Chapter Text
Present | Summer
The countryside was awfully quiet, way more quiet than the cities.
It used to be tense, the silence. When you can’t hear anything, your fears will get a hold of you and make you overthink. It’s especially true in the cities, where it’s always more noisier one way or another. So silence always mean bad news.
This type of silence was different, though. It wasn’t entirely silent, but there was still no noise. It’s weird to explain it, but it’s a comforting type of silence. The silence where you don’t have to worry about anything coming up behind you. The silence where the air seems fresher and the wind cools you.
The only sound that could really be heard was the engine of a car that rolled down the highway, mainly clear of vehicles or debri. With nothing but grass and an occasional tree on either side, no person or animal in sight, it was relatively peaceful. But by then the noise of the engine turned into white noise.
“Tatsumi-san?”
The former priest had been looking out the window, lost in thought that the voice of Mayoi made him jump slightly. This was noticed by the purple-haired man, who began to sputter soft apologies at disrupting him.
“It’s okay, Mayoi-san. What is it?”
Tatsumi’s voice was soft, as to not disturb the sleeping teens at the back. A quick glance to check makes him see Hiiro sitting by the window, head pressed against the back of the seat and somehow sleeping through the rough bumps with only the seatbelt making him stay in place. Aira took the rest of the space, his body entirely laying on the seat with his head on Hiiro’s lap. Like Hiiro, Aira was sound asleep.
Mayoi seemed to be looking at them as well through the rear view mirror, a small smile on his face. He was driving tonight, as to not let Tatsumi nearly kill them every time he’s behind the wheel. “N-Nothing at all. You just look like you are thinking really hard… Eek! But if you don’t want to tell me about it that’s okay- I don’t deserve to know-”
He laughed gently, which interrupted Mayoi’s self deprecating.
“It is alright. I was simply thinking about how peaceful the night is… No one is around, not even the infected.”
Ah, right. With how peaceful things are, one could forget that their world isn’t the same as they remembered. Or at least, the same as what Mayoi and Tatsumi remembered.
Hiiro and Aira were quite young when the world took away their semblance of normalcy, right from their fingertips. It was hard for them, especially Aira to remember what it was like when all you had to worry about in life was whether or not you got a job or if you got married. Simple things like that, thrown out the window.
Mayoi only hummed, seeming a bit nervous speaking out his thoughts. Tatsumi asked what he was thinking.
“I just worry about what happened to the others. They gave us a location but, what if they’re not there? I won’t be able to see Chief for a long while… Oh I already miss watching him eat his meals whenever we go out for practice…” Tatsumi made no comment as Mayoi realized what he said and proceeded to apologize.
Their conversation turned still when they heard Hiiro mumbling in his sleep. Fortunately, he remained in dreamland. Mayoi proceeded to apologize again but in a softer volume.
“I’m sure God will not leave us astray. We should be fortunate that we have a destination at the very least, otherwise we would be running around like headless chickens.” Though a quick glance towards the rear view mirror and the teens made him think otherwise.
Mayoi noticed the glance, and a small sigh left him. “They don’t deserve to have to grow up like this…”
“They don’t. But we gotta do what we can for them.” Their attention turns to the front, and Tatsumi notices a sign coming up. He didn’t get a quick read, but a small hotel was eventually advertised. He remembered seeing a town that would come up along the highway in the maps.
Mayoi seemed to get what he was thinking as the two were silent, eyes peeled until they caught sight of civilization.
It was a small town, relatively. But it should be enough for them to rest and get their bearings.
The drive had slowed as Mayoi drove into town, finding a spot to park. Meanwhile, Tatsumi turned to gently shake Aira and subsequently Hiiro.
Hiiro was quick to wake up, though Aira needs more time. “Aira-san, wake up.” Tatsumi gently coaxed. Aira groaned, but eventually he did lift himself up from Hiiro’s lap. He doesn’t seem to realize he had slept there.
“Are we there yet?” The youngest of the group tiredly asked. Thankfully he seems to be waking up properly as Mayoi found a spot, snug between two houses. The entire time, no infected had come out. Which was unsurprising, most of the infected came from the cities, after all.
But still, they didn’t keep their guard down as one by one they exited the vehicle. Hiiro was ready with a crowbar lifted, looking out for everyone as Tatsumi and Mayoi unpacked their bags from the back. Their bags now on their backs, Mayoi turned the ignition off, and kept the keys.
Tatsumi lead the way as they slipped into one of the open houses. It was small, but enough for them for tonight. In the morning, they’ll loot the town if there are still anything left worth looting.
“Mayo-san, Tattsun-san, why don’t you two rest? You were awake the entire time, right?” Aira asked after they have searched the house clean. “It’ll be morning soon so…”
“Ahh… Aira-san worried about someone as useless as me… oh how cute~”
Aira was likely too tired to point out Mayoi’s weird habit again, though there was no need since Mayoi once again started apologizing for being born and being forced to be with them. In the midst of his rant, Hiiro smiled at Aira and at Tatsumi.
“Please rest! Aira and I will keep watch while you and Mayoi-san sleep in the room. It is only fair since we slept through the entire ride.”
Though Tatsumi wasn’t the one driving (more so he was banned), he did feel tired. He was sure Mayoi was more tired, though. A little tap on the other senior’s shoulder caused him to squeak and apologize once more.
“Mayoi, why don’t we rest in the bedroom? It’s been awhile since we last slept on a mattress.” Tatsumi suggested. Mayoi sputtered something out, though Tatsumi kindly dragged him into the room, wishing Aira and Hiiro a goodnight and to call them if anything happened.
There was only one bed, but it was not the first time any of them had to share a bed. Tatsumi still fondly remembered all of them sleeping on a single bed to handle the harsh winters.
“A-Ah! Tatsumi-san I can sleep on the floor!! I can’t ruin your beauty sleep by being on the same bed as you- I’m sorry for being born!!”
Tatsumi simply pulled Mayoi along, gently dropping their bags by the bed. The window was already blocked by a seemingly previous survivor, so they didn’t have to worry about anything breaking in. He trusts Aira and Hiiro to protect each other outside.
“Come on, you need your rest, Mayoi-san.” Though Mayoi protested, he made no struggle against Tatsumi’s grip as the two got on the bed together. It felt nice to be on a mattress again, though they knew it would be temporary. The bed had certainly seen better days, but it was enough.
As Tatsumi laid down, Mayoi settled beside him, curled a little on himself as if afraid to touch Tatsumi. Like their sleeping arrangements, this wasn’t the first time.
Tatsumi silently lifted an arm up, of which Mayoi widened his eyes.
“I- I can’t-” “It’s okay, I don’t mind.”
A beat of silence passed, before Mayoi shuffled himself closer to Tatsumi. He rested his head against his chest, and Tatsumu could tell Mayoi was relaxing a tiny bit more now. This was far from the first time, and Tatsumi was happy to see Mayoi becoming more comfortable around him now.
The three hour drive took most of Mayoi’s energy, and without his better judgment he had fallen asleep. His breathing was soft, nearly silent. Tatsumi continued to hold him as he gazed up at the ceiling. If he strained his ears, he could hear Aira and Hiiro’s muffled voices, the former letting out a brief squeak of laughter before the two shushed, like two boys trying to keep quiet.
He smiled, allowing himself to rest.