Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 90: The Laid-Back Ooki-kun

Chapter 90: The Laid-Back Ooki-kun

“What a great day, huh, Kanzaki-san!”

“…”

“Right, Sakura?!”

“Wan!”

“…I’ve been kinda worn out lately, so let’s take it easy today, Kanzaki-san!”

“…”

“You think so too, right, Sakura?!”

“Hyann! Hyann!”

…What’s going on here?

Hello, everyone! I’m Ichirouta, the unemployed hero! And this is my Mame Shiba, Sakura!!

Today, like always, I’m driving my trusty truck for some exploration!

This time, we’re headed to Ooki-kun’s place for a bit of fun—er, I mean, exploration!

But here’s the thing!

The vibe in the truck is awful.

I couldn’t help but start my internal “Unemployed Express Delivery” monologue, but something’s off with Kanzaki-san.

She’s staring straight ahead, not saying a word.

I’m used to it by now, but Sakura was practically panicking.

I mean, her usually kind Oneesan suddenly going silent? No wonder.

That said, she’s still skillfully petting Sakura with one hand, so Sakura seems fine with it.

Is that okay?

Thinking back, she’s been like this since we stopped by Yurei this morning.

She won’t meet my eyes and hasn’t said a thing.

I wondered if she was feeling off and even suggested canceling today’s trip.

But then she grabbed my sleeve tightly and shook her head side to side.

When I asked if she still wanted to go, she nodded up and down just as vigorously.

I don’t get it, but she’s set on exploring, so we got in the truck, and here we are.

…Did I do something?

I’m drawing a complete blank.

Last time we met, we were just hectic with that psycho stepdad nonsense.

Maybe she’s mad because I rushed off with Occhan and the stuff without a proper goodbye?

…Nah, no way.

Nope, nope.

Kanzaki-san’s not that petty, right? Yeah.

…Then what’s going on?

Hmm, maybe a killer toothache? She seems to like sweets.

…Nah, no way.

She’s probably super diligent about brushing her teeth.

Now I’m stumped.

Every possible reason I can think of is a bust.

She came along, so she’s probably willing to help with the exploration.

But in this state, it could be trouble if something sudden happens.

More than that, I can’t handle this atmosphere.

I’d light a cigarette to calm down, but my beloved Sakura’s right here.

…Alright, I’ll apologize.

It’s the worst kind of apology—not knowing what I did wrong—but here goes.

I pull the truck over to the shoulder and cut the engine.

It’s a clear, straight road, so no zombie worries.

Kanzaki-san shifts slightly.

Deep breath.

“Um… Kanzaki-san, I, uh…”

“…”

“I’m really sorry!!”

“Waf!”

“…!”

Whoops, too loud.

Sakura and Kanzaki-san both flinch at the same time.

“Did I… do something wrong? I’m ashamed to say I’ve got no clue… I know it’s lame of me.”

“…”

“But I don’t want to go exploring like this… It’s, like…”

“…”

“Going around with you is fun, Kanzaki-san. So if I made you mad, please tell me.”

“…”

“Even if it’s not me, if you’re dealing with something, you can tell me… I can at least listen.”

“…”

I finish, and silence fills the truck again.

Even Sakura seems to read the room, staying quiet.

Wait, no, she’s nibbling my hand.

“Um…”

Kanzaki-san finally speaks, her voice heavy.

Her eyes stay fixed ahead.

“It’s not… that I’m mad at you, Tanakano-san…”

Her face turns redder by the second as she stammers.

What’s happening?

“Yesterday… you yelled at that guy for me, didn’t you?”

…She means Nakajima?

…Oh no, OH NO!!

That line!?

I’m dying of embarrassment…!!

Sakura! Just bite my carotid artery already!! Wait, no, that’s gross!! Forget I said that!!

“Uh, uh, uh… that was because I thought he was gonna hurt you…”

My face is burning.

Why did I say that?

Kanzaki-san could’ve crushed a guy like him without my help…

“No man has ever… said something like that to me before, so… um…”

Kanzaki-san looks down, her helmet hiding her eyes, but her neck’s bright red.

“I was… shocked, and I made things awkward… I’m sorry.”

“Oh, uh, r-really…?”

