One small advantage of being in the apocalypse is that everyone knows that to gain something, you have to give something in return. After Duanmu Huai made the decision, the other survivors decisively joined the team—after all, you reap what you sow, right? The more you give, the more you get, isn't it?
Aiden and Joel naturally wanted to join; they were vulnerable on their own, and this was Joel's problem to begin with. As for Aiden—as a Wanderer, he would never miss an opportunity to scavenge.
Among the students, Komuro Takashi and Miyamoto Rei joined in. They at least had some combat ability. Tall City Saye would stay behind to help Mary look after Hillary Alice and Ellie...after all, they couldn't just leave the two little girls in this unfamiliar place.
The reason Mary stayed was simple. As a writer, she saw that this settlement had a lot of material she could gather, didn't she?
