LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 25: Leaving With Fu Hua, Let's Go!
…[She lay there…]
Shu lowered his eyes, standing still and unmoved.
He didn't know how many times he had seen this scene, and he knew by heart what was about to happen.
Running… endless running, a platform he could never reach…
And again and again he would be crushed.
It always seemed to be like this… It seemed nothing would ever change…
No, there was that one time…
Shu groggily opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was an orange-accented white jacket that had been placed over him.
Shu looked up and found a curled-up Kiana in the middle of the indented mattress. She had another gray jacket over her. Shu looked to the other side, and sure enough, Fu Hua didn't have a jacket.
Both were still sleeping. Shu gently placed Kiana's jacket over Fu Hua. Then, he stood at the door, listened carefully to the noises outside. After a moment, he carefully opened the door.
The sun had just begun to peek from the horizon. Shu stood at the door and took a long breath before silently moving his body.
Today's task was heavy. Fu Hua's leg injury couldn't be delayed. They needed to find medicine quickly and treat it and find a safe and hidden place to avoid the Honkai Beasts and the Dead-ites.
They also had to keep an eye out for any leads of Mei and the others. He didn't know when they would be able to settle down again.
Shu was about to go back into the room when he saw Kiana and Fu Hua exchanging jackets, so he greeted them.
"Kiana, get ready, we're leaving now. First, we'll find the infirmary, you lead the way." Shu squatted down in the corner where the equipment was stored, and started searching for something.
"Maybe we should start our journey first. There are a few hotels outside the school. If we leave now, we can be there by evening…" Fu Hua said as she put on her own jacket.
"Is there a hospital or a small clinic on the way? Even a dental clinic?" Shu didn't turn around, asking that question.
Fu Hua didn't answer. Kiana, after a moment of thought, shook her head. "I don't think so. Last time my tooth hurt, I looked for a long time but couldn't find a dental clinic."
Shu nodded, then suddenly turned his head, "You?! You get toothaches?!"
"I don't have cavities…" Kiana turned away, embarrassed, "It's just that the fruit Mei brought back was too good, and I accidentally ate too much."
"Mei didn't stop you?"
Kiana twisted her face, her hands behind her back, her face full of guilt.
Shu looked at Kiana and sighed.
Snacking, huh... such a Kiana reason.
"Fu Hua, can you still walk?" Shu found what he was looking for, stood up, and asked.
Fu Hua hesitated, but ultimately shook her head. "I can walk short distances, but long distances… I'm afraid I can't keep up with you."
Fu Hua sighed and looked up before freezing. "Wait, Shu, what are you doing?"
Shu turned around and tightened his hands on the thick rope that he had pulled out from the equipment corner. "What do you think?"
"Kiana, do you remember how you tied me?" Shu threw one end of the rope to Kiana, who was staring at him in shock, then walked straight towards Fu Hua.
"This…" Kiana caught the rope, but not his idea. "Shu… this is not a good idea…"
"Then you do it?" Shu ignored Fu Hua's resentful gaze. He put the rope around Fu Hua's waist, then turned his back towards her. He squatted down. "Stop spacing out and help me."
"Oh!" Kiana suddenly understood. She smiled sheepishly and ran over to them. She helped Fu Hua, who had given up on resisting, onto Shu's back and tightly secured her with the rope.
Shu took a breath and effortlessly stood up with Fu Hua on his back.
"As expected of you." Shu tried to loosen his hands, but the ropes were still tight and showed no sign of falling off. "And it's not uncomfortable…"
"Hehe." Kiana smiled proudly and looked at Fu Hua on Shu's back. "Class monitor, how do you feel? Is it uncomfortable?"
Fu Hua raised a hand to cover her face, silently nodding.
Shu tried a small jump, finding that he was still free and that Fu Hua was not heavy. Before he started to run, Shu felt that his movements wouldn't be restricted much.
"Let's go, Kiana. Our safety depends on you!" Shu grabbed a stick from the corner and looked at Kiana seriously.
Kiana straightened her back. "Okay! I will complete the mission!! If we encounter danger, then I will…"
Shu was shocked and quickly said, "Stop! Don't jinx it!"
Kiana paused and then scratched her head, smiling awkwardly.
Shu, carrying Fu Hua, left the room and began to search for medicine. On the way, the three didn't talk much, only silently running towards their destination.
Shu looked around. Many buildings had been destroyed, reduced to rubble and burying who knew how many things.
That's how I was buried... I wonder how Mei and Bronya are doing? Did they successfully escape the Honkai Beast, or were they saved by someone else?
Or maybe…
As time passed, Shu's mood grew heavier, and the weight on his back grew heavier as well.
"Shu, maybe we should rest?" Fu Hua said quietly, she could clearly feel how heavy Shu's steps had become. She couldn't help but say, "Or, let me down, and I can walk myself..."
"It's okay, you're not heavy." Shu gritted his teeth and turned his head, putting on a forced smile.
Fu Hua couldn't help but wonder if she was heavy. She shook her head, "Then, how about letting Kiana take over? She is very strong too."
"I can't beat her." Shu looked at Kiana in front and said seriously, "If the Dead-ites or zombies chase us, I can only leave you and run, but Kiana can protect the two of us. She is much stronger than me."
Fu Hua was speechless, and she tried her best not to move her body to reduce Shu's burden.
"We're here!" Finally, when the sun had risen high into the sky, Kiana shouted.
Shu was elated. He took a deep breath and ran towards Kiana. But when he saw where she was pointing, his expression turned grim.
The infirmary was a ruin.