Seijiro kept running forward after dealing with the mutant zombie, his katana slicing through the air as he cleared out the normal zombies that staggered into his path. Each swing felt cathartic, a release of the pent-up fear and adrenaline surging through him. He could hear the low groans of the undead and the wet thud of their bodies hitting the ground behind him, but he didn't stop to look back. His focus was singular: reaching the school.
As he approached the school gate, an unsettling aura enveloped him. The atmosphere felt thick, almost suffocating, as if the very air was saturated with dread. A chill crept down his spine. Seijiro took a deep breath and stepped through the gate, the rusty hinges creaking ominously.
Inside, the scene was straight out of a nightmare. The school's once vibrant hallways were now draped in shadows, the flickering fluorescent lights casting erratic patterns on the walls. Desks were overturned, and papers littered the floor, some stained with dark, congealed blood. A faint, acrid smell hung in the air, a mix of decay and something far more sinister. The distant sound of screeching echoed through the corridors, sending shivers down his spine.
As he ventured further in, every footstep felt like a gamble. Just ahead, he spotted a zombie hunched over, its grotesque form twitching unnaturally. The creature's head jerked up as it noticed him, emitting a blood-curdling howl that pierced the silence.
"Shit!" Seijiro muttered under his breath, raising his katana. With a swift movement, he silenced it, the blade slicing through flesh and bone. But the sound had been enough to draw attention.
His heart raced as he turned to see a horde of zombies shambling towards him, their eyes glazed over with hunger. "It's trying to call the others!" he thought, panic flooding his mind. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned on his heels and sprinted down the hallway, the sound of their relentless pursuit echoing behind him.
Desperation fueled his speed as he spotted a classroom door at the end of the corridor. He dashed forward, flung the door open, and quickly shut it behind him, leaning against it as he caught his breath, heart pounding like a war drum in his chest.
The zombies rushed by outside, their shuffling feet and guttural groans reverberating through the walls. He could hear one of them stop, its breath rasping against the door as it sniffed at the entrance, searching for him. Seijiro held his breath, praying the old wooden door would hold against the creature's instincts.
Time felt like it slowed to a crawl as he waited, each second stretching into eternity. The creature's growling faded as it joined the others, their collective moans growing distant. But the tension in the air remained thick, and Seijiro knew he couldn't stay hidden for long. He had to find a way to navigate this haunted school and discover what lurked in its depths before it was too late.
Seijiro sat against the classroom wall, the heavy silence pressing in around him. His heart raced as he replayed the fight with the mutant in his mind, the way it had felt—like a nightmare he couldn't wake up from. But now, as he listened to the distant groans and shuffling feet of the undead outside, a different fear gnawed at him.
What if his friends were out there, fighting just as hard, or worse—what if they were already gone?
He thought of Sae, Takina, and his friends in school, which he came to save. They had shared so many laughs, dreams, and even fears together. The image of them alive and safe flickered in his mind, but each passing moment only deepened his anxiety. What if they had encountered a horde of zombies? What if they were hiding somewhere, just like he was?
"Are they okay?" he whispered to himself, feeling a lump form in his throat. "Did they make it?"
Seijiro shook his head, trying to dispel the thoughts. He couldn't let despair take root. He needed to be strong—not just for himself but for them. If they were out there, he had to believe they were fighting to survive just like he was.
The classroom was dim, the dust motes dancing in the shafts of light filtering through the grimy windows. Seijiro took a deep breath, forcing his mind back to the task at hand. He needed to find a way out of the school, gather information, and if possible, locate his friends.
With renewed determination, he stood up, steeling himself for what lay ahead. He pressed his ear against the door, listening for any signs of danger. The noises outside had died down a bit, and he decided it was time to move.
He slowly opened the door, peeking out into the hallway. The air was thick with tension, but for the moment, it was eerily quiet. Seijiro tightened his grip on the katana, ready to fight or flee at a moment's notice. Stepping into the corridor, he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. Each step echoed in the silence, a reminder of the peril that lurked just beyond the shadows.
Meanwhile, his friends were hearing the sounds echoing throughout the school. One girl in the group, Yuki, said, "I think someone came to rescue us!"
Another girl, Mei, chimed in, "Yeah, maybe it's the police or someone!"
A boy named Kenji added, "It could be the army too. Maybe they came to look for survivors."