…Now the air’s heavy for a different reason.

“Tanakano-san, you, um… I—”

“Abababababa!?”

“!?”

Sakura suddenly leaps at me, whining “kyun kyun” and licking my face like crazy.

What’s this all of a sudden!?

Did she think we were fighting!?

Now she’s going for Kanzaki-san!

“Hyah!? Wait, Sakura-chan!? Pfft, stop, stop it!”

Kanzaki-san’s eyes go wide in panic.

After licking us both, Sakura hops back to her seat.

“Waf!”

She’s got this “I did it” look.

Ugh, that smug face is too cute…

“Sakura, you little… Phew, haha, hahaha!”

“Fufu, ahahaha!”

Kanzaki-san and I lock eyes and burst out laughing.

Worried by a dog, of all things.

“Haha… Phew, so, what were you saying?”

“Fufu… No, it’s fine. …Thank you, Tanakano-san.”

“?”

She was about to say something… but if she’s okay, then fine.

“You little troublemaker, Sakura-chan.”

“Fafu…”

Kanzaki-san pets Sakura firmly.

She’s back to normal.

Well, I don’t know what happened, but this works.

…Probably!!

We chat normally as I start driving again.

Now, what should I snag from Ooki-kun’s place today?

Maybe hit up some anime stuff this time.

Or a few more model kits…

Man, the possibilities are endless!

※

That’s what I was thinking, but…

“…What the hell is this…?”

“It’s a disaster.”

I grip the steering wheel, jaw dropped at the sight before us.

Sakura’s sneezing cutely—“kushun kushun”—probably from the smoke.

Ooki-kun’s base, the used bookstore.

Thick smoke billows from the parking lot out front.

Cars that weren’t here before are parked, all wrecked.

Some are crumpled, others split clean in half—what a mess.

The smoke seems to be coming from them.

Gasoline must’ve spilled and caught fire.

Parts of the lot are still burning, flickering wildly.

It’s like hell.

“That kind of damage…”

Kanzaki-san notices something.

“Tanakano-san! Look at that…!”

I follow her finger.

Near the wrecked cars.

Scattered parts and a ton of red liquid.

Human remains.

Ugh, gruesome.

This’d make a splatter flick blush.

“The cars… they were all destroyed by some kind of explosive. The people too.”

Figured as much.

Nothing else explains this carnage.

Explosives, huh…

“Ooki-kun’s doing?”

“Most likely.”

Yeah, no doubt.

What happened here?

No signs of zombies or survivors, so we decide to check it out.

I park a bit away from the mess, tucking Sakura into my chest pouch before getting out.

If a fire spread to the truck, we’d be screwed.

Stepping into the lot, a wave of heat and the stench of burning hits us.

Sakura trembles, shoving her face into my vest.

Poor thing, she’s scared.

And it probably stinks.

I take her out of the pouch and tuck her into my vest, kangaroo-style.

It’s roomy enough, and I tie the waist shut so she won’t fall.

She seems to calm a bit, comforted by my warmth.

The bookstore itself looks undamaged.

The first-floor glass is cracked or shattered, but the barricades inside are intact.

We exchange a glance with Kanzaki-san and approach slowly.

“Hey! Tanakano-san! And Kanzaki-san too! Long time no see!”

As we near the bookstore, a cheerful voice rings out.

Ooki-kun, same as ever, pops his head over the rooftop.

I relax a bit, calling back a little louder.

“Yo… Ooki-kun, what’s all this?”

“Well… stuff happened. Come on up, let’s talk!”

A ladder slides down.

I don’t distrust Ooki-kun, but I subtly shift my wakizashi for easy access.

Kanzaki-san unfastens her holster’s strap.

There’s a slim chance he’s been caught by some bad guys and this is a trap… probably not, but better safe.

I keep a hand near my wakizashi and climb the slanted ladder.

Sakura, nestled in my vest, looks puzzled by the swaying.

On the rooftop, it’s just Ooki-kun, same as always.

No other presence.

…False alarm.

I wait for Kanzaki-san to join us before approaching him.

“Hey, Tanakano-san… Did you put on weight?”

Ooki-kun tilts his head, eyeing my stomach.

