Maiko dodged Kenshi's question the night before, and now, the morning after, the trio were once again, back on their feet and walking.

"So... Is your group planning to stay there forever?" "Don't forget, it's your group now, too." Kenshi grins before answering. "We were counting on it, but we heard a horde was coming from the north, and we don't really think our defense is strong enough for that."

"Really?" Maiko steps in, "Well, my husband was an engineer once and he used to build a couple of structures. I think I might have a few pointers on how to toughen up the place." she suggests, making Juro nod and Kenshi turn to her.

"Really? That'd be great help." 'Of course, but just consider yourselves lucky, because we don't normally like to help out people in situations like this."

"Thanks." he mutters with a small smile. "Now... Can someone explain to me how I re apply the make up Hiro did on my face? And how to clean these contacts..." he mutters, making Maiko laugh. "I know how to do it, I got some advice from Hiro as well."

"Good. Cause we'll be here a long time, well, only a few days, but yeah."

"Ha," she chuckles, "So anyway... How bad do you think the area round the antennas are?"

"I don't know, but from what the woman said, I'm assuming it's pretty bad. They never exaggerate anyway." Kenshi replies. "And we need to make sure we don't make noise, too. We don't need to draw out anymore of those things."

"I don't much care for myself, I just need to make sure Juro's safe." she sighs, running a hand through her hair. They continue walking in silence until Juro felt a drop on his nose. "Mom... It's raining."

"Seriously? Dammit... What do we do, Inagaki?" she looks towards him. "I didn't think of this! I have no clue..."

"Wait, mom... I think I got an umbrella in my bag... I only have two, though." "It's fine, I can share with one of you, guys." Kenshi offers, smiling.

"Alright, take this one and share with mom." Juro tosses the bigger umbrella to the tall man, shoving his mother towards him. It's been literally years since he's seen his mother genuinely happy, but Juro could tell that Kenshi was a good guy, maybe make his mother smile again.

That, and he just wanted a new someone he could call father. Someone he could trust and look up to. And maybe Kenshi could fill that hole in him. But at the same time...

Juro never really spent that much time with his father. His father was always busy, and when him and his mother found his body in the woods that early morning, with a bite and bullet wound, he just felt that half of him and his heart became empty.

"Alright, that's fine," Maiko shrugs, lifting the umbrella up, but failing to cover Kenshi as well. "Why am I so short?" she sighs.

"Give it here." Kenshi says, taking it from her and holding it over them as he began walking again. "Arigato." she mutters, walking alongside him. "No problem." he grins slightly before turning to Juro. "You okay over there?"

"Yeah, just a little tired." "I get you. I'm hungry, too. Should we stop and eat?" he asks, motioning to a thick tree by the side of the dirt road, which was slightly damp but otherwise dry enough to sit on. Juro looks up to his mother, who nods with a small shrug.

"Boss packed us extra anyway. And we missed breakfast 'cause of the walkers, anyway." she said, sitting down and placing her bag in front of her. "Well, all we got that are actually suited for brekfast is a bit of bread and some fruit. Good enough?"

"Anything sounds good right now," Juro says, making Maiko smirk. "I also have some carrots here. Eat that then." 

"No! I'd rather wait 'till lunch." Juro pouts, "So you'll wait 'till lunch to eat your carrots?" Maiko teases, pulling out the small container. "Just no carrots! I'd rather eat lettuce."

"Hah..." she sighs with a small smile. "I'm kidding, son. Now eat up, we need to try and get there as fast as possible." 

Juro nods and bites into his food as Maiko watches him. "So..." Kenshi starts. "Juro... What sports did you participate in? Maiko said you played."

"Well... Mom never really approved, but dad said I needed to play, and I liked it!" Juro laughs, "I used to play basketball... And mixed martial arts, I also did fencing and soccer, volleyball, football, swimming, tennis, track and field and cross country!"

"Really? That seems hard to balance." Kenshi asks, eyes widened. "Not really, well, not when mom's a good planner anyway. She pretty much set the schedule for me."

"Well, you're lucky to have her, huh?" he laughs. "Yeah! But I can't play as much sports anymore since this whole thing started. I was actually in a game when it all started." Juro says, "It was during a volleyball game, a sport mom actually liked."

"Did you play, Maiko?" "Yeah!" Juro cuts in, "She played varsity! She was actually team captain of a national team! She played in different countries, too!"

"Where?" "Well, I went to Paris, and the States... Brazil, Australia..." she counts off, smiling slightly. "A few other places, but it was fun. Juro and Yoshiko came with me."

"When did you stop playing?" Kenshi asks. "Well, I actually started playing when I was in grade 5 in elementary school after I met Yoshiko, who forced me to join. I continued playing from then on. Well, I had to take a break when I had Juro, but I continued playing after that. Until I graduated."

"Mom was actually scouted! She was offered to play for the country!" Juro brags, "But she denied it because I was still young then, that and that would mean she would have to travel a lot for games. She wanted to stay with dad and me!" 

"Dad and I." Maiko corrected. "Yes, sensei." Juro says playfully. "Wow. Grammar cautious even in this time?" Kenshi chuckles, making Maiko shrug. 

"Of course. Just because it's bad now doesn't mean this all won't end soon." she shrugs. "I have high hopes for Juro. Is that so wrong?"

"No, of course not." Kenshi laughs, but then they suddenly hear snoring and turn to see Juro asleep. "Knocked out, already, huh?" Maiko laughs, pulling her son's head onto her lap, making him use it as a pillow. 

Slowly pulling off her jacket, as not to wake her son, Maiko covers him with her jacket, trying to make him use it as a blanket. "Good night, baby boy." she smiles slightly. "Baby boy?" Kenshi laughs softly.

"Of course." she smiles.

"I need to treat him specially. He's the only reason I'm still living."