"How are you feeling now, Taki?"

Tanaka sat beside the brown-haired woman.

"Still feel sick and sore!"

Taki, the girl who now has to lie down in an unusual position because she has to endure the pain she is experiencing.

"I didn't expect that the anesthetic wouldn't work well..."

Tanaka touched Taki's forehead. He is trying to check how the temperature was.

Previously, the woman had a very severe fever. However, in just one day, the fever can subside.

"This is the painkiller..."

Tanaka handed her a vial which was a container of painkiller medicine.

"Taki, I'll be out in a bit. If you need anything, you just drop this thing to call me!"

Tanaka put down a can containing a small metal object. When dropped, the sound that will be made is quite loud.

"Humu,"

Taki answered. She with a holding look on her face understood Tanaka's intentions.

Tanaka himself couldn't bear to see Taki who has to endured the excruciating pain left alone. However, Tanaka himself could do nothing but prepare the items or medicine that Taki needed.

Minor surgery has been done. Now just waiting for the results of the treatment.

Tanaka came out of the room, leaving Taki alone.

He was now heading downstairs and saw two people he knew pointing guns at each other. They are Yuki and Haruka.

"Hey, what are you guys doing!"

Tanaka who was a bit panicked immediately let out a small scream as he ran over. He considered that the situation was an urgent situation.

"Tanaka, this girl is too suspicious!"

"Ha? What do you mean, bitch. I didn't even do anything!"

Yuki explained towards Tanaka followed by Haruka who negated. They were clearly in a conflict that perhaps only Tanaka could mediate.

Yuki pushed the gun forward and so did Haruka.

Tanaka himself still didn't understand what had happened. However, what he really wanted is a cool head from the two of them.

"Alright alright, calm down and cool your heads first… If this isn't a big deal, there's no need to threaten each other like this, right?"

Tanaka approached while lowering the two guns downwards. The gun that had been aimed directly at the heads of each party was now aimed at the cement surface.

Yamada and the other two students looked confused and speechless. They obviously had nothing to do with this. That's what Tanaka thought.

Tanaka was silent for a moment, watching the two of them. He wanted to ask the two of them, but was at a loss as to who to start with.

"Okay, you fierce girl... explain to me what's going on!"

Tanaka who doesn't know Haruka's name yet calls her a fierce girl. He named it that because of the girl's gaze and face like a fierce thug.

"Ugh, my name is Haruka... Basically, I was just about to check whether the food this girl made was poisonous or not. I dropped a few spoonfuls of food near the line of ants until suddenly this girl came and pointed her gun at me. At that time, she was getting closer and closer until I managed to grab one of her guns... I didn't mean to kill anyone. I just wanted our situation to be equal!"

Haruka explained. She showed the shape of the gun she was holding to Tanaka around the end of her sentence.

Tanaka understood it. He had already guessed that this conflict wasn't really that important. This is just the temperament of the two high school kids who are still just going through puberty.

That's what Tanaka thought.

"All right, Yuki. I know you have other reasons that make you have to point a gun!"

"Tanaka, she's too suspicious. Let me explain. You knew earlier that I had locked their bedroom door didn't you... Yes, but when I came back to unlock it, it was already unlocked. When I went in to tell them, this girl who proclaim her name as Haruka suddenly appeared from behind the boarding house... Besides, she also spilled the food I made with a little laugh harassing me!"

Yuki explained. In between explanations, Tanaka nodded in agreement that Yuki had locked the bedroom door. On the other hand, Haruka softly said 'my name really is Haruka' towards Tanaka.

"Hmmm... alright. I understand. Please don't hold that dangerous weapon too tightly because it looks scary. I know you guys didn't mean anything bad about this incident, but please don't harm the others. Okay!"

Tanaka, who had come to a conclusion, tapped the two girls' shoulders. Haruka watched the man's movements quite sharply. Yuki is a bit disappointed by how Tanaka wasn't taking into her side.

"Alright, fierce girl, you're worried whether this food is poisonous or not aren't you… Then instead of ants that we don't will die or not from the poison, it's better that humans taste it right away, right?"

Tanaka took a spoonful of the curry that Yuki made. He tried it.

Haruka who had no reason to act aggressively now sat down. She didn't want to give back the weapon she had snatched before.

After all, that was Haruka's original goal.

'Well, let's just say I'm lending that gun to her, Tanaka!'

Inside, Tanaka tried to calm himself down.

The man himself felt that what Haruka had done was outrageous. However, it was normal not to feel safe to be inside the territory of an unknown party.

