Chapter 21: A Mother's Rescue
May 1, 20XX, 12:45 p.m. - The Other Side of the Barrier, Tokonosu City
The Humvee slowed to a stop just ahead of the fire truck, its engine finally quieting down after the tense escape. Inside, the occupants began to relax, their bodies slowly unwinding from the adrenaline-filled moments just before. Shizuka Marikawa, gripping the steering wheel, let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her knuckles were white from the tight grip on the wheel, and her entire body felt like it had been trembling since she hit the brakes. For a moment, all she could do was sit in the driver's seat and let the relief wash over her.
Rei Miyamoto, who had been lying in the back seat since her fall, groaned softly as she began to regain her senses. Her vision was still a bit blurry, but the pain in her body was starting to fade into a dull ache. As she lifted her head to look around, she spotted the fire truck and a small group of firefighters standing nearby. Her mind, still hazy, processed the fact that they had made it to safety. Despite the soreness in her muscles, a wave of relief washed over her.
Shizuka finally opened the door and stepped out, her legs unsteady beneath her as she planted her feet on solid ground. The rest of the group followed her lead, climbing out of the Humvee. Takashi Komuro was the last to exit, lingering for a moment to glance back at the heavy concrete barrier they had barely passed through. The muffled groans of the undead still echoed faintly from behind the blockade, a grim reminder of the danger they had narrowly escaped. His thoughts drifted to Blake and Saeko, still on the other side, fighting their way through the horde. A knot of worry tightened in his chest, but he pushed it aside for now—they had to trust that Blake and Saeko would make it through.
The group made their way toward the firefighters who had saved them. Their saviors were all clad in full firefighting gear, their faces hidden behind visors and protective masks. Shizuka, her heart swelling with gratitude, approached the one who seemed to be in charge. With a deep bow, she spoke, her voice filled with emotion. “Thank you so much for helping us. We wouldn’t have made it without you.”
The firefighter in charge tilted their head slightly, a gloved hand lifting to remove the helmet. The heavy gear came off, revealing a woman’s face—sharp yet gentle, her eyes filled with warmth and confidence. Her short hair, slightly damp from the gear, framed her face as she smiled at Shizuka.
“It’s no big deal,” the woman replied, her voice carrying a tender, motherly tone. “After all, it was only natural for me to save my daughter and her friends.”
The group stood frozen in shock, her words hanging in the air as they tried to process what had just been said. Saya Takagi’s heart skipped a beat, her mind struggling to reconcile the familiar voice with the unexpected situation. Slowly, recognition dawned, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Mom?” Saya’s voice cracked, barely more than a whisper as she spoke. “Mom!” Her voice rose, trembling with emotion as tears welled up in her eyes. She didn’t wait another second—Saya rushed forward, throwing herself into her mother’s arms.
Yuriko Takagi, a woman known for her composure and strength, softened in that moment as she caught her daughter in a loving embrace. Tears spilled from Saya’s eyes as she buried her face in her mother’s shoulder, clinging to her as if she might disappear at any moment. All the fear, the pain, and the exhaustion of the past few days came pouring out as Saya sobbed into her mother’s arms, her body shaking with the force of her emotions.
Yuriko held her daughter close, gently stroking her hair. “It’s alright, Saya. You’re safe now,” she whispered, her voice soothing. Despite the chaos of the world around them, this moment between mother and daughter was one of pure love and relief.
Takashi, standing a few steps away, watched the reunion with a soft smile. Seeing Saya reunited with her mother brought a sense of peace to him, a reassurance that they had found a place of safety, even if only for a while. Yuriko Takagi was a strong, capable leader, and having her by their side gave Takashi confidence that they could navigate the dangerous road ahead.
As he stood there, basking in the heartwarming scene before him, a sudden crackle from the Humvee drew his attention. His brow furrowed in confusion as he turned back toward the vehicle, recognizing the unmistakable sound of a radio coming to life. He hurried over to the passenger seat, quickly finding the extra handheld radio they had taken from the convenience store earlier. Static buzzed from the speaker for a moment before a familiar voice broke through.
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“This is Blake. Do you read me? I repeat, this is Blake.”
Takashi’s heart surged with relief as he grabbed the radio, pressing down the button to respond. “Blake! We hear you. What’s your status?”
Blake’s voice came through, clear but strained, the distant sounds of gunfire echoing faintly on his end. “We’re still alive. Saeko and I are holding up for now, but we had to take a different route. The horde’s thick back here, so it’s going to take a while to catch up. How’s everyone on your side?”
