Chapter 55: Apparel Store

Cold morning light from March cast a gloomy hue.

Hayato and the others parked the vehicle a few hundred meters from a residential home and proceeded on foot.

"Wouldn’t want it tampered with."

"Already had it broken once."

Yui followed Hayato’s explanation.

Anna was led out of the house first and hidden, with storage secured for safety.

Hayato carried a spear. Yui and Natsuki concealed pistols. Hayato also lent Anna one pistol recovered from the Police Station.

"Are you sure it’s alright letting me carry a firearm?"

"Presence of people doesn’t guarantee safety."

Hayato had Anna carry a weapon to strengthen their defensive force and improve security.

Three shooters would be stronger than two in a firing situation.

They advanced with that level of caution, and eventually learned the concern had been unfounded.

At the front of the Shopping Mall, figures reminiscent of past bustling activity were present.

"Other people besides guests are here."

"That seems to be the case."

As Natsuki pointed out, unfamiliar faces were present in the Mall beyond those seen at the Hotel.

—Ten people had come to the Home Center on the day the Zombies were eliminated.

At least one location, aside from the Hotel, was known to have fewer Zombies.

They had been repelled by Hayato, but had not abandoned their search for supplies.

They likely scoured the Home Center as a community, then moved on to the Shopping Mall.

Among the many people present, some pushed carts carrying supplies.

"The boutique is on the second floor."

Hayato and the others, guided by Anna, entered through the entrance on the left front side, where the Food Store was located, ascended the stairs before the Food Store, and stepped onto the second floor.

The most crowded area was the Food Store on the first floor.

Four days had passed since Hayato's first visit. A significant amount of supplies had already been collected, but it was not yet completely empty.

Souvenir corners, a pharmacy, a cake shop, and other stores lined the area. To the right, a coffee shop and a street of restaurants offered many items that could be carried away.

People were present on the second floor as well. Several flashlights illuminated different spots.

Several women's clothing stores existed, but all still held large quantities of clothes, untouched.

"First, we need a large bag for the clothes. Let's go to the register."

Carrying many clothes at once was not possible.

Hayato stated the plan. Anna directed the way by shining her flashlight.

"It's over there," she said.

"Right, I'll go first."

Multiple figures were present. The zombies had likely been eliminated.

Hayato moved to the front. Anna directed the way with her flashlight.

A wide checkout counter appeared. Inside the counter, numerous bags were stacked.

Yui and Natsuki each took one of the bags.

"Priority is safety. Stay close. Do not go too far from me. The bags with goods will be retrieved later. Store them under the register. We'll return empty-handed."

"Got it."

Hayato had already explained this to Yui and Natsuki.

The bags with goods were not to be collected by Hayato later. They were meant to be stored.

They had decided to hide them as an excuse for not bringing goods back.

"Then let's go."

"Yes. Shall we start with underwear?"

"Those are this way."

Yui and Natsuki followed Anna's guidance.

Accompanying a woman while shopping for underwear was awkward. But avoiding trouble with zombies or survivors left no choice.

Hayato followed the three, his face set in a expression like that of a Tibetan sand fox.

At the end of the display rack, he stood motionless, holding a spear in one hand, a super-bright LED light in the other, like a bronze statue overseeing the selection.

The harsh white beam of the light illuminated the shelf lined with colorful women’s undergarments.

"Many options here."

Yui picked up a set of silk fabric with ribbon trim, examining it.

Her expression was light, as if amused. Yet there was hesitation, as if this was a rare shopping trip.

"Adorable, isn't it?"

Natsuki smiled, leaning over Yui’s shoulder to look.

Natsuki held a white set, clean in appearance, but the sides loosened with adjustable ties.

She glanced sideways, briefly, at Hayato.

Hayato hesitated, as if considering whether to recite a mantra to banish evil thoughts, and yet nodded slightly, for no clear reason.

Natsuki smiled and placed several differently colored items of the same style into a bag.

— Not that.

He did not nod in agreement with the idea that underwear should be easy to pull apart.

It was not that the idea was good or bad—though it was, in fact, good—but that was not why he nodded.

His head had nodded, unconsciously, for reasons he could not explain.

Hayato had seen on television that during a school-wide assembly, a principal once asked, “Who here has ever stolen something?” and many students raised their hands, even though most had not, simply because the atmosphere around them made it seem appropriate.

Such behavior was known in social psychology as “conformity pressure” or “group conformity.”

Humans unconsciously judge actions around them as correct. Psychological pressure arises to conform to surrounding expectations and atmosphere.

Hayato likely nodded without awareness, responding to Natsuki’s expectations.

Therefore, innocent, Hayato defended himself against the accusation of having chosen erotic underwear for a high school girl.

— Hm, I see.

Unfortunately, someone misunderstood.

The self-proclaimed wife, unaware of Hayato’s inner justification, held up a sheer product not fit to show to a father.

This time, Hayato tried to shake his head firmly.

— No. Wait. It was never my decision to make.

Whatever Anna chose for her own clothes or undergarments was Anna’s freedom.

As proof, Anna selected ordinary products too.

Hayato recalled he was once a copper statue of a Tibetan sand fox. He neither affirmed nor denied it, and returned to his primary duty as the lighting officer.

Anna misinterpreted Hayato’s silence as denial. She placed the items into a bag.

The other was a middle school student nearing graduation. Hayato was clearly innocent.

“Then I’ll put these goods under the register. Confirm.”

“Understood.”

Yui concealed three bags, one for each person, and showed them to Hayato.

Three large bags, four to five items each. Possibility of acquiring more in the future was low. This was unavoidable.

Hayato confirmed Anna’s view was blocked. He touched the bags and stored them.

Natsuki led Anna away from the underwear section.

“Next, clothing. Where is it?”

“Deeper inside.”

At the far end of the aisle, several groups moved with handheld lantern light.

Guided by them, Hayato and the others moved toward the right side of the mall.

Hayato regretted it.

Women’s clothing offered infinite choices.

The exact time was uncertain, but the flashlight’s charge had run out, and he was retrieving the next item.

"Hey, which one do you think?"

"...Yeah, just take them all, right?"

"That's not what I'm asking. I want to know which one you like."

"Then the A-line dress from earlier."

"Which part was good?"

Mentioning specifics would force a reconsideration.

In a world overrun by zombies, he wanted to choose quickly, but he could not say so. Stuck indoors for too long had built up stress.

What was the proper response here?

"...Yui."

"What?"

"You're cute. Any of them will do."

Hayato finally chose to compliment her directly.

Yui, unaccustomed to praise, let out a soft groan.

Hayato observed her, then asked.

"Did you fake it?"

Hayato’s desire to end this quickly was nearly exposed.

But admitting it would only prolong the exchange and make Yui displeased.

Hayato immediately defended himself.

"It’s true you’re cute. Who else would I bring?"

"Ugh... then, which one was better?"

Yui seemed determined to have Hayato choose.

Hayato imagined ways to make her give up, then recalled a forbidden tactic.

It would stop Yui from giving her opinion, but Hayato would suffer too.

Still, he decided it was unavoidable and spoke it aloud.

"The clothes you wore the first time we met were good."

The clothing you wore the first time we met was a middle school uniform.

At the moment Hayato spoke, Yui's eyebrows dipped into a V-shape.

"Ahh, I see. So that's your preference."

That was somewhat of a misunderstanding.

Yui, however, gave a tired expression, waved off further inquiry, and ceased listening.

Natsuki and Anna, curious about the matter, attempted to ask, but Yui refused to answer. The clothing selection thus dragged on.

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