Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 110: The Visitor on a Rainy Day

Chapter 110: The Visitor on a Rainy Day

“Nngh… guuuh…”

“Kyuuun, kyuuun.”

The day after the big showdown at the school.

I couldn’t get out of bed.

※

After leaving the burning school and returning to base, I ate dinner, bathed with Sakura, and went to bed early.

When I woke up, my whole body screamed in pain.

Yup, muscle soreness.

Thinking back, I went wild with rage yesterday.

Leaping and jumping without a thought for my limits.

I’d worried about soreness, but I didn’t expect this level of agony.

Still… they say as you age, soreness hits two days later, so I guess I’m still young—ow ow ow!

Sakura, beside me, panics at my suffering, toddling around since I woke, whimpering sadly.

Sorry, Sakura…

I don’t even have the strength to lift a hand to pet her.

Yesterday, I was hoisting corpses by the neck…

…No, that’s probably why my arms are killing me.

My rage must’ve blown past my limits.

I even did that triangle jump off a wall…

Lucky me, no strained muscles.

Just soreness—could’ve been worse.

“Kyun! Hyan! Aon!”

Sakura’s scratching at the break room’s sliding door with her paws.

Hey, that’s Kanzaki-san’s room.

What’re you up to, Sakura?

“I-I’m fine… don’t bother Kanzaki-san. She’s probably still sleeping…”

I’m too sore to check my watch, but it feels like early morning.

Kanzaki-san’s likely exhausted from yesterday’s fight. Don’t wake her.

“C’mon, Sakura… I’ll heal if I rest. Settle down.”

“Kyuuun…”

Hearing me, Sakura comes back, peering worriedly at my face.

Like, “Really? Really?”

“Nn… ugh.”

Creaking, I stretch my aching arm to rest on her head.

Petting her through teary eyes, she calms a bit.

Phew, gotta try to get up by breakfast…

“Yawn… what’s wrong, Sakura-chan?”

Too late.

The door slides open, and sleepy-eyed Kanzaki-san peeks out.

“Kyuuun! Kyuuun!”

Sakura bolts to her.

My hand, on her head, falls with gravity.

The jolt of hitting the floor sends pain through my body…

“Gii! Gyuuuh…!!!”

I groan in agony.

“…Huh!? T-Tanakano-san!?”

Kanzaki-san, half-asleep petting Sakura, snaps awake and rushes over.

Guuuh!

Just the vibration’s killing me!!

“What’s wrong!? Where does it hurt!?”

She peers desperately at my face.

Oh, cute pajamas—aaah!?

Button up! Button up your top!!

Wow, those abs are sexy!!

Instinctively turning away sends pain through my shoulders.

“Agaa!?”

“Tanakano-san! Hey! Tanakano-saaan!!”

“Don’t shake me, I’ll die!! I’ll die!! Ow ow ow!?”

Shaking hurts, yelling hurts.

This is endless hell!!!

※

“…Muscle soreness?”

“Yup.”

“…Did shaking hurt?”

“Yup.”

“…S-Sorry.”

“My bad too.”

“…Huh?”

“Nothing.”

Writhing, I manage to explain it’s soreness, finally escaping endless hell.

For some reason, Kanzaki-san’s sitting seiza beside my futon, with Sakura on her lap, staring at me.

“Guess I overdid it yesterday… I’ll move after more rest.”

Pretty pathetic.

“I thought your moves were sharper than usual… you pushed way too hard.”

“Y-Yeah… embarrassing, but I got too fired up and broke my limits.”

Kanzaki-san’s eyes sparkle as she scoots closer.

Too close! Too close!

Sakura’s practically glued to my face!!

“Is that a Nagumo-ryu technique!?”

“N-No… prob’ly not.”

My cheek’s smushed against Sakura’s, slurring my words.

“Probably!?”

“Pwah! …Master could probably do it, but not me.”

I free my cheek and talk.

I vaguely recall Master mentioning something.

Some self-hypnosis to unlock limits, but I can’t do it.

Even if I could, it wouldn’t change this mess.

“But… we can’t scout like this. Sorry.”

“No, you did more than enough yesterday. Plus, it’s raining today.”

Huh? Really?

“I hear faint rain. So rest up. Resting’s important too.”

“Got it…”

She smiles, radiating motherly warmth.

Well, if she says so, I’ll take her up on it.

I feel like a couple more hours will get me moving.

“Then, sorry… I’ll sleep a bit more.”

“Okay, good night. I’ll watch Sakura-chan.”

“Kuuun…”

Kanzaki-san hugs worried Sakura and heads to the next room.

Rain, huh…

It’ll douse the school fire.

Last night, we could see it clearly from here…

Probably drew attention.

Well, there’s nothing left at the school, so it’s fine.

