Taking a step back, then another, and a few more for good measure, I notice that the crazy bat woman is doing the same. (The weapon, not the animal…Wait this isn't a good time, Hiki-pedia!)
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Stopping my backtracking, and motioning to her to do the same, I keep a close eye on the door. The metal pipe I had placed between the handles was doing its job in keeping them out, and they'd likely never get that door open ever, but then it dawned on me. They just had to continue what they were doing, and there'd be no door to block them.
Our "best" bet now was to stay quiet, and hope that they would buzz off. Unfortunately for them, I wasn't an optimist, and so I immediately threw away all caution to the wind. "Oi! Go get your things! I'll look for a backdoor."
"Wha-!?" Not waiting for a response, I bolt around one of the many isles, in search of the hypothetical backdoor I assumed would be there. Like many other pharmacies, and other small stores, there was a backdoor, but my attempts at opening the door were disappointing. Perhaps, this was a metaphor for my life? I lived a disappointing life, and died a disa-damn it, shut up brain.
Combing my hair back with my hand, I sigh in frustration. 'Is this really it? Here, of all places?'
In a moment straight out of a movie, the sunlight peeking from the windows reflects off of a key. Picking it off the ground, I turned towards the door I had just tried to open. Inserting the key into the hole, it opens after a silent click.
'Oi, isn't this a bit too conv-'
BOOOM!
'Ah, there it is.' The front door had likely been ripped off its hinges, falling to the ground with a loud rumble. Opening the door to the pharmacy's backroom, the light inside buzzes on automatically, a small room filled with shelves of medicines and other things greet me, and nothing else.
"-amn it!" I heard from behind me in the store, my "partner's" voice sounded panicked, and it was very likely she was surrounded.
Taking a step into the room, a sudden feeling of sickness and nausea hits me. '...How ironic.' Turning back, I run straight towards the bat wielding mugger.
My running is cut short as I find her holding off one with her bat, and others approaching us. 'Me and my bleeding heart, what exactly am I supposed to do here?' Considering how short on time we were, I do something illogical, and extremely stupid now that I'm thinking about it.
Already in the process, and too late to stop myself, I clock the closest one to her, causing the zombie to fall into the shelf. "Ow…Oi, what's taking you?"
"It's the baby formula, I can't find it!" Noticing the now very close and still approaching crowd, and the recovering zombie I had just punched, I once again did something I would never do, and grabbed her by the arm.
"Worry about that later, woman!" Pulling her in the direction of the room I opened, she does me the favor of allowing herself to be pulled. Our run towards the back room was thankfully without obstacles.
Shutting the door behind us, I lock it immediately. Waiting a few seconds, I await the banging on this door, but it never comes. By some stroke of luck, they hadn't noticed us going through this door.
"Fuck…" I hear her mutter quietly.
Fuck indeed.
Chapter 5: Stuck
"Is it just me or…are they gone?" The silver haired single mother asks me, to which I snort.
"It's been five minutes. Also, the thick walls reduce noise, they don't nullify it. So, quiet."
"Bite me, you ass. We wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't done what you did."
"I didn't want to be in this mess to begin with…" I mutter to myself, not really in the mood to argue.
"I heard that."
Resisting the urge to retort, I find the shelves of boxes around us far more entertaining. 'Box of painkillers? Taking some of those, thank you very much.'
"...It's not like I have a choice, you know?" Oi, stop it. I don't care about your circumstances, so keep it to yourself. "I have people who rely on me too, I imagine it's the same with your sisters."
'Sisters? …Don't tell me…' I continued to rummage through the shelves, but even I couldn't help but groan from the realization.
"What? What's with the groan?"
"Nevermind." With a sigh, I continue further into the room. To my surprise, there is another door at the other end of the room, unfortunately it is not labeled as an exit and is instead, a break room.
This room also had another door, but my attempts at opening said door all resulted in failure. The lack of key holes also didn't help. 'Oi, isn't this a safety hazard?'
