It was early when the first rays of sunlight entered through the window.
"Ah~"
With the sound of her own yawn, Asami opened her eyes. She stayed lazily in bed for a moment before feeling a sudden burst of adrenaline.
"It's today!" shouted the girl before running to the bathroom of her one-room apartment — something pretty common in Tokyo.
Asami Nakaoka was a slim and pretty woman who, despite her youthful appearance and short stature, was actually twenty-seven years old. Her orange hair and green eyes made her stand out. She usually had a positive attitude and a strong sense of duty.
She was so excited today because it was her first day as a police officer, something she had worked for years to achieve. Everyone had told Asami it wasn't for her, but she refused to be intimidated. After finally graduating, she was ready to shut them all up.
Asami left her home in high spirits, wearing the female police uniform — a long blue skirt, white gloves, hat, and all.
She stepped out of her apartment, ready to uphold justice like a true officer of the law.
Once aboard the subway, still cheerful, Asami got distracted when she noticed several people coughing. She even offered her seat to an old lady, who thanked her with a pale expression and dark veins on her neck.
'Some kind of epidemic?' thought Asami, then offered to accompany the elderly woman. It was her first day, and arriving late could be a problem, but that didn't matter — she was that kind of woman.
The old lady thanked her but refused, saying she was going to see a doctor after visiting her late husband's grave.
Asami sighed but didn't insist, continuing on her way.
When she arrived at the station, she went to her locker to pick up her standard revolver and baton. She had held them before, but this was the first time she would carry them as a real officer. That excitement, however, was cut short by the sound of her boss, Tadashi Miyamoto, scolding her senpai, Matsushima.
"Matsushima! How many times do I have to tell you to show up on time?!"
All the officers gave each other that "again?" look. After a moment, a woman stepped out of the office with a lazy face that said she couldn't care less.
"Hey there, Chibi-chan," greeted Matsushima with an amused smirk. "So you finally made it?"
"Of course!" huffed Asami, trying to look tough — though with her petite frame, she only looked like a Pomeranian trying to growl.
"Heh, I'm sure the yakuza will flee in terror~"
"Don't make fun of me!"
Matsushima was a beautiful woman with black hair and blue eyes, with a rough and sometimes blunt attitude. She never sugarcoated things and always went straight to the point. Many people considered her more like an old drunkard than a woman in her prime.
Matsushima threw an arm around Asami's neck. "Let's get some air..."
Asami sighed but followed her. Once behind the station, in a narrow alley, Matsushima lit a cigarette and started smoking.
"That's going to kill you..." muttered Asami, exhaling softly. "What did you do this time?"
Matsushima grinned. "I'm not weak enough to die from this. You know, I just drank too much last night... and, uh, might've called the boss to tell him he's an idiot. Showing up late was just the excuse."
"But you did arrive late, didn't you?"
"Dummy, I got here before you... today."
"..."
Asami and Matsushima had known each other since college. While Asami spent years stuck in boring office jobs before realizing her true calling was to be a cop, Matsushima became one right away.
After years on the job, Matsushima had seen every kind of crap society could throw at her, so her attitude toward the world had changed.
The woman looked quietly at Asami's bright, innocent eyes, then smiled faintly and gazed up at the sky while exhaling smoke. 'Let the girl enjoy being a "hero of justice" while she still can...'
"Ahhh!"
Both Asami and Matsushima heard a scream inside the station. Soon, chaos erupted — screams, emergency calls, and murderous monsters filled the world.
...
(Two days later)
"Run! Hurry!"
Matsushima shouted as she pushed Asami, who could only watch one of her last remaining comrades being dragged away and devoured by zombies.
"Ahhhhh!"
The man's screams echoed in Asami's ears as she trembled, clutching her revolver.
"Idiot! You wanna die?!" Matsushima slapped her and yanked her arm, pulling her along as they ran.
"What about the captain?!" shouted Asami, desperation in her voice. But Matsushima's answer froze her blood.
"I don't know. But he may be dead. From the start... this place was doomed."
"...!"
Asami turned and looked back — there was a horde of zombies devouring the survivors they caught. It was a festival of blood and death, with no escape in sight.
