Bab 20: Attitude?
[A/N] - Sry for disappearing unannounced for a few days. Some stuff came up and I got busy, not to mention my phone's screen cracked (fuck) and had to get it repaired. I tried writing on my laptop but it was uncomfortable as heck. So yeah that's that.
I'll be back to my usual daily upload now!
I'll probably be making a discord and will add the link in the synopsis and next chapter's author notes.
Enough, Now Enjoy the chapter?
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After Akito calmed himself he joined everyone in the living room. Saya and Rei were on the couch While Takashi and Kohta were sitting crossed-legged on the ground in front of them.
Saeko was standing behind the couch and Shizuka had dragged a chair from the dining table to sit on.
Shizuka was slightly avoiding his gaze and Saeko's sharp eyes were moving between Shizuka and Akito for some reason.
Akito also dragged a chair from the living room and sat beside Shizuka.
"I'm worried about my parents!"
The moment Akito sat down Saya spoke with a voice full of concern and anger. Everyone turned towards her.
Takashi and Rei were also worried about their parents.
"Hmm," Akito hummed and said, "How far is your house from here?"
"It's just across the bridge."
Akito nodded and looked at everyone gathered, "What about the rest of you?"
Kohta was the first to speak up, "My dad is a jewelry merchant and is in Amsterdam while my mom is a fashion designer in Paris."
"Oh..."
Akito nodded.
He looked towards Shizuka who shook her head with a sad smile, "I don't have any family left only some friends and Rika, the one whose house we're using."
The group was also influenced by her sad state.
Akito patted her shoulder softly and turned towards Rei, "My father and mother are both in the police. My house is on the other side of our school."
Takashi immediately chimed in, "Rei's house isn't far from my own, my mom should be either at Shintoko Third Elementary School or home."
He tried saying it nonchalantly but his voice was filled with disguised worry.
Seeing everyone explain their situation Saeko also said, "My father is abroad as well."
Akito clapped his hands, "Okay then, How about we try finding Saya's parents first?"
Takashi didn't mind but Rei seemed hesitant and seeing this Saya wanted to say they could find her parents later.
A part of her still burned with hate thinking that her parents had abandoned her in this crisis.
But before she could speak out Rei immediately shook her head and said, "I'm fine with it."
Saya looked shocked that Rei agreed and didn't know what to say. Rei and she weren't the bestest of friends. Saya didn't like Rei because of her crush on Takashi.
Rei was liked by the man she liked and Rei herself liked Takashi but yet she somehow ended up as Hisashi's girlfriend, This always annoyed Saya to no end.
"Well, We should relax a bit for now and come up with a proper pla-"
"But what about your family Akito-san?"
Kohta's voice cut his own and Akito found himself muttering, "... Family?"
A wisp of sadness coated his eyes, Akito shook his head, "They passed away when I was a kid."
The group's atmosphere turned even grimmer, they didn't even know their own parents' situation... worse they might have already died!
Seeing everyone's face Akito chuckled, "Stop being glum and imagining stupid things. No one's dead yet, we have guns, food, and even a humvee. We'll save them."
His words were too optimistic considering the situation and even foolish but the words held their charm and everyone felt reinvigorated
Akito also nodded happily. His past self couldn't even imagine doing something like this.
He didn't know if it was because of the power he held, his increased charm, or the DCG but he was now brimming with self-confidence which was very refreshing to him.
It was exactly this aura of confidence that he radiated which made everyone subconsciously follow his lead.
...
Kohta was teaching Takashi a bit about guns and Saeko was sitting crossed-legged in the balcony with her eyes closed.
Probably meditating.
Shizuka was nowhere to be seen and Saya was currently dragged by Akito for a talk.
...
"What?"
Saya looked at him with annoyance and interest, wondering what he wanted.
"You need to learn how to defend yourself, you and Shizuka-san won't be able to protect yourselves. Try asking Kohta to teach you how to use guns. He won't reject you."
"Huh?"
Saya's face contorted into rage.
