Shizuka is one of the main characters in ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Dead. Known for her hyper-rational personality and hardcore survival skills, Shizuka stands out as uniquely prepared for the catastrophic events unfolding around her. Shizuka analyzes threats rationally and devises strategic solutions, unlike the carefree lead Akira. However, the question arises: What motivates her meticulous preparations for the apocalypse, and what is the intriguing backstory that has shaped her? Stay with us as we unveil these details in the following sections – keep reading!
Shizuka and Akira’s First Meeting
In episode 2 of ZOM 100, Akira has a brief encounter with the mysterious Shizuka while scavenging for some beers at a convenience store. Preoccupied with finding alcohol, Akira sings aloud while Shizuka methodically gathers water, food, and other survival needs.
Feeling self-conscious about his silly behavior, Akira tries to make small talk with Shizuka. He comments on the challenge of shopping with all the zombies around. However, his attempt at conversation is met with indifference as Shizuka remains focused on her task and does not engage with him.
When Akira asks Shizuka if they can exchange contact information, she finally speaks up. In a blunt, matter-of-fact tone, Shizuka criticizes Akira for taking unnecessary risks by going out just to buy beer. She indicates that this foolish behavior makes him an unsuitable ally for surviving the zombie outbreak.
As she lectures Akira, Shizuka monitors the CCTV camera she has set up herself, demonstrating her careful preparation and vigilance. She tells Akira that partnering with someone who doesn’t properly assess danger and priorities would only jeopardize her chances of staying alive. Shizuka makes it clear that Akira’s lax attitude toward the crisis makes him incompatible with teaming up.
Her harsh judgment of Akira highlights Shizuka’s pragmatic personality and no-nonsense attitude when it comes to survival. Later in the same episode, the zombies infiltrate the convenience store where Akira and Shizuka are shopping. As the zombies approach, Akira tries to shield Shizuka, attempting to be heroic. However, Shizuka swiftly takes control of the situation herself. She forcefully pulls Akira out of harm’s way just before a truck smashes through the front of the store, crushing the zombies inside.
Shizuka then immediately escapes on her bicycle. Akira is left stunned by her calm competence. He refers to her as “badass” and “pretty,” clearly impressed by her bravery and skill. As Shizuka cycles away, Akira expresses a desire to see her again, intrigued by this mysteriously capable girl.
Shizuka’s Home and Lifestyle
Episode 2 concludes by providing more insight into Shizuka’s daily life and living situation. She resides in an organized, utilitarian condominium filled with survival supplies and equipment. Shizuka wakes up early at 6 AM and begins her strict morning routine of listening to the radio for news while running laps on her treadmill.
Her living space reveals key details about her character. The numerous disaster preparedness items and lack of decorations or personal mementos reflect her single-minded focus on survival. However, the photo of a yellow puppy stands out as a rare sentimental object, suggesting a deeper backstory.
Shizuka monitors current events and watches horror movies and a couple of zombie DVDs on TV, immersing herself in media related to catastrophes and zombies. Shizuka maintains her health through drinking vitamins and regular exercise. She tries contacting other countries to gather information, but gets no response, making her realize the zombie situation is becoming dire.
Shizuka makes a rational to-do list titled “100 Things to Avoid Becoming a Zombie” that highlights her practical approach. Early action items include securing food/water, acquiring sustainable energy, maintaining mental stability, and continuing fitness routines.
Using binoculars, Shizuka surveys the zombies and notes there are both fast-running types and slower walkers. She consults her map to identify the safest neighborhood for scavenging supplies. Realizing she needs to stock up on provisions, Shizuka heads to the convenience store where she encounters Akira.
While gathering necessary foods, Shizuka debates bringing home a sakura mochi dessert but ultimately decides against it, sticking to only essentials. This small moment highlights Shizuka’s discipline and ability to restrain her desires in order to focus on pragmatic survival needs.
When Akira approaches singing, Shizuka’s first impression is that he seems harmless, if foolish. However, upon checking her bike’s CCTV, she realizes Akira has led zombies to their location. Shizuka determines she needs to promptly leave rather than get drawn into conversation with him. She analyzes Akira as someone shortsighted, focused on immediate gratification rather than long-term consequences. Shizuka questions how Akira has even survived this long with such a lack of situational awareness.
When the bus crashes into the store, Shizuka acts fast, pulling Akira to safety though he tries to shield her first. After swiftly bicycling home, she reviews her bike camera footage. It shows Akira singing happily prior to their meeting, joyful at the prospect of securing just a single beer. Shizuka is perplexed as to how anyone could remain so carefree and motivated during a disaster. This makes her reconsider her earlier decision to forgo the Sakura mochi dessert.
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Shizuka Joins Akira’s Group
In his quest to become a hero, Akira comes across Shizuka again when he rescues her and some other survivors who were cornered by zombies in an aquarium. He tells the group to escape while he stays back to fend off the horde himself. When addressing Shizuka, Akira jokingly calls her “Miss Risk Analyst,” poking fun at her overly logical approach to the crisis. After ensuring the group gets away safely, Akira reunites with Shizuka outside.
When Akira acts thrilled to cross paths with her again, believing it’s “destiny,” Shizuka is annoyed, questioning why he’s staring at her. Back in the aquarium earlier, when Akira had greeted her enthusiastically, Shizuka cut him off. She bluntly asked how rescuing others benefits him at all.
Shizuka theorizes Akira is driven by a psychological desire to feel heroic, like ordinary men fantasizing about being superheroes to escape their dull lives. Her cynical perspective sees altruism as masking self-serving motivations.
Shizuka dismisses Akira’s noble intentions as delusions of grandeur. Her cold pragmatism conflicts with Akira’s idealism, unable to comprehend how anyone would risk themselves for strangers without ulterior motives.