The building’s ash, the cars are wrecked and out of gas.

Thinking makes me sleepy.

Nothing else to do.

Sleep, sleep.

Good night…

※

Phew, slept well.

Feels like I had a fun dream.

Since picking up Sakura, no nightmares like before.

Animal therapy really works.

…Not that I think I’m mentally weak.

Ugh, still sore, but my arms move.

I check my watch by the pillow… 9 a.m.

…Like Kanzaki-san said, I hear rain when I listen.

Was too sore to notice earlier.

It’s a downpour to reach the break room.

My body’s sorta movable.

“Suuu! Haaa!!”

Deep breaths, moving slowly.

Fingers first, then wrists…

From the extremities, gradually.

No clue if it’s medically sound, but this is how I’ve always dealt with soreness.

First time it’s been this bad, though.

“Unnnn…!!”

After much struggle, my feet finally hit the ground… tatami.

Dull pain with every move, but better than early morning.

I shuffle to the boundary with Kanzaki-san’s room.

“M-Morning.”

“Tanakano-san!? You’re up already!?”

“Kyun! Hyan hyan!!”

Kanzaki-san’s shocked voice and Sakura’s happy yips come through the door.

“Can I open it?”

“Go ahead!”

…Sakura might jump me.

Bracing, I slide the door slowly.

Sakura’s sitting politely right in front.

No jumping?

Worried about me?

“Sakura, sorry for worrying you.”

Ignoring the pain, I crouch and pet her.

“We’ll walk when it clears up.”

“Kyuuun, kyuuun.”

She nuzzles my hand, whining.

What is this adorable creature?

I can’t help but scoop her up and nuzzle her.

Ouch.

…But this pain cancels out with happiness.

“I’ll warm up Tanakano-san’s breakfast!”

Kanzaki-san walks off happily.

Food waste is a no-go now, so she’s thrilled.

※

“Man, it’s really coming down… monsoon season already?”

“Kyun…”

After a late breakfast, I’m chilling with Sakura in the first-floor office.

Can’t open the second floor due to caution, so I’m gazing outside.

The rain’s heavier than when I woke.

I can barely see the gate.

Sakura’s bummed about staying inside, staring at the downpour from my lap.

“Coffee, Tanakano-san?”

Lost in thought, Kanzaki-san brings a tray with steaming cups.

My black coffee, her café au lait, and Sakura’s warmed dog milk.

Talk about service…

“Thanks… kinda reminds me of working days.”

I take the coffee, thanking her.

The setting makes me feel like I’m back in my employed days.

“Here, Sakura-chan’s share… go ahead.”

“Hyan!”

Sakura leaps off my lap, dunking her head in the milk dish.

…It’s lukewarm, so no burns, but I’ll need to wipe her later.

“What did you do for work, Tanakano-san?”

“Haha, just a lowly salaryman.”

Ugh, work talk makes the coffee bitterer…

Can I even rejoin society with this mindset?

“Did… this mess cost you your job?”

Ouch, hitting where it hurts…

She’s my partner, so no need to hide.

“Nah, I got fired… after beating the crap outta the president.”

“What!? …Why did that happen?”

“Dumb story, really…”

Watching Sakura’s spinning tail, I start.

※

“…That’s infuriating!”

After telling Kanzaki-san about the incident that got me fired, she’s mad like it happened to her.

Yeah, as a woman, she’d be pissed.

Forcing a reluctant female employee to a love hotel? Disgusting.

…Though for me, 70% was personal grudge.

Too uncool to admit, so I’ll keep that buried forever.

“But it’s good she was safe… she must be grateful to you.”

“Hope so…”

Kanzaki-san’s kind.

Wonder if she’s okay…

Did she quit?

In this mess, I just hope she’s alive…

“…Was she, um, a cute woman?”

Kanzaki-san asks, oddly serious.

“…I don’t really remember.”

“Huh?”

“Different department… honestly, that welcome party was the first time I really saw her face.”

“L-Love at first sight!?”

“How’d you get there…? Just, ‘Oh, the new hire’s a girl,’ kinda thing.”

She gave a statement to the police, helped me out…

But the thrill of beating the president and the jail stint afterward were too intense…

“…So like you, Tanakano-san. You’d have done the same no matter what she looked like…”

Kanzaki-san nods, seeming pleased.

…Yeah, I’d have charged in to beat that president no matter who was involved…

Feels like I shouldn’t say that, so I’ll stay quiet.

“Kyun!”

Sakura, done with her milk, puts her paws on my knee.

How’d your front paws get milk-soaked?

“Here’s the change…”

I wipe her face and paws with a towel.

Such a handful.

But she’s cute, so forgiven!!!!

No problem!!!!

Because she’s cute!!!!

※

“…Hm?”

“What’s up, Tanakano-san?”

