The sound of running water was in the bathroom. People around are moving to do their respective activities. Accompanying the morning sun shines, drops of sweat are proof that they are still human.

Except for one person, one person who was not working at the time. One person is actually inside the room, playing games regardless of what's outside. Someone named Tanaka.

"Aghhh, how can I lose again!"

Tanaka, he had previously lost when playing a game against Yuki. Yuki, previously she won the game against Tanaka. The fighting genre game that was then famous for the complexity of its characters. A game that Tanaka never played because he used to have no friends at all.

"Why can Yuki win so easily? Why did she choose this character anyways? The controls are hard, damn it!"

In short, Tanaka is noob about playing fighting games. On the other hand, Yuki is an expert in this game.

"I have to win!"

Motivation flushed Tanaka's spirit at that time. However, it is not a positive motivation, nor is it a negative motivation. It's just wasting-time motivation.

A man, by nature, loves adventure. Either in whatever form it is, as long as there is a suitable challenge, then they will do it happily. That was how Tanaka felt right now. Adventure to master the fighting genre game with the temporary aim of beating hard mode. Then, the end goal is to defeat Yuki who turns out to be a professional.

Hour after hour Tanaka passed by playing games. No progress. His precious time can be said to be wasted. On the other side of that person lazing around, there were also people who worked hard outside.

"Yuki-chan, the fertilizer has run out!"

"Okay, you can rest, Makise. I'll carry on!"

"Yay!"

In a large field, there were three people there. Yuki, Okata and Makise, each of them are students, or former students to be said, who are 17 years old. They work as farmers do on their work, turning the land into a source of food. A very important and crucial job at the time of the apocalypse.

Yuki, as one of the project leaders, is also working. Currently she is pouring liquid fertilizer into places that have been designated as planting plots. In addition, there is also Okata, one of the project leaders as well, and he now drives on a tractor to divide the land into plots for planting and plots of land for irrigation. This project is still in the land preparation stage, not yet entered into the main part.

The afternoon turned into evening. Their hard work paid off. The fields have been fertilized and now it's just a matter of waiting for the soil to absorb the nutrients.

"Thanks for the hard work, Yuki-chan!"

"Humu, as usual, you too, Okata-san!"

The warm greeting of the two people was witnessed by one other person. Makise, the person who has a close relationship with Okata.

"Ahem!"

In short, if the situation wasn't clear enough for you to understand, Makise wouldn't allow an overly intimate conversation to take place.

"Makise, you too, thanks for the hard work!"

"Hehe, you too Yuki-chan! And as for Okata! I know what you're thinking when you look at Yuki-chan!"

"Makise, come on. I have the right to that too, right!"

"Hmph!"

Three people who work as farmers, a crucial job that must exist. Apart from them, there was also the doctor who was currently organizing medical needs in her own room, Taki Shirokami. She was one of two people who was over twenty years old, the other being Tanaka. She was younger than the man, so it could be said that she was the second oldest in the place.

The other three people are Haruka, Rai and Kanji. The three of them went around a place called the base to maintain security. It was their job as guards. Dangerous task to be said.

Back to some time before, when the sun had not yet appeared, Tanaka had already woken up. It was his habit to wake up very early. It wasn't because he wanted to or had to, it was because it is natural of his body.

There are various things that can be felt by the man at that time. Woke up with fear. He was not weak, nor did he feel weak. It was just that he knew something that always made him worried.

"I think she's still fine!"

Footsteps out of the room. The man returned to his activities, practicing. Even though his body was as strong as an elephant and as hard as steel, he still felt the need to exercise. He did this until dawn came when some of the other members started to wake up. Usually Taki goes first, then Yuki and so on.

"Morning!"

Greetings are answered with other greetings. Harmonious atmosphere at the base of the Fire Nebula. The place where eight survivors live. The morning is an important time for them. As directed by the camp leader, Tanaka, they regularly do morning exercises.

"Hey Tanaka, breakfast is ready!"

"Humu, I'll be there after I finish this one!"

This is the beginning. Tanaka, a person who started out diligently to work as a camp supplier will become a hikikomori because of a game. It also has something to do with Yuki, a special perso

n in Tanaka's perspective.

"Wait, isn't that the Fighter Kesurupan game? I played it too, on my phone!"

The beginning of something that is pointless.

"You know this game? If you know how to play, let's have a match!"

