Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 53: Reunion and the Talk of the School

Chapter 53: Reunion and the Talk of the School

“Oh no! Just like Yukiko said…! Such a big scar…!”

I’m taking a smoke break by the hospital entrance when Yukiko-chan’s mom, Mayumi-obasan, catches me.

Right, Yukiko-chan and Obasan have been talking over the radio…

“No infection… right? Oh, but this’ll leave a mark…”

“Haha… turned out like this… Fufufu…”

Obasan’s tearing up as she checks my scar.

She’s as kind as ever…

This is awkward…

All I can do is grin creepily and roll with it!

She pokes and prods my scar until she’s satisfied.

“So… Yukiko’s doing well, huh? We talk on the radio sometimes, but I worry she’s pushing herself…”

“She’s got Miku-chan and lots of friends now. The shelter’s running smoothly too…”

Obasan’s calmed down, so we catch up a bit.

“She used to say she wanted a little sister when she was small… Ugh, I wanna meet Miku-chan!”

“Oh, wanna see a picture? Smartphone cameras still work.”

“Show me, show me!”

I show her a photo of Yukiko-chan holding Miku-chan.

Both are beaming.

They look like sisters in this shot.

“Oh my~! So cute! Adorable!! Any more!?”

“Y-Yes, yes.”

I show more as she asks.

The two eating together.

Folding laundry together.

Eyes sparkling, watching a movie with Ogahara-san.

Me napping on the couch with Miku-chan… wait, who took this!?

…Kanzaki-san, maybe?

“So cute~! I wanna meet Miku-chan! And Hina-chan too!”

“Hope we can travel freely soon…”

Oh, right.

Might as well ask Obasan.

“Hey, Obasan, about Miku-chan’s mom…”

I ask if she knows anything about the city hall shelter.

“City hall… Hmm, I haven’t heard much. I’ve been too busy here to keep up with outside news…”

Makes sense.

Fair enough.

“Thanks, Obasan. I’m heading to city hall next, but could you keep it from Yukiko-chan for now?”

“Right, it’d be tough if Miku-chan found out…! Oh, Ichirouta-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“…About my husband…”

!?!?!?

Here it comes—the talk about that ossan!?

There’s been this vibe, with Yukiko-chan’s cryptic comments hinting at family drama…

Please, Obasan, I don’t wanna know…!!

“You don’t have to look for him like you’re doing for Miku-chan’s mom…”

“Huh?”

“With the world like this, he probably doesn’t even wanna come home…”

“Uh, right…”

Oh no.

I wanna grovel and confess that I re-banished Ossan to nirvana!!

“Sorry for the weird talk, Ichirouta-kun! Oh, wait a sec!”

As I’m debating a full-on dogeza, Obasan bolts up and heads into the hospital.

Ugh… what do I do about Ossan?

Maybe I’ll tell her when things settle down…

Keeping it secret forever feels… wrong…

“Sorry for the wait!”

Obasan’s back, holding… a stuffed animal?

“I made this in my spare time. I already made some for the kids here, so give this to Miku-chan!”

Whoa… it’s knitted.

An amigurumi, right?

A cute little bear.

Obasan’s so skilled…

“If other kids want some, tell Yukiko to let me know. I’ve got tons of spare yarn!”

“Wow, Miku-chan’s gonna love this! But are you sure, Obasan…? Won’t it interfere with hospital work…?”

“Well, actually…”

Obasan’s face darkens.

Her patients, mostly critically ill, have nearly all passed away due to stress and medicine shortages.

She’s helping with other wards and shelter tasks now but has too much free time.

…Yeah, makes sense.

Heavy patients needing regular meds wouldn’t survive this…

I feel bad for asking.

Next time, I’ll bring a thank-you video from Miku-chan.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Tanakano-san.”

“Hello, Tanakano-san. You look well… or, how’s the scar?”

“Hey, Hanada-san. Nah, I’m fine, fine! The scar’s all healed, thanks to Kanzaki-san!”

I see Obasan off as she returns to work and light another cigarette.

Kanzaki-san comes back with Hanada-san.

Man, Hanada-san’s still ripped and intimidating.

Even his walk’s flawless.

“My eyes are fine, and it’s a good lesson. Some say it’s boosted my rugged charm.”

“Haha, really? Guess Kanzaki…”

“F-First Lieutenant!!”

“Whoops, my bad.”

“No, it’s…”

…Is Kanzaki-san calling me Blackjack-sensei behind my back?

