That 215: The Girl with Disheveled Hair

Afterward, we thoroughly searched the surrounding area just to be safe, but found no clues about the "man who eats people."

We discovered what appeared to be footprints from someone sprinting along the rooftops, but the trail abruptly ended there.

"Phew! We're not going to be Sherlock Holmes, are we?"

"Yes... "

There was no point lingering here any longer.

Now, the night belongs to the monsters.

Reluctant as we were to leave, we hurried toward Akihabara.

After seeing off Yonku, we rode our bicycles back.

Returning to the spot where the shuttle bus had been, a little faster than before, we found the bus surrounded by the corpses of ten or so "zombies."

"An attack happened... Definitely. The number of zombies is increasing, that's for sure."

The damage from the so-called "infinite surge" has already begun.

"Masada-san! Koji-san!"

A wave of three figures waving from inside the bus.

"Wait... three people?"

Were there other passengers?

This is getting a bit creepy...

It seems Rinne quickly figured out the newcomer's identity,

"You're Mikoto! Aozuki Mikoto, right?"

Mikoto.

I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before, but it's highly likely I'm confusing her with an anime character.

The girl called "Migoto-chan" appears in the bus, tilting her head like a mischievous puppy caught in the act.

The disheveled-haired girl who shows up gives off a slightly lower charm rating (APP) than usual—perhaps because she's someone we're already familiar with: Matsumi-san, Rinne-san, and Tsumuri-san.

Her gaze is intense—so much so that the term "three white eyes" seems to have been invented just for her, embodying hatred and anger toward this world.

She looks to be a middle schooler… or perhaps a tall elementary school student.

"…Hello. Okiita-senpai."

She responds in a quiet, muffled voice that matches her face.

On her cheek, there's a reddish-black mark, as if from splattered blood.

It seemed her weapons were a single metal bat and eight throwing knives strapped to her waist like a skirt.

"Why are you…!"

Then Asada stepped forward to shield her.

"It looks like she hid among the supplies."

"What kind of stunt is that…?"

"She really wanted to join the exploration team no matter what."

"Idiot!"

Rinon snapped sharply, scolding her.

Miyoshi just glared back like a delinquent whose phone had been taken.

Still, she didn't mean any harm, and instead—

"Fuhihi~"

she let out a strange, unsettling smile.

Apparently, that was her way of showing a friendly grin.

To cover the awkwardness, Asada quickly said,

"Well, but thanks to Miyoshi-chan, we managed to take down the 'zombie,' right? Phew, that was a lifesaver, really!"

"...You could've just waited for us, couldn't you? No need to go doing something dangerous like that."

"That's not really an option. They keep banging on the bus, you know? If we leave it too long, it might break down."

"Armored vehicles don't break that easily."

Hmm? Seems like things are starting to get tense.

Better step in like a proper leader and smooth things over.

"Come on, come on, fighting isn't good. Now, instead of that, we should think about what to do with her next."

"………t, t, t, t..."

Migumi-chan spoke as if a fishbone were stuck in her throat,

"I'll follow. All the way to the end."

"Follow? You mean… you're coming with me? Could it be, Disney…?"

"Chiba Disneyland," that's right.

"…all the way there?"

"Y-yes, sir."

"No good. I'll drop you off at Akihabara—figure out your way back from there."

"B-but that's… we've come this far…!"

"You're ridiculous. If you show off your strength using dishonest means, it's all pointless—guaranteed. If that kind of thing were allowed, everyone would just hide in cardboard boxes and sneak onto buses."

"Uuuuuhhhhh…………"

Migimi-chan looks up at Rinne with a sorrowful expression—more like she's about to say, "Then I'll just kill you."

"P-please, I beg you! I'll do anything! I can even kill a 'zombie'! If I die, no one will grieve for me... My family's all gone already..."

"I won't help you with a complicated suicide. I'm sorry, but my decision won't change."

"My uncle..."

"?"

"My uncle... he comes into my room every night. He wants to sleep with me naked..."

Rinne-san, rubbing her aching head as if trying to twist it apart,

"...That kind of behavior seems popular these days, but it doesn't work for me. I've worked with your uncle before—he's a good man."

"Uuuu..."

And again, that suspicious glare.

She'll probably spend her whole life struggling with her lack of charm.

I suppose I'm not much different, either.

Slightly empathizing with her, I said,

"Come now, Rinne-san. Mikoto-san didn't mean any harm..."

"You there, woman! You're more useful than that useless woman over there!"

My well-intentioned attempt to speak kindly was completely betrayed.

The "useless woman" she pointed straight at was none other than me.

Seriously? Why me?

I, for all appearances, protected everyone from that perverted man in the mask.

Even Rinne-san and Asada-san were taken aback by this.

"Wh-what are you saying... like that..."

"I-I don't know what kind of connection you're talking about, but I just happened to receive some of my power from someone! You don't even fight yourself! That's the act of a coward!"

Gnurgh.

Once again, logic is tormenting me.

The one thing she seems to misunderstand is that, apparently, she thinks I'm also one of those who received power from Sotatsu-san.

It seems there's a gap in information between the initial members who took refuge at Gakakyo High and the evacuees who arrived later.

Hmm.

Well, that's fine in its own way... but...

"Hey! Everyone, I don't think we want to linger around here too long..."

Just then, the driver, Ko-fumi-san, voiced his complaint.

Without hesitation, we all boarded as instructed, and the vehicle shuddered once before the engine roared to life.

We calculated we'd arrive in Akihabara in just under an hour.

Suddenly aware, I noticed a sullen-looking girl sitting in a triangle pose in the seat right next to me.

"………………………"

"………………………hmpf."

It's fine. I'm used to awkward silences.

I'll just gaze blankly at the scenery and pretend to be part of the atmosphere.

On that front, I consider myself an expert.