Chapter 4
The group spent another night in the DIY center, but for Jason, it wasn't a time for rest. He sat in a corner of the dark warehouse, his back against a stack of plywood. To anyone watching, he was just staring into space, but behind his eyes, a digital storm was brewing.
Iris, I'm not strong enough, Jason thought. Yesterday, when I hit those things, my wrist felt the vibration too much. If I have to fight a hundred of them at once, I'll tire out in minutes. I need to be better if I'm going to protect everyone.
[SENSATIONAL. You have recognized your physical limitations. Your current muscle density is average for a high school student. To ensure 100% survival probability, a physical overhaul is required. I have designed a 'Hyper-Efficiency' training regiment.]
A training routine? Jason wondered. Can I really do that while we're on the move?
[I will utilize the neural link to provide micro-electrical muscle stimulation while you move. Every step you take will be resisted by your own nervous system, effectively turning every second of your day into a high-intensity workout. Additionally, I have mapped out a 30-minute morning routine that focuses on explosive power and reflex calibration.]
That sounds... painful, Jason thought with a dry swallow. But let's do it. I don't want to be the guy who just hides behind a baton.
The next morning, Jason was up before the sun. The warehouse was cold, the air smelling of sawdust and stale metal. He started his routine in the middle of the tool aisle.
"One... two... three..." he whispered, pushing through a set of burpees.
Suddenly, his muscles locked up, then released with a snap. It felt like a massive weight had been dropped on his shoulders.
Iris! What was that?
[Activation of resistance protocols. You are now moving against your own motor neurons. Continue the exercise.]
Jason groaned, his teeth gritted. Every movement felt like he was pushing through thick molasses. He finished his sets just as the others began to wake up. He was drenched in sweat, his lungs burning, but he quickly wiped his face and put on a fresh shirt. He didn't want them to worry or think he was doing something strange.
"Morning, Jason-kun!" Shizuka-sensei chirped, rubbing her eyes as she walked toward the makeshift kitchen area. "You're always so energetic! Are you working out?"
"Oh, just a little stretching, Shizuka-sensei," Jason said, his voice a bit shaky as his muscles continued to twitch from the electrical pulses. "It helps keep the nerves down. Would you like some tea? I found some bags in the employee lounge."
"Tea sounds lovely!" she beamed.
Soon, the whole group was gathered. The atmosphere was focused. They had spent the previous day reinforcing the bus—adding steel mesh over the windows and a heavy plow to the front.
"Alright," Takashi said, looking at a map they had spread out on a workbench. "Jason, you said you had some ideas for a base. Where are we heading?"
Jason leaned over the map, his finger hovering over a spot toward the mountains, away from the dense urban sprawl of Tokyo.
"I was thinking about the old estate district near the river," Jason explained. "Specifically, the Takagi estate. It's high ground, it has walls, and it's defensible. But before that, we need to cross the city. That's the dangerous part."
Saya Takagi stiffened. "My parents' house? It's far, and the bridges will be a nightmare."
"I know," Jason said gently. "But it's the best chance we have for a long-term home. Plus, we need to check on your family, right?"
Saya looked away, her expression softening for just a moment. "I suppose... it's a logical choice."
"Then it's settled," Jason said, giving a thumbs up. "Let's load the last of the water and the tools. We leave in ten minutes."
As they began to load the bus, Jason felt a sharp spike of pain in his thighs.
Iris, take it easy! I have to drive!
[I have adjusted the resistance to 15% for driving. However, your heart rate must remain above 120 bpm to optimize calorie burn and muscle fiber tearing. You wanted to be stronger, Jason. Greatness is rarely comfortable.]
Right, right. No pain, no gain, Jason thought, climbing into the driver's seat.
They rolled out of the Satake DIY center, the heavy plow on the bus pushing aside a few stray "them" that had gathered near the gate. Jason handled the wheel with a new kind of intensity. Even though his body was screaming at him, his mind was clear.
"Hey, Jason?" Takashi sat in the passenger seat, a metal pipe resting on his lap. "You're different from the other guys at school. You don't seem... as scared as we are."
