Part 7: The Survivors

"Ah... yeah. I'm fine."

To be honest, it doesn't look very promising.

His face is a mess from tears and runny nose.

Upon closer inspection, they've actually wet themselves.

Regretting having reached out a hand to them inwardly,

I can stand on my own...

He managed to stand up on his own, as if reading the air.

I try not to look directly at his drenched crotch, glancing around instead.

No enemy in sight.

"Wait, how many entrances does this school even have?"

That's not something I should be saying after attending this school for three years. I suppose I just don't know everything.

"...There are two gates at the back."

"Any locks?"

"One of them was... locked, since it was a holiday. The other one was left open."

"Then I'll lock that one too."

As I said, the boy looked surprised and turned to face me.

"Wait. It's too dangerous to go alone."

"Hmm."

That's true.

The reason I was able to easily overpower those zombies was simply because they were completely focused on their prey—the boy who wet himself (temporary nickname)—right in front of them.

While I’d be safe in a one-on-one situation, facing multiple enemies at once would be dangerous. Even with my current skill level, I couldn’t possibly handle them all.

In that case, I’d have no choice but to run away and save myself.

But if someone were to distract the zombies' attention, that’d change everything.

Since they can’t focus on two targets at once, we could safely eliminate the zombies.

"But your leg—it must hurt, right?"

I glanced at his right leg.

"...Yeah. I don’t think I can keep up."

He readily admitted it.

"But you could rely on someone else..."

"Someone else?"

Tilting his head and looking in the direction his finger pointed... Oh my.

Indeed, there was someone else.

A good number of people's gazes were directed from the second floor, where the second-year classrooms were located.

Could it be that the scene just now... was being watched?

A little embarrassed, really.

A mix of young and old, at least twenty or thirty people.

All of them were looking at us with anxious expressions.

I felt just like a gorilla in a cage for a moment.

"Who was in front of the main gate?"

"Oh. It was Yōjiro and Takada-kun..."

The moment their names were spoken, as if remembering they were no longer among the living, a faint tear appeared in the eye of Oshikko Nagashi Tarō (temporary name).

"We were trying to close the main gate... but we got surrounded by those guys... I'm the only one who made it out."

"Hmm."

Summarizing his words.

Three courageous students stepped forward from among the evacuees and tried to close the open main gate.

As a result of that failure, the two just now seem to have become food for the "zombies."

May their souls rest in peace.

Let's go. This way.

They headed toward the entrance, where rows of wooden clogs were lined up.

A glass door tightly locked, with a shadowy figure beyond it.

A short girl with a vaguely hamster-like appearance.

"Kou-chan...!"

The girl let out a faint voice.

Kou-chan, formerly known as "Oshikko Moron," appeared as if collapsing, supporting the girl's shoulder.

"I tried to help... I tried to help... but Father...!"

"It's okay. I knew from the start this was what you'd do."

That was the next moment.

As if I were just a pebble by the roadside, the two of them passionately kissed.

Whoa.

They really are into it.

Everyone—run! I'm about to explode!

I pretend to scan the surroundings while discreetly averting my gaze.

The two of them stayed locked in each other’s embrace for about ten seconds.

The girl finally turned back toward me,

"You're... um, uh... a third-year student, right?"

"Huh?"

"Thank you for helping Kou-chan."

"Uh huh."

"Hurry, please come inside."

"Oh?"

Following her prompt, I step into the school building.

Just a moment to catch my breath.

I gulp down some water from my backpack.

"My name is Asada Rika. You can call me Rika."

Rika-chan. I see.

"Yeah, I forgot. I'm Yasuhara Kouso."

Kou-chan. I see.

"What's your name?"

I ignore that question and instead,

Let's save the chatter for later. Safety should come first.

Suddenly, several adults appeared from the stairs on the other side of the shoe rack, bustling in.

There are familiar faces too. Mr. Sasaki, who taught English for a year. I remember him as a man with a high-pitched voice like a woman's, constantly throwing hysterical outbursts whenever he got the chance—quite the insufferable fellow.