"Why?" gasped Asami, still running.
She couldn't understand how her first two days as a police officer could have gone so horribly wrong.
The police station had been a refuge at the start of the apocalypse, but as expected, survivors flooded in, seeking salvation. Being a man of justice, Chief Tadashi Miyamoto let many people inside. He was a good man — too good for his own good.
As a result, what Soichiro had feared happened: one infected survivor entered the station, died, and turned it into hell.
"Were we wrong?" asked Asami, her voice trembling as she ran behind Matsushima.
Matsushima looked back at her. The girl's expression was one of shattered ideals — everything she believed in had crumbled.
She wanted to tell her the truth — that yes, they had been wrong, that they never should've helped so many without stricter control, that this was the apocalypse and they weren't officers anymore, just people trying to survive. She wanted to tell Asami that she had to learn to be selfish if she wanted to live... she wanted to, but...
"No. That kind personality of yours — and the Chief's — wanting to help others... it isn't wrong."
"Huh?" Asami's eyes widened, surprised by the answer. Even with a thousand zombies chasing them, she still asked, "You really mean that?!"
"It's just that... we're too weak to be kind," Matsushima said with a faint smile. "But no matter how cruel the world becomes... don't lose hope, Chibi-chan~"
"Thank you, Matsushima... no, Anemone-san!" said Asami with renewed confidence, running ahead. "Let's go!"
'I'll follow her as far as I can...' thought Anemone Matsushima, smiling faintly, trying to hide the bite wound she had suffered while escaping.
...
The chat watching Allen's stream was stunned by the sheer power of his pistols — it was definitely worth spending so much to upgrade his weapons, even if it was expensive.
MJ – Ah...
Erza – What is it, girl of the information?
MJ – What kind of rude nickname is that?! At least make it cute :(
Amanda – Does that bother you?
Gwen – MJ?
MJ – Ahem, those two are Asami and Matsushima — two characters who never appeared on screen. One's a cheerful, slightly naïve officer, and the other is... hmm, strict, I guess.
Rogue – You noticed it too?
Juvia – Is there something wrong with those two besides being unworthy to stand at Allen-sama's feet?
Akeno – Ufufufu~ Fairy Tail girls are such a peculiar bunch~
Lucy – We're sorry :(
Mirajane – Truly, please forgive us.
MJ – As I was saying, these two should be completely unknown to most people, but they're actually part of the shopping mall arc. What's strange is that they're here — and even worse, one of them has already been bitten...
Rogue – Aren't you going to comment on Matsushima's appearance?
Asami looked exactly as she did in the manga, but the other officer was completely different — from her hair and eye color to her rough, secretly kind, big-sisterly, hard-drinking attitude. She felt like a totally new character.
MJ – Ah... I recognize her now! But what the hell is she doing there?!
....
Allen fired the last bullet from Ivory and Ebony before holstering them. Then, he stepped forward toward the alley packed with zombies, leaving both women speechless.
"Don't make those faces," said Allen, slipping on a pair of black gloves. "Haven't you ever heard of the Battle of Thermopylae?"
Allen smiled as he clenched his fists. The first zombie opened its mouth, dislocating its jaw until it looked twice as large as a normal one.
"Be careful!" shouted Asami — but the next instant, she froze in disbelief.
Allen's punch crushed the zombie's skull effortlessly.
A second zombie lunged at him, and Allen responded with a stomp, then a kick that sent him flying into the horde, stopping them all in their tracks.
"If three hundred Spartans could hold off three hundred thousand Persians, that's a thousand per Spartan. Wouldn't it be shameful if I can't handle at least a thousand and one zombies?"
Both women were left speechless.
What is this guy even saying?!
It defied all common sense!
Ignoring the two police officers, Allen didn't stop. He grabbed another zombie by the face. It tried to bite his hand, but it was as if he were made of iron. Allen dislocated its jaw and threw it back into the crowd, knocking several down.
A few zombies leaped over the others — Hunters. Allen grinned and performed a spinning kick, breaking two of their necks while a third was decapitated instantly.
A Jockey slid through the horde, trying to catch Allen by surprise. Without even looking, he raised his foot and crushed it like an insect.
