For a split second, Hayama's heart skipped a beat. Realizing the situation he was in, he forced a sheepish smile. The woman leading their group quickly stepped forward, eyeing the others warily.
"Hayama, do you know them?" she asked sharply.
"They're old acquaintances of mine," Hayama replied respectfully. "The other two… I don't know."
From across the group, Yukino Yukinoshita exchanged a cold nod with Hachiman Hikigaya. Their greeting was brief, distant, and devoid of warmth. Then she turned her gaze back to Hayama, her voice flat.
"So you're the one who told them where I live?"
Their home, nearly broken into while they were gone by people led there by someone familiar. Yukino was in no mood for politeness. This was a betrayal.
Hayama stayed silent.
There was no point denying it. If he hadn't told them, they wouldn't have come all the way here for a car. He lowered his head in shame. But before he could say anything, the woman beside him stepped in with a polite smile.
"I'm Hiromi Takahashi. I truly apologize. We didn't mean any harm. I'm sure you understand this world has changed. Out there, everything has become up for grabs…"
Even in the apocalypse, people wanted to believe their homes still meant something. That there were still boundaries. That the things they cherished couldn't just be taken.
Haruno Yukinoshita accepted the apology with calm grace. She nodded.
"This villa holds memories for me and Yukino. As long as you don't damage anything inside, we don't mind. There's nothing valuable left inside anyway. As for the Coaster van, it's not ours. If you want it, take it."
Hiromi's face lit up with relief. "That's actually why we came."
Her eyes briefly flicked to the submachine gun strapped to Haruno shoulder. "Since you know Hayama, why not come with us? We've been gathering survivors nearby."
"How big is your base?" Sosuke Kitahara asked, his voice calm and direct for the first time.
Hiromi blinked in surprise, then pressed her lips together. "More than five hundred… No, definitely over four hundred. But we've been losing people every day during scavenging runs."
"What's the gender ratio? And can everyone eat three meals a day?"
"Three meals?" Hiromi looked at him as if he were joking. "We're not living in the past. Resources are tight. Every grain of rice is bought with blood. Right now, we can manage two meals a day but I don't know how much longer. As for gender, there are more women than men. Most of the men go out scavenging. Naturally, the casualties are higher on their side. We also have some elderly people and kids."
"I see."
Sosuke nodded thoughtfully. At the very least, a base that kept children and the elderly meant its leadership wasn't completely ruthless. In the early days of the outbreak, many people still held onto their humanity. It wouldn't be until the situation worsened when food and survival grew scarcer that true atrocities began.
"By the way, is Narita Airport still operational?"
Sosuke's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked.
"Of course it is. The JSDF is still holding it."
"Then why aren't you there?"
Hiromi rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. Do you know how many people we had at the start? Over a thousand. Most of them died on the way to the airport. Zombies don't care who they eat. And even if you made it, the JSDF would just tell you to go home and wait for rescue. Try to force your way in? Bullets don't care who you are. Don't even think about it. Just come with us."
"Yeah, a lot of our classmates are over there," Hayama added. He smacked his forehead. "Oh, right. Miss Shizuka's there too. She went on a supply run this morning but should be back by the afternoon."
"Shizuka's still alive?"
Haruno eyes widened in surprise. Shizuka Hiratsuka's family had power. Under normal circumstances, she should've been evacuated. There must have been another reason she stayed. Haruno had more questions but knew now wasn't the time to ask.
"Look out! Zombies!"
Hachiman snapped, taking a startled step back as four zombies suddenly emerged from the side. Hiromi shouted a command, gesturing for everyone to retreat to the Coaster van. She sprinted for the driver's seat, but before she could get in, two more zombies appeared from around the corner.
"One each! You three take the male and two females on the left!"
Haruno Yukinoshita unsheathed her machete and gripped the hilt tightly. Yukino and Utaha Kasumigaoka also steadied their breathing, preparing to fight. Sosuke didn't move.
But Hayama's face had gone pale. His hands trembled as he clutched his steel pipe. "T-There's six of them… We could die if we mess up! Wouldn't it be better to run them over once we get in the van?"
Utaha raised an eyebrow at him.
"It's just six zombies. We've got six people. Aren't you supposed to be scavenging? If you're scared of a few undead, just stand back. We'll handle it."
Her eyes scanned him like she was reassessing a failed prototype. Hayama flushed with shame. He was supposed to be the school's shining star. Always admired, never doubted. And now he was being looked down on in front of Yukino and Haruno.
Grinding his teeth, he forced himself to stand tall.
"Let's go, Hikigaya, Nishimura! We'll take them down!"
"It's Hikigaya," Hachiman muttered under his breath. Moron.
Still, he didn't refuse. He wasn't about to let himself look useless either.
The zombies had already spotted them, their twisted heads turning, letting out hoarse growls as they charged forward.
"Die, all of you!"
Hayama roared and lunged forward, raising his pipe and swinging it down on a frail-looking female zombie. The blow hit, tearing through skin and hair, but only grazed the skull.
The zombie's momentum drove her into him, knocking him flat on his back. Her gaping, bloodstained maw lunged for his face. Hayama screamed, trying to push her off, but her strength was far greater than his. Her rotting teeth were inches from his nose.
Splurt!
Just before she could bite down, Sosuke appeared. His blade pierced straight through her skull. He kicked the corpse aside and helped Hayama up, his face annoyed.
"What were you thinking? A dull pipe like that won't stab through a skull. Use your brain, idiot."
He flicked the black blood from his blade and turned away. Just then, Hachiman finished his own fight. His tired, dead-fish eyes landed on Hayama.
"It was his first time. He's never killed a zombie before."
"I've… I've never even been in a real fight before…"
Hayama stood frozen, face burning with shame. Especially when Yukino and Haruno had taken out their own zombies with terrifying ease. Compared to them, he felt completely pathetic.
Yukino shook her head slowly.
In the past, Hayama had been the undisputed star of Sobu High. Always at the center, always admired. But this world this new, cruel, merciless world would amplify any inner weakness tenfold.
The apocalypse had changed everything.
Including her.
Her eyes drifted to Sosuke Kitahara, who stood tall with a blade still dripping black.
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