“I heard Kanzaki’s report—you’ve been quite active.”

“No, no, no, Kanzaki-san’s the star. I’d have struggled hard without her. Probably dead.”

“I-I didn’t do that much…”

How’s she hyping me up!?

I’m probably flying through the sky in her version…

“I’d like to keep a good relationship with you moving forward.”

“Likewise, please.”

I shake Hanada-san’s outstretched hand.

Yikes, it’s rough and strong…

…Hm?

His hand’s moving…?

Whoa!? A wrist lock!?

I instinctively shift my wrist down to dodge.

He slides sideways, so I step in to block a twist.

Hanada-san steps closer, extending our joined hands…

Guh!? What’s this!?

I’m flying!?

Aikido!?

Hanada-san’s a master with that build!?

This is bad!

I curl my left middle finger and jab a pressure point on his wrist to numb it.

Releasing the handshake, I thrust a left feint and leap back, ready.

“…Did I pass?”

“…Hahaha! Impressive! …When did you catch on?”

“The side slide. If you meant harm, you’d have twisted while pulling to snap a tendon.”

“Got it. You stuck to finger strikes, so I figured you read me…”

Hanada-san was testing me.

My master used to pull this stuff, so I kinda knew.

With his strength, he could’ve mixed in a kick.

Instead of pushing me, he could’ve yanked me in for a headbutt.

And the biggest clue? Kanzaki-san behind him.

Her eyes were sparkling.

She must’ve known he’d try something.

“But man, quit scaring me like that… At least say ‘Here I come!’ or something.”

“Joking, huh? Facing Nagumo-ryu head-on is a death sentence.”

He knows too!?

Through Kanzaki-san?

…No, you’d need real knowledge of our sneaky school to move like that.

Is Nagumo-ryu secretly famous!?

“Taniya-sensei doing well? I sparred with him a ton in my youth, but it’s been a while. Hearing you’re Nagumo-ryu got me excited…”

“You know my master!? …Small world, huh?”

What!?

Sparring with Master multiple times? This guy’s a monster!

Normal people give up after one round…

I just ran like hell.

That old man’s too strong—terrifying.

Even scarier than Mondo-occhan, and I can’t imagine beating him.

…Even though he’s older than Occhan.

My master’s full name is Taniya Juubee (田宮十兵衛).

I haven’t been to the dojo lately, but that old man’s too tough for zombies or thugs, so he’s probably fine.

“Figured a Nagumo-ryu guy wouldn’t get too mad…”

“Oh, you know that too, huh, Hanada-san?”

“I’m curious, Tanakano-san!!”

Kanzaki-san leans in, eyes sparkling.

…She’s relentless.

A beauty shouldn’t get that close to a guy!!

“Right, Kanzaki doesn’t know. Nagumo-ryu has almost no strict rules or prohibitions, but there’s one absolute code. The founder said—”

“…‘In matters of cross-school matches, one must never refuse.’”

In short:

“No running from a challenge match!”

A ridiculously annoying rule.

The founder was a total battle junkie.

Hanada-san doesn’t seem to know, but there’s another rule.

“Those who are excessively rash, crude, or beastly, or who wield blades for pleasure against the innocent, must not be allowed to live.”

Meaning:

“Jerks, brutes, or sickos who enjoy killing the weak—take ‘em out! Don’t let ‘em walk away!!”

Hanada-san’s here, so he’s none of those.

A courteous, good guy… and insanely strong.

“Haa…! What a splendid teaching!!”

Kanzaki-san’s making a face I’ve never seen!

…Kinda sultry.

No, no, bad thoughts.

“You taught swordsmanship there, right? I’d love for our troops to learn.”

It’s getting twisted!?

“No, no, no! Mondo—Nakamura from the martial arts shop—taught. I was just an assistant…”

“I heard. Good to know Nakamura-san’s doing well.”

“…You know him?”

“With their stock and craftsman connections, anyone serious about martial arts knows them.”

My world’s shrinking…

No, Occhan’s just got crazy connections.

“If we went all out here, Kanzaki’d probably jump in, so let’s not.”

“Two active SDF members? I’d bolt instantly…”

“…Oh?”

“…Hmph.”

What’s with those pitying looks!?

What’d I do?

…Whatever, fine.

“Hanada-san, about Akizuki Town’s city hall…”

“Kanzaki mentioned the kid’s mom, right?”

Quick talk is nice!

Solid reporting makes this easy.

“It’s like this…”