This reminded him of how Yuki acted when he first met the blonde girl. This zombie apocalypse is sure have to change the views of many people. That's what Tanaka thought.

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"...By the way, Yuki. The curry isn't spicy at all. Good job!"

Tanaka who was still adding a few spoonfuls of curry commented. He gave a thumbs up towards Yuki.

The blonde haired girl was now more relieved. Disappointment shifted.

The six people then sat down in front of the floor. They sat cross-legged on the cement floor.

Yamada who was still a bit scared of Tanaka moved very carefully. Haruka who already had a gun felt more secure, but she still had her guard up against Yuki. Akira who didn't care about the conflict took two plates of curry. One for herself and one for Asagi who silently stroking her round package.

Tanaka felt relaxed and at the same time wary of Haruka who had a gun. Yuki is the same as Tanaka, it's just that she always looks at Haruka sharply.

They ate together, in a somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere.

"... Alright, I guess it's time to start a serious conversation. Do you guys have anything to say about what happened earlier?"

Tanaka started the conversation after they finished their meal.

Haruka tightened her gun. She is very careful, it could be seen from her movements. Yuki also followed.

Neither of them could calm down.

"Let me explain!"

Yamada ventured to try to explain the origin of this incident.

Tanaka nodded letting the bespectacled man speak.

"It started when we were about to head to the North Camp. The four of us were trying to leave on foot. However, our path was blocked by thousands of zombies roaming around. We decided to head back to look for a vehicle. That's when we met your truck. We thought that you went to the hospital to kill yourself or something since you were swallowed into that zombie crowd. Haruka and I decided to take the truck we thought was empty. However, I didn't think that there was someone else in it. We had to make her passed out because she was brandishing a gun. That's how it happened. We never thought that there would be anyone else in the truck and it turns out you made it back safely!"

Yamada explained at length. Akira can be seen nodding in agreement.

Yuki who heard the explanation felt connected. She also thought that Tanaka looked like someone who had attempted suicide. However, that was if he was an ordinary human.

The fact that Tanaka has great strength may have been revealed by the four students based on evidence that Tanaka could escape from the thousands of zombies 'surrounding him'. However, this is not too fatal for the Fire-Nebula Camp.

"Okay, I see what you mean and I can imagine it too. So basically you need something to get you to your destination, right?"

Tanaka tried to rephrase Yamada's intentions. The man with the glasses nodded.

"How about this, I'll take the four of you to that North Camp."

Tanaka tries to strike a deal with the group of students.

"I'm not asking for anything in return... All I want is our gun back. Is that fair enough for you guys?"

Tanaka explained while pointing at the gun that Haruka tightly holding. The black haired girl in the ponytail style flinched slightly.

"Alright, we agree with that!"

"No, wait. I'll hand it over... However, I'll hand it over when you get us there!"

Yamada was about to agree to that until Haruka finally added. Tanaka looked into Haruka's eyes.

"Okay. But, promise not to act aggressively like earlier!"

Tanaka also added. He knew that those aggressive actions all came from that girl named Haruka. Tanaka still calls her a fierce girl because of the nature and style of her face.

The look on her face that reminded Tanaka of his middle school days. The time when he was bullied by female thugs at school.

Haruka nodded in agreement. They were silent for a while until finally a sound of something falling was heard upstairs.

"Ah, sorry, I'll be going upstairs first. You guys stay here for a bit..."

Tanaka immediately stood up and pulled Yuki. However, before he ran upstairs, he turned around.

"And don't try to steal the truck again, okay!"

Tanaka added in a normal tone. It was a soft-sounding warning. A warning that Yamada knew that the consequences could be fatal if violated.

Tanaka and Yuki now went upstairs, leaving the four students outside. Leaving them in too wide a place.

"Fyuhhh... Haruka!"

Yamada wiped his sweaty face then called out to Haruka.

Haruka looked up. She knew what Yamada was going to say.

"What are you doing you bastard... Ughhh. Make sure to apologize to Tanaka-san later!"

Yamada who knew what Haruka was really doing was relieved. That one girl almost made them die at Tanaka's hands.

"Well, that bitch went first-"

"Enough! You have to hold back your feelings Haruka!"

Yamada jerked Haruka who was about to make an excuse. The girl realized that and became pensive.

"Haruka... If you're really planning to intimidate Tanaka-san with that gun. You'd better forget about that stupid plan that will obviously fail!"

Yamada patted Haruka on the shoulder. He knew Haruka's plan with that weapon.

"Yamada, you have no idea how much I need this gamble!"

