His bad feeling was correct.
Yi Zheng drove to another base after that.
"There are some here too," Shae Harris hummed.
Another one.
"Here too~" she hummed again.
Another base the next day.
He didn't even have to ask this time because he happened to arrive just as the zombies poured in.
Then the journey took an active turn as he tried to swivel past them and drive away.
Some strays at the back stopped and looked at the van driving away, then at the humans screaming in the building.
Eventually, they turned to kill the humans.
But they were noticeably less enthusiastic with the chase.
And their heads would turn a bit, as if they wanted to take one last look.
Yi Zheng: ??
They drove off, only stopping at night to stay in an empty building.
Yi Zheng would stand at the front to clear the zombies because those people were too cowardly to come out.
Well, Shae Harris was actually more traumatized at the thought of transforming into that berserk state.
Because the five kids felt it instinctively.
If they dared to fight, then they would immediately lose their body to the other 'them.'
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned because the zombies were too enthusiastic.
They dashed past Yi Zheng and rushed to the van.
Yi Zheng stood inside, staring at the zombies crowding around the van.
He made no move.
The others eventually had to come out due to losing their body.
Their limit was reached, and they crushed all the zombies' heads with brute force and pure strength.
Then once again, they were visited by the black cat simultaneously.
This time though, it was a joint cooperation.
They had to swim their way to the surface of the dark water in order to escape.
They came back to reality but never saw the black cat again.
They were still not used to it, but this time no one puked.
Shae Harris took the lead in walking inside while trembling.
The others followed, leaving three people at the door.
Yi Zheng still stood watching.
Mori Aoi was on the ground, weeping and trembling from fright.
Wei Zhi just sat there trembling also, but his tears weren't as loud as hers.
Soon he felt something brush past his arm and he flinched away.
It seems Mori Aoi had realized she wasn't alone and latched herself onto his left arm.
Wei Zhi snapped out of it and extended a hand to her head.
He lightly brushed it, and inexplicably found that his heartbeat stopped pounding and his mood was soothed.
Her hair felt dry and coarse, but he had the illusion that it was soft.
"Well, the others are waiting for us," he murmured.
Mori Aoi sniffled and nodded.
Then he stood up and took her hand while leading her inside.
Yi Zheng followed behind them, thinking.
---
After they took a shower, they all sat down to eat.
The place they were currently in was a normal two-floor apartment that had traces of a family living there.
The door that was open when they had arrived was now shut.
There were only two bathrooms present: one in the parents' room and one for the kids in the hallway on the second floor.
So the girls plus Noi Karn used one bathroom, and the boys used the other in turns.
They gathered in the kitchen now to make dinner on the first floor.
They just realized that they were starving and hadn't eaten all day because they were traveling the whole time looking for a base.
"Anyone know how to cook?" Shae Harris said.
She was sick all her life, so there was no time for her to learn.
"I know how to help," Ming Jun said.
He had worked as a servant in his household all his life before this, so it stands to reason that it included the kitchen.
But they wouldn't let him actually cook anything for fear he poisoned the young master.
"I only know how to eat ramen," Wei Zhi said, chuckling awkwardly.
"Which kind?" Shae Harris asked curiously.
"Plain," Wei Zhi said.
He could only afford the kind with no extra toppings or seasonings.
It was the cheapest food available.
"Oh…" Shae Harris wilted.
Silence.
"I can help too," Noi Karn coughed.
"Don't worry about it, the kitchen is no place for a child," Shae Harris said, patting his head.
"I'm 15," Noi Karn said, speechless.
"And so cute too," Shae Harris ignored him and poked his cheek.
Noi Karn slapped her hand away.
Then someone else poked his cheek.
He turned to Mori Aoi, whose eyes were shining.
Suddenly, they all began to pinch his face.
Noi Karn ran away to the living room, glaring at them.
The others: hehe… so cute.
"Ah— but who is cooking?" Shae Harris said, rubbing her stomach.
"I… I can, a little bit," Mori Aoi said, raising her hand.
"Really?" Shae Harris grabbed her hands with shining eyes.
Mori Aoi took a step back but still nodded her head.
"Then I guess it's settled," Ming Jun said, patting Shae Harris on the shoulder.
She turned to him: what?
Ming Jun pointed at Mori Aoi, whose eyes were down and her hands trembling.
Translation: she's shy.
