As the others are doing their morning rituals, I look at the option I’ve been putting off for a bit. The skill fusion. Planning has gotten to level 34 and with Study being level 91 that’ll put me at 64 which is over the lvl 50 bonus. I wonder what type of skill I’d get from mixing those two? With a deep breath I select the options.

Skill fusion selected; two skills will be combined of your choice. Select skills now

first selected skill: Study lvl 91

Second selected skill: Planning 34

….

.....

Synergy Detected! Combining skills into stronger skill

That seems promising.

Combined skill: Mindscape lvl 64

Description: Create a mental mindscape that allows for improved planning and studying previous memories and studied material. All information is stored and never lost unless willingly. 1.5 x lvl % improved comprehension of information that has been stored within your mindscape.

Lvl 25: Planning table has been added to the mindscape. The planning board allows for three dimensional projections constructed within the mindscape to be displayed within your own vision for better visualization of a structure.

Lvl 50: Mental copy has been added to your mindscape. At all times a mental version of you will house the mindscape able to sort through all previously stored knowledge and assist in different processes attatched to the mindscape.

At the same instance that I feel the skill slot into place like two parts of myself are joining together. I feel another self-emerge from inside me. Inside I see hundreds of books surrounding me unorganized piles arranged in stacks in a circle around a stone table. Looking at the table my other self can see outside my own eyes which is slightly disorienting since I share all thoughts between the two selves but its not totally bad. Mental me looks around and I appear to be inside a structure when trying to imagine bookshelves they appear inside, but they are bare with the books lying about. Trying something I will all the books detailing what I ate for breakfast away. Several books seem to disapear from existance and i feel that memory slip from me. But not nearly enough. I spend a bit trying to come up with other small details i don't care about while starting the long process of orginizing all my past memories. At least all the new ones seem to be falling into place on their own designated shelf but all past memories must be manually shelved.

While the inside me is busy I take a look at the other benefits of the skill. It’s somewhat interesting I lost a lot of small benefits and study speed for the sake of being able to remember everything and to double my number of thoughts at once. The comprehension bonus helps with losing part of study and I suppose the mental double helps with the speed. For now lets grab the new skill.

Skill: Treatment lvl 1

Description: wounds treated by you heal .05 x lvl faster

Now this is a good skill improved recovery rate right from the start and 5% is pretty nice when its just a bandaid. Eventually it will build up nicely to 5x faster which may make a huge difference when treating a potentially mortal bleeding wound and make broken bones and other long-term care take a fraction of the time this can be amazing.

“Hey so I just fused my skills and got treatment.” Looking over at the others.

“Really? How is it? Any better or worse?” Saya asks happy at the distraction from talking to her parents later.

“Better in some ways worse in others. I lost an ability that let me know if something I was studying was correct or not. But gained a mental library of everything I’ve ever known. It feels very odd I have a mental me inside that’s sorting through the knowledge as we speak and moving things around to be more efficient.” The me inside is tied to my mind as well I feel him sigh and keep shelving things bored out of his mind already but also not since I’m sharing my discussion with the girls to him.

“So, its only really helpful now for planning and old material what about for combat?” Saeko asks.

“Well, it’s still usable in combat just more in a support role. Other me can probably come up with strategies while I am distracted fighting. Treatment is also a great skill that improves healing speed by 5% per level.”

“That’s fantastic! That will help out so many injuries starting with your own.” Saeko walks over to the side of the room swaying her hips a bit. And takes out some medical wrapping tape.

“Wrap it up big boy.” Tossing it to me giving a smirk.

“Haha real funny. Really though thanks I’m bruised up something fierce and even with increased endurance and resilience my ass still hurts from that pounding the red gave me.”

“Gross you two should get a room.” Saya says with a smile. “Should you go treat Takashi? It should improve how soon he can start helping again.” Damn, that reminds me should I tell them about my thoughts on this being an anime world? Explain why the different tropes that might come into play? I don’t want them to think they arnt real. Also that would lead them to wonder if I’m crazy.

“Haaa I guess I should. Hes a good kid. Stupid as all hell but a good kid.” I wrap up my bruises and small cuts. They arnt bad enough to warrant this much attention but I need to level the skill and the sooner I stop feeling like shit the sooner I can kill more zombies and get strong enough to not get my ass kicked.

“I’d offer to help out Hideki too, but I don’t think she wants to be touched by a guy right now.” Standing up with a groan.

“Probably a good call.” Saya nods to the side.

“Alright you two ready to kick ass and embarrass Saya?” Saeko laughs and nods while Saya blushes again remembering what we are doing today.

“Hey, we can do without the last bit.”

Heading out I take a look at Takashi’s thigh. “Looks like Shizuka already cut out the bullet, are you already taking anything for the possible infection or are we on a wait, and see?” looking up at him.

“Wait and see, theres only so many antibiotics in the world right now. If I can get by without it then I’ll have to.” Not the best way to approach this since once the signs of infection start it may be too late, but I have faith he will miraculously pull through even if he does get an infection.

“Alright let me just wrap it up for you real quick make sure to keep this covered.”

“Shouldn’t uh Shizuka be checking on this?” He at least has the decency to look embarrassed about it. Since with how close the wound is to his crotch and that she would have to lean over him to help him.

“Don’t mess with me, you just want her near your crotch. You also want to get an eyeful of her cleavage while she works on you.” He looks away even more embarrassed.

