We’d had a little bit of a rocky start, but it was smooth sailing from there on out. With Tetsuko as the instructor and Otoha as a “supervisor,” we did a little zombie self-defense training. After that, we transitioned into learning various ways to use ropes for our survival. Soon enough, two hours had passed.
Also, we now had a rope stretching from across the river. Each end was tied to a crowbar buried deep in the ground. I’d fallen over many times trying to get the crowbars planted on each side of the water. The rope would make it easier and faster to get from one riverbank to the other, so long as you held on to it.
This whole process had been the workout of a lifetime, despite Tetsuko’s promise of no fitness training.
“I’m beat... No fitness training, my ass!”
“That should about do it for today. Fine work, Hiroaki.” Tetsuko had helped with the process, yet not a single bead of sweat graced her brow.
How is a mere gamer supposed to compete with this?
“You’ve got potential. I’m sure you’ll surpass me in no time.”
“Um, thanks.” It felt good hearing that, even if she didn’t really mean it.
“We’ll explore the area,” declared Otoha, holding on to the rope. She pointed at me. “You make lunch.”
“Can a man not get some rest around here?!”
Then again, I haven’t had a bite to eat since this morning, and that little workout certainly didn’t help.
“Okay, you know what? Fine. Safe travels.” Otoha nodded and began making her way to the other side of the river, with Tetsuko following closely behind.
Once they had just about finished crossing, I sighed and headed to the trunk of the car. Why? To procure the ingredients and the cookware, of course. At least, that was my plan.
“Hello, Hiroaki.”
“Oh, hi, Kosahana.”
I looked down and saw Shino tending to a pot on the portable gas stove.
“So, erm, Otoha asked me to make lunch, but I guess that’s taken care of.”
“You bet,” Shino said with a smile. “The rice is almost done.”
“How thoughtful of you.”
“We’re partners, remember? Partners help each other out. Besides, you must be tired. Please, rest.”
She’s too pure for this world. We’re not worthy.
“You know, Otoha’s pretty damn bossy.”
“Perhaps.” She flashed me a playful grin.
Each and every one of her smiles was memorable, especially considering Otoha was lacking in that department.
“‘I’m the supervisor,’ she says, and then all she does is complain. Like, she could be doing something useful in the meantime, you know? Ever since I’ve known her, she’s had this weird tendency to treat others as pack mules.”
“You sound close,” Shino commented out of the blue.
“Do we?”
True, it’s not like we’re at each other’s throats all the time. We have a mutual respect thing going on. But would I call us close? Eh, I guess it depends on what you mean by close. It’s not really something I can answer on the spot; I’d be skipping over all the nuances. Personally, I’m inclined to say I’m her lackey more than anything else.
“Have you known each other for long?”
“What? No, of course not!” I frantically shook my head, for whatever reason. “I’ve known you for way longer.”
“That’s odd. You seem to get along awfully well despite that.”
“Well...” Technically, even though we had only gotten to know each other fairly recently, I had spent a lot more time in Otoha’s company than I had in Shino’s.
Actually, Otoha was the first girl I had ever spent any considerable amount of time with, as much as it pained me to say.
“She’s... different. I don’t feel awkward around her.”
It had been smooth sailing ever since the awkward day one incident. All Otoha cared about was zombies. She was completely indifferent to everything else, which made it easy for me.
“Do you get nervous around girls?” Shino asked, tilting her head to one side.
“You know how it is with us, err, indoorsy types,” I replied, choosing my words carefully. Wouldn’t want to insult her.
“Do you get nervous around me, too?” Shino brought herself closer to me.
“I, erm...”
A little too close for comfort there, Shino.
“What’s so special about her?”
“Well, Kosahana, you know... It’s like... uh...” I couldn’t give a straight answer to save my life.
What do I do?
“Hiroaki, listen to me,” she said, staring into my eyes.
“Um, yes?”
“It’s Shino. S-h-i-n-o. We’ve talked about this.”
It was so abrupt that I had trouble processing it at first, but then it all came together.
