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Just as Saya and the captain reached an understanding, Shizuka Marikawa suddenly hugged Saya from behind, looking as curious as a child.
The captain chuckled at the scene. "Well then, I'll leave you ladies to it." With a smile, he turned away to direct the others.
"Let me go already, you damn cow."
As soon as the captain left, Saya shoved Shizuka off, glaring at her chest with a look of bitter defeat.
"I have to say, I really like the way you think."
A deep, amused voice chimed in. Venom appeared on Shizuka's shoulder, looking extremely pleased.
He'd overheard every word of Saya's earlier conversation with the captain, and he agreed completely. Letting those people go only meant more zombies later.
But since he'd already made a deal with Saeko, he couldn't step in directly.
"Mind your own business," Saya snapped, turning away in a huff. She stomped toward Saeko without looking back.
"I don't get it," Shizuka mumbled, blinking at Saya's retreating figure. "What were you guys talking about? None of it made sense."
"I don't get it either," Venom shrugged, his form melting back into liquid and blending into her clothes again.
A few minutes later, the captain approached Saeko Busujima with utmost respect. "Boss, everything's ready. We can head back now."
"Good. Tell everyone to get in the vehicles. We're returning to base," Saeko ordered without hesitation.
"Yes, ma'am."
The captain nodded firmly and started shouting instructions. One by one, the squad filed onto the Humvees with practiced discipline.
Saeko led Saya and Shizuka toward the vehicles, ready to leave with the rest.
"Wait! Don't leave us behind!"
A voice suddenly rang out from a distance just as they were about to depart.
The three women turned, puzzled, and saw a teacher running toward them with a group of students trailing behind.
Though none of them knew him well, his face was familiar.
Koichi Shido, a teacher at Fujimi Academy. He was popular among the students, respected by many.
Saya's brows furrowed slightly as recognition set in. Her expression grew thoughtful.
Others might not know, but she did.
According to what she'd gathered, Shido wasn't the kind-hearted man he pretended to be. Beneath the surface, he was nothing more than a manipulative fraud who thrived on controlling others.
"Hurry up, kids!"
Shido stopped and turned to usher his students forward, then quickly led them to where Saeko and the others stood.
"Is everyone here alright?" he asked warmly, smiling as though he cared deeply.
"Take these students with us," Saeko said flatly, ignoring his question.
"You heard her—get in, quickly!" the captain barked, a bit surprised there were even survivors left.
"Come on, everyone, inside!" Shido urged, stepping forward confidently—right into the Humvee's door.
"Hold it right there."
The captain stretched out an arm, blocking his path.
"What's the meaning of this?" Shido frowned, not understanding why he was being stopped.
Meanwhile, the other students slipped past him and hurried into the vehicle.
"Didn't you hear what our boss just said?"
The squad captain glared, face hard and unyielding, standing his ground as he stared the man down.
Their leader's orders were clear: only the students were allowed in the bus, not this guy.
"And what exactly do you mean by that, young lady?"
Hearing the rejection, Shido Koichi's expression soured, though he quickly masked it with a kindly smile as he turned to Saeko Busujima, feigning confusion.
From the way the others obeyed her, it was obvious—this girl wasn't just another student. She was the one calling the shots.
And he, as a teacher at this school, surely deserved respect, even if she wasn't from his class. No matter what, a teacher's voice should carry weight here.
"We don't welcome you. So leave," Saeko said flatly. She already knew enough about Shido to want no part of him.
With his talent for manipulation, he could easily sway a group of frightened students, stir up conflict, and make everything a mess later.
"What's that supposed to mean? Don't forget—I'm your teacher."
The polite mask cracked. Shido's face darkened, stunned that a student would dare speak to him like this.
"Teacher? You?" Saeko shot back without hesitation. "A man like you isn't fit to call himself a teacher."
From what she'd learned, Shido was nothing but a schemer—always brainwashing kids, twisting their thoughts like he was running a cult. Not to mention the dirty tricks he pulled, like holding students back a grade when they should've advanced.
Did someone like that really deserve to stand at the front of a classroom? Was that what a teacher was supposed to be?
The old her might have let him on the bus. But not anymore. She wasn't the same person she used to be.
Shido's face went stiff, his expression uglier by the second.
"Let's go."
Saeko ignored him completely and stepped into the bus as the captain held the door open.
Shizuka Marikawa and Saya Takagi followed close behind.
Moments later, the vehicles roared out of the school grounds, leaving Shido Koichi standing there with nothing but a bitter, twisted scowl.
"....."