Chavales teoría en español acá:
https://youtu.be/twMgm2WvXNM
After discovering my new abilities and the system that was now part of me, I spent the following days recovering in the hospital. The doctors were astonished by my rapid healing, but they attributed it to my youth. If only they knew it was thanks to an interdimensional system I had absorbed.
During those days, I tried to become more familiar with my abilities. I practiced "Steal" whenever the nurses weren't looking, focusing on small objects like pens or paper clips. At first it didn't work, but eventually I managed to make a pen "jump" into my hand from the desk.
—Interesting, —I murmured while examining the pen in my hand—. The skill works, but it seems I need more practice to perfect it.
As for swordsmanship, I couldn't practice much in the hospital, but I performed basic movements with a broomstick I found in the janitor's closet. The motions came naturally, as if my body remembered something my mind had never learned.
Finally, three days after the incident, I was discharged. My aunt came to pick me up, wearing that fake smile I despised so much.
—Are you ready to go home, Saito? —she asked in that syrupy tone she only used when someone else was present. In this case, the nurse filling out my discharge papers.
—Yes, Aunt Martha, —I replied, maintaining my grateful nephew façade—. Thank you for coming.
On the way home, I noticed something strange in the news playing on the car radio.
"…several incidents of violent attacks have been reported in different parts of the city. Authorities recommend caution…"
My heart started racing. Was it already beginning? According to my implanted memories, the zombie apocalypse in the anime began as suddenly as this, during a normal school day. I needed to prepare.
—Aunt, when can I go back to school? —I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
—Tomorrow. I already spoke with Fujimi Academy and they're aware of your situation. I don't want you to miss any more classes than necessary.
Perfect. If my calculations were correct, tomorrow would be the day everything started. I needed to be ready.
---
That night, in my small room, I reviewed the system panel again.
[Template Panel]
Template: [Kazuma Satou]
Progress: (5%) 200/1000 xp
Acquired Skills:
• Steal: (Basic magical skill)
• Swordsmanship: (Basic)
—I need more experience before tomorrow, —I muttered—. But how?
As if the system had heard my thoughts, a new window appeared before me.
[New Quest]
(Prepare for the Inevitable)
[The end of the known world is near. Prepare accordingly.]
Progress: (0%)
Requirements: [Prepare a backpack with basic survival supplies and an improvised weapon]
Rewards: (+150 xp)
I smiled. This was exactly what I needed.
—Alright, let's begin.
Silently, so as not to alert my uncles, I started packing a backpack. I put in bottles of water, some energy bars I had stored, a small flashlight, bandages and alcohol from the bathroom first-aid kit, and some extra clothing.
For the improvised weapon, I had to get creative. In my uncle's garage, I found some tools. I took a long, sturdy screwdriver, wrapped its handle with tape for better grip, and secured it to my belt with a makeshift sheath.
—It's not a katana, but it'll do for emergencies, —I murmured, satisfied with my work.
When I finished, the quest window updated.
[Quest: Completed]
(Prepare for the Inevitable)
Progress: (100%)
Rewards: (+150 xp)
[Template Panel]
Template: [Kazuma Satou]
Progress: (8.5%) 350/1000 xp
—Better than nothing, —I sighed—. Tomorrow will be a long day.
---
The next morning dawned with an unusually clear sky. It was as if the universe were mocking the hell about to be unleashed.
I put on my Fujimi Academy uniform: black pants, white shirt, and school blazer. Underneath, I wore an extra T-shirt for comfort. In my backpack, besides my textbooks, were all the supplies I'd prepared the night before. The modified screwdriver was hidden in an internal compartment, where I knew it wouldn't be detected.
—Saito, breakfast! —my aunt shouted from the kitchen.
I went downstairs and ate in silence, watching my uncles. I wondered if I'd ever see them again after today. Despite how they'd treated me, I didn't want them to become zombies. Well, maybe my uncle a little—but that's another story.
—I'm off to school, —I announced, standing up from the table.
—Don't get into trouble, —my uncle said without looking up from his newspaper.
—Sure, Uncle. See you later.
The walk to school felt surreal. Everything seemed so normal, so unaware of what was to come. Students laughing, cars passing, the world spinning on as always. But I knew the truth. Today, everything would change.
When I arrived at Fujimi Academy, I took a deep breath. According to my implanted memories, in the anime the protagonist was on the rooftop when it all began. From there, he could see the main entrance where the first incident occurred. That would be my vantage point.
