Chapter 85

The room was faintly illuminated by the morning sun through the shoji screen, and I woke up. Glancing at the clock, it was already past 6 a.m.

Last night, Takero came to my room to thank me again, and we talked a little. The topic was about killing someone and whether he should confess it to the old man.

I told him that if not talking about it left a lingering burden in his heart, he should let it out. In a situation where Takero had killed someone, it was unlikely that he would be blamed for it.

Moreover, I suspected that the people here had also killed someone. Given the intensity of the hostility I felt at first, if I had truly been an enemy, that hostility would have been acted upon. Regardless of the reasons for their experiences, I didn't think anything bad would happen if Takero confessed to the old man, who leads such people.

With this in mind, I told Takero as much.

After that, I stayed in my room to avoid arousing unnecessary suspicion from the others, but I must have fallen into a deep sleep without realizing it.

I opened the shoji screen and stepped into the corridor, stretching as I looked at the garden and the mountains beyond the fence. The scene was so peaceful that it was hard to believe this world had become one overrun by zombies.

I wondered how Kaede, Yuki, and the others were doing. Perhaps the tranquil atmosphere of the garden had stirred these thoughts in my mind.

"Ah! Azami, good morning."

"Yeah, Momo. Good morning."

I had noticed Momo approaching, but for a moment, I didn't realize who the greeting was directed at. Oh, right, Momo decided to call me that yesterday, didn't she...

"You're up early."

"So are you."

From Momo's perspective, after the pandemic, this was perhaps the most secure place she had been since yesterday, so she could have slept in a bit more.

"I'm still not used to it. I haven't been sleeping well lately. When I woke up and saw the familiar ceiling, I thought it was a dream and was actually surprised."

Momo laughed, saying, "Ahaha."

When we first met, she didn't seem like someone who would laugh like that, but now she had become much softer. This was probably due to the reduced vigilance toward me and the current situation.

"Yeah, well, that's good."

"What's that supposed to mean? I don't get it!"

Momo said this in response to my reaction, which was more in her expression than in words. But then, she pursed her lips and smiled, saying,

"Yeah, but it's good. Really, thank you."

She quietly thanked me.

"Yeah, I heard that yesterday, so it's fine... By the way, is Takero still sleeping?"

"Takero's with the old man at the dojo."

It seems they had agreed to practice after last night, and both Takero and the old man had woken up early. Takero, who could have slept in, has a difficult personality.

"Since there's still time before breakfast, I thought I'd go watch. Want to come, Azami?"

"Ah, I—"

"Come on!"

Just as I was about to say it was fine, Momo interrupted me, pushing my shoulder. With a wry smile, I was dragged to the dojo by Momo.

+++++

When Momo and I opened the door to the dojo and entered, Takero and the old man were sitting facing each other. Next to them were the masks and bamboo swords, suggesting that their practice had already ended and they were talking about something. No wonder we didn't hear any sounds from outside.

"I came to watch, but it seems you're done."

After exchanging a brief greeting, I said this. Takero was sweating profusely, but the old man looked cool. Considering they were both wearing protective gear, they must have been sparring. This alone revealed the difference in skill between Takero and the old man.

"Yeah, sorry. The morning practice is over for now."

The old man turned to us and said this with a smile. On the other hand, Takero also smiled at me, but his expression seemed somewhat troubled. I tilted my head, wondering if they had been talking about what he mentioned last night, and then the old man spoke.

"Right, Yanagi-kun. Since you're here, why don't you try a little?"

"Try what?"

"Of course, this."

The old man said this and picked up the bamboo sword next to him. What is this old man suddenly talking about?

"Takero mentioned your way of walking and standing, suggesting you do something."

"I don't want to risk getting injured... No, I don't want to risk getting injured, so I'll pass."

"…I heard that."

The old man exhaled with a grim expression at my slip of the tongue.

"Alright, if you say that, let's do it, right now! I don't mind getting injured!"

"Why does it have to be that way..."

"Doesn't Takero want to see it? Right?"

The old man, suddenly cheerful, turned to Takero and asked. Takero glanced at me, looking a bit apologetic, and then nodded. He must have realized I wasn't enthusiastic but was curious.

"I want to see it too! Azami, let's do it! Besides, I want to see the old man lose!"

Momo also chimed in with a strange reason.

Unable to refuse the expectant gazes of the three of them, I ended up sighing and putting on the protective gear.