Oh, that’s what she’s so hung up on. I never really thought about it before. Otoha and I just kind of started out on a first-name basis, and it stuck. To everyone else, our relationship might seem more intimate because of that.
“Let’s hear it.”
“B-But—”
“We’ve known each other for so long now.”
“Yeah, but, like...”
I’m a nobody, and you’re the modern-day equivalent of a princess! It’s hard!
“Double standards,” she huffed. “I’m calling it.”
I groaned. “Come on.”
“Need a reminder? How about our Field Battle days?”
“Yeah, but, like, I owe you my life and stuff. It’s a respect thing.”
“Don’t you owe Otoha your life, too?”
“That I do, yes.”
“See what I mean?”
Okay, yeah, I get it.
“Say it. Or else.” She brought herself even closer.
Oh no, her fragrant aroma is assaulting my nostrils!
“Okay, okay. Have it your way... Shino.”
“What was that?”
“Um, Shiii...”
“No!”
“Shino! Shino!”
Why did you say it twice, dude? Oh, whatever. I’ll swallow my pride if this will make her happy. I’m sure I’ll get used to it eventually, but I’m more afraid of how Tetsuko will react.
“Good. Keep up the good work, Hiroaki,” Shino said, her smile radiant as always.
“Will do, Kosa—”
“Hmm?”
“Shino, I meant Shino.”
“Good.” Shino nodded curtly.
Shortly after the rice finished cooking, we got to work making our unique spin on pot-au-feu with leftover ingredients from Shino’s place. We threw in some carrots, potatoes, and bacon. We then sprinkled in some seasoning and let it simmer. The smell was fantastic.
“This reminds me of all the times I went camping with Dad and Tetsuko.” Her tone was nostalgic, her eyes warm.
“I see.”
Is she still in mourning?
“It’s okay, I’m over it now. Thanks to you, Hiroaki,” Shino added quickly, reading me like a book. “A little pushy, I’ll admit, but it did the trick. You have my eternal gratitude.”
“Um, yeah. No prob.”
Thinking back on it, there might’ve been a better way, but all’s well that ends well, as they say.
After that, we just watched the pot cook in silence for a little while.
“Now for the garnishes.” Suddenly, she froze. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah, I heard it too.”
We exchanged glances and tried making out the sound. It was something metallic rolling across the ground in the distance. It drew closer and closer and then... splash!
Is something trying to cross the river?
“Let’s go,” I whispered.
“Okay.”
The tall clumps of grass made it impossible to identify the source of the sound from our seated positions. We got on our knees, picked our guns off the ground, and waited.
The metallic sound came back, this time louder than before.
Shouldering the Lightweight Stalker, I placed my fingers over the bolt. I glanced over to my side and saw that Shino had done the same.
Fearing an accidental discharge, neither of us had loaded a round into the chamber. Not that it was necessary; we could load in quite literally an instant.
We waited until the very last second, just to make sure the zombie wouldn’t know we were there until it was too late.
Just then, the grass in front of us parted, revealing... a barrel.
“What the...?”
“Huh?”
“Is that a barrel?” I asked.
As if that wasn’t strange enough, Otoha’s head popped out from one end of it.
“Hey there. Miss me?”
“What is this?”
“It’s a barrel.”
“No kidding.” Before I could ask “why,” Otoha crawled out from it and stood up. “What happened? You’re soaking wet!”
Naturally, crossing a river would get you wet. But Otoha wasn’t just a little wet; she was soaked from head to toe. Her virtually transparent clothes stuck snugly to her skin, leaving little to the imagination.
“I fell in,” she said matter-of-factly.
“And the barrel?”
“I found it.”
“It won’t even fit in the car. It’s too big. What do you plan on using it for?!”
“I won’t be taking it anywhere. It’s single-use.” Otoha stood it upright, then said, “Yo, Shino.”
“Yes?”
Otoha walked over to Shino, water audibly sloshing around in her shoes, and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Take off your clothes.”
“What?!”