On the city streets, Son Goku charged ahead, a solitary and conspicuous figure. The girls followed closely in the Humvee, its engine snarling and horn blaring—they were attracting as much attention as possible. While other survivors avoided the undead, this group sought to draw them out.
Saeko, Rei, Yuriko, and Nanarika were paired at the vehicle's windows, weapons in hand, picking off any stray zombies that wandered too close.
The cacophony of gunfire and the blaring horn acted like a siren, pulling the shambling figures from every side street and alleyway. Before long, the surrounding avenues and narrow lanes were thick with their shuffling masses.
From inside the Humvee, the girls watched the horde converge, cold sweat beading on their brows. Even with their absolute faith in Son Goku, the sight of hundreds—no, thousands—of zombies pressing in from all sides was enough to make anyone's scalp crawl.
"G-Goku… is that enough yet?" cried out Kurumi, a nervous thrill in her voice as she shouted to the figure still fighting ahead. "If you don't come back, we're going to become a snack for these things!" This was insane, utterly reckless, and thrilling. In this ruined world, perhaps only they would dare something so bold.
Son Goku glanced back, then leaped gracefully to land atop the Humvee's roof. A fierce grin spread across his face. "Ladies, the main event starts now!" He raised his hands, and orbs of crackling energy materialized in his palms. With casual flicks of his wrists, he hurled them into the densest parts of the crowd.
BOOM!—KABOOM!—CRACK!
A chain of deafening explosions rocked the street, gouging massive craters in the asphalt. Under the relentless barrage, countless zombies were torn apart, limbs and viscera scattering through the air. In moments, the area was drenched in a coppery, suffocating stench.
The girls stared, stunned into silence by the sheer devastation. Kurumi instinctively pulled Alice close, shielding the young girl's eyes from the brutal spectacle.
"I… I suddenly feel sorry for them," Shizuka whispered, her voice weak. The others could only nod numbly in agreement.
"These zombies were simply unlucky to cross paths with Goku," Saeko said, her own expression one of intense excitement. The bloody scene before her stirred a deep, latent hunger for combat. If Son Goku hadn't explicitly ordered them to stay in the vehicle for safety, she would have already joined the fray.
Within minutes, the thousands of zombies were reduced to scattered remains and gore, painting the ground in dark hues. The concrete around them was pockmarked and shattered, resembling a battlefield after an artillery strike.
"Shizuka-sensei, let's go, right now! I'm going to be sick!" Kurumi urged, her face pale. Even for those growing accustomed to violence, this was too much.
"R-right!" Shizuka stuttered, throwing the Humvee into gear and speeding away from the carnage.
---
The sky darkened abruptly, and soon a heavy, cleansing rain began to fall.
"Oh my, it's really coming down!" Shizuka said, holding a hand out the window. "We should find shelter."
"Over there," Saeko suggested, pointing to a two-story Western-style house with a walled garden just ahead.
After parking the Humvee inside the gate, Saeko was the first out, swiftly dispatching three zombies lingering in the garden. She moved to the front door, then looked back at Son Goku for confirmation.
He stepped out of the vehicle and waved her on. "Go ahead. I know you've been itching for a real fight. I won't steal your fun this time."
A flash of joy crossed Saeko's features. She pushed the door open and slipped inside, katana at the ready.
Once the house was cleared, the group finally allowed themselves to relax. Some headed for showers, others to the kitchen to prepare a meal. Son Goku took a final sweep of the immediate neighborhood to ensure no threats remained before returning to the house.
As he opened the front door, he was met by Kurumi stepping from the bathroom, clad in a simple but elegant yukata that hinted at her curves.
"Well, hello there," Son Goku said, his eyes lighting up with appreciation. "That looks beautiful on you. I like it."
Kurumi's face flushed a deep crimson. "Eh? A-ah… th-this is…" The compliment from the man she admired left her flustered, her heart pounding. She fumbled for words, gaze dropping to the floor, too shy to meet his eyes.
Son Goku had only meant it as playful teasing, a light-hearted remark to the mature and often confident woman.
Her unexpectedly vulnerable reaction spoke volumes. If he didn't understand what such shyness implied, he might as well find a block of tofu and knock himself out with it.
A soft chuckle escaped him as he moved to embrace her. Kurumi took a half-step back, evading his arms, but then cast a shy, meaningful glance his way before turning to walk toward the staircase. Her intention was clear. Son Goku's grin widened, and he followed her up to a bedroom, closing the door behind them.
"Goku, I…" Saya, who had been approaching with a cheerful expression, stopped short. Watching him follow Kurumi without even noticing her, her face clouded with jealousy and hurt. "That… that lecherous… idiot…"
Yuriko appeared at her daughter's side and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Goku is a rare man, Saya. A bit passionate, perhaps… But great heroes throughout history were often romantic.
A man like him cannot be contained by just one woman. You need to think about what you truly want."
Saya's blush deepened. "M-Mom! What are you even talking about? I have no idea!" From the room above, the soft sounds of intimacy had already begun to drift down. Saya's face burned hotter. "I could never like… such a skirt-chasing… pervert!" With that, she turned and hurried away.
Yuriko shook her head with a fond, helpless sigh. The sounds from above continued, and she felt her own cheeks grow warm. An unbidden memory of Son Goku's formidable physique flashed in her mind, deepening her blush.
She gave her head a slight shake to dispel the wayward thoughts and quietly made her way to the living room.