Takashi glanced back at the group, his eyes falling on Saya still wrapped in her mother’s arms. A smile tugged at his lips. “We’re safe. We made it through the barrier, thanks to some unexpected help. Yuriko Takagi and her crew saved us.”
There was a pause on the other end, followed by Blake’s voice, sounding relieved. “Good to hear. Saeko and I will find another way to the Takagi estate. We’ll meet you there.”
Takashi’s grip on the radio tightened. “Are you sure? We can wait.”
“No,” Blake replied firmly. “Keep moving forward. The estate is your best chance to regroup and resupply. We’ll be fine.”
Takashi hesitated for a moment, his worry for his friends still lingering, but he trusted Blake’s judgment. “Alright. Stay safe, Blake. We’ll see you soon.”
As the transmission ended, Takashi lowered the radio, his thoughts lingering on Blake and Busujima. Being separated from the group weighed heavily on him, but there was little they could do for now. They had to keep moving, just as Blake had said.
Takashi turned and walked back toward the group, where Yuriko had stepped away from Saya, her face a mix of pride and concern. She was speaking quietly to her daughter when she noticed Takashi approaching. She raised an eyebrow, a slight frown on her face as she looked at him. “Blake?” she repeated, as if processing the unfamiliar name. “And… Busujima? I know Rei and Takashi from before, but who are these new friends of yours, Saya?”
Saya blinked, pulling away from her mother as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Oh, right,” she sniffled, her voice still shaky. “I didn’t get the chance to tell you, but we picked up a few more people along the way.” She glanced at Takashi, silently asking him to explain further.
Takashi nodded, stepping forward to clarify. “Blake Henderson is an American student who transferred to our school not too long ago. He’s been a huge help… honestly, we wouldn’t have made it this far without him. He’s smart, resourceful, and he’s saved us more times than I can count. As for Busujima, she’s one of our schoolmates—she is part of the kendo club. She’s incredible with her sword, and she’s been fighting alongside us since the outbreak started.”
Yuriko’s eyes softened as she listened to Takashi, but there was still a hint of curiosity. “I see. It seems you’ve found some capable allies.”
Before she could inquire further, Shizuka Marikawa stepped forward, bowing her head slightly. “I’m Shizuka Marikawa, the school nurse. I’ve been helping take care of everyone… as best as I can.” Her tone was light, but there was a trace of modesty in her voice. She knew her skills were limited, but she had done everything in her power to keep the group safe and healthy.
Kohta Hirano, who had been standing off to the side, shuffled his feet nervously before stepping up as well. “And… I’m Kohta Hirano,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “I, uh, know a lot about guns and… well, I’ve been helping out in combat.” His voice was quiet, almost shy, but his contribution to the group had been invaluable. Without his knowledge and precision, they might not have survived many of the battles they had faced.
Yuriko’s gaze shifted to each member of the group in turn, her eyes thoughtful as she absorbed the introductions. She could see the strength and determination in each of them, but also the exhaustion that weighed heavily on their shoulders. These weren’t the carefree students she had known through Saya—they were survivors, hardened by the harsh new world they lived in.
“Well, it sounds like you’ve all been through more than enough,” Yuriko said after a moment. She looked at Saya again, her expression softening. “I’m glad you found people you can rely on, Saya.”
Saya nodded, her composure slowly returning as she squared her shoulders. “Yeah… they’re the reason I’m still alive.”
Yuriko offered her daughter a small smile, but the conversation was cut short when Takashi cleared his throat, stepping forward. “Blake and Saeko are still on the other side of the barrier. They’re taking a different route, but they’ll meet us at the estate once they find a way through.”
Yuriko’s face grew serious again as she considered this new information. “So they’re still out there,” she muttered, her eyes narrowing slightly. “We’ll make sure they have a safe place to come back to. For now, we need to get to the estate.”
Takashi and the others nodded in agreement, the weight of the moment settling over them once more. Yuriko turned to her crew of firefighters, giving them a nod as they began preparing to move out. With her leadership, it was clear they had a plan and a safe destination in mind.
As the group climbed back into the Humvee, ready to make the final push to the Takagi estate, there was a renewed sense of purpose among them. Blake and Saeko might still be out there, but they trusted in their friends’ abilities. The estate awaited them, a beacon of safety in a world filled with uncertainty. And now, with Yuriko Takagi by their side, they felt just a little more hopeful that they could survive whatever came next.
The convoy of vehicles rumbled forward, leaving the barrier behind. With every turn of the wheels, the safety of the Takagi estate drew nearer. But even as they moved toward the promise of sanctuary, they all knew that safety was never guaranteed in this new world. There would be more challenges ahead, but for now, they had each other—and that was enough to keep going.
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End of Chapter 21