Chapter 349: Oncoming Car
The food court of the shopping mall. Meals were being distributed to the many people who had taken refuge.
Yuma also sat at a table, savoring the food that was served.
Bagels and pork & beans, clam chowder, and fried chicken. It was so substantial that it was hard to believe it was being served at a shelter, and Yuma ate until he was full.
“Ah, I’m stuffed,”
Yuma rubbed his stomach and burped. Anzai-san, who was sitting next to him, gave a wry smile.
“Mitaka-kun, you really eat a lot, don’t you? At this rate, your injuries will heal quickly.”
“I suppose so. Still, I didn’t expect such a lavish meal to be served.”
Anzai-san nodded thoughtfully, saying, “I know, right?”
“This place is relatively blessed. Agriculture and livestock farming are still alive, so we don’t have any food shortages, and the damage from Monsters is relatively small. Other regions are apparently much worse…”
Yuma didn’t know what to say to Anzai-san, who was looking down with a gloomy expression.
At that moment, Luna came running from the entrance of the food court. ‘What is it?’ Yuma wondered, turning his face, and Luna approached with a beaming smile.
Taking out the smartphone she had borrowed from Anzai-san, she tapped the translation app.
“Yuma, look, look! I got this!”
“Eh?”
Looking closely, Luna was holding a cane in her right hand. It was a T-shaped cane, the kind that old people use when walking.
“Is this for me?”
“Yeah, I asked my dad to look for it.”
“I see…”
Yuma stood up with a “heave-ho” and tried supporting himself with the T-shaped cane he received from Luna. Even with Recovery Magic, the speed at which his wounds healed was slow.
His legs also wouldn’t move freely, so this might be just right.
It felt a little old-mannish, which he didn’t like…
“Thanks, Luna. This is a great help.”
Yuma placed his hand on Luna’s head and ruffled it.
Luna smiled innocently and followed after Yuma, who was practicing walking with the cane. Anzai-san watched the scene with a warm smile.
◇◇◇
Yuma, Anzai-san, and Luna sat down on a bench inside the facility.
There was also a drink bar here, and Yuma had brought a cola, Anzai-san a ginger ale, and Luna an orange juice.
While drinking their beverages, Yuma discussed his plans with Anzai-san.
“I still think I should go to the Black Dungeon. I got separated from my companions, but since the destination is the same, I might be able to meet up with them if I go.”
“But…”
Anzai-san had a dark expression. Luna, who was next to her, also looked uneasy.
“Of course, I know that moving is dangerous. We might encounter Monsters, or we might run into other Seekers. But I still have to go.”
“I understand how you feel, but…”
“Anzai-san, could you arrange a car? I’ll try to go to Canberra.”
“Yuma-kun, can you drive a car?”
“No, I don’t have a license, but… well, I thought I could manage somehow.”
“Eh?”
Anzai-san looked dumbfounded.
“That’s impossible. You don’t even know the geography of Australia, do you? And we can’t even use car navigation systems right now. What are you planning to do?”
“Well, that’s…”
Seeing Yuma at a loss for words, Anzai-san said, “Honestly,” and sighed. Then, she looked down at the ginger ale she was holding and pondered something.
After a while, she looked up and turned her gaze to Yuma.
“Okay. I’ll talk to Wilson-san and see if we can arrange a car somehow. But! I’ll be the one driving.”
“Eh!? No, but…”
“Your body isn’t moving well, you can’t drive, and you don’t know the way to Canberra. There’s no way I can let someone like that go alone.”
“It’s dangerous, Anzai-san. Monsters might appear, and terrorist Seekers might attack. You might even die.”
Yuma tried to persuade her somehow, but Anzai-san’s mind wouldn’t change.
“Anyway! If you can’t accept those conditions, I can’t arrange a car. Give up on going to Canberra.”
Anzai-san turned her head away with a huff and took a sip of her ginger ale.
Yuma thought that it would be no use arguing any further, and reluctantly decided to accept Anzai-san’s proposal.
“…Okay. Then please take me near Canberra. I’ll go alone from there.”
“Okay, I’ll cooperate with that. Leave the car arrangements to me.”
Anzai-san smiled brightly, her expression cheerful. It was an unexpected turn of events for Yuma, but a glimmer of light had appeared in his desperate situation.
If he could reunite with Rui and Akito, he was sure he could break through the current situation.
Yuma breathed a sigh of relief and poured the cola he was holding down his throat.
After that, Anzai-san immediately told Wilson and Olivia about this. The two were reluctant to let Yuma go to Canberra, but in the end, they were worn down by Anzai-san’s persuasion.
Anzai-san and Yuma were to depart by car the next day.
◇◇◇
“Well then, I’m off.”
Anzai-san, who was in a white minivan, opened the driver’s side window and smiled at Wilson and the others who had come to see her off.
Wilson still had an uneasy expression, but he called out brightly, “Be careful.”
Olivia, who was next to him, also said with concern, “Turn back immediately if you think it’s dangerous.”
Anzai-san nodded and was about to close the window, but Luna, who had been clinging to Olivia’s leg, came trotting over.
“Hina! Be sure to come back! Yuma too!”
Anzai-san and Yuma, who was sitting in the passenger seat, looked at Luna clinging to the door.
“Of course, don’t worry.”
“Yeah, I’ll definitely come back too.”
Hearing their words, Luna let go of the door and took two steps back. Anzai-san turned the key to start the engine and put the gear lever into drive.
When she stepped on the accelerator, the car slowly started moving.
While checking Luna waving in the rearview mirror, Anzai-san and Yuma headed for Canberra, where the Black Dungeon was located.
“I’m really grateful. If I hadn’t met Anzai-san and the others, I would have been wandering around the city, unable to do anything.”
“If that’s the case, you should thank Luna. She’s the one who found you.”
“That’s right. By the way, Anzai-san, is your name Hina?”
Anzai-san smiled shyly and said, “Yeah.”
“It doesn’t suit me, does it? It was fine when I was a kid, but… Mitaka-kun’s name was Yuma, right? I remembered it because Luna always called you that.”
“That’s right. Mitaka Yuma, I’m usually called Yuma.”
“Then, can I call you Yuma-kun too? It’s easier to say.”
“Yes, that’s fine with me.”
While talking about such things and proceeding along the wide road, three cars came into view in the opposite lane.
One was a black SUV, and the two cars behind it were black vans. At the moment they passed each other, the driver on the other side glanced at them, but went on without paying attention.
Yuma saw off the three cars and turned his gaze to Anzai-san.
“That car just now…”
Before Yuma could finish speaking, Anzai-san made a sharp turn of the steering wheel. The car drifted, raising smoke, and faced the opposite direction.
“W-What’s wrong!?”
Surprised, Yuma looked at the driver’s seat. Then, Anzai-san frowned and looked ahead with a serious expression. Something was clearly wrong.
“That car…”
“Do you know them?”
When Yuma asked, Anzai-san bit her lip tightly.
“The car that came from the direction of Canberra… In Australia right now, the only people who can move around freely are those guys!”
“Could it be…”
“The Seeker terrorist organization, Waraganda! They’re heading to Brisbane!!”
Anzai-san stepped on the accelerator and made the car start suddenly. Yuma was confused and could only say “Eh!?” in bewilderment.
The car increased its speed and chased after the Seeker’s car.