Third-year classroom.
Saeko Busujima sat at her desk, staring blankly at the blackboard with unfocused eyes.
On the surface she looked like the perfect student, but her mind had wandered off long ago.
I want to cut something.
I want class to end already.
I want to go to Shuya-kun.
I want to see Shuya-kun right now…
Ever since Shuya came into her life, her once colorless world had gained new vibrancy. But because of that, the ordinary days had become even harder for her to endure.
Saeko rested her chin on her palm and turned to gaze out the window at the sky, letting out a soft, unconscious sigh.
Today is another tasteless day.
Just as that thought crossed her mind—
Static—
The speaker mounted on the classroom wall suddenly crackled with sharp electronic noise, instantly drawing her attention.
Saeko's eyes snapped toward the speaker in surprise.
The school's broadcast system was usually only used by the broadcasting club for weather reports, lost-and-found announcements during lunch, or special events.
It was extremely rare for it to go off during regular class hours.
Something was definitely happening.
Saeko's gaze sharpened.
Was this the major incident Shuya-kun warned me about? The one that would change the entire world and finally let me unleash all the killing urges inside me?
The corner of her mouth curved up ever so slightly.
She sat up straighter and listened carefully.
Soon, a man's voice came through the speakers.
"Attention all students. A violent incident is currently occurring on campus. Please follow the instructions of nearby teachers and proceed to the designated shelter areas…"
"I repeat, please follow the instructions of nearby—"
"Stop! Who let you in here?! Get away from me—don't come any closer—!"
The orderly announcement suddenly turned into chaos. Something was clearly happening inside the broadcast room.
"AAAAAHHH!!!"
A terrified scream tore through the speakers, and then everything went dead silent.
Only the faint, wet sounds of something chewing and tearing flesh could be heard.
The entire classroom fell into dead silence.
You could hear a pin drop.
Students started looking at each other in confusion.
Then someone screamed.
And all hell broke loose.
Everyone scrambled desperately toward the exit.
As for Saeko?
The moment the broadcast cut off, she had already slipped quietly out of the classroom and was heading straight for the infirmary—the meeting point she and Shuya had agreed on.
The hallways were pure pandemonium. Students were running around like headless chickens, frantically searching for somewhere they thought was safe.
In less than a few minutes, the once peaceful Fujimi Academy had descended into complete chaos.
"Man-eating monsters…?"
Saeko's expression grew serious as she looked ahead.
Not far in front of her, a grotesque creature with skin like dried bark and dark purple bruises all over its body was pinning down a student in a Fujimi uniform. It tore into the poor boy's flesh with a bloody mouth, gnawing like a starving wild dog.
But what shocked her most wasn't the monster itself.
It was still wearing a Fujimi Academy uniform.
This thing… had been a normal student not long ago.
Saeko had zero interest in investigating.
As weak as it was, she could kill it with a flick of her wrist.
But right now, her priority was reaching the infirmary and reuniting with Shuya.
She was also worried that if she started killing, she might lose control of the bloodlust burning inside her.
In the past, she would've welcomed the chance.
But things were different now.
She had something far more important to protect.
The sheath that kept the blade named Saeko Busujima in check.
Shuya.
However, just as she was about to move on, something even more horrifying happened right before her eyes.
The monster suddenly stopped chewing, dropped its victim, and stepped back.
The boy who should have been dead slowly rose to his feet.
His once fair skin rapidly turned dry and withered, shifting into that same disgusting black-purple color.
In seconds, he had become exactly like the monster that had just killed him.
Saeko's pupils shrank sharply.
She had been skeptical when Shuya first told her a world-changing disaster was coming.
But now she believed him completely.
This terrifying infection speed and transmission rate… if they couldn't eliminate these monsters quickly, humanity really might be wiped out.
Saeko picked up her pace.
She had to reach the infirmary and meet up with Shuya immediately.
Soon, she arrived at the infirmary door.
Standing in front of it was a pink-haired girl, her hand hovering hesitantly over the handle.
"Are you one of Shuya-kun's friends too?" Saeko asked.
Looking at the girl's pretty face and the impressive chest that rivaled even her own, Saeko naturally assumed she was another companion Shuya had called here—like Rei.
"Eh?!"
The sudden voice startled Saya Takagi so badly she yanked her hand back like she'd been electrocuted.
She turned and saw Saeko Busujima standing beside her.
She might not know Saeko personally, but Saya definitely knew her—the untouchable flower of Fujimi Academy, captain of the kendo club, and daughter of one of Japan's top swordsmen.
Seeing a familiar face, Saya let out a small sigh of relief.
"Actually, I'm not—"
Before she could finish, Saeko cut in.
"We can talk inside. It's dangerous out here—there are man-eating monsters everywhere."
Saeko could tell at a glance that the pink-haired girl had no Nen and her body showed almost no combat training. She was clearly just an ordinary person.
Without wasting time, Saeko pushed open the infirmary door and gently pulled the girl inside with her.
"Shuya-kun," Saeko announced as they entered, "we're here."