“Nah, I didn’t suddenly gain just belly fat… Look.”

I pull Sakura out of my vest and pop her back into the pouch—piledriver on!

She stares at Ooki-kun, curious about the new face.

“Wow, she’s adorable! …What’s her story?”

“Found her a while back. Her mom was dead, so I took her in. Her name’s Sakura, by the way.”

Ooki-kun, usually pretty deadpan, lights up.

He gets creepy hyped when filming, though.

The power of a puppy is unreal.

“She got lucky, picked up by a good guy, huh, Sakura-chan~”

“Hyann!”

Sakura barks back energetically.

※

We’re invited inside, so we head to the same room as before.

With Ooki-kun’s okay, Sakura’s sniffing around, exploring the room.

Turns out Ooki-kun’s a dog lover… or rather, an animal lover.

“Animals are great. Unlike humans, they don’t betray your trust.”

I catch a glimpse of deep darkness behind Ooki-kun’s smile as he pets Sakura.

…After what he went through, no wonder he’s wary of people.

“Here, coffee. Help yourselves.”

A steaming cup is set in front of me.

Smells good.

It’s overwriting the stench from earlier…

“Can I give Sakura-chan a treat?”

“Sure, but… no snacks, okay?”

“No worries, it’s puppy-safe sasami jerky.”

Nice prep.

They stock stuff like that here?

“It’s my emergency food. Roasted with soy sauce, it’s pretty tasty.”

…Uh, okay.

Pet food’s got a long shelf life and isn’t a high-priority grab.

…Maybe I should consider it.

“Tanakano-san, Ooki-san, if you’re ever in a pinch, I can share some SDF rations, okay?”

Kanzaki-san, don’t look at us like we’re pitiful creatures.

It stings.

“Here, Sakura-chan~ Sasami~”

“Waf… kuun.”

“It’s fine, Sakura, you can eat it.”

“Hyann!”

※

“…So, what’s with the carnage outside?”

I ask, watching Sakura munch the jerky between her front paws on the floor.

She’s cute no matter what she does.

“Oh, listen to this~”

Ooki-kun jumps in eagerly.

Here’s what he said.

About three days ago, he started seeing unfamiliar survivors around—types he wouldn’t want to befriend.

Ten at first, up to twenty at times.

Seemed like the same group.

Their presence was stressing him out, messing with his filming.

He kept a low profile, avoiding being seen.

But somehow, they spotted him.

This morning, as he was about to head out, cars were parked in the lot.

The group’s leader demanded he hand over the place.

Ooki-kun refused flat-out, and they flipped out for no reason.

“…What exactly did you say to refuse?”

“Uh, I was half-asleep, so it’s fuzzy, but something like, ‘I’m not giving my home to socially and productively useless, slightly smart chimpanzees like you. There’s a zoo in Ryuugu, so try there.’”

“…Right… Never mind, go on.”

After several “persuasions” (more like taunts) from Ooki-kun, they didn’t back off.

They started breaking the first-floor glass to get in.

So he gave up on talking and used his stockpile of bombs to wipe them out.

…He casually has bombs stashed? That’s wild.

“That’s the story. Noisy in the morning, annoying, and now it’s all bloody and stinky.”

“Why’re you summing it up so neatly… Well, glad you’re okay.”

I give a wry smile at Ooki-kun’s usual hard-to-read vibe.

Sakura, done with her jerky, hops onto my lap, so I pat her back.

“I used too many bombs this time, so I’ll need to gather more materials.”

“You used that many?”

“Yeah, got a bit hyped and went all ‘poi-poi!’ Broke some glass too.”

He gives a “teehee” look.

…He’s unhinged in a different way from me, but he’s got it together.

You need that kind of mentality to survive.

Zombies are one thing, but tricky survivors are a pain.

“Were there any survivors?”

Kanzaki-san joins in, petting Sakura, who’s snuffling happily on my lap.

“…I think one car’s missing. I blew them up in all directions, so I’m not sure.”

That’s a bit of a problem.

“…Could they come back with reinforcements?”

“As Tanakano-san said, it’s possible. Where’d they come from?”

“Uh… there was a guy on a scooter. Plate was from Yachiyodashi. I smashed it, though.”

