When I was in elementary school, I had friends just like everyone else.
GROUNDS PUBLIC POOL
During summer break, we'd play at the public pool every day until sunset.
Thinking back on it, my life peaked back then.
When I got to middle school,
everyone began to notice I was naturally an introvert.
Before I knew it, I was on the outside looking in.
During my three years in high school, I didn't talk to anyone
and spent my time reading while listening to Rakugo stories.
In college, I tried to change myself.
I did an overseas internship.
I was a student volunteer.
And I even took a personal development seminar.
But to everyone else, I was just an empty, visionless, self-conscious idiot.
To be fair, I didn't know
- what I wanted to do with myself. - They'll upsize beef bowls for free!
What? For real?
We have to go! I could eat three bowls!
You're definitely going to barf them up during practice.
It's fine! I'll be fine this time!
Didn't you say something like that before?
- That was five servings of pasta. - He should have been like me.
- Empty, visionless, lacking ambition. - No way. That would be six bowls!
- But he... - Nope, I can do it today!
...cruised through life without a care in the world.
He's always enjoying himself!
And I just couldn't help but despise him.
What's the matter?
Come on out already.
Your dad is weeping over what a good son he has!
I have to save Dad!
But that means I need to become a zombie?
What am I supposed to do?
Don't you dare open that door, Akira.
If you put your mom in danger and make me watch my own kid die,
we're no longer family.
But if I don't do anything, you're going to...
Don't worry about me, Akira.
Either way, I don't have long left.
What?
Your father has got one of those bad growths on his body.
With everything that's happening, there are no doctors or medicine...
There's no way to treat it.
Sooner or later, it'll be too late for him.
But you don't know that for sure.
If we search for a doctor, we might find one right away.
And a vaccine to deal with the zombies could be developed tomorrow!
At this rate, I'll never have a chance to show you my gratitude.
Akira,
help humanity.
Do what you can for the world.
Don't lie for your own sake.
Show others empathy.
You can give back to us, even if we're gone.
To see you living strong from up in heaven...
There's nothing that would make me prouder.
Haven't you ever wanted to see Earth from the far reaches of space?
Take care of your mom.
Thanks for worrying about me.
But aren't you exhausted from your long journey?
I was a makeup artist for films.
You'd never expect to be attacked by real zombies.
It doesn't seem like he's coming out.
I guess some half-dead old guy isn't much of a hostage.
You damned fool!
I did it!
Finally!
I turned the person I hate the most into a zombie!
Look at you!
Now I'll never have to see that dumbass smile of yours again!
The fun times are over for you, and you can't do what you want anymore!
I win!
100 THINGS WE WANT TO DO BEFORE BECOMING ZOMBIES
What?
What is this?
What the hell is going on?
I'm sorry.
This is a risky plan, but I'd like to ask everyone for their help.
We'll create dark recesses for your eyes, hollow out your cheeks, make some bruises...
For the blood, we'll make it sticky by adding laundry detergent.
For discolored teeth, we'll use brown alcohol based ink.
Finally, we'll give you white contacts!
I totally look like a zombie!
22. ATTEMPT COSPLAY
It's all up to you, Akira!
I got this!
Are you all right, Dad?
Yeah. I can still move.
Damn it!
Higurashi, what did you want to do, anyway?
The same thing as you!
To do whatever I wanted! Anything I wanted!
Is it so wrong for me to have some fun for once?
If this is really what you wanted to do...
then why didn't you look like you were having any fun?
Of course I'm having fun!
This is exactly what I...
wanted to do?
Higurashi. Higurashi!
What is it?
What the hell have you done?
Damn it!
God damn it all!
Let's go, Akira.
The zombies are already coming this way.
What's on your real list?
What did you want to write down on your real bucket list, Higurashi?
The thing I really wanted to do...
Whoa! Watch out for the water!
That was a huge dive.
I lost.
All right!
You went overboard, Higurashi!
All I wanted to do...
was have fun at the public pool with my friends.
If that's all, then, you were a fool, Higurashi.
Nope, I can do it today! It's because I didn't have breakfast yet!
You're in the same Gen-Ed program as me, aren't you?
If you're hungry, want to come with us?
What's with that guy? He left without saying anything.
Let's get going already. They might run out!
You should have just told us...
what you wanted back then.
If the time comes when I really become a zombie,
let's go to the pool together, okay?
25. GIVE FREE HUGS
Let's go.
GROUNDS PUBLIC POOL
Hey!
Akiko and everyone! Are you all right?
Is that you, Kencho?
Akira! Why are you a zombie?
Something stinks!
Everyone! You're all right!
This is everyone from the village.
This is bad.
We need to get out of here now!
But how can we get past this fence?
Everyone! Out of the way please!
Bea?
I can't seem to get down, so I must crash this into the electrical fence!
Everyone! Get away from the fence and open up a path!
All healthy bodies, give the old folks a hand!
Leave it to us!
Here I go!
Now!
Everyone, run!
Just a little further until the suspension bridge!
No way.
The suspension bridge...
It was our only way out.
Damn it!
Isn't there anything we can do?
Hey, guys!
Take this!
You're...
Mr. Kumano!
I came to see what the zombies were up in arms about
only to see your bridge was out!
