Volume 1 - Chapter 3

House in the Woods

Aiko pulled up to a small quaint house nestled in the woods.

The only light came from an irori fire pit inside, casting shadows against thin walls. I could see the silhouettes of people moving around inside before additional lanterns turned on.

I wondered if there were zombies in the woods, but that wouldn't make much sense unless they were already in the woods when the outbreak happened.

We were now a good distance away from the city.

She popped the trunk and I peered inside. It was packed with supplies: canned goods, ramen, flashlights, batteries, bread snacks, and bottles of water.

I also saw a few boxes of baseballs, a pile of baseball bats, and a few other things I couldn't quite make out in the dim light.

"Grab what you can," Aiko said, handing me a couple of bags. "We'll need to get everything inside as quickly as possible."

I nodded and started loading up the bags with trays of food and bottles of water. I could feel my heart racing as I worked, mind still reeling from the events of the past hour.

As we carried the supplies towards the house, a few other people came outside to help. They introduced themselves as Aiko's new friends. There were two other women about our age, as well as an older man and woman. They were all strong and healthy looking.

Together, we managed to get all of the supplies inside in just one trip. Once everything was unloaded, Aiko lead me into the living space, where a fire was crackling in the irori at the center of the room, and people sat near a low table.

"This is where we'll be staying," she said, gesturing around the room. "It's not much, but it's as safe and secure away from the city as we can do for now."

I nodded, feeling relieved by the setting.

I was immediately struck by the warmth and coziness of the space. The walls were thin and made of wood, with a few small windows. The floor was covered in tatami mats, and there was a low table surrounded by cushions.

Aiko lead me over to the fireplace, where a small fire was already burning in the center of some sand. She gestured for me to take a seat on one of the cushions, and I gratefully complied.

The heat from the fire felt good even though it wasn't that cold out to begin with.

I looked around the room, taking in the details. There was some old books on a few shelves. A small altar sat in one corner, adorned with flowers. The only modern amenity I could see was a small radio on a shelf near the fireplace.

Aiko noticed me looking and smiled. "It's not much, but it's all we have," she said. "Maybe we can use it to stay informed about what's happening outside, just in case there's anyone out there who knows how to send radio signals."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Aiko for bringing me here. I couldn't imagine what would have happened to me if I had been out there on my own.

Actually, I could, and I knew I would have been eaten if Aiko hadn't plowed through those zombies in her red sports car.

I smiled, knowing I was saved by an angel.

As we sat by the fire, Aiko's friends introduced themselves. They were all friendly and welcoming, and I could tell they seemed relieved to have another person joining their group.

One of the women, a petite girl with short hair and glasses, brought over a pot of tea and some cups. She poured us each a cup and we sat in silence for a few moments, sipping our tea and listening to the crackling of the fire.

I was never a big tea drinker, but the tea was delicious and relaxing.

She introduced herself to me as Mio. She was a barista, and I found her very easy to speak with.

"Dattan sobacha," the woman said.

I nodded, knowing she was telling me what type of tea it was, but I didn't know very much about different types of tea.

"It's good," I said, being honest.

She told me how she fled the city during the zombie outbreak and drove up here to the mountains praying against all odds that Aiko would arrive. They were childhood friends, even though they hadn't seen each other much lately.

"I always admired Aiko's talent and determination in baseball," Mio said, smiling. "And I remember childhood weekends up here and how far away it is from everyone. When everything happened, I knew I had to come here. I didn't know if she would be here, but I had to try."

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I nodded, having my own admiration for Mio's bravery and determination. I couldn't imagine how scary it must have been for her to drive up here alone, not knowing what she would find.

"I'm glad you made it," I said, smiling back at her. "But did you also die?"

"I was…" Mio nodded sadly, her eyes shining with sadness. "In the middle of something when I felt the shock of a blue surge of energy in my apartment. I thought for sure I was dead, but then I just stood back up."

That actually made sense to me, when hours before it wouldn't have. I was glad I wasn't the only one, and I was starting to get a sense that all of this was very real.

As we continued to talk, I learned more about Mio. She told me about her dream of opening a cozy tea shop that served as a safe haven for weary travelers. It might never happen now because of the zombies.

"I know it's a long shot, especially with everything that's happening now," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "But I can't help but hold onto that dream. It gives me hope for the future."

I nodded, feeling a sense of connection with Mio. I could relate to her desire to hold onto hope, even in the face of uncertainty.

As Mio finished her story, I noticed the other woman about my age sitting quietly in the corner.

She had a heavier figure and looked really tired. It was obvious she had been crying. Aiko had mentioned the mother that watched her children turn into zombies, and it made sense this might be her.

I stood up, walked over to her, and gave a respectful bow. "Hi, I'm Hachiro. It's nice to meet you."

