HOTD! Busujima's Step Brother-Chapter 52 – Home Sweet Home

'No one tried to enter.'

Before leaving the house back then, I prepared something near the door to check whether someone sneaked in during my absence.

Although there were high walls separating my house from the outside world, I still worried someone could climb it somehow.

I unlocked the door and let the others in, welcoming them to the living room.

"Saeko, can you show them their room? We will stay here for a few days to prepare. Meanwhile, I will check our supplies and stuff. Can I ask you guys to check around the house while I do my job?" I said to Saeko.

Saeko nodded and smiled warmly.

"As you wish, brother."

I turned to the other two girls.

"Make yourself comfortable first, ladies."

"Ohh~ This house feels really cozy and homey," Miss Shizuka cooed as she looked around curiously like a kid entering an amusement park for the first time. "That carpet? It's similar to the one Rika has! And that television is big!"

"Hmph! Mine's better," Saya boasted while looking around with a disdainful frown, "Busujima family's wealth is nothing compared to Takagi's influence."

I just chuckled seeing those two contrasting figures. Then, I went downstairs and walked to the storage room. The door was locked by a few heavy-duty padlocks, making it extremely hard to break in without the proper tools or enough strength.

I put down my weapons and bags, unlocked the locks, and opened the thick door made of alloy, revealing a very spacious basement room. The place was dark so I immediately pressed on the light switch at the side of the doorway.

Turning on, it lit up a room filled with various boxes, shelves, wooden crates, etc., each filled with goods ranging from foods, water bottles, ammunition, camping supplies, clothing and daily necessities.

There was no weapon here, those were put in a different storage elsewhere.

'It looks fine. Now then, let's check everything quickly.'

With that, I began checking everything inside the containers carefully, counting them thoroughly one by one.

'Dried beans. Check.'

'Rice sacks. Check.'

'Canned foods and snacks. Check.'

And so forth and so forth. A couple of hours later I finished inspecting the things stored here. Everything seemed undamaged and intact, thankfully.

"The medical kits for sickness and wounds are enough. I actually have three rolls of ropes and 5 sets of radio. Walkie talkie, check. Fishing gears and hunting gears. All done."

However, there were a few exceptions which caught my attention when I double-checked everything once again. Did I miss something or forget? It happens sometimes. Humans tend to forget things.

'Alright, let's stock more using my shops. Grenades, bullets, flashbangs... Let's use around 400 points to stack on weapons.'

That way, Saeko and the others wouldn't be suspicious when I suddenly pulled out something. I would use Miss Rika's name if they asked me where I got them.

Usually it wouldn't work. But for an airheaded nurse and two people who knew nothing about Miss Rika? I guessed they would believe me.

"2 Grenades for 100 points. 5 Flashbangs for 125 points. With this we have a total of 4 grenades and 5 flashbangs for emergencies. That left me with 2,685 points. Wow, it decreases so fast when I actually use them to buy something."

But I wouldn't regret this. I would give them a flashbang each and I would hold 2. As for grenades? It's too dangerous for them to use. Maybe I will have Saeko hold onto 2 grenades, that would be good enough.

"Now, the second shelter should be located near here. If I am not wrong, it's in Shintoko Third Elementary School."

The school was also described in manga.

Based on the wiki, it was where Takashi's mother worked. The manga also ended when Rei's mother joined Takashi's group and headed there, so I knew nothing much about what happened inside.

Not that I would know what happened anymore with Resident Evil mixed into the world.

"It should be around 10 kilometers or so. Hmm... The roads aren't exactly safe."

Not that it's a problem. My goal of visiting that place was to meet JSDF.

While I already decided to go overseas with ships, it would be nice if the JSDF helped me somehow. For example, providing us a method of transportation to the port, maybe a helicopter?

Asking for a fighter jet might be asking too much. Still, it would be wonderful to use one.

"It's also worth searching the military bases."

Speaking of base, I haven't seen Alice and the dog from the anime everywhere. Did they die? I honestly had no idea.

Anyway, the JSDF should be in elementary school right now.

"That would be the best option I think."

Unfortunately, as usual, when I faced a choice, the system immediately appeared before me.

[Make your choice!]

1. Go to the Shintoko Third Elementary School and contact the JSDF there. (Reward: 100 Shop Points.)

2. Visit the police station nearby instead and raid it, then drive straight to Tokonosu International Airport. (Reward: 300 Shop Points.)

3. Don't worry about JSDF. Go straight to the military base and meet JSDF there. (Reward: 500 Shop Points.)

Huh?

These choices...

I narrowed my eyes. Something felt strange about it.

Was there a military base near Tokonosu city?

There shouldn't be one around. Maybe they set up camp after the outbreak happened? Was I wrong in assuming the zombie threat wasn't that bad?

"Something isn't right," I muttered.

My eyes landed on the second option, specifically on the 'raid' word.

This weirdness...

At this point, my mind kept remembering what happened in that abandoned lab. Tyrant attacked us from nowhere and I just barely escaped alive.

The problem was Tyrant's attire.

'He wore a police outfit...'

Maybe... It was just my mind playing me, but... I had suspicion that something might be hidden in the police station that this fucking unreliable system gave me a reward higher than the safest choice.

"Could it be?"

Of course, there should be zombies, but what if Umbrella placed their lab below the police station like that mall? The system seemed to play with words and intent rather than spelling it clearly, making the whole ordeal annoying to deal with.

"The reward is also increased by 200 points."

I should be more cautious when the reward was given at that amount. 500 points and above was the same as the choice to save Takashi and his friend, which then led me to fight Tyrant.

"But I need those points."

I sighed.

Honestly, 500 shop points could be used to purchase many things. But I couldn't make a decision alone.

"Let's talk with the girls first."

With that decided, I went upstairs to inform everyone that we had two destinations this time. After gathering all members in the living room, I began explaining what I told myself earlier, complete with the dangers that may lurk.

***

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