Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 52: The Drive with the Beauty and the Deadbeat, Redux

Chapter 52: The Drive with the Beauty and the Deadbeat, Redux

“Ninety-eight… ninety-nine… one hundred!! Ojisan, you’re amazing!”

“Y-Yesss! Grah! I’m done!!!”

“Eek! Hahaha!”

“Occhan’s awesome!” “Me next, me next!” “I wanna go too!”

“Ugh… gimme a break! Occhan’s gonna die!!”

Right now, I’m in a corner of the shelter’s gym, doing push-ups with Miku-chan on my back.

Around us are kids of all ages.

Half the gym’s for evacuees, but the other half’s open for use.

I usually train in the judo dojo, but playing with Miku-chan led to this.

Why’s Miku-chan on my back?

…Good question.

Oh, right—while exercising with Miku-chan, a bunch of kids swarmed over, and some middle schoolers asked me to teach them strength training.

While I was coaching them, Miku-chan looked lonely, so I told her to hop on.

Man, I’m getting way too soft on her lately.

…Not a problem, though.

Parents worry about discipline, but I’m just the cool uncle type.

Believe it or not, I’m pretty popular with the kids… I think.

I’ve been playing with them, including Miku-chan, and sharing snacks or DVDs I scavenge.

By the way, they call me “Samurai Occhan.”

…Miku-chan let it slip, so I’m stuck with it.

No helping it, I s’pose!

The middle schoolers get it, at least…

I don’t live at the shelter, but I visit enough to need a decent rep with the adults.

Think about it—my look?

Carrying a sword, face like a space pirate, sometimes bloodied up.

I’m one step from “suspicious” and soaring past the K-point.

Gotta prove I’m not a creep through my actions.

If it’s just me getting flak, fine, but I don’t want Miku-chan or Yukiko-chan catching strays.

Thanks to my efforts—or not—my rep at the shelter’s pretty solid.

Harada still badmouths me, but his rep’s rock-bottom here, so I don’t care.

No one buys his crap anyway.

I asked Yukiko-chan about Harada, just to gauge things.

“He’s mean to kids, so I don’t like him much.”

…Tough luck, buddy.

Serves you right, for real.

So, surrounded by kids, I spot Kanzaki-san walking over.

“Ah! Rin-oneesan!”

“My, you’re full of energy, Miku-chan.”

Miku-chan bolts and leaps at Kanzaki-san.

She catches her deftly.

…Not even a flinch—what core strength!

“Hey, Miku-chan, can I borrow Ichiro-ojisan for a bit?”

“Sure! Go ahead!!”

Rented out like a video!?

Fine by me.

“Sorry, Tanakano-san, is that okay?”

“Yeah, no problem. Be back soon, Miku-chan.”

“See ya!”

“Alright, catch you later, everyone.”

“Samurai Occhan and Kanzaki-neechan going on a date!?” “A date! A date!!” “Be happy!”

Some cheeky brats start teasing.

Guess they’re starved for entertainment.

“Heck yeah! Off to Ryugu Park! Later!!”

“…!!”

Denying it makes them tease more, so I lean in.

Ryugu Park’s our prefecture’s only theme park, famous for its record-breaking lesser panda population.

I chase after Kanzaki-san, leaving the gym.

…Is she speeding up?

I try catching up, but she accelerates.

What’s up? Does she want to go farther?

Kanzaki-san keeps race-walking, then stops.

We’re at the edge of the sports field.

Man, I’m beat…!

“…Tanakano-san, I need to talk. Or rather, I have a request.”

“Y… Yes.”

She finally turns, her face slightly red.

Well, walking that fast’ll do it.

I’m wobbly from those push-ups and Miku-chan squats.

“Could you come with me to Akizuki Town once?”

“…To Hanada-san’s place?”

“Yes. I’ve been reporting via radio, but I’d like to report in person soon. Plus, we need to restock ammunition…”

Yeah, we burned through a lot at the civic center and construction company.

I’m cool with it.

I used up that ammo on my call, and I was planning to hit Akizuki Town soon anyway.

To check on Misa-neesan—Miku-chan’s mom—who worked at the city hall.

“It feels wrong to ask a civilian like you, Tanakano-san…”

“Nah, don’t sweat it. I had business there anyway… And with you, Kanzaki-san, we’re unstoppable!”

“R-Really? …Good…”

I think of something.

“Didn’t the police and SDF start coordinating? Can’t they provide a car?”

“…Well… yes…”

“No, I’m fine driving, just wondering why.”

“…Officer Moriyama volunteered to drive, but…”

“Oh… (Got it)”

“His… combat skills are too low to handle unexpected situations…”

No kidding.

Guy faints from a crazed high schooler’s shove.

He’s beyond unreliable—probably a liability.

How’d he even become a cop?

Don’t you need some kendo or judo skills to pass?

…Mystery deepens.

So, no time like the present—let’s head to Akizuki Town today.

