle down at the moment?"
"Oh dear…" Shizuka muttered with concern while applying minty ointment on Kiri's sore arm.
"Tsss…and so it begins…again…" Kiri shook his head.
—To be continued
A/N:
Hello guys! It's been over a year or so since I last updated, and I'm sorry about that. I was really busy getting my life together and it's exciting! And then I remembered my other passion, which is writing, and so I got back into writing and wanna try writing my own story of zombies too!
For those still actually reading this, I admire your patience, really. I thought this series died for a long while myself XD
Anyways, thanks guys for still being around. Blessings and take care!