Chapter 43: Words of Parting

"No! Yūo...! Say it's a lie!"

Kosuke-kun kneels beside Tanaka-kun's body.

Since then, we've spent a whole night eliminating the "zombies."

The sky is already beginning to lighten.

I kept Tanaka-kun's death hidden for a while.

I didn't want to unsettle everyone by telling them the truth.

As a result, if anyone else were to die, he wouldn't be able to rest peacefully either.

Compared to the dull, zombie-like corpses, his body appeared remarkably clean.

Kosuke clutched the hand of the deceased, his face twisted in sorrow.

Everyone was in tattered condition, their expressions varied.

Rintaro looked distant, as if in a daze.

Asuka narrowed her bright eyes slightly.

Ritsuko remained expressionless, more so than usual.

Koichi Masada frowned upward at the sky.

Mr. Sasaki pressed his fingertips against his temples.

Even Mr. Asaka covered his face with both hands.

Norio murmured, arms crossed.

"...He treated his younger sister kindly, just like a gentle boy."

Then, as if regaining his composure,

"But we can't keep doing this forever. We have to rebuild the barricade... Kōsuke. Get up."

Shut up!

Kosuke shouted angrily.

"Right now...! Why are you...!"

Then, Norio-san quietly

...hmm

Sniffing, he turns on his heel.

I crouched down toward Kousuke.

There are as many ways to mourn the dead as there are people. Isn't saying it that way inappropriate?

Sorry, senior... just this once... just this once...!

Hmm.

That’s going to take some time, huh.

I stand up and head over to help Norio.

If only a girl like you would become my son's wife...

I'm sorry, but I can't do that. Please don't bring that up in front of me from now on.

...uh. Sorry.

Norio sincerely apologized and went to the school building to retrieve the tool box.

▼

Fortunately, the torn fence seems repairable by just wire.

I ate three of my 'One-Stroke Satisfaction' bars for breakfast, yet still felt unsatisfied.

Delicious, large, and filling, but not enough. Well, given the circumstances, I'll just have to endure it.

"Can't you just eat before you go?...Um,...about the fire—"

I avoided eye contact as I answered Kinuo's question.

"Yeah, sure."

You can't hide it anymore, can you?

I activate the enchantment and fire spells on my blade, and begin clearing away the zombies gathered around the broken fence.

The fence repair was completed in no time at all, thanks to Kino's excellent craftsmanship.

——Congratulations! You've unlocked the achievement "Repair"!

——Congratulations! Your level has increased!

"Quite the handy one, aren't you?"

I say to Kino,

"Stage props are my main business. I'm especially good at last-minute projects."

Hmm.

"Stage... like theater performances?"

"Those are common, sure. But the real money's in concerts for young people."

"Wow, wow."

"I've even worked on stage productions for those J-pop idol groups you like. That was tough. I just wanted to finish quickly, but the audience never seemed to leave."

"Hmm-hmm."

I'm genuinely impressed.

Well, I'm not really that familiar with the Johnny's style or anything like that.

But somehow, talking about a civilization that's already passed into history has become a source of comfort for my heart.

"Alright, done....Let's head back. There's still plenty of work to do."

"Yes."

"We also need to hold a funeral. We can't just bury them alongside those undead creatures."

"...Yes."

For a while, silence lingered.

Only the sound of their footsteps echoed through the schoolyard in the early morning.

"Um…," Koichi said quietly.

"You're… some kind of psychic, aren't you?"

I tilted my head.

"Who knows?"

"Who knows? …You don't even know about yourself?"

"I really don't. It just happened all of a sudden."

"Hmm…"

I answered honestly, though I wasn't sure whether he believed me or not.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter. …Whatever you are, I'm grateful. I just wanted to say that."

I nodded sincerely.

It somehow feels like words for a farewell right now.

Thinking that way,