HOTD: Tōshiro Nagi - Chapter 19: Lost Path

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(A/N: Is that a Power Stone I’m sensing? You should leave it here for safekeeping. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of it.)

Word Count: 2344

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As Nagi and Saeko made their way through the city, they heard Saya’s voice calling out, “COME TO MY HOUSE BY THE HILL!” Taking note of Saya’s words, they continued their journey, sprinting up the road hill.

However, their progress was halted as they reached the intersection leading to Takagi Mansion, where a horde of undead awaited them.

Letting out a sigh, Nagi turned to Saeko, stepping back from his vantage point around the corner. He calmly spoke, “We won’t be able to reach the second block from here. Let’s backtrack to where we came from.”

“There were no zombies in that area, and if my memory serves me right, there was a motorcycle shop. We can use it to get out of here before nightfall. However, if things go awry, we’ll have no choice but to find shelter for the night.”

“There’s a shrine nearby that I used to visit occasionally,” Saeko suggested as they made their way back toward the motorcycle shop. “If we have no other option but to spend the night out here, it should provide a safe refuge as long as we remain quiet. It’s situated on top of a hill.”

Nagi nodded in agreement with Saeko’s suggestion as they arrived at the establishment. With a blade in hand, he cautiously entered, carefully scanning the surroundings to ensure there were no threats.

Satisfied that it was clear, he signaled Saeko to join him and sheathed his blade. “While I search for a vehicle, grab anything you think we may need,” he requested stoically.

Smiling, Saeko responded, “I can do that. However, there isn’t much to take from here. The leather jackets may provide some protection, but they would restrict my movements. However, I think this could be useful.”

Turning on the lights in the room she had entered, Nagi grabbed the small bag he had stuffed with tape and clothing before walking over to join her, examining what Saeko was recommending.

Noticing the manual beside it, Nagi skimmed through its contents before commenting, “This is quite nice. Although it may lack in terms of defense, it seems to be highly versatile.”

It was an eight-wheeled, all-terrain vehicle designed for resilience and versatility. The vehicle was capable of traversing various types of terrain, including rough terrains, water bodies, mud, and snow.

It was a prototype ATV designed for the use of the Japanese Military and possessed electronic parts that were resilient to an EMP blast, unbeknownst to Nagi and Saeko.

Climbing into the vehicle, Nagi extended his hand to Saeko, who gratefully grabbed it as Nagi gently helped her into the ATV. Turning on the vehicle and pressing the button to open the garage door, Nagi stepped on the gas as they made their way back towards the bridge.

…

It didn’t take long for them to reach the road leading to the bridge. Cars were mangled, crashed into each other and the guardrails, with blood splattered across the pavement. A few undead creatures roamed the streets, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Maneuvering past the horde, Nagi accelerated, swiftly moving past them and heading towards the bridge and river. Saeko, observing from the back, couldn’t help but inquire, “I don’t suppose you have a plan. Mind sharing it with me?”

Glancing at her, Nagi responded in his usual monotone, “Contrary to what you may think, there is no plan to share. I’m drawing a blank here. Our only objective at the moment is to reach the shrine you mentioned.”

“Considering the horde’s current concentration in the area due to our earlier fight, we’ll have to wait for them to disperse and clear out. Dealing with smaller groups is manageable, but tackling a massive horde head-on would be suicidal.”

Nodding in agreement, Saeko couldn’t help but inquire, “And how are we supposed to just wait for them to disperse? Unless you’ve forgotten, those things are everywhere.”

“Just watch,” Nagi responded as he drove off the slope leading to the river, with the nearby horde following closely behind.

Reaching the even ground of the river trail, Nagi and Saeko observed as the undead tripped over themselves, tumbling down the stairs. Heads met the floor, and bodies flipped and hit the stairs before landing on the even ground below as well.

“So they can use the stairs but can’t descend a simple slope,” Nagi remarked to himself, quickly making a mental note of the weakness and peculiarity of the undead.

