Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 2: That Day

Chapter 2: That Day

Where was I? Oh, right—how I ended up jobless.

※

After my little rampage, I was left with a hefty severance package and my untouched savings from a grueling job.

Enough for a single guy like me to coast for a few years.

I moved out of the company’s bachelor dorm and back to my family’s place.

I thought about living alone, but I wanted to get the hell out of that town ASAP.

Running into old coworkers while wandering around would be awkward as hell.

The tanuki president’s cronies probably had it out for me.

Getting into a fight could land me in trouble with the cops again.

I’m not some war freak, but if someone swings at me, I’m swinging back.

So, I returned to my hometown, a regional city, after years away.

The plan was to chill for a bit, then find a job.

I’ve got decent qualifications, and “on paper,” it was an amicable resignation. No issues.

Mom gave me an earful about quitting, but she praised me for saving that girl (though I didn’t exactly “save” her).

Dad, as laid-back as me, was stoked to have a fishing buddy and driver.

My sister, who’d moved out for work, sighed but asked me to look after our parents since I was back.

She’s got a strong personality, so I figured she’d be fine.

※

As a jobless guy, I was surprisingly busy.

I wanted to laze around all day, but that wasn’t an option.

Even though I chipped in money at home, the stigma of being unemployed was rough.

I went out of my way to clean around the house, chat with the old folks nearby, or run errands for them.

I jumped into the neighborhood ditch-cleaning crew and set up crow-proof nets at the garbage dump.

Thanks to that, I went from:

“Tanakano-san’s weird, jobless son”

to:

“Tanakano-san’s hardworking, friendly son on a break.”

This world’s a tough place to live in, huh.

※

Two months passed without incident.

I earned a decent amount of trust from most of the neighbors.

Meanwhile, things moved on. My sister got engaged to a kind-looking coworker she’d been dating.

Met him twice—seemed like a solid guy. Didn’t bring up my jobless status either.

He’s probably the only one who can handle her fiery attitude.

Hope they stay happy forever.

After a decent wedding, they jetted off to some southern island for a two-week honeymoon, with both sets of parents invited.

I worried for a sec about them blowing so much cash on the wedding and trip, but they’re both high earners.

Honestly, they probably make more than I did as a salaryman.

The world’s unfair.

※

After that, I lived it up at home.

Sure, I had to deal with the neighbors, but inside, I was free!

I could lounge in pajamas all morning, build plastic models on the big living room table, play games with delivery pizza in hand, or binge my backlog of DVDs.

Sleep when I’m tired, wake when I feel like it.

It was the best.

I realized family’s great too.

If I’d been alone, I’d probably never work again. Nope, definitely not.

Days passed—one, two, then a week.

※

Then that day hit out of nowhere.

※

While I was puffing a cigarette on the engawa, spacing out, a weird animal-like sound hit my ears.

It was just past noon. The neighborhood was empty—people were at work or shopping.

Even the old folks were out at some senior event, which was rare.

No one around here had dogs or cats.

Maybe a stray? As I wondered, the sound came again.

“Aaaaaaah!!!!”

Loud as hell.

What kind of dog makes an end-of-the-world wail like that?

“Uuuuuuh! Uuuuuuuuh!!!!”

That’s no dog—more like a guy screaming his head off.

Closer now, from the neighbor’s front yard.

The neighbor… yeah.

Truth is, the one guy in the neighborhood I can’t stand, who refuses to accept my jobless ass, is the guy next door—Sakashita-san.

Some high school teacher or something, always harping on me to “get a job” or “stop slacking” whenever we cross paths.

He just can’t stand me chilling without a care.

His wife and high school daughter are nice, but why’s this guy such a jerk?

I’m not your student, dude! I’ve wanted to grab his collar, but neighborhood harmony matters.

So I just laugh it off with “Sorry, sorry, haha” like an adult.

Being jobless is stressful as hell.

But Sakashita-san should be at work.

Listening closer, it’s definitely his annoying voice.

Maybe he came home early, sick, and he’s collapsed in pain at his gate?

Could be—he’s got high blood pressure and is always pissed off.

Honestly, it’s a massive pain, and I’d be thrilled if he just keeled over, but… neighborhood ties, y’know.

