CHAPTER 32: THE RULES AND THE PRELUDE TO PRACTICE

"Rule number 1. We have to accept the reality of our situation. This is a zombie apocalypse, and it’s not going away tomorrow. The undead aren’t the only danger—we also need to watch out for other humans. Desperation changes people. Some will lie, steal, and kill just to survive. So don’t trust strangers quickly. If someone approaches us, I’ll decide how we deal with them. Understood?"

All four girls nodded, though Suzune’s brows knitted in unease.

"Rule number two," he continued. "No unnecessary risks. Every step outside this apartment is a gamble. If we can avoid it, we don’t do it. No wandering off, no exploring ’just because.’ If we move, it’s for a reason—food, water, ammo, or shelter. That’s it."

Ichika glanced toward the window. "What about scavenging together? Safety in numbers, right?"

"That’s rule number three," Riku said, holding her gaze. "When scavenging, we don’t all go. Someone always stays behind. If all of us leave and something happens, there’s no one left to guard our supplies or open the door when we come back. At least one person stays here armed and ready."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone hardening. "Rule number four. Never—ever—throw your life away for someone else. I don’t care how desperate the situation looks. If you can help without putting yourself in danger, do it. But if it’s a choice between dying and living, you choose to live. Every time."

Miko’s lips pressed into a thin line. "That’s... cold."

"It’s survival," Riku replied without hesitation. "The dead can’t help the living. And if you die, the rest of us are weaker because of it."

He let the silence hang for a moment before moving on.

"Rule number five. Conserve ammunition. You’ll each get a loaded mag and one spare. That’s thirty-four rounds per person. No warning shots, no firing at shadows. Aim for the head, take the shot, and make it count."

Suzune raised a hand slightly. "What if... what if we miss?"

"Then you fire again," Riku said, meeting her eyes. "But only if it’s still a threat. If you can run, run. If you can hide, hide. Bullets are harder to replace than you think."

"Rule number six. Sound discipline. Keep your voices low outside. No screaming, no shouting unless it’s an emergency. And when you use the gun, remember—the noise will draw more of them. You don’t fire unless you’re ready for what comes after. Though the pistol I gave already has a suppressor."

Ichika’s expression tightened. "So even if we kill one, more could come?"

"Yes," Riku confirmed. "Which leads to rule number seven: know your exits. Every time we enter a building, you’re thinking about two things—where the threats can come from, and how you can get out if things go bad. You don’t wait for me to tell you. You look, you plan, and you remember."

He let his gaze sweep across the three of them, ensuring they understood.

"Rule number eight. Keep your weapon on you at all times. Even when you’re sleeping, it stays within arm’s reach. I’ll teach you how to clear it before bed so you don’t blow a hole through the wall by accident."

Miko shifted uncomfortably. "Sleeping with a gun... that’s going to take some getting used to."

"It will," Riku agreed, "but it’s better than waking up to a zombie in your face with nothing to defend yourself."

"Rule number nine. Watch each other’s backs. No matter what. If one of us is in trouble, we act as a unit. No one gets left behind unless they’re already gone."

The girls exchanged glances, the weight of his words settling over them like a cold blanket.

"That’s a lot to remember," Suzune murmured.

"Yes and there will be a lot of them as we go along," Riku said.

Riku took a breath, then reached down beside him. From the holster, he pulled the Glock 17 fitted with the suppressor—and set it on the table between them.

"Alright, now we get to the part that keeps you alive," he said and continued. "This is the Glock 17. It’s a semi-automatic pistol. You pull the trigger once, it fires once."

The girls leaned in, eyes fixed on the weapon.

"First things first—this," he tapped the frame, "is the frame, the body of the gun. You grip this part. Above it is the slide, the piece that moves back when you fire. The slide’s job is to eject the empty casing and load the next bullet into the chamber. Inside here—" he locked the slide back, showing them the opening— "is the barrel. That’s where the bullet travels when you fire. Keep it pointed somewhere safe, always."

He picked up a loaded magazine from the table. "This is the mag. It holds the rounds. Seventeen rounds in this one. You load it into the grip until you hear a click. That means it’s locked." He demonstrated, then released it with the mag release button. "That button right here? That’s how you drop it."

Miko’s eyes flickered to his hands. "So... if the mag’s out, it’s safe?"

"Not always," Riku said, meeting her gaze. "Rule of guns—there could still be a round in the chamber even without the mag. You always check the chamber before you assume it’s safe. That’s called clearing the weapon."

He showed them—dropping the mag, pulling the slide back, and looking into the chamber. "Empty chamber, no mag, finger off the trigger. That’s safe handling."

Suzune tilted her head. "And... the trigger safety?"

"Good eye," Riku said, pointing at the small lever in the middle of the trigger. "Glocks have this built-in safety. The gun won’t fire unless you press the trigger all the way back, including that middle tab. But don’t rely on that. Your finger is the real safety. If you’re not shooting, your finger stays here—" he rested it along the side of the frame— "not on the trigger."

He took a step back from the table, holding the Glock in a proper stance. "Shooting posture: feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, lean forward a bit. Grip the pistol with your strong hand high on the grip, then wrap your support hand around it. Thumbs forward, not crossed. Crossing them will break your thumb when the slide comes back."

Ichika winced at the thought. "Noted..."

Riku aimed at the corner of the room. "To shoot: line up the front sight with the rear sight. The top should be level, and the front post should be centered between the rear notch. Focus on the front sight, not the target. Squeeze the trigger slowly, don’t jerk it. The gun will kick—that’s recoil. Just hold firm and bring it back on target."

He lowered the weapon and set it down again. "Reloading: when you run out of ammo, the slide locks back like this—" he demonstrated with an empty mag— "you drop the empty mag, insert a fresh one, and either pull the slide back or hit the slide release here. Then you’re ready again."

They watched closely, soaking in every movement.

"Last thing—malfunctions. If you pull the trigger and it clicks instead of bangs, tap the mag to make sure it’s seated, rack the slide to chamber a round, and try again. That’s called ’tap, rack, bang.’ If it still doesn’t fire, you switch to your spare mag or run."

"You do know a lot about guns, Riku," Suzune said, clearly impressed.

Well, he could answer that the knowledge came from the system. Well anyways, not all secrets must be told.

"Now are you ready for a practice shooting against zombies?"

Hearing that, the girls’ eyes widened.