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Saya Takagi was a genius.
That wasn't up for debate. Everyone around her knew it—including herself.
Sure, her family's influence helped in some areas, but when it came to academics, Saya was an undisputed prodigy.
By her second year of middle school, she had already mastered the entire curriculum and aced the Fujimi Academy entrance exam, skipping straight into high school as a first-year.
Even in high school, where the material actually challenged her a little, she still effortlessly claimed the top spot in her grade.
Last year, she had been ready to skip another level… until she noticed that annoying guy in her class.
Shuya.
He was in the same year and same class. She was number one. He was number two.
They should've had nothing to do with each other.
Until the day she accidentally learned the truth: Shuya's perfect scores in every subject except history were all 100s.
Why?
How could someone who spent half his classes sleeping or ditching even get those kinds of grades?
She couldn't beat him in a single subject except history.
It felt like he had stomped all over her genius pride.
From that moment on, skipping grades was off the table. She poured every ounce of effort into crushing him in every test, dreaming of the day she could stand in front of him as the undisputed winner and mock him mercilessly.
But even after starting their second year—and somehow ending up in the same class again—she still hadn't managed it.
Because she had made him her ultimate rival, she paid extra attention to everything he said. The second he walked out of class, she followed without hesitation.
That was why she was now standing outside the infirmary, watching Shuya and Rei disappear inside.
Saya froze.
Rei was just as confused.
Weren't we supposed to be going on a date?
Why had he brought her to the infirmary?
She'd only said she wasn't feeling well as an excuse—she wasn't actually sick!
He wasn't seriously planning to play with her ahoge again, right?
She had plenty of other fun places on her body, but nooo, he was obsessed with those two little tufts on her head.
It was infuriating!
Shuya had no idea what was going through her mind, but he was satisfied she had followed him here.
His initial impression of Rei had been pretty bad—thanks to the anime. Even after she'd opened up to him and they'd spent the last half-month together, those old biases hadn't completely vanished.
This was his final test.
He could have just dragged her out of class the moment he sensed the outbreak coming. Instead, he left the choice up to her with a simple "Let's go."
If she was willing to ignore the stares of the entire classroom and follow him with zero explanation, then she was officially one of his people.
A girl who would walk out with you in front of everyone like that was worth way more than some random friend who only showed up when you texted "wanna game?"
If she hadn't followed, she would've stayed a casual NPC in his eyes—maybe he'd help her once when the zombies hit, out of pity for all the ahoge-playing, but that would be it.
Thankfully, she chose right.
Once inside the infirmary, though, Shuya didn't deal with Rei first.
Because he saw Shizuka face-down on her desk, fast asleep.
He walked over, slipped his arms under her, scooped her up like she weighed nothing, and tossed her onto the infirmary bed.
Her massive chest bounced like two perfect water balloons.
"Eh?" Shizuka blinked awake, saw Shuya, and smiled sleepily. "Oh, it's Little Shuya~ Why'd you skip class to come see me again today?"
"Shizuka-nee, how many times do I have to tell you not to sleep on the desk?" Shuya pinched her cheeks, his eyes drifting down to her chest with mock annoyance. "What if you flatten my precious babies? I'll have to dump you if that happens."
Total lie.
Even without their contract, there was no universe where he'd abandon this ditzy woman unless he lost his mind.
Shizuka knew it too, but she still played along. She wrapped her arms around him, made her biggest puppy-dog eyes, and whined, "Little Shuya, please don't abandon your Shizuka-nee~"
"I mean… the infirmary beds are for students to rest on, right? I'm a teacher. If I hog the beds meant for students, doesn't that make me a salary thief?"
Shuya pushed her clingy head away with a fake-disgusted look. "Or is it possible you've already been a salary thief every time you nap on the job?"
"Eh?! For real?!"
Shizuka's golden eyes went wide in genuine shock.
Shuya kept a straight face. "Of course. Ask anyone."
"How did this happen?! I-I…"
Shizuka: I'm already crying.jpg
Shuya ruffled her hair gently. "Don't worry, Shizuka-nee. Starting today, you're officially unemployed anyway."
After all, once the zombie virus fully hit Japan, money would become worthless paper. Anyone still "working" would be the weird one.
"Eh?"
Shuya's comfort landed like a gut punch. Shizuka just stared at him, stunned.
She'd only taken a little nap on the job… she hadn't done anything evil!
How did she suddenly get fired?!
She clung to his arm and whined pitifully, "If I'm unemployed, you have to take care of me from now on! I promise I'll never sleep on the desk again!"
"Um…"
Rei watched the two of them acting like no one else existed and suddenly felt very out of place.
If she didn't speak up soon, she was going to end up hiding under the bed just to give them privacy.
She poked Shuya's arm shyly. "Shuya-kun… can I ask why we came to the infirmary?"
Shuya answered lightly, "Waiting."
"Waiting?" Rei tilted her head.
"Yep."
Waiting for Saeko to arrive.
They'd already agreed on the plan: the second anything weird happened at school, everyone meets at Shizuka's infirmary.
And "waiting" also meant waiting for the zombie virus to fully erupt inside Fujimi Academy.