Chapter 30 - Chapter 28: The Story of Staying in the Countryside
The village office was a grand three-story reinforced concrete building with a large parking lot, out of place in a depopulated area lined with aged one-story wooden houses. Perhaps a remnant of the bubble economy era, the office building looked quite old. Even so, it seemed to be the newest building among those I had seen since coming here.
The parking lot, which looked like it could hold dozens of cars, was mostly empty, with only two or three light trucks and microbuses parked there. I had expected that since it was called a shelter, there would be tents and desks lined up everywhere with a system in place to receive a large number of evacuees, but I didn't see that either. Does it mean that a number of evacuees that couldn't fit in the building never arrived?
"Well then, I'm going to go greet the village head, so follow me."
When Naomi-san parked the car in a corner of the parking lot, Kaburagi-san said that and got out of the passenger seat. The moment I stepped out of the car following him, a sweltering heat wrapped around us. Perhaps because we had been in the air-conditioned car, it felt extra hot.
Maybe because there was no budget for repairs due to financial difficulties, the asphalt of the parking lot was peeling in places, exposing the gravel. The weeds poking out from the cracks in the asphalt were growing wild; it was so dilapidated that it could be mistaken for an abandoned ruin.
But beyond the glass doors of the office, I could certainly sense the presence of people. It was clear that this village was functioning under the guidance of a reasonably well-organized group.
"Oh, Kaburagi-san, who are those kids?"
"They're evacuees who just came from outside. I thought word had already reached you."
As soon as we entered the office, a middle-aged woman at the reception spoke up. Her tone and appearance didn't make her seem like an office employee at all. Perhaps the village residents were taking turns staffing this place.
It was better than outside, but it was still hot inside the office. Not a single fluorescent light on the ceiling was lit, and the air conditioning wasn't running. Were they saving electricity? While thinking that, we followed Kaburagi-san's lead through the dimly lit hallway.
Eventually, Kaburagi-san stopped in front of a wooden door with a plate that said "Village Head's Office," cleared his throat, and knocked. Immediately, a muffled man's voice said "Come in," and Kaburagi-san opened the door and beckoned us.
The village head's office was like a school principal's office, with a reception table and sofas lined up, and a high-quality-looking wooden desk placed beyond them. Behind that desk, a man in his mid-40s wearing a suit was standing and waiting for us.
"Hello. I heard from the patrol team over the radio that you were coming. I am Yamato, the temporary village head of this Osawa Village."
Saying so, the man who called himself Yamato walked around the desk, approached us, and offered his hand. The word "temporary" caught in my mind, but the reason was immediately clear. When I shook Yamato-san's hand, a handgun was peeking out from a holster under the hem of his suit. It wasn't a revolver type like the ones carried by police officers at kobans; it was a large, black automatic.
I wondered if he was someone from the underworld who had taken over this village by force. That thought crossed my mind. There are few people who can legally carry guns in Japan, let alone handguns, which are not permitted for ordinary citizens. Carrying a gun different from a police officer's, he might belong to an anti-social group.
Because of the virus pandemic, neither police nor laws exist in Japan now. It's a "might makes right" end-of-the-world state. In fact, I've seen people with blades doing whatever they want several times (though that was only in the first few weeks), and with a gun, you could easily make people submit by plunging them into the depths of terror. The reason Yamato-san is the "temporary" village head might be because he attained the top position of this village by killing or driving out the original village head—
"Ah, it's okay. I'm a police officer. Well, not a local village cop, but someone from the Public Security Bureau."
He must have known what I was thinking by looking at my face; Yamato-san said that with a laugh and took something out from his breast pocket. When a chocolate-colored bi-fold leather case was opened, a police badge was inside, along with a card printed with the name "Yamato Daigo," the rank of Inspector, and a several-digit number that seemed to be a personal identification number. It was a police badge case I had seen several times in detective movies and dramas.
I strained my eyes to look at every corner, but I didn't see anything that looked particularly fake. Of course, I've never seen a real police badge case, so I wouldn't be able to tell even if it were fake, but no one would be leisurely forging identification in this situation. This Yamato-san seemed to be a real police officer.
"Public Security?"
"It's the role of people who investigate terrorists or dangerous organizations and gather information. Unlike regular patrolmen, we don't wear uniforms and crack down on criminals."
"Then why is someone from Public Security the village head? You said you're temporary, but where is the original village head?"
Naomi-san spoke up in my stead.
"To put it in one word, missing. When the virus commotion spread nationwide, someone apparently witnessed the village head fleeing in a car with his family. He probably tried to evacuate to a safe place, but I have to say that judgment was a mistake."
Despite months having passed since the virus pandemic, this Osawa Village still maintains peaceful days. It's likely because of the location, which is reasonably far from large cities, and the experienced police officer. And because there were many firearms like the ones carried by the men on patrol, the people here have been able to survive until today. That village head probably thought this place would soon be full of infected and fled, but rather, it was more dangerous outside.
"I'm from this village. When the police force collapsed due to the spread of the virus and orders were given for everyone to head to Northern Japan, I brought several subordinates who wished to come and returned to this village. Maintaining public order wasn't originally our job, but the riot police and regular police were short-handed. So it was fortunate that we were carrying guns; thanks to that, we've been able to survive safely until today."
