"This is ridiculous…" Saya groans as she keeps staring at the ladder that led down to the river.
"If you have another plan in mind I'm all ears Saya. I'm going blind as much as the other guy here." I respond as I fold my arms and lean over the railing, looking at the river below…
Thankfully, after leaving the school we were able to reach the bridge without any real problems. Sadly we didn't find anything else that might be even remotely useful though. I mean, even the cop car we found at the barricade was empty in the end, as we opened it up on our way down.
"Can't we just lower the stupid bridge?" Saya responds with a slight whine.
"I have no idea how these bridges work, all I know is, that they're supposed to have some sort of booth-like structure that should have a control console in it. Something that I can't even see around here to be honest" I respond as I turn to look at the bridge that was a little further off to our left.
"...Ughh. Fine, fine. Let's get this over with, all I have to do is drift to the other side..." Saya then closes her eyes and folds her arms. She then takes off the gun and bag before handing them to me.
"Actually, There's...one more thing..." I respond as I bring my hand to the back of my neck, causing Saya to frown.
"What? Do I have to go in my underwear so my clothes don't get wet?" She responds sarcastically as she narrows her eyes, the frown still on her face.
"Uhh...well, there are corpses on the other side. We won't have time to wait for you to dry up. I was thinking something along the lines of changing to clothes we have in the bag...but if you want to go in your underwear then do a..."
Before I could even finish, Saya had already snatched the bag back.
"Pervert..." She whispers in a low tone as she opens it.
"Hey, I'm just trying to figure out a way to avoid turning the car in a soggy mess without having to wait next to a group of corpses, plus, staying in wet clothes will make your movement more audible and weight you down" I respond as I wear the Mp5's sling.
"I get it idiot. You don't have to get so self-justifying" Saya groans as she takes a pair of trousers, a shirt and boxers out of the bag.
"I have my older clothes in the Humvee, can't I just stay in these and then change to the ones I have in the car?" She asks as she looks at the clothes she just picked.
"Too risky, You will have to change outside the Humvee as changing inside will still get the car drenched and outside of the Humvee, we have corpses within arms reach" I respond as I tilt my head slightly.
"...Turn around..." She then glances at me as she throws me the bag, keeping the cargo pants shirt and boxers.
"Boxers?" I ask as I do as she asks.
"W..well what's the point of changing clothes if my underwear gets wet. B..but don't get funny ideas! If you even dare to peek I will toss you into the river! And this time won't save you!..." Saya finishes her sentence in a slightly higher tone.
(I thought it was Saeko that carried me?...)
I shake my head slightly and turn to look at Saeko, who was now in front of me. She just smiled and tilted her head slightly.
"You sure you can do the jump? Or it might be better if you went by the river as well?" I ask as I start hearing shuffling behind me.
"I can handle it. Except, if you 'want' me to go to the river" Saeko glanced at Saya as she spoke, then looked back at me.
"...No, do as you wish." I respond as I turn to look at the bridge.
(Ughh, that answer gave me all the wrong ideas...)
"I'm...done." I then hear a rather meek voice behind me.
Turning around I see Saya with a slightly flustered face, hugging her folded clothes. Saying that she was wearing the exact same stuff as the last time she had to change is, kind of a trap question. As all my clothes are the same after all. So, she was once again, in a black shirt and black cargo pants.
"Quit staring at me idiot, your clothes didn't fit me before and they don't fit me now either." Saya glares at me as she tightens her hug on her folded clothes.
(Of course they frigging don't.)
"Right, let's put your clothes in the bag and get this over with, you can change on the other side" I say as I take a step forward and extend my arm. Saya nods and reluctantly hands me her clothes, shoes and extras included.
(Call me a pervert, but did she 'have' to place her underwear on the top?...Thank god for the mask...)
Acting as casual as possible, I take her clothes and put them in the bag.
"Ok, let's go" I say as I turn around and start walking towards the bridge, Saeko responds with a nod before also turning around to follow me...
By the time we reached the bridge, Saya was already off the street. Probably on the ladder... But enough about Saya, we had our own 'problems' to deal with. More precisely.
