Chapter 6 - Episode 5: The Story of Going to School
"Ah—, I want to eat ramen."
Suddenly, such words came out of my mouth.
"If it's ramen, there is, isn't there? Cup noodles."
"What I want to eat is fresh-noodle ramen, like the kind they make in a shop. Definitely not dried noodles. It doesn't have to be a shop where people line up, even one from a chain store where you can eat a bowl for 300 yen is fine."
When I say that, Yui, who is walking next to me, looks at me with cold eyes like "What is this man saying?"
"Yui, you must have one or two things you want to eat too, right? Since you haven't eaten decent food for a long time."
"...Come to think of it, you're right. It's been three months, and meals have been nothing but preserved food like canned food."
Since the electricity became unusable three months ago, the refrigerator can't be used and all kinds of fresh food have rotted. For that reason, the food found by scavenging private houses from time to time is only preserved canned food or dried noodles. Only rice can still be eaten, but other than that, we've been eating only preserved food every day.
"If possible, I want to eat ice cream, or maybe a crepe."
"If you eat only sweet things, you'll get fat."
"Guh...!"
"Well, I think Yui should put on a little more meat. Especially around the chest..."
The next moment, Yui's backfist exploded on my face.
One week had already passed since I first met Yui at the supermarket.
Yui and I, who somehow managed to hide in the gas station and let the large number of Infected pass, were no longer able to return to that apartment where we had been hiding safely until now. On top of that, if the supermarket where supplies still remained has also entered the Infected's territory, there was no longer any reason to be in that town. Within that day, I left that town accompanied by Yui.
Although I had stuffed food into my backpack just before being discovered by the Infected, honestly, I had a headache about the fact that the number of people consuming it had become two. Yui had fled the evacuation center with only her body, so she had almost no belongings, and inevitably, the supplies such as food would be shared by the two of us. Until now, I had been able to live somehow by economizing alone, but since there are two of us, the pace of consumption has also doubled.
Perhaps feeling responsible for that, Yui actively looked for food in private houses and such after her foot healed, but the results were not favorable. What was obtained was only a few cans; this is not enough at all.
I'm a high school boy, so I can push myself a bit, but Yui is a girl. It wouldn't be a laughing matter if she couldn't move due to hunger in an emergency. Therefore, for the time being, obtaining food was the most important goal.
But I was finding a little hope about obtaining food. The reason was that when I somehow operated a radio I found in a private house I broke into, I happened to be able to receive radio waves.
It was an FM broadcast that the government seemed to be airing, and the content was just repeating the locations of evacuation centers. Since it's a recorded broadcast, I don't know since when it has been airing, but when I listened, I found out that an evacuation center was established in a fairly close place.
Radio programs by broadcasting stations have remained silent for a long time because the people to air them are gone, but sometimes it's possible to receive broadcast radio waves like this. It might be a government recorded broadcast like the one I just mentioned, or it might be one where survivors broadcast information gathered from various places. Thinking it was useless, I hadn't listened to the radio for a long time, but it seems Yui and the others sometimes turned on the radio and listened to broadcasts when she was in the evacuation center. Or rather, if it's a relatively large and well-equipped evacuation center, there are even places that do radio broadcasts themselves to guide survivors.
"You, how were you able to live alone until now with that..."
Yui said that to me, who knew nothing. Regarding that, I'm also surprised myself. Even though I didn't try to gather information, I'm impressed with myself for how well I lived.
"How much further to the evacuation center?"
At Yui's words, I take out the map, and further place a compass on top of it to confirm the current location and the direction of travel. According to the radio broadcast, the evacuation center seems to be in a place headed east from here.
We are now walking east on the national highway. The private houses and shops lined up on the left and right of the road have traces of looting, and there is no prospect of supplies remaining. Furthermore, there was a residential area lined with charred rubble, perhaps a fire had occurred. Naturally, traces of destruction remain here and there.
The reason we can walk on such a road boldly is also because no Infected can be seen. Since the ability of the Infected is the same as humans except for some parts, if we can't see the Infected from here, they can't see us from over there either. In that case, rather, it's advantageous for us to be on a road with good visibility because we can find Infected early.
"It's about two more kilometers. It'll take about another hour."
"It takes that much...?"
"It can't be helped, the evacuation center doesn't walk to us."
Rather, I feel like I'd like to see an evacuation center that grows legs and walks nosshi-nosshi.
"Well, another hour. If they share food there, I won't say any complaints."
"It would be good if the evacuation center has abundant supplies."
Saying that, Yui and I continued to walk east relentlessly. But I was holding a concern in my heart. Although she doesn't show it on her face, Yui is probably the same. But because it seems it would become true if we put it into words, we just dare not say it.
The anxiety Yui and I are holding. That was whether the evacuation center "still" exists.
After that, we walked in silence for a while, and Yui and I, who finally reached the evacuation center, were stunned by the sight in front of us.
"As expected..."
I had a bad feeling from the beginning. Even when I saw black smoke rising in the eastern sky, and even when the corpses rolling on the roadside increased as we approached the coordinates of the evacuation center, I had dared to ignore it, but now that we've reached the evacuation center like this, I was forced to face reality again.
