CHAPTER 33: THE GLIMPSE TO THE NEW REALITY

"Practice shooting zombies?" Ichika repeated with a horrified tone. Sure, all of them had expected they would fight against zombies. But not this soon.

"You want us to do it now?" Suzune asked, wanting clarification.

Riku simply nodded his head in confirmation.

"You need to know how to fight against zombies. I know this is sudden but you must know that this zombie apocalypse happened suddenly too. Those who are slow to adapt to their new world will have a higher chance of not surviving through this disaster. Remember, in this world, this day could be your last."

Those words are etched in their minds. What he was telling them was the truth, the reality of their situation, the new normal. If they don’t want to die, they’ll have to train for it.

"Very well. Just tell us when we are going to start and we will prepare ourselves mentally," Suzune was the first to acknowledge the situation.

"Uhm...me too," Ichika answered hesitantly.

And Miko simply nodded firmly, like she was ready for the challenge, which Riku noticed. Out of all the three, Miko was the most exposed when it comes to fighting zombies. She watched how he killed zombies and what they could do. And not to mention her parents turning into one of them.

She has the driving force of someone who has already stared death in the eyes and lost too much to turn back.

Riku studied the three of them for a moment before speaking again. "Then get ready. I’ll handle the preparations."

Without another word, he stowed the Glock in his holster and grabbed his M24 from the corner.. Then he picked up a coil of nylon rope that they fortunately have in the house because of Hana’s school project.

He then got out and descended the stairs, and into the streets.

In the alley behind the apartment complex, two zombies lingered near an overturned trash bin. Riku crouched low, scanning the street. Clear. He stepped forward carefully, making as little noise as possible.

The first zombie was thin, its clothes torn to rags, jaw slack as it dragged one leg forward. Riku approached carefully, looped the rope into a makeshift snare, and with a quick tug, brought it crashing to the ground. The creature flailed and hissed, but Riku pressed his boot against its back, pinning it. With swift movements, he bound its wrists behind its back and wrapped more rope around its ankles.

The second one came after him, drawn by the noise. Riku whipped the remaining rope forward, looping it clumsily around the creature’s neck. He yanked hard, choking it down before forcing its arms together. The undead writhed, teeth snapping, but the bindings held.

Riku gritted his teeth as he finished the knots. "You’ll do."

By the time he returned to the apartment courtyard, dragging the two bound zombies behind him, sweat beaded his forehead. The girls were already outside, looking down and seeing the zombies that he captured.

Riku looked up and then signaled them to go down.

Miko was the first to move, stepping toward the stairwell without a word. Her expression was tense, but her legs carried her forward with a determination the others didn’t yet have. Ichika and Suzune followed reluctantly, their footsteps echoing softly against the concrete steps as they descended to the courtyard.

By the time they reached the ground level, Riku had already pulled the two zombies into the open space of the old playground.

The creatures thrashed on the ground, bound but far from harmless. Their jaws snapped viciously, teeth clicking together, eyes glazed over with that eerie.

Ichika gasped and clung instinctively to Suzune’s arm. Suzune herself bit her lower lip hard, trying to mask her fear. Miko’s eyes stayed locked on the pair of undead, her grip tightening on the railing as though forcing herself not to look away.

Riku straightened, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, and turned to them. "These things don’t stop. They don’t get tired, they don’t care about pain. You either put them down or they’ll tear you apart. That’s why you’re learning this now—while it’s controlled."

He drew the Glock 17 from his holster, checked the chamber, and held it low in his hand. "This is your tool. The only thing standing between you and ending up like them."

The girls tensed at the sight of the gun. It wasn’t just an object anymore—it was a lifeline.

"First, you’ll watch. Then you’ll do."

Riku stepped forward toward the first zombie, still squirming on its side. He raised the pistol, one hand gripping firmly while the other supported. He let them see the stance, the way his shoulders squared, the way his feet planted on the ground.

"Glock 17. Nine millimeter. Standard magazine capacity, seventeen rounds." He spoke clearly, making sure his words cut through their nerves. "You aim for the head. Always. Center of the forehead if you can. Don’t waste bullets anywhere else."

The suppressed pistol coughed once, a dull pop echoing across the empty courtyard. The zombie jerked violently as the round punched through its skull, then went still.

The girls all flinched at the sound, their hearts pounding. Miko didn’t look away, her face pale but it remained steady. Ichika’s breath caught in her throat, while Suzune swallowed hard.

Riku lowered the Glock, smoke faintly rising from the suppressor. "That’s how it’s done. Now it’s your turn."

He looked at Suzune first, then Ichika, then Miko. "One by one. You’ll step forward, I’ll guide your hands, and you’ll take the shot. If you’re too scared now, you’ll be dead when it counts. So get used to it."

The bound zombie snarled and writhed, its eyes rolling wildly as it snapped its teeth at the air.

Ichika whispered, almost trembling, "We... we have to shoot that?"

"Yes," Riku said bluntly. "Because one day it won’t be tied up. And you’ll either pull the trigger, or it’ll eat you alive."

The weight of his words pressed down on all three girls. This was it—their first step into survival, their first step into killing.

Riku looked at Suzune. "You first."