CHAPTER 34: SHOOTING SESSION

Suzune walked forward with her Glock. Her fingers were stiff, her palms clammy, and the weight of the firearm surprised her.

"Relax your shoulders," Riku instructed, stepping closer. He adjusted her stance with firm but careful guidance, nudging her feet apart. "Don’t lock your elbows. Keep your wrists tight. You’re in control of it, not the other way around."

Suzune nodded quickly, her breaths short and shallow. The snarls of the bound zombie filled her ears, making her heart pound harder. Although she was the one who suggested this, and had imagined this scenario, she still felt scared even when the zombie she was supposed to shoot is tied.

Riku crouched slightly to her level. "Aim down the sights. Line the front post with the rear notch. Put it on the head and squeeze, don’t yank."

Suzune swallowed hard and lifted the pistol, the barrel wobbling slightly as she tried to steady it on the thrashing undead. Her arms quivered, but Riku’s hand pressed lightly against her forearm, steadying her aim.

"Breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth. On your exhale, squeeze."

Her finger tightened on the trigger. The pistol coughed with a suppressed pop, the shot going wide into the zombie’s shoulder. The creature jerked but kept thrashing, its jaws snapping as if mocking her.

Suzune flinched. "It’s still moving—!"

"That’s the point," Riku cut in firmly. He stepped behind her, steadying her arms. "Don’t lower the gun. Keep aiming."

Suzune’s breathing quickened as she kept the Glock leveled, the sights shaking slightly.

"Now, shoot its chest," Riku ordered.

Her eyes widened. "The chest?"

"Do it."

She swallowed hard and squeezed the trigger. Pop. The round punched into the zombie’s shoulder. It jerked, groaning louder, still thrashing.

"Again. Center mass."

Another round cracked out, this time hitting its ribs. The zombie barely reacted. It just snarled, gnashing its teeth.

Suzune gasped, horrified. "It’s not dying!"

"Exactly," Riku said coldly. He adjusted her stance again. "That’s five shots wasted if you panic and aim for the body. Doesn’t matter how many times you hit it—unless it’s the head, it won’t stop."

Suzune’s arms trembled, but she steadied herself as his voice drilled into her ears.

"Now aim higher. The forehead. Breathe out slowly and squeeze."

She lined up the sights as best as she could, the zombie thrashing against the rope just a few feet away. Her chest rose and fell in quick bursts until she forced herself to exhale.

She squeezed the trigger.

Pop.

The bullet struck dead center. The zombie’s head snapped back, and it slumped instantly, motionless.

The silence that followed weighed on her shoulders. Suzune lowered the Glock slowly, her hands still trembling.

Riku’s tone softened just a fraction. "Remember this. Body shots waste ammo. One shot to the head—that’s what keeps you alive. But of course, when one is chasing you and moving so fast, it’ll be hard to target the head. But still, shooting them in the center mass will cause it to slow down. So it’s still effective in some way. Now, I’m going to get two more zombies for Ichika and Suzune to shoot. You have done a great job."

Suzune felt proud from hearing that and stepped back. She looked down at the dead zombie, the neat hole in its forehead stark proof of her shot. Ichika squeezed her friend’s hand lightly, offering comfort, though her own face was pale at the sight of the corpse.

"I’ll be back," Riku said, tucking the Glock into his holster. "Stay here. Don’t go near it."

Without another word, he slung the rope coil over his shoulder and jogged back toward the alley. The sound of his footsteps faded, leaving the girls standing in uneasy silence. The playground, once filled with children’s laughter, was now nothing but an arena for survival lessons.

Minutes passed before the distant scuffle of movement reached their ears. The guttural moans of the undead grew louder, closer. Ichika’s heart leapt into her throat. Then Riku reappeared, dragging not one but two more zombies, both bound and thrashing violently against the ropes. He gritted his teeth as he pulled them into the courtyard, planting them firmly in the open space.

"Two more," he announced flatly. He glanced at Ichika and Miko in turn. "Your turn."

Ichika stepped back instinctively, her eyes widening. "M-me? Already?"

"Yes." Riku’s tone left no room for argument. "Fear doesn’t wait. If you hesitate now, you’ll hesitate when it matters. Step up."

Ichika clenched her fists, trembling. She glanced at Suzune, who gave her a small nod of encouragement. Slowly, Ichika stepped forward with her Glock.

"Feet apart. Don’t let it control you. Aim."

The zombie hissed and thrashed against its bonds, eyes locked on her like she was its only prey. Ichika’s arms shook violently as she raised the pistol. Her breathing grew frantic.

"I-I can’t—"

"You can," Riku interrupted sharply. His voice was like steel. "It’s you or them. Decide now."

Her teeth clenched. With a deep breath, Ichika tightened her grip. The Glock felt heavier than iron, but she forced herself to line up the sights.

"Shoot," Riku ordered.

Pop. The first round went wide, grazing the ground near the zombie’s hip. Ichika flinched hard at the sound.

"Again," Riku barked. "Don’t think. Do it."

Pop. This one struck the zombie in the arm. It only made the creature thrash harder, snarling as spittle flew from its mouth.

Tears stung Ichika’s eyes, but she steadied her hands. "Please—please stop moving—"

"Head. Now!" Riku’s voice cut through her panic.

She exhaled sharply, focused on the forehead, and pulled the trigger.

Pop.

The round hit clean. The zombie collapsed instantly, lifeless. Ichika’s knees nearly buckled, but Riku caught the Glock before it slipped from her fingers.

"You did it," he said, his tone calmer now. "See? Fear didn’t stop you. Remember that."

Ichika wiped her eyes quickly and backed away, heart hammering but relieved.

Now, only Miko remained. She stepped forward without hesitation, her expression grim. She didn’t wait for Riku to urge her; she pulled out her Glock.

Riku studied her for a second, then nodded. "All right. Let’s see it."

Miko took the stance he had shown them, her movements steady, practiced from observation. The zombie before her writhed, snapping its teeth, ropes creaking under the strain.

"Center mass first," Riku said.

Pop. The bullet tore into the zombie’s chest. It jerked but kept thrashing.

"Again."

Pop. Another chest shot. The creature groaned but didn’t fall.

"Now the head. End it."

Miko exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing. She lined up the sights perfectly, her finger tightening with steady control.

Pop.

The shot punched through its forehead. The zombie dropped lifelessly.

Riku nodded once, satisfied. "Good. You’ve got the right instincts."

Miko lowered the Glock, her face pale but determined.

He looked at all three of them—Suzune, Ichika, and Miko. They stood together, shaken but alive, having faced their first kills.

"This was controlled," Riku said firmly. "But out there, it won’t be. They’ll move faster, scream louder, and try to tear you apart. If you hesitate, you die. If you waste bullets, you run empty. Aim for the head as much as possible."

The three girls nodded.

"That’s our lesson, dismissed."