The group gathered in the living room of Saya's house. Rei, Saya, Jasmine, Lois, Saeko, Shizuka, and James all found seats around the room, their expressions a mix of apprehension and determination. Saya closed the door and walked towards the window.
"Alright, everyone," Saya began, her voice steady and authoritative. "We need to talk about joining whether we should join a larger group or not," she said.
"Strength in numbers is a sound strategy, especially in times like these," Shizuka added.
Saeko nodded in agreement. "She's right. With more people, we can better defend ourselves and have more resources," she agreed.
Rei, sitting beside James, looked skeptical. She stayed quiet. Saya added, "But don't most of them see us as kids? Can we really trust them to have our backs?" She looked annoyed.
Lois, who had also been quiet until now, leaned forward. "Most of our guns are hidden, and they don't even know about them," she said, her tone serious.
James smiled at Lois. She is a smart woman. He looked to see the only gun they had out was the Ray Gun which looked like a toy anyway and Jasmine`s pistol. Even the M4Ws were hidden. This worked out nicely for them, James had no intention of sharing these weapons to anyone besides his girls.
Saya's eyes met Lois's. "That was a good decision to keep that under wraps," she acknowledged.
"Then should we join them?" Rei asked.
Lois shook her head. "No, our harem rules say only females," she stated. Rei and Saya looked at the response and were surprised. Shizuka smiled hearing that, harem, and James she thought. Saeko stayed neutral.
Jasmine, sitting quietly, bit her lip. "I agree with Lois," she said softly. "But I feel guilty about leaving them behind. What if they need our help?" she asked. James thought Jasmine, her nature of a princess and leader is adorable.
Saeko looked at James, her eyes filled with determination. "I'll follow Danna-sama's decision. He's proven to be a strong leader," she stated.
Shizuka smiled warmly. "I want to be with James too," she said, her affection and frustration clear in her voice. "You all have been with him," Shizuka said.
Rei and Saya blushed. Jasmine looked down and smiled. Saeko went red. Lois teased, "You gotta stay off the alcohol."
"I only drank a little," Shizuka pouted. The girls giggled.
James smiled. "You are beautiful and smart Shizuka, I would be honoured to be with you," James said. Shizuka blushed. She jumped from her seat and jumped into James`s lap.
"I want to sit here," Shizuka said. Rei moved a bit to give her space.
"Sure," James replied, patting her head.
Saya sighed, thinking James was back to himself. He should have just stayed lost. Her heart felt pain thinking that. She thought no, I love this person.
Rei thought he was looking at Yuriko and now Shizuka. Does he like older women, she thought. No, Jasmine, Saeko and Saya are her age. He likes all women.
"What about you, Saya? You've always been the strategic thinker," James asked Saya.
Saya took a deep breath. "Like Saeko said, being in a larger group means more resources and potential allies," she replied. She paused, "But I know you, James. You'll never follow someone else's lead. You value our independence too much."
"You seem to know James well in one day," Jasmine joked.
"One night," Lois teased.
"Danna-sama is that type of person," Saeko agreed.
James smiled, appreciating her insight. "You all know me too well," he said, his voice filled with pride. "We're not joining the larger group," he stated. "Harem rules," he added. He thought Yuriko would be joining them instead. James was about to say when they heard commotion coming from outside. Their conversation halted abruptly as they all turned towards the window. Shizuka pouted, she did not want to leave his lap.
"What's going on?" Jasmine asked, moving quickly to get a better view. Shizuka held his hand. Rei held the other hand.
The group gathered at the window, their eyes widening at the sight. Saya's father, Soichiro Takagi, stood in front of a gathered crowd. He was addressing them with a commanding presence, his voice carrying over the murmurs of the onlookers.
"This man," Soichiro began, pointing to a restrained individual in a cage beside him, "Is Doi Testsutaro." "A retainer of the Takagi family," he explained. He continued, "Today, when he was rescuing people, he was bitten and turned into a zombie."
The restrained man, now a zombie, growled and snapped its jaws, straining in the cage that held it. The crowd watched in horrified fascination. "I will do my job as a man of the Takagi to lay him to rest," he stated as Soichiro released the zombie.
With swift movement,he drew his sword and, in a single, fluid motion, decapitated the creature. The zombie's head went flying into the fountain, and its body collapsed.
"This is our new reality, we need to get stronger together and adapt," Soichiro said. "Or we will die," he stated.
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, and the group inside the house exchanged shocked glances. Shizuka covered her mouth to see the brutality. She gripped James`s shirt.
"He killed him in front of everyone," Rei whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief as she held James`s hand.
"He is a skilled sword user," Saeko acknowledged.
"It's a demonstration," Saya said quietly, her eyes fixed on her father. "He's showing them the reality of our situation," she added.
"It seems cruel," Jasmine said.
"Cruel or harsh, it is the truth of this world," Lois added.
James nodded, his expression grim. "He's making sure everyone understands the stakes. Like Lois said, it is brutal, but it's necessary," he agreed.
As the crowd began to disperse, the group inside the house turned back to each other, the weight of their decision even more apparent now.
Saya took a deep breath. "We need to stay strong and vigilant. This world is unforgiving, and we have to be ready for anything," she said.
Jasmine, Rei and Shizuka nodded. Lois smiled. He thought James chose wisely.
James placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He thought Saya was much more mature now. "We will be. Together, we'll face whatever comes our way," he stated. "Also harem rules," he added.
Saya pouted and lightly punched his chest. "Idiot," she whispered.