“Hey, can you blame me? Shes hot.” He looks off in the distance with a dumb grin.

“Yes, and shes dating my auntie and you’re with Rei and Miku.” He looks startled at casually mentioning that and quickly looks around noticing neither are around he calms down.

“Me and Rei arnt exactly uh dating. So, I still have options. It’s not like you can judge me you’re with Saeko and Saya.” He starts acting like nothings wrong.

“I’ll let Rei know that right away then. You know that you’re not dating and that you have ‘options’ with Miku. I’m sure she’ll LOVE to hear that.” Chuckling to myself as he starts to frown.

“I mean you don’t need to do thaaat do you? Shes stressed about her ex and there are a lot of girls. I mean your not complaining we all heard about you and Saya this morning. Is she uh open to anything with more guys?” His joking perverted grin is stopped dead in its tracks as I grab him by the leg wound. Causing him to wince in pain.

“If I find out you’ve been crushing girls’ hearts around here causing unnecessary drama or that you start propositioning Yara just know that I won’t take it well.” Pressing my thumb right into the bullet wound causing a bit of bleeding for the extra bit to get my point across I finish wrapping him up.

“Fuuuuck, if you’re getting with them both on the regular you just had to say so. Is Shizuka also off limits for your majesties harem?” He starts mockingly throwing that out there.

“I mean considering she is pretty much dating my mom. Yeah, I’d say shes off limits too unless they are both okay with it. Which is kind of gross to think about but shes sort of an adult she can handle herself. However, I don’t want you pestering them and bothering them like an annoying gnat until they feel pity enough to give you a chance.” This seems to make him even more upset, but I’m not finished yet. Seeing his upset face, I let out a long sigh.

“Hey, I get it you’re a horny teenager. you can try dating around with girls here but I’m not dealing with teenage drama bullshit. You cause problems for everyone here and I have to deal with it. So, I’d rather you just keep it in your pants and get with your childhood sweetheart that is already head over heels for you. Or at the very least be open about your intentions to have more girls so that you don’t go fucking up the group once they all find out.” Giving him a pat on the back I walk off to let him stew in his thoughts.

Meeting up with Saya and the group we head out. On the way I mention some of the comments Takashi made about Saya and Shizuka which gets a few grumbles about slimeball. Taniuchi also makes a comment about how she actually thought he was cute but might avoid him if hes like that. This makes both Hideki and Samada let out a breath then look at each other with appraising looks. Slight Disgust from Hideki and confusion from Samada.

“Regardless of the high school drama lets first work on establishing our survival.”

We are driving towards Sayas family estate. The closer we get the more zombies there are though.

“Hey, let’s take it a bit slow the zombies are massing closer to the house. I think we should clear our way there. You know earn us a bit of good will. Clear out some of the normal zombie population and make it a bit of a date.” I pat Saeko on the shoulder.

“I havnt been able to cut loose much this will be a good exercise.” Shes already cheering up a bit.

“You guys are still weird; I’m staying in the car.” Saya speaks up making herself comfortable.

“Aww don’t worry Saya we will take down a few for you too.” Patting her head. We jump out the top and begin slicing our way through the horde. Dancing together in our own sort of way. There are maybe 70 of them here but all way too idle to actually notice us carving our way forward. So long as we aren’t too loud, they don’t even notice us since we are moving through them too fast. Even then we yell to one another to distract them when things get too much for the other person. Drawing some of them away from one or the other.

Killing more and more each bit closer the tide just keeps on coming and coming.

“Haru they arnt ending!” Saeko is panting but also smiling with an afterglow.

“Aw are you already satisfied? I guess I’ll just have to keep going then until I finish too.” Teasing her with a smile. I’m a little tired but even I’m feeling it after attacking that many. My machete is dull, and it requires a lot more strength and effort to cut them now.

“Hey isnt it a mark of pride for a guy if the girl finishes first?” wiping some sweat off her brow.

“Haaa sure I guess we’ve cleared enough for now.” If shes feeling a bit tired might as well milk it a bit later.

“Oh, I mean I could go a bit longer. But since you need a brake, I guess we can stop.” She innocently looks off to the side. Of course, she just wanted me to be the one to call for a brake first.

“Anyways we probably have enough wiggle room to get by.” looking around at the bodies surrounded by carnage. The others in the car are sitting around bored avoiding looking at all the bodies.

“Sorry for the wait, we just kept going and going and when we thought we’d finish, we would decide for just one more round.” Saeko loving her euphemisms.

“Let’s take it slow going forward we don’t want to get tire stuck on some zombie guts” Hedaki looks away from us as we wipe ourselves down in the back.

We drive forward a bit its complete silence. It takes me awhile to get that maybe spending a couple of hours killing zombies with one of my girlfriends is kind of awkward for everyone else.

“Sorry about that Saya…”

“So, you finally figured out what you did wrong? Sure, are smart to have taken THIS long to realize you might have made a mistake.” She glares at me with her arms crossed.

“We were having fun… I got distracted. I know it’s not much of an excuse, but I promise to spend a lot of extra time with you up at your parents to make it up to you.” She lets out a sigh then pouts her cheeks. But her glare has lost some of its edge.

“Hmmm I’m still upset with you for making us wait here while you two barbarically killed zombies for two and a half hours straight. But –“ The car suddenly comes to a screeching stop.