Chapter 36: Her Circumstances

"Alright, let's go!"

Taking the lead like a teacher supervising a school trip, Hiwaya Norio steps forward.

Following behind him are seven students from Gakkyō High School, including me, and three adult men.

"Please, don't let your guard down."

Norio's stern tone causes everyone's expressions to tighten.

Even though I've pretty much taken care of the zombies around "Captain," you never know what could happen.

Incidentally, this time the supply procurement team has been divided into two groups.

The supply team tasked with acquiring remaining provisions from the convenience store just outside the back gate.

The supply procurement unit operating from "Captain," located a short distance away.

Of course, I'm heading toward the dangerous path.

The squad heading toward "Captain."

Keeping watch from the rear, I let out a quiet sigh.

Being needed by someone isn't a bad feeling.

But...

Hmm.

I guess I'm responsible for the lives of all eleven of us here.

Wasn't it Uncle Ben from the Spider-Man who gets killed every time he's rebooted, saying, "With great power comes great responsibility"?

Ugh.

Thinking about it like that suddenly makes my stomach feel... uneasy.

"Senpai... Are you okay?"

It was Tada Ritsuko who spoke with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"…Don't carry everything on your own. I'm here too."

She said it quietly, then fell silent.

I wonder if I made her worry.

Among the supply team heading toward "Captain," only I, Ritsuko, and Norio are accustomed to dealing with the "zombies."

Among the eleven, many had never left the school grounds since taking refuge at Gakugō High School.

To them, the outside world seemed synonymous with hell.

You could tell from their expressions that they felt no sense of living.

"That's it."

Norio pointed toward "Captain,"

"This... is incredible."

He uttered in awe.

Before the supermarket lay a pile of corpses, the remains of the "zombies."

There were probably around twenty or so. I didn't notice last night, caught up in the frenzy, but I actually did quite a bit of damage.

Everyone at the scene suddenly began murmuring in surprise.

"Did you really take down all of these by yourself?"

"Yeah, well..."

As I replied, Norio quietly muttered, "You're a reliable monster."

"But these corpses are strange. It looks like parts of them are burned."

"That's... um, I tried to gather the corpses and burn them, but I couldn't do it properly. In the end, it just ended up looking half-done."

I recite the prepared explanation.

"Hmm. I see."

Fortunately, Norio accepted it without hesitation.

After all, nobody's going to think someone actually burned a 'zombie' with a magic sword, so it's not surprising it worked out so easily.

"In any case, we should burn the remains of the undead. You never know what kind of disease they might become a breeding ground for."

"Indeed."

"Then, let's begin the procedure as planned. First, this troublesome... military truck."

Norio approached the military truck he had arrived in, gazing at the zombie corpses stuck to the tires, and let out a deep sigh.

▼

"Senpai, over here!"

"Yieeek!"

"Ah, they're here, they're here! Senpai!"

"Yieeek!"

"One more coming from over there—three of them!"

"Yieeek!" "Yieeek!"

"Senpai, Senpai, Senpai! Over here! They're coming in droves! Uh, six of them already!"

"Yieeek!" "Yieeek!" "Yieeek!"

And so it went, nonstop.

With zombies slowly approaching at intervals of about every few minutes, we kept dispatching them one after another. Before we knew it, it was already past noon.

"Good job, senpai."

Rika-chan handed me a bottle of tea, saying this.

She's also a member of the "Captain" supply procurement team.

"The zombie attacks have calmed down, haven't they?"

"Yeah... How about you?"

"We've mostly finished loading everything... Just a bit more sorting of supplies left. We'll be done soon."

"That's good to hear."

Drank a 500-milliliter bottle of tea in one go, took a deep breath.

"Um... that is... um..."

"Hmm?"

"Um... well..."

Rika-chan fidgeted slightly, clearly struggling to say what was on her mind.

Her small, delicate frame made her seem so much like a little animal that I couldn't resist the urge to gently stroke her head.

"I've wanted to talk to you, senpai... for a long time..."

"Oh?..."

So, the day has finally come when I get to listen to my junior's confession.

But can't that wait until after we return?

Though we’ve mostly cleared out the “zombies” in this area, it still can’t be called a safe zone. I thought discussing matters like this should be done at school.

I-I can't. That'll be too late. If possible, right now...

It feels like an urgent matter that needs immediate attention.

S-senpai, h-how do you feel about Kou-chan?

"？ What do you mean by that?"