“It seems that way,” Saeko responded, her eyes fixed on the undead as they slowly recovered from their fall and stood up. “Their ability to recover is flawless.”

“You’re correct in your observation, Saeko. However, in the end, it’s meaningless,” Nagi calmly stated, his voice devoid of emotion, as the engine roared and the tires gripped the ground before propelling the vehicle towards the river.

Saeko, perplexed by his remark, inquired, “What exactly do you mean by that?”

As they neared the river, Nagi answered, “This vehicle is amphibious.”

“Amphibious?” Saeko repeated to herself. The realization dawned upon her, but it was too late. The ATV soared through the air before plunging into the water with a powerful crash.

The impact and weight of the vehicle created a massive wave that washed over Nagi, leaving him relatively soaked. Saeko, on the other hand, bore the full brunt of the drenching water.

Shaking his head to dislodge the water running down his face and hair, Nagi turned to Saeko with an unchanging expression. “Are you alright?” he asked.

However, instead of receiving the expected answer, Saeko, in a moment of realization, hastily grabbed her wet, drenched shirt, now transparent enough to reveal her purple lace bra.

With a giant blush spreading across her face, she hastily covered herself with her arms and knees, chiding, “Geez! You don’t have to stare!” Nagi maintained his stoic expression, unaffected by the situation.

Complying with her request, Nagi turned his gaze away, focusing on steering the ATV towards a small sandbar situated in the middle of the lake.

“You know, for someone who showed no embarrassment wearing close to nothing but an apron, I don’t see how you’re embarrassed by your bra being shown,” he remarked matter-of-factly.

Gazing at Nagi with a hint of disbelief, Saeko leaned over his seat and cheekily asked, “Are you perhaps a little pervert, Nagi?” Nagi shook his head in response to her query and simply replied, “Being a pervert was not my intention. I was merely stating my observation.”

Chuckling softly, Saeko leaned back into her seat and remarked, “That poker face never leaves your face, does it? In fact, I don’t recall ever seeing you smile. Is it something you’re incapable of doing?”

“Curious?” Nagi questioned, as the vehicle gripped onto the land of the sandbar, reaching the middle of it.

He turned off the engine and gazed back at their previous position, only to see the undead slowly dispersing, leaving the scene. His eyes scanned the surroundings, assessing the situation with a calm and detached demeanor.

“Obviously,” Saeko retorted as she jumped out of the ATV and leaned against it, shivering slightly from the cold. Nagi paused his actions, reaching into the bag and rummaging through it.

He pulled out a black tank top and handed it to her without a word. Saeko’s small smile expressed her gratitude as she said, “Thank you.”

“No problem,” Nagi responded as he turned away, giving her privacy to change. As he scanned the surroundings once more, he pondered, ‘With the horde gone, we should be able to leave soon.’

‘However, I need to find a more suitable melee weapon. Knives will only become a liability in the future. I require a longer reach, but what weapon would be most suitable?’

“I’m done,” Saeko called out, interrupting Nagi’s train of thought. He turned back to her, observing as she tied her hair into a ponytail. Walking to the ATV, Nagi stated, “It’s time to get out of here. The undead have been absent for quite some time, and the sun is beginning to set.”

Gently smiling, Saeko responded, “Well, then. Let’s get going.”

***

The echoing sound of the revving ATV pierced the desolate city as Saeko and Nagi embarked on their search for the shrine she had mentioned earlier.

With Saeko positioned behind him, crouched and leaning over his shoulder, Nagi smoothly accelerated the ATV, its engine unleashing a powerful roar. The vehicle surged forward, swiftly traversing the desolate city streets.

Nagi’s unwavering focus allowed him to deftly navigate through the labyrinth of debris and bodies that littered the road.

As they turned a corner, the ATV surged forward, leaving the groups of zombies in its wake, their futile attempts to grasp the moving vehicle falling short. Saeko observed them closely and remarked, “It appears our popularity is increasing by the minute.”

“They will only increase in number the deeper we venture into the city. Is the shrine you mentioned located near the Takagi Mansion?” Nagi inquired. Approaching another corner, he tightened his grip on the handles, preparing for a precise drift.