And that's when Tanaka realized, he wasn't a great person compared to other people in some ways. Tanaka, a person who used to claim to be a hard-gamer, self-proclaimed actually, felt that playing with a girl was an easy task. In his mind, if it was an innocent girl like Yuki, then defeating her would be easy.

However, unfortunately, the facts say otherwise.

[Second Player Win!]

Tanaka was the first player in this match.

"Tanaka, you suck!"

Words that hurt and also gave a bit of motivation.

"What! Again, I wasn't serious when I used the skill before!"

Yuki, in a nutshell, is someone who has memorized every character in the game. She only plays on her mobile phone, but, if you can say, the controls of this game are more difficult to play on mobile than when playing on console. When Yuki felt it, playing on the console, everything became so easy. On the other hand, Tanaka who only capitalized on his pride as a gamer as well as an experience that was arguably his first time playing the game was faced with a crushing defeat.

And once again...

[Second Player Win!]

He lost.

The feeling of disapproval still lingered in Tanaka's mind. He continues to challenge by changing characters he used, the result remains the same. Tanaka never wins.

"Tanaka, you better practice first. You can't play a game if you only know how to control it. You need a strategy!"

Yuki's words made him realize how stupid he was. Tanaka, the one who couldn't win against Yuki, nodded resignedly. Yuki then left the room. This was where Tanaka was faced with his doubts. What to do? Do the scheduled errands or keep playing the game until he can beat Yuki?

"Well, I guess I should get out for a bit!"

And Tanaka chose to continue his agenda. In the schedule, Tanaka has to go out to burn the zombies that are around the streets. It was a task he made for himself.

Out of the room, Tanaka went straight to the room where his co-worker was sleeping. The room where Haruka Fujisaki occupied.

"Yo, well aren’t ya?"

"Tanaka, I just woke up. Can you wait for me outside for a minute?"

Stolen novel; please report.

Tanaka entered just as Haruka was about to change her clothes. What Tanaka saw was the first button on the shirt, so he was still in a safe situation.

"Okay!"

It didn't take long for Haruka to come out in her usual costume. Pants and jeans that are not too tight, thick hiking shoes and other equipment that cover the whole hand to the shoulders. The clothes to be used for safety in case she met dozens of zombies. Contrast with Tanaka who only wears sweatpants ½ length and a T-shirt that says 'I Love Fuji' on there. Tanaka, however, didn't really need such a thing as equipment for safety's sake. The most important thing for him is the comfortness.

Without further ado, Tanaka and Haruka went outside, leaving the base, heading for the streets and surrounding neighborhoods. Their task is the same, collecting zombie corpses to be made one and then burned. Worry is what underlies this activity. There is some information that says that if zombie corpses are left to rot around for some time, the place will become infected with the virus and become uninhabitable. This information is actually inaccurate because, basically, this virus cannot withstand environmental heat. So, if the place is too hot, then this zombie virus will not spread, and if it can be said, the Tanaka’s area has an average temperature of 29°C.

Activities start at 08:12 am and stop at around 11:14 am. The area that was explored by two people who ended up adding two others, Rai and Kanji, was a residential block that was around the fields. So, the place is not too far away and is safe from zombies because it is in a barricade area. Arguably, the safest place around.

The flames soared, sending black smoke billowing into the sky. No one dared to get too close to the flames. Not just because of the heat, but also because of the smoke pollution and the fear of infection coming to their mind. The normal fear of zombie apocalypse survivors.

"Hey, Haruka, can you come here for a minute?"

Tanaka suddenly called Haruka who was focused on the flames of the pile of human corpses. The high school girl looked up and followed Tanaka's calling. The other two knew that they should stay away because it might be a conversation they shouldn't hear. Rai and Kanji return to the camp while Tanaka and Haruka are cornered in an alley.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"How are you feeling?"

Haruka started the conversation. Tanaka, as Haruka's interlocutor, lit his cigarette.

"... Yesterday I felt like I was going to die. But I'm fine, thanks to the medicine you gave me!"

"Does it still feel inside you?"

"Yup, it feels like something is kicking inside!"

"Are you sure you're not going to tell the others?

I mean, I'm worried about you!"

"No need, I can take care of myself. Well, I'll most likely tell Makise anyway!"

"Why?"

"She saved me yesterday from Taki. Well, you could say I owe her an explanation. I also feel bad if I don't tell my close friend!"