Yachiyodashi City… Way past Akizuki Town, like two hours by car?

If they were a scouting party, the main group might show up…

“…If it’s okay, I can stay here! …Uh, Kanzaki-san, would you stay too?”

She pinches my side hard… Ouch.

Sakura, startled by my yelp, jumps off and spins on the floor.

The ultimate Mame Shiba Slash… No, it’s a horizontal spin, so maybe not.

“Of course. We’re partners.”

Kanzaki-san’s got a bit of a smug look.

“…That’d help a lot, but are you sure? Especially you, Kanzaki-san… with the shelter…”

“I’ll put in a word, so it should be fine. In times like these, someone who can gather intel and fight is valuable.”

I’m jobless, so I’ve got no one to answer to.

…That’s kinda sad… but I’m used to it.

“Alright, then… what now?”

“Not much to do, really.”

“We should move the car first. It’s too exposed there.”

Good call, Kanzaki-san’s so reliable!

“You can use the garage in the back. Just my bike’s in there, so there’s room.”

Ooki-kun hands me a key—probably for the shutter.

“You ride a bike, Ooki-kun?”

Kinda surprising.

I pictured him on a bicycle or something.

“Always loved ‘em, especially off-road ones. …My ex-fiancée told me to quit riding if we got married. Now I ride as much as I want, fuhaha!!”

“…Uh, sounds like you went through a lot.”

Don’t just spew darkness like that.

It startled me and Sakura.

※

“Yosh… koi-shoi!”

The garage shutter rattles up.

There’s Ooki-kun’s bike.

Looks rugged, like it could tear through mountains.

Super useful in this mess.

Bikes are cool, but they can’t carry much.

My truck’s still the ultimate ride.

Wait, another off-road bike?

It’s parked deeper in.

Solid, cool design.

It’s… green?

…This looks familiar from a movie.

Oh, no way…

“…That’s a JSDF recon motorcycle.”

“Wah! …Oh, it’s just you, Kanzaki-san.”

She popped up beside me, startling me.

It’s hard to sense someone with no killing intent.

“That one?”

Ooki-kun walks over.

…He’s sprinkling something oily on the ground.

What’s he doing!?

Oh, burning the human parts in the lot.

Leaving them would rot and cause trouble.

He’s roughly gathered the parts in one spot.

…It’s a hellscape.

Can’t let Miku-chan or the others see this—they’d be traumatized for life.

“Picked it up at a recon site. It was abandoned for days, engine busted.”

“You fixed it?”

“I’m great with machines. There’s an auto shop nearby.”

He makes bombs too, huh.

Ooki-kun’s seriously capable.

I’m all-in on close combat, so I can’t compete.

“Gotta use what’s available. …Sorry to the SDF owner, though.”

“No issue. Limited resources should be used effectively.”

Kanzaki-san’s cool with it.

As long as he didn’t attack a soldier for it.

I park the truck in the garage and lower the shutter.

Then I help Ooki-kun gather the human parts.

He’s embarrassed, but it’s no big deal.

First time seeing stuff this torn up, but I’ve made my share of bodies.

We leave the small bits and burn the big ones.

…Hey, that head part, stop glaring at me like that.

Ooki-kun piles up scavenged wood, and we retreat to the rooftop.

Staying below risks getting caught in the flames or stench.

“Namo~ ami~ daaan~bu~”

I chant a half-hearted prayer for them.

“That’s a weird chant, like a song… Can I film—”

“No way!”

“Alright… Can I film Sakura-chan later?”

Well, that’s probably fine.

A dog can’t be identified by looks.

“Sakura’s got a cherry blossom pattern on her front paw. Don’t film that, and it’s okay.”

“Sweet! She’ll be the star of the video~ Puppies are~”

…He’s always so cheerful, good for him.

“Let’s wrap this up and start filming!”

Ooki-kun, grinning, lights an oil-soaked torch and tosses it into the lot.

“Tamaya!”

“…That’s not the right chant.”

“Not quite.”

We can’t help but retort as flames roar up in front of us.

They’re burning strong.

Alright, let’s head inside.

Will a follow-up crew show up?

Guess we’ll wait and see.