"The rope is a bit high up..." Saeko looks up to the hanging rope as she speaks, and she was not wrong, it must have been at least three meters over our heads...
(Hmm the corpses I shot are still here, we could probably stack em up...or one of us can leg up the to other)
"We could..."
Before I could even start speaking, Saeko sprinted straight towards the bridge, wall ran a couple of steps up, and grabbed the rope...
"Do that..." I finish my sentence as I tilt my head.
Saeko then turns her upper body around and extends her arm to me.
(Ehh, whatever this works too)
I then also do the same before taking Saeko's hand with my right hand and grabbing the rope that was hanging under her with my left.
"I got it, move up" I say as I let go of her hand. She nods and turns her upper body around, then starts climbing up...
(...She does know that her skirt is a bit...'too' short for this...right?)
I turn my head slightly to the left, towards where Saya should be at as I start climbing. Saying that I didn't get a good 'glimpse' though, would be a lie.
After reaching the top of this side of the bridge we both stop for a bit to look at the other side.
(The other part of the rope is still there. But, I'm actually aiming to land on the scaffolding. Just like last time)
I then turn to glance at my right. This time, I could actually see Saya on the ladder. She was on the last step, her feet already touching the water.
"Are you ready?" Saeko then puts her hand on my left shoulder, causing me to shake my head slightly and turn to her.
"Yea, I'll go first this time around" I respond, she replies with a silent nod.
(Focus, what we have to do is far more dangerous than what Saya has to do, and this time, I have no rope to hold me in case I fail. Ughh, come on, quick shooting yourself in the foot, you did it once, you can do it again. Just get a better landing this time around)
With a slight nod, I lean forward until I start to slowly fall. I then bend my knees, and jump.
After 'flying' in an ark for about two to three seconds, I land on the scaffolding of the other side of the bridge. This time without pulling any arm.
(Ok, done and done)
I climb up a few metal beams until I reach the rope, then turn to look at Saeko. The moment she saw me looking at her she nodded and jumped. Without even batting an eyelash...and...she actually ended up landing higher than my initial position on the scaffolding.
"All good?" I ask as I turn to her. She just nods as she lifts her head to look at me.
I then turn to look up, before starting to climb using the rope...
Reaching the top didn't take too long after that, and once I did get to the top I balanced myself and looked towards the Humvee that was ahead of me, in the middle of the street.
(Corpses are still surrounding it, hmm, one bullet should still be enough though.)
I then look below us, at the bridge's bottom.
(And it's still clear)
And finally, I look towards Saya. Who was still on the ladder, with her lower body now underwater. From what I could see, she was looking towards us. One of her hands holding the ladder, the other trying to hold her twintails out of the river.
(Can she see me?)
I raised my hand and waved at her, and a few seconds after that, she let go of the ladder.
"Ok, let's go next to the ladder on this side" I bring the rope up and toss it over the other side of the bridge as I speak. Then, using the rope we quickly climbed down, again jumping off as the rope was once again shorter than the bridge's height.
After landing, and while still facing the bridge, we ran to the left side. Towards the same sidewalk I was on when I scanned the location for a way to get on to the other side.
"Help Saya, I will keep guard." I turn to Saeko as I speak, she nods and runs to the ladder. Gets on it and disappears from my vision.
(Ok, next step, We shoot a gun, get to the car, and get the fuck out of here)
While thinking, I looked around me.
(I can see some corpses on both the sidewalk we are on and on the one after the road. They are pretty far away though, so it should be fine. Most corpses here after all, are next to the car. Hmm, yea, we can probably shoot a gun safely if we move fast after that. So after Saya changes, we will do that)
"Ughhhh...why must the river be so damn cold" I then hear a whining voice behind me, turning around, I see Saya staring at me. She was shaking slightly and with her arms were folded as she hunched forward.
I take the bag off and give it to Saeko.
"There should be a jacket in there too." I say as I turn around again, looking away from the two girls.
"I..if I catch a cold, It's going to be completely your fault" I hear the same whining voice once again.
"Then I'll go to the nearest pharmacy to get you medicine" I respond.
