36th Episode Chukann Natural Hot Spring Hotel

Under a pale gray sky, perfectly flat rice fields stretched endlessly.

Leftover from winter, the soil was black and damp, exposed bare before planting.

Spring wind stirred dry dust, blurring distant views.

In this open, deserted farmland, Hayato’s vehicle stopped alone.

“Just a moment to unload some gear.”

No zombies were visible in the surroundings.

Hayato exited the vehicle, pretending to remove cargo from the rear, then retrieved fever-reducing painkillers and a triangular bandage from the spatial storage, acquired from the pharmacy.

He took out an empty wooden crate, thinking a splint might be necessary, and unfolded it into a frame.

He also took out a water flask, considering water would be needed to take the medicine.

— Yui would not complain.

Hayato bore no responsibility for Sakurai’s injury.

The fault lies with the New Order Coalition members who attempted robbery and abduction.

And if Sakurai had not initiated negotiations, Hayato and the others would have already departed by vehicle. Surrendering Yui and Natsuki for Sakurai’s safety was out of the question.

Yet Hayato considered that treatment might be acceptable.

"Have fever-reducing analgesics and triangular bandages. Let us perform emergency first aid first."

Hayato opened the rear passenger door, holding his supplies. Sakurai, sweat beading on his forehead, managed a stiff smile.

"Apologies. I did resist with weapons, but there were too many of them."

"Five against one."

Hayato opened the strongest over-the-counter fever-reducing analgesic available.

"Natsuki, pour tea from the water flask."

"Understood."

While Natsuki poured tea from the water flask, Hayato took the flask from her, placed the medicine on the box, and extended it toward Sakurai.

"Plenty of medicine available. Please take without hesitation. Fifty-four tablets. Three per dose."

"Sorry."

Sakurai slowly released her right arm from supporting her left elbow and picked up the tablets.

She placed them in her mouth and swallowed them with tea from Natsuki.

After confirming the process repeated three times, Hayato spoke, holding a splinter and a triangular bandage in one hand.

"Your elbow is fractured. First, we will immobilize it. Then take the painkiller. I will also give you vitamin supplements. Rehabilitation in about a month."

The detailed explanation was intended to signal future plans and provide reassurance.

No response from Yui regarding supply distribution will be noted.

No need to look directly—he could imagine the half-smile returned with eyes locked.

Hayato’s fingertip touched Sakurai’s left elbow. A grimace of pain appeared, but signs of restraint through reason were visible.

Hayato positioned the splint inside and outside the elbow, bending it to ninety degrees.

“Natsuki, hold the splint steady.”

“Understood.”

Natsuki, seated beside Sakurai in the back seat, steadied the splint.

Her fingers trembled slightly from tension, but this was far better than Hayato attempting to stabilize the splint while wrapping the triangular bandage.

While Natsuki held it in place, Hayato produced the triangular bandage and wrapped it around Sakurai’s forearm and the splint, securing it. He took care not to tighten too much, then tied the knot.

Sakurai closed her eyes as if enduring, yet relief showed on her face.

Hayato moved his right hand slightly.

The palm of Hayato’s right hand flickered with light.

—Good thing I kept my eyes closed.

He met Natsuki’s gaze, conveying silently that it was a secret.

Finally, he draped the triangular bandage around Sakurai’s neck and supported her arm in a sling.

“Emergency treatment complete.”

“Thanks. The medicine’s starting to work. I feel better. You’re efficient.”

Sakurai exhaled slowly, a calm expression settling on her face.

“So, what’s this New Order Coalition you mentioned?”

“Just a local gang, really.”

Sakurai hesitated, her expression questioning whether it was safe to speak now.

They were the ones who had tried to take Yui and Natsuki.

Hayato understood: they were not just a street gang. Talking about it in front of women might not be appropriate.

"Tell me about the hotel we're heading to. We'll need to stay there."

"Why?"

"The front windshield of the car was damaged."

The windshield was struck with an iron pipe, cracked in a spiderweb pattern.

The vehicle still functions, but visibility during travel is poor. This is dangerous.

A collision could occur. A approaching zombie might go unnoticed.

If a zombie attacks, a broken windshield increases the risk of entry into the cabin.

"We'll need to find a new vehicle. In a world overrun by zombies, we can't afford to have people like that around, nor can we take Yui and Natsuki with us."

"That's correct."

We must find a vehicle with compatible battery specifications.

Hayato has already searched through parts of the city for a suitable vehicle.

Hayato looked at the front windshield. Sakurai nodded.

"Allow me to assist for a while. Provide information on the town. As compensation, I will give you part of the collected supplies."

"Understood. I will cooperate."

Sakurai extended his right hand. Hayato hesitated, thinking it did not suit him, but shook hands anyway.

After releasing the hand, Hayato returned to the driver's seat.

He started the engine and operated the Car Navigation System.

"What is the name of the hot spring?"

"Chukann Natural Hot Spring Hotel."

Hayato entered the name Sakurai provided. The system displayed the same name. He confirmed the entry.

He pressed start guidance. The navigation began directing.

As he moved the vehicle along the route, Hayato asked about the Chukann Natural Hot Spring Hotel.

"You mentioned providing part of the supplies as lodging fees. How much is that?"

"One month’s stay, three kilograms of food per person. Two kilograms if it’s rice. That’s because the hotel staff numbers around twenty, while the guests are about two hundred."

"Meaning?"

"The hotel staff don’t want to go outside where it’s dangerous. So instead of providing water and shelter, they make guests fetch food. Two hundred people bringing three kilograms each—makes sense."

Hayato, unable to calculate, glanced at Natsuki through the rearview mirror—agriculture high school graduate.

"One meal is three hundred grams. A single serving of rice is one hundred fifty grams. One hundred fifty grams of cooked rice requires seventy-five grams of raw rice, so rice is worth about twice as much."

"Hmm."

The difference between two kilograms of rice and three kilograms of other food made sense now.

Hayato nodded briefly, then urged Natsuki to continue the explanation.

"Three hundred grams per meal means nine hundred grams a day for three meals. Twenty-seven kilograms a month. Five hundred forty kilograms for twenty people. Divided among two hundred people, that's two point seven kilograms. So I think the monthly quota is three kilograms per person."

"Huh, I see. That makes sense."

The hotel staff were the fishermen, the guests were the fish, in effect.

Of course, the guests received water and a relatively safe place to stay in exchange, in a world where zombies had overrun and the water supply had stopped.

Hayato thought the clear mutual benefit was preferable.

"We have about ten kilograms of uncooked rice. Three people, plus two more for Sakurai’s elbow to heal."

Hayato glanced at Yui beside him. She gave a half-smile and said, "We’ll talk about it later."

The only rice Hayato’s group possessed was that ten kilograms.

To eat rice, one must either grow rice from seeds acquired at the agricultural high school or obtain raw rice anew.

Thus Yui did not use it for cooking.

The rice cooker, incidentally, was brought by Yui from her home.

That was how much she had been looking forward to it.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Without Sakurai, Yui and Natsuki would have been attacked directly."

She had a pistol. But it was new. A high school girl was not easily able to shoot a human. Hayato would argue for leniency in sentencing to the judge.

He wondered how severe the charge would be as he drove the car.