As Shizuka took the wheel and began driving, Saeko shifted closer to James, resting her head against his chest. Her positioning inadvertently pressed her butt against his crotch. Rei shot her a disapproving glance before averting her gaze. Saya, leant onto James's shoulder.
Jasmine was looking at the sights and the surroundings. He thought she was coping well in a new place. A place filled with zombies, he thought.
"We're going to need supplies," James remarked.
"There's a store coming up ahead. They usually have water, food cans, and sometimes even clothes," she replied, her tone practical.
"That sounds perfect," Lois chimed in. "It'll definitely help in our search for your parents," she added.
"Search for our parents?" Rei queried.
"We can't find them on an empty stomach," James replied with a wry smile. Just then, Shizuka's stomach rumbled loudly.
"Oops," Shizuka remarked sheepishly.
"Well, I hope the shop is close by," Jasmine commented.
As they continued their journey, the minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity. After another ten minutes of driving, they could see multiple plumes of smoke rising in the distance.
Abandoned cars littered the road. Shattered glass glinted in the harsh sunlight.
They approached a store. The building stood proudly, its freshly painted walls gleaming in the sunlight. A large sign above the entrance proclaimed the store's name in bold, vibrant letters. "This store looks normal," Saya remarked.
"It was a new store which just opened a few weeks ago," Shizuka replied as she pulled up in front of the store. She put the hand brake up and the vehicle into neutral.
Rei opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle. "We are here," James said.
Saeko smiled. "This was the most comfortable ride I ever had," Saeko replied.
"Well, we are here now, so you can get your butt up," Saya added as she left the car.
Saeko smiled as she got up slowly and left the vehicle. James followed. Rei had her M4W out. Saya had the Ray Gun. Jasmine had her Red Hawk while Lois had her M4W. "Lets go," James ordered.
The two women entered the store first, their movements synchronised. With a soft whoosh, the automatic doors parted, granting them entry into the lit interior. Lois swiftly scanned the right side, while Rei surveyed the left.
"Clear," Lois announced.
"Nothing here," Rei confirmed, her tone tinged with a hint of relief as they regrouped in the centre aisle.
As they ventured further into the store, the shelves, once stocked with goods, now stood barren and desolate. The aisles were strewn with debris and overturned displays. Saya, who had been trailing behind them, chimed in. "You're right, it's completely empty," she remarked.
James surveyed the scene with a furrowed brow, his eyes taking in the scattered remnants. "It looked fine from the outside, but it seems someone beat us to it," he concluded. "I don't think there are any zombies here," he added.
"But we should be careful," Saeko added. The other girls looked and nodded.
"Lets fan out and get the essentials," James stated.
Rei and Saya walked down the aisle, their eyes catching on a shelf stocked with brightly coloured packets of condoms. The packets came in various forms, bright reds, blues, and greens. Some had flashy logos and bold fonts boasting "Ultra-Thin," "Ribbed for Pleasure," and "Extra Lubricated," while others had playful images and catchy slogans like "For the Wild Nights" and "Ultimate Protection."
"I should have used them," Rei remarked with a wry smile.
Saya nodded, her expression serious yet tinged with amusement. "Yeah, it can be dangerous without them," she agreed.
Their eyes met, and they couldn't help but share a smile at the absurdity of their conversation. "This entire situation is absurd," Saya commented, shaking her head slightly.
"It is," Rei laughed. "Here we are, talking about condoms to be used with the same man, in a world overrun by zombies," she added.
As they approached the shelf, they surveyed the assortment of packets, their colours and varieties. "I wonder which one we would need for him," Saya mused aloud. She quickly added, "Not that I would need them."
"Yes, I wouldn't need them either," Rei echoed. They both looked red.
Lois approached them from behind. "Those condoms look small from James," Lois pointed out. She giggled.
"They do," Saya agreed as she nodded. She quickly snapped out of it.
"He is big," Rei agreed as well. They both looked at each other and blushed.
"No, we mean," they said at the same time. Lois laughed.
"I should grab one of these," Rei murmured, reaching over and picking up a box of "Morning After Pills."
Jasmine walked over, drawn by the sound of laughter. She saw Rei holding the box. "What are you picking up, Rei?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
"It's a box of Morning After Pills," Rei replied, her tone matter-of-fact.
"What are those?" Jasmine inquired.
"They're pills you take after making love to prevent pregnancy the next day," Rei explained.
"They don't work 100% of the time," Saya added, a note of caution in her voice.
"Why would you take them?" Jasmine asked. She had not heard of something like that before.
"Some women don't want to have children, or it's just not the right time," Lois chimed in.
"Why would you take them, Rei?" Jasmine pressed, her tone more insistent.
"I don't know," Rei replied softly, her eyes downcast, a hint of shame colouring her cheeks.
Seeing Rei's discomfort, Jasmine stepped closer and gently took her hand. "We will take care of all the children. We'll work together," she said reassuringly. Rei, feeling a mix of relief and confusion, let the box slip from her fingers.
"Jasmine, it's a woman's choice whether she wants a child or not," Lois interjected firmly. "You can't force anyone to make that decision." she added.
"But.." Jasmine began, her voice faltering.
"Different places have different cultures," Lois continued, her tone steady. "You may not agree, but we must respect each other's choices," she added.
Jasmine remained unconvinced, the idea of preventing a potential life felt wrong. It was a beautiful gift of nature. It was proof of their love. She looked at Rei and Saya, both of whom seemed conflicted. Taking a deep breath, she was about to say something when they heard the sound of motor bike engines.
"What is that?" Saya asked.
"We got trouble," Sakeo shouted as she dashed forward.
"Let's go," Lois said.
They all nodded and went to the front. Jasmine looked at the box on the ground.