Episode 2 of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead shifts the story from Akira’s escape from corporate life to discovering what it truly means to live. Instead of focusing only on zombie survival, the episode introduces the idea that every day is precious and should be spent pursuing meaningful goals. It originally aired on July 16, 2023 and adapts the second manga chapter.

Episode Summary

Akira Finally Enjoys Freedom

After surviving the first day of the zombie apocalypse, Akira Tendou wakes up smiling instead of panicking.

Unlike everyone else, he’s thrilled because he no longer has to go to his exhausting office job. He spends his morning:

• drinking cold beer,
• cleaning his apartment,
• relaxing,
• and enjoying his first real vacation in years.

Meanwhile, television broadcasts show the horrifying zombie outbreak spreading across Japan, but Akira is oddly calm because, for him, the apocalypse has ended an even worse nightmare—his toxic workplace.

Running Out of Beer

Eventually, Akira notices a serious problem:

His beer supply is empty.

Instead of staying safely inside, he decides that getting more beer is worth the risk.

Although this seems silly, it highlights his carefree attitude. He climbs down from his apartment using a pipe because the stairway is filled with zombies.

Meeting the Neighbor Couple

While climbing down, Akira meets an elderly married couple living nearby.

They are shocked that someone would risk his life simply to buy beer.

Akira promises:

“I’ll bring you supplies when I come back.”

This small promise shows that despite his cheerful personality, he still cares about helping others.

The Convenience Store

At the convenience store, Akira finally finds plenty of beer.

But someone else is already there.

First Appearance of Shizuka Mikazuki

Here we meet Shizuka Mikazuki, one of the series’ most important characters.

Unlike Akira, Shizuka is:

• calm,
• intelligent,
• practical,
• and extremely cautious.

She isn’t shopping for luxury items.

Instead, she’s collecting:

• bottled water,
• medicine,
• emergency food,
• survival supplies.

The contrast between them is immediately obvious.

Akira risks his life for beer.

Shizuka risks her life only when absolutely necessary.

Their Conversation

Akira happily introduces himself and even asks for Shizuka’s contact information.

She immediately refuses.

She criticizes him for risking his life over something unnecessary.

To her, Akira is reckless.

To Akira, she’s someone who has forgotten how to enjoy life.

This scene establishes one of the anime’s central themes:

Living safely is not the same as truly living.

Zombie Attack

Suddenly, zombies enter the store.

Akira freezes for a moment.

Shizuka reacts instantly.

She notices a truck about to crash into the building and pulls Akira out of danger just before the impact.

The truck destroys many zombies but also wrecks Akira’s bicycle.

Even after saving his life, Shizuka leaves without saying much.

Akira is impressed by how capable she is.

Returning to the Couple

Akira finds a motorcycle and heads back with supplies for the elderly couple.

Sadly, he arrives too late.

Their apartment is covered in blood.

The couple is gone.

Whether they died or became zombies is left unclear in the episode.

This is the first time Akira truly feels the emotional cost of the apocalypse.

He realizes that life can disappear in an instant.

Creating the Bucket List

After returning home, Akira feels depressed.

Then he has an idea that changes his life forever.

He writes:

“100 Things I Want to Do Before Becoming a Zombie”

Instead of waiting for death, he decides to live life to the fullest.

His bucket list includes dreams that he ignored while trapped in office work.

This notebook becomes the heart of the entire series.

Every future adventure begins with this decision.

Shizuka’s Perspective

The second half of the episode shows the same day from Shizuka’s point of view.

Her daily routine is completely different.

She:

• exercises every morning,
• studies zombie behavior,
• keeps detailed survival notes,
• plans every trip carefully,
• avoids unnecessary risks.

She believes emotions can lead to death.

Even though she secretly wants to buy her favorite sweet, Sakura Mochi, she decides it isn’t worth the danger.

Later, after reviewing footage from her helmet camera, she notices Akira and briefly wonders whether she should have treated herself after a