Then another boy, Ryota, interjected, "While I like that all of you are optimistic, you should also be realistic. It's probably just a student getting eaten while trying to escape." He continued, "This is a worldwide disaster. Even the army and police are probably having a hard time; they'll likely be in disarray. If they were coming to save people, you'd see helicopters in the sky, while they might be announcing safe camps on the radio. It's highly unlikely they'll come because, in a world like this, resources are limited."
Ryota pointed towards the window. "Look outside."
They all turned to see the grim scene of the city. Streets were littered with debris, overturned cars, and flames flickering in the distance. Shadows moved in the alleys as hordes of zombies roamed freely, their haunting moans piercing the silence. The sky was gray and heavy with smoke, blotting out the sun. The once-bustling metropolis was now a ghost town, filled with an eerie stillness that hung over them like a dark cloud.
"Do you really think anyone will come to save us? We're all alone," Ryota said, his voice breaking the momentary silence that followed.
A heavy tension filled the room as the reality of their situation sank in, leaving them to contemplate their fate in this desolate world.
Then Yuki stood up, determination in her eyes. "Since no one is coming to save us, let's escape this hell together!"
Mei quickly said No!, holding her own head as she sat against the wall. "If we go out, we'll die for sure!" Her voice trembled, and she hurled up, the panic overwhelming her.
Kenji, trying to keep spirits up, agreed with Mei. "Let's just wait a little longer. Maybe someone will come to save us!"
Ryota, however, looked at both of them with a hard expression. "If they don't want to go with you, I'll follow you."
Kenji raised an eyebrow, confused. "Why?"
Ryota replied with a sense of urgency, "Because if we wait here, we'll eventually run out of food. We'll still have to leave the classroom eventually. And if no one agrees to leave, then we'll die from starvation. So if we're going to die anyway, let's just die while trying to escape!"
A heavy silence settled in the room, the gravity of their situation hanging in the air. Yuki looked around at her friends, gauging their reactions. The reality of being trapped in the school was becoming increasingly apparent, and the thought of doing nothing while death loomed felt unbearable. The decision weighed heavily on all of them as they contemplated their next move.
Then all of them decided to follow Yuki out of the class. Before leaving, Yuki paused to write a note.
Ryota glanced over, curious. "What are you doing?"
"I'm just writing a note that we'll be at the school bus, in case anyone happens to enter the room so they can follow us," she replied, a smile spreading across her face. "The more, the merrier!"
Ryota frowned, shaking his head. "More people aren't always better, especially in a world like this." He turned his back on Yuki, heading to join the others, who were waiting near the classroom door.
Yuki stood there for a moment, contemplating his words. There was a truth in his caution that gnawed at her. As optimistic as she was, the harsh reality of their situation pressed down on her. She couldn't help but feel that Ryota's concerns were valid. In this chaotic world, trust was a luxury they could no longer afford.
After a brief moment, she pushed the thoughts aside, determined not to let fear stop them. With a deep breath, she folded the note and tucked it under the desk before joining the others. "Let's go," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. Together, they stepped out into the unknown, ready to face whatever awaited them outside the safety of their classroom.
After Yuki wrote her note, she gathered her courage and joined Ryouta and the others as they prepared to leave the classroom. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with uncertainty as they looked at each other, each contemplating the risks ahead.
Yuki took a deep breath and opened the classroom door, revealing a dark hallway littered with debris. Shadows danced along the walls as they stepped into the corridor, their hearts racing.
As they moved cautiously, they could hear faint groans echoing in the distance, reminders of the horrors lurking just outside their view.
"Stay close," Yuki whispered, glancing back at her friends.
They made their way down the hall, their footsteps muted by the thick layer of dust on the floor. Suddenly, they heard a loud crash, followed by a series of guttural growls. A group of zombies had broken through a nearby classroom, drawn by the noise.
"Run!" Kenji shouted, adrenaline kicking in as the group sprinted toward the stairwell. The sound of their pounding feet echoed against the walls, a desperate race against time.
As they barreled into another classroom, Yuki commanded, "Mei, Ryouta, help me barricade the door!" She grabbed a nearby desk, her muscles straining as they quickly pushed it against the door, hoping it would buy them some time.
With the door shut and the class secured, the sound of zombies scratching at the door grew louder, a reminder of the danger lurking just outside.
"At least we're making some progress," Yuki said, trying to stay positive.
"I knew we shouldn't have left that class. It's all your fault we're in this situation!" Mei shot back, frustration boiling over.
Kenji interjected, "This isn't the time to argue! Let's focus on how to get out of this situation."
Ryouta chimed in, "Sadly, the pretty boy is right for once. We need a plan to get out of this situation."
