Introduction

Episode 9 shifts the story from fun zombie adventures to a more emotional and serious tone. Akira and his friends are finally close to his hometown in Gunma, where he hopes to reunite with his parents after the zombie outbreak.

Unlike earlier episodes that focus mainly on comedy, this episode explores:

• Family relationships
• Regret
• Living without postponing dreams
• The introduction of the series’ first major human antagonist

Akira Is Nervous About Going Home

As the group approaches Gunma, Akira becomes unusually quiet.

Throughout the series, he has always been energetic and optimistic, but now he worries about his parents.

He wonders:

• Are they still alive?
• Will they forgive him?
• What if he never gets another chance to thank them?

Before the zombie apocalypse, Akira rarely visited home because his exhausting corporate job consumed his life. Now he regrets not spending more time with his family.

The Tunnel Full of Zombies

The group reaches the tunnel leading to the village but discovers thousands of zombies trapped inside.

Shizuka quickly realizes something important.

The villagers intentionally lured infected people into the tunnel and sealed both ends to protect the village.

This shows that the people living there didn’t simply survive by luck—they used intelligence and teamwork to defend their home.

Meeting Masaru Kumano

Instead of entering the village immediately, the group travels through the forest.

There they rescue an elderly carpenter named Masaru Kumano from a zombie boar.

Kumano is building a beautiful treehouse deep in the forest.

Akira suddenly remembers that one item on his own bucket list is:

“Build a treehouse.”

Without hesitation, he decides to help Kumano finish it.

The Meaning of the Treehouse

At first, Shizuka cannot understand why Akira would delay seeing his parents just to build a treehouse.

However, Kumano tells everyone a heartbreaking story.

He always dreamed of building a treehouse for his wife and son.

Unfortunately, he kept saying:

“I’ll do it later.”

Before he could fulfill that promise, the zombie outbreak happened.

His wife and son became zombies, and he was forced to kill them himself.

Now he is finishing the treehouse alone as a tribute to the family he lost.

Episode’s Biggest Lesson

This episode teaches one of the strongest messages in Zom 100:

Never keep delaying your dreams.

Many people think they will always have another chance.

Kumano believed he could build the treehouse someday.

But “someday” never came.

Akira realizes that his bucket list isn’t childish—it reminds him to live today instead of endlessly waiting for tomorrow.

Arriving at Akira’s Village

After saying goodbye to Kumano, everyone reaches Akira’s village.

At first the village appears empty.

Akira fears the worst.

He runs through the streets searching for his parents.

Instead, he discovers the villagers happily enjoying a gathering.

His parents are alive.

Overwhelmed with relief, Akira bursts into tears and thanks them for raising him.

This is one of the most emotional scenes in the series.

Akira’s Father

Akira expects an emotional reunion.

Instead, his father reacts very calmly.

He lightly scolds Akira instead of hugging him.

At first this feels cold, but it reflects his father’s personality. He expresses love through actions rather than words.

Later, viewers notice he quietly hides an injury on his hand, creating suspense about whether he might have been infected.

Akira Wants to Repay His Parents

Akira adds another goal to his bucket list:

Spend quality time with Mom and Dad.

He tries helping his mother with housework and his father with farming.

Although his father doesn’t openly praise him, Akira begins rebuilding the relationship they lost during the years he was trapped by work.

Introduction of Kanta Higurashi

The episode’s final minutes introduce Kanta Higurashi, who becomes Akira’s greatest human rival.

Like Akira, Kanta disliked society before the apocalypse.

However, the two respond very differently.

Akira’s philosophy:

• Live freely.
• Help others.
• Chase dreams.
• Enjoy every day.

Kanta’s philosophy:

• Hurt people.
• Destroy society.
• Take revenge.
• Enjoy chaos.

Both create bucket lists, but while Akira’s list is about living a meaningful life, Kanta’s list is filled with violent and destructive goals.

Why Kanta Is Important

Kanta is essentially Akira’s dark reflection.

Both were unhappy before the zombie apocalypse.

The difference is their choices.

Akira uses freedom to become a better person.

Kanta uses freedom to become a worse one.

This contrast becomes one of the central conflicts in the rest of the series. Community discussions often describe Kanta as the “mirror image” of Akira because of this opposing worldview.

Episode Ending

The episode ends on a cliffhanger.

Kanta and his companions discover the tunnel where the villagers trapped thousands of zombies.

They decide to release them, putting Akira’s peaceful hometown in extreme danger.