"We already have medicine in the car idiot" Saya replies with a groan.
"Fine, then I'll spoon feed you till you get better." I say as I raise both arms and shake my head slightly...
"A..I..it'll still be your fault.." I hear Saya reply, albeit this time with much less 'oomph'...
We then stayed quiet for a bit...until...
"Would you also take care of me if I got sick?" I hear a different voice ask, and since there are only three of us here.
"If you wanted me to. Though Saeko, if your immune system is half as badass as you are, then I'll probably end up sick before you do." I answer.
"Hmm, you have the wrong image of me Naier, I'm not a superhuman, in more ways than one" Saeko replies.
"Well, I better find me two spoons then, just in case..." I respond with a slight chuckle in a low tone. And after some more shuffling...
"What do I do with these?" Saya asks.
"If you mean my clothes, throw them. We're not waiting here, that was the whole point" I respond.
"Ok. Let's go then" Saya answers a few seconds later.
"Alright, come on" I motion with my head towards the bridge without turning to look at them, taking the MP5 off in the process.
"So, how will we do this?" Saya asks after coming next to me.
"We will pick one side of the bridge, somebody will take the gun and go to the other side, then fire a single shot and return. The moment we see an opening, we will head to the car as fast as we can,as the shot will make the corpses from both the sidewalks that are next to the bridge to crawl up to us" I respond.
"Who will take the shot?" Saeko asks next.
"Either you or Saya, we won't be in a rush until we fire, so it's a good moment for one of the two of you to take the shot." I answer.
"I'll go. I have not shot once ever since you showed me how to do so. And, this is supposed to be the gun that I am using." Saya instantly walks up to me and extends her arm.
By now, we were past the middle of the bridge and towards the right side. I stopped, and gave the MP5 to Saya.
"Go to the side we came from, me and Saeko will head to the other side. The safety is on, so remember to switch it, but more importantly, switch it back on after you take the shot." I say as I give the submachine gun to Saya.
"Ok..." She nods slightly as her eyes focus on the gun.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
(I expected some sort of cranky remark, is she getting anxious?)
"You will do just fine, relax. Just shoot then run back to us" I say right after.
"O..of course I'll do fine, I'm a genius, not an idiot" She narrows her eyes slightly as she lifts her head to look at me.
(And there's that cranky remark)
"Right, Saeko, let's go" I nod, turn around and start moving towards the other side of the bridge, Saeko walking next to me...
After reaching the end of the road we stop and turn around to look towards Saya. Who, after running to the other side of the road, also turns to look at us. I then make a thumbs-up motion to which she nods, before turning to look towards the corpses that surrounded the car. She then lifts the gun, puts it against her shoulder and places her cheek on the stock...
"When we find a place to stay. I hope it will then be my turn for one of your lessons" Saeko whispers to my ear...
(Oh holy?! When did she...)
I must have been really focused on Saya, as I didn't realize that Saeko had crept up on me...again...
"Don't worry, I didn't forget" I respond as I turn to look at her.
(Her face, is way too close)
She then nods, and backs away...and right that moment. A single shot echoed.
I turn my head to Saya, to find her fiddling with the gun. But more importantly, not moving an inch...
(What is she doing?)
"Wait here, keep an eye on the corpses behind us." I say as I glance at Saeko, then run to Saya.
"What are you doing, move." I speak up the moment I reach her.
"The stupid gun is stuck. The hole where the bullets come out from is not closing completely. I didn't do anything, I just pressed the trigger" She responds as she turns to look at me.
"It jammed? Uhh, I'll fix it in the car, no time now. Come on, move." I say as I put my hand on her back and softly push her.
"Ok, you don't have to push me." She responds with a slight groan before she starts running towards Saeko…
And the moment all of us gathered at the side of the road I turned to look at the car.
(Good, corpses are already moving to our right)
Then look at the sidewalk to my left.
(And so are these chumps...it won't be more than a minute before they are on top of us)
"Naier" Saeko speaks up while also looking at the corpses on the sidewalk to our left.
