19th Episode: Restarting the Vehicle

Hayato, having acquired a substantial amount of gasoline, moved toward the rural area.

He wished to attempt battery replacement, but not in an area dense with Zombies.

Heading toward the countryside as remembered, he dismounted the Bicycle and walked through overgrown rice paddies, retrieving the vehicle from spatial storage near the center.

At a location with clear visibility, he laid out the Battery, Ratchet, and Wrench.

" Ideally, a repair shop or a school gymnasium—any place with a roof—but those are risky."

A repair shop might have Zombies emerging from within. A gymnasium might house refugees, or be collapsed, filled with Zombies.

He dismissed both options, then looked up at the sky. Thick, heavy clouds hovered overhead.

As if urging rain to fall, to lighten the burden.

—Those displaced by water shortages might welcome it, but.

If the survivors within the city vote by majority, the desire to bring rain would likely prevail.

Continue the majority vote, and every day would be rain.

A true tyranny of democracy.

—Collecting rainwater? Is that even feasible?

Stretch blue tarps across the rooftop, create a slope, channel the water to one spot, and place a bucket there.

A new large trash bin from the Home Center might be better than a bucket.

Cover it with a permeable sheet that lets only water through, and a clean rainwater collection system is complete.

—If spring water is unusable, this might be the worst alternative.

Hygiene management is required, and without confidence in sustaining it, it is something I would rather avoid.

The best option is spring water that requires no effort.

While thinking this, Hayato began replacing the Battery.

Begin by opening the hood, then proceed to remove the old Battery.

Hayato used the Ratchet to loosen the nut on the Battery’s negative terminal, and removed the terminal that had been securely fastened.

Next, he removed the positive terminal as well, then loosened the clamp securing the Battery.

The Battery’s fixation was now released, and it could be lifted.

“Well, this much I can manage….”

As for backing up the memory, he had given up.

Kobayashi had said there might be temporary operational issues during driving, but Hayato treated it pragmatically—move, and it’s a success.

Hayato placed the old Battery in the rice paddy, then opened the box of the new Battery that was at his feet, and inserted it into the Battery holder.

After seating properly, Hayato reversed the previous procedure and installed the new Battery. He secured it. He tightened the nut on the positive terminal by hand, then locked it firmly with the Ratchet.

He applied torque within common sense limits, not so hard as to damage the components.

He attached the negative terminal. The Battery replacement was complete.

Next was gasoline. That process was not complex.

He retrieved a bucket filled with high-octane gasoline from the spatial storage. He opened the fuel inlet. He began pouring fuel through the hose and pump.

He did not overfill. He estimated the volume by visual check.

After a period of pouring, he closed the fuel inlet and entered the vehicle.

"Let's see if it starts."

It would be disappointing if it did not start. But the Battery and gasoline were secured. If this vehicle failed, he could search for another.

The vehicle was limited by Battery compatibility, but far better than starting over from the beginning.

Hayato started the engine.

The engine roared to life, surged forward, and the tires spun uselessly in the rice paddy.

"……Sorry."

Apologizing for the malfunction, Hayato shut off the engine.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

Hayato stowed the repaired vehicle and returned to Yui’s house.

The work had taken longer than expected. Night had fully settled outside.

He opened the front door, stepped in quickly, locked it, and pulled out a lamp—the substitute for electricity—then headed upstairs to Yui’s room.

He spoke through the door.

"Back."

"……You’re late."

Hearing Hayato’s voice, Yui recognized the speaker as neither a Zombie nor a family member at the shelter. She answered and opened the door.

"Found a battery, got a hose and pump, collected gasoline, fixed the car. Pushed too hard today."

"Right. Should I prepare dinner?"

"Please."

Hayato returned. Safety improved. Yui descended the stairs, lit by a lamp.

Hayato followed. They moved to the dining area.

Meal: rye bread, cheese, dried meat, dried fruit.

Powdered drink available. No hot water.

Yui arranged the food on plates. She dissolved powdered green tea in water. A semblance of pre-collapse dining restored.

"Thank you for the meal."

"Help yourself."