During the first hours of class, it was hard to concentrate. Every sudden noise, every shadow passing the window, put me on edge. My classmates noticed my nervousness.
—Hey, Nakamada, are you okay? —asked Morita, a classmate I occasionally spoke with—. You look distracted.
—I'm fine, just a little tired, —I replied, forcing a smile.
When break finally came, I went straight to the rooftop. I needed a good vantage point, and according to my memories, this was where it would all be most visible.
The rooftop was empty except for one figure leaning against the wall. Rei Miyamoto, one of the anime protagonists, was there, gazing at the sky with a pensive expression.
—Nakamada? —she said, surprised to see me—. What are you doing here?
—Just needed some fresh air, —I replied, moving to the railing for a clear view of the main entrance—. How about you?
—Same, I guess, —she said with a sigh—. Things have been a bit tense lately.
I vaguely recalled that in the anime Rei had problems with her boyfriend, Hisashi. This would be a good moment to establish some connection with her, considering we'd soon be fighting for survival side by side.
—I heard things have been weird between you and Hisashi, —I commented casually.
Rei looked at me in surprise, then her expression softened.
—I didn't know you paid attention to school gossip, Nakamada.
—I don't, —I said with a small smile—. I just observe.
We were in the middle of that conversation when I saw it. At the main entrance, a sickly-looking man was struggling with security guards. His skin was pale, almost gray, and his movements were erratic.
—Rei, look, —I pointed toward the entrance—. Something's happening.
Rei leaned closer to the railing and squinted to see better.
—Looks like an intruder's trying to get in, —she said, not too alarmed.
But I knew what it really was. It was the beginning of the end.
The man lunged at one of the guards and, to our horrified eyes, bit his arm. The guard fell backward, screaming in pain.
—Oh my God! —Rei exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth.
—We have to get out of here, —I said urgently, grabbing her arm—. This isn't normal.
—What are you talking about? —she asked, confused—. We have to call someone, get an ambulance…
—There's no time for that, —I insisted—. Trust me, Rei. We're in danger.
At that moment, the rooftop door swung open and Hisashi appeared, a look of concern on his face.
—Rei, I've been looking all over for you, —he said, approaching us—. What's going on?
—Hisashi, —Rei pulled away and ran to him—. Something terrible just happened at the entrance. A man bit one of the guards.
Hisashi looked toward the entrance and saw the fallen guard being tended by colleagues, while the intruder was finally subdued.
—What the hell…? —he muttered, incredulous.
—We have to get out of here, —I said more firmly this time—. There's no time to explain.
—Explain what, Nakamada? —Hisashi asked, growing suspicious.
Before I could reply, the system surprised me with a new window.
[New Quest]
(Survive the First Outbreak)
[Escape the school alive and help at least two others survive]
Progress: (0%)
Requirements: [Survive the initial outbreak, help at least 2 people survive]
Rewards: (+300 xp)
This quest confirmed my suspicions: the zombie apocalypse was beginning exactly like in the anime.
—I can't explain now, —I said, resolute—. But if we want to live, we have to move. Quickly.
Hisashi and Rei exchanged doubtful glances, clearly unconvinced by my words. Then the school intercom crackled to life with static, followed by the trembling voice of the principal.
"Attention all students and staff. We have an emergency situation at the main entrance. Please remain calm and stay in your classrooms until further notice. I repeat, stay in your classrooms…"
The message was cut off by a blood-curdling scream, followed by sounds of scuffling and more cries. Then—silence.
—What was that? —Rei whispered, clutching Hisashi's arm.
—That, —I said gravely— was the sound of our principal being devoured.
Their eyes went wide.
—Devoured? —Hisashi echoed, unbelievingly.
Before I could answer, the intercom came back to life, this time in full panic.
"DO NOT APPROACH! STAY BACK! AAAAAHHH!"
Screams, crashes, the sounds of furniture being dragged, and then… nothing. The chaos that followed was immediate. Through the windows of the school buildings we could see students running in terror, and worst of all, shambling figures chasing them with inhuman movements.
—Zombies, —I murmured loud enough for them to hear—. The school is being invaded by zombies.
—This can't be real, —Rei said, shaking her head—. Zombies don't exist, they're fiction…
—Look around you, Rei, —I pointed at the courtyard, where a student was being attacked by what was clearly a reanimated corpse—. Does that look like fiction?