We were stuck, that was without doubt. Taking a seat, I put my bag to the side and pulled out my walkie. 'No point in hiding it now.'
Switching it on and moving to the designated channel between Komachi and I, I speak into the walkie. "Komachi? How are you holding up?"
"...Onii-chan?"
"Who else would it be?" I would be concerned if someone else knew who you were and what channel we used.
"Where are you?"
Noticing the intrigued stare from my "companion", I sigh. "...In a pharmacy."
"With Saki-san?" Who?
"Who? Wait, you spoke to this woman?"
"Stop calling me that, you ass." Oi, don't curse in front of my sister, woman.
"Is Saki-san listening? You know, I never expected for you to meet Taishi's Onee-san out in the wild, Onii-chan. Maybe there is hope for you yet, Gomi-chan."
"...What do you mean by that?" Oi, don't go implying things that have zero chance of ever happening. "Also, who the hell is Taishi?" Ugh, I got a bad taste in my mouth just from uttering this bug's name.
"What's with the tone? You got a problem with my brother?"
"I've got a problem with the fact that a bug is getting close to my sister, so I guess I do."
"You trying to die, you dead eyed freak?"
"For my sister's dignity and safety from a bug? Gladly."
"Ahem! As entertaining as it is to listen to Hikio and whoever the hell you are argue, might I remind the both of you what time it is?"
Not her too… "Miura, I don't carry a phone around anymore, so sure. Remind me."
"Me neither."
"O-Oh…Okay. It's 3:40, meaning you two have 4 hours at most to return home." Hm, how do I tell them that we can't?
"We can't, we're trapped in the back room of the pharmacy." I guess that works too, thank you sooo much, Saki-san.
""WHAT?!""
Glaring at the silver haired woman who just ripped the bandaid off, I focus my attention back on my household. "Unless you two want to be in the same predicament as me, I suggest you quiet down."
"As if! Hikio! What the hell does she mea-bzzt! Battery empty."
Staring at the device in my hand for a moment, I sigh. "Whatever." Shoving it into my bag, I notice the look I'm currently getting. "Don't. Pity is the last thing I need."
"...You're a right bastard, you know that?"
"Call me whatever the hell you want, I'm more concerned about getting out of here alive." Looking up at the ceiling, I notice the tiny air conditioner in the corner. 'Damn…'
"...What? What is it?" Looking back at her, I shake my head.
"Nothing." The air con was off, and it's very likely the whole store doesn't have any air conditioning. Stuck in a windowless room without proper a/c, sounds like CO2 poisoning just waiting to happen.
"Kawasaki." She says out of the blue, making me raise an eyebrow. "That's my family name, that way you don't call me by my first name." She explains.
"Wasn't planning on it." I respond, returning to explore the shelves of boxes from before a little further.
"Ass."
Kawasaki Saki
Waving my hand in the air, the lights flicker back on. Pulling another box off the shelf, I rip it open and am met with disappointment once more. "Damn it." It was like one of those shitty gacha games I caught Taishi playing one time, before I forced him to delete it. My little brother isn't going to become a gambling, no siree.
Another box, and the same results. 'Do I seriously have to spend money to win? …What a stupid thought.' Glancing back at the break room, I notice the mop of hair on a chair, sitting as still as ever.
"A little help would be appreciated." I say, loud enough for only him to hear.
Unsurprisingly, I don't receive a respon-
"Why would I do that? I'm just here to carry your things." This bastard.
"Yeah? Why did you come back for me then?" This time, he doesn't answer.
Looking back at the next box, I open it with practiced ease. 'Nothing, how shocking. Not.' Reaching for the next box, I'm beat by another pair of hands opening it with a lot more difficulty than I had.
"Nothing." He says, as he reveals the contents to me. His words don't quite register as we exchange stares, my confusion meeting with his blank stare. "Don't get the wrong idea, as far as I'm concerned, you're just a me…a weapon."