Guess I’ll call an ambulance out of samurai mercy.

I slipped on outdoor slippers and headed out to find him.

There he was.

Crouched in front of his house, groaning and banging on the gate.

“Hey, Sakashita-san, you okay?”

When I called out, his groans stopped dead.

“Huh? Sakashita-san, it’s me, Tanakano from next door. You feeling sick?”

Feeling a bit creeped out, I tried again. He sprang up and turned toward me.

I’ll never forget that sight.

Unnaturally pale skin.

Torn, ragged suit.

Dark red liquid all over him.

Bulging right eye.

Clearly broken left arm.

Drool dripping from his mouth.

No way that was a normal human.

It was straight out of my favorite movie genre…

A “zombie.”

“Uuaaaaaaah!!!!”

The second I thought it, Sakashita-san charged at me.

Fast.

Not middle-aged man speed.

Our houses are about twenty meters apart—he’d reach me in no time.

Whatever that thing was, I had to run.

But my body wouldn’t move.

Panic froze me, my feet glued to the ground, throat dry, voice gone.

No way, am I this much of a coward?

Just like those dumb panic movie characters I always mocked.

Sakashita-san closed in.

Less than ten meters now.

I could see his non-bulging left eye clearly.

Blood red.

Not just the pupil—the whole eye.

Five meters.

He looked ready to bite, drool spraying from his wide-open mouth.

One meter.

His unbroken arm reached for me.

And I—

I slammed a right front kick into his solar plexus.

My foot hit with a nasty feeling.

Missed the mark slightly—hit his chest instead.

That gross sensation was probably his ribs snapping.

Sakashita-san flew back a meter and collapsed on his back.

Facing death, my snap decision wasn’t flight—it was fight.

Not bad for a guy who hasn’t been to the dojo in ages and quit correspondence karate.

Guess the body remembers old training.

As I spaced out, he started getting up.

That kick had some power, but it barely fazed him.

Well, I’m in slippers.

Is that thing really a “zombie”?

The kind where the dead rise, eat people, and infect with a bite?

I stopped thinking about it.

No point—answers wouldn’t come now.

What mattered was this moment.

Sakashita-san tried to eat me, to kill me.

I don’t wanna be eaten or killed.

So…

I gotta kill him!!!

Pretty messed-up logic, but no choice.

Preaching love won’t help if I’m lunch.

Even if he’s not a zombie, he came at me to bite.

No talking sense into him.

Just in case, I’ll say something.

Might help claim self-defense in court someday.

“Sakashita-san, please stop (deadpan).”

“Aaaaaaah!!! Uuuuuaaaaah!!!!”

“Alright, you bastard!”

His reply was a scream and another charge.

Kicks didn’t do much.

Punching’s risky—if saliva infects, hitting his mouth could end me.

I need a weapon.

I kicked him again as he charged.

He went down.

No dodging at all—his brain’s dumber than an animal’s.

I spun, bolted to our garden, and yanked open the prefab shed.

Mom’s gardening tools and Dad’s DIY stuff were inside.

I grabbed a long wooden stick—dunno what it’s for—and swung it at Sakashita-san as he closed in.

Nailed him right in the head.

He dropped again.

Still moving.

※

From there, it was a mindless loop.

Sakashita-san gets up.

I bash his head.

He falls.

The world’s most pointless routine.

After who-knows-how-many rounds, what was left of Sakashita-san collapsed with a thud.

His face was a pulpy mess, barely showing where his features used to be.

He twitched once, then stopped forever.

I slumped to the ground too.

Breathing hard.

Hands heavy as lead.

The stick was red with his blood.

Unlike the president beatdown, this was violence with real killing intent.

My first kill.

And it was a neighbor.

The rush I felt cooled fast, leaving a twinge of guilt.

But exhaustion won out.

I pulled a cigarette from my chest pocket with shaking hands, lit it, and inhaled.

Choked like it was my first time, but I steadied myself, sucked in deep, and blew out big.

It hit like nothing else.

Best smoke I’ll ever have, probably.

“Ugh, only three left…”

※

That’s how my “Zombie Outbreak” Day One ended.