The afternoon sun cast long shadows through the broken windows of Fujimi High School's Athletics building. Takeshi sat in the kendo club room, his newly evolved body still adjusting to its enhanced capabilities. The slow, steady thump of his simulated heartbeat was oddly comforting—a reminder that he was more than just a mindless corpse.
He'd barricaded the door with equipment racks and heavy gym mats, creating a defensible position. The room's single window offered a view of the courtyard below, where the carnage continued unabated. Hundreds of infected now wandered the grounds, their moans creating a constant backdrop of inhuman sound.
Jesus Christ. This is really happening. I'm actually undead in a fucking zombie apocalypse.
Takeshi pulled up his status display again, studying the numbers with his enhanced intelligence. The jump from level one to level two had been dramatic—nearly doubling his physical capabilities and sharpening his mind considerably. But the next evolution required two hundred fifty points, meaning fifty kills at the base rate.
Two hundred fifty points to reach level three. If the pattern holds, level four will probably require five hundred, then a thousand, then more. Exponential growth. Standard video game progression.
He did the math quickly. To reach level ten—one of the requirements for dimensional travel—he'd need to accumulate and spend thousands of evolution points just on leveling. And that didn't even count the ten thousand points he needed to maintain as a separate requirement.
This is going to take weeks. Maybe months. And I have to survive in a world that's actively trying to kill everyone. Fucking hell.
A sound from the hallway outside pulled him from his calculations. Footsteps—multiple sets, moving with purpose rather than the shambling gait of zombies. Voices, low and urgent. One voice in particular stood out—higher-pitched, slightly breathless, carrying an odd mixture of panic and ditzy confusion.
"Kyaa~! There's more of them behind us! We need to find somewhere to hide!"
Takeshi moved silently to the door, pressing his ear against it. His enhanced perception let him make out the conversation clearly.
"Marikawa-sensei, please try to keep your voice down!" That was a male voice, young, stressed. "You're going to attract every damn zombie in the building!"
"Oh! Sorry, sorry! I'll be quieter!" The woman's voice dropped to a stage whisper that was barely softer than her normal speaking volume. "But where are we going? I'm so confused about what's happening!"
"We're going to the Athletics building. It should be safer there. Just stay close and—sensei! Don't wander off!"
"I'm not wandering! I just saw something shiny over there and—oh my, is that a person?"
"Shit!" Footsteps scattered as the group apparently ran after their wayward companion.
Takeshi felt a spark of recognition. That voice, that personality—the absent-minded, voluptuous school nurse who seemed to exist in her own bubble of cheerful confusion even in the middle of an apocalypse.
Shizuka Marikawa.
He knew her from the anime—the blonde, impossibly busty school nurse who somehow survived despite appearing to have no survival instincts whatsoever. She'd been with the main cast, providing comic relief and occasional surprising moments of competence buried beneath layers of ditzy behavior.
But if she's here, why isn't she with Takashi's group? What the hell happened?
His perfect memory sorted through the timeline. In the anime, Shizuka had been in the nurse's office when the outbreak began. She'd met up with some students and eventually joined forces with the protagonist group. But the exact sequence of events was fuzzy—the anime had taken liberties with the manga's timeline.
Different divergence point. She ended up with a different group of survivors. Shit, this could complicate things.
The group's footsteps were getting closer, heading toward the main gymnasium. Takeshi weighed his options. He could stay hidden, avoid them entirely. But that meant losing access to most of the building, limiting his hunting grounds. Or he could reveal himself, try to pass as human, maybe even join their group.
And having Shizuka Marikawa around might provide useful cover. Her scatterbrained nature would make her less likely to notice the small inconsistencies in his behavior. Plus, as a nurse, she had medical knowledge that could be valuable for maintaining his human disguise.
Fuck it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Takeshi made a decision.
He removed the barricade as quietly as possible, grabbed his bokken, and stepped out into the hallway. The survivors had already turned a corner, heading toward the main gymnasium. He followed at a distance, careful to keep his footsteps audible enough to alert them to his presence without seeming like he was stalking them.