Allen slipped his hand inside his jacket — obviously a way to hide his inventory.
He grabbed a cluster of grenades he had bought from Nokotan and tossed them toward the horde. Then, he turned to face the two women.
Ignoring their stunned expressions, he lifted Matsushima onto his shoulder and grabbed Asami around the waist under his arm.
"It's time to go."
"Kyah!"
"What are you doing?!"
Allen ignored their cries and ran. Behind him, multiple explosions echoed — dozens of zombies were annihilated.
Allen silently thanked Nokotan. As a merchant, she sold all kinds of items — food, weapons, and supplies. However, the first floor only offered Tier 1 goods. Even though she sold pistols and revolvers, the ones Rebecca offered had special characteristics.
There was no need to think hard to guess which of the Dolls sold explosives. Allen could almost hear the laughter of that twin-tailed maniac. She will definitely have many things ready when Allen unlocks her store.
...
"Um, excuse me?" said Asami shyly. She had the strange feeling that, while escaping, the young man carrying her had completely forgotten she existed. But that was impossible, right? Who could forget they were carrying a person?!
Her voice snapped Allen back to reality.
"What is it?" he asked, looking genuinely puzzled.
Asami blinked. The young man was as calm and distracted as an office worker on a Monday morning.
Allen had been running while carrying both women, but for him, their combined weight was nothing — his hammer weighed three times as much. Of course, they didn't know that.
"I appreciate you saving us, but I can run on my own," said Matsushima, her face growing paler by the second.
Allen stopped and set both women down, but before Asami could speak, Matsushima collapsed to her knees.
"Anemone-san?!"
"Shit, this is it... haha"
Allen looked at her. Despite being at death's door, she was still smiling, trying to light one last cigarette.
"You're a tough big sister," he said softly.
"Idiot, even if it's true, you don't say that to a lady," Anemone winked at him. "You're a good man. I would've liked to teach you a few things~"
Allen widened his eyes. Seeing women who direct was rare in Japan — actually, rare anywhere.
"Anemone-san!"
"Idiot, I'm right here. Don't shout."
"Well..." Allen thought for a second, then silently pulled out the syringe and injected the cure straight into her chest.
"Ugh, what are you doing?!" Anemone felt tricked. She had thought Allen was a good person, someone she could entrust her junior to. She was about to draw her revolver but froze when she saw Allen's pure, unwavering eyes.
"I have a feeling I shouldn't let you die, big sis," Allen said simply.
"Anemone-san!" Asami reached for her revolver, but it was gone — she must've dropped it somewhere.
"It's fine..." said Anemone, without taking her eyes off Allen. There was a strange connection between them, as if they'd known each other all their lives.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice raspy but steady as her color slowly returned.
"Good question..." Allen stood up. "As far as I know, I'm a transfer student from Fujimi Academy."
"What does that mean?" Anemone asked, frowning at his strange tone — like he didn't even know who he was.
"Exactly what it sounds like. I have no idea if I've ever met you before... because I've lost my memory."
Asami gasped, while Anemone stayed silent. Then, she stood up. Though the bite mark was still visible on her arm, the virus had been neutralized.
"What's your goal?" asked Anemone. She didn't know who this young man was, but using something that valuable to save her couldn't be without a reason.
"As I said before," Allen replied, smiling with a calm yet intense gaze, "I have a feeling you're worth keeping alive — even if it costs me a little."
"Alright, I believe you," said Anemone, smiling slyly as she extended her hand and tossed the cigarette away with the other. "I hope we can count on each other."
Allen took her hand and smiled. "Likewise. By the way, I'm Allen."
"You already know this girl is Asami, and I'm Anemone."
...
Allen led the two women to a vehicle, broke the window, climbed in, and hotwired it with ease.
"What?" Allen asked when he noticed their stunned looks.
Asami's mouth fell open — this guy had just forgotten they were police officers!
"You're a funny guy!" laughed Anemone as she climbed in.
Asami hesitated for a second, but seeing the horde approaching from a distance, she quickly jumped into the back seat.
Having successfully recruited two police officers, Allen returned to the Takagi Mansion — unaware that while he was gone, the place had been attacked!
====
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