"Hey, are you two okay? Are you bitten? Scratched?"

Mr. Sasaki asked in his usual tone.

"We're fine."

"Rika! I told you not to play around like that—so many times already..."

The middle-aged gentleman wearing a flamboyant vest scolded Rika.

From his tone, one could infer...

"So, Dad, you were just going to leave them like that?"

Are they father and daughter?

The remaining person is a woman wearing sportswear. She appears to be in her mid-twenties. It seems she might also be a teacher at this school, though I can't be sure since I've never seen her teach.

Everyone seems to be arguing about something along the lines of how they shouldn't have gone outside in the first place to close the main gate, or whatever.

Of course, none of that was any concern of mine.

"Then, I'll close the back gate, so someone please show me the way."

Ignoring the conversation completely, I say this.

An awkward silence falls, as if a punchline had flopped spectacularly.

With a heavy tone, Rika's dad says,

"Closing the main gate has already left two of us in trouble. It's far too dangerous."

I blink, surprised.

"But... if we leave the back gate open like this, they'll keep coming in."

Honestly, I didn't think that was a good idea either.

I can't say for certain yet, since we haven't fully figured out the zombies' behavior patterns, but for now, they seem completely absorbed in scavenging outside.

But we can't be sure how long that will last.

At least, I've heard that the zombies in movies somehow sense the presence of living people and gather from afar.

If that's the case, zombies should be breaking in through windows all over the school building.

It seemed better to block off their entry points right now, no matter how you looked at it.

"We've discussed it together. We'll stack desks and chairs to make a barricade like a staircase and hide on the second floor of the school. As you know, they won't notice us if we stay quiet."

"But… we can't possibly stay confined in the school building forever, can we?"

"We made it through last night. We'll manage somehow from now on."

I thought that was an overly optimistic outlook.

"That's right. Besides, help might come sooner than we think."

Mr. Sasaki, our English teacher, said. I countered that view.

"I don't agree. We need to be prepared to settle in for the long haul."

In situations like this, shouldn't we always prepare for the worst?

After all, the enemy isn't necessarily just "zombies."

From the apartment windows, numerous creatures resembling flying dragons were visible. In the midst of such inexplicable circumstances, relying on help seemed too dangerous.

"But..."

I understand what you're all trying to say.

Right now, we've just lost two people.

No one wants to be the next sacrifice.

"Then just tell me the general location. I'll go alone."

"Stop saying foolish things. It's far too dangerous."

Rika's dad said.

"I'll go."

It was Kōsuke Hibiya who showed courage.

"No way! You can't!"

Rika cried out, her face pale.

"With those legs, you'd only be a hindrance."

I said as calmly as I could.

"But..."

"Then... I'll go. I'll go."

"Don't be ridiculous, Rika. Your father won't allow it."

Ah...

Honestly, it feels like we're just wasting time arguing.

Wait silently for about thirty seconds.

If I couldn't reach a conclusion, I thought I'd just forcibly take the key from Rikachan and quickly leave through the front door...

Then I'll go myself.

The one who raised their hand was someone who had rarely spoken up until now.

A mysterious female teacher named Ms. A, speaking with a natural Kansai dialect.

A sharp, serious brow that suggested strong responsibility, long black hair, and a surprisingly toned, muscular build for a woman of her age.

"Y-yeah... I see..."

No one opposed the brave female teacher's offer.

In the end, it might just have been that I was searching for reasons not to go, despite all the talk. I understand how you feel, so I won't criticize.

Honestly, the only reason I've been able to stay strong is because I have a way to fight back against the zombies.

Even if you can kill them by smashing their heads, just how difficult it is to crack a human skull.

This sword is amazing. It slips into a zombie's head with almost no effort.

I can't help but look up to my grandfather, who left me this blade.

"Then let's go right away. Rika, the key, please."

Y-yes...

The girl hands over the key.

Her hand trembled ever so slightly.