"Um... Well... Exactly what it sounds like..."

"I think she's a perfectly normal, nice girl."

"That's not what I meant. As a boy, as a person."

"Huh?"

Frowning slightly.

Could it be... that thing?

You know, like a crush?

"NO THANK YOU"

I never thought I'd have to say that line twice in one day.

He's probably sneezing right about now, Kazusuke.

"I see... That's good..."

Rikachan lets out a relieved sigh.

"But why all of a sudden?"

"Well... Kou-chan's dad really likes Senpai, and he said stuff like if Kou-chan dated Senpai, the Hibiya family would be secure and all that..."

"That old man actually said something like that?"

"But Kou-chan didn't seem entirely against it... Ugh, seriously!"

This time, Rikachan pouts and starts fuming in anger.

Isn't that unfair? I'm working hard too!

Rika-chan should have been managing the stockpiled food.

...I can't fight like you, Senpai. I know you're the one I can rely on.

That's not true. Managing food is also an important job.

Then, the girl stuck out her lips in a pout and bounced up and down.

There are a lot of men out there who don't think that way.

Hmm.

I think this girl is cutest when she's mad.

Is this what they call a hamster-type girl?

Anyway, I just want to gently pat her head.

Lost in such vague thoughts, Rika suddenly clenched my hand with determination.

"S-senpai...!"

"Y-yes?"

"T-that is... just now... um, about Kou-chan... ehh, ehh, ehh?!"

"Eh?!"

"W-was I just... i-is that... asked to... do something... r-romantic...?!"

"...What?"

In my mind, I can't help but recall Kousuke-kun’s image from yesterday, stuffing rubber into his pocket.

"But I don’t know what to do… I really don’t…"

Suddenly, two large tears fall from Rika-chan’s wide, bright eyes.

"Ah… um… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…"

"W-wait, what… I don’t know what to do… I’m so flustered…"

There’s nothing I can do but panic. This was an unprecedented situation in my meager life experience.

Rika quickly wiped her tears and tried to act calm.

But her voice trembled.

"Senpai... I don't know what to do..."

"W-what, what am I supposed to do...?"

"I like Kou-chan, but... still, that kind of thing... it's scary..."

"...Ahaha. Yeah, I know. I feel the same way."

First and foremost, you're just talking to the wrong person.

...But I couldn't bring myself to say that.

"Y-yeah, if you really don't want to, shouldn't you just say no?"

"But but... what if Kou-chan starts disliking me because of that... I... And Kou-chan doesn't seem to hate Senpai either... What if, because of this, Kou-chan ends up liking Senpai...?...Uhh, ghh... sniff..."

W-W-W-W-Wah...

What kind of situation is this?

This is way easier than facing a hundred zombies.

Just then...

"…I've heard the story."

Toda Ritsuko appeared suddenly before us.

She gently placed a comforting hand on Rika-chan's shoulder, her eyes warm and motherly.

"It's alright. Even if Courseke rejects you, there are girls like us."

What on earth is "alright" about that?

Rika-chan wiped her tears, sniffing.

"What do you mean by…"

"You'll see soon enough. In this world gone mad, only people of the same gender can truly understand one another....Isn't that right, Senpai?"

This girl's definitely a real lesbian after all (despair)

"D-does that mean you're... um, maybe... into girls too, Senpai?"

"No, it's not."

A quick reply.

"S-so that's how it is...?"

Rika-chan's cheeks turned slightly red.

Wait—didn't I just say no?

Something about this just keeps getting more complicated, doesn't it?

"...The doorway to a new world is always open. You can think about it more casually now."

With an unusual level of eloquence, Ritsuko-san speaks with conviction.

Perhaps because she's usually so quiet, her words carry an odd weight.

Even Rika-chan looks like she's considering it seriously.

Come back, please.

In the midst of utter chaos,

"Phew~ Hey you guys. Time to get moving, already."

Kio appeared with a carefree tone.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

You've gone and said something unnecessary, and now one girl is about to veer off the path.

"Never mind. Let's get the truck rolling soon. The seats are packed with supplies, so you'll have to walk. Come on, hurry up."

It seemed this topic was about to be brushed aside without resolution.

Just as I was about to follow after Kio, my sleeve was suddenly tugged.

It was Rika.

"I don't really understand this kind of thing all that well yet... but..."

"Huh..."

"Can I call you 'big sister' from now on?"

...Please, just let me off the hook. Seriously.