When Kenichirou tries to stand up for Akira’s heroism, Shizuka shoots him down too. She argues that their failure to logically assess danger before acting will jeopardize her chances of staying alive. Once again declining to exchange contact information, Shizuka coldly dismisses joining up with them. Suddenly, a mutated shark with legs breaks out of the aquarium tanks, interrupting the conversation.
The zombie shark had consumed infected divers, causing zombie limbs to sprout from its body. As the group frantically flees, Shizuka is left stranded outside with the mutated creature. This reaffirms her wariness of groups, as panic spreads uncontrollably. Just before the shark attacks Shizuka, Akira dramatically leaps down from the ceiling to intervene. For the first time, Shizuka calls Akira by name, showing a subtle shift in her feelings as he yet again comes to her aid when she’s in mortal danger.
Kenichirou assists Akira in battling the mutated shark, while Shizuka analyzes the situation. Akira’s courage paired with Shizuka’s quick strategic thinking proves an effective combination. Shizuka comes up with the idea to electrocute the shark using her battery pack. Together, they implement her plan with Akira risking himself to shock the creature. The disabled shark flops upside down, allowing the group to safely escape the aquarium.
Afterward, Shizuka reiterates to Akira and Kenichirou that she doesn’t work in groups, explaining her past negative experiences. But she concedes their teamwork was effective, so she agrees to exchange contact information, albeit reluctantly. Shizuka says her sole focus is just surviving, not their frivolous bucket list goals.
In episode 6, Akira and Shizuka meet again while searching for an RV inside a warehouse. When Akira invites Shizuka to join them once again, Akira’s excitement at their fated reunion is quickly shot down by the ever-logical Shizuka but then he points out she lacks a driver’s license, so relying on someone else to drive would go against her risk-averse nature.
Reluctantly acknowledging the rationale of his argument, Shizuka agrees to unite with them, at least temporarily. Her survival skills combined with their recreational vehicle would provide mutual benefits. Thus, partly through Akira’s persuasion, the pragmatic Shizuka takes a leap of faith to complement the group and achieve her goals.
Despite her standoffishness, Akira manages to slowly break through Shizuka’s hardened shell. Step by step, she lowers her defenses and opens herself to potential allies, even if their mindsets don’t fully align.
Shizuka’s Backstory
While the group is driving, they hit spike strips on the road that rupture their vehicles’ tires and force them to stop. They find their path blocked by wrecked buses barricading the route ahead. On the other side, Akira recognizes his former boss Chief Kosugi acting as leader of a makeshift stronghold.
Akira feels compelled to obey his authoritarian former boss Kusogi. Kusogi agrees to help Kenichirou who was badly injured from the fall and provides new tires, but only if Akira works for him again. With no alternatives, Akira reluctantly agrees to toil for Kusogi for three days.
Kusogi exploits Akira’s good nature, knowing he will put others’ needs above his own freedom. Trapped by his sense of duty, Akira submits himself to arduous labor for Kusogi’s sake, despite having no real desire to resume their unhealthy dynamic.
Seeing Akira’s predicament triggers traumatic memories in Shizuka about her own father’s controlling behavior. She tells Kenichirou that victims never forget being manipulated, no matter how much time passes. The fear never fully goes away even if you understand it was just about control.
In chapter 10, Shizuka’s past is finally revealed. As a little girl, she found an adorable stray puppy in a cardboard box and decided to adopt it. But her father adamantly refused, saying Shizuka had to “get rid of it.” He lectured that as his daughter, she must distinguish herself by acquiring a pedigree dog instead of a dying dog.
Shizuka’s father raised her for one purpose: to succeed and obey. He had built a massive business empire in America within a single generation through cunning and ruthlessness. Surviving the Lehman Brothers collapse only made him more of a feared, cold-blooded financier who intimidated even Americans with his calculating prowess.
Despite her father’s objections, young Shizuka hid the stray puppy she’d adopted in the attic, naming it Roo. When Roo grew ill, Shizuka studied veterinary medicine day and night to try to cure him herself, having no one else to turn to for help. This diligent self-education gave Shizuka her knowledge of animal anatomy which later proved useful against the zombie shark at the aquarium.
After days nursing Roo, Shizuka was overjoyed to see the puppy finally wagging his tail, on the mend. Bolstered by this success, she asked her father if she could grow up to be a veterinarian. He refused outright, lecturing that as his heir, doctors and lawyers were just employees to order around.
He then chillingly revealed he had already called the humane society to “put down” the puppy he’d discovered she was hiding. Shizuka realized then she had no power over even this small source of warmth and companionship. Her father would always prioritize ruthless pragmatism over emotion.
Heartbroken over Roo’s death, Shizuka was harshly ordered by her father to “shut up and obey.” The traumatic loss haunted her childhood, and her father’s cold-blooded words echoed in her mind as she grew up.
She mourned the puppy which had been a bright spot of warmth and companionship. After this experience, Shizuka became more and more emotionally shut down and lifeless, conforming to her father’s wishes to be an obedient, perfect heir with no vulnerability.
In the present, Shizuka observes Akira’s list of goals with a smile. As she reads it, she decides to make an addition by including “tell off my jerk of a boss” She then presents this updated list to Akira, who is still under the influence of Kosugi. However, when Kosugi attempts to tear the list apart, Akira reaches his breaking point and courageously prevents Kosugi from doing so. Akira expresses gratitude for Kosugi’s help in mending Kenchirou and mentoring him, but now he feels it’s time to bid farewell. He no longer wishes to be associated with Kosugi and has no desire to ever see him again. Akira has returned to his normal self.
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