Jason looked at the road, a small, humble smile on his lips. "I'm terrified, Takashi. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it might pop. But I realized something yesterday. If I let the fear take over, I can't help you guys. So I just decided to focus on what I can do. One step at a time, you know?"
Takashi nodded slowly. "Yeah. One step at a time. I like that."
The drive through the city was a grim reality check. They saw columns of smoke rising from the shopping districts. Abandoned police cars sat with their lights still flashing, casting blue and red flickers onto the rows of corpses on the sidewalk.
"Look at that..." Rei whispered, her face pressed against the mesh-covered window. "It's all gone. Just like that."
"Not all of it," Jason said, his voice firm but kind. "We're still here. And we're going to make sure there's something to come back to."
Inside his head, he was already calculating.
Iris, scan the bridge up ahead. What are we looking at?
[SENSATIONAL. A massive pile-up has blocked the main span. However, the maintenance walkway is wide enough for a motorcycle, and there is a secondary service road that leads under the bridge. Probability of the bus fitting through the service road: 64%.]
I'll take those odds, Jason thought. Everyone, hang on! We're taking a shortcut!
He swung the bus onto a dirt path, the vehicle bouncing wildly. His muscles, strained by Iris's training, groaned under the effort of keeping the bus steady, but he felt a surge of strength he hadn't possessed the day before. He was growing. He was adapting.
He was becoming the leader they needed, even if he didn't want to admit it yet.
Would you like me to continue with their arrival at the bridge, or should we have a moment where Jason has to use his new strength to save someone during the "shortcut"?
The service road was a narrow, gravel-choked nightmare that hugged the concrete pillars of the massive bridge above. To the left, a steep embankment dropped toward the dark river; to the right, the towering grey walls of the bridge supports. The bus groaned as Jason forced it through a gap between a stalled delivery truck and a concrete barrier.
"Jason, it's too tight!" Rei shouted, clutching the seat in front of her. "The walls are scraping the bus!"
"It's okay, Rei-san! Just a little bit of paint," Jason called back, though his teeth were gritted.
Inside his mind, the pressure was immense. Iris wasn't just resisting his movements now; she was feeding him a stream of spatial data that felt like needles in his brain.
[SENSATIONAL. Structural integrity of the bus is at 82%. Lateral clearance: 4 centimeters. Warning: Biological signatures detected ahead. Grouping: Thirty-plus. They have been trapped under the bridge. They are hungry.]
I see them, Iris. Keep the resistance on. I need the power.
As the bus cleared the narrow passage, the service road opened into a small maintenance yard. There they were. Dozens of "them," huddled in the shadows of the bridge, their grey skin mottled and peeling. At the sound of the engine, they turned as one, a collective groan rising from their throats.
Suddenly, the bus hit a massive piece of debris—a fallen steel girder from the bridge construction above. The vehicle lurched violently, the engine stalling with a sickening metallic clunk.
"Everyone stay inside!" Jason commanded. His voice had lost its soft edge. It was sharp, authoritative.
"Jason, the engine's dead!" Takashi reached for his pipe. "They're coming!"
"I'll clear the path. Takashi, get in the driver's seat. When I give the signal, turn the key. I fixed the starter relay this morning—it'll catch, you just have to be ready."
Jason didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed his reinforced baton and stepped out into the humid, death-scented air.
Iris, 100% output. Give me everything.
[ADAPTIVE STIMULATION ENGAGED. DANGER: Muscle fiber tearing is imminent. I am bypassing your biological safety limiters. Enjoy the sensation.]
Jason felt a surge of white-hot heat rush through his limbs. It wasn't just strength; it was a violent expansion of his physical self. As the first three zombies lunged, Jason didn't just swing—he exploded.
The baton moved in a blur. Crack. Crack. Crack. Three skulls shattered like dry porcelain. He didn't stop. He stepped into the crowd, moving with a terrifying, calculated grace. He was a whirlwind of humble lethality.
