Infection ~~ Chinchikurin (CONTENT WARNINGS IN DESCRIPTION)

Cabbage ~~ 14

"Cabbage? What the hell...?" Hanabishi spoke.

Sure enough, it was cabbage. A cart full of cabbage, emitting a sickening scent and crawling with insects.

"Gross.. what is this here for anyways?" Seito asked. Rika examined the cart for a moment, "This cart.. I'm pretty sure it's set to go to Funny's galette shop.." She gasped.

"That shit looks diseased.." Seito muttered.

Everyone jumped back as Seito spoke.

"Diseased... Seito what?" Boron yelled.

"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong-" Seito started

"No no.." Keita interrupted. "You don't think.. this could be the cause.."

Everyone paused for a while, taking a moment to take in what they'd just heard.

"It.. It makes sense.. Doesn't it?" Toru spoke quietly to himself.

"The guy who attacked me.... I saw him at the gallette shop a few days ago." Rika said, "The few people, like you guys, I've seen who aren't infected haven't been in the months..."

"My dad.." Boron started, "He was just there a few days ago.. and he.." Boron started to sob before he could finish his sentence.

"Cabbage? The route of all this is cabbage? That sounds dumb, doesn't it?" Hanabishi groaned.

"Niina seemed more focused on the money part of things than the actual quality of what was being sold.. you don't think she could've been using this infectious cabbage in the gallettes.. right?" Rika stepped back in shock of her realization.

"And they went after Niina first after all.." Seito muttered.

"So this whole thing could've stemmed from Funny's gallette shop, but Rika.. you work there." Keita gasped. Everyone jumped back away from Rika, everyone besides Toru.

"Guys, are you serious? You think Rika could be putting us in danger?" Toru snapped.

"Toru.. you might wanna step away from her." Boron's voice shook.

"No, this is a misunderstanding! I'm not acting all zombie like, I'm fine! If the cabbage is the cause then don't worry, I don't even eat that crap!" Rika tried to convince the group, but they wouldn't budge.

"Rika, I'm sorry they feel this way. I believe you!" Toru smiled, taking Rika's hands in his, only to be pulled away by Boron.

"Rika look, you've been a great help, but we've gotta go." Boron said, the group then turned around leaving Rika behind, dragging Toru along with them. Rika stared as the group walked away from her.

"They really don't trust me...?" She thought, it upset her deeply. She sighed before turning around and heading back to the school to take shelter.

"Come on guys! Rika isn't a harm to us!" Toru cried.

"Are you crazy?" Boron shouted, "If what we think is right, and that disease started in that gallette shop she works at, she could easily be a danger."

"She wasn't acting all zombie-like.." Seito wondered out loud.

"Well... My dad.." Boron sighed, "It was a few days ago that my dad went to the shop. It could take a few days to set in..."

"But that's only if it really did start from the gallette shop!" Toru said, clearly upset. "We aren't sure!"

"Of course we're not sure.." Hanabishi interrupted, "We're not sure about anything in this stupid fucking village anyways."

"Han but-" Keita started, only to be cut off by Hanabishi.

"Just don't talk to me"

They continued to walk in silence until they got back to Hanabishi's house.

The group was met with Haruma and Mariha, still waiting in the same spot they were when everyone left.

"Brother.. is father okay?" Mariha asked, monotonal.

Hanabishi tried to get the words out, but he just couldn't.

"I'm.. I'm sorry..." He said, falling to his knees.

Tears began to stream down Mariha's face as she stared blankly at her brother.

"Father..." She muttered.

Hanabishi finally found some strength to reply to his sister..

"He's.. gone."