"I know, we'll move before they close in too much." I respond, Saeko nods before turning to look at the Humvee, her hand hovering over the blade's hilt.
I spent the next couple of seconds darting my head between the Humvee and the oncoming corpses on our left...until.
"Ok, no more time left. Move." I whisper as I start moving forward.
And like that, we silently started moving. Our path was to go straight, then upon getting near the Humvee's hood, turn right in order to end up on the humvee's right side. As there were still a couple of corpses 'stuck' on the left and back side of the car. Guess Saya's shot was a bit too far to the right, causing the corpses on the left side of the car to get stuck by trying to walk into the car. Well, Saeko could probably handle them with ease, but I don't see the need if we can just get inside without doing so. Also, as the car was looking towards the bridge meant I had to turn it around.
The moment we got near the car, I slowed down, raised my hand and pointed to my right, then glanced behind me at the two girls. After seeing both of them nod I turn to look ahead again.
(Ok, I will first unlock the back door, then the front. I...did take the key with me, right?)
Probably because of my past experiences with this certain key, I felt a shiver run up my spine as I dug through my pocket...thankfully, the key was indeed there.
(God I need to stop scaring myself)
I slowly creep to the right side of the car and to the back door. Unlock it, and open it. Then turn around and motion the girls to get inside. After that, I moved aside for the girls to pass before heading towards the front door. And after unlocking that one too, I opened it and got inside.
"Close your door" I say the moment I sit in the driver seat.
"Alright" Saya responds before slamming the door shut, followed right after by me closing mine.
"Ok...here we go" I let out a slight sigh as I insert the key into the ignition switch, and turn the key...
The car shakes for half a second, and the engine comes alive, signaling the surrounding corpses to turn around.
"Nice. So, straight ahead and into the river?" I turn around and 'ask' with a deadpan voice...
"You, are retarded." Saya responds with one hell of a frown as she folds her arms.
(Heh, should have expected as much)
"Wear your seatbelts" I say as I turn to look at the parking brake and the two levers on the shifter.
(Huh? She has the car on HL? Hmm...if I remember correctly. H is for street, HL for places with poor traction, L for hardcore off-road and N is for...uhh...what was N for again?...)
"What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Saya shouts behind me.
(Right)
I release the parking brake, bring the central lever to H and then the rightmost lever from N to D.
(Hmm, this shifter does not have a P...then again, we do have a parking brake as a different lever)
I shake my head slightly and turn to look ahead. The corpses had by now closed in to the car...So before starting, I changed the rightmost lever to D2 for good measure. Then, I stepped on the gas.
The car starts moving forward with a loud roar, making a couple of corpses disappear under the hood. I then keep moving forward, straight towards the bridge.
"Where exactly are you going idiot? You know we can't pass the bridge right?" Saya 'asks'.
Glancing behind me I see her leaning between the two front seats...
"Last warning, your seatbelt." I respond, causing Saya to turn to me with one mean-ass frown...
(Suit yourself)
I stop the car, change the shifter to R, then press on the gas again. This time harder, and as the car started picking up speed in reverse, I made a sharp turn by turning the steering wheel to the right, causing the car to 'spin'. Halfway through that spin, I release the pedal and change the lever to D. And the moment the car had made a hundred and eighty-degree turn, I straightened the steering wheel and pressed on the gas again.
The corpses that were behind the car, were now in front of it, and two seconds later. Under and over it...did I mention that I think I heard somebody yelp while all that happened?
I look up to the rearview mirror...that didn't exist...
(Right, the Humvee doesn't have a back window, no point having a mirror there)
With that thought, I slow down the car to a crawl and turn to look behind me...
Saeko...was just staring at me. Saya on the other hand, was laying straight flat down. Her face on Saeko's legs, one of her hands holding the door next to Saeko, and her legs 'on' her seat.
"Don't say I didn't tell you to wear a seatbelt." I say as I try to hold back a chuckle.
"Ughhh, I hate you..." Saya groans as she slowly gets up. I just shake my head slightly and turn to look at the road ahead.
"I will drive ahead for a bit, until we find somewhere quiet to park. Then, we'll see where to go from there" I respond as I slowly press on the gas again...