Hisashi, always the practical one, made a decision.
—If what you say is true, Nakamada, we need weapons, —he said determinedly—. We can't face those things unarmed.
—You're right, —I agreed, recalling the screwdriver in my backpack—. I have something that might work, but we need more.
—There are practice staffs in the dojo, —Rei suggested—. We could use them as weapons.
—Good idea, —Hisashi approved—. Let's go there.
As we made our way toward the rooftop door, I thought about how different this was from the anime. In the original story, Takashi, Rei, and Hisashi formed a trio with Takashi as the protagonist. Now I had taken that place, altering the entire dynamic.
—By the way, —I said as we descended the stairs, staying alert—. If we run into any of those… zombies, aim for the head. It's the only way to stop them.
—How do you know so much about this? —Hisashi asked, still suspicious.
—I've watched a lot of movies, —I replied vaguely, avoiding the truth that I literally knew this story because I had watched the anime in another life.
The hallway was relatively clear for now, with only a few students running in the opposite direction, screaming hysterically. We tried to warn them about the zombies, but they were too terrified to listen.
—Let them go, —Hisashi said sadly—. We can't save everyone.
He was right, of course. In a zombie apocalypse, the harsh reality is that not everyone will survive.
We continued toward the east building. The dojo was on the first floor, which made access easier. However, rounding a corner, we came face to face with our first zombie.
It was a senior student I recognized vaguely. His uniform was stained with blood, his skin an unhealthy gray, and his eyes… his eyes were white, lifeless. He stared at us (if you could call it staring) and snarled as he lumbered forward.
—Watch out! —I cried, pushing Rei out of the way. The zombie passed by, and in a swift motion, I took the screwdriver from my backpack and drove it into his temple with all my strength.
The zombie collapsed, motionless. It had worked.
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
—Damn! —Hisashi exclaimed, looking at the fallen zombie and then at me—. How did you know exactly where to strike?
—Like I said, movies, —I answered, wiping the screwdriver on the corpse's clothing—. Let's go, the dojo is close.
Rei looked at me with a mix of fear and admiration. It wasn't how I'd planned to impress her, but in desperate times…
We reached the dojo. Thankfully, it was empty of zombies. Rei went straight to the cabinet where the practice staffs were stored and picked one she knew well.
—This will do, —she said, gripping it confidently.
I remembered that in the anime, Rei was part of the martial arts club, skilled with the staff.
Hisashi grabbed a staff too, though he seemed more comfortable fighting unarmed.
—So, what's the plan? —he asked, looking to me expectantly.
Good question. In the anime, the group headed back to the rooftop to assess the situation, but since we'd already been there, we needed something else.
—We need to find more survivors, —I said, thinking of Saya Takagi, Kohta Hirano, and the other anime protagonists—. Then we'll look for a way out of the school. Maybe we can use one of the buses in the parking lot.
—Buses? —Rei asked—. Do you know how to drive one?
—No, but maybe we'll find someone who does, —I replied, thinking of Nurse Shizuka Marikawa—. For now, let's focus on surviving and finding more people.
Just as we were about to leave the dojo, we heard hurried footsteps approaching. We braced for the worst but were relieved to see two students: a pink-haired girl with glasses and a chubby, nervous-looking boy.
—Saya! Hirano! —I blurted, recognizing them immediately from the anime.
Saya Takagi stopped in her tracks and stared at me in surprise.
—How do you know my name? —she asked suspiciously—. I don't recall ever meeting you, Nakamada.
Damn, I'd made a mistake. In my excitement, I'd forgotten I wasn't supposed to know them so well.
—Ah, you're Takagi from 2-B, right? —I improvised quickly—. Everyone knows the school genius.
She seemed to accept my explanation, though she still looked wary.
—Whatever, —she said, adjusting her glasses—. This place is full of those… those monsters. We need a safe spot.
—We were planning to find a bus and get out of here, —I explained—. Do you have a better idea?
—Actually, —Hirano chipped in—, that's exactly what I was thinking. The buses are in the back parking lot, but we need the keys.
—They're probably in the teachers' lounge, —Hisashi suggested.
—Then that's our next destination, —I decided—. But first, Hirano, do you need a weapon?
Hirano shyly smiled and pulled from behind his back what looked like a modified nail gun.
—I've got one, —he said, his enthusiasm oddly out of place in the situation.
