"Alright then."
All three turned their attention to the truck.
"She took some hits, but she's still breathing." Tysone knocked a fist against the solid metal plating. The impact gave off a dull thud.
Kenji whistled. "She's tougher than a Soviet tank. A little rough around the edges."
"Just like how I like 'em."
Kohta and Tysone both snickered.
"Okay, let's check her guts." Tysone popped the hood open.
The engine rumbled with a quiet purr. The battery seemed to still be in perfect condition, so were the spark plugs and a lot of other internal parts. Their previous repairs and upgrades were not cheap. They'd made sure to use the best of the best parts they could get from the many abandoned cars they'd come across.
"Hmmm." Kenji leaned forward, looking at the engine with the eyes of a seasoned expert. "The radiator hose is leaking. Probably took some shrapnel from one of those creatures, or we scraped against something."
Kohta pointed at a dark, damp patch on the hose. "The coolant's been weeping. It's a miracle the engine didn't overheat when we were running from that pack."
"We can patch it, but we need to find a replacement, and soon." Kenji said, wiping a bit of grime from his fingers. "A patch job might hold for a while, but it's a ticking bomb."
"I'll put it on the scavenge list." Tysone grunted, his mind already running. The city was a treasure trove, but getting more dangerous by the day. "What else?"
"The suspension on the front left is shot." Kenji pointed a flashlight at the wheel well. "You see that angle? The strut is bent. That landing on the other side of the bridge did a number on it. We'll have to pull it straight, or see if we can cannibalize one from a different vehicle. Not easy out here." He looked at Tysone. "I saw some heavy-duty trucks in the industrial district, if you're ever back that way."
"Good to know."
"And..." Kohta was now crouched by the undercarriage, his face scrunched up. "The exhaust is punctured. Right before the muffler. It's why she's been making that awful coughing sound."
"Noted."
"I have some ideas." Kohta said, a glint in his eyes. "We could reinforce the undercarriage with some of the scrap metal we brought back. A plate armor. And I was thinking..."
He started rambling, and Tysone couldn't help but grin. This was their own version of a clubhouse. A place where they could discuss their insane ideas.
Kenji seemed delighted by Kohta's energy. "That's a good start, young man. But we have to be careful. Every bit of weight we add affects the performance. The engine's strong, but it's not invincible."
"We could upgrade the engine!" Kohta's glasses practically sparkled.
"With what? A rocket engine?" Tysone snorted.
Kohta gasped, as if Tysone had just read his mind. "Exactly! Imagine the Apocalypse Mule, soaring through the sky, raining down fire and death!"
Kenji burst out laughing. "Let's stick to wheels for now, son."
Tysone, however, was intrigued. "Let's not dismiss it. Kohta, do we have anything in the new pile of junk that could boost the output? A turbocharger? Something?"
Kohta's eyes widened. He scrambled over to a pile of electronics and parts they'd salvaged, sifting through them like a pirate looking for treasure. "Turbo... turbo... ah-ha! This one!"
He held up a greasy, metal object. "It's from a high-performance sports car. It's a bit rough, but I think we can make it work. We'll need to fabricate a custom manifold, and the fuel injection will need to be recalibrated..."
Kenji peered at the object, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It's ambitious. But... it might just work. The engine block is solid. It could probably handle the extra boost, if we do it right."
Tysone's grin widened. "Do it."
"You got it, my liege!"
...
Marin was looking at the boys working on the truck from her room's window, which just so happened to face the backyard.
The sight of Tysone's naked upper body, all muscle and scars, brought a faint flush to her cheeks.
She sighed, twirling a lock of her blonde hair with her index finger, a bored expression on her face. She had done her part of the chores, as per Saya's instructions, but she was already tired of it. She wanted some action. Or, at least, some attention. Especially from a certain dark-skinned hunk.
She watched as Tysone laughed at something Kohta said, his teeth flashing white in the sunlight.
Apocalypse or not, Marin was at that age where her hormones were going wild. The constant threat of death only seemed to amplify that feeling.
