The Journey of the Dead (3)  

In a spacious white tent, a man is typing on a laptop with various sophisticated tools on either side of him. This middle-aged man is trying to find something on the laptop screen, which currently displays a satellite map, occasionally rubbing his forehead with his hand. He is quickly yet meticulously sifting through all the files in his folders. Once he finds the data he's looking for, he immediately synchronizes it with the Fulldive satellite database, which is currently connected to a map of Tokyo. His eyes scan every detail of the roads and buildings on the laptop screen. He is searching for the file he just synchronized with the satellite.

"Where is it..." he murmurs, continuing to focus, observe, and type on his laptop. Suddenly, a man dressed in a full black suit enters the tent. He walks slowly toward the man sitting in front of the laptop.

"Cooperate with us..." the suited man says with a flat expression.

"Why should I cooperate with you?" replies the long-haired man, his tone equally flat and deliberate. His voice carries an authoritative weight as he speaks.

"Why...? Because we..." The suited man trails off, leaning in close to the long-haired man's ear.

"...Can help you find what you're looking for. Easily..." he continues, standing right behind the long-haired man, causing him to pause his search on the laptop.

"Screw you..." is the only response from the long-haired man.

"...We're still willing to wait for your cooperation."

"Go to Hell, all of you. You're the real walking dead," the long-haired man replies flatly, still locking his gaze on the laptop screen. Despite his calm expression, every word he utters is sharp. Hearing this, the man in the black suit straightens up and walks out. However, he pauses briefly without turning around.

"...You'll regret rejecting our offer." The suited man leaves, leaving the long-haired man alone in the tent.

'Please, God... Let us meet again...'

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"Reduce the speed to 15 km/h. If something blocks the way ahead, step on the gas hard to hit that creature. After that, maintain the bus speed at 15 km/h. Understood?!"

Takeshi explains his plan to save Aya and Ryuji. Daiki doesn't respond, only showing a serious gaze forward. He reduces the bus speed to almost exactly what Takeshi instructed. The bus moves slowly, allowing Ryuji and Aya to catch up.

However, the two of them are reaching their limits. The longer they run, the slower they become. Their breathing is erratic as they force their legs to move faster. Aya is exhausted and almost stumbles, losing her balance momentarily.

"Sensei..!" Ryuji shouts, seeing Aya about to fall forward. He notices her pale face, drenched in sweat pouring down her temples. The two of them catch up to the minibus, which is now moving slowly beside them. Suddenly, the bus speeds up, leaving Ryuji and Aya behind. After the bus shakes slightly and reveals a bloodied corpse it just ran over, it slows down again, moving alongside the two of them.

"Quick, Ryuji! Aya-sensei!"

Riku shouted, calling out to the two people running alongside the minibus. He could see the exhausted faces of Ryuji and Aya. Riku flung the bus door wide open so the two could climb in and escape from this place. However, it seemed Mina didn't see any chance for the two outside to board the bus successfully.

"It's impossible... They've reached their limit! They can't go on anymore!" Mina panicked, fearing that if the two stopped to catch their breath, they would be left behind by the bus, making it impossible for them to catch up again.

'Damn it...!' Takeshi cursed inwardly upon hearing Mina's words.

"Ryuji-kun…" Nao said, and there was a hint of very deep worry on her face. Even Emi, who had been quiet, understood Mina's expressions, making her mute. Slowly, her logical understanding began to shatter as she pictured Ryuji and Aya-sensei drowning in the air, choking, and not being able to go on. The bus would go farther away, and those things would…

"Daiki, listen to me carefully...!" Takeshi shouted right next to Daiki, who was concentrating on driving. This time, Takeshi was genuinely panicked, his usual calm demeanor completely gone.

"Step on the brake pedal as hard as you can for three and a half seconds, then press the gas pedal down! Riku, get ready to jump out and save them while the bus stops!"

