As they trudged deeper inside, a hushed shuffle, stopped them dead in their tracks. Their eyes darting around the abandoned gymnasium. The air crackled with tension.
"Storage room," Yuki whispered, pointing at the closed door with her chin, her voice was barely audible, but her steely gaze and taut gaze spoke volumes. She scanned the door, searching for any signs of forced entry or movement within.
"Ren, open it," she instructed, her voice firm and darkening with malice, "I can stab whatever's inside with my spear." They positioned themselves in-front of the door, it seemed simple enough, made of a plastic body and a round handle.
'Flimsy' Ren noted, his moves more confident with the bokken resting on his grip.
Click!
Nothing. Ren turned the round knob but it wouldn't budge. The door was locked, a wrench in their strategy. Yuki narrowed her eyes, the entrance was open yet the storage room was closed. It wouldn't hurt to be paranoid in these times.
"They must have locked it before…" Ren trailed off, frustration bubbling in his voice.
"I know," She heard him whisper, a frown smearing his face when she took a glance at his side.
"I'm gonna tear it down," he declared, Yuki then aimed her spear at the door, a silent agreement to his decision. Ren raised his leg effortlessly, sticking to the wall, at the angle he would kick, the handle would break from within.
A loud bang resonated through the gymnasium, followed by another, until the round knob finally gave out, jutting out from the door, barely holding on.
The force of the kick pushed the door open inside, its hinges groaning in protest. Inside, rows of large lockers lined the walls. Yuki noted the large lockers, it held the practice poles, carved from the same hard wood material used to produce bokken.
But something was wrong, the inside seemed to be empty, Ren instantly became alert, his previous excitement gone, now hardened once more. There seemed to be no sign of activity, he flicked on the light switch next to the door, revealing the space in its entirety.
"Come out." He ordered, his voice booming in the emptiness. His eyes scanned the room, shifting between a mountain of boxes and lockers.
A small voice, muffled but eerily familiar in the silence. "S-Senpai?"
Ren's eyes widened in disbelief, "Reina?" he called out hesitantly, unsure of what he'd just heard.
Yuki still scanning the lockers grunted in response, her eyes peering through each of the lockers, amethyst orbs scanning through the open holes of each locker until it reached one, its door slightly ajar. She yanked it open harshly, revealing the figure huddled inside.
Yamaguchi Reina, member of the Kendo club, sat trembling on the floor, huddled inside with a bokken clutched tightly in her hands. Blinded by the sudden light, she squeezed her eyes shut.
But a gasp escaped her lips when she recognised the figures before her. In a flash, she was out of the locker and launching herself into Ren's arms to embrace him in a relieved hug.
A wave of relief washed over him as he embraced her tightly. Her blonde hair tickled his chin as she buried her face in his chest. Ren reciprocated her enthusiasm with a tight hug of his own. "I'm so glad you are safe." He muttered, his voice thick with emotion, Reina just nodded, clinging onto him for dear life.
The tender moment was shattered by Yuki's blunt voice, "Are you two done?" Her question hung in the air, laced with a hint of impatience as Reina shuffled awkwardly in place before eyeing the figure.
"Tsk." She rolled her eyes sideways seeing Yuki, who smirked at the girl's expression.
Ren coughed into his palm hoping to ease the tension, "Reina, what happened? Why were you in the locker?" He inquired curiously, he had half expected the girl to be at home when the Principal's announcement ended.
Reina looked sullen, "I didn't go there because I wanted to," she mumbled, "I was at the gymnasium when the announcement came, and wanted to leave too…"
She paused, her breath hitching as she fought back tears, "But by the time I finished tidying up the place, I saw a person," her voice trailed off, replaced by a shudder.
"He was eating the old man! And another," she blurted out, terror running across her spine, "I got so scared that I had no choice but to hide in the locker…" She finished, her voice cracking with despair. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
A pang of guilt twisted Ren's gut for making her to relive the horrifying experience, "I don't know if my parents are alive… What am I gonna do if…" She stopped herself, her eyes rimmed red. He felt terrible for the poor girl, a well trusted member of his club.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Yuki bowed her head ever so slightly, in a gesture of offering sympathy. Ren squeezed her hand gently, hoping to offer her some comfort.
"I can't guarantee anything just yet, but we will definitely go search for them." He added softly, hoping it would calm her down, Reina just nodded slowly, questions bubbling at the statement.
"Reina, you have been stuck here for nearly a day." Yuki said, her curiosity piqued, "You don't know what happened do you?"
Reina shook her head hesitantly.
"There's a virus," Ren began, his voice low and cold. He glanced at Yuki before him, their eyes met for a fleeting second, a silent understanding passing between them.
"The world's gone to shit." Yuki interjected before Ren could elaborate, her tone laced with frustration. Ren glared at her, but she held her gaze unflinchingly.
Reina's eyes widened in shock, "Virus?", she stammered, her voice barely audible, "like… like those zombie movies?"
"We found calling them zombies distasteful, they are just 'the infected' to us." Yuki offered to correct her mistake, Ren finally took charge.
"I can't sugarcoat any of this, but its messed up out there. Yuki and I finished clearing out the entire school, we are trying to make this a safe place for us." He explained while wrapping his arm around Yuki's neck.
"You stink!" Yuki slapped his arm away, earning a mock yelp from her friend.
"Reina, we basically need your help." Yuki sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"I'm willing to assist Senpai." Reina nodded with a determined gaze, the deep respect and admiration she'd held for the Kendo captain on display. Yuki simply glared at the girl's words. Didn't she just say "we"? When did it become about just Ren?
"Great!" Ren sighed, relieved with the extra help, his eyes now fully concentrated on the contents held within the locker room.
"Let's take everything useful, back to the classroom." He initiated, to which both girls nodded.
"Ren, one more thing." Yuki interrupted his train of thoughts.
"The school gate," she reminded them, "we need to close it." Reina gulped at the prospect but she couldn't disappoint the captain now.
"I volunteer," Reina raised her hand, the other hand firmly gripping her bokken. Ren opened his mouth in protest but a look from Yuki shut him down.
"She needs this," Yuki explained, "I will go with her. She needs to get used to them." With a tone of finality she expressed her intention of ending the conversation.
"Ugh…" Ren groaned, gears churning in his head, and with a deep sigh he relented, "fine, but be very careful." He advised them.
"And Yuki, come back safely okay?" The words were spoken with a seriousness and warmth that surprised even him, Yuki simply huffed past them, her usual stoicism cracking for a brief moment.
"Listen to everything she says," Ren reminded the blonde girl sternly, "She has the ability to save your life." With one final hug, the two girls exited the locker room, followed by the heavy silence of the abandoned gymnasium.
Ren was tasked with carrying the heavy equipment back, something he couldn't complain much about. It would do well for him to keep his body conditioned.
"Oh man, I'm totally gonna crash tonight." He mumbled to himself, hefting a bag containing baseball bats onto one shoulder, while the other carried both bokken and wooden spears.