"And how are we going to do that?" Mei asked, her voice tinged with anger.
Ryouta's eyes darted around the room. "I saw a fire hose earlier. We could use it to escape."
"We can't just use it like that; our hands will burn from the friction," Yuki countered, crossing her arms.
"No, we can make a kind of ladder by tying large knots that our hands and feet can fit through," Kenji suggested, his mind racing with possibilities.
"That wouldn't work," Yuki said. "Everyone isn't the same height, and there's no guarantee it'll hold our weight."
Ryouta interrupted, "No, it just might work! If we make the knots at an average height, it should hold our weight. It's better than a rope since the material is thick and strong."
Kenji nodded, looking at Yuki. "How did you know that, by the way?"
"I once saw it in a movie," he replied, while smiling awkwardly with her hands at the back of his head .
Yuki sighed, still skeptical. "Movies aren't exactly reliable sources for survival in real life."
"But they can give us ideas," Ryouta insisted, his determination shining through. "If we don't try something, we're just sitting ducks here."
"Fine," Yuki relented, "let's find that fire hose and make this ladder."
They then looked at the fire hose, which was just across the classroom door on the other end of the wall, but they couldn't get it because a group of zombies had gathered in the middle of the hallway, their groans and shuffling feet filling the air with a sense of dread.
"We can't just rush in there," Yuki whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she peered through the small window, trying to gauge their numbers.
"We need to wait until they leave," Ryouta suggested, crouching down next to her, focused on observing the zombies. He leaned in closer, his eyes scanning the creatures' movements, attempting to learn their behavior.
"They're not exactly predictable," Kenji added, pacing nervously. "How long do you think we'll have to wait?"
Mei, sitting against the wall, sighed heavily. "What if they don't leave? We can't stay in here forever."
"Let's just give it a minute," Yuki urged, glancing back at her friends. "If we can see them move away, we might have a chance."
Ryouta continued to study the zombies, trying to figure out if there was a way to draw them away.
As they waited, the sounds of the zombies echoed louder through the hallway, their growls growing more pronounced as they moved restlessly.
"We can't just sit here," Yuki said, anxiety creeping into her voice. "We have to come up with a plan."
Mei shook her head. "What if we get caught? I can't take that risk."
"Everyone is scared, but if we wait too long, it might be worse," Kenji interjected, trying to steady their nerves. "We need to figure something out."
"Okay, let's try to stay calm and focused," Yuki said, trying to rally her friends. "Ryouta, keep watching them. If they start to leave, we'll make our move."
They all nodded, adrenaline pumping as they anxiously awaited the right moment to escape. The tension hung in the air like a storm cloud, each second feeling like an eternity as they prepared for their next move, hoping for the best in a world gone mad.
Meanwhile, Seijiro fought his way through the horde of zombies, his katana slicing through rotting flesh as he moved with determination. The chaos around him was overwhelming, but he kept his focus, driven by thoughts of his friends. After what felt like an eternity of dodging and attacking, he finally arrived at their classroom.
The door creaked open, revealing a scene that sent a chill down his spine: the room was empty, with only scattered papers and overturned desks to remind him of the chaos that had unfolded. His heart raced as he scanned the room, fear gripping him at the thought that his friends might have fallen victim to the undead.
"No… they couldn't have…" he whispered to himself, shaking his head to clear the dark thoughts. As he stepped further inside, he noticed traces of activity—a few backpacks left behind, a dropped pencil case, and the unmistakable scuff marks on the floor where furniture had been pushed aside.
Seijiro's eyes widened as he caught sight of a small note crumpled on the teacher's desk. He rushed over, quickly snatching it up. The neat handwriting was unmistakable: it was Yuki's.
We're at the school bus. If anyone sees this, you can follow us. The more the merrier!
Relief washed over him. They were alive. They had decided to escape without him. Seijiro felt a mix of gratitude and guilt. He wished he could have been there to protect them.
He glanced around the classroom once more, taking a deep breath. Knowing they wouldn't have gone far, he tucked the note into his pocket and set off, determined to track them down.
"Stay safe, guys," he murmured, gripping his katana tightly as he stepped back into the darkened hallway.
As he moved, he kept his senses heightened, the sounds of moans and shuffling feet reminding him of the ever-present danger. He navigated through the corridors, retracing his steps with purpose. Each corner he turned felt like a gamble, but the thought of reuniting with his friends propelled him forward.
He made his way down the staircase, the sounds of the school buzzing around him like a distant storm. The atmosphere was thick with tension, but he pushed on, heart racing with both fear and determination.