Chilling again, I catch something in my peripheral vision.

“The gate… is it shaking?”

Through the pouring rain, the front gate seems to ripple.

“…It is. No wind, though…”

“Maybe rain’s got zombies riled up?”

“Could be…”

There, it shook again.

Clear as day.

The shaking’s rhythmic.

Not wind.

The rain suggests near-zero wind.

That much shaking’s weird.

“If a horde breaks the gate, we’re screwed. Should we check?”

“I can go alone… your body, Tanakano-san?”

Kanzaki-san worries, but I spin my arms wildly.

“Rest fixed me up!”

“…Uh, wow… impressive, Tanakano-san.”

She looks at me like I’m a new species.

Haha, my recovery’s top-notch.

No time to waste.

Let’s check.

I grab the kama-yari, Kanzaki-san her rifle, and we leave the office.

※

Crazy rain.

Outside, the downpour’s roar drowns out everything.

Braving the pelting rain, I jog to the gate.

The helmet’s visor saves my vision—small mercy.

Closer to the gate, I hear something.

Zombie roars and… this!

“Kanzaki-san!!”

“Yes!”

We sprint.

Ow, my thighs still ache a bit.

No biggie, running’ll loosen them.

Gotta hurry!

Rain, zombie roars.

And mixed in, a human voice.

“Open… open! Please! Open!!”

A child’s voice.

“I’ll take the gatepost! Kanzaki-san, shoot through the gap!”

“Don’t overdo it!”

With her voice behind me, I leap onto the gatepost, climbing in one go.

“Mom! Mom!!”

“Keep hitting!! I’m fine!!”

At the gate, a kid in a raincoat.

On the bridge over the moat, a woman swings a long iron pipe.

Before her, a zombie horde.

At least ten!

She swings the pipe desperately, aiming at their feet.

Sweeping their legs, she topples zombies, slowing them.

But more climb over the fallen, nearly grabbing her.

“Come on, then! You won’t touch my kid!! …Riko, climb the gate!!”

“No…! No!!”

“Go now!! You have to!! Hurry!!”

The moment the mother glances at the kid, a zombie lunges.

—She’s grabbed!!

Suddenly, her face flashes in my mind.

The woman I wanted to save.

The one I couldn’t.

“I’m… glad…”

Worrying about the kids until the end.

Teacher Sakai’s deathly face floods my mind.

Before I know it, I’m leaping off the gatepost, kama-yari ready.

“Nuuuuaaaahhh!!”

I rush past the woman, smashing the zombie’s head sideways just as it reaches for her.

“Get to your kid!! My friend’s opening the gate!!!”

“Huh…!? U-Um!!”

“Hurry…!!”

From the shadow of the falling zombie, another closes in.

They’re fast, especially in the rain.

Nothing like Shiiya’s zombies!!

“Go…!!”

But fast means… my counter’s twice as strong!!

I swing with centrifugal force, crushing its neck.

Thank god zombies are too dumb for feints!

Still too many—can’t let my guard down.

I block their path to the pair, taking them out one by one!

“Hurry here! Quick! …Tanakano-san! Secured!!”

Hearing the gate open and Kanzaki-san’s voice, I crush a new zombie’s knee, dropping it.

“…Two more, then I duck! Finish them!!”

Too many.

Gotta thin them here, or they’ll keep banging the gate.

They repeat forever.

Little by little, it’ll break.

No more seem to be coming, so wiping these out should do it.

I target two stragglers!

“AAH, AAAAAH!!”

“Shut up, you bastard!!”

As a zombie roars, I drop low, stepping wide.

Keeping momentum, I swing diagonally down, smashing its knee.

It topples sideways from the force.

“Ora!!”

I spin the kama-yari along my side, swinging it down from above in a circle.

As planned, it buries into the zombie’s temple, slamming it to the ground.

Nagumo-ryu, Gennou.

Literally, a technique to crush the head between ground and weapon.

Meant for a wooden sword or sturdy scabbard.

Nailed it, but no time to bask—another’s coming.

Even beasts have pack instincts, but these guys!?

“Shaa!!”

Rising from my crouch, I thrust the kama-yari at the zombie’s throat.

It sinks halfway, neutralizing it instantly.

I drop flat, and gunfire erupts behind.

With rhythmic shots, the remaining zombies jerk like they’re dancing.

“Now!”

As the gunfire stops, I spring up, scrambling to the gatepost.

“No enemies left!”

“Roger!”

Hearing Kanzaki-san, I leap into the compound.

※

“Impressive, Tanakano-san.”

“You too.”

Catching my breath, Kanzaki-san approaches.

Behind her, the mother and child.

…No bite marks, from a quick look.

Phew, we made it.

Sighing in relief, I slump onto the wet ground.