The Beginning of the End

Chapter 9

The start of a new day was signaled through the first few rays of light in the sky. Turning it from an obsidian black to a murky yellow.

Dawn was approaching and the boys were awake, anxious for their friends' departure.

They were all crowded around the entrance to bid farewell to them. Iwaizumi, Daichi, and Yamaguchi were equipped and ready to go.

The three boys each had a metal baseball bat and also wore protective gear such as knee pads and helmets.

After saying their goodbyes they left the athletics store, watching the doors close behind them and the barricades go back into place.

......

They decided to start at a convenience store. It was situated below a bed and breakfast.

"We should search the entire building for zombies before looking for supplies" suggested Iwaizumi. "It'd make things safer for us."

The other two boys agreed and made their way to the store until Daichi noticed that Iwaizumi was beginning to limp.

"Wait a moment" said Daichi, placing a hand on Iwaizumi's chest to stop him from going any further. "Is something wrong with your leg?"

Iwaizumi winced at the question but knew it was better to be truthful. "Not my leg, my ankle. I think I sprained it yesterday..."

"S-Shouldn't we go back then?" questioned Yamaguchi.

Being outside and vulnerable again made him regret volunteering to come. There was an eery feeling in the air that made him uneasy.

"Maybe he's right-" began Daichi.

"No. I'll be fine. I can still walk and the pain isn't too bad. Besides, I'm guessing that when you suggested us going for medicine it wasn't for emergency purposes?"

Daichi sighed at Iwaizumi's suspicion. He knew that the vice captain was too clever to have bought such a simple lie. "You're right. There's things we need to get today. But if the sprain becomes too much for you let me know."

Iwaizumi nodded and the three returned their attention to the store.

As they were walking in, Yamaguchi couldn't help but wonder about the conversation his two friends had just had.

What was the true purpose in finding medicine? Did anyone else know about Iwaizumi's injury? Probably not since no one had objected in him coming.

Was he supposed to keep the information away from his friends back at the athletics store? Yamaguchi hadn't expected to come across any secrets.

Maybe if he told Tsukki about all of this it'd bring them close together again. It'd also give them something to discuss that wasn't zombie related.

He still hadn't talked to the blond haired boy since their encounter in the bathroom. The only acknowledgment he got from Tsukki since then was a goodbye hug before he had left.

Yamaguchi just wanted things to be better between the two and for them to stay alive. Was that too much to ask for?

"Yamaguchi, stay between me and Iwaizumi as we search. It'll be safer for you that way."

"Okay, thanks Daichi-san."

The three boys cleared the convenience store of any threats. They had encountered a zombie crawling on the floor and another one that was torn in half, they killed them both swiftly.

"I know we agreed to check this whole building before scavenging, but I'd like to look at whatever medicine there is first" said Daichi.

Iwaizumi gave a thumbs up and went to collect a few flimsy bags that he had seen by the store's entrance.