Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 94: The Journey Home

Chapter 94: The Journey Home

“Hey, I’ve been looking after Sakura-chan, Tanakano-san.”

After the sudden brawl with the mysterious female SDF member Yamada, ended by Kanzaki-san’s critical palm strike, we step out of the hospital entrance.

Waiting for us is Lieutenant Hanada, sitting on a bench, cradling a peacefully sleeping Sakura.

Whoa… What a mismatch.

It’s like a tiny kitten napping on the lap of a demon king.

“S-Sorry, Hanada-san! Thanks for the trouble…”

“No trouble at all. I love dogs. Got a couple at home myself.”

It’s obvious from how relaxed Sakura looks.

No way a dog-hater could make her this comfy.

“You have dogs too, Hanada-san? What kind?”

“Two wolfdogs. Good boys.”

So fitting~~!!

Wolfdogs… Perfect for him!

Wait, home?

“You said home…?”

“My folks and family are in Ryuugu. Parents, wife, kids… Not sure how they’re doing now.”

Hanada-san’s married, huh.

Parents, wife, kids, dogs… Must be worrying him sick.

Can’t just ditch SDF duties to check on them. Tough spot for a big shot like him.

“Well, as much as I hate to, here’s Sakura-chan back… Oh, Tanakano-san, what happened to your face?”

As I reach for Sakura, Hanada-san’s expression shifts, noticing me.

Guess the shade hid it earlier.

“Huh? My face… Oh.”

I touch my cheek, and it’s slick.

My hand’s got a decent amount of blood.

Left cheek’s got a gash.

…Probably from when Yamada’s punch grazed me.

That jerk was holding something…

Feels like a small knife or something.

Damn, should’ve trained harder on reading attacks.

“T-Tanakano-san!? A-Are you okay!?”

Kanzaki-san rushes over, face pale.

She hadn’t looked at me since the fight, so she’s just noticing now.

“Hmm, seems fine. Look, it’s just my cheek, makes me look rugged…”

“Let me see! …Oh, this… It might scar…”

Kanzaki-san’s more shaken than me, eyes teary.

She doesn’t need to worry that much…

Anyway, disinfection and bandaging come first. She presses gauze soaked in antiseptic to my cheek and secures it.

Owww, it stings like hell.

Don’t want Obasan worrying, so I’ll say I tripped or something.

Good thing it doesn’t need stitches.

“…So, how’d you get that wound?”

“Lieutenant, I’ll explain. Tanakano-san, wait here with Sakura-chan.”

Kanzaki-san and Hanada-san head back into the hospital.

To deal with Yamada, maybe?

“Faa… Uun…! Hyan hyan!”

Sakura wakes up, startled to find me holding her, and starts squirming.

Her tail’s smacking my arm, tickling.

“Hey, I’m back, Sakura. Hanada-san took good care of you, huh?”

“Wau! Waun!”

There, there, you cute little thing.

No, not my cheek! It’s got antiseptic!

Petting Sakura vigorously, I chill on the bench.

Ahh, so peaceful.

Well, it’s an SDF shelter, so no surprise.

Probably the safest spot around.

Even those idiot raiders wouldn’t dare hit this place.

The SDF’s counterattack would be way scarier than the police.

Didn’t notice before, but they’ve got armored vehicles with huge machine guns.

Get hit by one of those, and you’re dead no matter where it lands.

And yet, I got jumped in the middle of this safe zone…

No, that was her fault.

I’m not to blame! …I think.

What was Yamada’s deal, anyway?

Not a case of mistaken identity—she asked my name.

Ugh, the truth’s a mystery.

Hope I never see her again.

She should be grateful I didn’t kill her.

Damn, if I’d known she had a hidden weapon, I’d have thrown a shuriken.

Kanzaki-san’s shuriken toss was slick, though.

“Oh my, Ichirouta-kun.”

Obasan’s back from the hospital.

“You haven’t left yet? Ohh, Sakura-chan~”

“Hyan! Hyan!”

Obasan sits beside me, scoops up Sakura, and nuzzles her.

…So friendly, Sakura.

Obasan’s kindness aura is off the charts.

“Oh, right! Just now, some SDF folks were carrying someone on a stretcher!”

She chats like a housewife at a gossip session.

I flinch.

“Sounded like they were in a lot of pain, ribs really hurting!”