Shae Harris: oh.
Then she removed her hand from the timid girl.
Mori Aoi sighed in relief and moved close to Wei Zhi.
"Then I'll help—" Ming Jun started, obviously wanting to say he would help in the cooking.
Mori Aoi moved closer to Wei Zhi until she was side by side and grabbed his sleeve.
"…wash the dishes," Ming Jun changed his words, and the timid girl also released the crumpled sleeve of Wei Zhi.
"Since Aoi-san is so shy, then I'll also wash the dishes," Shae Harris said, winking at Mori Aoi.
The latter blinked and smiled shyly.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"Then I guess I'll help you cook. Please take care of me," Wei Zhi said to the timid girl beside him.
He didn't say anything during the exchange that just happened, but he didn't notice his other hand tightly grabbing his sleeve.
"Then I'll…" Noi Karn appeared at this time.
But Shae Harris rushed to his side and grabbed his cheeks.
The others also looked over with bright eyes.
Noi Karn: …..
He had to retreat again and ended up doing nothing to help in the dinner process.
Shae Harris and Ming Jun also retreated to a corner, whiling away the time.
It was only Wei Zhi and Mori Aoi in the kitchen.
Mori Aoi rolled up her sleeves and began to take out some ingredients they had gotten on the way.
She had worked in a restaurant at one point and was familiar with the cooking process.
Wei Zhi wanted to help, but it seemed the girl had forgotten that she wasn't alone.
"Um…" he coughed, and she jumped.
Luckily her hands were empty, but she almost tripped.
"I'm sorry for forgetting you… it's just that I'm used to doing it alone," Mori Aoi said, bowing a little.
"You did look like you knew what you were doing, or maybe you just didn't want a clueless person like me to mess it up," Wei Zhi teased.
"That… that isn't true," Mori Aoi said, waving her hands.
"But from my perspective, it looked like it~" he teased her again.
"I'm sorry," she said sullenly.
"I know." Wei Zhi patted her head.
She blinked and pouted at him, then went to the chopping board.
"Can you pass the lettuce?" she said.
Wei Zhi was confused because he truly hadn't cooked before, and neither had anyone cooked for him.
Heck, he couldn't even afford normal foods, so he hadn't actually seen a lettuce before.
"Well… I don't know where it is," he said, rubbing the back of his head.
Mori Aoi walked to his side and took the lettuce that was right in front of him.
Wei Zhi: shocked.
Puff—
Mori Aoi snickered.
Wei Zhi: hiss… I suspect that you did this on purpose.
"Well… it might be just a little true," Mori Aoi said, smiling.
Wei Zhi: you definitely did it on purpose!
He pouted at her, and she began to laugh.
Eventually, he couldn't resist and was smiling too.
The awkward air eased, and Wei Zhi didn't even realize that he found himself so comfortable teasing her.
They continued to cook in comfortable silence with occasional peaceful conversations.
Soon they all had their dinner of boiled rice and vegetables as the side dishes.
They were gathered around a small table, including Yi Zheng, who was guarding the outside by staying in the second-floor parents' bedroom—
because of the great view of the road.
"Well, it tastes good," Shae Harris gave Mori Aoi a thumbs up.
"I was there too," Wei Zhi pointed at himself.
"But you didn't do anything," Mori Aoi quipped.
Everyone paused: ??
"You can speak," Shae Harris said, standing up partially due to shock.
Mori Aoi flushed at the attention and buried her head into her neck.
"She meant that you can actually complain," Ming Jun coughed and dragged her back down.
"But he really didn't do anything," Mori Aoi pouted.
Puff—
The table burst into laughter.
Wei Zhi: drawing circles on the table because he was disgusted for no reason.
Mori Aoi felt bad and poked his side.
He turned to her, and she gave him a spoon of rice.
Wei Zhi couldn't ignore her eyes and forgave her due to her bribery.
They continued to eat their dinner in harmony.
---
After that, the kitchen was taken over by Shae Harris and Ming Jun.
Shae Harris thought that washing dishes was too boring, so she wanted to compete.
Ming Jun agreed.
Then he won.
Mostly because he was an old veteran when it comes to chores.
"Well, you're amazing," Shae Harris said sincerely.
Ming Jun froze.
"What's wrong with you?" Shae Harris said, shaking him.
"Um… not… nothing," Ming Jun stuttered and hurried away.
