Chapter 80

7/12 This is the second update.

We finished checking the second floor and the three of us took a break in one of the rooms.

Well, we already knew there was nothing on the second floor when we were checking the first floor.

It was already dark outside, and Takero and Momo's stomachs were growling, so they had dinner.

They probably hadn't eaten anything decent.

When I went down to the first floor alone and took out some canned food from the item box, Takero was very pleased.

Momo's hostility had also gradually diminished, and she even showed a slight smile, which was a good sign.

"Even earlier, and when you went outside alone during the day... aren't you afraid of the infected, Yanagi-san?"

After dinner, Takero spoke up.

The same question again, I thought. Yukiko had asked me the same thing.

"Just crush their heads. I'm used to it."

"Used to it...?"

"Aren't you the same? The dirt on your clothes shows you've taken down quite a few, right?"

"That's true... but I'm still scared. If it weren't for you, Yanagi-san, I and Momo would have died today."

Takero glanced at Momo and looked down.

When I looked at Momo, she also looked down, avoiding my gaze.

"Yeah, probably. Well, we were lucky."

An awkward atmosphere filled the room, and I scratched my head and stood up.

I opened the closet in the room, took out some futons, and laid them on the floor.

They must not have been used, as they were quite clean and free of dirt.

"Come on, we're leaving early tomorrow, so get ready and go to sleep."

"Yanagi-san, what about you?"

Noticing that only two futons were taken out, Takero asked.

"I'll be in the next room. I'm also concerned about what's happening outside. You two should rest and recover your strength without worrying about anything."

I said this and left the room without waiting for their response.

+++++

After a while, it seemed that Takero and Momo had finished preparing for bed and remained still on their futons for a long time.

Honestly, it was still early to sleep, but they must have been tired.

As I was thinking this, I sensed one of them leave the room.

The presence was Takero's.

Takero came straight to the next room where I was, and from the shadow of the open doorway, he called out to me, who was peeking outside through the curtain.

"Takero, what's up?"

"Sorry, I just wanted to talk a bit."

Seeing Takero's serious expression, I stopped looking outside and turned to him.

Leaning against the wall, I sat down and invited Takero into the room.

"Thank you so much."

The first thing Takero did after sitting next to me was to bow his head and say this.

"Momo was also very grateful."

"Is that so? But we haven't reached our destination yet. You can tell me that again tomorrow. I'd like to hear it from her directly."

I said this with a hint of sarcasm, and Takero looked down, looking apologetic.

"Just kidding. So, is that all you wanted to talk about?"

"No. It's also related to Momo..."

"Hmm."

I nodded, but Takero didn't speak for a long time.

He tilted his head, his gaze wandering into the air, as if trying to figure out where to start.

"...Have you ever killed a normal person, Yanagi-san, someone who isn't infected?"

Breaking the long silence, Takero's first words were this.

He didn't meet my gaze, looking down, and I sighed, thinking, "Here we go again."

"Yes."

And I answered with just one word.

Hearing this, Takero clenched his fists and pursed his lips.

I braced myself, thinking his hostility might flare up again, but contrary to my expectations, Takero continued.

"...What did you think?"

"What do you mean...? Well, I didn't think anything. I killed them because it was necessary. That's all."

I recalled the incident at the police station with Oda and said this.

Killing him there was a rational decision.

However, it wasn't necessarily the only choice.

There might have been a way to keep him alive, though it would have been risky.

I didn't regret it, but that was just how I felt.

Hearing this, Takero's hostility didn't rise.

"...You really are amazing, Yanagi-san."

"What do you mean?"

I didn't understand what he meant.

His words were the opposite of what I expected, and I was taken aback.

"I couldn't reconcile myself with that. Yanagi-san... I've also killed people."

"Is that so."

It was as I had sensed from the beginning, and I could only respond like that.

"...We were moving around, hiding in pairs for a while. During that time, we met a group of survivors."

Takero began to talk about what happened after they left the shelter, which he hadn't told me before.

Apparently, they managed to survive quite well.

The area around the shelter wasn't heavily populated, which helped.

Finding weapons quickly was also a big factor.

Takero was initially hesitant to kill the infected, but once he decided to do it for survival, he did it without hesitation.

Momo, who had practiced kendo until junior high school, was also quite skilled with weapons and could kill the infected once she made up her mind.

One day, they met a group of three male survivors.

The men were familiar faces from the shelter, and they quickly joined forces.

However, tragedy struck soon after.

The three men assaulted Momo.

One of them held a knife to Takero's throat while the other two attacked Momo.

Seeing Momo's desperate gaze, Takero immediately made up his mind.

He had a hidden pistol in his pants, which he had obtained by chance while living alone with Momo. He shot the man who was threatening him without hesitation.

He then pointed the gun at the remaining two men and ordered them to raise their hands.

However, they didn't comply.

Takero didn't hesitate and fired again.

With the three men on the floor, Takero and Momo fled the scene.

They probably died, but Takero wasn't sure.

Since then, Takero and Momo avoided other survivors and moved around as a pair.

"...Well, it couldn't be helped. You killed them because it was necessary."

I meant it as a comforting word, but Takero already knew that.

Still, he couldn't reconcile himself with it.

It's natural for someone who has lived a normal life.

Especially for a child like Takero, killing someone, no matter the reason, would have required extraordinary resolve.

But he did it.

"No, rather, you did a good job. Deciding quickly was a very good judgment, Takero."

I couldn't say the rest, but Takero and Momo were "lucky."

The fact that Takero and Momo are still alive is because Takero made the decision faster than the three men.

The resolve to kill if necessary.

The three men probably hadn't killed a living person before.

If they had, Takero would have been killed first, before they even threatened him with a knife.

"Haha... being praised for killing someone."

"The world has changed. It's fine. You didn't kill anyone out of malice."

...But, was the last person I killed really any different?

At least, it wasn't in a situation where I had to kill to survive, like Takero's.

"...Yeah. I feel a bit better now."

Takero must have heard the same from Momo.

The more people who affirm you, the easier it is to feel better.

If I could help in some way, that's good enough.

"Yeah... but, I still don't understand. Why are you with me now?"

The content of what he said was mostly as I had imagined, but I still couldn't understand why he trusted me.

I knew one reason, though.

"You gave me the pistol, didn't you? That's when I first thought you could be trusted, Yanagi-san."

"Is that all?"

"First, you saved us. You could have left us behind. Then you went to get the car alone and protected us when we got in. And just now, you were the first to face the infected."

Maybe it's just that my sense of danger is off.

To me, the zombies are just annoying pests, not something to be afraid of, but to normal people, my actions are trustworthy.

Now that I think about it, it makes sense.

"Momo still doesn't fully trust you. Sorry, but I think her attitude will improve over time."

"Does that mean you fully trust me, Takero?"

"Yes. That's why I'm returning this. I lied to you before, sorry."

With that, Takero took out the pistol I had given him and placed it quietly in front of him.

"...Keep it. You only have one pistol, right? You can give the other one to Momo. Just make sure she handles it carefully."

Without touching it, I sighed and said this to Takero.

Takero looked at me and smiled.

"You really are a trustworthy person, Yanagi-san."