VROOOOM!!!~
The accelerator floored, the engine roared.
The school bus smashed through the zombies clinging to the windows and finally burst out of the garage.
"You brats! Fend for yourselves!"
As the bus sped past Sai Akuto, Koichi Shido's face twisted into grotesque expression, his smile brimming with smug satisfaction.
…..
Saeko frowned, staring at the departing school bus.
"Akuto-kun, what should we do? Should I throw my blade and puncture its tires?"
"No, there's no need."
Akuto smiled faintly.
"Look—the bus is already slowing down."
Following his gaze, Saeko saw it too: the school bus gradually lost speed, coming to a stop in the middle of the schoolyard.
…..
At that moment, inside the bus.
BANG!
Shizuka Marikawa raised a fire extinguisher and smashed it down hard on Koichi Shido's hand gripping the steering wheel.
"Hhss!!"
"Argh—!!"
Shido's face twisted in agony, scrunching up like wrinkled paper.
"Shizuka-sensei, what the hell are you doing?!"
He couldn't believe it—the gentle and seemingly frail nurse could explode with such surprising strength!
"What am I doing? Stopping the bus and letting Akuto-kun on, of course."
Shizuka said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The next second, she smiled sweetly again—then swung the extinguisher down once more!
Panicked, Shido scrambled out of the driver's seat to avoid the blow.
Seeing him back down, Shizuka calmly took the wheel herself.
"Nurse Marikawa! Don't you care if this kills everyone on the bus?!" Shido barked sharply.
At that, Saya Takagi pushed up her glasses.
"According to the agreement earlier, the bus was supposed to wait until everyone boarded before driving. If you break your word, then no one will feel safe here, will they?"
Saya had already noticed: with his driving skills, Shido had begun to establish early authority among the students.
So she chose to directly attack his foundation.
…..
And just as she said—no one wanted to follow a leader who broke promises.
With such a leader, anyone could be sacrificed at any time.
Noticing the shifting looks from the students, Shido clicked his tongue, conceding the driver's seat to Shizuka.
…..
Clunk~
The doors opened, and Akuto and Saeko quickly boarded.
As soon as Akuto sat down, a system notification rang out.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, host has completed Main Quest — Escape Fujimi Academy.]
[Quest Requirement: Escape Fujimi Academy with those you care about.]
[Quest Rank: Green.]
[Reward Granted: Apocalypse All-Terrain Armored Vehicle.]
[Apocalypse Armored Vehicle: A custom vehicle developed by a wealthy magnate specifically for doomsday survival. Seats 20. After system modification, it now boasts diesel, electric, and magical triple-drive systems, integrated circuits, and numerous modern facilities.]
[Note: The system only provides coordinates for the vehicle. The host must retrieve it personally.]
Reading the reward description, Akuto's expression grew odd.
Good grief, was the system stingy or what?
A reward that still had to be picked up by himself?
"…Fine. Display the coordinates of the vehicle on the map." Akuto commanded inwardly.
[Ding!]
[Coordinates displayed.]
"Oh? This location… is close to the airport."
"If I recall, there's also a character named Minami Rika near the airport, isn't there? Perfect. I can retrieve the vehicle and pick her up at the same time."
For Akuto, the vehicle wasn't for protection—he didn't need that.
He wanted it for its symbolic value.
When he inevitably built his own shelter in the future, displaying such a machine inside would greatly enhance both deterrence and internal stability.
…..
Looking around, Rei spotted a familiar face.
"Takashi?"
She hadn't expected Takashi not only to escape the building alive, but to make it onto the bus as well!
"Rei."
Takashi's gaze lingered on her, then flicked to Akuto, a complicated sigh escaping his lips.
"Takashi, I'm just glad you're safe."
Rei nodded lightly, then immediately sat beside Akuto.
Seeing Takashi unharmed eased her burden considerably.