The heavy conversation between the two people stopped. The midday wind entered between the alleys, gently tossing Tanaka's thin shirt. Even so, the conversation still continued. The talk of a secret that only a few people knew, within the Fire Nebula camp, they were only Haruka and Tanaka.

"I’m sorry!"

"Eh, why are you suddenly apologizing!"

"Well, to be honest I was intent on finding a way to get that thing out of your body. However, somehow, I couldn't get it!"

"Hey, come on, you scared me. It was my fault, I was the one who forced you into the difficult position. I'm sorry!"

The wind was blowing harder. The sun's rays had now made its way over their heads. Midday came.

"We'd better get back!"

"Humu!"

And the two people agreed to return to their base, a spacious boarding house.

Haruka returned and then met Rai and Kanji to just gather as fellow troops in the camp. Tanaka, the one who was the leader of the camp, headed to the field where Yuki and the others were working. He checked how everything worked. You could say, he was experiencing what it was like to be a supervisor.

No oddities or distractions. Tanaka continued towards a place where a woman about his age was located. It was a downstairs room, a place filled with electronics. However, this time, Taki, the person he was going to meet, was outside. The woman is setting up a satellite dish. Looking troubled, Tanaka helped her.

"Hehe, thank you, master!"

"You're welcome!"

"So why did you come to me? Do you want to talk about something?"

"Ah no, I was just looking around. Yeah, I'm just getting some fresh air after my work is done!"

"That must be tough, taking care of human corpses and burning them!"

"Aghhh, it's not like that. I don't feel like it is tough at all, maybe it would be more appropriate if you told Haruka and the others with that!"

"Then, why does master's face look like it's not good? Are you feeling sick?"

Tanaka, who couldn't see his own face, flinched at that. Worry affected his thoughts and then the look on his face. Something that was not realized at all until finally someone told him.

"Ah no... I just feel bad for not being able to win the Fighter Kesurupan hard mode!"

Switching the topic was the way Tanaka chose. He couldn't make other people, especially Taki, worry about what was on his mind right now. A topic change as well as a mood shift for Tanaka. He remembered that he couldn't win hard mode and couldn't win against Yuki either.

"Ahh, I know that game. I often play it at the game center. Master, do you want to have a match with me!"

Challenge submitted. Tanaka, a person who is in a period of enthusiasm to seek victory and wants to feel above others, feels called. It was his chance, that's what he had in mind. Opportunity to be able to win against others.

"Then let’s go!"

It was unthinkable on him that Taki was also on the same level as Yuki.

[Second Player Win!]

Tanaka lost. He couldn't deal any blows at all to the character Taki was playing. Absolute defeat.

"Ahhh, that's a relief. Master, I thought you could play, but you're just a rookie. Then I'll go back downstairs first!"

"W-wait, what do I have to do to master this game?"

As Taki stood up, Tanaka tugged at her shirt. It looked as if Tanaka was pleading to Taki. Even though it's true.

"Stop that, master. Those gaming skills aren't needed for now time! Don't you have other work?"

"No, my agenda is just to clean up the surroundings. Most importantly, what character do you think is easy for beginners to use!"

"Emmm, for a beginner like Sage Ucok it's more suitable. Yes, I suggest Sage Ucok, he can attack both long and close range, it's just that his weakness is, he is often possessed by himself!"

"Okay, I'll try it!"

"W-wait, master, you don't intend to lock yourself in to practice the game do you?"

There was no answer from Tanaka.

"Ummm, then I'm back at my job!"

The guest came out of the room, Tanaka stayed alone in front of the computer monitor, focused on the game character movement, the game that he got from one of the video game shops. This was the beginning of Tanaka being a shut-in person for a few days. The bad effects of feeling sluggish in the game. The bad impact of people who do not want to lose to others.

Taki returns to her job of configuring her radio studio for the camp's information needs. Haruka, Rai and Kanji wandered around to check security. Yuki, Makise and Okata cultivate the land. As previously explained, only one person is not working, and he is Tanaka.

Fire Nebula, a small survivor camp in the town of Tonmachi. Their base is quite broad, as well as the area. Zombies were a threat all around, and it was Haruka and the others' job to deal with it. Their goal i

s to create a base and a safe area to live in.

The camp agenda is divided into four main areas. The first is to clear the surrounding area of zombies and others. The second is to build a production site and other places. The third is developing long-distance communication capabilities to gain access to various things. Fourth is collecting vehicles and making apocalypse vehicles. Everything had been done and done by the members of the camp except for the fourth agenda which was being planned by Tanaka.

