Zero Part 2

All the missing pieces that he found puzzling are slowly forming. Moreover, it confirms this person's identity. According to his wife and the others, not many people knew about them going to New York, other than close friends and family.

Zero must be one of his friends for him to know this much.

The reason he is concealing his identity even from him? Haruka did not know, but he felt that this person would not harm him.

"Did I like her?"

Haruka recalled how that woman was always watching him before leaving the manor.

"Not at all." Zero shook his head. "At least the feelings you had for her were not romantic."

"You do know a lot about me."

He did not mean to provoke the man when he said those words, but he watched as a panicked expression flashed through Zero's face.

"Excuse me, there is somewhere I need to be." Zero tried to leave, but Haruka grabbed hold of his wrist. "...."

"Listen, I didn't mean to put you under the spotlight like that. I already figured out you were somebody I knew from the first day we met."

When Zero told him to cover that woman's face, he immediately did it, almost like he was familiar with his instructions.

Moreover, that note, that writing seemed familiar to him, and it was the same for the phone number. He checked his phone and realized he had many messages since the day he reunited with his wife from that number, asking if he was okay.

'Are you safe? If so, please give me some kind of sign.'

Zero turned to him with a pained expression on his face but slowly nodded. "That is right; we did know each other."

"If that is the case, don't act so reserved." Haruka nodded. "You can tell me what you know."

'I must have trusted him enough to tell him those things.'

"You are not afraid of me?"

At Zero's words, Haruka blinked, startled. "Why would I be afraid of you?"

"What you saw the other day."

"Oh that? Thank you for doing it. It felt like I wouldn't have given them a painless death." Haruka trailed off. "Just the memory of that guy makes me sick."

"This appearance."

Haruka stared at the man's white hair and chuckled. "It's fine; I think it looks quite cool. Oh, is that a tattoo on your neck? Why a diamond?"

"You truly have not changed." Zero mumbled.

…

They met at that alleyway whenever the opportunity arose from that day onwards. Haruka felt more confident walking around even when Kiryu went off on his own. It seemed like Kiryu started to trust, leaving him alone too.

Zero is a good guy with some unusual hobbies. His lack of knowledge regarding normal things surprised him.

"I have never seen the aurora before, but I hear it is supposed to be very beautiful." Zero trailed off. "You were the one who talked to me about it."

"I did?"

"Yes."

The aurora, huh? Now that he thought about it, there were some pictures on his wife's phone. They must have gone to see the aurora together.

Zero occasionally asked him a few questions, and he did his best to answer them. It was the first time he felt like he was useful in so long. Although he could not give the man much information due to his memory loss, Zero was very patient with him.

It seemed like they had many shared hobbies and naturally got along with each other.

Even though he was having a lot of fun, Haruka did not forget to ask his questions. Zero never minded when he switched the topic.

"Zero, do you know if there is a place where we can get flowers here?" Haruka trailed off.

"Flowers?"

Haruka looked away, embarrassed. "I wanted to make a bouquet for Lila. She likes pretty and cute things."

"I suppose you want natural flowers and not the artificial ones they are selling." Zero nodded. "Right, there is still a place like that. Come with me."

Haruka did not hesitate to follow the man. They did not leave the alleyways even for a single moment. He noticed how his friend hesitated to walk around in public. He does not know Zero's circumstances, but it works out better for him walking through secret paths.

'There is no telling when somebody will get a brief glimpse of your face and pull your hood. You have to be aware at all times.'

If people found out who he was, huh? The thought of it frightened him. If he is truly related to the enemy leader, he could imagine what would happen to him. He does not want to get his wife involved in anything further stains her hands.

He does not say anything to her when she returns late, covered in somebody else's blood. He tries to dismiss her painful expression when she is washing her hands and scrubbing the blood away so desperately.

His wife is not a saint. Haruka already guessed that she had killed people before. But it seems like she is new to killing people. At least according to what Kiryu tells him.

It is not just Zero, but he seems to get along better with Austin Kiryu now too.

She does not have to be a saint. He does not care how dirty her hands are; he understands that she is doing all these things to protect him.

His thoughts kept him occupied, so he did not realize that they had arrived until Zero tapped his shoulders. Haruka looked at his surroundings and noticed they were in a beautiful clearing surrounded by oak trees and a large stone waterfall in the center. What stood out to him were the many different types of flowers, and the grass was green.

"There are still places like this?" Haruka said dumbfounded.

Rather than pick the flowers, this would make a nice date spot. But it would be hard for him to take her here since it would mean revealing that he has been sneaking out.

"Yes. As you know, New York is not as bad as other places; many areas are like this."

"Then why do people not go here-" Haruka paused, realizing something. "Did we take all those alleyways to avoid the infected?"

Many people take great lengths to avoid the infected. Although most of the infected are not hostile, they are just mindless zombies at this stage. But there is a high chance of getting infected if they so much as brush past.

To get here using the main streets, they must have to pass a wall of infected.

"Yes." Zero nodded. "While I can handle them just fine. If something happens to you, your wife and friends will be worried."

So it's because of him, huh? "Sorry." Haruka apologized. "I still don't know how to use my abilities well."

Or rather, according to Nobuhiko, it seemed he did not use it much in the past. That would explain why not even a small memory is returning to him regarding his hanyou side.

"It is alright; word has already spread what happened the other day. I do not think people will carelessly attack you without thinking."

If word has spread regarding the other day- Haruka recalled his wife's sulking face recently. 'Haruka, is there something you have not told me?'

She already knows about it, and yet she has not stopped him.

'Thank you, my wife. I will make sure not to betray your trust.' Haruka already planned on talking to her about the information he learned from Zero.