In Episode 9, the focus is on Akira's journey back to his hometown. Akira, Shizuka, and their friends are on their way to visit Akira's parents. They encounter a blocked tunnel full of zombies, forcing them to take a detour through a forest. In the forest, they meet Masaru Kumano, a carpenter who saves them from a zombie boar. Masaru is building a treehouse, which aligns with one of Akira's bucket list items: "Build a treehouse."

The group decides to help Masaru complete his treehouse. During the construction, Akira reflects on the importance of being mindful of the world around him, inspired by Masaru's philosophy of listening to the "voice of the forest." Masaru reveals that he had to kill his infected wife and son.

After the treehouse is finished, they part ways with Masaru and continue their journey. Eventually, they arrive at Akira's village, which has managed to isolate itself from the zombie epidemic. Akira is relieved that his parents are safe, but he doesn't know how to make them happy or "repay" their love and support. His attempts to help around the house and give gifts are met with polite but distant responses from his parents.

Meanwhile, a group of men from the city appears in the village, who have also created a "100 Things to Do Before Becoming a Zombie" list. They seem to have sinister intentions, setting the stage for a potential conflict.

The episode ends with a preview of the next episode, "Hometown of the Dead," hinting at the challenges awaiting Akira and his friends.