The veins on Takeshi's neck were visibly strained as he frantically commanded Daiki and Riku. Daiki didn't protest and immediately slammed on the brakes as hard as he could, causing the bus to skid slightly before coming to a complete stop.

Emi and Mina almost tumbled forward as the brake screech echoed. Still, they managed to hold onto the passenger seats on either side of them. Just as Mina had said moments ago, when the bus finally stopped, Ryuji and Aya collapsed onto the asphalt, their knees stretching.

Their trembling hands supported their bodies, a clear sign that they had reached their limit. Ryuji tried to stand up again, breathing heavily, as he saw Riku immediately run out and help Aya-sensei onto the bus.

"Emi...!" Riku shouted to Emi, who wasn't far from him. As if understanding what Riku meant, Emi quickly took Aya-sensei into her arms. Meanwhile, Riku turned back to help Ryuji, but before his foot could touch the asphalt, the bus started moving again, causing him to slam against the door hinge.

"Agh..." Riku groaned in pain, clutching his shoulder, which had hit the bus door hinge as the bus accelerated. However, Ryuji still managed to reach out his hand toward Riku, and to his surprise, it was caught by someone else's hand.

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"Agh..." Riku groaned in pain, clutching his shoulder, which had hit the bus door hinge as the bus accelerated. However, Ryuji managed to reach out his hand toward Riku just as the bus began to speed up. Someone else's, surprising Ryuji, caught his outstretched hand because it wasn't Riku's hand.

"Riku, catch!" shouted Ryuji as he threw a plastic bag filled with food supplies he had prepared earlier. Riku quickly caught the large plastic bag thrown by Ryuji. The bus sped forward, jolting several times as it hit a few starving creatures ahead.

"Riku, move aside... I'll pull him up..." said a girl beside Riku. She seemed to know that Riku couldn't pull Ryuji into the bus due to his shoulder injury from hitting the door hinge earlier. Riku didn't argue and immediately stepped aside, giving the girl space to help Ryuji climb the bus.

"Alright... Come on, Nakamura-kun!"

She struggled to pull Ryuji, dragged along as the bus sped forward. Ryuji's school shoes scraped relentlessly against the black asphalt. Summoning the last of his strength, Ryuji quickly got back on his feet and ran, trying to match the speed of the minibus.

'I have to make it...!'

Somehow finding a burst of energy, Ryuji sprinted forward, his legs moving swiftly as he charged toward the girl tightly gripping his hand.

"Now...!" the girl shouted, pulling Ryuji toward her with all her might. Ryuji jumped and landed on the bus stop, but the momentum from the girl's pull caused him to lurch toward her.

The girl fell back onto the bus floor, being pushed down by Ryuji's weight. Her eyes were tightly shut, and a soft groan escaped her lips. All eyes were on the two of them, now in a position that was... well, hard to explain. Fortunately, Ryuji managed to brace himself with his hands on the bus floor. When the girl opened her eyes, she saw the gentle gaze of Ryuji looking down at her.

"Thank you... Kobayashi..." Ryuji said softly, a faint smile on his pale face as he got up from atop her. Mina also quickly stood up, her face tinged with a faint blush. Ryuji had only just gotten to his feet and closed the bus door behind him when...

Someone suddenly rushed into his arms. Emi hugged Ryuji tightly as if she never wanted to let him go.

"Thank goodness... Thank goodness..." Emi whispered, her eyes tightly shut. It was clear that she had been deeply worried about the young man in her arms. Even Takeshi didn't get angry or jealous at the scene unfolding before him.

Once again, Ryuji was Emi's childhood friend and her best friend, which was why Takeshi didn't mind seeing Emi hug him so tightly. Besides, in the current state of Tokyo, the lives of their companions were more precious than ever.

Ryuji wanted to return Emi's hug, but he knew his place and Emi's. Instead, he gently loosened her arms from around his waist.

"Thank goodness we made it in time..." he said, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

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