Because of the rain, everyone decided to wait until it stopped before heading to Shinkawa Third Elementary School. They found a relatively large house to take shelter in.
"I didn't expect you all to organize such a large team. Before those people turned strange, we got along quite happily."
In the beginning, the neighbors would cooperate with each other, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious. But after the power outage, things became very troublesome.
It seemed that some strange survivor had appeared here and gathered everyone, which was why things had turned out this way.
"Don't worry about those people, Mother. You've already warned those neighbors and given them food. There's no need to worry about that place anymore."
"Ah, you're right, Rei. That's not home anymore. Don't worry about me, I understand this clearly."
Miyamoto Kiriko smiled indifferently. She wasn't the type to complain. Since those people had abandoned her, she had nothing more to say.
"By the way, Auntie. Your clothes seem to be a traffic police uniform."
"Oh? You know this? You're quite the enthusiast. These are the clothes I wore when I was in the traffic mobile unit, found from the very back of the closet. I didn't expect to be able to wear them again after all this time. It seems I've kept myself well."
These clothes were Miyamoto Kiriko's from a long time ago. How do mothers maintain themselves so well to be able to wear clothes from so long ago?
Inaba Tsukiyo fell into thought. Takagi Saya's mother was like this, Miyamoto Rei's mother was like this, and it seemed even Victorica's mother was like this.
Although they weren't mothers and daughters from the Eleventh District, they were all strange. When they went out with their daughters, they would never be mistaken for mother and daughter, but rather for sisters.
Some mothers with younger personalities would deliberately tell people they were sisters, not mother and daughter.
Hirano Toda wanted to ask Miyamoto Kiriko if she was still a traffic police officer, but Miyamoto Rei stopped him.
She looked at Miyamoto Kiriko with a hint of helplessness, holding her forehead, and whispered.
"I used to hear rumors about Mother. When Mother was transferred from the traffic police to her current management office, the local delinquents rumored that they had been intimidated by Kiriko of the PS (management office)."
"Those were all things before I started dating Father. So many years have passed, Rei, why are you bringing that up again?"
Miyamoto Kiriko said, a little embarrassed, but the others looked at Miyamoto Kiriko with a strange gaze.
Kiriko of the PS. Some adults in the group had heard this rumor. They never expected to meet her in person here. She was quite the formidable person.
"So what if I bring it up? Before becoming a traffic police officer, Mother, weren't you the leader of a female yakuza gang? I really don't know what you were thinking, becoming a police officer."
"Hehe~ Those were things I did when I was young. Thinking about it now, I really miss it. Everyone riding motorcycles on the road, with a large group of traffic police chasing behind us, it feels like it just happened yesterday."
"..."
Well, Miyamoto Kiriko's personality was truly unique. With such a strong personality, it was a mystery how her husband fell for her.
Miyamoto Kiriko recounted her past experiences, and everyone also told Miyamoto Kiriko about their journey from Fujimi Academy to here, including Inaba Tsukiyo's desire to establish her own safe zone.
"Is that your plan? I must say, it's unusually bold. Even adults are waiting for government officials to rescue them, and you're already thinking of organizing your own safe zone?"
"Blindly waiting won't work. To survive in this environment, we can only rely on our own strength. I believe Auntie should understand this principle as well."
Facing Miyamoto Kiriko's gaze, Inaba Tsukiyo merely smiled, then turned to organize the rest of the team to prepare food.
Electricity was no longer usable. Fortunately, they had found many cans and compressed foods earlier, which would suffice for now.
Just as Inaba Tsukiyo walked away, Miyamoto Kiriko's eyes changed. She pulled Miyamoto Rei, Komuro Takashi, and Takagi Saya aside to discuss in a low voice.
"Hey, is this Little Girl really okay? I'm not questioning whether she has the right to lead you all. I want to know if she's truly trustworthy?"
Too much had happened recently, and Miyamoto Kiriko was inevitably a bit paranoid. She was somewhat uneasy about Inaba Tsukiyo's presence as a leader.
The three who had been pulled aside exchanged glances and pondered for a moment.
"I think there's no problem. Although I'm always lectured for being too soft-hearted and too much of a saint, Miss Inaba's decisions are always correct."
Komuro Takashi, who had been disciplined the most, spoke first. Perhaps because Inaba Tsukiyo was a girl, Komuro Takashi didn't harbor much resentment towards her actions when she disciplined him.
After realizing that Inaba Tsukiyo's decisions were always correct, Komuro Takashi also stopped thinking and acted according to Inaba Tsukiyo's commands.
"Yes, Mother. If it weren't for Tsukiyo's help, we would probably be dead by now. Don't let her small size fool you; even a dozen adults are no match for her, let alone those Corpse."
"Hmm, Auntie, you can trust Tsukiyo-chan. If it weren't for Tsukiyo-chan, we wouldn't have been able to gather so many people. You can rest assured."