Shae Harris watched the plump boy run away and felt it was funny.
She happily chased after him to pester him on the reason.
They gathered in the living room.
"So what now?" Yi Zheng spoke first.
"Field trip!" Shae Harris jumped up.
"Aren't you guys worried about the obvious bad signs?" Yi Zheng asked.
"But where do we go first?" Ming Jun said, ignoring his question.
"You just witnessed a lot of people dying, and you guys are linked to it," Yi Zheng frowned.
"Obviously the arcade," Shae Harris said excitedly.
"That's just where you want to go," Wei Zhi retorted.
"And then a huge five-star restaurant with the best food," Shae Harris was dreamy.
"Yeah, equipped with as many zombies as possible," Ming Jun rolled his eyes.
"Why not let each person choose one place," Noi Karn offered.
"Hey!" Yi Zheng slammed his fist on the ground.
"You guys are actually going to die at this point.
Someone, or some group of people, are going to offer you as sacrifices to some evil god.
And you're sitting here discussing useless stuff!" Yi Zheng glared at them, his tone increasing with each sentence.
"So what do you want us to do about it?" Mori Aoi said tearfully.
"I don't know… but at least you could actually try to give a damn about it," Yi Zheng said, frustrated at them and at the whole situation.
"Fight how…" Shae Harris said calmly.
"You obviously injured him at that time, so you can do it again," Yi Zheng said.
"But that wasn't us," Ming Jun argued.
"Then find a way to make it you," Yi Zheng retorted.
"How?" Wei Zhi said.
"Figure it out. Do I have to do everything for you?" Yi Zheng said.
"We can't," Noi Karn said calmly.
"Why not?" Yi Zheng countered.
"Because we just can't," Shae Harris said.
"Because we're weak," Ming Jun said.
"Because we're scared," Wei Zhi said.
"Because we aren't strong enough," Mori Aoi said.
"Yi Zheng… we just can't do anything about it." Noi Karn looked him straight in the eyes and said calmly.
"Aren't you going to try, or at least hide?" Yi Zheng asked, incredulous.
They shook their heads in rejection.
"You're probably going to die if you continue this way… aren't you scared about dying?" Yi Zheng said the last part quietly.
Silence.
"No," Shae Harris answered with the calmest voice she had ever spoken in.
The others were silent, but their faces were calm.
Yi Zheng looked at them with complex emotions.
Shock.
Surprise.
Dumbfounded.
Thinking.
Then silence.
Yi Zheng really looked at these kids and examined their personalities he had seen so far.
"Okay." Just one word affirmation.
No questions asked.
He stood up and walked upstairs.
"So… who's picking first?" Shae Harris cleared her throat and said.
The others continued the conversation without bothering to digest the previous one.
They understood that it was best not to open each other's wounds.
They ended up discussing until they fell asleep.
---
The next morning started with a shower, then breakfast.
"Well, who is choosing first?" Yi Zheng said after they had eaten.
He also didn't ask any questions about last night's conversation.
"We decided to let the youngest choose first," Shae Harris said.
"Okay," Yi Zheng nodded and turned to Noi Karn.
"The movies," Noi Karn said quietly.
He was a little nervous because he thought they would laugh at him for wanting to go to the movies even though he was blind.
But he really wanted to go there.
"Then I guess I should save room for popcorn," Shae Harris said, rubbing her stomach.
"Um… it's this large theatre that includes all forms of art.
Art, movies, the opera, a dance stage," Noi Karn said excitedly.
His silver eyes seemed bright, like the dullness that was always present was lit aflame.
"Our youngest is so cultured," Shae Harris said, poking his cheek.
He didn't bother to swat her hand away.
"I guess it should be fun," Ming Jun also poked his cheek.
"Hmm… I've never been there anyway, so it should be a new experience," Wei Zhi also poked Noi Karn's cheek.
"As long as the youngest is happy," Mori Aoi said, poking his cheek.
"Hehe," Noi Karn smiled happily and graciously forgave them for poking his face.
"Then let's go." Yi Zheng rolled his eyes and guided them into the van.
"Yi Zheng," Shae Harris said as the van started.
He hummed.
"Thank you," the five of them said softly together.
Thank you for helping us, was the meaning they wanted to convey.
Yi Zheng froze, then smiled.
"You're welcome." The van drove off.