Chapter 8

"Um, what happened outside?"

The girl, after eating only half of the contents of the food pack and taking a sip of water from her half-drunk water bottle, closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and whispered, "Thank you for the meal." Then, she turned to me and asked,

"What do you mean... there were zombies walking around everywhere?"

"Huh... Is that so... Ah!"

Her previous crying face seemed to have vanished. With her eyes trembling, she looked at me with a determined expression.

I was puzzled by her change in demeanor and raised an eyebrow at her. She seemed to be hesitating to say something, her mouth opening and closing a few times before she finally spoke up.

"Thank you for the meal. Um... What should I do?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what she was saying. After a daze, I realized she thought I was asking for something in return for the food.

"You don't have to do anything, really."

"Eh..."

At my response, the girl's eyes widened. She lowered her head for a moment, then looked up at me again and said,

"But food is precious. Even if there's a lot downstairs, it's not something we can easily get."

"Well... Maybe you're right, but—"

"I can't just take such precious things for free."

For me, it was an easy task, but I felt a bit guilty for hiding it and just nodded along.

"Besides, if I stayed like this, I would have died without doing anything. I would have starved to death or been killed by the monsters downstairs. Uncle... Big brother, you saved my life."

Wait, did she almost call me 'uncle' just now?

Well, I can't deny that I am an uncle, but...

"My name is Aizami. Yanagi Aizami. I'm 35? So, 'uncle' is fine, but you can just call me Aizami."

The girl's words made me chuckle, and I realized I hadn't introduced myself yet.

"Ah, no, that's not it! I, um... My name is Fujii Kaede. I'm a first-year high school student. Kaede is fine... You can call me by my first name."

Kaede waved her hands frantically as she explained and introduced herself.

At her age, it made sense that she would seem young. And to her, I must indeed look like an uncle. I chuckled again at her considerate correction.

"Um, Mr. Aizami, why are you laughing? And what do you mean by 35?"

The question of whether the years I spent in another world should be added to my age here is a bit complicated, but I'd prefer they weren't.

"Ah, well, don't worry about my age. I laughed because... you're still a kid, so you don't need to worry so much."

"I don't understand..."

My vague answer seemed to lighten the tense atmosphere, and I felt relieved.

"Anyway, is there anything I can do...?"

But despite my relief, Kaede asked the same question again.

Considering her earlier 'big brother' comment and her reaction when I gave her the food, I think Kaede is a really good girl. Her determined gaze told me as much.

"Alright, then, two things."

"Um, yes..."

Kaede held her breath and waited for my words.

"First, take care of yourself."

"Um...?"

"I don't know what you're thinking, but... well, if I'm overthinking it, I'm sorry. Just remember that."

"Um... Yes. But, no, I understand, I'm sorry..."

She blushed and looked down, her voice gradually getting softer as I sighed.

"Second, this might be a bit tough... but—"

"Yes... I'll do anything!"

I rubbed my temples at Kaede's enthusiastic response and asked the question I most wanted to know.

The world outside is completely different from the Japan I remember, with zombies roaming around. What happened while I was in another world?

"So... well, never mind. Kaede, why are you here? What happened?"

I could see Kaede take a sharp breath.

"I can't explain my situation in detail, but I want to hear everything that's been happening from you."

Kaede lowered her eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath. After a while, she raised her head and slowly began to speak.