The group emerged into view as they entered the gymnasium—six people total. The first thing Takeshi noticed was Shizuka Marikawa herself, and his enhanced perception confirmed that the anime had not exaggerated her physical attributes. The blonde woman in the too-tight white blouse and short skirt was every bit as impossibly proportioned as depicted. She was looking around the gymnasium with wide, confused eyes, as if trying to remember why they'd come here.
Holy shit. Those are actually real. Physics be damned, I guess.
With her were five students—two male, three female. None of them were characters he recognized from the main cast. They were setting up a defensive position near the equipment storage, dragging mats and benches to create barriers while trying to keep Shizuka from wandering off.
Takeshi cleared his throat—an action that required conscious effort now—and spoke in the most normal voice he could manage. "Hello? Is anyone there?"
The group spun toward him, weapons raised. A baseball bat, a hockey stick, a fire extinguisher, and improvised spears made from broken mops. One of the male students—tall, athletic-looking—stepped forward aggressively.
"Who the fuck are you? Are you alone?"
"My name is Takeshi. I'm alone. I've been hiding in the kendo club room since this morning." He kept his hands visible, the bokken held loosely in a non-threatening manner. "I heard voices and thought... maybe we could help each other."
Shizuka suddenly pushed past the defensive line, her face lighting up with relief. "Oh thank goodness! Another survivor! I was so worried we were the only ones left!" She moved closer to Takeshi, studying his face with innocent concern. "Are you hurt? You look a little pale. Do you have a fever? Let me check!"
Before Takeshi could react, her hand was on his forehead. Her palm was warm—almost hot compared to his cooler undead flesh. Her eyes widened slightly.
"You're cold! Very cold! You might be in shock!" She turned to the others, her expression worried. "We need to get him warmed up! Does anyone have a blanket?"
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Of course the damn nurse would notice body temperature.
"I'm fine, really," Takeshi said quickly, gently removing her hand. "Just been running on adrenaline all day. Haven't eaten much. Probably just low blood sugar."
"Oh! That makes sense!" Shizuka's concern immediately shifted to a different worry. "We should get you food! And water! It's very important to stay hydrated during emergencies!" She looked around vaguely. "Does anyone know where we can find food?"
The athletic student—he'd introduced himself as Tanaka—sighed. "Marikawa-sensei, we were just discussing that before we heard this guy. There's vending machines on the first floor."
"Oh right! I remember now!" Shizuka beamed. "I'm so glad you're here to remind me, Tanaka-kun! I would have forgotten completely!"
One of the female students—a short girl with sharp eyes named Akari—studied Takeshi carefully. "You said you've been here since morning? Where exactly? And how the hell did you survive alone?"
"Kendo club room, like I said. I barricaded the door and stayed quiet. When I had to fight, I fought." He gestured with the bokken. "This helped."
"Your shirt is torn," Akari pointed out, her gaze lingering on the tears where the initial zombie had bitten him. "What happened there?"
Shizuka gasped. "Oh no! You ARE hurt! Let me see!" She moved toward him again, fingers already reaching for his collar.
Takeshi stepped back smoothly. "It's nothing. Got caught in a door during the panic. Just tore the fabric. I'm not injured."
"Are you sure? I should check anyway! As the school nurse, it's my responsibility to make sure everyone is healthy!" Shizuka's expression was earnest and concerned, her ditzy demeanor giving way to a flash of actual professional competence.
"I'm sure. Really." Takeshi tried to redirect the conversation. "But I appreciate the concern. Have you all been together since the outbreak started?"
Tanaka nodded. "More or less. We found Marikawa-sensei wandering the halls about an hour ago. She said she'd been in the nurse's office when everything went to shit, but she got separated from some other students she'd been with."
"I couldn't find them anywhere!" Shizuka said sadly. "I hope they're okay. There was a very serious-looking boy and a girl with a spear... or was it a mop? I can't quite remember. Everything happened so fast!"
So she had been with Takashi's group initially but got separated. That's why she's here instead of with the main cast. Fuck, butterfly effects already.
The other male student—a heavyset boy with glasses named Yamamoto—spoke up. "We should probably do introductions properly. I'm Yamamoto. That's Tanaka, Akari, and the other two are Miki and Hana." He gestured to the remaining two girls, who looked like they might be first-years. "And you've already met Marikawa-sensei."
