Episode 15 Natsuki Konoha

After handing over the second batch of supplies, Hayato left the school building following instructions from Kobayashi on acquiring gasoline.

— I brought only expired compresses, but still…

From Hayato’s perspective, he had not brought anything significant.

Yet, the first time he had exchanged batteries for salt, and the second time he had learned about acquiring gasoline in exchange for surplus items from a pharmacy.

Hayato felt he had received too much, but the other party was a teacher instructing him, and since Hayato was young, the dynamic felt like a teacher guiding a student.

Walking toward the school gate while thinking this, he saw a familiar figure ahead— a girl with long hair.

“Hello. It’s been three days.”

“Yeah. Still, a coincidence.”

Last time he had come to the school. This time he was leaving. Twice now, he had met the girl.

The probability of encountering the same student twice in two visits—how likely was that, really?

While imagining what the odds might be like in a lottery, the girl asked Hayato.

"Did the negotiation go well?"

"Ah, smoothly. The vehicle should be operational soon. There are still challenges, though..."

Battery searches within the city were necessary. Tools for acquiring gasoline needed to be found as well.

But the general assumption was that, in the end, it would work out.

Numerous abandoned vehicles remained in the city. There should be usable batteries left. Even if the attempt failed, another try was possible.

A hose for siphoning gasoline from underground tanks at a gas station—somewhere, such a tool must exist.

As for whether gasoline remained in the underground tanks, it was assumed that some locations had been left behind after employees turned into zombies and the police had not managed to recover all the fuel.

"Have you decided where to go once the vehicle is fixed?"

"No, but I do understand that the upper reaches of the river are out of the question. I'm grateful for that clarification."

"Even spring water can be unsafe. You should be careful. If the network were still active, we could look up safe locations..."

Unfortunately, civilization collapsed about a year ago. Electricity is not restored. The server remains unreachable.

Even with the smartphone charged, internet access is unavailable. Only pre-downloaded app games remain usable.

"By the way, do you remember any places where the water quality is known to be safe?"

"I heard that Mount Yōtei in Hokkaido produces eight tons of spring water daily, and it's drinkable."

The girl paused, considering. Then she spoke the name of a place that came to mind.

Nishikomori City lies on Honshu.

Hayato thought of a distant place across the sea. He recalled the Seikan Tunnel beneath the ocean floor.

"Can you drive through the Seikan Tunnel connecting Honshu and Hokkaido?"

"I don’t think so."

"Sorry. At least let me rely on Honshu."

It’s not impossible if you can drive, but impossible if you can’t.

"Besides, Hokkaido looks cold. Without air conditioning, you’d have to worry about where to live."

"Whether cold or hot, it’s unpleasant either way."

"Yeah. Also, the vice-principal, Mr. Oomori, said we can’t accept evacuees, but we can exchange supplies. If we could trade seeds for vegetables or fruit, we’d have to find a place to grow them…"

As Hayato spoke, the girl’s expression shifted abruptly.

Cold light settled in her eyes. Her face stiffened. Hayato fell silent upon seeing it.

Aware that the girl’s demeanor had changed, Hayato considered which part of his words had caused it.

Probably, “Headmaster Omori said that accepting refugees is not possible, but exchanging supplies is allowed.”

The exchange of supplies had already been explained last time. There was no need to repeat it now.

That left only the refusal of refugee acceptance as an option.

—Last time, I agreed with the idea that being managed was difficult.

Omori’s policy was sound in its aim: maintain the group without disrupting food distribution to all.

At least, a third party like Hayato would find it sound.

But how would someone directly affected by the refusal of family acceptance feel?

Just hearing the policy might not convey much.

But experiencing it firsthand would make the difficulty clear.

—I cannot personally imagine being in that position.

Hayato had no desire to search for his parents.

Finding them after searching, and discovering both alive—of course, that would be welcome.

But if told, “Let’s live together,” it would cause great difficulty. Without the ability to use physical strength, sacred magic, or spatial storage, it would be unbearable.

If either parent starved or became infected, and were forced to use power, the result would be inevitable: a Japanese-made medicine and lab rat.

No need to search intentionally. Avoiding personal hardship is preferable.

Hayato’s first principle remains: his own life takes priority.

Regarding his parents’ perspective, he interprets it as: “The purpose of a living thing is to survive and pass on offspring.” Thus, he assumes, “It would be satisfactory if Hayato, their child, survives and reproduces.”

If his parents believed, “Sacrifice yourself for humanity as a Japanese-made medicine and lab rat,” then he would simply say, “I don’t know about that.”

Therefore, Hayato considered the current state of not meeting family to be the best possible outcome. He could not claim to suffer from being unable to live with them.

Yet Hayato, who possessed power tied to the transfer, occupied a unique position.

"I have no intention of joining Fog Farm myself, but refusing family members of teachers and students—this policy will surely cause various problems."

"Yes, that's true."

The girl's reply came out as if forced through pain.

Before Hayato could find it strange, her words continued.

"People have died right before our eyes, unable to be admitted."

It was not merely a matter of being denied entry.

Hayato inferred she had lost someone close—family—due to the school's policy, and had watched them die.

He did not speak it aloud.

Instead, he formed another question.

"Would you like to go somewhere else?"

"I would. I don't really feel attached to anything anymore."

The girl fell silent for a moment, then whispered softly.

Hayato exhaled inwardly upon hearing it.

The girl did not leave because zombies filled the world. If she went out, she would either barricade herself somewhere and starve, or be bitten and killed on the road.

After the silence between them, only the sound of trees swaying in the wind echoed before the school gate.

In the stillness, where only distant bird calls could be heard, Hayato lowered the backpack he carried and reached inside.

After rustling his hand around, he offered it to the girl.

"Trade. Payment for the information about the spring water."

"Heavy."

The girl tilted her head as she took the backpack, surprised by the unexpected weight.

Upon looking inside, she found supplies occupying about one-fifth of the total capacity.

One each of hair care, body care, and skin care products, two sets of toothbrush and toothpaste, one pack of menstrual supplies, and one can of liver oil drops.

"What's this?"

"Grabbed it just in case. Might cause disputes in rationing, so didn't include it in this trade."

"True. Definitely a big dispute."

The girl nodded in understanding at Hayato’s explanation.

Salt could be used by all in cooking. But consumables could not be shared.

The liver oil drops contained 180 capsules. The pear-flavored sweetness was valuable now that sweeteners were scarce.

With a group of two hundred, the twenty who received nothing would hold a grudge.

"Isn’t this too much?"

"No. Once, I drank water from upstream and got sick. My health isn’t cheap. This is high-value trade."

The girl smiled at Hayato’s argument.

"High-value trade, huh. Trade, huh. We don’t even know each other’s names."

"Right, that's true. Hayato Kumakura. A citizen of Kirioka, graduated from Kirioka High three years ago."

Currently, he had a three-year gap with no employment.

He had not been idle. But he could not list "Imperial Army" on a résumé.

"Hoshino Natsuki. Second-year student at Kiriokuno. Classes are only practical training now."

Hayato introduced himself. The girl replied with her name.

Then, her face reddened slightly as she spoke.

"I've never received a gift from a boy before."

"Uh?"

"This was unexpected."

Natsuki's vague wording suggested the gift was not a shampoo or a toothbrush.

"Sorry about that."

The chill in her demeanor had lifted. Hayato spoke the apology, but felt relief too.