Yui had finished her own meal. She took only tea—then seized a dried apple from Hayato’s plate.

She picked it up with her fingers. Gazed at it briefly.

The dried apple had been thinly sliced and thoroughly dehydrated, appearing small and shriveled. Yet a faint aroma of sweetness and tartness lingered on its surface.

Yui bit into the apple. A crisp crunch echoed through the quiet dining hall.

With each bite, the dried apple’s sweetness and tartness spread across her mouth. A fleeting expression of satisfaction appeared on her face.

"Delicious."

Yui spoke with the unguarded smile of a child.

She chewed the apple, then swallowed the final bite. Wiped her hand lightly.

Hayato smiled faintly, unsure whether her manner was childish or refined. He resumed his report.

"Fuel has been secured in considerable quantity. As much as we can gather, we are ready to depart."

"Good. But where are we going?"

"Where should we go?"

Electricity supply from power plants has ceased across Japan.

Some islands like Hachijō-jima may still have power, but certainly not on Honshū, Shikoku, or most of Kyūshū.

Hydroelectric plants may still function, but they too will stop eventually.

Turbines in hydroelectric plants rotate at high speed and wear down or sustain damage. Without oil or spare parts, they will fail.

Electronic control systems in power plants also have limited battery and component lifespans.

Left unattended, they will fail within months—possibly as soon as six to twelve months, typically one to two years, and at best three years.

Civilization collapsed one year ago.

"Air conditioning is unavailable."

"Cold is hard to endure. Heat is unpleasant too."

"Northeast and Kyūshū—probably not viable."

The winter in the northeast looks cold. The summer in Kyūshū looks hot.

Cold can perhaps be endured with many blankets. But if snow falls and the outside drops below freezing, it will be unbearable.

Heat is difficult to endure. People die from heatstroke. Telling someone to bear it through willpower is not feasible.

Without air conditioning, one must choose a place with moderate climate.

Hayato paused, then offered a suggestion.

"Maybe Nagano Prefecture?"

"Why?"

"It lies in the center of Honshu. It has the second-highest number of hot springs in the country, after Hokkaido. If natural hot springs are available, water might be accessible. The pump drawing water from the source is electric—perhaps it has stopped working…"

"That’s not a problem."

Nagano Prefecture is cool in summer and mild in winter. Agriculture thrives there.

It seemed like an excellent option. But it had a fatal flaw—the greatest advantage was compromised.

Hayato abandoned the idea of the hot spring and reconsidered regions neither to the north nor the south.

"Yamanashi Prefecture borders Nagano to the southeast. It touches Mount Fuji. It has abundant spring water, they say."

"But I don’t know where those springs are located."

"I don’t know where they are."

The Japanese government should have designated a final evacuation site in advance for zombie outbreaks and informed the public.

A risk exists that too many people will converge there. Conversely, if too few remain, it could mark the threshold between Japan’s survival or extinction.

It is too late now, though.

"Shizuoka Prefecture might be warmer than Nagano. We could catch fish from the sea."

"Fine, but if it’s just about catching fish, we could do that elsewhere."

"Japan is an island nation, after all."

Fewer prefectures in Japan lack access to the sea.

Eight of the forty-seven prefectures lack access to the sea: Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shiga, and Nara.

Both Nagano and Yamanashi, mentioned earlier, are among those without coastal access.

"What about Mie Prefecture? It borders the sea and has a temperate climate, I think."

Mie Prefecture is known in schools for the 'Four-day City Asthma,' one of Japan's four major industrial pollution diseases. Originally, it was blessed with abundant mountains, extensive coastlines, and thrived in agriculture and fishing.

It includes Iga City, where ninjas once lived in hiding.

Given Hayato’s current physical capabilities, he might be welcomed by the Iga ninjas.

"For now, those four are candidates. How about that?"

"Fine. Shall we go right away?"

"No, I'd rather gather more high-octane gasoline. We should find supplies to trade, then exchange them for plant seeds with the Fog Farm. Wait a little longer."

"Right. Yeah, I understand."

Hayato and Yui roughly outlined the final destination they aimed to reach.