(Ok, so...we are on the central landmass once again, the same location that the mansion mentioned in the group's notes is at. Now, we have five days for it, that much time 'should' be enough to go there without needing to rush now that we have the car. So for today, I think it's going to be better if we find a place to take an actual break on this landmass...)
I kept my eyes on the road as I kept thinking...
(So, what should our next destination be?)
"Hey...what should I do with the stuck gun?" Saya speaks up after a couple of minutes of silence.
"Right, take off the magazine and give it to me, can't risk having it misfire in the car. After we find a place to stop I will show both of you how to un-jam a gun" I respond as I bring my right hand between the two front seats without turning to look at the girls.
Without hearing an answer, I then felt something being placed on my hand. Bringing my arm back forward, I looked at the MP5 that was now in my hand, without its magazine.
(Ok, let's see what's wrong with you)
I pressed on the brakes and stopped the car to a crawl, then checked the MP5's ejection port…
The bolt head was partly visible. Normally, that part should be completely hidden inside the front part of the receiver, and the bolt carrier, which is the white/gray metallic part you normally see at the ejection port, was a little further back from where it should be.
(I can't see a bullet. But with the way it got stuck, there should be one jammed between the magazine well and the chamber)
I then grab the cocking lever and pull it back completely, until both the bolt carrier and head are hidden on the back part of the receiver. And then, I managed to see the jammed bullet, now that the whole contraption was out of the way. I nod slightly, and after 'locking' the coking lever by pulling it back and up, I give it a hard slap, causing the whole thing to fly forward. This time, taking the bullet normally inside the chamber. Before handing the gun back to Saya I pull the cocking lever back one more time and eject the bullet.
"There are a lot of ways a gun can jam, this was one of em, the next bullet in the magazine got stuck midway. Thankfully, all the jams have the same'ish way of un-jamming so explaining one will do for almost all. Put the extra bullet back in the magazine, but don't load the gun. Big chance it will need cleaning, the most common reason a normally functioning gun can get stuck while moving a bullet from the mag to the chamber is excess gunpowder, or overall dirt in the feed ramp...as the other reasons can be faulty magazines, or bad reloading, among other things. If the gun was used by an officer that was armed like a juggernaut, I don't expect it to be faulty. And you were not manually reloading the gun when it got stuck...Or it might be a bad spring which means we were screwed as we got no replacement parts" I turn to look at Saya as I hand her the now un-jammed gun and bullet.
"O..k" Saya just nods at me and takes both items...glancing around as if she was lost...
(...I just went Kohta mode, didn't I ?)
"Uhh. Also, if possible, somebody check the map, tell me in comparison to the Mansion we need to head to, which 'safe' location we already know is the nearest, or is in our way. The house we stayed at before going to the island, the convenience store, you get the idea" I add up as I look at the two girls. Saeko glances at Saya, who was now staring at the gun.
"I will do it" She then answers as she takes the map that was next to Saya's seat.
"Ok, tell me when, or if, you find something" I respond as I nod, then turn to look ahead and start driving once more.
And like that, we started moving again. While avoiding pure bullshit roads, I tried to keep going straight for as long as I could, while keeping my overall sleep low. That way we would be able to find our location without too much of a hassle...
And after some time has passed...
"Ok...I think I'm done" Saeko speaks up.
"The mansion, as marked on the map, is on the leftmost part of the central landmass, and looking at the landmass's height, it's also about eight tenths from the bottom to the top. The mall we were in is actually near the Mansion..."
"We can't go there, it's overrun, but...does that mean that it's also near the house that we stayed in? The one that we...slept in..." Saya cuts Saeko off, and then trails off...
"I know the mall is overrun, and sadly, no. The mansion is actually 'closer' to the police station and the convenience store, rather than that house. As in order to go there, we will have to go over the Mansion's position in height, and then we will have to go back down. The convenience store is actually closer than the house concerning the height position" Saeko responds.
"And it should be closer to us too, the convenience store I mean." I add up.
"Ughh...so we are sleeping in sleeping bags again?" Saya groans.
