The Duver family had money—obviously.And their fridge was stuffed with expensive delicacies.Some items had gone bad, like the salmon and Wagyu beef, but for Mari, a girl who once worked part-time as a chef's assistant while studying before the outbreak, this was a kitchen straight out of a dream.
It was the kind of gourmet-grade kitchen that rich people bought but never used.Now it belonged to someone who would love every inch of it.
The ceramic four-burner stove, the professional-grade appliances—all of it was what Mari had always wanted for her birthday.Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she'd get to cook in a kitchen like this during a zombie apocalypse.
"Oh, Gantzuke! Since when did you have a Michelin-level chef living in your house?"Leemo's eyes widened as he chewed on the sweet, tender shrimp. His mustache twitched slightly with delight.
His words and expression made Mari—dressed in pink lace apron over a T-shirt and shorts—blush with pride.She clasped her hands, twisting shyly in place with a glowing smile.
"If you're worried about your parents, Gantzuke can take you home tomorrow," Leemo said, nudging Meenda gently from across the table.He spoke like a seasoned man who had seen enough of life to understand more than he let on.
The octopus dried in the sun that Gantzuke was just about to swallow got stuck in his throat.
"Water—need water," he rasped, lifting his hand.Molly, quick as ever, passed him a glass before anything got messy.
Take her home—or take her to her death?Gantzuke thought, but didn't say aloud.Leemo's tone was just too serious to be taken as a joke.
The square dining table fell into silence.All eyes turned to Meenda.
"Okay," she finally said with a smile that carried deep relief.It was as if she had just set down the world she'd been carrying on her back.
"Thank you for saving me," she said, looking directly at Gantzuke before turning her gaze to Mari, Molly, Issie, and Leemo around her.
The way they were looking at her made Meenda lift her hand to her cheek.
"Is there something wrong with my face?"
"The world you're in… might not be what you think it is," Leemo said with a gentle smile."Eat. Looks like you haven't had a proper meal in days."
Meenda nodded.They're all so kind, she thought. But I have to go home. My mom might still be waiting for me.
She was genuinely grateful to everyone in this house.And so, she picked up the shrimp in front of her and began to eat with genuine hunger.
Mmm... it's really good...Her eyes widened. The rich flavor of the tender shrimp made her almost regret that this meal might be her last one with them.
Later That Night
"When exactly did you decide I should take her home?"Now alone with Leemo in the living room, two cold beers between them, Gantzuke finally brought it up.
"The drone footage was clear. That area's crawling with zombies."
"Some people," Leemo said, lounging on the couch in his bright orange tropical shirt, "don't learn until they see the truth for themselves.You need to let her see it with her own eyes."
He took a sip of beer.
"And besides—there's something I want you to bring back for me."
He handed Gantzuke an iPad.
"First-generation Tesla pickup. The founder of the company is supposedly buried on Mars," Leemo said, pointing to the image on the screen.
Gantzuke squinted at it.He recognized the weird-looking electric truck, but the bit about the founder being buried on Mars? That was news to him.
"Was almost dying today not enough?"He looked at Leemo like an overworked employee who'd just been asked to work overtime on a Sunday.
After barely surviving the fishing village, between zombies and Amun's men, he felt incredibly lucky that the zombie woman had bitten his titanium leg instead of his right testicle.She could have gone for the jewels.
"I know," Leemo said calmly."But our little TikTok princess needs a lesson. Either she learns how to survive like a normal person—or she dies."
His tone reminded Gantzuke of his father—cold, stern, and final.
"Fine. But I'm not doing this alone."
Gantzuke met Leemo's gaze head-on.
"I'll be with you. From above," Leemo said, pointing to the sky."And I've already talked to Issie. That busty Russian girl used to work at a vehicle mod shop. Her driving skills should be solid."
Gantzuke raised an eyebrow.When the hell did he talk to her?He was surprised that Issie opened up to Leemo before she did to him.
"Don't worry," Leemo said, grinning as if reading his mind. "I'm not trying to sleep with you, tiger."
Gantzuke shrugged.Hmph. If he thinks he can compete with me in hip-game... not a chance in hell.
Leemo chuckled.
Gantzuke laughed too, a bit embarrassed that the old mustached man could read his thoughts that clearly.