The three briefly recounted Inaba Tsukiyo's deeds to Miyamoto Kiriko. Miyamoto Kiriko nodded as she listened, seemingly finding this young leader more reliable than she had imagined.
"By the way, Mother. In the future, when you want to have such a private conversation, could you find a place further away?"
Suddenly, Miyamoto Rei's expression became somewhat subtle.
"Hmm? What's wrong? Our voices are so low, and there's no one else nearby. We shouldn't be overheard, right?"
Miyamoto Kiriko rubbed her head, a little confused. Besides them, no one else should be able to hear their conversation, right?
"Well, it's like this, Auntie. Miss Inaba's hearing is very keen. Even if the sound is very low and the distance is quite far, she can still hear what we say."
After speaking, Komuro Takashi pointed in Inaba Tsukiyo's direction.
Following Komuro Takashi's hint, Miyamoto Kiriko saw Inaba Tsukiyo smiling at them.
When she turned around, she even waved kindly, pointing to her ears, indicating that she had heard all of their conversation.
(Inaba Tsukiyo: What's going on with you, little bro?)
This gave Miyamoto Kiriko goosebumps, and she nodded with a stiff smile.
"That's so mean! If you knew about this, you should have told me right away. Now I'm so embarrassed, I want to die!"
"But Mother, you didn't give us time to say anything. You just started talking like that, and we were so startled we didn't know how to answer you."
Miyamoto Rei glared at her unreliable mother, Miyamoto Kiriko, with annoyance. Although Miyamoto Kiriko's experiences were extraordinary, in Miyamoto Rei's eyes, her mother was just her mother, and if she did something wrong, Miyamoto Rei could retort.
Miyamoto Kiriko, rendered speechless, quickly admitted her mistake. She felt her daughter was becoming a little scary. Was it her imagination?
On the other side, Inaba Tsukiyo came over to the unconscious Nakaoka Asami, who Hirano Toda was looking after.
Hirano Toda's careful demeanor, as if handling a fragile item, indirectly showed his feelings for Nakaoka Asami.
"What? Are you planning to do something to the unconscious patient when no one is looking? Sure enough, Boys, when they're idle, they like to think about such perverted things."
"No! Don't just misunderstand people, okay, Miss Inaba? How could I possibly do such a thing?!"
Hirano Toda said excitedly, but his voice was a bit loud, causing everyone who was paying attention to hear him. For a moment, soft whispers continuously spread.
"Oh? So, between being a beast and being worse than a beast, you chose the latter? Hehe~ What a good man you are, Fatty. It seems you'll be the protective-of-your-family type in the future."
"Worse than a beast... I don't know what you're talking about, Miss Inaba. I just wanted to take care of Officer Nakaoka, nothing else."
Hirano Toda, feeling a bit unnerved by Inaba Tsukiyo's gaze, chose to change the subject, but Inaba Tsukiyo wouldn't let him off so easily.
"Officer Nakaoka? This morning you were calling her Asami~ Asami~ so intimately, and now it's the distant 'Officer Nakaoka.' Hmph! Men."
"Miss Inaba!"
Hirano Toda couldn't take it anymore. If this continued, he felt like he was about to explode on the spot.
Hirano Toda's reaction significantly eased the previously heavy atmosphere.
"What's the situation now? Has Sister Shizuka seen her again?"
"Yes, Teacher Marikawa just saw her. Besides being a bit weak, everything else is normal. She should wake up tomorrow."
Hirano Toda looked at Inaba Tsukiyo gratefully. If it weren't for Inaba Tsukiyo's help, Nakaoka Asami would probably be dead by now.
Nakaoka Asami still showed no signs of abnormality, which proved that the virus in her body had been completely cleared.
"But, Miss Inaba, how exactly did you do it? At the time, I thought you were going to..."
"You thought I was going to kill her, didn't you? Hehe~ You're right, I did intend to kill her, Fatty."
At the time, she indeed planned to kill Nakaoka Asami. If Hirano Toda hadn't made so many contributions to the team, she wouldn't have used that power.
"You should thank yourself. If it weren't for your efforts during this time, I wouldn't have bothered with such a troublesome matter. And this matter cannot be told to others, understand?"
"I know, I know. I won't tell anyone, I swear."
If others knew about this, Inaba Tsukiyo's situation would become very dangerous. To repay Inaba Tsukiyo for what she did, Hirano Toda would not tell anyone.
She nodded. Her goal was not yet complete, and she didn't want her strength to be exposed.
One thing bothered her: there had been no news from the government. Even if the government had collapsed, the EMP was undoubtedly released by government officials.
'It seems I need to investigate thoroughly to see if someone is courting death.'
A golden light flashed in her pupils. In a place where no one could see, a small Imaginary Space appeared on the roof, and Honkai Beasts, each no bigger than a fly, scattered and flew away.
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