Isamu felt a flicker of happiness for Mr. Kazuki as he watched the man disappear over the wall. Returning to his wife was Kazuki's singular, unwavering and meaningful goal. Isamu envied the simplicity of it all, specially compared to their profound goal of mere act of survival. It felt pure, something he couldn't quite grasp for himself.
'I hope he finds her, truly... Now, back to the cafeteria.'
Turning away, Isamu's gaze met an unexpected sight: Sato, smiling and waving, this time much closer. The sight sent a jolt through him, his eyes widening briefly before he forced himself to move forward, pretending he hadn't noticed.
"How you been, Isamu?"
Isamu froze for a second but then resumed walking, his thoughts racing. 'He can talk too? I'm going insane. What the hell's wrong with me?'
Sato jogged alongside him, waving a hand inches from Isamu's face. "Hello, Isamu? I know you can see me and hear me too," he chuckled, his tone annoyingly casual. "I'm in your head remember. So what's the plan today again? Getting some food back to the rest of the group right? Should be easy enough."
Isamu whispered under his breath, "It's not real."
Sato leaned in closer, putting a finger behind his ear. "What was that?"
"I said you're not f**king real!" Isamu snapped, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sato's grin widened, his eyes closed, looking like some sort of saint. "Hey, did you ever tell the guys what really happened to me in the garden that night?"
Isamu sighed tiredly as kept walking with pace. "Nope, cause there's nothing to tell. You are dead, end of story."
"That's a bit harsh don't you think," Sato muttered, his tone low but accusing. "I mean, you did leave me out there to die. Acting like you are about help me like some hero and then letting those things eat me alive. That was seriously f**ked up man."
The pair passed through an area where many of the dead roamed, their decaying forms swaying aimlessly in the faint breeze. Isamu kept his lips sealed, unwilling to risk drawing attention.
Sato, however, seemed to delight in the opportunity. He performed a cartwheel, then a handstand, before prancing mockingly in front of the undead. "You know," he said, turning to Isamu, "you can talk to me without actually saying anything. Mental conversation. It's a perk, since I'm technically a part of you. Weird, right?"
'If you can read my thoughts, first of all, you got yourself killed when you drank that water. Second, shut up.'
Sato chuckled softly. "I bet you would like that but the thing is, you're the one doing this to yourself. I'm just the messenger, delivering the message you are keeping hidden in dark corners of that sick mind of yours… You know I had a family too, people I loved that I wanted to see again. My mom and dad are probably worried sick."
Isamu halted abruptly, glancing around to ensure no dead were near. His voice was low but venomous. "Well, guess what? They're probably f**king dead too, just like everyone else's parents. So stop bitching about it and shut up."
When he looked beside him again, Sato was gone. The silence that followed was heavier than the conversation had been.
'Great. Even he's making me look crazy. I can't believe I actually feel guilty—for Sato, sure, but the principal and Fatso? Hell, they were just part of the equation. And now I have to deal with this nonsense in my head.'
The rest of the walk to the cafeteria was uneventful, Isamu keeping his thoughts to himself.
At the back door, he knocked softly. Takumi answered, his expression filled with relief as he let him inside.
"Did they get across safely?" Takumi asked.
Isamu dropped into a chair, his body weary but intact. "Yeah, thankfully. It was clear almost the whole way."
'That was strange,' Isamu thought. 'Not many dead around. Most are at the main hall and the gate, but still... The garden area is practically empty. I shouldn't complain. Could be useful in a week's time, if it comes to that. Plan B isn't a terrible option after all.'
Takumi placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice soft. "I'm glad you're back safe."
"Yeah. Me too."
After a brief rest, Isamu rose and headed into the storage room to finish packing.
He looked at the resources they had left in the room, a few canned food, bottles of water and other essentials. 'This is maybe four or five days worth of food and water in here. We packed three days worth, maybe less. If I had to guess we can stay here another six days.'
The cold weight of the coin steadied his mind as he calculated their next steps. The rhythm of its spin and flip offered a small solace in the midst of their precarious reality.
"Hey, Isamu. Let's beat it," Takumi called from the doorway, already geared up to leave.
Isamu glanced around one last then closed the door once again and left the cafeteria through the back door along with Takumi
It was clear as ever, but their path around was much more difficult cause less dead around the garden meant there were a lot more everywhere else.
Their path back quickly proved more challenging. The farther they ventured, the denser the horde became. Each step demanded precision: one misstep, one snapped twig, could mean death.
Takumi and Isamu moved as silently as possible, regulating their breathing to barely a whisper. The faint scraping of dead feet on concrete was all they could hear, their senses stretched taut.
When they finally reached the edge of the main hall, Isamu exhaled, feeling the relief of a small victory.
"All you, Isamu," Takumi muttered, gesturing toward the horde clustered near the hall's entrance.
With practiced ease, Isamu reached into his bag and pulled out a beaker. He hurled it into the distance, the glass shattering loudly against the pavement. The dead turned toward the sound, shuffling toward the distraction.
"Go," Isamu whispered.
They began their climb up the metal ladder, the rungs cold and slippery from condensation. Halfway up, Isamu froze as he heard a guttural growl from the window just ahead.
A skeletal hand shot out, its jagged nails glinting in the faint light.
"Takumi, move!"
Takumi's reaction was instinctive. He leapt backward, his weight toppling him over the rail.
"Takumi!"
Takumi hit the ground hard, landing on his feet but twisting his ankle. A sharp cry escaped his lips as he collapsed, clutching at his injury.
The undead began to shuffle back to the ladder, drawn by Takumi's scream.
"I got you," Isamu said urgently as he climbed back down, reaching Takumi's side. Wrapping an arm under his friend's shoulders, he hauled him up as the first of the undead reached the base of the ladder.
The way back up was now completely blocked. Rows of gnashing teeth and clawing hands waited for them to make a mistake.
"Other way," Isamu growled, shifting his weight to support Takumi as they turned and limped toward an alternate path.
Takumi leaned heavily on Isamu, his injured foot barely touching the ground. Every step was a struggle, the sound of the horde growing louder behind them.