When the zombie crisis hit, what were the three most important things for normal people?
A safe shelter, plenty of food, and clean water.
A safe shelter? For Shuya, that went without saying. With Nen on his side, he could basically rule this world if he felt like it. There probably wasn't a safer place on the entire planet than right next to him.
If there was one, it would be right next to Saeko Busujima.
(Heh.)
Next came food. This one mattered a lot.
It was hard to imagine someone who had graduated from Tokyo University—not to mention someone who knew the zombie apocalypse was coming—wouldn't start hoarding supplies months in advance. After all, every Tokyo University graduate had that pack-rat gene buried deep in their bones. Save money to buy a house while working, hide secret savings after marriage, stockpile in-game resources while gaming. Shuya was no exception.
So several months earlier he had dug out Rika's property deed from the house, handed it to Shizuka, and told her to mortgage the place they were living in. Thanks to Shizuka's doctor license, the bank had approved a massive loan instantly and wired the money without a single question.
Shuya used that cash plus Shizuka's savings to quietly buy a medium-sized cold-storage warehouse nearby. The amount of frozen meat inside was enough for them to eat for over a decade—even if it eventually turned into so-called "zombie meat."
The Nen technique he had used earlier on the infirmary door at Fujimi Academy? He had practiced it bit by bit while reinforcing the warehouse. Food was 100% taken care of.
Last came clean water. The key word wasn't "water"—it was "clean."
Shuya still remembered a scene from manhua Corpse Brother that had stuck with him. In that story the zombie virus originated from an ancient corpse named Long You that woke up at the bottom of a river. The entire city's tap water became contaminated, and anyone who drank it turned. The part that really burned into his memory was the airport scene where a greedy merchant bottled tap water and sold it as mineral water. Hundreds of people drank it and became zombies right there.
Shuya didn't know how strong the virus was in this world or whether the water supply would get polluted later. But better safe than sorry. Even though there was a river not far from their house, he had stockpiled hundreds of cases of bottled drinking water anyway. Compared to meat, water was dirt cheap.
Safe house. Mountains of food. Clean water.
Shuya could basically shout the same line the Saint Lord did in Jackie Chan Adventures after collecting all twelve talismans:
"I lack nothing now!"
All he had to do was let Saeko Busujima's Reizan keep slicing zombies, and sooner or later the two of them would become walking stat monsters. If they ever jumped to the real Hunter x Hunter world, he was pretty sure one punch from either of them could turn the Chimera Ant King into paste—even though neither of them was an Enhancer.
That's the power of pure numerical superiority.
After dinner Shuya turned on the TV and flopped onto the sofa. Under Rei's envious gaze he summoned both Snowball Beasts, one in each hand, and started stroking their fluffy white fur.
Snowball Beast: (>ᆺ<)
As baby-level Digimon-like creatures, the Snowball Beasts were ridiculously cute. Any normal girl who saw them would instantly want to pet them. Tell a girl you have a Hachimi that can do backflips? She might roll her eyes. Tell her you have two adorable Snowball Beasts? She'd be at your door in five minutes.
Ultimate girlfriend magnet.
The only downside was that both beasts were a little tsundere. Aside from Shuya and Shizuka—their actual masters—they wouldn't let anyone else touch them. Not even Saeko, despite the contract. And even with Shizuka they only tolerated being held; they never initiated affection. The only person they acted clingy toward was Shuya.
Rei stared at him with big golden eyes full of longing.
She clearly wanted to pet them so badly.
Shuya pretended not to notice.
He could order the beasts to let her touch them if he wanted to make her happy. But he wouldn't. In his eyes the Snowball Beasts and Rei were equals. If he was being really honest, the two little guys who had been with him for over a year ranked higher in his heart than a girl he had only known for a month. Plus, these two had the potential to evolve into Angewomon-level angels someday. If they didn't want to be petted, he wasn't going to force them.
Rei kept staring at him with that pitiful, resentful gaze.
Shuya ignored her completely and turned his attention to the TV.
"The outbreak is spreading insanely fast!" he muttered.
In just half a day the news was already reporting violent incidents breaking out across multiple regions of Japan. No need to guess—it was the zombies.
Even though the original anime had been canceled midway and he didn't know what happened after the bad ending, Shuya was 100% certain this world's zombie crisis was only going to get worse. It would never be solved.
Why? Because this was a 2D world.
A group of ordinary high-school students could stroll through hordes of zombies like it was nothing, while entire countries with modern militaries sank like the Titanic the moment the virus hit.
High-schoolers saving the world. Classic 2D trope. Everyone who understood, understood.
Shuya didn't feel even a shred of pity for this doomed country.
Because the next one on stage was—
"Shuya-kun… I know we're not really close and I have no right to ask this, but… I still have to beg you."
Saya Takagi suddenly dropped to her knees on the floor, sitting seiza-style, and looked up at him with determined crystal-yellow eyes.
"If it's you, you can definitely do it easily, right?"
"Onegai… please take me home! I—I'll do anything!"
The pink-haired genius's voice trembled, but her back stayed straight.
She was clearly swallowing every last bit of her pride to make that offer.
Shuya's fingers paused mid-stroke on the Snowball Beasts.
The corner of his mouth slowly curved upward.
Looks like the real fun was about to start.