I genuinely admired his resourcefulness.
—Impressive, —I said—. Alright, let's head to the teachers' lounge.
Our group now numbered five: me, Rei, Hisashi, Saya, and Hirano. It wasn't exactly like the anime, but we were making progress.
The school was complete chaos. The halls once teeming with students were now stained with blood and littered with bodies. Some of those bodies were rising, searching for new victims. We avoided encounters when possible, and when not, we fought.
Hisashi proved formidable, using his staff to strike zombie heads with precision. Rei was similarly skilled. Hirano, though nervous, landed almost every shot. Saya, meanwhile, stayed back, offering tactical advice.
—The teachers' lounge is on the second floor of the main building, —Saya informed us as we moved stealthily down a corridor—. It's going to be dangerous to reach.
—We have no choice, —I replied—. We need those keys.
Turning a corner, we encountered a horde of at least ten zombies blocking the hallway.
—Crap, —Hisashi muttered—. Too many.
—We need another route, —Rei suggested, backing away.
—There's no time, —Saya interjected—. At this rate, the whole school will be overrun. We have to go now.
I looked around for a solution. I noticed an empty classroom to our left.
—Let's go in there, —I pointed—. I have a plan.
Once inside, I explained my idea.
—We can use the desks as makeshift shields and advance in formation. Hisashi and I at the front with the desks, Rei and Hirano behind us to attack any zombies that get too close, and Saya in the center protected.
It was a risky plan, but it might work.
—It's crazy, —Saya objected.
—It's our best option, —I insisted—. Unless you'd rather stay here until they find you.
After a brief debate, everyone agreed. We grabbed two desks to use as front shields and prepared.
—On my signal, —I positioned myself by the door—. One, two… now!
We burst out in formation, Hisashi and I pushing the desks forward, creating a path through the zombies. As expected, the desks served as effective barriers, pushing zombies aside. Rei and Hirano took every chance to eliminate those who got too close.
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
The system continued rewarding me for every zombie downed, even if it wasn't by my hand. I guessed I earned experience for those killed by my group.
We broke through the horde with only a few scratches and heavy breathing, finally reaching the hallway leading to the stairs up to the second floor.
—We did it! —Hirano exclaimed, visibly thrilled by our success.
—We're not safe yet, —Hisashi reminded, ever pragmatic—. We have to keep moving.
The staircase was relatively clear, with just a couple of zombies that Rei and Hisashi quickly dispatched. At the second-floor landing, we paused to catch our breath.
—The teachers' lounge is at the end of this corridor, —Saya indicated.
We proceeded cautiously, mindful that every step could draw unwanted attention. Surprisingly, the hallway was nearly empty, with only one lone zombie that Hirano shot in the head with precision from his nail gun.
Finally, we reached the teachers' lounge. The door was closed but not locked. Before entering, I listened for any sounds inside. I heard movement, but nothing like zombie growls.
—I think there are survivors in there, —I whispered—. Let's enter carefully.
I opened the door slowly, screwdriver ready. Inside we found Nurse Marikawa and another professor I didn't recognize, barricaded behind a desk.
—Don't come any closer! —the professor shouted, brandishing a chair as a weapon.
—We're not a threat, —I said, raising my hands—. We're students looking for the bus keys.
The nurse recognized us and relaxed.
—Nakamada? Miyamoto? —she blinked in surprise—. You're alive!
—For now, —Saya replied dryly—. But we won't be for long if we don't get out of here.
—Bus keys? —the professor asked, lowering the chair—. They should be in the key drawer next to the main desk.
Hisashi immediately went to the drawer and started rummaging through the keys.
—Will you come with us? —I asked the nurse and the professor.
—Of course, —Marikawa said without hesitation—. We can't stay here forever.
The professor seemed less convinced.
—I'm not sure… maybe we should wait for rescue teams…
—No one is coming, —Saya cut in firmly—. If what's happening here is happening across the city—or beyond—there won't be any rescuers. We're on our own.
Her words seemed to plunge the professor into shock.
—I've got them, —Hisashi announced, holding up a set of keys—. These are the school bus keys.
—Good, —I felt a spark of hope—. Now we need to get to the back parking lot.
—And then what? —the professor asked, recovering some composure—. Where do we go?
It was a good question. In the anime, the group initially sought their families before choosing a final destination.
—First, out of the school, —I decided—. Then we can choose our next move. Maybe find our families or a safe haven.
