Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 83: My Roommate?

Chapter 83: My Roommate?

Some time after meeting the puppy, I’m driving along.

In the passenger seat, one little dog sits primly.

It was camped between my legs earlier, but it’s pretty obedient.

The puppy gazes curiously at the scenery passing by.

Its fluffy tail wags left and right—cute as hell.

I could watch it forever, but I’d rather not crash, so I steel myself and focus on driving.

“Alright, we’re here.”

A little “hyann” bark—its way of answering?

I get out, and the puppy hops down nimbly.

Impressive athleticism for such a tiny thing.

I cross the yard to grab a shovel from the tool shed.

The puppy’s sniffing around, curious about everything.

So cute—what even is this creature?

Time to make a grave for its mom.

Since we’ll be living together, I want her resting place to be proper.

Too close to the field feels wrong, but a shady spot’s no good either.

Let’s go for a spot in between.

As I dig, the puppy trots over, intrigued.

“Don’t get too close—it’s dangerous.”

I say it, and whether it understands or not, it barks “hyann” and lies down, watching.

…Is this kid too smart?

Are puppies supposed to be this clever?

I keep digging, a bit skeptical.

Gotta make it deep so it won’t get disturbed.

Poor thing if it’s dug up.

Once I’ve got a good pit, I fetch the sheet-wrapped mother dog from the truck bed.

Maybe it recognizes her scent—the puppy’s whining “kyun kyun” now, not like before.

“Yeah, that’s your mom.”

I set her down in front of the puppy.

It nudges the sheet with its nose, whimpering sadly.

I pet its head, leaning close.

“She protected you, a real brave mom. Let’s let her rest.”

The puppy stops whining and looks at me.

My reflection’s in its round eyes.

“It’s sad, but you can’t stay sad forever, right…?”

It licks my hand and turns back to its mom.

Strangely, it doesn’t whimper anymore.

I lower her gently into the pit and climb out.

The puppy sits, watching quietly.

“Namu Amida Butsu…”

Not sure if she’ll hear, but I chant a prayer anyway.

May she find peace.

Now for the hard part.

I grab the shovel and start filling the pit.

The sheet slowly disappears under the dirt.

The puppy suddenly stands.

Oh, if it tries to jump in, I’ll have to stop it…

That’s when it happens.

“…AOOOOOOOOHHHH!!”

An unbelievably loud howl from such a tiny body.

It throws its head back, almost like it’s reaching for the sky.

…It knows, in its own way.

That it’ll never see its mom again.

The howl’s bold yet heavy with grief.

I’ve never heard such a heart-wrenching sound.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I keep piling on dirt.

I work mindlessly, and soon a mound—maybe not fancy, but solid—takes shape.

After that one howl, the puppy lies down, watching me.

“Alright… time for a bath.”

I strip to the waist, wipe off sweat, and haul the bedding to the balcony to keep it clean.

I’ll toss it upstairs for now.

The puppy’s still by the grave.

I’ll leave it be—it can’t get out with the yard sealed.

As I prep the bath and step outside, the puppy’s napping by the grave.

…It’s past noon already.

Time to prep lunch for both of us.

Today’s menu: canned food for me and the puppy!!

…Didn’t mean for it to match.

Puppy gets beef (dog-safe), I get mackerel miso.

Wait… is its meal fancier than mine?

Whatever, it’s our special first day.

“Hey, time to eat~”

I call, and the puppy wakes, looking around before spotting me.

It trots over, eyeing the can in my hand curiously.

Oh, right, I grabbed a canned puppy milk too.

Pretty sure human milk’s bad for dogs—forgot why.

I pour beef and milk into a double dog bowl from the pet shop.

Looks like human milk, but the label says “closest to mother’s milk” or some such.

Cost about eight of my mackerel cans.

…Pet food’s pricey, huh. Well, free now.

I set the bowl down.

I crack open my mackerel and sit in front of the puppy.

It sniffs the bowl, unsure if it’s food.

Oh, right, humans eat first to set the hierarchy or something?

I fork some mackerel and eat.

