It was just that—a blurry hand. Nothing more. The shape was so indistinct that it was impossible to tell whether it belonged to a girl or a boy.
'F**kkkkk. Can't catch a break with this sh*t. If only the camera panned even a little to the right, we'd know who it was. We're back to square one,' Isamu thought, his frustration palpable as he rubbed his temples.
Takumi leaned back in the chair, letting out a long sigh. "Well, that was anticlimactic. Still don't know sh*t, though we know we have cameras now. Whether they'll be useful or not is the question."
Isamu stood by the desk, arms crossed, staring at the grainy screen with a frown. He scratched the back of his head, his voice measured but heavy. "I doubt they'll be of much use. We're not staying here much longer. Tomorrow, I plan to go back to the cafeteria and bring the last of the food. We should leave the day after tomorrow with what we can carry."
Takumi turned to him, his lips pursed. "And go where?"
"I don't know," Isamu admitted, his voice softening. "I haven't thought that far ahead. Let's take it one step at a time."
The fourth floor was quiet when they returned. The room smelled faintly of stale air, a reminder of how long they had been confined in the school. The flickering monitors offered little of value, their eerie glow casting restless shadows across the walls.
Isamu approached Denji, who was leaning against a desk, idly spinning a pen between his fingers. The rest of the group lounged nearby, their conversations subdued, their postures slouched with boredom.
"I want you to come with me to the cafeteria tomorrow to bring back the last of the food and water," Isamu said, his tone carrying a quiet authority. "We should leave the school the day after tomorrow."
The murmur of voices ceased as everyone turned their attention to Isamu.
Yuto adjusted his glasses, the faint glint of their lenses reflecting the dim light. "The day after tomorrow? Isn't that a little early?"
Isamu nodded firmly. "Yeah, but it's better we leave the school with food in our bags. We don't know what the situation outside is like. If we finish the food here and then leave, we could starve unless we find more supplies. There might be food in the stores around town, but we can't rely on them completely."
Haruka tilted her head, her voice tinged with concern. "What about the person who opened the window and all that?"
Isamu exhaled sharply, his gaze steady but tired. "We'll have to deal with that later. For now, I want you all to gear up tomorrow—pack anything useful." He turned back to Denji and added, "We leave in the morning."
Day 10
The morning air was heavy with tension as Isamu methodically packed his bag, slipping in two beakers and a few other supplies. Denji stood nearby, stretching his arms and taking a deep breath as if preparing for a sprint.
They exited onto the fire escape, the creak of the metal steps cutting through the eerie quiet. Following their usual routine, they navigated past the horde with practiced caution. The long detour to the cafeteria was uneventful, the silence only punctuated by the occasional groan of the undead in the distance.
Inside the cafeteria, the dim light from the overcast sky spilled through the windows, giving the room an oppressive, gray pallor. Isamu pushed open the storage room door, scanning the shelves.
'Seven people, including myself,' he thought grimly. 'The food hasn't lasted as long as I hoped. It's melting away, fast. I wish there were less survivors, no offense to them but it's best a few survive than none. A necessary sacrifice for the greater good…' His mind lingered on the thought for a moment before he dismissed it with a shake of his head. 'I just need to think of places where we'll find more food once we're out.'
Denji's voice broke through his thoughts. "Hey, you still here, Isamu?"
Isamu chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of weariness. "Yeah, sorry. Let's get to packing."
They worked quickly, stuffing every last piece of food and water into their bags. The distant rumble of rain grew louder until it was a torrential downpour, hammering against the roof and windows.
Forced to wait, they sat at one of the tables, the silence between them broken only by the rhythmic drumming of the rain. Isamu's eyes wandered, catching sight of a dark stain on the floor.
"Is that blood?" he asked, pointing.
Denji followed his gaze and nodded. "Oh, yeah. That's from the dead guy. Guess we didn't clean it up too well."
"So… what exactly happened?"
Denji shifted in his seat, his expression darkening. "It came through the door, real slow, and stopped in the middle of the room. Yuto was near the counter, so he quietly grabbed a knife and tried to stab it. But he slipped—fell right on the flesh. The thing got on top of him, and I had to kick it off. Then I went around him to grab the knife and took it down."
Isamu's brows knitted together. "You went around him to grab the knife?"
Denji stood, gesturing to where it had all happened. "Yeah, the knife was to Yuto's left, so I had to go around him to get it. Why?"
Isamu sighed, shaking his head. "No reason. I just thought I heard you say something else."
Back on the Fourth Floor
Takumi lay sprawled on the floor, tossing a ball into the air repeatedly. The rhythmic thud as it returned to his hand filled the otherwise quiet room. Haruka walked in, her footsteps soft against the floorboards.
She plopped down in front of him, folding her legs. "Why are you training?"
Takumi scoffed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It's not training. I'm just bored as hell. Not much else to do."
"You can say that again. There's nothing fun here."
He glanced at her with a grin. "What happened? Did spinning on that chair finally make you dizzy?"
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Pretty sure even the chair got dizzy. Did you see how long ago Denji and Isamu left for the cafeteria?"
Takumi shrugged. "Not really, but they probably won't be back soon. The rain's coming down hard. Why?"
Haruka hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "Just curious. I think… it might be Isamu who opened the windows. Astrid seemed to think so before your fall."
Takumi laughed softly, his gaze fixed on the ball. "Don't worry, it's not Isamu. If he wanted anyone dead, they probably would be. He could've left me to die when I fell, heck I know I most likely would've. But he climbed down the steps and saved me. I don't think that's a trait of someone who's trying to kill us."
Haruka gave him a weak smile, but her eyes betrayed her lingering doubt.