Chapter 7: MAKI, THE PERFECT ZOMBIE
ONCE upon a time, when world peace was disturbed due to a war broke out, one scientist has managed to go beyond everyone has ever imagined. He was able to revive his daughter from the dead. It was a very successful experiment that even though she has been dead for many hours, there were no internal damages that surfaced or any other complication.
The name of that successful experiment was
Maki-0048.She was then tagged as the perfect zombie. She is beautiful, her skin is like porcelain, and her hair is so silky. At first glance, you would think of her as a doll or someone who has come out of the graphics world. Her beauty is unmatched thus a lot of people adore her despite her peculiarity.
It’s not just her physical trait that is outstanding. She is also good in adapting in terms of emotions. During the time when war was really out of hand, her father left her with the promise that he would come back. It was expected for a child to feel lonely and cry but she was different. She sent her father off with a smile on her face saying that she will wait for him so he should surely come back.
Since the great scientist is an important figure in the army, he didn’t return home for many months. In the presence of other people, Maki didn’t show any sign of being worried. She would always smile saying that the daughter of a great scientist should not be lonely because her father is basically doing his job.
But, hidden with that smile was a very scared child that whenever she hears negative news about the war, she would go to her room and secretly cry.
Her tears are the proof that she is a perfect experiment. She has emotions just like of a real human but she chose not to accept being human completely. She wanted to hide her emotions because she knows it would just be a burden to the people around her.
Little did everyone now that this experiment has surpassed the word perfect. She developed super powers as she play with herself along the way. Her most favorite among her powers is that she could change a person with just one kiss.
“Maki-chan, are you there?”
Maki, who was at her second grade in elementary school, heard a voice coming from outside her window. It was already around 8 o’ clock in the evening and she was just playing at her room alone. She wiped her tears away before heading towards the huge window. She already knows who it was.
“Prince of the Summer Heat what can I do—“ Maki was not able to finish her sentence when she saw her playmate’s swollen eyes. He is trying to hide it but it won’t escape the zombie’s sharp eyes. “What is it this time? Is it about your brother?”
The shy Natsu looked up to her and nodded. Natsu looked like a pitiful, lost puppy back then. Maki was his refuge everytime he feels sad.
“I saw my brother in school today. I was about to go near him but he went away as if he didn’t notice me. It still hurts me, Maki-chan.” Natsu told her in a cracked voice.
Maki released a sigh. “Are you still bothered by the King of Northern Lights being like that? It has been a long time since the two of you separated!”
“I can’t help it. I can’t treat my brother just like a nobody!” Natsu sobbed. “It hurts everytime he ignores me. I want to tell everyone that he is my brother but my father will have me killed if I do that.”
Maki placed her hands on her waist. “Your father is the evil boss that needs to be defeated! But with our level now, we can’t defeat him! You have to comply with his wishes for the mean time!”
Natsu dropped his head. “That’s what I always do… I’m getting tired of it. Now he has already signed me to an entertainment company. I will receive training 4 days a week.”
“You just have to smile, you know? Just smile and everything will be fine!” Maki confidently said.
“Are you telling me to just be like you?” Natsu asked with a pout.
“Sou! I have mastered the magnificent art of smiling even in the hardest situation and it has never failed me! I believe the King of the Northern Lights would love to see you smile. You don’t know, maybe if he sees you are doing a good job, he may come to you and befriend you! You guys can start over again!”
“Y-You think so?” The boy could see a little hope in those words of Maki.
“Believe me! Smiling is the best thing that you can do! Have some confidence in yourself! You are a prince! You should learn to act like one!”
“I’m a prince so I should act like one?” Natsu clenched his fists. He raised his head and looked up to Maki with determined eyes. “Then Maki-chan,
please kiss me!”
“Sou! I should kiss you—“ Blood went up Maki’s face after realizing what the request really was. “Wait, what!?”
“You said that if you kiss someone, that someone will change into a better person, right? To a better human being! I want to change! Please help me!”
“B-B-But you are telling me to kiss you!”
“Because I know your kiss can help me!”
Maki started panicking. “On the cheek will be enough—“
“No!” Natsu argued. “I want the kiss on the lips! You said it has the most powerful effect when you kiss someone on the lips!”
Natsu looked straight to her eyes with full determination. Maki was taken aback. The heart of the zombie started to race. She couldn’t control its beating.