Always reliably tasty.

“Delicious! You must be beat—go on, eat up.”

The puppy tilts its head, watching me.

Hmm, what to do?

Maybe it’s not used to it.

…Alright.

I wipe my hands clean and rub in sanitizer—don’t want germs hurting the little guy.

“Here, it’s good~”

I dip my finger in milk and smear it on its mouth.

It licks my finger.

Jackpot.

Realizing the milk’s tasty, it dives into the bowl, half-submerging its face to gulp it down.

Good, good, we’re in the clear.

By the time I finish my mackerel, it’s done with the milk.

It hasn’t touched the beef, so I repeat the trick, and it attacks the food.

Good job.

Eat lots and grow strong~

…Oh, Mame Shiba, so not that big?

Whatever, grow awesome~

※

“Man, so peaceful…”

I’m smoking on the yard bench after lunch.

The puppy’s running around, full of energy now that it’s stuffed.

It’s fine now, but I’ll need to walk it later.

This area’s low on zombies, and the embankment’s got good visibility, so it’s safe enough.

…Bath should be ready.

I stub out the cigarette.

“Hey, come here.”

I call, and it dashes over, barking “hyann hyann.”

Getting used to me, huh?

It playfully nips at my outstretched hand as I scoop it up.

Its fur’s decent but dirty from stray life.

“Alright, alright, let’s bathe together.”

I hold it to my chest, and it licks my neck.

Ticklish.

In the bath, the puppy’s surprisingly chill.

No, it’s thrilled, barking “hyann hyann.”

I pour lukewarm water from a bucket, soaking its fur, then lather with dog shampoo.

Stay still, will ya!

Gah! Shaking makes me a bubble monster!

Hahaha! This is kinda fun!!

Struggling, I turn the puppy into a foamy sculpture, then rinse.

It was filthy—brown water’s flowing.

One more shampoo, since it’ll mostly be indoors.

Whoa! Stop shaking—gah, my eyes!!

“Phew… baths are the best.”

“Kyun!”

I stretch out in the tub.

The puppy’s floating in a bucket of lukewarm water in front of me.

It paddles closer, pressing its nose to my face and licking.

I push it back, and it paddles again.

Heh, cute.

A bath-loving dog’s rare.

Oh, right.

“Gotta name you…”

I mumble, pushing its nose.

Calling it “puppy” or “lil’ buddy” forever’s no good.

Heh, I’ve been dreaming up dog names since I was a kid.

Got plenty of options!

Let’s see… Gin, Riki, Akame, Ben, Weed, Orion… tough choice.

Hayate’s cool! Koromaru’s badass too…

…Oh!

Forgot something crucial!

“Come here~”

I lift it high, checking a certain spot.

…Nope!!

All those names are out…!!

“You’re a little lady, huh…”

It lets out a “wafun” bark, like it’s protesting.

Alright, time to rethink.

I didn’t plan much for a girl, but I’ve got some ideas.

“Got it!”

After nearly overheating, I decide.

“Sakura, your name’s Sakura!”

A cherry blossom mark on her right paw sealed it.

Didn’t want anything too wild—simple and cute.

“Here’s to us, Sakura.”

I lift her in the tub, and she barks “hyann,” wagging her tail like crazy.

…She likes it, I think. Probably.

※

“Kyun! Kyun! Hyann! Hyann!”

“Sakura, you’re fine with baths but hate the dryer…?”

After toweling her off, I try the hairdryer, and Sakura’s trembling.

Whoa, her tail’s glued to her belly.

Can’t leave her half-wet—she’ll catch a cold.

I soothe her through it, dry her, and brush her with a dog brush. She’s gorgeous now.

“Whoa, a real beauty! Good girl, good girl!!”

She endured the dryer, so I praise her big and pet her all over.

She’s back to normal, licking my hand, nipping, and bouncing around.

This fur’s so soft… so fluffy.

Smells nice too.

“Alright, hang tight. I’m gonna build you the best house~”

Back in the living room, I assemble the cage and doghouse.

Let’s see… bowl here, toilet there, house over here…

Puppy-sized, so it’s easy.

