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Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End
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The day started like any other. The early morning sun poured through the windows of Matsuda High School, casting a golden glow on the polished floors of the classroom. The faint hum of distant chatter filled the air, students exchanging notes and gossip while waiting for their teacher. Yet, for Kaito Takeda, it was just another day to endure.
Kaito leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, staring out the window with a vacant expression. His jet-black hair, perpetually messy despite Ayumi's occasional attempts to fix it, framed his sharp features. His piercing gray eyesâan unusual color that often drew attentionâseemed distant, as if they could see something far beyond the classroom walls. He wore the school uniform with a casual disinterest, the tie loose and the blazer slightly unbuttoned.
"Earth to Kaito," a voice chirped next to him.
Ayumi Sato leaned over, her auburn hair tied in a neat ponytail, eyes alight with her usual mix of curiosity and exasperation. She had known Kaito for years and was one of the few people who could get past his detached demeanor.
"You're zoning out again," she teased. "What's out there that's more interesting than my chemistry notes?"
"Nothing worth mentioning," Kaito replied, his voice calm, almost monotone. He spared her a glance, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "And chemistry notes aren't exactly captivating, either."
Ayumi rolled her eyes. "Well, maybe if you paid attention, you'd pass without me bailing you out every exam."
Their banter was interrupted by a commotion at the front of the room. Hana Yamamoto, a fiery girl with short, spiky red hair and a reputation for speaking her mind, stood at the teacher's desk, arguing with a classmate. Her temper flared as usual, her voice rising above the murmurs.
"Hana's at it again," Ayumi muttered, shaking her head. "Wonder what set her off this time."
"It's Hana. Does she ever need a reason?" Kaito replied dryly.
Ryo Takahashi, the tall and stoic class representative, stepped in to calm things down. With his broad shoulders and calm authority, he had a way of diffusing situations without much effort. He adjusted his glasses and spoke firmly, his deep voice cutting through the noise.
"That's enough. Sit down, both of you," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The room quieted, but an unease lingered in the air. It wasn't just Hana's outburst; something felt off. Kaito couldn't shake the feeling, a sense of foreboding that had gnawed at him since he woke up that morning.
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A Normal Day, Interrupted
By lunchtime, the school grounds buzzed with activity. Kaito sat with Ayumi, Hana, Ryo, and Akari Fujiwara, a shy girl with long, dark hair who often kept to herself but had recently started joining their group. Despite her quiet nature, Akari had a sharp mind and often surprised them with her insights.
As they ate, the conversation drifted to mundane topics: homework, the upcoming festival, and rumors about a transfer student. But just as Ayumi was about to share a joke, the school's public announcement system crackled to life.
"Attention, students and staff. Please remain calm and stay in your classrooms. This is not a drill."
The robotic voice sent a wave of confusion through the courtyard. Whispers spread like wildfire.
"What's going on?" Ayumi asked, her brows furrowed.
"Probably another earthquake drill," Hana said dismissively, though the edge in her voice betrayed her uncertainty.
Ryo stood, his sharp gaze scanning the area. "It doesn't sound like a drill. We should head back inside."
Before they could move, a scream pierced the air. All heads turned toward the school gate, where a figure staggered through, covered in blood. It was one of the teachers. His eyes were wild, his movements erratic.
"Help me!" he cried, but before anyone could react, another figure lunged at himâa student, or what used to be one. The attacker's skin was pale, veins blackened, and their eyes glowed with an eerie yellow light.
The teacher's screams were cut short as the student sank their teeth into his neck. Chaos erupted. Students ran in every direction, some frozen in terror, others screaming for help.
"What the hell is going on?!" Hana shouted, grabbing a broken chair leg as a makeshift weapon.
"It's not safe out here!" Ryo yelled, taking charge. "We need to get inside, now!"
Kaito stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing. This wasn't normal. This wasn't something they could run from. He grabbed Ayumi's arm, pulling her toward the building. "Move!"
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The First Kill
Inside, the hallways were no safer. Screams echoed, and the infected were already spreading. Kaito and his group pushed through the chaos, making their way toward the science lab, which Ryo suggested as a defensible location.
As they ran, an infected student lunged at Ayumi. She froze, her eyes wide with fear. Without thinking, Kaito stepped in front of her, wielding a fire extinguisher he'd grabbed along the way. The infected snarled, its glowing eyes fixed on him.
"Get back!" Kaito shouted, swinging the extinguisher with all his strength. The makeshift weapon connected with the infected's skull, sending it crashing to the ground. It twitched, then stilled.
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System Notification
System Activated!
Congratulations, Kaito Takeda, for being the first human to kill an infected.
Title Gained: First Slayer
Effect: Gain double experience points from killing infected.
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Kaito blinked as a translucent screen appeared in front of his eyes, its faint glow visible even amidst the chaos. He stared at the text, the words burning into his vision like they were etched into his very being. He couldn't look away.
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Status: Kaito Takeda
Level: 1
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Endurance: 5
Perception: 5
Intelligence: 5
Charisma: 5
Title: First Slayer
Effect: Gain double experience points from killing infected.
Quest Alert:
Mission: Kill 10 Infected
Progress: 1/10
Reward: Title Upgrade
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"Kaito?" Ayumi's voice brought him back to reality. "Are you okay?"
He looked down at his bloodied hands, the fire extinguisher still clutched tightly, then back at Ayumi. He didn't have answersânot for her, not for himself. But one thing was clear: the world they knew was gone, and survival would demand more from all of them than they'd ever imagined.
"Yeah," Kaito said, his voice steadying. "I'm fine. But we're not out of this yet."
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