“Calm down. The Perfect Zombie shouldn’t be bothered by this!”Maki took a deep breath. Her cheeks might be as red as a tomato now but she also believes that her kiss can help her friend. Whenever she kisses her mother, she would stop crying and worrying about her husband. She believes it can absolutely help Natsu as well. But seriously, why is this boy asking her to kiss him on the lips?
“C-C-Come closer…” she finally said. “I will do this just once, understood? It would take years until I can do this again to the same person!”
“I-I’m ready!” Natsu stammered, finally starting to feel the embarrassment about his request. He went nearer the window and leaned on the wall.
“C-Close your eyes!” Maki kneeled so they would be on the same level. “Here I go…”
After that fateful night, the Perfect Zombie’s kiss indeed gave huge effect to Natsu. The boy has gained so much confidence and he did change. The shy and weak Natsu disappeared and was replaced by a confident and fearless one. He never came to her house again with swollen eyes. He was always smiling.
Maki also heard from him that his brother Fuyu finally talked with him again but he is talking to him just like a normal friend and not a brother. At that time, Natsu was satisfied with just like that. It is much better than being ignored.
But then, the boy grew busy with his activities as an artist and his visits to Maki’s manor lessened down to the point where there was no Prince of Summer that came. The Perfect Zombie became sad but they kept in touch through mails.
That’s the story of the Perfect Zombie and her magical kiss. When will be the next time that the zombie would grace someone her magical kiss?
“ARE YOU by any chance going to a funeral?”
Aki was so confused while looking at the all black one-piece dress outfit of Maki. They are the ones who have arrived first in the meeting place. Maki’s limousine is just on stand-by somewhere.
The girl slowly turned to him; her tired-looking eyes are creepy as always. A creepy smirk curved up her lips. “This is how I normally dress.”
Aki tried to smile despite the confusion. “Are you really Togawa Maki-san?” The pictures of Maki that he saw on magazines before flashed on his mind. She looks like a normal girl in those pictures, so cute and so natural, no heavy eye bags. “I didn’t know that the news about you—“
“Whatever you heard about me, they are true. I am a special being. I have super powers and…”
Maki went on with her claims about her existence. Aki closed his eyes and sighed. He couldn’t believe that this girl became famous despite the fact that she is a chuunibyou. He looked at his right only to see another girl coming.
It was Miyu. The girl is wearing an all-white pair of blouse and short shorts topped with a fashionable denim jacket. Aki’s mouth formed a small letter o as his eyes got glued on the coming girl.
“Isn’t it too early for that fashion? Isn’t she cold?”Miyu noticed that Aki is looking at her which made her hid her face out of instinct.
“Pfft!” Aki turned to Maki who was actually also looking at the coming girl. “It’s really suspicious. Everybody knows that Watanabe Miyu is a fisher but she acts all flustered everytime she sees you.”
“You think so?” Aki curiously asked.
“I’m sure you have already noticed it. I’m also sure that you have already heard of her name since you didn’t ask for our names when we met you for the first time.”
Aki gave out soft laughs. “It’s because you girls are in the ranking of the most sought-after faces in fashion modeling.”
“That’s exactly what I meant.” Maki clicked her tongue. “I know you already have background knowledge about this minion of mine.”
Aki laughed again. “So she is your minion, huh?”
“W-What are you guys talking about?”
The two jerked on their places when Miyu suddenly appeared behind them. She was so fast to reach them. She looked flustered while trying to take a look at Aki. She was waiting for a compliment but Aki just looked at her with a surprised face.
“G-Good morning, Senpai.” She pressed her lips together and then went beside Maki.
“See?” Maki mouthed at the guy. “I’m not wrong!” She even strikes a detective pose to emphasize her right eye. She believes that her right eye has a very powerful observation power.
Aki shrugged. He is used to see girls acting flustered and shy when he is around so he really couldn’t tell. But he is amazed that a fisher like Watanabe Miyu is also like that to him. He has heard how notorious Miyu is for being a fisher. There are people in the internet who nicknamed her
Milky after a certain legend in fishing.
“Good morning, everyone.”
They all turned to the new comer. It was Fumie wearing a brown beret. She is wearing a one-piece blue dress with a white collared long-sleeve blouse underneath. Maki smirked at the sight of her.
“I can’t wait for the things that are going to happen today. This will be interesting!” Maki murmured to herself.
Everyone greeted Fumie back. Miyu looked at her from top to bottom then smiled widely at her. She seems pleased with her choice of outfit. She knows that Miyu is already thinking that she really prepared for today. Well, she couldn’t deny that. She took days in deciding what to wear. She even thought that she is getting crazy for nothing.