To put it simply, the evacuation center had turned into a ruin.
Since a grand plaque with "Nakayama Junior High School" is installed beside the gate, it must have once been a junior high school. Schools and such often become evacuation centers during disasters, and when Infected occurred in Japan, there were many regions where schools became evacuation centers.
This junior high school we reached was exactly the evacuation center described on the map. But that evacuation center now only has traces of death and destruction remaining, and the figures of normal humans are not seen at all.
Perhaps to prevent the intrusion of Infected, the iron plates were stretched and the fence of the school gate was reinforced, but it was left wide open from the inside. The sight of the inside of the evacuation center seen from there is truly "tragic" in a word.
Corpses are rolling here and there, and fire was blowing out from one of the two school buildings. A minibus, which seemed to have been driven incorrectly while trying to escape, has crashed into the other school building that is not on fire.
The fence surrounding the school grounds is also reinforced with iron plates, and furthermore, barbed wire is stretched over the fence. On that barbed wire, many corpses were hanging regardless of gender. All of them have their upper bodies protruding from the inside of the schoolyard to the outside, as if they tried to flee from the evacuation center. An expression of agony was floating on all of them.
"Terrible..."
Yui muttered that and covered her mouth with her hand. But my heart was strangely calm. I could only hold the impression that the expected situation had become a reality.
I pulled the machete from the case hanging on my waist belt, took a posture where I could swing it anytime, and stepped into the schoolyard. Seeing me like that, Yui hurriedly followed after me.
"W-Wait a minute! You're not thinking of entering this, are you!?"
"That's exactly it, but is there any problem?"
"There's a big problem! No matter how you look at it, this is not survivors but a pattern where Infected welcome us!"
Saying that, she points to the schoolyard.
"If there were Infected, they would have already left here chasing the people who fled. Even if they are here, the number is not many."
"But..."
"Then what about tonight's meal? What about tomorrow's breakfast? We don't have food anymore."
When I say that, Yui stepped back as if her sore spot was poked.
There are almost no supplies left. The reason we came to this evacuation center was to be blessed with food, and there was also a thought that we might be accommodated here if things went well. But looking at this tragic state, there is no doubt that this place has lost its function as an evacuation center. However, looking at the situation, the abandonment of this place seems relatively new, like yesterday or the day before, and maybe some food or something still remains.
Certainly, there might be Infected, but even so, I don't have the leeway to ignore this place and look for food elsewhere. I persuaded Yui that we should step in even if we are prepared for some danger.
"...It can't be helped. Certainly, we almost don't have food anymore, and there's no prospect of obtaining it elsewhere either."
"Right?"
"But if there are three or more Infected, we'll run away quickly! Okay!?"
Regarding that, I was of the same opinion. I can only defeat up to one at a time; if two or more attack simultaneously, there's nothing I can do. Therefore, regarding the point that we'll run away quickly if we encounter three or more Infected at the same time, I also agreed.
Usually, I refrained from taking bold actions, but now it's unavoidable. If food runs out within today, we'll starve and become unable to move. Rather than being attacked by Infected there, we should obtain food even if we take some risks.
Yui grips the crowbar in her right hand and follows behind. When I first met her, Yui was unarmed, so I gave her the crowbar I had. I still have the machete, and in an emergency, the Maglite can also be a substitute for a blunt weapon, so there is no anxiety about weapons.
The first thing that caught my eye after entering the junior high school grounds was the numerous corpses rolling here and there. Regardless of age or gender, countless people are dead. Since all of them have their corpses severely damaged as if they were eaten by something, there is no doubt that it's the work of Infected.
Something was falling on the gravel-covered ground that was shining from receiving sunlight, so I crouched and picked it up. The thing emitting a dull brass shine was an empty shell casing of a rifle bullet. Other red plastic shotgun shell casings are scattered here and there. They must belong to hunting rifles, which are allowed for civilians to possess.
"Were they attacked by Infected...?"
"No, I don't think so. Since the people here seem to have been properly armed, it doesn't look like they received an attack from Infected."
I answer that and hand the picked-up empty shell casing to Yui.
The Infected are like ferocious beasts in human form, but it's also possible to deal with them if you have weapons. Especially guns, which can attack unilaterally from a long distance, are the most effective weapons, and the survival probability also increases by safely eliminating Infected from afar. Since people with guns such as hunting associations often gathered and worked on security in evacuation centers where there were no JSDF members or police officers, they were able to counter even if Infected attacked while the number was small.
The evacuation center where Yui was also seems to have never allowed the intrusion of Infected until it received an attack a week ago. And in the evacuation center I fled into three months ago, there wasn't a single adult with a gun.
That said, it's not that you are invincible if you have guns. If you are pushed by numbers, eventually the bullets will run out and a gap will also occur in the defense line, and that will be broken through. However, as far as the state of this evacuation center is concerned, it doesn't look like they received repeated attacks from Infected from the outside and allowed intrusion into the interior.