"Pleased to meet you all," Takeshi said, bowing slightly. "And I meant what I said—maybe we can help each other. I know this building pretty well from club activities."
"You're in the kendo club?" Shizuka asked brightly. "That's wonderful! My friend Rika is very interested in weapons! She has lots of guns at her apartment! Maybe after this is all over, you two could talk about—" She stopped suddenly, her expression clouding. "Oh... I hope Rika-chan is okay. I couldn't reach her on my phone."
The casual mention of Rika Minami—the firearms expert who would become important to the main cast's survival—was another reminder of how interconnected this world was. Shizuka's friend, her apartment, the weapons cache there... all of it was real, not just plot devices in an anime.
And that's my ticket to some serious firepower. Hell yes.
"I'm sure your friend is fine," Takeshi said, though he had no way of knowing that. "Someone with access to weapons would have better odds than most."
"Oh, you're right!" Shizuka's mood brightened instantly. "Rika-chan is very capable! She'll definitely be okay!" Then her expression turned concerned again. "But what about you? Are you sure you're not hurt? You still look pale."
"Just tired. And hungry, like I said." Takeshi needed to redirect her attention away from examining him too closely. "Maybe we should check those vending machines? Get food for everyone?"
Yamamoto adjusted his glasses. "That's actually a good idea. We were going to do that anyway. Takeshi, since you know the building, maybe you should take point? You seem... capable."
"Happy to help."
They spent a few minutes organizing for the supply run. Shizuka kept offering suggestions that ranged from genuinely useful—"We should take bags to carry things!"—to completely impractical—"Maybe we can find a shopping cart somewhere?" In the end, they settled on a group of four for the expedition: Takeshi, Yamamoto, Akari, and Shizuka.
"Marikawa-sensei, are you sure you should come with us?" Tanaka asked with barely concealed worry. "Maybe you should stay here where it's safe?"
"Nonsense! As the adult and medical professional, I should definitely go!" Shizuka said firmly. Then she added with complete sincerity, "Besides, I'm terrible at staying in one place. I'd probably wander off and get lost even in this room!"
The honesty of the statement was both endearing and terrifying. But no one could argue with her logic—she was safer where they could watch her.
They set out, Takeshi leading the way with his bokken ready. Shizuka walked beside him, seemingly unconcerned about the danger, chattering away about various topics that had nothing to do with their situation.
"I love this building! The gymnasium is so spacious! I used to come here sometimes to watch the boys' basketball team practice. There was this one student who could do the most amazing dunks—" She stopped suddenly, her expression sad. "I wonder if he's okay..."
"Focus, sensei," Yamamoto said gently from behind them. "We need to stay alert."
"Oh! Right! Sorry!" Shizuka immediately fell silent, but only for about thirty seconds before she started up again. "Takeshi-kun, you're very good with that sword! Have you been practicing for a long time?"
"A while," Takeshi replied vaguely, his attention focused on the hallway ahead. His enhanced perception picked up movement—zombies, three of them, shambling around a corner about twenty meters away.
"There," he said quietly, pointing. "Three of them. Stay back while I handle it."
"Be careful!" Shizuka whispered loudly, her version of quiet still carrying clearly in the empty hallway.
Takeshi moved forward smoothly, his enhanced agility and coordination making the engagement almost trivial. The first zombie turned toward him and received a bokken to the temple that dropped it instantly. The second and third met the same fate within seconds.
Damn, this is almost too easy now. Like clubbing fish in a barrel.
[+15 EVOLUTION POINTS]
[CURRENT TOTAL: 30/250]
"Amazing!" Shizuka clapped her hands together, seemingly delighted rather than horrified. "You're so skilled! It's like watching a samurai movie!"
Yamamoto and Akari exchanged glances, clearly not sharing the nurse's enthusiasm but impressed nonetheless.
They continued toward the vending machines, encountering four more zombies along the way. Takeshi eliminated each one with the same clinical efficiency, earning another twenty evolution points.
[CURRENT TOTAL: 50/250]
The vending machines were intact, filled with drinks and snacks. Yamamoto produced a multi-tool from his pocket and began working on the coin mechanisms while Shizuka supervised by making encouraging comments that weren't actually helpful.