Even if she fell, that’s weird, right? Obasan looks concerned.

The culprit’s me…

“Huh, that’s rough… Anyone you know?”

“I think… maybe Kanzaki-san’s kouhai? She was always chattering ‘Senpai, Senpai’ so cheerfully.”

Hmm, come to think of it, she said something like that before the palm strike…

“Oh? Ichirouta-kun, what’s with the gauze on your cheek?”

“Oh, I was playing with Sakura and tripped… Kanzaki-san patched me up.”

“Honestly, you’re like a kid. Be careful!”

“Sorry…”

Phew, dodged that one.

But why’d Yamada do that…?

Could Kanzaki-san have been badmouthing me, and that set her off…?

…No way.

Kanzaki-san doesn’t seem the type to talk behind backs.

If she’s got a problem, she’d say it to my face.

Ugh, enough!

Wasting brain space on that jerk is pointless!

A total waste of time and life!

Playing with Sakura’s way more productive.

“Oh, right. The guard dogs that got vaccinated are playing with kids in the courtyard. Want to bring Sakura-chan?”

What!? Perfect!

I’m taking Sakura!

She had a scary time with the shot.

Let her play her heart out!

“Let’s go, Sakura!”

“Wan!”

※

“Wait, wait!”

“Kyan!”

“Wait up!”

“Hyan!”

In front of me, Sakura’s darting around the courtyard with the shelter kids.

…Yeah, figures.

I brought her to play, and she instantly became the kids’ idol.

One tiny Mame Shiba among all those Shepherds? No wonder.

Shepherds are cool, but to little kids, they might be scary.

I love ‘em, though.

So, Sakura’s probably helping with the kids’ emotional care… I think.

Me?

“Voff!”

“Huh? Here? Right here?”

“Woo-oo!”

“Got it, got it.”

I’m sitting alone on a bench, feeling a bit lonely after Sakura ditched me.

Then a Shepherd—Chase-kun from earlier—came over, maybe taking pity.

I spotted a small mat in his fur and used Sakura’s brush to groom him.

He was thrilled, licking my face like crazy.

Next thing I know, I’m surrounded by Shepherds.

The nearby SDF folks are chuckling at the absurdity.

I’m shocked too.

These guard dogs aren’t exactly neglected, you know.

“Kuun.”

“Oh, sorry, sorry, you’re next.”

Next customer, please!

…If the world ever gets back to normal, maybe I’ll be a dog groomer.

※

“Well, well… Quite a scene.”

While I’ve turned into a full-on manual grooming machine, Hanada-san calls out from behind.

Whoa, impressive.

The surrounding SDF members snap to salute.

…I usually talk casually with him, but moments like this remind me he’s a big deal.

“Haha… It just kinda happened.”

“Enviable… Oh, about that SDF member…”

He lowers his voice, so I match him.

Getting jumped by an SDF member isn’t something to broadcast—it’d tank morale.

I hate that jerk, but my respect for the SDF is maxed out.

“…Yamada, she called herself?”

Huh, was that not her name?

For a split second, Hanada-san’s vibe turns menacing.

…A fake name?

Why, though?

“…Not important now. Our issue. About her… I’m sorry.”

Hanada-san suddenly bows.

Stop! Don’t bow in public like this!!

Everyone’s staring! It’s killing me!

“Do you remember sparring with me before?”

“…Yeah, something like that.”

More like a sneak attack.

It was just a light test.

If we went all out, I’d probably lose in hand-to-hand.

He’d lock or break my joints the moment he grabbed me.

Swordplay with some tricks might give me a shot… Why am I thinking about fighting him?

He’s not Master or a senpai…

“The rumor spread, and some hotshot SDF member tried the same thing. That’s what caused this.”

So she was a battle junkie?

But she went for her knife…

…Something doesn’t add up, but digging deeper might stir up trouble.

“I see…”

“My failure. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again, so please, let it go.”

“No worries, it’s not a big deal.”

Just a cheek scratch.

The earlier spar was a test, so I wasn’t mad.

This time’s different, though.

A top officer versus a grunt—my response is obviously different.

That spar wasn’t serious.

Yamada was clearly out to kill me.

“(I actually messed her up pretty bad… Is that okay?)”

“(Good medicine for someone who overstepped. Don’t worry.)”

