Kurumi left a letter on the living room table. The letter likely stated that she was safe at school and that if they returned, they could come and see her.
Although she didn't know if they would see it, it was a way to leave a trace of herself. If they really did see it, it would fulfill her wish.
By the time Inaba Tsukiyo and Kurumi came out, it was already very late. The sun was gradually setting, and the sky was slowly enveloped by darkness.
Because zombies are very sensitive to sound and light, Inaba Tsukiyo and the others decided not to travel at night. They planned to rest in the car temporarily and set off the next day.
To refuel the car, they drove to a nearby gas station, intending to spend the night there.
While Sakura Megumi and Wakasa Yuri dealt with the fuel, Kurumi and Inaba Tsukiyo kept watch, alert for any sudden appearance of zombies.
Kurumi leaned against a road sign near the gas station, looking up blankly at the stars.
"Hey… Tsukiyo-chan. Sometimes I feel like none of this is real."
"Oh? What's wrong, Kurumi? Tell me."
The vigilant Inaba Tsukiyo looked at Kurumi with some curiosity, wanting to hear what she meant by 'unreal'.
"Things that only happen in movies are actually happening in the real world. Sometimes I wonder if this is just a dream, and when I wake up, everything will go back to normal."
"No disaster, everything as usual, going to school, club activities. Although daily life is pretty much the same, there's nothing bad about that kind of life."
However, every day when she woke up in the School Life Club, reality told her that everything happening before her eyes was real.
"Maybe the Self-Defense Forces or the United Nations have noticed the problem in Megurigaoka City and are already coming in helicopters. A helicopter suddenly appears at school, and someone comes out and says to us: 'You've worked so hard,' comforting words like that."
"This feeling… it's like watching a movie. A very clichéd storyline."
They hold on until the end, then the military arrives to pick them up, taking them out of Megurigaoka City. After a period of recuperation, they resume their lives.
However, reality wasn't that beautiful, and the superheroes in movies didn't exist. To survive, they could only rely on their own efforts.
"Don't always expect others to be your heroes. Being a hero isn't that easy."
Moreover, if you're helpless and no so-called hero appears by your side, should you then despair of reality?
No, of course not. If one simply waits for others to help, then only despair will ultimately descend. Everyone understands this principle.
"Then... can you be my hero, Tsukiyo-chan?"
After a moment of hesitation, Kurumi asked cautiously.
"Hero...? I don't know, but I can be your pillar. After all, I don't want to be an ally of justice, Kurumi."
Inaba Tsukiyo shook her head. She didn't believe in becoming a hero, nor did she believe in the saying 'with great power comes great responsibility'.
She... was just a girl who had lived a bit longer. All she wanted to protect were the people she cared about.
Moreover, so-called allies of justice merely sacrificed a few people to save more lives.
For some reason, a figure with red hair appeared in Inaba Tsukiyo's mind. Although his appearance was somewhat youthful, his eyes were very experienced.
It seemed that person was a so-called ally of justice, but his ending was not so good.
Kurumi didn't know what Inaba Tsukiyo was thinking, but she couldn't help but smile, recalling the embrace from earlier.
Even if Inaba Tsukiyo didn't want to be a hero, she had already, unknowingly, become everyone's hero, everyone's pillar.
After a night of rest, everyone's spirits had recovered well, and they continued towards the department store supermarket on the map.
"Riverside City Doron Hall"—that was the name of this large supermarket. Inaba Tsukiyo didn't have Sakura Megumi stop the car immediately. Instead, she had another pair drive around the outside once, discovering a school gate on the side.
First, she had everyone park the car near the small gate and block it. This would prevent zombies from suddenly appearing, allow for a quick escape in emergencies, and make transporting supplies very fast.
Inaba Tsukiyo clearly wanted everyone to wait inside. Inaba Tsukiyo got out of the car first and entered the small gate to check the situation inside.
This seemed to be the supermarket's warehouse, with little lighting.
However, the dim environment had no effect on Inaba Tsukiyo. She quickly heard subtle sounds and approached quietly.
At this time, Kurumi, Sakura Megumi, Wakasa Yuri, and Takenouchi Yuki, among others, also got out of the car.
Inaba Tsukiyo had told them earlier that they needed a larger car, even if it was just a minivan. This way, everyone could sit together, and they could also carry more things.
However, even if they found such a car, they didn't have the keys, and they didn't know how to hotwire a car. They would have to wait until they got inside to see.
The power supply to this supermarket had been destroyed, so even if they found the power switch, they couldn't turn on the lights.
However, they all had flashlights, so they didn't need to worry about light sources.