"Oh, you're so clever, Yamamoto-kun! I could never figure out machines like that! I always just put money in and press buttons and hope something comes out!"
"That's... how they're supposed to work, sensei," Yamamoto said patiently as he bypassed the lock.
"Is it? Well, that makes sense!" Shizuka beamed as if this was a revelation.
Within minutes, they had access to dozens of bottles of water, sports drinks, and various packaged foods. They loaded everything into the bags they'd brought, with Shizuka trying to help but mostly just rearranging things in ways that made less sense.
"This should last us a few days if we're careful," Yamamoto calculated. "Maybe we can find the faculty break room next? There should be more supplies there."
"That's a great idea!" Shizuka said enthusiastically. "Oh! I know where that is! I go there all the time for lunch! Follow me!"
Before anyone could stop her, she was already walking down the hallway in completely the wrong direction.
"Sensei, that's toward the pool," Akari called after her.
"Oh! Is it?" Shizuka stopped and turned around, looking genuinely confused. "I always get turned around in this building. Everything looks the same!"
"Jesus Christ," Akari muttered under her breath. "How the hell does she survive day-to-day life?"
They redirected her and continued toward the faculty break room, Takeshi having to eliminate three more zombies along the way.
[+15 EVOLUTION POINTS]
[CURRENT TOTAL: 65/250]
The break room was a treasure trove. Instant noodles, coffee, tea, snacks that teachers had stashed in lockers. A mini-fridge held water bottles and various lunches. There was even a small microwave and hot water dispenser.
"Look at all this food!" Shizuka exclaimed. "This is wonderful! We won't starve at all!"
"We should take it all back to the gymnasium," Yamamoto said. "Make a proper inventory of our supplies."
As they loaded up, Shizuka suddenly grabbed Takeshi's arm. Her grip was surprisingly strong, and her expression had shifted to something more serious—a glimpse of the competent person hidden beneath the ditzy exterior.
"Takeshi-kun, you should really let me examine you properly when we get back. Your skin temperature isn't normal, and I noticed you're not sweating even though we've been moving around a lot. It could be a sign of shock or dehydration."
Her professional concern was genuine, which made it more dangerous. Takeshi needed to deflect without seeming evasive.
Fuck. She's sharper than she looks.
"I appreciate the concern, Marikawa-sensei. Really. I'm just... processing everything that's happened. It's been a lot."
"Oh, I understand completely! This morning I was worried about whether I'd remembered to buy milk, and now the whole world has gone crazy! It's very overwhelming!" Her usual cheerfulness returned. "But we'll figure it out! Humans are very resilient! I learned that in nursing school!"
She settled back, apparently satisfied with his response. Takeshi let out a mental sigh of relief.
They hauled their supplies back to the gymnasium, encountering only one zombie along the way. Takeshi eliminated it with a quick strike.
[+5 EVOLUTION POINTS]
[CURRENT TOTAL: 70/250]
Back in the gymnasium, the group settled into organizing their haul while Tanaka and the others who'd stayed behind peppered them with questions about what they'd seen. Shizuka provided a running commentary that was enthusiastic but often inaccurate, requiring Yamamoto to correct her multiple times.
"And then Takeshi-kun fought off at least fifty of those things! Single-handedly!"
"It was actually about ten, sensei."
"Oh! Was it? It seemed like more! Everything was very exciting!"
As evening approached, the group began discussing their situation and next steps. They had food and water for several days, a defensible position, and seven people including Takeshi. The question was what to do next.
"We can't stay here forever," Tanaka said. "Eventually the supplies run out, or more of those things break in, or something worse happens."
"What about my apartment?" Shizuka suggested suddenly, her expression brightening. "It's not far from here! Maybe a few kilometers? And Rika-chan keeps spare keys under the mat for emergencies!"
"Your apartment?" Yamamoto looked interested. "Is it defensible?"
"Oh, I don't know about that. But it's on the second floor, which seems safer than the ground floor? And there's food in my refrigerator! Probably. I think. I can't quite remember when I went shopping last..."