…That’s a chilling tone.

If the boss says it’s fine, I’ll stop thinking about it.

“(I saw the wound. That technique’s meant to crush the sternum and damage organs, right? Your restraint is enough.)”

No way.

He saw through the move’s essence.

“(It’s the same one Taniya-sensei used when he beat me the first time. Nostalgic… ‘Futawa,’ was it? I was hospitalized for two months.)”

…Master’s full-force strike, and only two months!?

I’m never crossing this guy, ever.

No way, no way, no way.

Master’s hit dented a log, and this guy survived it!

“Kyuu!”

Oh, this Shepherd… Norn-chan, right?

Sorry for keeping you waiting~

“Nice fur, you’re a beauty.”

“Kuun.”

“Your partner’s got it easy with you.”

Well-cared-for, no doubt.

Big dogs are cute, cool, and the best.

Hey, you, leaning on my shoulder—wait your turn!

Don’t lick my neck! My hands’ll slip!

Man, I’d take this job anytime.

…Though a pro groomer might hit me with a Shining Wizard for saying that.

“Hahaha, they love you. I’d hire you regularly.”

“Dogs are my thing, so I’d love to come back, haha.”

Let’s keep it light, like adults.

That’s the trick to a fun life… probably.

※

After, I regroup with Kanzaki-san, finish brushing the Shepherds, and leave the hospital.

“…My kouhai… I’m sorry…”

Kanzaki-san shrinks in the passenger seat.

Sakura looks at her curiously.

“Hey, don’t worry about it. Not your fault.”

“But…”

“It’s fine. I already beat her to a pulp.”

I keep my tone bright.

I really don’t blame Kanzaki-san.

I feel bad for her, stuck with a kouhai like that.

“By the way, that shuriken was spot-on. Without it, I’d have had to draw my wakizashi.”

“No… You should’ve just slashed her…”

“I can’t cut an SDF member. If she wasn’t SDF, I would’ve.”

She’s really down.

No need to take it so hard.

“Man, she was tough. Taking the Kawasemi’s Futawa and getting back up?”

“…Kawasemi and Futawa?”

Got her attention.

As expected from a martial arts nerd.

It’s a bit embarrassing, but I’ll explain to cheer her up.

“Kawasemi’s one of the unarmed stances…”

※

“Sorry for making you worry.”

After geeking out over martial arts, things feel back to normal.

Kanzaki-san apologizes again.

“We’re partners, so it’s natural. Done with that annoying topic!”

“…Right, hehe…”

“Hyan! Hyan!”

Kanzaki-san perks up, and Sakura’s thrilled.

What a pain that kouhai was for her.

Let’s drop it… unless that jerk comes back.

The SDF’s got it rough in this mess.

I want Kanzaki-san to at least enjoy these outings or downtime.

When my partner’s down, it drags me down too.

“Speaking of the wound… I’m sorry. My responsibility.”

“Not again! It’s not your fault.”

“…No, it’s my duty. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?”

…Hmm?

If my friend or kouhai put a permanent scar on Kanzaki-san’s face…?

Well…

“…I’d probably kill them, like, 99.9% dead.”

“…!”

What’s with that “Oh no!” face?

“Tanakano-san, please turn back.”

“No, wait! Scratch that! Half-dead, I’d make them half-dead! You don’t need to do anything, Kanzaki-san! I handled it!”

Crap, that’s her “I’m finishing this” face.

Half-dead plus half-dead equals full-dead!

Too violent.

“B-But…”

“A man’s scar is different from a woman’s! Plus, it adds some space-pirate coolness, right!?”

“That’s true, but… Uh, well…”

…Why’s she blushing?

“Uh, then give me more canned food! That stuff was good.”

“…I can allocate about two tons. Is that okay?”

“No way! I’d open a canned food shop!”

From explorer Tanakano to broker Tanakano!

And two tons of discretion? What!?

Don’t wanna know!

“Hyan! Wan!”

Sakura, thinking we’re playing, zips between us, spinning.

Cute, but dangerous! I’m driving!

Jeez.

…This isn’t so bad, though.

I calm Kanzaki-san down as she offers even more dangerous stuff, like homemade explosives for home defense, and hit the gas.

…Man, I could use a cigarette…

Today was exhausting, Trash-kun…