Episode 112: People Who Live at the Station
After exiting the subway platform and climbing a few steps, a barricade made of stairs lies ahead.
(They've certainly gone all out on defense.)
Beyond the ladder people have climbed, there's a residential area occupied by quite a few individuals.
The situation... doesn't look promising at first glance.
Everyone appears unwell. It seems they aren't getting proper meals.
No wonder. Even now, many "zombies" still wander the city center. And if you try to flee to the suburbs, countless "zombies" await along the way—lying in ambush.
(Man, this is going to be tough... rescuing these people, Hikone.)
Thinking this to himself, he glanced at the helmet that had gone silent.
"Hey, you..."
On the way, I had my arm entangled by a woman in flashy clothes, her age impossible to tell.
If you're gonna give me something to eat, I'll do it for free—how's that?
So they say.
A bruise on the upper arm.
Feeling unsure how to respond, Kyōichi gently pushed her aside.
I apologize, but he is a dear guest of mine.
"Che, what's up?"
Screaming, the woman turns her back.
I whispered,
"Is the environment here really that bad?"
"Exactly. There's almost nothing left of the supplies around here."
"……? But this is Akasaka-mitsuke, isn't it?"
I'd been through this area once before, briefly.
There should have been a supermarket near the station.
"From what I've seen, there's still a lot of food left up on the surface."
"That's true, but… there are many 'zombies' roaming around."
"Hmm."
Nodding slightly, he still wore a bitter expression.
(If we're just going to wait around like this, slowly dying, shouldn't we take action instead?)
That's what he thought.
But he also understood that in this world, many people simply couldn't fight even when faced with 'zombies.'
Whether weakness is a sin—when asked, he couldn't answer so easily.
After all, he wasn't exactly a strong person himself.
"Hey, Rider. You know this?"
"——huh?"
One of the three children who had been following closely suddenly said, grinning widely.
His gaze was fixed on the woman who had just pressed her breasts against my arm.
"That lady there? She's a 'sageman.' That's why everyone hates her."
Then Koichi frowned, visibly displeased.
"……Now, now. Children shouldn't use such words."
"What's the big deal? Everyone's saying it, so it's fine, isn't it?"
Koichi frowned, shoulders shrugging slightly.
"This is exactly the kind of environment that's bad for education."
"Is 'goodn' your nickname?"
"Indeed. I'm officially entrusted with watching over the children here."
"You're the babysitter?"
"I myself am not pleased with this role either... Now then, come this way."
We all entered the room marked with a sign reading "Station Manager's Office."
Inside was what appeared to be a reception area, where several men sat with solemn expressions, arms crossed.
One of them—a thin man with a barcode-like pattern on his head—looked up at us and said,
"...Hmm. Takaya-kun, I see. How's the situation on the Marunouchi Line?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary."
"Hmm? You can't possibly mean there's no problem. What about the 'zombie' attack?"
Just now, my inseparable friend, this man, Dogbite, boldly appeared and elegantly cleared away those walking corpses.
"What? You counting those numbers? Did you use a bomb or something?"
I shrugged my shoulders.
Well, that's about it.
And he replies, half-hearted.
"Hmm. Well, whatever. For now, just sit over there."
We were invited to sit on the fluffy sofa, and we did.
For a moment, I feel as if my entire body is sinking into the softness.
(Thinking about it, it's been a while since I've felt something this plush.)
If I were allowed, I'd love to take a nap right here.
"Children, go sit elsewhere."
The man with the barcode tattoo says.
He seems to be the group's leader.
"No way! I want to sit with the Rider!"
One child whines,
"Quickly."
Sensing the anger in the man's expression, the child slowly walked away.
"Um, uh... I'm Inugami Renji."
Making a proper self-introduction.
But the older man, who seemed to be the leader, didn't respond.
"Food?...Well, there's not much we can offer."
"I've already eaten."
"Then that's fine."
With no warmth at all.
(If you won't give your name, I'll just call you "Barcode Bald" in my head—okay with you?)
"Then, shall we have some tea?"
"But supplies here are running low, you know? No need to go out of your way for me."
"Young people shouldn't be so hesitant."
Barcode Bald said, uninterested.
"Was it Dog Bite, right?... So, what brings you here?"
"Just passing through."
"Hmm. So you're not planning to stay here, then."
"Not at the moment."
Then Kōichi looked surprised,
"Hey now! Don't go saying things like that, Dog-Bite! Let's stick together, okay?!"
"Kōtani. …You should just shut up for a bit."
The words cut sharply from Barcode-bald.
Kyōichi deflates.
"But if there's anything I can help with, I'm ready to lend a hand."
He offered the suggestion anyway, only to receive a sarcastic smirk in return from Barcode.
"Hah. No, sorry....For now, we're adequately staffed."
Even I, with my limited perception, could tell clearly enough that I wasn't welcome.
As someone entrusted with this group, having more mouths to feed would just be a burden.
...But.
Something about it felt oddly off.
In situations like this, where things have become closed off, it's generally understood that the more young hands you have, the better.
Having more people means greater chances of securing supplies.
Zombies are terrifying.
But it's also true that they're not a match for humans who work together effectively.
"Where are your parents?"
"Both are working overseas. Currently in France."
"Oh. That's quite fortunate, isn't it?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's not safe there either."
"Could be. Any other relatives?"
"Living by the laissez-faire principle. No one to rely on, just me living alone."
"I see, I see..."
Then, a warm cup of tea was placed in front of me.
To my surprise, sugar was even provided.
I swallowed hard.
It had been a long time since I'd had something warm to drink right in front of me.
(Though I should've politely declined once, it's only proper to drink what's offered.)
I kept that thought in mind while mentally making room for it.
I poured plenty of sugar into my tea and took a sip.
………….
……………….
Wow.
It's so delicious it almost makes me cry.
I never realized tea could be this soothing.
Swallowing the hot drink, it felt like fire spread through my entire body.
"Thank you for the meal. It was delicious."
I said it honestly,
"Is that so? You're too kind."
The barcode-headed man turned away.
……Is this guy some kind of patient with a disease that makes him look bored no matter what happens?
"By the way, do you have any weapons on you?"
"Weapons? ……Ah, like the ones I used to take down the 'zombies'?"
"Of course."
I hesitated for a moment.
Explaining the helmet incident verbally wouldn't convince him, no matter how I put it.
"I saw that group just a moment ago... It wasn't something you could handle easily, was it? Do you have a gun? Or maybe something like a hand grenade?"
"No, that's not it."
As I said that, I picked up the helmet.
(It'd be faster to just show him than explain.)
Thinking that, I tried to put it on my head—but.
"Ah..."
I foolishly slipped, dropping it right onto the table.
Clang! The cup shattered into a messy pile with a loud crash.
"Uwaa, sorry..."
A bitter feeling fills me up.
I've already been unwelcome enough, and now I've made such a clumsy mistake.
I try to stand up and pick up the broken pieces.
"…Guh? …Huh?"
But my legs won't obey, and I collapse to my knees right there.
(…What?)
そして、思考が一気にぼやけていく。
「……なっ、ななななな、犬咬どのォ！？」
驚いた声を上げたのは、興一だ。
「ま、まま、まさか！ 犬咬どのを、――に……」
いきり立つ友人の姿が見える。
バーコードハゲは、それに対して何事か言っているように見えたが。
「…………――………――」
よく、聞こえない。
全身の筋肉が弛緩(しかん)する。
俺は、がくん、と、その場で横になり、
"Idiot! He's………――……!"
"――! …………!"
"――, ――……"
I had no consciousness from that point onward.