She needed something to distract her. A new cosplay project, maybe? But that felt... childish now. A waste of precious resources.
"Are you okay?"
Marin turned to see Yui sitting on her bed, fiddling with her necklace. The other girl had a knack for appearing out of nowhere.
"Just thinking." Marin said, turning back to the window.
Yui joined her, peering out. "About him?"
"W-W-What are you talking about?!" Marin sputtered, waving her hands in denial. "I was just admiring their... work ethic! Yes! That's it!"
Yui giggled. "Sure, you were."
Marin sighed. She could never fool Yui. The girl had an uncanny ability to read people. "Okay, fine. Maybe a little."
"I think we all do."
Marin looked at Yui, surprised.
"Don't look so surprised." Yui said with a small, shy smile. "But... he rarely has time for us. He's always so busy. Leading, fighting, planning..."
"He does make time for Saeko-senpai and the others, though." Marin muttered, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"They've been with him from the start." Yui said, wistfully.
Marin knew Yui was right. But it didn't make it any easier. She wanted to be close to him, too. To be one of "them". The inner circle. But how? She wasn't the strongest fighter, and beyond those mediocre skills, she was just a gyaru that liked to dress up.
Maybe she should just be bold.
"Hey, Yui..."
"Hm?"
"Wanna go for a walk?"
Yui's eyes widened. "A walk? Out there?"
Marin pointed toward the front gate. "Just to the gate. And back. We'll be safe. I mean, the boys are right there."
Yui hesitated, biting her lip. The thought of leaving the safety of the mansion, even for a few minutes, was terrifying. Yui had never participated in a fight, quite like Shizuka, as both of them were the 'healers', as Kohta liked to call them, but there was no denying the fact that her life was, more than anyone's, tied directly to the others' abilities.
"Okay." She said, finally. "But just to the gate."
"Great! Let's go!"
Marin grabbed Yui's hand and pulled her out of the room, a renewed spring in her step. Yui sighed; she knew why Marin wanted to go on a walk.
...
Tysone wiped the grease from his hands with a rag, the rough fabric scraping against his calloused skin. The sun was high in the sky now, beating down on their backs. The work was hard, dirty, and sweaty. But it was good. It was normal.
"She's a real beast, this one." Kenji said, admiring the engine. "I haven't worked on something this robust in years."
"Told you." Tysone grinned. "She's the Apocalypse Mule. She can handle anything."
Kohta, who had been fiddling with the turbocharger, nodded proudly. "Indeed she can!"
Tysone's ears picked up on movement coming from nearby, and turned to look.
It was Marin and Yui. They were standing by the main gate, waving at them. Officer Nakaoka had also joined them, and instead of her police uniform, she was wearing a tight, cropped t-shirt that left little to the imagination.
Kohta nearly dropped the turbocharger, his glasses fogging up. "W-W-Wow..." He stammered, adjusting them frantically.
Kenji chuckled, shaking his head. "Youth."
Tysone, however, was not so easily flustered. He waved back, a small smile on his face as he approached them. He slightly nodded towards Asami, who nodded back, and shyly made her way towards Kohta. "Marin, Yui. What are you doing here?" Tysone asked, turning his eyes to the two beauties.
"Just getting some fresh air." Marin said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "And we thought you boys might be thirsty."
She held up a tray with three tall glasses of iced tea, condensation dripping down the sides.
"Ah, thank you."
"Anything for our hardworking hero."
Tysone gave Marin a strange, amused look. The girl was laying it on a bit thick, though he couldn't say he minded.
"What about you, Yui?"
Yui blushed, looking down at her shoes. "I... I was just worried. You're supposed to rest..."
"I'm feeling quite good, though..." Tysone chuckled, and as if to flex his godly, healthy physique, he flexed a bicep, making it bulge with muscle. This made Marin's jaw drop, and Yui blush even more.
"See? He's fine." Marin said, nudging Yui. "Better than fine, even."
P.s: Please 🙏🏿 give a read to my new story DC: First Sorcery, leave a comment and stones if you like 👍🏿.
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.