"Ughhh, Sage Ucok is really great. I think I can win with this!"

Tanaka came out of his room. It was almost evening and the other members were already inside the three meter high boarding fort. Headquarters of the Fire Nebula camp.

'The air, this feels so fresh!'

In Tanaka's mind he praised the beauty of nature. Sunset on the left of his position. It was a beautiful time with a beautiful view too.

"Ah, Tanaka, you're finally come out. Want to eat something?"

"Yup, I'm kind of hungry!"

That was Tanaka's main goal, looking for food. Actually, he could make it himself since in the room there was a box of instant noodles. However, he prefers to come down to taste Yuki's cooking.

Evening turned into night. The atmosphere is now very different. Mysterious voices from a distance are a terror in itself for the survivors around. The zombies became more active. Even so, that feeling was not shared by Tanaka and the others. They actually have fun either by playing cards or something else. However, Tanaka didn't participate in that activity, he had his own activities at night.

"I'm out first, everyone!"

"Humu, be careful on the road, Tanaka!"

Moving from his place, Tanaka was now outside. His evening agenda, looking for zombies and looking for other things. To be honest, Tanaka wanted to immediately challenge Yuki and Taki to prove who was better, but he couldn't forget his duty. The task of securing the surrounding area.

For normal people, it was a stupid thing to do, going out doing that activity at night. In addition to zombies becoming more aggressive, the existing lighting is also less supportive at the time. Obviously it was a dangerous thing to do, but not for Tanaka.

One zombie is seen. Tanaka approached him and then decapitated the zombie with ease. No, he doesn't use cool style or any other kinda badass action style. He had gone through his chuunibyou syndrome a long time ago. Yes, he's just a 26 years old man at work.

Two zombies are seen, one of them is looking at Tanaka. Tanaka slashed at the two of them without any resistance at all. Even though that one zombie managed to look at Tanaka, it didn't attack the human. Normally, the zombie would immediately move towards Tanaka to attack. However, that won't happen because Tanaka has the ability to be ignored by zombies.

Yes, if people ask, what is the most powerful ability for a person to have during a zombie apocalypse? Is it a superpower that allows you to destroy houses with one hit? Is it super speed that allows you to dodge hordes of zombies? Or is it some other ability that doesn't make sense in normal logic?

In Tanaka's mind, the ability not to be detected by zombies was the most perfect ability. Yes, for him to be ignored by other people is normal, but being able to be ignored by that ex-person is an extraordinary thing. Thanks to that ability, Tanaka was able to move casually to and fro regardless of the zombies around him. Can take things here and there without having to painstakingly devise a strategy to outwit the infected humans.

The reason why Tanaka did it at night was because he could find zombies more easily at a time like that. As mentioned earlier, zombies are more active at night, meaning they move more at night and sometimes at times like this zombies appear on the streets or open spaces. They follow the sound of crickets or other animals.

After touring the two residential blocks, Tanaka headed to the various shops. Most of the food was stale or expired, which was why Tanaka headed to the non-nourishment shop. The objects that Tanaka took were just a monopoly board and various other video game tapes.

The camp leader returned. It was a quarter of the night and most were asleep. That was except for Taki, Yuki, Rai and Kanji. They stand guard inside.

"Yosh, Yuki, let's have a rematch!"

And that's how the night went. Tanaka fights against Yuki once again. In short, he still couldn't win.

Right below Yuki's room, where they were playing, there were two girls together in one room. No, they weren't doing yuri activities or anything, it was just being done by Yuki and Taki, sometimes. Instead of that kinda lovely atmosphere, the atmosphere in the room was stiff and gloomy. One of the girls lay limp on the bed, while the other nursed and stroked her.

Haruka, the infected girl, this fact is known not to everyone. Only Tanaka, Makise and their friends in the old group found out about it. Even though Haruka is infected, she ma

nages to balance on fighting it. The immune power in her body managed to block the growth rate of the virus. However, the virus did not immediately disappear from within Haruka's body. They stay and over time mutate into a new virus. More ferocious and ready to attack Haruka's body.

A low moan could be heard in that one room. Makise, who just found out about it, took care of Haruka with great sadness. She thought that her suffering would end after dropping out from school. However, she did not expect that she would have to lose her precious friend in such a short time.