I go back to the gym, say bye to Miku-chan and the kids, and check in with Miyata-san before leaving.

Obviously, I don’t mention going to Akizuki Town or looking for Misa-neesan.

If she’s dead, it’d crush Miku-chan.

I check the truck, gas, and gear, then start the engine.

Time for a long drive.

…Having a beauty next to me is kinda nerve-wracking.

As we leave the school gate, Moriyama, on guard duty, glares at me like I’m his mortal enemy.

I pretend not to notice.

…That’s your problem, Moriyama!!

Stop sulking and hit the gym!!

Your crush on Kanzaki-san ain’t getting through!!

“Ima wa yamanaka, ima wa hama~”

“…Isn’t that a train song?”

“Wheels are wheels—car, train, same diff.”

“That’s absurd, hehe…”

The breeze through the open window feels great.

Almost out of Shiiya City, I think?

Same route as last time, east along the river.

The road’s unchanged—wrecked cars, scattered zombies, and rotting meat chunks everywhere.

…Zombies don’t decay.

No animals eat them either.

What’s up with that?

“Speaking of, have animals turning into zombies, like in movies, been confirmed? I haven’t seen any.”

“I haven’t either, and no reports from HQ mention it…”

…Only humans turn?

Mysteries on mysteries.

“Well, zombie dogs, birds, bears, or sharks would be a nightmare. Good thing they’re not around.”

“Sharks…? They wouldn’t be an issue on land…”

“Kanzaki-san, modern sharks climb land and fly… in shark movies, at least.”

“…There are shark movies beyond Jws and Deep Ble?”

“It’s a genre with bigger hits and misses than zombie flicks…”

We banter as the truck rolls on.

I’ve known Kanzaki-san a while, survived some close calls together—guess we’re kinda close now?

She’s drop-dead gorgeous but easy to talk to, so it’s never heavy.

“…I forgot to ask. That move at the construction company, kicking the sword naginata—that was…”

You remembered that, Kanzaki-san!?

Martial arts nerd, huh…

“That was just a fluke, not really a technique…”

“…Hmph.”

I joke, and here comes the silent pressure!

I’m driving, so I can’t look, but I feel her stare…!

“…Nagumo-ryu, Secret Technique One: ‘Flying Swallow.’ Normally, you’d throw a dagger or wakizashi to seize the initiative or as a vanguard strike…”

“Of course…! Nagumo-ryu’s forbidden killing move…!!”

It’s not that fancy!!

The secret techniques are all dirty, first-strike moves—less “forbidden” and more “hidden because they’re dangerous”!!

“…It’s ‘One,’ so there are more…?”

“Yup, a ton of nasty ones…”

“Please, show me the others—! No, I’ll look forward to seeing them myself…!”

Her eyes are sparkling with a huff!

Her eyes?

She wants to see me use them!?

No way!!

A situation needing secret techniques is basically hell!!

I just wanna live quietly, skittering in the shadows!!

“By the way, that stance-switching feint you use a lot… that’s something too, right?”

You were watching me in combat!?

She casually takes out scum while glancing at me—she’s way stronger…!

“Uh… that’s called ‘Thousand Changes,’ a super embarrassing feint…”

“Why!? It’s so cool!!”

“R-Really…?”

The drive’s peaceful enough for this kind of talk.

Kanzaki-san’s getting… kinda fun?

“Aaaaah!?”

“What’s wrong, Tanakano-san!?”

“My… my cabbage field… it’s all withered…”

“It’s not yours… The shelter’s growing some, so we’ll share when they’re ready. We’re planting plenty…”

“Angels are closer than I thought…”

“What’s that supposed to mean!?”

With that sad detour, my trusty truck reaches the hospital in Akizuki Town.

Gotta walk a bit from here…

“All those cars are gone! I can see the road, Kanzaki-san!!”

“Oh, I forgot to mention. They cleared them with heavy machinery nearby.”

Wow, that’s some hustle…

Wait! There’s a mountain of zombie corpses in the alley!!

They cleared obstacles and took out zombies drawn by the noise?

Terrifying SDF.

What annihilation power…

Glad we’re buddies…!!

The road’s clear, so driving’s a breeze.

The route that was tough before is nothing now.

The hospital’s getting closer fast.

A strange truck pulls up, and the SDF guards at the gate all raise their guns.

Eek!? So intense…

“Sergeant Kanzaki reporting! Returning for report and resupply!!”

Kanzaki-san leans out the window and shouts.

The guns lower, and the gate opens slowly.

Phew, that was tense…

I park in the hospital lot, sweating.

I walk with Kanzaki-san to the main entrance, then split off.

She said I could come, but a room full of SDF folks feels awkward, so I pass.

I sit on a bench by the entrance, next to an ashtray, light a cigarette, and settle in.

Guess I’ll wait.

“Ichirouta-kun!? You’re here!?”

…No waiting for me, huh.