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Chapter 31: Crisis Outbreak
In a third-year classroom.
Saeko Busujima sat at her desk, staring blankly at the blackboard at the front of the room.
Though her body was present, her mind had wandered off quite some time ago.
I really, really want to cut something.
I wish class would end already.
I want to go to Junior Suyan's side.
I want to see him so badly...
Suyan's appearance had injected vibrant, brilliant colors into Saeko's otherwise monochromatic world. But precisely because of that, the mundane routine of her everyday life had become entirely unbearable.
Resting her chin in the palm of her hand, Saeko turned her head to look out the window. Her eyes were slightly hollow as she gazed at the sky, letting out an unconscious, soft sigh.
Today was just another dull day.
Right as that thought crossed her mind, a harsh noise interrupted her.
Bzzzt—Ksssh!
Static suddenly screeched from the speaker mounted on the classroom wall, instantly drawing her attention.
Saeko's eyes widened with a hint of surprise as she looked toward the speaker.
Normally, the school's Broadcasting Club only used the PA system during the lunch break to announce the weather or list items in the lost-and-found. The only other time the speakers came alive was during major school-wide events.
For the PA system to be turned on right in the middle of class meant one thing.
Something had happened.
Saeko's gaze sharpened.
Could this be the major incident Suyan warned me about? The one that would affect the whole world and let me freely vent my murderous urges?
At the thought, the corners of her lips curled upward into an imperceptible, slight smile. She perked up her ears, patiently waiting for the announcement.
Soon, a male voice echoed through the speaker.
"Attention all students. A violent incident is currently taking place on campus. Please follow the instructions of your nearest teacher and evacuate immediately..."
"I repeat, please follow the instructions of your nearest teacher and..."
"Stop! Who let you in here?! Get away from me! Don't come any closer!"
The initially composed announcement devolved into absolute chaos. Something sudden and violent was happening inside the broadcast room.
"AHHHH!"
A bloodcurdling scream of pure terror pierced the speakers, followed by dead silence.
The only sound that bled through the static was the sickening, wet noise of a wild beast tearing into flesh.
The entire classroom fell deathly quiet.
It was so silent that one could hear their own heartbeat drumming against their ribs. The students looked at each other in bewildered horror.
Someone screamed.
Then, the chaos erupted.
Everyone in the classroom scrambled over desks and chairs, desperately fighting to escape the room.
As for Saeko?
The moment the broadcast went silent, she had already slipped out of the classroom unnoticed.
She was heading straight for the infirmary—the rendezvous point she and Suyan had agreed upon.
As she walked down the corridors, every student she passed was running around like a headless chicken. They were scrambling in blind panic, frantically searching for anywhere they deemed safe.
It was hard to believe that in less than a few minutes, the massive Fujimi Academy had completely descended into anarchy.
"Man-eating monsters?"
Saeko looked ahead, her expression turning grave.
A short distance away, a monster with dark purple, withered skin that looked like it was made of rotting, coagulated blood was pinning down a student. The creature opened its bloodstained maw and tore into the student's flesh like a starving wild dog.
But that wasn't the most shocking part.
What truly surprised her was that the monster was wearing a Fujimi Academy uniform.
Was that thing a normal student just a few moments ago?
Saeko had no intention of investigating the truth.
Even though a creature that weak could be easily dispatched with a single wave of her hand, her top priority was reaching the infirmary to regroup with Suyan.
Furthermore, she was worried. If she struck down the creature now, would she be able to suppress her innate bloodlust? Would she lose control?
If this were the past, she would have never passed up such a perfect opportunity to kill. But things were different now. She had something far more important in her heart.
He was the scabbard that kept the sharp blade known as Saeko Busujima in check.
Suyan!
However, just as she was about to walk away, a horrifying scene unfolded right before her eyes.
The ravenous monster suddenly stopped its frenzied biting and released its prey.
The student who had just been brutally mauled—the student who should have been dead—slowly staggered to his feet.
His pale skin rapidly withered, taking on a sickening dark purple hue.
He had become the exact same type of monster as the one that had just killed him.
Saeko's pupils constricted.
When Suyan had told her that a world-ending catastrophe was imminent, she hadn't fully believed him.
But now, she did.
With an infection rate this terrifying and a turn rate this fast... if these monsters weren't dealt with quickly, humanity truly might face extinction.
Saeko quickened her pace.
She had to get to the infirmary and meet up with Suyan immediately.
It didn't take long.
Saeko soon spotted the infirmary door.
Standing right in front of it was a pink-haired girl, her hand resting on the handle, hesitating over whether to push it open.
"Excuse me, are you a friend of Suyan's too?"
Looking at the pink-haired girl's pretty face and her chest—which was somehow even more exaggerated than her own—Saeko instinctively assumed this girl was another companion Suyan had called to the infirmary, much like Rei Miyamoto, who clearly harbored feelings for him.
"Huh?!"
The sudden voice thoroughly startled Saya Takagi. She snatched her hand back from the door as if she'd been electrocuted.
She turned around and stared at Saeko.
Saeko might not have known her, but Saya definitely recognized Saeko.
She was the aloof beauty of Fujimi Academy, the untouchable captain of the Kendo Club. Not to mention, Saeko's father was a leading figure in the Japanese kendo world. Saya had even watched Saeko's father instruct her own father in swordsmanship before.
Seeing a familiar face brought a wave of immense relief to Saya's heart.
"U-Um, I'm not..."
Saya barely got the words out before Saeko interrupted her.
"Whatever it is, let's talk inside. The school is too dangerous right now. There are man-eating monsters everywhere."
Saeko could easily sense that this pink-haired girl had absolutely no Nen in her body, nor did she have the muscle definition of someone who trained.
The conclusion was obvious: she was just an ordinary girl.
Without waiting for an explanation, Saeko pushed open the infirmary door and pulled Saya inside with her.
Stepping into the room with Saya in tow, Saeko announced, "Junior Suyan, we're here."
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