Jukawa Shizuka's sleeping posture was remarkably uninhibited, perfectly embodying the essence of a mature beauty archetype in the anime world.
From her partially unbuttoned shirt collar spilled two soft mounds, distorted by the angle, her dewy skin glistening with sweat. Paired with her utterly defenseless, innocent expression like a sleeping infant, the sight was dangerously alluring.
Though not a loli, she certainly fell into the "jailbait" category—tempting enough for some to risk severe consequences.
Luo Jie pulled out his phone, snapping several photos from various angles as souvenirs. Afterward, he carefully adjusted the blanket over Jukawa Shizuka, shielding her exposed form. His attention then shifted to the rows of bottles and jars lining the medicine cabinet in the outer office.
The school infirmary wasn't a full hospital, primarily handling minor scrapes, bruises, headaches, and fevers. Consequently, its stock consisted mostly of topical treatments for external injuries, supplemented by a few cold medicines and pain relievers. Perhaps due to their commonplace nature, the system hadn't classified these as "Medicine," lumping them instead into the "Miscellaneous" category—rendering them practically worthless for authentication.
"Huh? What's this?"
As Luo Jie's gaze swept across the cabinet, one bottle's label caught his eye—a starkly familiar emblem: a red and gray umbrella.
"Umbrella Corporation…"
A hidden secret of this Illusionary World suddenly clicked into place. Luo Jie realized that worlds of similar genres often experienced crossovers within Illusions. Perhaps due to the original work's indefinite hiatus leaving the world background incomplete, the system had pulled in the Umbrella Corporation from the same biohazard genre to forcibly explain the outbreak of the Corpse Virus. Well, it wasn't entirely incongruous. Both were modern virus-apocalypse settings; viewing Highschool of the Dead as a Japanese spin-off or side story to Resident Evil was surprisingly plausible.
"So that's it. Now it makes sense."
Luo Jie's "explanation" wasn't primarily about the imminent Corpse Virus outbreak, but something else that had puzzled him. He'd found it strange earlier—no matter how airheaded Jukawa Shizuka was, she shouldn't have been so utterly trusting of a strange student she'd just met. Her behavior felt more like interacting with a long-time acquaintance. Seeing the Umbrella logo, however, provided the answer.
[Umbrella Public Enemy]
Type: Title
Effect: In any Illusion where the Umbrella Corporation exists, +30 Favorability with members of opposing factions. +20% Damage, +10% Accuracy, +10% Critical Hit Chance against Umbrella Security Service (USS) units and Bio-Organic Weapons (BOWs).
Unlock Condition: Eliminate a fully equipped USS squad.
This was the special title Luo Jie had earned in the Dead Rising Illusion after wiping out the six-man USS team. Beyond the combat bonuses against Umbrella forces, its key feature was boosting favorability with specific NPCs.
Favorability, though never quantified on any interface, was a real, underlying value for all NPCs. Simply put, higher favorability meant a warmer, more trusting attitude; lower meant suspicion or hostility. All NPCs started at 0 Favorability. +30 points approximated a casual friendship, +60 a close friend, +80 a confidant. Reaching +90 with an NPC of the opposite sex usually meant romance was just a breath away. (Though, in rare cases, same-sex relationships were possible too.)
If this Corpse Virus outbreak stemmed from Umbrella's bioweapons research, then the story's main characters inherently belonged to Umbrella's opposition. Jukawa Shizuka's inexplicable warmth toward him now made perfect sense.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A firm, rhythmic knock sounded at the door before it opened. A tall girl with long, lustrous purple hair—easily matching Jukawa's height—entered. Her calm demeanor held an undercurrent of sharpness as she supported a pale, listless-looking boy.
Tokijirō Kaori.
Their eyes met. Both Luo Jie and the purple-haired girl paused momentarily. Kaori was surprised not to see Nurse Jukawa present. Luo Jie, however, recognized her instantly—she was the most sought-after NPC in this escort mission: Tokijirō Kaori.
"Ah, Senior Tokijirō? Can I help you?" Luo Jie asked with a practiced, easy smile. Seven years of experience in his past life might not have made him a powerhouse, but his acting skills were top-notch. Playing a student was second nature, effortless.
As the popular captain of the Kendo Club, Tokijirō Kaori was accustomed to being recognized. She offered Luo Jie a polite, reserved smile. "During practice, my Vice-Captain sustained an injury. I brought him to see Nurse Jukawa…"
Understanding dawned on Luo Jie. So that's the origin of the student who turns into a Corpse in the infirmary during the outbreak. No wonder Kaori headed straight for the infirmary when the chaos erupted—she wasn't just checking on Shizuka; she was trying to recruit her injured Vice-Captain for the fight. Tragically, the unlucky kid hadn't survived the first wave of infection, transforming instead.
While rapidly analyzing these plot details, Luo Jie's expression remained perfectly neutral. He gestured subtly towards the inner treatment room. "Nurse Jukawa twisted her ankle on the field. I helped her back. She applied some ointment and fell asleep just now."
A flicker of suspicion crossed Kaori's sapphire-blue eyes. As she helped the Vice-Captain onto a bed, she subtly scanned Jukawa Shizuka. Seeing her clothes were undisturbed and her sleep genuine, Kaori's posture relaxed almost imperceptibly.
Luo Jie pretended not to notice, though he'd caught every micro-movement. Incredible vigilance, he mused internally. Truly befitting this world's top combatant. Even wearing the school uniform and benefiting from a +30 Favorability title, he was still scrutinized like a potential threat. He couldn't fathom how other players targeting Kaori could possibly get close to this formidable kendo prodigy.
"You've been very helpful, Junior. Nurse Jukawa must have caused you quite a bit of trouble?" Kaori's comment suggested even she was familiar with Shizuka's notorious airheadedness.
"Heh." A simple chuckle. Luo Jie and Kaori shared a brief look of mutual understanding—a silent acknowledgment of the chaotic charm of the sleeping nurse. The ice seemed to thaw slightly.
"Oh, Senior Tokijirō?"
"Hmm? Is there something else, Junior?" Kaori turned back, her expression noticeably less guarded than before. The +30 Favorability effect was finally taking hold.
"I'd like to join the Kendo Club. Would that be possible?"