Even Zombies Have Fandoms

Chapter 43

“Why did you eat this…?”

Kyungho looked at Muyoung with confusion in his eyes, finding it difficult to understand the situation.

“Well, I…”

If he had just said he was hungry, they might have pitied him and let it slide, thinking he was trying not to touch the shared food supplies.

But if he did that, it could have the side effect of the kids trying to feed him more. Even now, as he was swallowing without chewing much because he didn’t want to taste it, the children were constantly asking, “Would you like more?”

Moreover, it wouldn’t end with just getting away with it this once. He would have to keep eating animal snacks in the future. He was caught right away when he tried to throw it away once, and he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t get caught again.

This heart-pounding experience was enough for one time. It was better to explain well now and make the future more comfortable.

‘What could it be? What reason could there be for not being able to eat human food…’

After thinking hard, rolling his eyes, one fact came to mind.

“Actually, I can’t eat salty things!”

“What?”

He couldn’t find a reason why a person should eat animal food, but he knew why animals should eat animal-specific food instead of human food.

“My, my kidneys are not good. Um… pancreas too?”

This was probably the reason. He remembered when a stray cat was eyeing his sausage, and he was wondering whether to give it or not, his friend who had a thirteen-year-old dog at home stopped him and explained.

“Most of what we can eat now is instant food, so it’s salty or greasy… If I eat that, it upsets my stomach. So I was looking for a substitute that’s easy to eat and has a long shelf life, and this caught my eye.”

As he made excuses, mixing in the current situation appropriately, a hint of sympathy appeared in the eyes of the two people.

“I didn’t care when I was alone, but I was embarrassed to show others that I was eating dog food, so I was secretly eating it and came out to throw it away. Come to think of it, I startled you unnecessarily at this hour. Sorry.”

Muyoung bowed his head deeply and revealed his true feelings at the end. His appearance looked so sincere that Junwoo grabbed Muyoung’s hand tightly and said,

“Hyung. Don’t worry about that. It’s not like you’re stealing food from others or eating people like those zombie bastards. What’s the problem? There’s nothing to be ashamed of at all.”

“That’s right. Actually, I… I once tried eating dog food because it looked like cereal and I was curious.”

“What? When?”

“When my aunt left Poppy with us for a while because of her trip.”

Well, that zombie bastard is eating animal snacks to avoid eating people… As Muyoung watched the two who were trying to comfort him but got sidetracked again, he awkwardly pulled up the corners of his mouth.

Kyungho, who was telling Junwoo about the intense taste of the dog food, suddenly made an “Ah” sound as if he had realized something.

“Hyung, then, was it because you were throwing up that you took a shower every time after eating?”

“What? Really?”

As Junwoo looked at him in shock, Muyoung, remembering that he had been eating food he didn’t need to eat all this time, lowered his eyes and said,

“I’m sorry. For making you waste food.”

The two who heard the apology stared blankly at Muyoung as if they had been hit hard on the back of their heads.

“That’s not what we meant.”

“Huh?”

Feeling like his fever that had just gone down was rising again, Junwoo let out a deep sigh. He couldn’t believe there was someone as gentle as Kyungho. No, in some ways, he was even more incredible than Kyungho. He had enough ability to stand above others, yet he maintained such a kind personality.

He was indeed the perfect prey that bad people would love.

‘Is that why he’s been traveling alone without forming a group until now?’

Just looking at himself and Kyungho, they had been dismissed for being minors or pushed into dangerous situations because they were young and supposedly had good stamina more than once by the group they met while evacuating after the zombie outbreak. Especially Kyungho, perhaps because he was timid and gentle, they almost tried to use him like a slave.

In the end, they were thrown as bait and abandoned, and they thought they were going to die. Miraculously, they met Seokjae and were able to survive.

If even they, who had no special abilities, had gone through various incidents, someone like Muyoung, who could solve everything from food, shelter, to combat, must have experienced more, not less. It was obvious without even seeing it.

‘He went through such hard times and ended up traveling alone, yet he still helped us.’

He felt a surge of emotion. He could have chosen never to trust people again. He really seemed like a good person.

He already liked him as a person, but because they hadn’t known each other for long, there was an inevitable distance compared to his friend Kyungho and Seokjae, with whom he had shared hardships. But after hearing what was just said, Junwoo decided to consider Muyoung as part of his family, just like Seokjae.

“Hyung. From now on, please think of me as your real younger brother.”

“Huh?”

“You know, a real younger brother wouldn’t find it strange even if his older brother suddenly started chewing on rabbit hay, so don’t worry.”

“Me too, hyung.”

Although he was surprised to suddenly have two younger brothers larger than himself, Muyoung soon thought that it was all good and nodded, saying he looked forward to it.

‘I don’t know exactly what happened, but I guess it went well?’

It was the smallest of his secrets, and there were lies mixed in, but he was glad they understood. He felt closer to them than before.

As the three were warmly strengthening their friendship, a dry voice was heard from behind.

“What are you all doing here?”

The sight of the three huddled together turning around simultaneously with wide eyes was like a scene from a rehearsed comedy. However, there wasn’t a hint of laughter on the face of the single audience member standing there watching them.

“I came out because it suddenly got noisy, but what are you doing? Why is the knife out again?”

In fact, Seokjae’s face was calmly composed, but inside, he was seething with anger.

“Ah, Kyungho and I came out to drink water, and we heard a strange sound. So we came to check and…”

As he listened to Junwoo’s words, he stared intently at Muyoung standing behind him. Muyoung looked sorry for causing the commotion and was smiling while making eye contact with Kyungho next to him. Even compared to dinner time just now, the sense of distance between them had noticeably decreased.

‘What is he trying to do now?’

Except for meal times, he had been cooped up in his room, not coming out, and the first thing he does when he finally comes out is to chit-chat with the kids. It was irritating. Although he was the one who brought Muyoung into the group, for some reason, Muyoung seemed to feel more comfortable with Kyungho and Junwoo.

‘He doesn’t want to share a room, he doesn’t want to get close.’

Seeing how Muyoung froze up whenever he touched him but didn’t avoid him, Seokjae had thought he was like an abandoned dog – likable but unable to open his heart. So he had planned to give him time to adjust and get closer gradually. But now, just a few hours later, he’s pushing Seokjae away while laughing and joking with the kids.

‘Right, who am I to be considerate.’

This is what happens when he acts out of character. There’s no point in trying to imitate Muyoung; he could never become as decent a person as him. Consideration was something he lacked from birth, and he grew up in an environment where it wasn’t necessary. There was no way it would work out well if he tried to pretend now.

There was no need to keep being patient when all his efforts at playacting brought nothing in return.

‘I tried to be nice. It’s all your fault.’

* * *

It seemed that the joy of eating was indeed important to people. With the painful mealtime resolved, the world suddenly looked brighter.

He didn’t have to be cooped up in the bathroom three or more times a day anymore, so he had more free time. Thinking he might check the news for the first time in a while, he sat on the sofa and turned on the TV, but the gaze he felt from the side made him feel like his face was about to be drilled through.

“…Hyung?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have something to say?”

Finally unable to bear it any longer, Muyoung awkwardly turned his head and asked the person sitting next to him who had been staring at him.

“No. Why?”

Then why are you looking at me like that?

Seeing Seokjae’s gaze that seemed to ask what the problem was, Muyoung gave an awkward smile and shook his head. As he turned his head back to face forward, Seokjae, perhaps bothered by his question, sat down completely pressed against him.

He was already tense just sitting side by side, but when their shoulders suddenly touched, he bit his lips tightly, feeling like he might scream.