This asshole was about to say meat shield, wasn't he?! 'I'd be perfectly justified in beating this guy into pulp, wouldn't I?' Refraining from getting violent, seeing as I basically thought the same as him. I instead moved on to the next box, and ignored him.
The cycle of opening a box and being disappointed continued until I opened a box filled to the brim with…Max Coffee? 'Seriously? They still sell this shit? Who the hell buys it?' The first and last time I drank it resurfaced to the forefront of my mind, the ungodly amount of sugar and sweetener made my stomach turn, and I only took a sip that one time. "Gross." I mutter.
Moving to the nex-
"Oi." What the..? "Don't disrespect the drinks of the gods." The box I had just dismissed as absolute garbage, was taken from beside me, and was now in his hands.
"You drink that stuff? Seriously?" How the hell is he alive? …Actually, looking at him, he's basically half dead already.
"I wouldn't expect a normie like you to understand."
"Call me that again and I will hit you." Ignoring him, I get back to my search. 'Dumbass.'
"Women are always so prone to violence…" I hear him mutter.
'Know what? I'll just kill him now.'
AN: Sorry to cut in before the end, readers, but allow me to explain something. Hikigaya will be mixing up a few words and I will add what he meant beside said word. Like this.
Ex: To work, is to win. (Lose)
See? Okay back to the chapter.
Hikigaya Hachiman
I feel like shit. No, wait. Correction: I have felt like shit for the past few weeks. Taking a large sip from the can of Max, I stop myself from regurgitating it back out immediately. It was my fourth one already, after all.
"Hm? Oh, I'm out." Setting (Throwing) the can of wax (Max) away, I reach for another. Unfortunately, Maki (Saki) appears before me, though I can only see her legs due to the room's darkness. They're pretty nice legs, too bad she's a total witch. (Bitch)
'Actually, isn't it a bit hot? How can she handle the heat in those pants?'
"What's with you?"
'So…slee-'
…-!
'Is that a plane? Or maybe a helicopper? …helicotter? (Helicopter) No…it's super dude.' (Superman. lol)
"Damn it, get up you dumbass…" Hm? Speak up.
"Sh…Shush." I responded.
"Fuck, you can not b-" So…sleepy.
…
Waking up, I immediately threw up. "Haah…haah…haah…The…hell?" Waking up in an unknown living room, memories of my sleep-deprived state resurface. "Fuck."
"Took you long enough, you still feverish?" I hear Kawasaki ask, and I meet her eyes once I'm able to. But my eyes are unable to stay there, as they look down at the bloodstained sleeves.
"Did you..?"
"Killed a few, and no. I'm not bitten. Now answer my question, moron."
"N-No, I don't..." I respond, still staring at her sleeves.
"Seriously?" She sighs, and raises them both. "See? No bites."
"Why? Why didn't you leave me behind?"
"God, you're annoying." Sitting down across from me on the coffee table, she sighs again. "I thought about it, but then I remembered how you could be…my bait."
"...Right." Observing my immediate surroundings, I noticed the small size, seeing as there was a bed and closet on the other side of the room. "Where are we?"
"Some random apartment, I ran into a group of them yesterday."
"...Yesterday?"
To Be Continued..?
Omake - Murmurs of a dead man
Saki
Placing the unconscious moron on the couch, I breathe a sigh of relief. 'That was too damn close…' Looking back at the one responsible for all of my current problems, I am reminded of his idiotic mumblings.
"They're pretty nice legs…"
Feeling my face heat up, I stop myself from screaming out in embarrassment. "...idiot." I half say, half squeek out.
Omake End.
Hello, readers! Missed me? Sure you did.
Now before I begin, and this is mostly for fans of me and my other works, I am "postponing" my work on some of my other stories. Those being:
-The Loner Show
-Fate/Nikke
-Star of Chaldea
-Exploring Other Worlds
This leaves:
-The Genuine Route
-The Blind, Leading The Blind
-The Zombie Apocalypse Is Wrong, As Expected
These three stories will be what I will be working on for the next few months. School has taken up too much of my time, so as you can see I have to postpone a few stories. I am NOT abandoning these stories, so don't panic yet.
