Chapter Twelve: Parting Ways

Continuing the story from before.

Juukawa, who had been singled out by Fujido, once again trembled with surprise. Well, I can't really blame myself for always using that particular verb; after all, the author did create such a formidable 108J.

“If we lose our doctor in this situation, it’ll cause a lot of trouble.” With his thumb and forefinger forming a V, pushing up the sides of his glasses in that awkward, affected manner—Fujido, you truly are out of place. “So, may I ask you to stay?” The question was phrased as a statement, expecting affirmation. He paused, then began to close in on Juukawa. “There are also students here who need your support.”

A cold flash—Fujido’s cheek was suddenly sliced.

“Next time you approach so carelessly, I won’t aim for your face, but your throat.” Shiki slowly sheathed her blade.

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.” Determined to abandon all pretense, Hao Ren lunged forward, landing a heavy punch right in Fujido’s gut, sending him crashing to the floor. “You think you have the right to covet Nurse Juukawa?” Looking down at the struggling Fujido, Hao Ren muttered to himself with satisfaction at finally realizing a childhood dream. “If you didn’t have some potential use for us later, I’d finish you right now.”

He glanced up at the other students, who stared back in terror. Tch, Blondie, is glaring all you can do?

“Shiki, take Saeko and the others off the bus first.” Hao Ren swung his spear horizontally, blocking the aisle.

“You’re quite the gentleman, Sato.” Standing in the doorway, Saeko’s skirt fluttered in the wind—did she deliberately stand in the draft? Even her long skirt was billowing up. Hmm, a deep violet shade.

The doors closed. Fujido, finally recovering, stared after Hao Ren’s departing group.

“Teacher…” A nervous female student behind Fujido spoke up.

Fujido’s face instantly twisted with malice.

On the Miyabashi Bridge, the dead began to swarm Hao Ren’s party.

“As expected… maybe we should have stayed on the bus with Fujido and the others.” Clutching her medical kit, Juukawa looked around frantically, continuously retreating.

“Oh? Didn’t you say you hated that Fujido?” Takagi teased.

“Well, yes, I did say that. But I’m not really good at walking long distances,” Juukawa replied with her usual airheaded charm.

“You two are awfully relaxed.” Flicking the blood from his spear, Hao Ren looked at the pair, exasperated by their lack of tension.

“Go for it, Koji!” Juukawa cheered, waving her medical kit like a cheerleader.

“Report: I’m out of bullets,” Hirano announced, clearly unskilled at close combat.

“Then join Ishii and help guard the ladies for now.” Saeko, ever the whirlwind on the battlefield, spun and struck with her bokken—was she part sword saint, or what?

A sudden roar of engines—Takashi Komuro and Rei Miyamoto burst onto the bridge on a motorcycle.

“Hey, it’s a white one!” Hao Ren, that’s enough.

“Is everyone all right?” Komuro called from the bike.

“You’re the last one, Komuro,” Saeko replied coolly, dispatching a zombie with a single, effortless blow to the head. “You’re late.”

With Hao Ren and the others adding their combat strength and experience, the clean-up was swift—much faster than in the original story.

“I see. As long as you’re all safe.” Komuro, having arrived too late to be of use, looked a bit embarrassed.

“Sensei!” Rei leapt off the bike and into Juukawa’s arms.

“Oh my! Miyamoto-san, what a wild encounter!” Juukawa squealed with delight as she hugged Rei.

“You mean a coincidence,” Rei corrected, her excitement fading.

“I’m just glad you’re all safe,” Hao Ren said, words not matching his true feelings.

“Ah!” Hirano suddenly shouted, charging straight at Komuro.

Komuro instinctively tried to dodge, but Hirano seized the handgun at his waist with surprising speed.

“Oh! Isn’t this the Smith & Wesson M37 revolver issued to police—” Hirano caressed the gun as if it were a lover, lost in his own world.

Hao Ren realized he didn’t understand a word of these technical gun terms.

———I am the dividing line———

As dusk approached, the group gathered by the riverside to rest and discuss how to cross.

Bored, Hao Ren sat by the river, not joining the conversation.

“What are you thinking about, Koji?” Shiki crouched beside him.

“I think I might be adapting a little too fast.” Hao Ren picked up a pebble and tossed it into the water. “At first, when I killed those corpses, I felt the fear and nausea a normal person would. I always knew I was a bit thick-skinned, but this is beyond that. Am I just naturally cold-blooded?”

He paused, then continued, “In this game, I’ve done so many things I wouldn’t dare in real life—beating and threatening others. I don’t feel fear; instead, I get a real thrill. I’m afraid one day I’ll actually kill someone just because I can’t stand them.”

Seeing Hao Ren so troubled, Shiki—who had never comforted anyone before—didn’t know what to do.

“I’m just venting, Shiki. Don’t take it too much to heart.” Hao Ren suddenly straightened up, smiling.

“There’s something wrong with his mental state,” Shiki thought as she watched Hao Ren rejoin the group’s discussion, feeling uneasy.

In the end, they decided to spend the night at the home of one of Juukawa’s friends.

Juukawa turned down Komuro’s offer to go ahead and check the place, citing safety in numbers. Komuro’s disappointment was obvious.

Tsk tsk, no chance to enjoy those overwhelming assets, huh? Adjusting his mood, Hao Ren secretly rejoiced—it was the classic case of hurting others for no real gain.

Before darkness fully set in, they reached the small apartment Juukawa had mentioned. In Hao Ren’s mind, it was more like a villa.

The first thing that caught everyone’s eye—a Hummer! And not just any Hummer, but a military-modified one!

“See? I told you it was like a tank.” Juukawa, are you sure your police friend isn’t secretly dating some high-ranking officer?

Hirano stroked the Hummer’s shell like a lover. Hao Ren recognized the gesture—it was the same technique used by bathhouse attendants scrubbing customers at the cheap public baths near his apartment, and especially for the premium “milk scrub.” That one cost extra.

“Looks like we’ll need one more big workout before we can rest.” Saeko eyed the zombies appearing at the top of the stairs and raised her wooden sword.

“Let’s do this,” Hao Ren charged ahead.

The rest is omitted…

Just kidding…

After swiftly clearing out the dead, the group could finally rest for a while.

The boys were all sent upstairs, while the girls remained on the first floor to clean up in the bathroom. Shiki, who didn’t want to bathe with the others, was forcibly persuaded to stay. Hao Ren could only imagine what her face would look like afterward.

Hao Ren patted his pocket, relieved to find his things still there.

Watching Hirano and Komuro rummage through the gun cabinet, then glancing at Ishii huddled in a corner, always the background character, Hao Ren couldn’t help but grin mischievously—the same grin he wore as a child when sneaking off with the neighbor girl’s shoes.