14th Episode Kirioka Agricultural High School

After Hayato arranged the supplies, Omori sat in the empty chair and gestured for Hayato to sit as well.

Hayato took the seat. Omori spoke solemnly.

"The method for acquiring gasoline you wish to know, discuss with Mr. Kobayashi when you leave."

"Understood."

Omori glanced toward Kobayashi in the staff room. Kobayashi raised his right hand.

Hayato responded. Omori nodded.

"Now, I will inform Kuwakura, who has entered into a trading relationship with us, about our current situation."

"Yes."

Several teachers, including Kobayashi, were in the staff room.

Yet, despite the confidential tone, Omori spoke without hesitation.

"First, the basics. Kirioka Agricultural High School had about four hundred fifty students before the zombies emerged. Approximately seventy percent of the student body lived in dormitories. The high number of dorm residents stems from the need to care for the cattle and crops. Commuting from home would be impractical."

Hayato had mentioned during his previous visit that he had graduated from Kirioka High School.

Kirioka High School was a general academic school. Hayato likely had little knowledge of agricultural high schools.

Thus, Omori probably began with foundational information.

Indeed, Hayato had not known about dorm life or the reasons for it. Listening now, he formed a vague picture of Kirioka Agricultural High School's current state.

— The student body is large because the dorms exist and people already lived here.

If students had fled to school from their homes after the zombies emerged, the absence of family members living nearby would be unnatural.

But if students had always lived here alone, then their continued presence would not be unusual.

Zombies emerging would not immediately destroy buildings or cut off electricity, gas, or water.

If buildings remained intact, utilities remained functional, and some food stores existed, people would attempt to maintain the current state.

Civilization actually collapsed two years after the zombie outbreak.

Watching Hayato begin to imagine the scenario, Oomori continued speaking.

"Zombies emerged. Fuel supplies gradually ceased. Distribution slowed. We received no water or food aid from the administration. We were told to become self-sufficient. But refugees had gone to the designated evacuation sites. We managed to survive."

"Understood."

"Here, food is self-sustained. What would the students' guardians do then?"

"If we can't provide an environment where food is supplied, they wouldn't take the children in."

Hayato replied to Omori, who spoke with the tone of a teacher, like a student.

Hayato's answer met the minimum standard. Omori nodded slightly.

"Parents of students attending agricultural high school are often involved in primary industry. There were students who returned home from the dormitories, of course."

"True. If a student attends agricultural high school, their family is likely involved in farming. One of my classmates from middle school had a rice paddy at home."

If the family farmed, they could obtain more food than what would be gained at the agricultural high school.

Humans cannot survive on rice alone. But by growing rice and exchanging it for vegetables cultivated by others in a field, enough could be secured.

Likewise, the family would have wanted the labor of a child attending agricultural high school.

In an environment where zombies were increasing, it was unclear how long the current state could be maintained, but there had been a moment when the decision to return home from the dormitory had been made.

"Some teachers had chosen to return home for their families. Now, about two hundred people—teachers and students—live here."

The current state of Kirioka Agricultural High School seemed to be a direct extension of that reality.

Oomori exhaled, then continued speaking quietly.

"Kirioka Agricultural High School maintains a policy of accepting no external refugees."

There was unwavering resolve in Oomori's words.

Hayato raised his eyebrows in surprise, then nodded silently and gestured for him to continue.

"The food produced here matches the consumption of the two hundred teachers and students currently living here. Accepting more would disrupt the balance, and everyone would starve."

Oomori and the teaching staff were professionals in teaching agriculture.

Food production and consumption were calculated in meticulous detail.

Reducing rations would harm health. Illness could not be treated.

Crop failure was possible depending on weather.

If the people maintaining the group asserted, after considering various factors, that the current state was the limit, Hayato understood that to be true.

"Plus, food shortages would require going outside to acquire supplies. Teachers cannot make students undertake such risks."

Teachers cannot make students perform dangerous tasks. This is common sense based on law and ethics.

Teachers have custodial responsibility and a duty to ensure safety for students within the school. This is ethically expected.

