Chapter 111: Old Friend

First strike.

I slashed off the head of a randomly chosen "zombie."

That was the beginning.

"Gruooooooop!"

At once, nearly all the "zombies" present turned toward me.

Dozens of vacant stares—empty, soulless eyes.

You can probably imagine it, but it's an utterly chilling sight.

Straining every muscle to overcome trembling legs paralyzed by fear, I shouted:

"Come on, then—attack me!"

Looking back, I now think that was an unnecessary move.

By shouting so loudly, I ended up drawing attention to myself—not just to the "zombie" that had been facing away, but to everyone else as well.

But—let me get to the point—this too turned out not to be a problem.

The word "yoyuu," as Hikaru put it, was no lie after all.

'Ooooh, oooohhhhh………'

'Gug, gugugugug………'

'Vooooooool!'

'Ah, ooooh... aaaaaah...'

Choral chanting.

In response, "Shikanda" begins to dance.

The sword was as light as a feather.

But there's a trick to handling it.

Even in a dance led by someone else, it's still you who takes each step.

I need to move my body in response to the direction "Shikanda" wants to go.

――Great! I've leveled up again! Nice pace!

Then I realized my own strength had also improved.

Seizing a split second of opportunity, I swung my free hand and punched the "zombie" in the face, watching its head explode into pieces.

"Haha!"

It was fun.

For these past five months, I've been terrified, fearful, constantly fleeing from this thing.

To crush the very thing that had filled me with terror, smashing it down like an insect with my own hands.

At that moment, I truly relished the act of killing.

I wished, with all my heart, that this moment could last forever.

▼

"Haah... haah... haah..."

As I caught my breath, I looked down upon the pile of corpses that were once "zombies."

I stared at "Shikanda." Strangely, it was completely untouched by blood.

I sheathed my sword and shouted.

It's over!

Silence. No reply came.

But through the gap in the barricade, a few frightened faces peered out.

Well, I can't see their faces anyway.

"Sorry, I'm stepping back a bit."

—Wait, you—.

Without waiting for a response, I clicked off my helmet.

To my surprise, my entire armor vanished at the same time.

Wow. Feels like a superhero transformation.

"Um... uh... cough"

At a time like this, I wish I had a line befitting a hero...

"Relax now. I’ve come to save you."

Of course, there was no reply.

...This is the same pattern again.

Overwhelming strength causes even those meant to be protected to fear you...

Then,

"...It’s Kamen Rider..."

I muttered quietly.

"Wahhhhhhhhh! Kamen Rider’s here!"

I gave a forced smile.

I wish you'd stop using metaphors that make me worry about copyright.

But anyway, it seems we're not going to end up in a sad mood after all.

Since it's such a perfect opportunity, I'll play along with the joke.

"That's right. Just a passing-by Kamen Rider."

I can't actually ride a motorcycle, though.

"Um, well, I'm basically a hero of justice, so is it okay if I hop on?"

"Alright! Hurry up, hurry up! You gotta say hello to Kamen Rider and get a signature too!"

A high-pitched child's voice was asking someone.

"Hmm. That's fine, but I'll need to fetch a ladder first."

...Huh?

I was startled—my ears almost didn't believe what I'd just heard.

The strangely deep, raspy voice that reached my ears was one I recognized.

"A ladder isn't necessary."

I quickly put my helmet back on.

―N'moo. Since you're already wearing it, just keep it on. It's lonely otherwise.

I once again donned the silver armor from head to toe.

Then, using my enhanced strength, I kicked off the wall and effortlessly leapt over the barricade.

"Whoa! Are you from the circus troupe?"

A dull voice. A dull face. A mushroom-cut hairstyle like the one from Banana Man's Himura.

"I can't believe it. Are you Kou?"

After landing, I removed my helmet once more.

The familiar face stared at me, stunned and wide-eyed.

"Oh, oh...!"

Tears welled up in those eyes,

"Uwaaahhh! I thought it was someone else, but it's you—my long-lost doggy pal! It's been forever! So long! So long! So long!"

He burst into tears and lunged at me, hugging me tightly.

"Ugh, gross. Don't touch me!"

He was practically ready to kiss me, it was that intense.

But to be honest, a small tear had welled up in my eyes too.

The man's name was Takaya Kōichi.

A childhood friend since elementary school.

"A miracle! A miracle! We were destined to be together, destined to be together, ohhhhh!"

It wasn't surprising that one might think so—given the odds.

Even though our homes were nearby, making a reunion likely, it still felt like winning a tiny lottery.

Our meeting came five months after the end of the world.

Honestly, I never thought this friend of mine—slightly slow-witted as he is—could have survived the zombie attacks.

"Anyway, where the hell were you during the first zombie incident? I checked your place, you know."

Incidentally, Genichi's and my real homes were just a few minutes' walk apart.

"I was unfortunately out at the time... No, perhaps it's better to say luckily. Thanks to that, I'm still alive today."

"...Parents?"

Koichi then made a bitter expression,

"...Separated from one another."

"I see."

"To be honest, I don't expect to see them again."

"That must be hard."

An awkward silence settled in.

But Koichi seemed to have come to some kind of peace with that matter, in his own way.

Regaining his composure,

"Come on! For now, over here! I'd like to hear all about everything!"

He said.

Even in this situation, his peculiar way of speaking remained unchanged.

Yet it was true that seeing his unchanged friend brought a strange sense of joy.