They grabbed a few balls from the cart and left the gymnasium. The silence outside was oppressive, broken only by the eerie sound of the dead rattling in the overgrown garden. Their decaying hands clawed at the fence, futile but persistent. A few other figures shuffled aimlessly in the distance, but none stood in the direct path to the main hall.
Isamu and Takumi moved quietly, the weight of their task heavy on their minds. Each held a ball in one hand, with another tucked securely under their uniform jackets to muffle the sound. The wind carried a biting chill, tugging at their jackets and tousling their hair. The sun was hidden behind a blanket of dark, roiling clouds.
"It looks like it's gonna rain today," Isamu murmured, glancing at the sky. His voice was steady but low, as if speaking louder might draw unwanted attention. "Let's move quicker."
Takumi nodded, picking up his pace to match Isamu's long strides. The wind grew stronger as they approached the main hall, carrying the metallic tang of rain on the horizon. Soon, they reached the familiar tree outside the building—the one that had become their makeshift defense spot, littered with broken flasks and shattered beakers from past encounters.
The horde ahead seemed smaller today. The dead swayed in uneven clusters, their hollow eyes fixated on nothing. Raindrops began to fall, cool and sporadic at first. Takumi wasted no time, hurling the two balls he carried. The dull thuds as they hit the ground drew the attention of a few, but not nearly enough to clear the path.
Isamu sighed, gripping the balls he carried. His gaze fell on one of them—a worn and battered ball with loose seams. He handed the other to Takumi, then stepped forward cautiously, scanning the ground until his eyes found the sharp remains of a shattered flask.
"Keep a look out for a sec," he said softly. He adjusted his grip on the tattered ball, exhaled deeply, and tossed it high into the air. As it descended, he jumped, meeting it with a precise toss like a set, that sent it arcing toward the shards of glass. The ball struck with a loud pop, the sound reverberating through the air like a firecracker. It worked. The dead turned in unison, shambling toward the noise.
Takumi grinned. "Nice one."
"Let's go," Isamu said, urgency cutting through the moment of triumph. The rain grew heavier as they hurried toward the fire escape, its metal frame slick with water.
"Don't forget about the window, Takumi," Isamu reminded as his friend reached the first-floor landing. A guttural growl made them pause, their breaths hitching. But the sound faded, and they climbed the rest of the way without incident.
Reaching the fourth floor, they climbed through sliding open the window. Takumi collapsed against the wall, letting out a shaky breath. "That was simpler than I thought, considering I was basically dragging one leg."
Isamu chuckled. "Maybe the way you were limping made them think you were one of them."
They laughed softly, the sound carrying a rare lightness. It didn't last long, as their noise caught the attention of the others. Astrid slid the door open, her eyes wide with relief. She ran to Isamu, wrapping her arms around him. He stiffened at first, then relaxed into her embrace.
'I thought she'd still be pissed after last time. Guess she thought I was dead.'
Sato appeared next, wiping a mock tear and clapping slowly. "What a touching reunion. Really. I almost cared for a second." His grin was sharp. "I mean she's one of the only people I know you won't sacrifice for yourself so seeing you with her is one of the few times I see you not acting."
Isamu ignored him, Astrid's hands sliding up to cradle Isamu's face as she kissed him. "I thought something happened to you."
Isamu shook his head, glancing at Takumi. "I'm fine. Just had a little accident."
Takumi tittered. "Oh, I'm fine too, thanks for asking."
Sato chuckled. "That was actually funny."
Denji strode over, pulling Isamu into a quick hug. "I knew you guys were okay, you're like f**king cockroaches." He turned to Takumi, offering the same. Takumi hesitated but returned the embrace.
'Was that supposed to be a compliment?'
"Yeah, I had a little accident, but Isamu saved my life. Again." Takumi smiled sheepishly. "Not exactly an event out of the ordinary, huh?"
Denji patted his back. "What matters is you're both okay. Now, tell me you brought some f**king food 'cause if you didn't I might eat you guys."
'Did you turn while we were gone?' Isamu joked to himself.
Takumi handed him a bag. Denji peeked inside, his shoulders sagging with relief. "Oh, thank god."
'Looks like Denji was looking forward to the food more than us. Well, I don't blame him. Humans basic instinct is survival after all, though he could've acted a bit more relieved about us like he was the food. No one likes an ungrateful brat, not that you are one but..'
From the door, Yuto nodded. "I'm glad you guys are back."
Haruka beamed. "Well, if it isn't my two favorite players."
"Hey, what about me?" Denji protested.
Yuna offered a faint smile. "I'm happy you're both safe."
"So we're all gonna ignore that they both look pregnant?" Haruka asked, the balls sliding out of thier jackets shortly after.
Later, they gathered for an early lunch. Silence hung over the group, thick and uneasy, until Isamu spoke.
"Someone's trying to kill us."
A heavy statement that blasted them out of nowhere. Everyone froze. "What are you talking about?" Denji asked, setting down his can.
"The first-floor window was open," Isamu said evenly. "One of the dead nearly got Takumi. He managed to jump back, but he fell. That was the accident."
Haruka scoffed. "And that means someone's trying to kill us?"
Isamu's gaze hardened. "The window was shut when we went down to the cafeteria. Someone opened it."
Yuto shrugged. "So there are other survivors?"
Isamu shook his head. "It's been eight days, there's no way there other survivors in the main hall, maybe around the club room cause there is water in the rooms there but not here."
'I mean, the girl that was screaming is proof of that but I don't think I'll mention it.'
Astrid's voice wavered. "So what are you saying, that one of us is trying to kill the others??"