“So now we are just waiting for the main people, right?” She asked when she saw that the twins are still not around. “Are you sure that they are coming, Togawa-san?”
Maki crossed her arms. “Don’t you trust me, minion?”
Fumie tilted her head in confusion. “Minion?”
That topic was soon forgotten when someone riding a motorbike came. The said bike stopped in front of them and the motorist, who is wearing an all-black outfit with the leather jacket as the main attraction, removed his helmet. It was Natsu and his golden hair.
“The Prince of the Summer Heat has arrived!” Maki shouted in joy.
Natsu scanned everyone who is present. He looked sharply at Fumie, obviously telling her that he doesn’t like her being around. Fumie returned his stare. She isn’t the type to back off. The guy just gave him a challenging smile then he greeted Aki with a nod and turned to Maki.
“What’s up, Perfect Zombie? How is it going?” Natsu greeted her.
“I’m still perfect. It has been a long while, Summer Prince.”
“Pfft!”
The two turned to Aki and Miyu who are trying to handle their laughter.
“The reunion of chuunibyous.” Aki said. Miyu agreed to what he said and they both completely lost it. The two glared at them but they laughed even more after seeing their serious faces.
“Whatever…” Natsu sighed and ignored the two. “Maki…You were saying that you are going to introduce me your new friends. Are you serious that these girls are your new friends?”
“Is something wrong with us being her friends?” Miyu smiled at him. Fumie just remained silent at the hostility.
“A duo of sugary milk and a big pillar of salt—are you sure that you’re picking what’s healthy for you, Maki?”
Maki just laughed at what he said. “They are good girls.”
Everyone was surprised to hear that from Maki. They haven’t known each other for so long but she is already fond of them and she considers them as friends. Even Natsu is surprised to hear that. He knows that Maki isn’t the type to just consider a stranger her friend.
“At first it was Fuyu-nii and now you are going after Maki? What’s wrong with you, Shingyoji Fumie?”Natsu took one last look at Fumie then flipped his bangs. “I won’t be staying late, Maki. I have some shoot in the evening so I came with my bike.”
“It’s the same for me. Togawa-san.” Aki butted in. “Our band has a radio guesting in the evening so I can only stay until 5pm.”
“It’s totally fine. Let’s just maximize the time we have.” Maki normally answered. “Where is the King of the Northern Lights anyway? He is already 5 minutes late.”
“Did you really invite him?” Natsu asked.
Maki nodded then cutely tilted her head. She’s confused. “I sent him the greatest invitation I could ever make. He sent me a reply that he is coming. I wonder why he is late.”
“How about give him a ring?” Miyu suggested. Natsu looked at her, still being hostile but the fisher just ignored him. She just smiled at him but deep inside she’s wants to pluck his eyelashes so he would stop acting like that to her.
“I think there is no need for that. There he is.” Aki pointed at the coming guy. Fuyu is sweating as if there is no tomorrow. His light grey hoodie has almost turned to a dark grey one because of sweat.
They were all looking at him but he only met with Fumie’s stare. He nonchalantly turned somewhere else then ran faster.
“I’m sorry, I’m a bit late. I had to help to the shop that I am working in.” He immediately explained, still chasing for his breath. “They had me help in the morning so that I can be free for the whole day.”
A complete lie. Yes, that was a complete and perfect lie. His boss has already let him get the day-off because his daughter will be there to take care of that muffin store. He also worked overtime for some days just to get that day-off. The truth is he was so excited for this day that he arrived so early. He decided to jog to shake off his tension but he ended up going too far before he noticed it. Some good story that he can never tell anyone.
“What the hell is up with you, dude? Just look at how beautiful these girls are! Are you seriously presenting yourself like that?” That was Aki with his arms crossed.
“I don’t really mind.” Fuyu coldly answered. Well, that one is true. He is the type that doesn’t care about how people view him.
“Fuyu-nii, you need change of clothes?” Natsu asked. “We can stop by on a store on our way to Maki’s house. You can ride my bike.”
Fuyu shook his head. “It’s okay, Natsu. I haven’t received my pay so I still don’t have the leisure to buy new clothes.”
“It’ll be my treat—“
“Could you please wait for me a bit more? I have some change of clothes in my locker. I’ll just run for a quick change.”
Natsu fell silent after being ignored. He clenched his fist due to frustration. Fumie witnessed all of it. She somehow felt bad for Natsu.
Everyone agreed to what Fuyu said then he ran inside the school very fast. Aki arched his arm around Natsu’s neck.