Akari spoke up. "Even if the apartment itself isn't ideal, if your friend has weapons like you said, that could be valuable. We'd have a better chance of surviving with proper equipment."
Yamamoto nodded slowly. "That's actually not a bad idea. Better than staying here with improvised weapons and limited supplies."
Takeshi had been listening carefully, his enhanced intelligence processing the implications. Shizuka's apartment—or more accurately, Rika Minami's apartment where Shizuka was staying—was a goldmine in the anime. Multiple firearms, ammunition, a defensible location, and eventually a military Humvee in the garage.
Bingo. That's exactly where I need to be.
Getting there would be dangerous. The route would take them through streets full of infected. But the payoff could be substantial.
And it would give him opportunities to farm more evolution points along the way.
"I think we should try for it," Takeshi said. "But not tonight. It's getting dark, and we'd be at a severe disadvantage in the dark. Tomorrow morning, we gather what we can carry, find a vehicle, and make the attempt."
"A vehicle!" Shizuka clapped her hands. "That's smart! We could take my car! It's in the faculty parking lot! A cute little pink—" She stopped suddenly, her expression falling. "Oh... but I can't remember where I put my keys. I think they might be in the nurse's office? Or my desk in the faculty room? Or possibly my apartment..."
The fact that she couldn't remember where her keys were while discussing driving to her apartment was so perfectly Shizuka that Takeshi almost smiled despite himself.
This woman is going to get someone killed with her absent-mindedness. Probably herself.
"There's cars in the parking garage," Yamamoto offered. "Faculty vehicles. If we can get to one of those, I might be able to hotwire it. Never actually done it, but I've watched videos..."
"Great, our survival depends on YouTube tutorials," Akari muttered. "We're so fucked."
They spent the next hour planning the route, discussing what supplies to bring, and organizing watch schedules for the night. Shizuka participated enthusiastically, making suggestions that ranged from brilliant—"We should bring first aid supplies!"—to bizarre—"Should we pack swimsuits? What if there's a pool at the apartment?"
As night fell, the group settled in for rest. They'd arranged sleeping areas using gym mats and blankets found in storage. Shizuka immediately claimed a spot near the supplies, arranging her mat with surprising precision given her usual scattered nature.
"Takeshi-kun!" she called, waving him over. "Come sleep near me! As the school nurse, it's my responsibility to monitor anyone who might be in medical distress!"
"I'm fine, sensei, really—"
"Nonsense! You're clearly unwell! Your skin is cold, you're not eating properly, and you've been fighting all day! I absolutely insist!" Her tone was cheerful but firm, the slight edge of professional authority cutting through the ditzy exterior.
Damn it. This is the last thing I need.
Takeshi had no choice but to comply without seeming suspicious. He set up his mat near hers, acutely aware that her medical training made her the most dangerous person to be close to. She might notice details others would miss.
As the others fell asleep one by one, Shizuka remained awake, humming softly to herself while organizing and reorganizing the first aid supplies they'd gathered. Takeshi lay still, simulating sleep, his enhanced perception tracking everyone in the room.
"Takeshi-kun?" Shizuka's voice was quiet, almost whisper-soft. "Are you awake?"
He debated not responding, but she might try to check on him physically if she thought he was asleep. "Yes. Can't seem to rest. Too much adrenaline."
"Mm, that makes sense." She was quiet for a moment, then: "You know, I may be a bit scatterbrained, but I'm actually a pretty good nurse. I graduated top of my class! Everyone was very surprised!"
"I don't doubt it, sensei."
"And one thing I'm very good at is noticing when something's wrong with a person. Physical signs, you know? Body temperature, breathing patterns, skin color..." She shifted on her mat to face him. In the dim light, her usual vapid expression had been replaced with something more focused. "Takeshi-kun, you don't have to tell me what's wrong. But I want you to know that if you need help—medical help—I'll do everything I can. That's my job."
The offer was genuine. Beneath all the ditzy behavior and scattered attention, Shizuka Marikawa was truly dedicated to helping people. It was one of her defining characteristics in the series—she might forget where she put things or wander off at inappropriate times, but she never forgot her duty to help the injured and sick.
Which made her both an asset and a threat.
