Third-person POV
While doing the research for the cure of the zombie virus, Gen said to Shu with a somber tone, "Hey, Shu-kun, because what I had done to your parents, I felt that I vowed to be your father and wanted to carry this weight until my-"
"Until your back breaks?" Shu interrupted with a tone of concern and empathy.
Gen looked at Shu with a slight surprised look on his face. "Yes?"
"Then I will take half of the weight then…" Shu replied with an equally somber tone on his voice, "…so we would not have lives full of regrets. Our futures should be reclaimed again…"
Gen was taken aback by his statement of "equal" guilt and weight and placed his arm on Shu's shoulder. "Okay, equally…"
After that, by lunchtime with Kashi, Mara, Martha, Ichiro, and Eraño coming to the breakroom, Shu and Gen prepared simple sushi, and Shu added a simple paella. "Hey, Gen-san," Shu said, "I felt the bad memories of my guilt had been beaten up by the simulated physical pain I had received during our 'Peace Treatments'."
"Is that so?" Gen asked back.
"Yes, I felt the peace was being restored with pain that I felt deserved," replied Shu while preparing the plates and chopsticks.
Gen felt that the progress of Shu's recovery had boosted by a small steady rate.
"I see then," Gen replied while sitting down, "so, have you written your 'script' for tonight's Peace Treatment?"
"Yes, I had been wearing the grey and red camouflage attires of your men, the ones that screamed terror to the world ever since I had reconciled with you. I really liked it," replied Shu back, "so I wanted you to wear it with a full soldier's gas mask. And then, chronologically, shoot me with a submachine gun with a silencer mounted on the barrel and stab me with a dagger 7 times before the finale of the modified zombie virus. Also, I wanted that Hayate shot me with an M249 light machine gun full of zombie virus-laced bullets. Do you have that kind of ammunition for that gun?"
"Well…yes, a few boxes, and some of my men had been working hard to cleanse the lead. It was hard work, not easy. I will fetch one box for our next treatment."
"Oh, okay, gracias, Gennichan…"
Gen was flustered at that new nickname with the suffix for addressing big brothers.
He shook his head to snap out of being flustered. "Oh! Thanks, Shu-kun."
Shu then smiled. "Sí! Also, I used one set of that attire for myself, not just for vibes, but also to feel the atonement vibe within me. That sigil was the kanji word for 'atonement'. Oh, that attire would not be used in our nightly rituals; it was for combat against the zombies and for myself."
"I see, okay, sure, give the notes to me later," Gen responded while picking up his chopsticks. "I had made another batch of your On the Brink of Death serum this morning. Prepare your light clothes for that treatment for tonight."
"Sí, gracias," Shu replied, "I also embroidered my own sigil of atonement to give the attire a new sense of association and purpose. I will wear it even after the outbreak was over and the cure had been made. That attire would be for fun after the outbreak was over.
Gen then nodded, feeling the colors of Shu coming back to him renewed and increased.
The chat ended just before Kashi, Mara, Martha, Ichiro, and Eraño entered the breakroom, keeping the chat's details secret.