(As expected of a protagonist, huh? Wounded, but still able to make it out alive. Is this what they call "plot armor"? Interesting.)
Akuto glanced at Takashi, noting that the boy was staring back.
Their eyes met. Akuto didn't flinch. Instead, it was Takashi who eventually looked away.
…..
As Takashi sat in gloom, a hand suddenly patted his shoulder.
Turning, he found Koichi Shido smiling at him.
"Komuro-kun, isn't it? Sensei has had his eye on you."
"With the outbreak, many students are suffering psychological trauma. How about a private counseling session with your teacher?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you seem to have some conflict with that Akuto fellow, don't you?"
"He doesn't just treat teachers harshly, but his peers too. That won't do. In times like this, we need kindness and cooperation, not tyranny. How about confiding in me about what's troubling you?"
Takashi hesitated for a few seconds… then spoke.
"Sensei, you already know—Rei is my childhood friend. But as for Akuto…"
…..
While Takashi was spilling his heart, Saya was thinking about their next moves.
"Takagi-san, you're safe, thank goodness."
Blinking in confusion, Saya turned to see a chubby boy shuffling over, scratching his head awkwardly.
"You… are?"
She frowned, embarrassed.
He looked familiar, but she couldn't remember his name at all—just that he was a classmate.
"Takagi-san, you don't remember me?"
"I'm Hirano! Hirano Kohta!"
"When you hid in the locker, I lured the zombies away for you!"
His eyes widened in disbelief—he'd risked his life for her, yet she didn't even remember his name?!
"D-did you? Sorry… I guess since I was hiding, all I heard were the zombies pounding on the locker. I didn't see what you did, Hirano-kun."
"You… you didn't see? That's it?"
Hirano bit his lip hard, staring at her, desperate for more acknowledgement.
"Well, anyway… thank you for drawing the zombies away. I'm grateful. If you ever need help in the future, I'll do my best."
Saya issued the politest empty promise she could—since she had nothing else to offer.
"Really? Then… then, Takagi-san, can we at least be frie—"
His words cut short.
Like prey sensing a predator, Hirano's body froze, icy fear washing over him.
He looked up, trembling, to find the source of the pressure.
Sai Akuto.
It was Akuto's gaze pinning him down, silencing him instantly.
One look—and Hirano shrank into himself, unable to speak another word.
…..
"Hirano-kun… right?" Akuto said with a faint smile.
"Although you didn't return for Saya, you did board the bus safely. Still, objectively speaking, you did help. If you hadn't lured those zombies away, Saya might not have lasted until I arrived."
"But that's the extent of your 'debt repaid.'"
"If you truly wanted to save Saya, why did you abandon her in the locker and never return?"
His words made Saya frown deeply.
Right…
By his own account, Hirano had lured zombies away and then never looked back.
And yet he dared call that a rescue?
If Akuto hadn't opened the locker, she likely wouldn't have made it out alive.
Realizing this, Saya stood and bowed slightly toward him.
"Hirano-kun, though you left me afterward, you did draw the zombies away. That is a kindness I must acknowledge."
"If I make it home, I'll be sure to find a way to repay you."
"..."
Hirano said nothing. His eyes welled with tears, and he nodded silently.
Lowering his head, he pulled his cap low to hide his face.
Because if he didn't, everyone would see the bloodshot fury in his eyes.
(What a joke! I saved her life! And not only am I not her boyfriend, I can't even be her friend?!)
(Of course… bitches always go for pretty boys! They're all in it together!)
(Talk of 'repayment back home'? Empty words! Nothing but lies!)
(Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!)
In truth, without Akuto present, Hirano might not have been so upset.
Saya's aloof nature was just who she was.
But seeing the proud Saya turn docile and obedient before Akuto—
That cut him deeper than anything else.
The goddess he adored would drop her pride, chase after another man, just to become his plaything.
Once a man realizes that, it's enough to break him completely.
(End of Chapter)
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