She looked up at me with a distant, sad expression. "Yuki," she said quietly, nodding her head.

I could tell she wasn't in the mood for small talk, so I didn't press her. Instead, I took a seat next to her and tried to make her feel more comfortable.

After a few moments, Yuki took a deep breath and wiped away some tears. "I'm sorry," she said, looking up at me. "I don't mean to be such a downer. It's just... it's still so fresh. Everything is just… so cruel… and unfair."

I nodded, understanding. "It's okay," I said. "You don't have to apologize."

Yuki nodded back, but I could tell she was still struggling. She looked so fragile and vulnerable, like she might break into tears at any moment.

I wanted to help, but I didn't know how. I wasn't a fighter and I was never all that supportive and easy to talk with. I was just an ordinary guy who got lucky enough to come back alive when others didn't seem to.

But maybe that was enough. Maybe just being here, offering a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on was enough to make a difference.

I looked around the room, taking in the faces of the other survivors.

I turned back to Yuki, offering her a smile. "I think we can get through this," I said. "It looks like a good group of people, and I'm thankful that Aiko has saved us."

Yuki looked at me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Yeah," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I could tell she didn't fully believe yet, but I didn't blame her. Neither did I. I didn't even know her full story, but if there was hardly anyone left on earth, we had to stick together.

If we were going to survive, I guessed it would take more than just Aiko the badass baseball woman. It would take all of us.

The old man came over to me and introduced himself as Ryotaro. That was a name I didn't hear very often. He had a kind smile and a twinkle in his eye, despite being more than seventy years old.

"It's nice to have another man around here," he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "And a young man at that! All these women are lovely, but it will get a bit overwhelming, trust me."

I laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie with him. It was true I also felt a little out of place surrounded by all the women.

Most of my youth was spent in and out of foster homes as an only child, or in group homes with other boys. Even as a teenager I didn't spend much time with girls, so I wasn't as familiar with the social etiquettes as some guys.

"I'm glad to be here," I said, smiling back at him. "It's good to have someone to talk with."

Ryotaro nodded, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, I won't keep you up too late. I need my beauty sleep."

We both laughed, and I felt grateful for his presence. It was nice to have someone around who could make light of the situation, even in the midst of chaos. I could tell he liked to be clever and joke with his words.

As Ryotaro headed off to bed, the older woman came over to me. I hadn't met this many new people so quickly in a long time.

Chiemi introduced herself to me, her voice warm and inviting. She asked if I knew Aiko, Yuki, or Mio before today and I shook my head, explaining that I didn't. I told her how Aiko saved me from the zombies.

The old woman looked over at Aiko, who was standing by the fireplace in the center of the room, and the two of them nodded at on another. Aiko smiled at me, and I felt grateful for her help.

Then Chiemi turned back to me, her expression becoming more serious. "Listen, young man. I want you to know that we take care of each other here. If you hurt any of the girls, I will kill you myself."

I gulped, feeling the seriousness of Chiemi's words. She looked like a sweet old woman, but her words surprised me and really struck fear in my heart. It was clear she was a very protective person.

"I won't dream of it," I said quickly. "I've already died once it seems like, and look where it got me."

Chiemi smiled, trying not to laugh. "That's right. We're all in this for better or worse now. We need to stick together if we don't plan on dying again."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. I was glad Chiemi was looking out for the women, and I was grateful to be a part of the group.

As we continued talking, I learned more about Chiemi. She told me about the store she worked at just down the road a few minutes, and how her husband died a few years ago.

Chiemi talked about how she loved cooking and how she used to make meals for the community. She had several pretend daughters that started as regular shoppers at the store and became like family.

She was worried and stressed about them. They were probably zombies now and that made her sad.

"I'm here for anyone who needs me." She said, her voice tinged with sadness, "and anything else that needs doing. I can cook and clean and take care of everyone. That's my way of helping."

After a few minutes of polite banter, Chiemi went and sat near the fireplace to stay warm. It wasn't a cold night, but it was getting cool.

As I finished my tea, I looked over at Aiko and smiled.

I knew these people would do whatever it took to keep us safe. Aiko was the type of person who was fiercely compassionate about doing what was best. I fell in love with her at first sight, and not just because she saved my life.

Maybe we would get a chance to spend more time alone. For now, though, I was content to sit by the fire and enjoy the warmth and general companionship of the people around me.

It was already better than my old life in at least a few ways. For starters, I had no stress or worry about having to work the next day. That life was over with.

I thought about some of my old coworkers and my boss again, and I wondered if they were zombies, or if they had been given a second chance the way we did.

It didn't matter, I decided. It seemed as though we were living in a new world.

Nothing that mattered before mattered now.