With precision, he skillfully maneuvered the ATV, its tires screeching against the asphalt as it effortlessly slid around the corner. The flawless execution propelled them forward in a straight path, leaving behind a wake of chaos and fallen undead creatures.

Continuing straight, Saeko questioned, “A park?” The park they entered lacked playground equipment for children, but it was a popular spot for dates and relaxation.

At its heart stood a colossal water fountain, exuding an aura of majesty and commanding attention from all who beheld it. The fountain’s circular base boasted smooth, polished stone, lending it an air of stability and grandeur.

As the headlights illuminated the surroundings and the sound of the ATV reverberated through the air, the nearby undead was drawn to Nagi’s presence. Their decaying heads turned, their lifeless bodies shuffling toward them in relentless pursuit.

Unfazed, Nagi pressed on, guiding the ATV toward the top of a nearby staircase. With a calculated leap, they soared through the air, descending into the depths of the fountain’s basin. The impact sent a surge of water cascading over them.

Shaking her hair and body to rid herself of the water’s embrace, Saeko opened her eyes and narrowed her gaze at Nagi. She couldn’t help but ask, “Do you actually enjoy getting me wet or something?”

Nagi, unperturbed by the remark, extended his hand and straightforwardly requested, “Give me the tape from the bag.”

Albeit confused, Saeko quickly complied, handing him the tape. Nagi deftly wrapped the tape around the throttle, pulling it back and sticking it onto the back seats. As the tape constricted tightly, the vehicle began moving in circles within the fountain.

“Not too bad. Lure them with the noise. It’s what you did when you saved Alice using the motorcycle, right?” Saeko inquired, her voice steady.

Nagi nodded in response. “If we take the east exit, it will lead us directly behind Saya’s house. We just need to find a way to break through the undead,” Nagi stated matter-of-factly.

As Saeko brandished her bokken and assumed a stance, Nagi abruptly shifted his attention to her, sensing a change in her demeanor. It was more… free, wild, and unrestricted as if she was finally letting loose.

“Alright then,” she muttered as she leaped into the air, and an undead neared their area. Landing on the floor, she swung her bokken in a powerful uppercut motion, sending it flying away.

She then gracefully slid, avoiding the lunge of another zombie before swiftly regaining her footing and delivering a diagonal slash at its neck, effectively breaking it.

As one more undead appeared from behind her, she extended her bokken as an extension of her arm, stopping it in its tracks before sending it into the air with an uppercut slash.

Nagi observed Saeko’s relentless onslaught with a mix of admiration and contemplation. As expected of an Busujima, her skill with the sword was truly remarkable, living up to the rumors he had heard before.

He silently pondered, watching her dispatch the zombies with ruthless efficiency, a smile growing on her face with each passing moment.

‘In a one-on-one battle, I would undoubtedly be defeated,’ Nagi acknowledged to himself. While he possessed greater physical strength than Saeko, her mastery of swordsmanship and close combat far surpassed his own abilities. However…

His thoughts trailed off as he noticed her grin falter when confronted with undead children. Saeko hesitated, clearly apprehensive about ending the lives of these young, reanimated corpses.

‘So, even she has her limits,’ Nagi mused, recognizing the conflict within her as she stood firm in her position. Swiftly dispatching the zombie he was dealing with, Nagi rushed over to Saeko’s side just as one of the child undead threatened to bite her.

Without hesitation, he pressed the muzzle of his weapon against the undead’s forehead and pulled the trigger, putting an end to its life in an instant. The forceful blast caused the undead’s skull to explode in a spray of blood and brain matter.

Turning to Saeko with an impassive gaze, Nagi observed the myriad of emotions displayed on her face: shock, confliction, and a deep sense of shame. He couldn’t help but notice the turmoil brewing within her.

Grabbing her hand firmly, Nagi said, “Let’s go,” as he swiftly pulled her away from the encroaching horde of the undead, leading her toward the safety of the shrine.

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Author Words:

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