As Seijiro continued running through the halls, slashing at the zombies that lurched toward him, he was oblivious to the fact that his frantic movements were attracting even more of the undead. Each swing of his katana, each grunt and shout echoed off the walls, drawing the attention of any nearby zombies.
In the chaos of the moment, he didn't notice the growing horde behind him. The relentless groans of the zombies mixed with the sounds of his footfalls as he darted down another corridor, desperate to clear a path to his friends.
Meanwhile, in the classroom where Yuki and the others were hiding, the zombies that had been blocking their way suddenly turned, drawn away by the commotion echoing down the hall. They stumbled out of view, leaving the door ajar and a glimmer of hope for the trapped group.
"Did you hear that?" Mei whispered, straining to listen as the sounds of growling and the shuffling of feet began to fade. "It sounds like they're leaving."
Ryouta perked up, glancing at the door. "If they're gone, we might have a chance to get that fire hose."
"Let's wait a moment, just to be sure," Yuki cautioned, still wary. But inside, a flicker of hope ignited.
As the last zombie shuffled out of view, Ryouta quickly made his decision. "Now or never," he said, rising to his feet. "I'm going for it."
With that, Yuki and Kenji followed suit, carefully edging towards the door. They peered out, confirming that the hallway was clear, the sounds of zombies now distant.
As the last zombie stumbled away from the classroom, Yuki and the others exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding with a mix of hope and fear.
"Now's our chance!" Yuki said, her voice a low whisper. She nodded toward the fire hose hanging on the wall just across from them. "Let's get it!"
With adrenaline pumping through their veins, they dashed toward the hose. Ryouta reached it first, quickly uncoiling it as Mei and Kenji stood guard, eyes scanning the hallway for any sign of danger.
"Hurry!" Kenji urged, glancing nervously at the door. "We don't know how long those zombies will be distracted."
Ryouta yanked the hose free and turned back to the group. "Okay, let's get back inside!"
They hurried into the classroom, shutting the door behind them. The scratching and groaning of zombies were still distant, but the tension was palpable.
"Let's make the ladder," Yuki instructed, her mind racing as she considered the best way to use the hose.
They quickly laid the hose out on the floor, discussing the knots and spaces needed for their hands and feet. "If we make the spaces about average height," Ryouta suggested, "it should be able to hold our weight."
"Right," Kenji agreed, grabbing a section of the hose. "Let's get started."
As they worked together, tension filled the air. Mei's hands trembled as she tied a knot, her mind racing with what could happen if they were discovered. "What if we can't climb out fast enough?" she murmured.
"We'll make it work," Yuki reassured her, her determination unwavering. "We have to try."
Minutes passed, and they crafted the makeshift ladder, securing knots at even intervals. Just as they finished, a loud crash echoed from the hallway, sending a wave of panic through the group.
"They're back!" Mei gasped, her eyes wide with fear.
"Quick, get ready!" Yuki urged, her heart racing. They positioned themselves by the window, the makeshift ladder ready to use as they prepared for their escape.
The sound of scraping nails against the door grew louder, accompanied by the guttural growls of the zombies. Seijiro's warning echoed in Yuki's mind. They had to act fast.
"On three, we climb out and keep moving!" Yuki instructed, adrenaline coursing through her veins. "One… two… three!"
With that, they began to descend the ladder, each one of them hoping and praying they could escape this nightmare before it consumed them.
As Yuki and her friends stepped into the science lab, they were greeted by a scene of disarray—papers scattered across the floor, glass beakers tipped over, and an unsettling silence that filled the air. The room was dimly lit, but the flickering lights from the broken overhead fixtures cast eerie shadows on the walls.
"Let's be careful," Yuki whispered, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger.
As they moved further in, Ryouta's gaze fell upon a sleek, black drone resting on a table amidst the chaos. Its propellers were intact, and it looked relatively unharmed.
"Hey, look at this!" he exclaimed, rushing over to inspect it.
"Do you think it still works?" Mei asked, her curiosity piqued.