Mentioning families provoked mixed reactions. Rei and Hisashi exchanged worried glances, clearly thinking of their loved ones. Saya kept her stoic expression, though I noticed her hands were trembling slightly. Hirano looked resigned, as if he had little hope of finding his family.
—My car is in the front parking lot, —Marikawa mentioned—. We could use it instead of the bus. It's faster.
—But we can't all fit, —Hisashi objected—. There are seven of us.
—The bus is our best option, —I confirmed—. It gives us space and protection.
Just as we were finishing preparations to leave, we heard a scream from the corridor. Without hesitation, I rushed to the door and threw it open.
In the hallway, a brown-haired girl and another student were backing away from three zombies. I recognized the girl as Saeko Busujima, captain of the kendo club and another anime protagonist.
—Hirano! —I yelled, pointing at the zombies—. Shoot!
Hirano reacted instantly, firing into one zombie's head and sending it crashing to the floor.
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
Saeko used the distraction to her advantage, moving with incredible speed and using her bokken to precisely strike another zombie's head.
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
The third zombie was taken down by Hisashi, who'd just come up behind me.
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
—Thank you for the help, —Saeko said, giving a slight bow of gratitude.
—Busujima-senpai, are you all right? —Rei asked as she emerged.
—We're fine, —Saeko replied, indicating the student beside her, who looked petrified—. I found this first-year hiding in the kendo dojo.
—You should come with us, —I offered—. We have a plan to get out of here.
Saeko studied me with a penetrating gaze, as if judging my leadership.
—And what is that plan, Nakamada?
I was surprised she knew my name, but I guessed that as the kendo captain she was familiar with many students.
—We have the school bus keys, —I explained—. We'll head to the back parking lot, take the bus, and drive out.
Saeko nodded, apparently satisfied with the plan.
—Sounds reasonable. We'll join you.
With Saeko and the first-year student (whose name turned out to be Takuzo), our group had grown to nine people: me, Rei, Hisashi, Saya, Hirano, Nurse Marikawa, Professor Takayama, Saeko, and Takuzo.
—The back parking lot is several corridors away, —Professor Takayama informed us—. We'll have to cross the main building and then the central courtyard.
—It's a long, dangerous route, —Saeko added—. We should move in formation for maximum protection.
We agreed on a formation: Saeko, Hisashi, and I in front; Hirano and Rei on the flanks; and the rest in the center. It was a solid defensive setup that leveraged everyone's strengths.
While we prepared to leave, I quickly checked my system panel.
[Template Panel]
Template: [Kazuma Satou]
Progress: (12%) 470/1000 xp
Acquired Skills:
• Steal: (Basic magical skill)
• Swordsmanship: (Basic)
I'd gained a decent amount of experience, but I was still far from completing the first stage of my template. It didn't matter; surviving came first.
—I'm ready, —I announced to the group—. Let's go.
We made our way through the school corridors, facing several zombies along the way. The formation worked well; Saeko was particularly impressive, dispatching zombies with the grace and precision only years of kendo training could yield.
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
My experience continued to climb. At one point, when facing a particularly large group of zombies, I decided to try "Steal" for the first time in real combat.
I focused on a zombie approaching, extended my hand, and murmured:
—Steal.
I felt a strange energy flow from my hand, and to my surprise, the zombie's necktie (it seemed to have been a teacher) flew into my hand. It wasn't exactly what I expected, but it momentarily distracted the zombie, allowing me to plunge the screwdriver into its eye with my other hand.
[Zombie Eliminated: +20 xp]
["Steal" skill used in combat: +10 xp]
Interesting. The system also rewarded using specific skills.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of fights and evasions, we reached the courtyard. The parking lot lay on the far side, about a hundred meters away. The problem was the courtyard was teeming with zombies.
—We can't fight our way through them all, —Saya muttered, surveying the scene—. There are too many.
—We need a distraction, —Hirano suggested—. Something to draw the zombies in one direction while we slip by the other.
—Like what? —Rei asked.
I thought quickly, remembering that in the anime, zombies were primarily attracted by sound.
—We need something loud, —I said—. Something loud enough to attract them that we can throw far from our path.
—What about this? —Professor Takayama pulled a small device from his pocket—. It's an emergency alarm. We use them for fire drills.
—Perfect, —I said, taking the device—. We'll activate it and fling it to the far side of the courtyard. When the zombies move toward it, we dash to the parking lot.