Teachers receive education before obtaining certification and undergo training after appointment.

If one pursued a teaching career, they likely held ideals or beliefs to begin with.

If teachers had received education and training, and maintained order in groups, it was natural they would hesitate to enter environments overrun by zombies.

"We cannot simply send teachers there. If the situation guaranteed starvation, hesitation would be understandable. But if food could be produced systematically, then choosing that path would be logical."

"That is a reasonable assessment."

Hayato accepted this reasoning. If the group refused to accept evacuees, this was a highly reasonable decision.

Seeing Hayato’s understanding, Omori’s tone returned to calm.

"Making exceptions leads to no limits. Not even family members of teachers or students will be accepted."

"Even the students' guardians are not accepted?"

"That is correct. If guardians arrive, we will give them as much rations as they can carry, and they will take the student. If they wish to leave the student behind, that is acceptable, as it changes nothing from the current situation."

Giving them rations is justified by the fact that the students produce the food, and it reduces the burden on the school's supply.

Food is scarce, but Hayato felt no discomfort about providing rations to guardians who come to collect their children.

"…If a guardian arrives accompanied by a zombie, we will not open the gate. They must come safely."

There may have been guardians in the past who reached the school fleeing zombies.

If a guardian arrives fleeing zombies, shouting "Get my child out quickly," both the teacher handing over the student and the student being handed over would be in difficulty.

And if the gate were opened, allowing zombies inside, chaos would erupt throughout the school.

"Now, let me explain the current state of Kogama Farm. What we are producing. Specifically, what we can exchange when Kyokura-san brings in supplies."

"I see. That’s what you meant."

Hayato fully understood the previous explanation from Oomori.

Oomori had, in effect, conveyed to Hayato, who had brought bandages, saboteurs, electronic measuring devices, and salt from within the city, that while they could not accept refugees, trade was possible beyond battery replacement technology.

"Kogama Farm has vast farmland. We cultivate crops according to the season. Rice is grown in the rice paddies. Various vegetables are cultivated in the vegetable garden. The orchard yields apples and mandarins. Mushrooms are also grown in the mushroom garden."

"This is impressive, given the circumstances."

In a world overrun by zombies, growing and eating a variety of vegetables and fruit is impossibly奢侈.

Hayato possesses food sources from another world, but the crops cultivated by the agricultural high school are incomparable.

And what the agricultural high school produced was not limited to crops.

"In the mist fields, we raise cows and obtain fresh milk. We turn it into cheese and butter."

"Can you still keep cows?"

"We have a feed field within the grounds. Cow manure becomes fertilizer. That is our specialty."

"I am deeply impressed."

Hayato had come to the agricultural high school seeking knowledge on battery replacement.

But in a world overrun by zombies, the knowledge the agricultural high school offered might not have been battery replacement after all.

He was beginning to realize that, only now.

The ground had been used as a sports field, but after the Zombies appeared, soil from the surrounding area was transported and converted into farmland. Production volume has increased as a result.

……It might be possible, if the rice paddies are right next to the school.

If they actually did it, it must have worked well.

Hayato revised his perception of Kirioka Agricultural High School. Prioritizing safety, yet still carrying out necessary tasks.

Kirioka Agricultural High School has diverted river water into its grounds. The supply is sufficient for crop production. There is also well water. Drinking water is not a concern.

Pulling water from a natural river is impressive.

There is also solar power generation. A consistent power supply is maintained. Electric pumps draw water from the wells. Greenhouse cultivation and refrigerated storage are possible.

Civilization is being sustained.

At a minimum. In reality, consumables are insufficient.

I see.

Hayato imagined the supplies recovered from the drugstore and nodded in understanding.

Without tissues or toilet paper, hardship would follow.

Even if hair growth and regrowth products could be abandoned, menstrual supplies would still be necessary.

If Hayato brought consumables, he thought it likely that others would gladly trade vegetables and fruit in exchange.

"The materials used to reinforce the barricade covering the compound were acquired through trade with produce. Some groups still conduct exchanges."

"I understand."

Acquiring supplies in exchange for plant seeds might be feasible.

That was how Hayato thought.