Now onto discussing the chapter.
We start off back where we left off, and Hikigaya immediately does the unexpected, as expected.
And when asked why, he lies, as expected.
Komachi spoke with Saki? How unexpected, not. Komachi, being the worry wart she is, calls in for her Onii-chan/Gomi-chan and unexpectedly speaks with the Kawasaki Onee-san instead.
How is that possible? Uhh, I never wrote it in that Hachiman turned off his walkie when he gave it to Saki. Which is why it died mid convo in the backroom.
Hikigaya was sleep deprived?! What?!
Well, yeah. It was implied, since he stays up all night playing guard dog, and he got sick from it. What an idiot.
Saki didn't leave Hikigaya to the wolves?! Uh, yeah? Saki isn't the type to leave a debt go unpaid, and she quite literally owes Hikigaya her life. Or at least, that's my understanding of her character.
And when asked about it, she lies. As expected.
Honestly, it couldn't hurt to be a bit honest you know~?
Other than that, Review Time.
Fernando917 says: Hiratsuka-sensei is always the best girl
To that I say: You're Goddamn Right. *Cooks Meth*
G0dz1llex says: Good chapter. It made my day after a messy day of work. This meaning the only thing that made my day better about this chapter is saki appearing in it...
Nah joking, it's nice to have an author that you like more than one of their stories. Even if I bullied you on other stories but what do they say? After hate comes love or something... I think?
Now im hyped to see how the rest of our original cast will make their entrance. We really have a long line.
To that I say: First off, Thanks. I'm sorry to hear you had a bad day and I hope they only get better. Saki always makes someone's day better, and it just so happened to be yours. I'm happy to hear I have a dedicated fan, and bully…
As for the rest of the cast…we'll get there when we get there.
RealBarto says: good chapter. By the way, man, what do you think about putting superpowers here? Quite similar to The Last Human. Where basically, everyone is already infected, and the virus gives some increase in strength and things like that. Zombies could evolve too, but you know... until next time
To that I say: …Thanks? As for the rest, uhh no? I'm a bit too into the story to even introduce superpowers to the characters. Also, Zombie Evolution…I won't say anything on it yet. See you, next time?
SandiaVida says: Nice chapter, keep up the good work
To that I say: Thanks.
noru2k says: Honestly really interesting so far, excited to see what you do next.
To that I say: Thanks.
Saif Omar says: Looks like it's time The Blademaster General to rescue his comrade Bodhisattva Hachiman in the next chapter. Most definitely looking forward to that.
To that I say: It's a bit too soon for our resident chuuni to show up, but I can promise that his reveal will be legendary! On par with other legendary reveals, like…uh…you know…
Hachiman fan says: When you said that was totsuka, i want to launch chair attack on you. So, no characters from other franchise, okay. Looking forward to the next chapter. Until next time, stay healthy and stay safe.
To that I say: Oi, I will take you to court if you even think about it. Kidding~. Also, I never said NO characters from other franchises, I'm just thinking on it.
Thanks, and same to you.
uzu i-sa says: I'm glad to read the chapter.
I knew it was going to be Kawasaki but reading it was fun. I didn't expect her to look for diapers and baby food, so there will be more than Keika and Taishi?
Anyway, the moment with Yumiko was nice. Also, I liked how you interpreted Kawasaki's thoughts, they were fun to read.
I'll wait for the next chapter
To that I say: Thanks, and yeah it wasn't too surprising. Saki does have two additional unnamed younger siblings other than Taishi and Keika, and that is fucking crazy to me. Like her dad doesn't understand the concept of pulling out, or her mom is just that tight…Christ, what the hell am I thinking?
Expect more Yumiko and Saki in the future. Both of them going out with Hachiman sounds like chaos waiting to happen. That sentence has two meanings, you can decide which it is.
OTHER THAN THAT! Thanks for coming, and goodbye!