I built you a brand new one in a jiffy!
I told you I'd help you out if you ran into any trouble!
They're already here!
We'll hold up the bridge!
Get across now!
Hurry!
Everyone got across!
You ready for this, Kencho?
You bet, Akira!
This is super scary!
- Ouch! - Ouch!
He just wanted friends?
If that's really all Higurashi wanted, then he's a god damned fool.
Yeah.
But when I was working for that exploitative company,
I also lost sight of myself.
Every day was so painful and I didn't know what I was living for.
If I had wanted to make my own twisted list like that black notebook,
I could have.
Anyone could've become like Higurashi.
So despite everything, I can't hate him.
There we go.
Good job, Akira.
Without you, your mom and everyone in the village wouldn't be here.
I'm proud of you, son!
So, does this mean I was able to repay you just a little?
38. GIVE BACK TO MY PARENTS
Now! Seal it off!
Are those all the zombies?
We searched every inch of the village!
There's no mistaking!
You're planning on restarting here in the village?
Well, we only have one hometown.
Now that Mr. Kumano has moved here and is leading the rebuilding,
everyone is peppier than ever.
It seems like they got a second shot at life.
I expect it won't be long before the village is back to the way it was before.
It's all thanks to you.
You were our village doctor, remember?
Not really! I'm not even a doctor!
You cured us old whiners when we were ready to give in.
I can't thank you enough.
- Hold this. - Okay.
Steadier! Otherwise, we won't finish before dinner!
Okay!
Angie, you're like an entirely different person.
Crying won't repair this fence!
And besides, I don't want to keep crying over zombies.
I was able to move forward because a funny guy got me to smile.
Thank you, Mr. Stand-Up Comic!
34. BECOME A STAND-UP COMIC
He's sleeping well.
He wore himself ragged up until now...
Everyday he'd ask me,
"Have we heard from Akira yet?" "Is Akira doing all right?"
Well, in a world full of zombies, even a curmudgeon like Dad would...
No, not that!
He started asking the day after you left for Tokyo.
If...
I'm not saying that it will, but...
If anything happens to you, Dad, I promise that I'll always
keep Mom and the village safe!
I'll do it for you, Dad!
By the way, what does Dad have?
Hemorrhoids?
- That's it? Hemorrhoids? - That's right!
Hemorrhoids?
He hates hospitals, so he didn't get them treated.
So now, the bleeding is really bad.
The pain is so terrible that he can't stand.
It's awful.
So then why is he wheezing?
Lately, it's been considerably hot in the countryside, even at night.
It makes it difficult for old-timers to sleep.
But we can't ignore hemorrhoids!
If we leave them alone, they could lead to a life-threatening infection!
I see. It's just hemorrhoids.
Find your dream, Akira.
Biggest one you can.
A man without a dream is nothing more than a jellyfish.
If that's the case, I think it's time for me to leave the village.
What about the village?
Akira, what do you wish to do outside of the village?
If the zombies are caused by a virus like Shizuka says,
I'll travel the country and look for a way to stop the infection.
Then I'll convince Dad to get surgery for his hemorrhoids!
"Help humanity." "Do what you can for the world."
Those were Dad's last wishes after all!
- He's still alive though. - He's still alive though.
Saving the world.
That's wild.
It's a big dream.
I like it!
40. MAKE DAD GET SURGERY
What about all of you?
Is there anything you want to add?
In that case, I'm adding one.
I'm sure there are lots of people across Japan who are crying like Angie!
This time, I want to fulfill my childhood dream!
42. BECOME A DOCTOR
So far, I've only toured the zombie infested parts of Nippon.
43. RESTORE NIPPON'S NATURAL BEAUTY
Very nice!
Let's keep it up and write all the things we'd like to do across Japan!
I want to party on a cruise ship!
I want to swim with dolphins!
I want to live in a castle!
- How about a waterfall meditation? - I want to ride an ostrich!
I've always wanted to eat Yobuko squid served live!
I want to experience hatsumōde at Ise Shrine.
- Me too! - Nice one!
We can do that!
Got enough water?
Take some vegetables too!
It's going to get colder from here on.
Take whatever you need.
Thank you so much!
Akemi!
I'll always be waiting for you to come back, you hear?
Old Man Hiko, I'm not Akemi.
I'm Shizuka.
It's going to get lonely, isn't it?
I think it's okay to cry in front of him since you're saying goodbye.
Mr. Kencho!
When you come back, show me how you slurp udon with your butt!
Enough already!
We don't need this much simmered seaweed!
It's fine. Just take it.
It'll keep!
I don't like the idea of you going hungry somewhere.
Mom.
Akira!
Leave your mother to me!
Okay, everyone!
We're just going to go
and save the world!
6. TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY
So, what's the plan, Akira?
Stopping a virus means we'll need a vaccine, right?
Are we heading to an infectious disease research lab? A U.S. military base?
- We'll go north! - North?
Because all good travelers venture north!
Isn't it exciting?
Is it just me, or does it seem like we're just sightseeing?
Are we really searching for a solution?
I think it's all good!
Hey, it's coming into view!
The Seikan Tunnel!
All right! Next up is Hokkaido!
Sounds good to me!