Yuki stepped closer, examining the drone. "It looks like it's in good condition. If we can get it powered up, we could use it to scout the school and see where the zombies are."
Ryouta nodded, his excitement growing. "That's a great idea! It'll give us a better sense of the situation outside before we decide our next move."
Kenji hesitated. "But what if it attracts the zombies? We don't know how noisy it is."
"We have to take that risk," Yuki replied, determination in her voice. "If we can see what we're dealing with, we can plan our escape better."
Ryouta quickly began examining the drone, checking the battery and controls. "I think I can get it running. Just give me a minute."
As Ryouta worked, Yuki kept an eye on the door, listening for any sounds that might indicate the zombies were getting closer. The faint scratching and moaning echoed ominously, a constant reminder of the danger lurking just beyond their safe haven.
"Got it!" Ryouta announced, a spark of excitement in his eyes as he powered up the drone. The propellers whirred to life, cutting through the silence of the lab.
"Okay, let's be quick. I'll control it from here, and you guys lock the door," Ryouta instructed.
With a nod, Yuki and the others positioned themselves strategically, keeping watch as Ryouta maneuvered the drone through the lab and out the window.
As it floated into the open air, the group watched intently, the small screen displaying a live feed of the schoolyard. They could see clusters of zombies roaming the grounds, aimlessly wandering and occasionally bumping into each other, drawn by the chaos surrounding them.
"There's a group near the main entrance," Kenji noted, pointing at the screen. "Looks like they're blocking the way out."
"Let's check the other side of the building," Yuki urged, and Ryouta guided the drone in that direction.
The drone flew smoothly, giving them a bird's-eye view of the surroundings. They spotted a few zombies outside various classrooms, but there was also a clear path leading toward the back of the school, away from the main entrance.
"Look! There's a side door that seems clear!" Ryouta exclaimed, pointing at the screen. "If we can make it there, we might have a chance to escape."
"Perfect!" Yuki said, her heart racing with newfound hope. "We need to plan our exit quickly before more zombies gather."
The group huddled closer around the screen, discussing their next moves, their minds racing with the possibility of freedom as the drone continued to survey the school grounds.
Meanwhile, Seijiro sprinted down the hallway, he could hear the relentless groans of the zombies closing in behind him. Panic surged through him as he glanced back to see a swarm of the undead, their outstretched arms reaching for him, desperate to claim their next victim.
With no time to waste, Seijiro spotted a window at the end of the corridor. He made a split-second decision and leaped toward it. Grabbing the ledge, he hoisted himself up and slipped through the window just as the first few zombies reached the entrance to the hallway.
He found himself precariously balanced on the narrow ledge outside, the cool air rushing past him as he steadied himself. Below, the ground was littered with debris, and the sight of the zombies clawing at the window only fueled his adrenaline.
The mindless creatures, unable to comprehend their surroundings, stumbled forward in their hunger, some losing their balance and tumbling to the ground with sickening thuds. Seijiro felt a grim satisfaction as he watched them fall, knowing that for now, he had escaped their grasp.
Steeling himself, he began to inch along the ledge, careful not to look down. His heart raced not only from fear but also from the exhilaration of defying the odds. He could hear the muffled sounds of the horde inside, still thrashing around in pursuit.
Seijiro's mind raced with thoughts of his friends, wondering if they were safe and if they would still be alive when he found them. The weight of his isolation pressed heavily on him, but he pushed the doubts aside. He had to keep moving; there was no turning back now.
As Seijiro edged along the narrow ledge, a sudden whirring sound caught his attention. He squinted, spotting a small drone buzzing around the building. Realizing it was his friends' only lifeline, he called out, "Hey! Over here!"
The drone almost flew past, but at his shout, it halted mid-air and then spun around to face him. Seijiro couldn't see who was controlling it, but a wave of relief washed over him, knowing they might now be able to find him.
Back in the science lab, Yuki's eyes lit up as she spotted Seijiro on the drone's screen. "Isn't that Seijiro?" she asked, a smile spreading across her face. "I told you I heard something!"