"Looks like it" Saeko responds.
"Huhhh, I real...wait...That place has no bathroom!" Saya's eyes went wide the moment the realization dawned on her.
"...We are going to the house." She then adds up, or more likely, commands.
"It's too far" I answer.
"I don't care! I want to take a normal bath in a normal bathroom!" Saya shouts back.
"You 'will' get a bathroom...just not a 'normal' one" I respond.
"The smelly toilets in that place are Not a bathroom! That place doesn't even have a tub!" Saya shouts again.
"I was not talking about them though, Saeko, does that map show any supermarkets?" I ask as I keep driving.
"Umm, only the big ones like the mall. Can I ask why?" She responds.
"The summer season was near, that means most big or medium supermarkets would have their summer gear out for sale, so, we can just 'make' a bathtub from a hard plastic indoors swimming pool. The water still runs, we can fill it up from the faucet in the toilets. With either a long hose or a bucket." I respond.
"That is so stupid in so many ways..." Saya groans.
"Hmm, I think it's a good idea, it will be like a mobile bathtub" Saeko responds.
"Well Saya, if you have another idea, I'm all ears. That's not going to take us to the other side of the continent obviously." I add up as I tilt my head slightly.
"Ughh...f..fine. I still think it's stupid though" Saya caves in and agrees with a groan as she turns to look out of the window as she folds her arms.
"Alright, so. Next target before we go to the convenience store is a supermarket. And, as I asked, are there any supermarkets near us?
"Hmm, well..." Saeko turns to look at the map...and then, silence...
"I know one that is near the convenience store..." Saya speaks up after glancing at Saeko.
"You do? How come, don't you live like, far away from here?" I ask.
"Uhh, well I..." Saya stops in the middle of her sentence and starts glancing around...
"I just do! What does it even matter..." She responds as she darts her head to the window with a pout.
(...Didn't Takashi live around the convenience store?...Hmm, yea I'm pretty sure he did. Uhh, so her 'hidden' crush goes all the way to learning the neighborhood around his house? Jeez, what is she? A stalker?)
"W..what are you being so silent for, say something idiot!" Saya blurts out after a couple of seconds of silence.
"Well, you know da way, so I'm waiting for your input here" I respond.
"F..fine, I'm coming to the front seats to tell you where to go. Can I have the map?" I felt my seat 'move' as Saya spoke, and after some surfing behind me, I saw her popping up to my right, between the two seats.
"You know I can just stop the car for you to come to the front normally..." I say as I glance at her.
"I can do this just fine." Saya responds as she tries to balance herself as she shakily tries to move to the front.
(Not if I make a sharp turn you won't...but then I won't hear the end of it)
I hold myself back from chuckling, otherwise, I'd have one angry hamster...I mean Saya, after me.
"Uff...see, told you it's fine" After finally sitting on the passenger seat, Saya turns to glance at me before looking back at the map.
"So, where are we?" She asks right after.
"I have not taken a single turn other than the first right turn I took after we left the bridge." I respond.
"Ok...uhh...the bridge was. Here, so we should be around...here" She points at the map, somewhere around the coastline on the right part of the central map. She then turns to look out of the window.
"Ok, keep going straight, there should be a small bridge that goes over a stream later ahead, from there, I will tell you where to go" Saya nods as she keeps looking between the map and the outside.
"Got it." I respond.
"And after we reach the supermarket? What then?" Saeko asks right after.
"Hmm, one of the three of us will stay to watch the car, the other two will head inside to get what we need. Or, if we find a place to hide the car, we will all go inside. After seeing how many corpses are strolling there obviously. Oh, and since you are on the back seats. If it's possible, can you check for two more bags and the Scar-H?" I answer.
"Umm, the Scar-H is?" Saeko asks back.
"A gun, bigger than the MP5. orange or rather, beige looking." I respond as I glance at her.
"Alright." Saeko nods and turns to look at the bags in the back of the car.
"By the way, the watch. You two don't have it right?" I ask as I keep looking at the street.
"No, Rei's mom was the one who had it" Saeko responds.
"And they didn't leave it behind" Saya adds up.