Sakura’s sniffing around, exploring.

Dangerous stuff’s up high, so she’s fine.

I’ll finish this quick.

After a bit, I add blankets and make a cozy space.

I call Sakura and show her, holding her.

“Here’s your house, Sakura… Hope you like—hyahyahya, stop, stop!”

My face is slobber city.

She loves it… probably!

I set her in the cage, and she sniffs around.

She loves the bed, rubbing against it and whining “kyun kyun.”

I tucked a piece of her mom’s sheet in the blanket.

Her mom’s scent should help her sleep easy.

The smell’ll fade, but I’ll spoil her silly so she’s never lonely.

Working after a bath’s tiring.

Nap time.

I lock up to keep Sakura in and flop on the sofa with a cushion under my head.

As I get comfy, Sakura jumps on my stomach.

“Wanna nap together?”

She lies on my chest, face nuzzled close.

I pet her slowly, and her eyes droop. She yawns big and shuts them.

Falls asleep fast—good girl.

…With Kanzaki-san and now Sakura, I really can’t die easy.

Gotta stay sharper than ever…

With that thought, I drift off.

※

Sakura’s nose-licking wakes me.

No nightmare this time.

Sakura’s furry blanket effect, maybe?

“Hmm… five o’clock. Movie and dinner time?”

I pet Sakura, browsing DVDs.

Might as well pick a dog movie.

…Not many.

Oh, I avoid dog movies—too many sad deaths.

Cheap tearjerker tropes suck.

This one’ll do.

A foreign CG animated film I bought but never watched.

A superdog actor becoming a real hero—decent story.

Pretty fun. Maybe I’ll bring it to Miku-chan.

Sakura sprawled beside me, staring at the screen.

Interested ‘cause of the dogs?

“Next time, let’s visit Miku-chan and the others. The big sisters’ll love you, Sakura.”

Animal bonding’s great for kids’ emotional growth, they say.

Dinner’s dry food and milk for Sakura, SDF canned rations for me.

“Here, ahh~”

I toss a piece of dry food in her mouth, and she chows down like lunch.

Her tail’s a fan blade now.

Great appetite.

She loves the milk—good.

…Can’t you not dunk your face, though?

Gotta grab meds next pet shop trip.

Something for malaria or filaria prevention.

With no vet shots now, I gotta watch her health.

Time to study that book more.

After dinner, I play with Sakura to settle our stomachs.

Tug-of-war with a rope toy, tossing a squeaky ball.

Man, this is great.

My childhood dream came true outta nowhere.

Sakura’s barking “more, more!” while smacking the rope on my knee. I roughhouse with her.

Alright! I’ll play forever!!

…Yeah, puppies tire out fast.

I look at a zonked-out Sakura and reflect.

I scoop her up, put her in the cage, and lock it.

Good time to sleep.

I haul the deluxe bedding to my upstairs room.

…Like a fancy hotel.

Should sleep like a dream tonight…

“Hyann! Hyann!!”

What’s wrong, Sakura!?

I rush downstairs to find her clinging to the cage, whining “kyun kyun.”

She goes wild when she sees me.

…Lonely, huh.

First night in a new place, all alone—my bad.

I grab a cushion and a thin blanket, heading to the cage.

“Sorry, Sakura, let’s sleep together.”

I pet her, and she licks my hand, trotting to her bed.

Good, good… or not—she drags the blanket back, pawing at the cage door.

Wants to sleep together?

She’s a puppy, probably scared.

“Alright, alright, come here.”

I open the cage, and she darts around my feet, blanket in mouth.

I use the cushion as a pillow and lie on the floor.

Sakura snuggles up.

I wrap her in the blanket and hold her.

“Tomorrow, you’ll meet a pretty big sister, Sakura. Night.”

I pat the blanket gently, and she falls asleep fast, like during the nap.

…Guess I’ll bring bedding to the living room next time.

Wincing at the hard floor, I close my eyes.

That night, no nightmares.

Instead, I dream of Sakura and her mom running happily in a wide meadow.