Crack!
The sickening crunch of bone echoed in the library, the final blow on the head dealt its devastating damage on the infected Takeuchi, it silenced his lowly groans. Ren stared down at his figure, only this time his eyes were hardened, and his ragged breaths finally calm and even. However, it still didn't feel quite right, the librarian for whatever reason infected, used to be a human being despite his current monstrous state, but it vanished almost immediately, because for now he felt as ease, for it meant that the school was much safer.
Had he or Yarigawa walked inside unknowingly, it would have been devastating. Perhaps either of them could have been bitten, he shivered at the thought.
Yarigawa was right, he too would've preferred to be sent to his death, a human. A morbid thought, yet it didn't feel too far out considering the circumstances they had been thrust upon.
All he had to do now, was clean up. It could wait a while, for now he would close the door shut until sunrise and embark on an odd journey of keeping their safe haven clean. Securing the school wasn't just about comfort, it was about survival.
Despite thinking so, he wasn't too keen on dealing with prions, something he noted were virtually impossible to kill using normal methods of disinfection.
Then again, nothing good came about easy, and he could discuss with Yarigawa when she wakes up from her slumber.
Perhaps it was time to wake her, she had to know his next few steps, the gymnasium was a monumental task for just one person.
Deciding it was time to finish wrapping up the school, he promptly left the library. The last couple classrooms were emptied out swiftly, Ren walked back upstairs with a stride of confidence, finally feeling comfortable with their living environment.
He nudged her gently, and her eyes snapped open with a jolt. Her amethyst eyes usually sharp and cold, now flickered with panic. Ren felt sweat drip from his head when he'd realised just how close her makeshift spear had appeared toward his chest.
"There was something in the library." He started, a slow nod of her head confirmed she was listening, "Mr. Takeuchi was inside, he was infected." He explained the encounter in detail, and those before Takeuchi. A cold resolve settled on Yarigawa's face as she listened to him with rapt attention.
"I see…" Yuki sighed, her head forming plans and thoughts of her own. "By the way, isn't that thing annoying?" She inquired pointing at his cardboard armour.
"A bit." Ren admitted with a wry smile, "But it can save my life one of these days." He left it that it, aware of her contemplation, perhaps she too was considering making her own armour.
"Shall we?" He asked her, almost eager to get to the gymnasium. Yuki offered a curt nod in response, she then rose, her hand brushing against his, as she accepted his help, he had pulled her up with ease.
The gymnasium loomed across the field, a separate structure and built within it, steel and other earthquake-resistant materials allowing it to withstand against earthquakes, especially in Japan's earthquake prone topography.
But it was also where club practices was held, a place with countless memories and trials for both of them. But nostalgia couldn't cloud their judgment, and this one final sweep had to be done, it was a necessary evil to ensure the safety of their haven.
Standing before its metal doors made both feel a wave of apprehension, but Ren noted the clean handles, it was a vivid contrast to the bloody grimy handle of the Library office door. Maybe nobody snuck inside? Or whoever did, wasn't infected?
Either way, it wasn't too bad of a scenario. Ren turned to look at Yarigawa Yuki, they exchanged a glance, eyes met with intense determination, then she nodded curtly.
Her hands tightened around her spear, aiming directly at the door incase something jumped out, she would stab and swing mercilessly without any care, human or not, it wouldn't matter, not anymore at least…
With a deep breath, he reached for the door handle, feeling the gears inside turn. The sound echoing inside, oddly loud but in a large empty space, it made sense. He pushed the door open slowly, letting the sliver of light pass through inside to light up the inside of the gymnasium.
"So far, so good," he murmured, offering her a ghost of a smile, "Let's go," he whispered, then the two creeped inside.
The first order of business were the inside lights, Ren had to find the switches, after all electricity was still running through the power lines.
His fingers aimlessly wandered the rough walls, it felt cold to the touch. Then his fingers bumped into a couple cold plastic protrusions which made him flinch in the darkness, he pushed his fingers hearing the subtle yet satisfying click as the gymnasium was flooded with bright, artificial lights almost instantly.
A gasp escaped Yuki's lips. The sight which greeted them wasn't the mental pictures of the apocalypse they'd expected. While chairs were overturned, mats lay scattered in patterns neatly put together on the floor, some bearing scuff marks that spoke of countless practice sessions.
But most strikingly, it was a collection of Bokken, which caught his eyes, they were laid neatly in a corner. The Kendo club had them for rare occasions of Kenjutsu, a more lethal form of sword combat compared to kendo.
These swords were carved from wood, unlike shinai which were bamboo blades put together. Bokken could easily break bones, every swing had deathly potential.
He quickly rushed forward, comparing the build and weight of each before pulling one from the collection.
His arms bulged as he swung the bokken with precision, each swing left a howl of wind.
"One swing to the head and its over." He spoke, not turning to Yuki, who hummed in acknowledgment.
The vastness of the gymnasium offered little to no hiding spots for any threats lurking, except for the storage room. Which they could deal with later. Right now, an unexpected sense of relief washed over them.
Thankful for the fact that the devastation hadn't reached this sacred space.
"Looks like someone put things away before the outbreak." Yuki said, her voice regaining its colder blunter undertone, "Yarigawa, you are smiling." Ren pointed at her face, a rare commodity back then, even rarer now.
"Let's just get to the storage room," She huffed past him, a faint pinkish hue dusting her cheeks, "Alright, alright." He felt his feet getting lighter and caught up to her.
He wasn't too afraid anymore, the bokken offered him more insurance. The shinai, he placed it gently at a side, in respect for how much it had contributed to his survival.
"I wonder if they left any surprises."
The mention of surprises sparked a flicker of excitement In his eyes. He wondered as to what kind of forgotten weapons laid inside, from baseball bats, to metal pipes, and the Kendo armor.
His eyes glimmered, he'd definitely fall asleep soundly after coming across something like that.