In fact, there are no traces of the fence or gate surrounding the school being destroyed. Furthermore, many traces of people trying to flee from the inside of the schoolyard to the outside can be seen. The numerous corpses caught in the fence seen earlier also seemed to have tried to climb over the fence to escape from the school as quickly as possible, but were attacked when they became unable to move after getting entangled in the barbed wire.
Considering that, the Infected must have occurred from the inside, not from the outside. Probably someone who was infected but hadn't developed it yet was carelessly let into the evacuation center, and that person turned into a Infected and attacked the surrounding people. The people who were evacuating fell into a panic due to the Infected occurring from the inside and increasing their numbers exponentially, and although they tried to flee in all directions, most were eaten or turned into Infected—something like that.
I don't know the truth either. Even what I just said is just a guess. If there were survivors, the accurate thing would also be known, but in this state, I don't think there are people still remaining in the school.
Seeing the corpses that had turned into parts scattered here and there, Yui was about to cry even now, but I didn't hold any deep emotion. Emotions such as fear, disgust, and sadness were already discarded three months ago. Now, corpses have turned into a part of the town just like utility poles and traffic lights; I can't keep going if I vomit every time.
But Yui was living in a safe evacuation center until a week ago. Naturally, she is not used to corpses either; she ran to the base of a tree growing in the schoolyard and vomited all at once. I say nothing and give her a towel and water.
"...Thanks."
"You're welcome."
That aside, I wonder if any useful things are rolling around. There is no doubt that there were people with guns in this evacuation center. But I didn't see any corpses with guns, perhaps the people who had guns turned into Infected as they were. Either the possessors turned into Infected while hanging the guns, or survivors were there and collected the abandoned guns. I only roughly know how to use them, but if I had a gun, the survival probability would go up significantly, so it's a bit of a shame.
Several passenger cars and minibuses were parked in the schoolyard, perhaps for emergencies, but most of the people who fell into a panic either caused accidents or forgot their existence itself, and the majority were sitting in the schoolyard intact. Since the engine sound attracts Infected, and above all, I don't know how to drive, naturally I don't get in a car.
As expected, it seems I have no choice but to enter the building to obtain supplies. One of the two school buildings is still burning with flames, but since there is distance, there is no worry of the other school building catching fire. First, I decided to explore the inside of the gymnasium, which is in a place immediately after entering the schoolyard.
Perhaps because people fled in a hurry, the door of the gymnasium was left wide open. However, when I enter, a thick smell of blood immediately drifts about.
When I take out the Maglite and turn it on, I saw corpses rolling in the dark gymnasium so much that there seemed to be no place to step. As if there wasn't enough space, partitions are provided here and there on the gymnasium floor like during an earthquake. Probably a considerable number of people were living here, and they fell into a panic and were unable to even evacuate calmly, and most seem to have died by being eaten by Infected in the gymnasium.
Many corpses of children who seem close to our age are also rolling, and seeing that, Yui vomited again. The smell of vomit is immediately drowned out by the smell of blood. Surely in this gymnasium, blood enough for one swimming pool must have been splattered.
"Will you wait outside?"
When I ask that, Yui shook her head while having a pale face. It seems she has some guts at least.
I roughly illuminated the inside of the gymnasium with the light, but nothing moving is seen at all. There are no survivors, and of course, no figures of Infected.
This place seems to have been a living space, and the supply collection point seems to be elsewhere. Just as I let out a sigh thinking it was a wasted effort, I felt I heard some sound.
"Hey, did you hear that just now?"
"Hear what?"
It seems Yui, who was doing her best to endure vomiting, didn't hear it. When I listen again, I can hear a voice like sobbing from somewhere.
"...I heard it!"
It seems Yui heard it this time too. When I walk toward the direction of the voice, I reach the front of a large iron door with a plate saying "Physical Education Storage." In front of the door, a large metal shelf is fallen as if to act as a prop. Did it fall during the commotion when the Infected occurred? Anyway, because the shelf is fallen in a way that blocks the door from the outside, whoever is trapped inside seems unable to go outside.
"Is someone there?"
I said that in a slightly small voice, being wary of Infected, but no reply comes back. Is it not heard, or is the person attacked by fear so much that words don't even come out?
"Shall we help?"
"We'll help. That's obvious, isn't it?"
"I thought you'd say that."
Leaving Yui, I lifted the shelf alone. It's quite heavy, but it's not a weight that a high school boy can't lift. I somehow removed the shelf from the front of the door by dragging it halfway and shaking it several times.
"Alright, I'm opening it. If something happens, help me."
When I put my hand on the door handle with the machete in one hand, Yui nodded. Yui also braced the crowbar and took a posture where she could fight anytime.
I inhaled, calmed my heart, and then opened the door all at once. The inside of the physical education storage where mats and vaulting boxes were placed is dark, and I can only see silhouettes vaguely.
I, who scanned the light of the flashlight to every corner of the storage, did not miss that something moved for a moment in the shadow of the vaulting box. I immediately step into the storage and slowly approach the vaulting box.
While bracing the machete in the upper position so I can swing it down anytime, I, who went around the vaulting box, saw the person there and unintentionally lost my words.
"A little girl, really...?"
A girl who would be less than 10 years old was sitting on the floor while trembling.
I look forward to your opinions and impressions.