Hearing Tsumura cursing downstairs, Sosuke Kitahara knew he had returned with his group from outside.
"We need to finish searching this place before nightfall. Take as much as we can carry. I'll check the surrounding area."
Sosuke gave a quick nod to Fujishima before turning to head upstairs. The mall grew quiet again, each corridor eerily still. Yet no one dared to let their guard down. Hayama had nearly lost his life earlier due to carelessness, so even Haruno and the other two girls following him gripped their machetes tightly, ready to face any sudden danger.
"If only we had some kind of magical storage chest. Then we could pack the entire mall's supplies inside, and we'd never have to worry about running out of resources again…"
Utaha Kasumigaoka sighed enviously. This was a large, multi-purpose shopping center with goods of every kind anything on any floor could be useful. After making sure no zombies were hiding nearby by banging around for a bit, the four of them made their way toward the third floor.
"Oh, there's a bubble tea shop here! I haven't had milk tea in ages!"
Haruno's eyes lit up the moment they reached the third floor. Right beside the escalator was an open-concept milk tea shop, its chairs scattered in disarray. Yukino wore a reluctant expression as Haruno dragged her inside, but the quick flick of her tongue over her lips betrayed her anticipation. After a bit of tinkering inside, the two emerged carrying four cups of milk tea.
"Try it! This might be the last milk tea we'll ever have. Who knows when we'll get the chance again."
Handing the cups out, Haruno took a sip through her straw. The cool sweetness slid down her throat, and her fatigue seemed to lift.
Utaha also took a long, satisfying sip, her face softening in bliss. "I used to worry milk tea would make me gain weight. Now, that's the least of my concerns."
"As long as you don't drink it often, it won't make you fat," Yukino said with a charming smile, her pearly teeth lightly biting the straw. The adorable sight was unexpectedly captivating.
Was this survival… or a vacation? Sosuke couldn't help but feel exasperated.
"Here, for you." Yukino held out a pale-tan cup toward Sosuke. He thanked her and took a couple of sips. The sweet, creamy flavor filled his mouth, stirring a strange, unfamiliar feeling in his chest.
And when he saw the three women, their soft lips closing around their straws, cheeks faintly moving as they drank it was like someone was lightly tugging at the strings of his heart, sending shivers through his soul.
When Haruno and Yukino went to throw away the trash, Utaha leaned in and whispered, "You kept glancing between me, Yukino, and Haruno. What exactly were you thinking?"
Even with his thick skin, Sosuke felt heat creep up his face at the question.
Utaha seemed to guess he was thinking something indecent. She shot him a sidelong glance, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and pressed her foot lightly on top of his.
The moment Yukino and Haruno returned, Utaha quietly pulled her foot back, brushed a few strands of hair from her face, then tapped Sosuke's shoulder. "Look down there. See what those people are doing."
Leaning over the railing, Sosuke's gaze fell on several shops on the second floor.
The glass display cases were empty, the counters neat, the sofas spotless as if everything was still in normal operation.
Clang.
Suddenly, one of the display cases was pried open with brute force. Several men began scooping up handfuls of wristwatches, grinning like they'd struck gold. One of them, the man named Youhei the same one who had nearly clashed with them earlier pulled a thick wad of cash from behind the counter, stuffing it into his pockets.
When his pockets couldn't hold any more, he greedily inhaled the scent of the remaining bills. Then, as if overcome with impulse, he flicked open a lighter and set the stack on fire, watching the flames consume the paper with a twisted gleam in his eyes.
"Ah… I've always wanted to try this," Youhei sighed in pleasure.
Another man leaned over, using the burning bills to light his cigarette, shaking his head. "Too little. The smell isn't pure enough."
"They were among the ones who ran off earlier, weren't they?"
Haruno's brows furrowed in disgust. Yukino scowled, muttering, "A bunch of fools."
"We still need them for now."
Sosuke's face remained blank as he turned away. On the other side of the floor, Shizuka Hiratsuka appeared with Hachiman Hikigaya and Hayato Hayama in tow. Sosuke greeted them with a nod before stepping into a kitchenware store.
Shelves were lined with all sorts of cooking utensils pots, pans, and knives of every shape. One item in particular caught Sosuke's eye: a katana mounted on the wall. Even the scabbard spoke of craftsmanship. He stepped forward and took it down.
"This store's a German brand," Utaha said, following him inside. "But they must have gone local and displayed a Japanese sword. Could it be their treasure piece?"
The moment Sosuke drew the blade, he knew he liked it. He tested it by slicing a thick product brochure the paper parted effortlessly.
"What craftsmanship. So sharp! Too bad there's only one, and no machetes," Utaha remarked in awe.
"Well, it's a kitchenware store, after all," Hiratsuka said with a smile as she stepped in.
Hachiman picked up a chef's knife, testing its balance. "Should we take these back too? Steel pipes aren't the best for fighting."
"That's where you're wrong," Hayato replied, picking up another kitchen knife. With a flick of his wrist, he embedded it into the table. "These are fine for stabbing people, but not great for cutting heads. A shorter blade means higher risk. Your steel pipe's still better."
"Sensei," Sosuke said, pulling a pointed kitchen knife from the rack. "Do we have a craftsman in the shelter? Someone who can make short spears from these blades? The shaft should be something sturdy like a steel pipe, and the connection must be strong otherwise, if the spear breaks before the zombie's dead, we're in trouble."
"I know just the man. He's a carpenter, but a skilled one," Hachiman replied.
Hiratsuka nodded. "Good. Hachiman, Hayama find a sturdy bag and pack up all the useful knives here."
"Got it!" Hayama straightened his back, eager to be useful.
"Alright. Let's check the upper floors. If you see zombies, don't panic. If it's too much, find a safe spot and call for us."
"Understood. You be careful too."
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