"Shut up! Don't tell me what to do." She didn't like the look in Akito's eyes it was as if he was looking at something useless. Which was only her imagination.
"Why are you mad? I wasn't joking, put your pride down and ask Kohta to teach you about guns."
"No way! I'm not asking the fatty for anything. I'd rather help you guys with my intelligence than use brute force."
Akito furrowed his brows at those words which caused Saya to tense up, she still held a certain amount of fear towards him.
"I'm saying this for your own good, In a world near its end strategy and schemes could only take you so far. What do you think would happen if no one from our group can defend you? Are you going to fumble around and shoot your own teammates because you didn't know how to handle guns properly?"
Akito didn't know how they were able to use guns so efficiently in the anime without any prior training but this wasn't some kind of anime anymore that forsake logic whenever needed.
Everything was real.
He realized something after spending a day with the group. Their attitudes towards zombies were too lax.
But he knew the reason.
His eyes made a quick glance at the beautiful purple-haired girl that had a serene aura around her.
Saeko had made their overall journey seem too easy. They obviously thought that Saeko was strong but they simultaneously thought that the zombies were very weak.
Superhumans like him and Saeko could have those thoughts but these people who barely had strength above the average man?
He scoffed but knew it wasn't all their fault. Takashi and Kohta were still very diligent and Rei also seemed serious regarding their situation but Saya's attitude would become a problem.
She was too stuck up.
Saya's expression started crumbling under his words but she didn't change her stance, "You're being too pessimistic! You and Saeko are strong enough to protect us. Kohta will protect us from the rear and Rei and Takashi are enough to protect me and Marikawa-san. You might not know but we were working perfectly as a group before arriving here."
"..."
"As long as we reach my parents' house we'll be fine."
"Hahahaha," Akito couldn't hold back his laughter anymore but it wasn't a joyful laugh, instead a scornful one. "I don't understand you... You claim to be a genius yet sometimes act so foolish and arrogant. You call me pessimistic yet say such optimistic words. Get off your high horse, you're parents can't protect you forever in such a world."
Would they be safe once they reached her parents' house? Hell no! Even the Takagi estate was burned to ruins.
Of course, she didn't know this.
His words were like a hammer nailing on her head, she started shaking and tightened her hands into fists.
Akito looked at her for a few seconds in silence. He knew he was being harsh but this wasn't the time to be soft.
"Take some time to think about it. Even Shizuka-san has agreed to learn some self-defense."
It wasn't true but it wouldn't be hard to convince Shizuka. While she was a ditz she was still a sensible adult.
With those words, he left her alone and closed the door.
...
[1st POV]
How dare he call a genius like me useless. Who is he to lecture me like this? Hmph! Acting like some leader because he can slaughter more zombies than the rest.
I couldn't help but feel angry and shamed. He was indirectly saying I contribute nothing to the group!
How could he? He knew nothing about me. I discovered the zombies' weaknesses, I made multiple safe strategies throughout the trip to make our trip even easier.
"Schemes and Strategies could only take you so far?... Isn't that the same with brute strength!?"
I... I didn't want to fight. The time I used a drill to keep a zombie away was too traumatizing.
A grotesque face with rotten teeth was nearing me in hunger. Blood splattered all over me, my body, my face, and even my mouth. It was horrifyingly disgusting.
Why do I even need to fight? Our group is already so strong, even though I don't like him I can't deny he's a beast at the level of that butcher Saeko.
Takashi and Rei were adept at fighting and that fat pig... He's an expert with guns. Even if the group ever faces any problem I don't think I won't be able to solve it with my level of intelligence.
I don't understand! What's that Akito's problem? Is it because he doesn't know that I'm truly a genius?
I'll prove him wrong, I'll make him realize that intelligence is much more important in such an environment and world.
Akito... Just you wait!
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[A/N] Well Poll Results are already clear but I'll still mention it here.
Rei was not chosen.
Saya and Yuriko (Mother-Daughter) were chosen!
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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