SS6 'Animals'

One day.

At a classroom in Sakagahara High School.

"Hey, Senpai."

"Please stop calling me that, we're the same age, you know."

"Still, you're my Senpai, so it's fine♪"

"Hmm... Well, what is it, Kumano Asuka?"

"Didn't I, during the last exploration, have a little time on my own?"

"Oh yeah, that's right."

"Back then, I... tried helping every single animal at the pet shop, one by one."

"Huh."

"But they were all so weakened already—some of them had already passed away."

"There's nothing we can do. In a world overrun by zombies, we can't possibly save every living thing."

"I know that... but still, I couldn't help but dwell on it afterward. Whenever I close my eyes, I see the faces of those kids who died. And then, somehow, I just can't stop crying."

"That's not a good sign. Thinking too much about it can be dangerous."

"But the tragedy is real. I think it's wrong to keep looking away forever."

"Hmm."

"I understand, of course, that living people come first. But sometimes, I just want to… think about those children too. Otherwise, isn't that unfair? They had no guilt at all."

"Well, I understand how you feel. —So, where did you take the rescued animals?"

"For now, I've given them a quick supply of water and food, and isolated them in a place the 'zombies' can't get to."

"Very wise."

"…But actually, that might have been an unnecessary precaution."

"Wait, why?"

"Well, you see, the 'zombies' don't seem interested in animals at all."

"Really? You mean that?"

"Yes. Think about it—have we ever seen a 'zombie dog' before?"

"Now that you mention it..."

"Then... if we could make use of that trait, maybe it could help everyone somehow. That's what I thought..."

"Indeed. Let's discuss it with everyone during the morning meeting."

"Yes. Actually, that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about, senpai."

"Hmm?"

"I thought that if you spoke up, everyone would probably treat those kids with more respect..."

"Is that really how it works?"

"That's right. After all, you're you, senpai ♪"

"Hmm."

▼

Later that day.

At Sagakou High School's sports field.

"So in the end, this is what we've got..."

"Woohoo. It's covered in mess everywhere!"

"And the nighttime noise is terrible—zombies are swarming from all directions!"

"Hmm. Maybe bringing those kids here was a mistake after all..."

"No. Regarding that, it should be manageable with proper training. There are refugees here who used to be breeders, after all."

"But even someone experienced with multiple animals has never raised a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a ferret, turtles, frogs, salamanders, squirrels, monkeys, hedgehogs, and various insects all together."

"True... Right now, this place feels a bit like a small zoo."

"By the way, these are just some of the ones that ended up settling here. The owl, the parrot, and the flying squirrel have all gone off on journeys somewhere."

"I don't see the duck anywhere."

"That's... on last night's dinner table."

"Oh, so that's where it went... those chicken thighs..."

"………………………"

"………………………"

"Hmm..."

"What's wrong?"

"I just can't help but wonder... was this really the right choice?"

"What do you mean?"

"I tried to convince them it would definitely be helpful... but in the end, I might have just caused everyone trouble."

"Well, well, don't put it that way. Things like this are kind of like investing ahead of time."

"Is that so?"

"Besides, there's even a term for it—animal therapy. By the way, Asaka-san, please look over there—Mr. Hibiya Norio is standing right by that bench."

"Norio-san... wasn't he the one who was most critical when we talked about animals?...Wait, no..."

He's playing with a squirrel monkey right now.

Wow, amazing. It's a big smile, isn't it?

"Yet last week they were yelling 'Stop adding unnecessary work!'"

Now that you mention it, during this morning's meeting, Kio seemed a bit more relaxed...

Hey, Asuka-san

What is it?

The world isn't just about visible results.

………………

"There are wounds in the heart that people can't heal, but animals can sometimes mend them. In that sense, you've done more than enough to be 'useful.'"

"………………"

"Right, isn't it?"

"……hehe"

"?"

"You really are amazing, big sis."

"What do you mean?"

"Every time, you say exactly the line I want to hear the most."

"…………. — Please stop calling me 'big sis.' We're the same age, aren't we?"

"Even so, you're still my big sis♪"

"Hmm... Well, whatever."