Mei leaned in, frowning. "I thought he was taking a break from school because of his grandmother's illness. What's he doing here?"
Kenji glanced over, his tone filled with admiration. "I think he's here to save us. He must have been looking for us this whole time."
Ryouta, watching Seijiro's every move on the screen, scoffed slightly. "He must have been the one making a ruckus around the school and attracting the zombies, he's reckless as always." But his smirk softened. They all knew Seijiro's tendency to take risks—he always put others first, no matter the cost.
Yuki nudged Ryouta with her elbow, her smile unwavering. "Still, we should be grateful. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have made it this far." Her voice held a note of confidence, and for a moment, the whole group felt their spirits lifted.
The friends quickly huddled around the drone monitor, their eyes glued to the screen as they watched Seijiro make his way to a nearby fire escape. Each step he took seemed to bring him closer to reuniting with them—and to a chance of escape.
Yuki looked over at Ryouta, her face tight with worry. "Can't we just tell him where we are?"
Ryouta shook his head. "The speaker on the drone's busted. All we can do is try to guide him here and hope he follows."
The drone hovered closer to Seijiro, who, surprised at first, quickly understood it was trying to communicate. He followed its movements along the ledge until he arrived at an open classroom window. He glanced back at the hovering drone and muttered, "Alright, I get it—you want me to follow. Lead the way."
The drone zipped forward, directing Seijiro through the building. He moved carefully but knew his path wouldn't be easy. Sure enough, a few zombies blocked his way. With swift, practiced moves, he dispatched them with his katana, clearing his path as his friends watched intently from the monitor.
"Whoa, that's insane," Kenji whispered, sounding amazed.
As Seijiro descended a stairwell, he encountered a horde of zombies surging toward him. Just then, the drone hovered purposefully over the fire alarm. Seijiro smirked, catching on quickly. He smashed the alarm, and instantly, loud bells blared through the hallways, creating chaos. The zombies, confused by the intense noise, stumbled and crashed into walls, attacking anything that made a sound.
Back in the lab, his friends looked at Ryouta with amazement. "How did you know that would work?" Yuki asked.
"When we were getting the fire hose earlier, I noticed they couldn't see well, but they react intensely to sound and smell," Ryouta explained. "A loud enough sound makes them scatter—it disorients them."
Meanwhile, Seijiro took advantage of the chaos, slipping through a back door and quickly shutting it behind him to avoid the horde. He moved quietly to an open window, climbed back onto the ledge, and carefully edged his way forward to another classroom. Once there, he entered, cracked open the door to check the hallway, and saw the zombies he had narrowly avoided.
The drone was waiting for him, hovering in the hallway above the scattered zombies. As Seijiro stepped into the corridor, the drone quickly resumed its path, guiding him ever closer to the science lab where his friends anxiously awaited his arrival.
As his friends watched the monitor, their excitement grew as Seijiro got closer.
"He's almost here," Kenji murmured, his eyes wide. "It's incredible how he just cuts through those zombies."
Yuki chuckled, glancing at Ryouta. "I wonder what he'll say when he realizes it's us using the drone."
Ryouta smirked. "Honestly, he probably hasn't even thought about it. Typical Seijiro—he's just here to help, no questions asked."
Meanwhile, Seijiro reached a hallway where the drone hovered in front of a door, indicating the end of his journey. A few zombies blocked his path, but with swift, precise movements, he sliced through them, clearing his way. When the hallway was finally silent again, he opened the door and stepped into the room.
The sight of his friends, safe and smiling, hit him like a wave. Relief washed over him, and unexpectedly, tears began to spill down his cheeks. He tried to wipe them away, but they only came faster. His friends rushed to him, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
"It's really you," Yuki said softly, her own eyes glistening. "Thank you for coming."
Seijiro tried to laugh through his tears, but his voice caught in his throat. "I'm just… glad you're safe."
In that moment, with the weight of the journey and the relief of reunion, words weren't needed. Together again, they knew they could face whatever horrors lay ahead.