Visitor at sunset

　A knock at the door of his room roused Akira from his slumber.

"Hmm……? "

　The sound must have also woken Nao, who had been lying face down on the bed.
　With a small grunt, Nao lifted her body and gave a big yawn.

"……Hmmm, ah, I've slept a lot."

　Nao then looked around to check the time.
　After waking up from the nap, the room was enveloped in a fiery reddish hue.
　Nao asked with a smile on her face as she turned her dusk-tinted face toward Akira.


"What, you were sleeping too? "


　Most likely she was referring to Akira's expression, which was distinctly one of just having woken up from sleep.
　Akira responded with a small smile and a few words of his own.


"Yeah, well. Someone was sleeping comfortably beside me, you know. I let that sleepiness get to me."

　Nao laughed at the joking remark.


"If you can joke like that, you're in good shape now."
"Yeah, I'm fine now."

　It was then that a knock sounded again between them.


　――Knock, knock, knock.


　Akira and Nao exchanged a glance at the sound of the regular tapping.

"……Come in."

　It was Akira who invited them to enter the room.
　Did a nurse or a doctor come to check on him?
　As he was contemplating this, the door slowly opened and a man stepped into the room.

"……Excuse me."


　Saying this, a Self-Defense Force member wearing camouflage clothes stained with mud and dried blood stood in front of them.
　He was in his mid-thirties. His height was at least 180 centimeters, and his well-trained body was evident even through his clothes. He had a short-cropped round-shaved head and a stubble beard around his mouth as if he had no time to keep up appearances.
　The man bowed toward Akira and Nao and then opened his mouth in a slow tone.

"I apologize for interrupting. I heard that you had awakened, Ichijou-san, and I have come to greet you. …………Am I interrupting, by any chance? "

　That question was probably because Nao was beside Akira, who was lying on the bed.
　The man, who identified himself as Karube, said this with a frown as he looked apologetic.

"No, it's okay."

　Akira shook his head.
　Perhaps reassured by his words, Karube put a gentle smile on his lips and bowed his head in a small gesture.


"Thank you. Now please let me take a few minutes of your time. ……First of all, I would like to reiterate my greetings. My name is Karube Minoru and I am a senior self-defense officer in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Currently, we, the Self-Defense Forces, along with some of you, including Mr. Nanase over there, are protecting this hospital from the monsters."


　At Karube's words, Akira turned his attention to Nao.
　Nao noticed Akira's gaze and opened her mouth with a small nod.


"Karube-san and the people in his unit are the key to protecting this hospital now. That said, there are not many people in the Self-Defense Forces, so those who can move, including myself, fight with them from time to time."
"Normally, we, the Self-Defense Forces, should not be asking for help from the citizens…… We were unable to cope with the number of monsters that appeared on our own…… This has become a situation where we are asking for help from those within this hospital who are willing to fight the monsters and help us."


　After hearing Karube's explanation, which took over Nao's words, Akira somehow understood their connection.
　As soon as monsters appeared in this world, the power of level, status, and skill that emerged among people made the difference between the average person and the trained infinitely greater.
　Of course, there may be a difference in the way the two groups behave in battle, but in terms of strength, one could say that the two sides were about equal.

　After all, from that moment when the monster appeared, all mankind was, in a sense, aligned at once on a single starting line.

　Whether you were a Self-Defense officer, a soldier, or a civilian, the levels all started at one.
　As for status, it may reflect the results of training received up to that point, but such things could change dramatically with the acquisition of a single skill.
　In such a world, there was no way that one could ever declare that story of the Self-Defense Forces, along with volunteer civilians, confronting the monsters as an absolute impossibility.


"Nanase-san is an amazing person. From the early stages of the monster's arrival in our world, she worked with those who remained in the hospital to fight the monsters in order to protect this place. Since we joined forces, we are, of course, the ones on the front lines…… However, even today, Nanase-san still helps us when we have to fight with monsters."


　As Karube continued his words, he turned to Nao and bowed his head in a small gesture.
　Nao responded by shaking her head as she accepted that bow from Karube.


"No, that is…… I'm just doing what I can do to help."
"……Very appreciated still."

　Karube bowed his small head again at Nao's words.
　Karube then looked at Nao's face with a small smile on his mouth as his expression changed.

"In any case, this is great. I was very worried because Nanase-san looked anxious all the time while you were unconscious, Ichijou-san.  I am glad to see you waking up and looking a little better. After all, it's emotionally unbearable when your lover doesn't wake up."
"――――！ ? "

　Nao was the first to react to these words.
　She stood up, knocking over the pipe stool with a clank, and shouted loudly, interrupting Karube's words.

"W-Wait!?　What are you saying all of a sudden!? "
"What?…… Is it wrong?　When the monsters entered the hospital one time, did you not run in shouting Ichijou-san's name? So, I thought you were――――"
"AAAAAAAHHH!　Please don't talk like that in front of him!! "


　Nao shouted loudly, interrupting Karube's words again.


　Karube looked momentarily taken aback by the situation, and then, as if immediately sensing something, a smile appeared on his mouth,

"Oh, was this a secret? I am sorry."

　He murmured without a hint of offense.


"So what exactly is the relationship between you two? "
"We've been friends since junior high school, and now we're senpai and kouhai at the same company!!　Nothing more, nothing less! "

　Nao said, turning to Karube.
　Then she turned her attention to Akira and subsequently spoke up.

"You too, Ichijou, don't just stay quiet! "
"……Well, yes, I guess. I've known Nao-san for a long time, but it's nothing like that."

　――――Or rather, this person…… Ever since I remember, she's gotten the tendency to get upset when speaking of such topics.
　With this in mind, Akira nodded back at Nao's words.

　Nao turned her gaze to Karube as if to say, "Did you see that?" in response to Akira's words.


　Karube looked at Nao with such wondering expression on his face,

"Well, if you two say so."

　And he nodded back, saying so.


　Nao was about to say something more to Karube, but Akira gave a small cough once and switched the conversation.

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 ToC    

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