"Get away from the bus!" he roared, his voice echoing under the bridge.
He grabbed a stray zombie by the collar and, with a heave that should have been impossible for his frame, threw it five meters into the river. He was clearing the debris by hand, tossing chunks of concrete and twisted metal aside like they were made of foam.
Inside the bus, the group watched in stunned silence.
"Is that... really Jason?" Kohta whispered, his mouth hanging open.
"He's moving too fast," Saeko observed, her hand tightening on her machete. A dark, respectful glint shone in her eyes. "He's been hiding this."
Jason reached the girder blocking the road. It weighed hundreds of pounds. He braced his legs, his muscles bulging so hard they threatened to rip his sleeves.
Hnnnngh! With a primal shout, he heaved. The steel groaned against the asphalt, sliding just enough to clear the lane.
"Now, Takashi! Now!"
The bus engine roared to life. The plow caught the remaining stragglers, tossing them aside. Jason sprinted toward the moving vehicle, grabbing the door handle and swinging himself back inside.
He fell into the aisle, gasping for air, his body trembling violently as Iris dialed back the stimulation.
"Jason!" Shizuka-sensei ran to him, checking his forehead. "You're burning up! You're going to have a heart attack!"
"I'm... I'm okay," Jason panted, forcing a weak, humble smile. "Just a bit of a workout. Is everyone safe?"
Takashi looked back from the driver's seat, his expression one of pure awe. "Yeah. We're safe because of you. But man... don't ever do that again without telling us you're a superhero."
"Not a hero," Jason muttered, leaning his head against the seat. "Just a guy who really wants to get to the estate."
Iris... remind me never to do 100% output again unless the world is literally exploding.
[Noted. However, your muscle density has increased by 3.2% in the last four minutes. The sensational results speak for themselves.]
"We're through," Takashi called out as the bus climbed back onto the main road, leaving the bridge and the shadows behind. "The path to the Takagi estate is open."
Jason closed his eyes. They were one step closer to a home. But he knew the hardest part was yet to come. The city was dying, and they were the only ones with a map to the future.
Chapter 5
The suburbs leading to the Takagi estate were different from the city center. Here, the houses were larger, separated by high stone walls and iron gates. It felt more like a fortress than a neighborhood.
"We're close," Saya said, her voice tight with a mix of anxiety and relief. "Just past the next intersection, the main gate should be visible."
Jason stood up, his body still aching but feeling strangely light. He walked to the front of the bus. "Everyone, listen. This isn't just a house. It's going to be our base. We need to act like a team when we get there. My friend... the one who helps me... says there are survivors inside, but they're on edge."
"Survivors? You mean my parents?" Saya asked.
"Probably," Jason said. "But they'll be armed. Let me do the talking. I don't want anyone getting shot because of a misunderstanding."
As the bus rounded the corner, they saw it. The Takagi estate was a massive traditional Japanese compound, reinforced with modern security. Armed men stood on the walls, their rifles leveled at the approaching bus.
"Stop the bus, Takashi," Jason said calmly.
He stepped out alone, his hands raised, showing he was unarmed. He looked small and unassuming against the backdrop of the apocalypse, but his eyes were steady.
"My name is Jason!" he shouted toward the walls. "I have Saya Takagi with me! We're seeking entry and we have supplies to share!"
The guards hesitated. A tall, imposing man with glasses stepped onto the walkway—Soichiro Takagi. He looked down at the boy in the blood-stained school uniform.
"Who are you to lead my daughter here?" the man barked.
Jason didn't flinch. He bowed slightly, maintaining his humble posture but keeping his voice loud and clear. "I'm just a student who promised to keep his friends safe, sir. And I intend to keep that promise. May we come in?"
There was a long silence. Then, the heavy gates began to creak open.
We're in, Iris, Jason thought.
[Indeed. Stage Two: Fortification and Research. The real work begins now.]
Jason looked back at the bus and waved the group forward. They had a roof over their heads, but Jason was already looking at the walls, calculating how to make them higher, stronger, and permanent.