"The supermarket might have clocks that are not completely digital" Saeko keeps looking through the bags as she speaks.
"Yea, Saya you said you found batteries from the mall right?" I ask again.
"I did, there should be inside a side pocket in the duffle bag with the gas canisters" Saya nods at me and turns to glance at the bags.
"Should we take some with us?" Saeko asks as she turns to us.
"Yea, a couple. To check any electronic devices that we might find, though if we are lucky, we might find more batteries in there...if we can go inside that is" I respond as I tilt my head.
"Uhh, if we could just find an ice maker that works with batteries. I'd kill for a cold bottle of water right now" Saya lets out a sigh as she speaks.
"Well if we find one, we can take it" I respond.
"No you idiot, an ice maker draws too much energy, there are no battery-powered ice makers" Saya responds with a groan.
"Solar panels, car-sized batteries and a converter then" I answer as I ignore Saya's remark.
"Yea...if we can just find that stuff. Setting up will be the easy part, as I have written down how to do so in the textbook" Saya nods slightly as she keeps looking at the map.
"Well, that. Or going to the island with the working generator" I respond casually.
"W..we are not going back there!" Saya instantly shouts.
"Huh, why?" I 'ask' as I turn to glance at her, her face being as pink as her hair.
"J..just because you pervert!" She shouts back.
"Hey, what 'you' saw. Does not make 'me', a pervert...then again, I don't even remember what I saw in the first place in order to have an opinion" I respond as I glance at her.
"Yea, yea, nice excuse. Of course you would say you 'don't' remember. Everybody had about the same type of hallucination, what makes you so special to have something 'different' and then by 'chance' you also, don't remember...A..and I didn't see anything!" Saya responds as she frowns and folds her arms.
"First you tell me all of you saw the same thing, then you tell me you saw nothing?...Anyway, the only thing I remember seeing was a..." As I kept speaking...I felt something tickling my nose...
"A, FACHOO!" And I end up sneezing as I turn my head away from Saya and press on the breaks.
"Hey! You're lucky you are wearing that mask idiot!" Saya frowns even more as she shouts.
"Sorry, couldn't let go of the wheel, might have ended up in a wall..." I respond as I shake my head.
"As I was saying. The only thing I remember is the cave." I shrug slightly as I finish my sentence.
"But, that doesn't mean that what you saw, and don't remember was...different from what the rest of us saw..." I hear another voice speak up from the back of the car...
(You in on this too now Saeko?)
"Uhh... I can't..." I stop for a second.
"Deny that" Then continue...
"Pervert" Saya responds in a low tone as she folds her arms and turns to look at the road ahead.
"Hey, I said I can't deny it, I didn't say I accept or like it" I respond as I narrow my eyes...
And after a few seconds of silence...
"So the idea of you seeing 'us' like that. Displeases you?" Saeko, 'asks'...and both she and Saya turn silent. While I could not see Saeko as she was on the back seats and we had no rearview mirror, Saya was now constantly glancing at me, her arms still folded and her head slightly lowered.
(God...damn it Saeko. Way to use my words against me...You know what, fine...let's play ball)
"No, it doesn't" I answer flatly.
"P...pp..pervert " Saya ended up tripping in her own word multiple times before turning to look at the window next to her, 'hugging' herself even tighter as she looked away from me. Saeko...didn't respond.
"What? Didn't like my answer after all?" I ask as I let go of the gas and turn my head slightly to the right, trying to look behind me.
Saeko closes her eyes and smiles as she puts her hand behind her neck, then runs her hand under her long hair.
"I am sure that, you already know the answer to that, Naier..." Saeko responds as she opens her eyes, the smile still on her face...
"Aaaa, anyway! T...the street, focus on t..t..the street idiot! B..bridge! Look for the stupid damn b,bridge! " Saya shouts after a few seconds as she starts pointing her index finger all over the place, her face even redder than before…
(Holy shit, Saya is actually freaking out here...)
"Right" I respond as I look back ahead and press on the gas again.
(And, she is not wrong... I do know the answer, ever since the clinic. Or at least, I hope I do.)