Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 22: The Little Shelter Incident

Chapter 22: The Little Shelter Incident

T/N: For anybody reading this, I’ve made some changes from the prologue to here, adding scene breaks as well so it doesn’t get confusing. I would advice you to read from back there.

No issues, and we made it to the shelter high school.

Looks the same as before.

“We’re here, Kanzaki-san. This is the police-run shelter.”

“Quite a sturdy building…”

“It’s a strict private high school, after all.”

I slowly drove toward the front gate.

A guard cop approached—must’ve spotted us.

It’s the young cop I smoked with alongside Miyata-san.

Moriyama-san, right?

“Hey, Tanakano-san! What brings you today? …And who’s that?”

I rolled down the window.

“Hey, Moriyama-san. This SDF member has business with Miyata-san, so I brought her.”

“Sergeant Kanzaki. Pleasure to meet you.”

Moriyama-san froze, seeing Kanzaki-san bow from the passenger seat.

Yeah, an SDF soldier in a beat-up truck is surprising.

“Uh… um… Officer Moriyama, at your service!!!”

Yup, we know, buddy.

What’s with the sudden formality?

Kanzaki-san looked puzzled.

Oh, his face is red.

…Got it. Kanzaki-san’s a beauty, huh?

Young Moriyama-kun’s smitten!

I’ll call him Moriyama-kun in my head from now on.

Got the flustered Moriyama-kun to open the gate and parked in the lot.

He’s sprinting to keep up.

Way different from how he treated me!

I get it, though.

“Here! This way! I’ll guide you!!!”

Moriyama-kun’s enthusiasm is hilariously over-the-top.

He led us into the school.

“Quite energetic, isn’t he…?”

“A great cop, full of drive.”

We whispered as we followed.

Huh, the staff room’s the police HQ now…

“Oh, hey, Tanakano-san. …And you are?”

“Hey, Miyata-san, this is—”

“Sergeant Kanzaki from the SDF!! She’s here on business!!!”

So loud!

My eardrums are dying!!

Moriyama-kun, chill!!

That’s gonna backfire!!

“…So, I’ll leave the rest to you. Kanzaki-san, I’m heading out.”

“Huh? Oh, thank you so much, Tanakano-san. Until next time…”

Too much hassle, I’m out!

Gotta find Yukiko-chan.

I nodded to Miyata-san and the overly hyped, kinda creepy Moriyama-kun and left.

What are you, a middle school boy?

Now, where’s Yukiko-chan?

She’s with civilians, not her school’s group…

Asked a nearby cop for directions.

Miyata-san must’ve vouched for my sword—they didn’t stop me.

Civilians kept their distance, though. Can’t blame them.

Reached the school’s far end.

Yukiko-chan’s supposed to be here.

Multi-purpose hall… there it is.

“Excuse me! Is Sakashita Yukiko-san here?”

Opened the door and called out. Spotted her right in front.

“Tanakano-oniisan!”

“Hey, Yukiko-chan, hi.”

Yukiko-chan, in casual clothes, ran over.

About 20 people inside, all ages.

I gave a quick bow and entered.

“Any news about Mama!?”

“Yeah, Sakashita-obasan was at the hospital, like I thought. She’s doing fine.”

“Really!? …Thank goodness…”

I handed the teary Yukiko-chan her mom’s letter.

“She can’t leave right now, though—too many responsibilities. She sent this instead.”

I wanted to bring her, but with that situation, no go.

The SDF’s guarding the hospital—it might be safer than here.

“Thank you! …Mama’s handwriting! Thank goodness… really…”

Reading the letter, Yukiko-chan collapsed, crying.

The tension must’ve broken.

Like mother, like daughter.

“What’re you doing to Sakashita, you creep!!!”

As I moved to pat Yukiko-chan’s shoulder, a shout came from the entrance.

Turned to see a boy her age.

Shaved head, tanned, baseball team vibes.

“What? Just comforting her. She’s a friend’s—”

“Get away from Sakashita!!”

He stomped closer.

Why don’t young guys ever listen?

“No, no, Harada-kun! He’s…”

Yukiko-chan tried explaining, but her teary voice faltered.

Misreading it, baseball kid raised his fist.

“You!!!”

Swinging out of nowhere!?

Kids these days have such short fuses.

As his fist came—

I met it with a headbutt, helmet on.

“Gah!?”

Ouch, that looked painful.

Both of us had momentum—bet his wrist’s messed up.

Sorry if you’re really baseball team.

…Wait, no need to worry about a guy swinging at strangers.

“Didn’t they teach you in kindergarten to listen till the end?”

Misunderstanding or not, I’m not into getting hit quietly.

I glared at the kid clutching his wrist.

“I’m her friend. I brought a letter from her mom at the hospital.”

“That’s right, Harada-kun! I cried reading the letter… It’s awful to attack Oniisan like that!!”

Yukiko-chan explained clearly, now calmer, and protested.

Cold stares from the room’s occupants, who knew the deal.

“…!?”

Harada-kun’s face went red, and he bolted out.

“Hey!! Didn’t your mom teach you to say sorry!?”

I couldn’t help shouting, but he just ran faster.

…Maybe he’s track team.

“Geez… what’s his deal?”

“Sorry, Oniisan. Is your helmet okay?”

“It’s tougher than his wrist.”

I smirked at her slightly off-target concern.

“Harada-kun’s not usually like that…”

“Oh?”

“He’s always offering to do cooking, laundry, or farm work for me. I’m not that weak… weird guy.”

Oh… I see.

That explains his attitude…

Oof… so awkward…

Not getting through at all… tragic…

Puberty-level tragic…

“R-right. Oh, Yukiko-chan, the SDF’s gonna station someone here now.”

“The SDF? From Mama’s hospital?”

“Yeah, to coordinate. They’ve got a radio, so you might hear about Sakashita-obasan through the police.”

“Wow, really!?”

“Probably. I’ll mention it to the cops. I helped a lot, so they’ll probably listen.”

“Everything… thank you, Oniisan!”

“No biggie. You guys have been good to me. Just paying it back.”

Your family’s got that massive ossan debt, after all.

Chatted a bit more, then parted with Yukiko-chan.

She waved, saying, “Come back soon!”

Man, that mother-daughter duo is so nice.

Are that ossan’s genes even in there…?

Couldn’t help slipping her a chocolate bar.

Kids in the room stared, so I gave them some too.

Good thing I stuffed my pockets with chocolate bars today.

…Gonna attract ants.

Now, tell Miyata-san about Yukiko-chan, and my mission’s done.

Wanna go home and sleep.

Got extra food this time, so I’ll hole up and watch movies.

Maybe hit a used DVD or rental shop?

Dreaming of a home theater someday.

Thinking that, I hurried to the staff room.

Then, a familiar figure down the hall.

Ogahara-san.

“Tanakano-san!! Help me!!”

Half-crying, she ran toward me, a zombie chasing her.

Damn it!! Now what!?