"Speaking of which, what happened to the government or the JSDF? I heard a rumor that a large-scale shelter was established in the Tohoku region."
When Yui asked that, Yamato-san shook his head weakly.
"I don't know. The police were only able to function for about a week after the virus spread throughout Japan... I know that the Prime Minister and government leaders escaped to a destroyer on the Pacific Ocean, but no information has come in beyond that. The JSDF was reportedly holding out until the end, but their status is also unknown. According to intercepted communications, orders were given to gather in the Tohoku region and reorganize the units, but..."
In other words, the truth isn't clear. When we head to the Tohoku region, will what's waiting there be a safe shelter or countless infected? If this were a story from an evacuee, I could still have hope, but Yamato-san is a police officer. Moreover, he worked in a department where a lot of information comes in. Since he's saying it, it must be true that it's unknown whether there's a shelter in the Tohoku region.
The hope that there might be a safe place, a place no different from a few months ago, clearly withered with a sound. There is no longer a safe place in this Japan—or perhaps the world—where we can lead a life like before. We have to continue a life of fearing the threat of the infected everywhere from now on.
Perhaps thinking the same thing, Yui and Mana-chan were looking down without saying anything. Naomi-san remained aloof as the oldest, but I could sense the agitation. I had expected it in a corner of my heart, but it was quite tough to be faced with the facts again by a police officer.
"Well, don't look so gloomy. It's unknown whether there are shelters run by the government or JSDF, but at least this Osawa Village is safe. When I brought my subordinates, I was able to take guns and ammunition from the police station, though in small amounts. And originally, many residents around here have hunting rifles. There's a river, and there are cows and chickens. There's no fear of hunger or thirst. The infected remain in the former urban areas and show no sign of coming this way. Probably in this Japan now, there's no place safer than Osawa Village."
Seeing our disappointment, Yamato-san said that in a bright voice.
Since we don't know if there's really a shelter in Tohoku, we have to rethink our future plans. Whether we head to Tohoku as originally planned while knowing it's reckless, or stay here, we need to stay here for a while until a conclusion is reached. In that respect, Osawa Village, where we don't have to fear the threat of the infected and sufficient food and water are secured, provided good conditions as a base.
"If you wish, you can stay here forever. What do you intend to do?"
"...Well then, we'll take you up on your offer and stay for a while until our future plans are set. That's fine, right?"
Naomi-san asked for agreement, and we nodded. Either way, we've spent the past week living on the car. I want to sleep slowly in a wide place for the first time in a while. I'll take a proper rest and think about various things after that.
Leaving the car in the parking lot, we, carrying our changes of clothes and personal items, were guided to a Japanese-style house. It was another old-fashioned one-story wooden house, and there was a vault toilet in the garden.
"While you're in Osawa Village, you can use this house freely. Originally, the residents of this house went to the city and haven't returned, so it's decided to provide it to evacuees like you."
"Then, are there other people living here?"
"No. There were two people until two weeks ago, but they left saying they were going to look for their families. Meals are distributed at 7:00 AM, noon, and 6:00 PM. When that time comes, please come to the office."
Kaburagi-san said that and went back to the office. We couldn't stay outside in the midsummer sun forever, so saying "Excuse us," we opened the door of the house.
Some dust has accumulated, but it doesn't look neglected. It seems quite well-maintained. When I was about to take off my shoes and go into the house, I suddenly felt a strange sensation at my ankle.
Looking, the sheath containing the small knife I borrowed from Naomi-san was still tied to my ankle with a belt. I had fixed it to my ankle so that I could fight even if I lost my axe or crossbow, but I seem to have forgotten to take it off when entering the village earlier.
"Ah, what should I do with this?"
"Isn't a single knife fine? I didn't hand over everything either."
Saying so, Naomi-san also took out a slender knife from her military boots. In Naomi-san's case, it wasn't that she forgot to hand it over, but that she must have dared to keep one at hand. It seems Naomi-san doesn't completely trust the people of this village.
"Are you saying the people of this village are dangerous?"
"It's not like that, just that constant vigilance is necessary. It would be a problem if we didn't have a single weapon if something happened."
Saying so, Naomi-san tucked the knife into her waist. There might be a "just in case"; I also told myself that and tucked the knife into my pocket.
"Then, let's all take a nap now!"
I heard the voice of Mana-chan, who had already gone into the house, so when I looked, on top of a large tatami-matted room that looked like it came out of a period drama, several futons were folded and placed. There was no dirt on the futons, and they seemed to have been washed recently. I wonder if the people of Osawa Village had prepared them so that they could receive evacuees at any time?
"Wait a minute, Mana-chan, why are you lining up four futons?"
"Eh? Because everyone's taking a nap..."
"With this guy?"
Saying so, Yui pointed at me.
"Eh? Is it bad to sleep together?"
"Of course it's bad! Why do I have to sleep in the same room as a guy!"
"We were sleeping together in the car until now."
"That and this are different! Since we can finally sleep in a building after a long time, you sleep in a different room like before! Also, if you attack, I'll kill you."
Told that by Yui, whose face was bright red, the fusuma slammed shut right in front of me as I held a futon. I had no choice but to head toward the entrance, where I spread the futon and lay down.
The sensation of the futon I tasted for the first time in a long while was very soft and a little warm. Partly because I hadn't slept well for the past week, I was soon traveling to the world of dreams.