The plan seemed simple, but we all knew many things could go wrong. Still, it was our best shot.
—Everyone ready? —I asked, holding the alarm.
They nodded, some determined, others with fear in their eyes.
I activated the alarm, which let out a shrill beep, and hurled it with all my strength to the far corner of the courtyard. As we'd hoped, the zombies began turning toward the sound and shuffling in its direction.
—Now! —I shouted, and we bolted toward the parking lot.
We ran as fast and quietly as we could, taking advantage of the zombies' distraction. However, not all were fooled; some noticed us and began to follow.
—Faster! —Hisashi urged, glancing back at the pursuing zombies.
The parking lot drew closer. I could see the big yellow school bus parked at the far end of the lot. Just a few more meters…
As we neared it, a zombie caught up to Takuzo, the first-year, and bit him on the shoulder.
—AAAH! —Takuzo screamed, collapsing to the ground.
—Takuzo! —Nurse Marikawa yelled, stopping to help him.
—There's no time! —Saya snapped, pulling the nurse away—. He's infected!
It was true. I knew from the anime that once bitten, there was no turning back. Takuzo would become one of them.
—I'm sorry, —I murmured, and I kept running toward the bus.
We reached the vehicle, and Hisashi quickly used the keys to unlock the door. One by one, we climbed aboard, with Saeko and I covering the rear.
—Hurry up! —Hirano yelled, already inside and shooting at the nearest zombies through the window.
Saeko and I leaped aboard, and Nurse Marikawa, who turned out to know how to drive, took the driver's seat.
—Hold on! —she warned as she started the engine.
The bus roared to life and began plowing through the zombies that had gathered in front of it. The relief I felt as we left the school behind was indescribable.
I glanced back and saw Takuzo, now fully transformed, joining the horde chasing the bus. It was a grim reminder of what awaited us if we made a single mistake.
[Quest: Completed]
(Survive the First Outbreak)
Progress: (100%)
Rewards: (+300 xp)
[Template Panel]
Template: [Kazuma Satou]
Progress: (19.2%) 770/1000 xp
—We made it, —Rei sighed, collapsing into a seat.
—For now, —Saya added, ever realistic—. This is just the beginning.
She was right, of course. We had survived the initial outbreak, but the real challenge was only just beginning. The world as we knew it had ended, and now we faced a reality where the dead walked and every day would be a fight to survive.
I looked around at our group: Rei, Hisashi, Saya, Hirano, Nurse Marikawa, Professor Takayama, and Saeko. We were eight survivors in a world of the dead. The odds were not in our favor.
But we had something the zombies didn't: intelligence, adaptability, and, in my case, a system that would allow me to grow stronger with every challenge. I didn't know exactly how things would unfold from here, especially with the differences already emerging compared to the anime (like Takashi's absence and Hisashi's survival).
What I did know was that I would do everything in my power to keep this group alive, and to master the skills in my template. Kazuma Satou might not be the most powerful character, but his abilities were versatile and useful.
As the bus sped away from Fujimi Academy, leaving behind chaos and death, I allowed myself a brief moment of hope. We had overcome the first obstacle. And as long as we were alive, there was hope.
—Where do we go now? —Professor Takayama asked, breaking the silence that had settled in the bus.
It was the million-dollar question. According to the anime, the group originally split between looking for their families and finding a safe refuge.
—We need a plan, —I said, stepping into the leadership role I'd taken on—. Does anyone have any suggestions?
—I need to find my father, —Rei said immediately—. He's a police officer; he might know what's happening and how to keep us safe.
—My family lives in a mansion on the outskirts of town, —Saya mentioned—. It's well protected and could be a good refuge.
—My parents are probably at home, —Hisashi added—. It's not far from here.
The others voiced their concerns for loved ones as well. The discussion about our next destination was just beginning, but one thing was clear: we had survived the longest day of our lives, and now we had to prepare for the challenges awaiting us in this new, terrifying world.
Nurse Marikawa continued driving, taking us away from the school that had been our home for so long, and toward an uncertain future filled with danger… and perhaps, if we were lucky, some opportunities to grow stronger.
I looked at my hand, thinking about the "Steal" skill I'd used and the swordsmanship I'd yet to fully explore. With practice and experience, they would grow. I would grow.
I had to. For my survival and for this group that, for better or worse, was now under my leadership.