“I’m excited about today! It is the first time after a long while that we will be hanging out and we also have girls with us this time. It’s good to have more friends!” Aki cheerfully said to lift up the heavy atmosphere. “It feels kind of strange that is very easy for us to gather like this as if we have done this a lot of times before.”
Aki has a point. It was so easy for them to organize everything. Some of them are technically strangers but their hearts are already settled with each other.
“I just hope Haru is also here.” Aki sighed. Fumie and Miyu looked at each other after hearing that lonely comment from Aki.
“It’s a very strange feeling but it feels so right.” Maki told herself and smiled. “We will go once the King comes with his new garments. Let’s go to my fortress!”
AKI and the two girls were all in awe when they arrived at the Maki’s house. They know that Maki’s family is really rich but they didn’t think that they are rich to the extent of having such a very luxurious mansion. It is very huge. The distance of the gate to the house is also something.
“Welcome to my castle!” Maki swirled in the entrance of the mansion where they are welcomed by a grand staircase. “Don’t admire it too much because it may seem so huge and full with a lot of things but the truth is it is actually
empty.”
She jumped towards the stairs. “Let’s go to the arcade room, first! Follow me!”
They all followed the girl who led them to the arcade room. Again, they were amazed because the room already looks like a center itself. There is a variety of arcade machines starting from old to recently released games. It felt like they already entered a real gaming center.
“We can play all of this for free! There’s no need to swipe cards!”
“Wow!” Aki exclaimed. “This will be fun! Haru must’ve really come. He needs things like this to release stress!”
Natsu laughed at him. “Stop thinking about Haru for once; how about let us race with those?” He pointed at the linked racing games.
“Don’t go crying after I made you eat dust! Fuyu, let’s—“
They looked at Fuyu who is already killing his enemies in that FPS game. He hasn’t missed a target yet, his lives are still complete and he has already finished a stage. The two just casually walked towards the game they were talking about earlier.
“What do we expect?” Aki asked Natsu.
“Yeah, do you really think he would be interested to race with us when he is addicted to that game?” Natsu answered and then picked his machine.
Maki just shrugged her shoulders then turned to the two girls. “Let’s start!” she mouthed. The two just nodded. Maki cleared her throat and started speaking; audible enough for Fuyu to hear.
“Shingyoji-san, I asked the chef to prepare snacks before he left this morning. Can you get the snacks for us?”
“S-sure.” Fumie answered. “But I don’t know where your kitchen is.”
“Just turn left and then go straight. You will see another staircase there. Go down and then turn right. You will see a room with two doors. That is the dining area. If you enter that room, you will see a door by the right side. That will lead you to the kitchen—Hey, are you okay!?”
Maki was pertaining to the blood coming out of Fumie’s nose. Miyu was fast to give her tissues from her pouch.
“S-Sorry, Togawa-san! This girl has no sense of direction. Her brain couldn’t handle the data input that it exploded.” Miyu explained while smiling at Fumie’s dilemma.
“Miyu~!” Fumie frowned while wiping her nose. “That’s not a funny way to describe it.”
The gunshot sounds suddenly stopped and they heard the gun being placed back on the rack. The next thing they saw was Fuyu coming to their way.
“I’ll get the snacks on her behalf.” He nonchalantly said. Aki laughed so hard when he saw Natsu’s car crashed. The other guy was surprised to hear that his brother stopped his precious game just to save that girl from an errand. He got his focus out of the game.
“I’m also a bit hungry. I know where it is so I’ll go get it.” Fuyu said then just went towards the exit. Miyu pushed Fumie who was really nervous; she forgot what to do next.
“W-Wait!” Fumie almost shrieked. “L-Let me go with you, Senpai. You might need more hands.”
Fuyu slowly turned to her, a bit surprised of what he heard. “A-Are you sure?”
She just nodded at him and smiled. “Let’s go?”
Fuyu felt blood coming up his cheeks so he immediately turned to his way and started walking. Did Fumie seriously smile on him?
“Let’s go.” He said, still with a cold voice but his lips secretly curved into a cute smile.
The two left the place in accordance to the plan. Miyu and Maki high-fived then happily ran towards the purikara booth.
“Tch!” Natsu gritted his teeth. He remembered how he was ignored earlier but then it was a completely different story when it comes to that girl?
“Damn it, Shingyoji.”-TBC-
*have read all your comments~ Thank you, everyone~ I hope you are still enjoying reading it.
*if in good mood will update twice next week... Thanks for reading~