"I appreciate that, Marikawa-sensei. Really. I'm just... processing everything that's happened. It's been a lot."
"Oh, I understand completely! This morning I was worried about whether I'd remembered to buy milk, and now the whole world has gone crazy! It's very overwhelming!" Her usual cheerfulness returned. "But we'll figure it out! Humans are very resilient! I learned that in nursing school!"
She settled back onto her mat, apparently satisfied with his response. Within minutes, her breathing had evened out into genuine sleep, soft snores punctuating the quiet gymnasium.
Takeshi remained awake, as he would all night, his undead body requiring no rest. He used the time to plan, to calculate, to consider his next moves.
Tomorrow they'd go for the apartment. He'd help them secure it, help them get established in a safer location. And once they were settled, once they felt secure...
He'd leave. Find a way to slip away on a supply run or scouting mission and never return.
It was the logical choice. The smart choice. The choice that maximized his survival and evolution opportunities.
But is it the right choice?
The question surprised him. He examined it with his enhanced intelligence, trying to understand where it came from.
What the hell am I thinking? I'm undead. I need to focus on survival and evolution, not playing hero.
These people trusted him. They'd fought beside him, shared resources with him, accepted him into their group. Shizuka, despite her scatterbrained nature, had shown genuine concern for his wellbeing. Even suspicious Akari had softened slightly after he'd helped them gather supplies safely.
Did he owe them loyalty? Protection? Or was survival a purely individual affair in an apocalypse?
I'm not human anymore. Not really. My priorities have to be different. I can't afford sentiment in a world like this.
But some part of him—maybe a remnant of who he used to be, maybe something new that his enhanced intelligence had created—resisted that reasoning.
I don't have to be a monster. Being undead doesn't mean being inhuman. Fuck, when did I become such a philosophical zombie?
The internal debate continued through the night, unresolved. By the time dawn began to lighten the sky, Takeshi had reached no firm conclusion.
He'd help them reach the apartment. After that... he'd decide then.
One day at a time. One choice at a time. That was all he could manage.
The group woke gradually as morning light filtered through the dirty windows. Shizuka was the last to wake, sitting up with a confused expression as if she couldn't quite remember where she was or why she was sleeping on a gym mat.
"Oh! Right! The zombie apocalypse!" she announced cheerfully. "I almost forgot! Good morning everyone!"
The casual way she announced it—as if forgetting about the end of the world was just another instance of her forgetfulness—actually drew tired smiles from several group members.
"Morning, sensei," Yamamoto said. "Sleep well?"
"Very well! Though I had the strangest dream about shopping for groceries while being chased by... oh wait, that wasn't a dream, was it? That was yesterday. Reality is very confusing lately!"
They ate a quick breakfast of packaged snacks and water, then began preparing for their expedition to Shizuka's apartment. They packed essential supplies, distributed weapons, and reviewed the plan one more time.
"The parking garage is through that covered walkway," Takeshi explained, pointing at their route. "It's maybe fifty meters. We'll need to move fast and quiet. Once we get a vehicle, we drive straight for the apartment. No stops unless absolutely necessary."
"What if the roads are blocked?" Miki, one of the quieter students, asked nervously.
"Then we drive around, over, or through obstacles," Tanaka said grimly. "We don't stop for anything. We can't afford to."
"And if we get swarmed?" Akari asked.
"We floor it and hope the car holds together," Yamamoto said. "It's not a great plan, but it's what we've got."
Shizuka raised her hand like she was in class. "Oh! Oh! I just remembered! Rika-chan's apartment building has underground parking! So we can drive right into the garage instead of parking on the street! Isn't that convenient?"
It was actually extremely convenient, and Takeshi made a mental note to thank whatever cosmic force governed this world that Shizuka had remembered that detail.
Finally, some good fucking news.
They assembled at the gymnasium exit, weapons ready, determination mixed with fear on every face. Except Shizuka, who looked mostly confused about why everyone was so serious.
"Ready?" Takeshi asked.
Nods all around.
"Then let's go. And try not to die—I'm not in the mood for heroic sacrifices today."
"That's... encouraging," Akari said dryly.
"I'm a realist, not a motivational speaker."