When Inaba Tsukiyo dealt with the few zombies in the warehouse, she found that several of them were carrying bags.
It seemed these people must have also wanted to come here to find some food and replenish supplies, but because the warehouse was too dark, they didn't notice the presence of zombies and were attacked, leading to their complete annihilation.
Although she deeply regretted the fate of these people, Inaba Tsukiyo didn't hesitate, swiftly dispatching these zombies with her blade.
After dealing with these zombies, Inaba Tsukiyo deliberately made a louder noise, wanting to see if any undiscovered zombies would be attracted by the sound.
After waiting for a long time, Inaba Tsukiyo heard no movement. After confirming there were no hidden zombies, she let Kurumi and the others come in.
"Everyone, look for some larger backpacks. For food, mainly bring canned goods, compressed biscuits, or sweets. For light sources, look for candles and glow sticks."
There were many supplies here, and they didn't need to fill everything at once. For now, they could just take what they needed back.
Upon receiving the order, the girls also began to act, quickly filling the trunk and their backpacks with items.
By the time they finished, everyone was sweating profusely, but no one complained, and their faces were all beaming with happy smiles.
These supplies could sustain them for a long time, and there were still many more here, which alleviated the crisis of resource scarcity.
"Phew~ I'm so tired, Sister Megumi. Can we go play, okay?"
To prevent her hat from getting dirty with sweat, Takenouchi Yuki took it off and sat on the ground without a care for her image, pleading.
"No, we have to go back soon."
Although somewhat tempted, Sakura Megumi knew it wasn't the time for such things.
"Eh, why? Just play for a little, just a tiny bit."
Takenouchi Yuki grabbed Sakura Megumi's hand and swayed it from side to side, trying to use her charm to get Sakura Megumi to agree to her request.
"No, Yuki. You shouldn't trouble Sister Megumi."
Wakasa Yuri looked at Takenouchi Yuki with a gentle smile. Although she was smiling, the aura she exuded made Takenouchi Yuki scared and she cowered behind Sakura Megumi, trembling.
Although she was very scared, Takenouchi Yuki really wanted to go play. It was a rare outing, and it would be a shame to just go back.
"It's okay. Since you want to play, it's fine to go play."
Just as the situation was at a stalemate, Inaba Tsukiyo said with a smile.
"Really? But, is it really okay?"
Although they were worried, they were actually very tempted by Inaba Tsukiyo's suggestion.
Even the most rational Wakasa Yuri actually wanted to do something she wanted to do when they left school.
It was just that none of them wanted to add pressure to Inaba Tsukiyo, so they hadn't said anything.
"Hmm, it's fine. I just heard that the sounds were mainly concentrated on the Second floor, and there's a dense area of sound on the Third floor, where at least a hundred zombies are gathered. As long as we don't open that room, there won't be too much danger."
While everyone was helping with things in the warehouse, Inaba Tsukiyo went to check the situation inside the supermarket.
Because zombies are not good at climbing stairs, there were basically no zombies on the Third floor, and not many on the Second floor and First floor. She had already cleared the zombies on the First floor, so there was basically no major threat.
However, Inaba Tsukiyo was a little curious about the place with the most sounds. It seemed to be a room, and judging by the sounds, at least a hundred zombies were gathered inside.
But, as long as they didn't foolishly open that room, those zombies shouldn't come out from there.
Everyone nodded happily. They had just found a guide that said the Third floor was a women's clothing store.
Girls all like to dress up beautifully. When school is over and there's nothing else to do, most girls will find friends to go to the supermarket's clothing store to try on clothes, but not buy them.
Kurumi and the others were all girls, and of course, they also liked cute and pretty clothes. Having always worn school uniforms, they also wanted to try on other clothes.
After getting Inaba Tsukiyo's permission, everyone couldn't help but want to go there to see.
"Is it really okay to do something like this during this time?"
Kurumi couldn't help but ask. Although she also wanted to go to the Third floor to see, she wanted to confirm one last time.
"Actually, I think the more it's times like these, the more we should do this, don't you think?"
Wakasa Yuri came to Inaba Tsukiyo, placed her hand on Inaba Tsukiyo's shoulder, and exchanged a smiling glance with Sakura Megumi.
Sister Megumi nodded in agreement, taking Inaba Tsukiyo's and Takenouchi Yuki's hands, and hurried towards the third floor.
"Yuri is right. Because we are girls, after all."
It was precisely because they were all girls that they had to do such things at a time like this.
"...Girls?"
Inaba Tsukiyo, whose hand was being held by Sakura Megumi, looked up in a daze. Although she had been a girl for over a hundred years, hearing someone say it like that still made her a little bewildered.
"Yes, I am a girl too."