After leaving a lunch portion in the fridge for Shizuka, the two of them headed out for Fujimi Academy.
Since second-year and third-year classrooms were in completely different buildings, Shuya and Saeko split up the moment they reached school.
He walked into his own classroom and spotted Rei Miyamoto already at her desk—earlier than him, for once.
Rei must have sensed his gaze, because she looked up and their eyes met for a split second. Then she immediately ducked her head, pretending she hadn't seen him at all… even though her side-eye was glued to him the entire time.
Shuya chuckled and strolled straight over to her.
Rei's heart skipped a beat.
He's coming!
Her brain was 100% replaying yesterday afternoon—how she'd impulsively kissed his cheek and then bolted like a coward.
Seeing him walk toward her now, she panicked. She snatched a textbook off her desk, held it up like a shield, and pretended to read.
"Book's upside down, Miyamoto," Shuya said, dropping into the seat in front of her and tapping the cover twice with his finger.
"Huh?" Rei flipped it around in a fluster—then realized it had been right-side up the whole time.
She glared at him, eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"You ran off pretty fast yesterday afternoon," Shuya said with a teasing grin.
"W-Well…" Rei's fingers twisted together nervously in her lap. "You were the one showing off like that! Jumping in front of a helpless girl when she needed someone most… that's just unfair. Any normal girl would've reacted the same way!"
"Oh?" Shuya raised an eyebrow, smirking. "So this 'perfectly normal girl' is saying she likes me now?"
"N-No I'm not!" Rei's face flushed scarlet. She slapped the book over her eyes again. "It was just gratitude! That's all!"
"Really? Good to know." Shuya shrugged casually. "I'll admit my opinion of you has improved a bit after yesterday, but you're still nowhere near the level where I'd actually fall for you. That said… my offer from the rooftop yesterday still stands. You can come find me anytime."
After all, you are a pretty girl, Miyamoto."
Rei's whole body trembled. She shot him a look full of pure resentment.
Yep. Same old poisonous mouth.
If only he were mute, life would be so much easier.
"What do you mean your opinion 'improved'? Was I that bad before? I know I'm not on Saeko-senpai's level, but I'm still a catch, okay? Plenty of guys like me—I just never accepted any confessions!"
Why doesn't he like me?!
Then she remembered exactly what he'd said on the rooftop yesterday.
Her neck turned red first. Then her cheeks. Then her ears. Even the tips of her ears burned.
"HENTAI!" she squeaked.
She'd just remembered his exact words: "If you ever need to handle your physical needs, you can come to me."
If this had happened yesterday morning, she would've cursed him out and told him to keep dreaming.
But after yesterday afternoon… her feelings had changed. Now the same sentence made her think:
Shuya wants to sleep with me…
Does that mean he likes me?
The second the word "H" left her mouth, every head in the classroom turned. It wasn't packed yet, but there were still enough people to make her want to die of embarrassment.
She could already imagine the rumors that would spread by the end of the day.
Mortified, Rei slammed her face down on the desk and hid like an ostrich.
Shuya, of course, didn't care what anyone thought. He just found her instant-blush reaction adorable.
Rei's hair was in that signature energetic half-ponytail, and like most anime heroines, she had the ultimate trademark:
Ahoge.
Two of them, actually.
Shuya had seen plenty of antenna hair in anime, but never this close in real life. He instantly became fascinated.
He reached out and gently pressed the two little cowlicks down.
Boing!
They sprang right back up.
At the same time, Rei's head popped up, eyes wide.
She felt the touch and reacted instantly—but when she saw it was Shuya, she just stared at him in confusion.
"Nothing. Keep sleeping," Shuya said casually. "You said you were really grateful for what I did yesterday, right? Let me play with your ahoge for a bit and we'll call it even."
Rei clenched her fists, seriously considering violence.
But when she saw the genuine curiosity on his face, she couldn't bring herself to stop him.
So she buried her face back in her arms and pretended nothing was happening.
With her silent permission, Shuya went all in. He grabbed the two little tufts and tied them into a tiny knot.
Then something magical happened.
The knot slowly slid down the strands… and the ahoge popped free, standing tall again like nothing had ever touched it.
"Whoa~" Shuya breathed in awe.
He couldn't help wondering—if he ever contracted with Rei, would the ahoge count as an ability? Would he grow two of his own?
Back-row window seat… plus ahoge on top.
Miyamoto… you really are the legendary Ahoge Queen, huh?
...
And just like that, the next half-month passed in a blissful blur.
Shuya spent his days in the perfect loop: teasing Rei in class, training Saeko after school, and thoroughly "bullying" Shizuka at night.
But all peaceful things must end.
Today was the day the zombie crisis finally began.
A bright, sunny afternoon…