"It's not a gamble or anything, Haruka! A weak weapon like this will never work against a monster like Tanaka-san!"

Yamada explained. The person who was sure of his instincts warned Haruka.

"I know about that Yamada. But... Ugh, I've already made a bad impression in front of them!"

Haruka who looked very depressed showed her current feelings. Yamada couldn't do anything but give her encouragement which clearly wouldn't accepted by Haruka's logic.

"If you had asked him better, I'm sure he would have tried to help you. Just don't use stupid ways like that. From my view, Tanaka-san isn't a bad person. On the contrary, he's a good person... consider about that, Haruka!"

Yamada tidied up the remnants of various things they had used to eat.

Haruka is in pensive silent. She was still undecided about what to do.

Akira, who realized that he was a troublemaker, just kept quiet. Silence, just like Asagi with that package.

~~~

"Thank goodness, does it still hurt, Taki?"

"It doesn't hurt too much. Thank you maste- Tanaka-sama!"

"Why do you call him as if Tanaka is your master, Taki?"

The three members of the Fire-Nebula Camp were now in one room. Tanaka and Yuki who after taking care of Taki who suddenly need help with something.

"Th-it's nothing Yuki-chan. It's a form of respect for the savior of my life!"

Taki tried to make a good excuse. Yuki nodded understanding Taki's intentions.

"But well, Tanaka... You're too kind you know!"

Yuki suddenly called out to Tanaka with a pose like she wanted to lecture him.

"Ehhh, what's the matter with me?"

Tanaka, who was cleaning up the things he was going to bring, felt called out. He was about to take the students to the place where Tanaka had planned to visit.

"Aghhh, you shouldn't need to help them, Tanaka!"

Yuki explained. She who has a conflict with Haruka clearly doesn't agree with Tanaka's decision.

"Yuki, let me tell you my reason. First, I know that you and that fierce girl have a grudge. You want her to disappear from the surroundings right away, don't you?"

Yuki nodded in response to Tanaka's question.

"Yup, that's why I'm going to get rid of her from our base. The easiest way is to take her to her destination... Then, for the second, I also want to try to find some things we need. We don't have any a way to supply bullets for our weapons. I'd like to try to get some for it. It's for your sake too, Yuki!"

Tanaka explained at length. Yuki just nodded in agreement.

"Huff, even though our camp already has a 'Tank Mutant killer',"

Yuki tries to make himself look less wrong in her opinion by using indirect taunts towards Tanaka. Tanaka responded somewhat annoyed. He pinched the girl's plump cheeks.

"What do you mean 'Tank Mutant killer', Yuki-chan?"

Taki asked. She who is still in pain tried to enter into the conversation.

"Ah, that's right Tanaka. Taki-chan still doesn't know that you killed the Mutant Tank!"

Yuki woke up. He then explained it to Taki. Tanaka also listened to that 'fairy tale' told by the blonde girl.

"That's really great, Tanaka-sama! You know, the metal from the mutant is said to be quite expensive!"

Taki explained. She with her few days of experience in the world of the apocalypse tried to tell.

"Is the information true?"

An unconvinced Tanaka tried to confirm again. He knew that the economic aspect in times like this was really collapsing. That is, the value of an object will not be the same as normal.

Even a packet of cup noodles can be valued at a gold bar. After all, those expensive things are not really important to keep now.

"I'm not sure. However, I'm sure there are some people who would trade it for food or medicine for that kind of metal. It looks like the government is looking for a rare and emergency resource!"

Taki continued. She answered Tanaka's question.

"Hmmm, if that's the case, I guess it's better to take some of them over there. It's possible that they are highly valued in the North Camp. Hehehe,"

Tanaka decided to add to the items he was going to carry. Initially he wanted to sell food boxes that were almost expired. However, because of Taki's idea, he also wanted to bring the hard metal into the vehicle.

"Ugh!"

"Ah, Taki-chan..."

Yuki drew closer to Taki. She holds her hand.

Taki still felt excruciating pain and aches even after he took the painkiller. Tanaka couldn't help at all. He didn't want to anesthetize Taki anymore for fear of an overdose and he wasn't an expert in medicine either.

Tanaka finally came out to prepare what he would bring. Yuki is entrusted by Tanaka to take care of Taki if anything happens to her.

Several hours passed. Tanaka had already stuffed all the mutant metal he had condensed into a sack. He put it on the front seat.

"Okay, are you guys ready to go?"

Tanaka opened the door to room number five downstairs. Three of the four people wearing school uniforms nodded.

They set off, heading for the North Camp.