Chapter 11: School Evacuation

Without saying anything, we dispersed in an awkward atmosphere.

I chose a desk belonging to a classmate who seemed to have used it carefully (prejudice), placing it in a corner of the classroom.

From the disaster preparedness backpack handed out in advance, I pulled out a blue tarp.

Laying it over the desk... and just like that,

a makeshift bed was complete.

I could have just slept on the floor, but still, I wanted to at least make it feel a little more comfortable.

Still, it's amazing how many disaster preparedness items are available these days—travel pillows (the kind you inflate), eye masks, even earplugs.

Incidentally, the blanket is stored in a vacuum-sealed pack. Surprisingly fluffy.

Now that I've got all this gear, I do miss the ottoman I left in the room, but I'll just have to resist the urge.

Looking outside, the sun is already beginning to set.

The number of "zombies" visible from school... Hmm, I'm starting to think they're gradually increasing.

I hope it's just my imagination (denial of reality)!

Since I've secured my bed, I should explore the inside of the school building while there's still light.

After emptying my backpack, I take out my sword for safety and leave the classroom.

When I return to the second floor, adults appear to be busily doing something.

It seems they've decided to gather desks and create a barricade.

Many people had already noticed how slow the "zombies" were.

In fact, they were struggling even to climb the stairs.

Simply stacking desks appeared to be enough to prevent the creatures from breaking in.

For evacuation routes, ropes and ladders for human use were set up near the barricades.

If there's a concern, it's that there are about six elderly people in this community.

Two of them managed to reach this place only with the help of wheelchairs and the assistance of others.

If we allow the "zombies" to break in, those individuals would have no way to escape...

Yet, what everyone seems to desire more than anything is a place where they can lie down in complete peace and without worry.

For now, it seems I'm the only one confident in the safety of this area.

――Achieved "First Safe Zone" accomplishment!

That's what the voice said.

Hyouchou did, in fact, say those words.

I'm not sure how much I can trust those words, but for now, it seems safe to assume there's no immediate danger to this place.

I suggested that we should gather food from the cafeteria and medicine from the infirmary before completing the barricade, but Mr. Sasaki seemed somewhat hesitant.

In summary, his story is

The emergency disaster supplies are plentiful, so you're free to use anything from within them. However, whether you can take anything outside of those supplies without permission is uncertain.

so it is said.

I see. It seems this school is well-stocked with ample non-perishable food, including drinking water, biscuits, and cup noodles.

Apparently, this amount is sufficient to sustain around forty people for at least a month.

...Still, I suspect everyone here, including myself, shares the same understanding that this situation won't be resolved within just a month or so.

Without me even having to voice my opinion, thanks to the persuasion of Rica-chan's father and Asaka-sensei, we were allowed to use supplies from the cafeteria and the infirmary.

——The electricity has already been cut off since this morning.

——Some of the stored food will inevitably spoil.

——So, might as well use it up now.

That’s what they decided.

As a result, a sudden curry party was organized.

Although our high school cafeteria is located in a separate building, you can enter it by crossing a walkway from the second floor.

The food appeared to have been prepared by a group of ladies, each enthusiastically cooking for a dozen or so people.

As we thoroughly scouted the supplies inside the school building, the scent of curry began to drift through the air.

By then, my backpack was completely stuffed to the brim.

My loot consisted of an overwhelming amount of snacks.

I couldn't possibly check every single room, but even just randomly searching spots that caught my eye turned up one discovery after another.

As someone who prides myself on being well-behaved (laughs), I've never done anything like this before—after all, I could always eat at home whenever I wanted, no need to sneak snacks at school. But surprisingly, almost everyone seems to be hiding sweets somewhere.

Especially in the cultural clubs' rooms, it was like a treasure trove.

I ended up having to go back and forth three times just because we found so many snacks.

"……If this situation ever settles down, we'll definitely need to conduct a proper inventory check of everyone's belongings…"

Those were the words of Ms. Asakura, staring at the mountain of sweets spread out on the desk.

Sorry, everyone.

With that in mind, we'll graciously accept the snacks.