"It's too soon to dwell on that!" Tsubasa shook his head. The apocalypse had only just begun, and the global zombie infestation was still in its initial stages.
It was like a newly launched game, where everything was still in development. Even if these zombies deviated from the anime version, they would still need time to exhibit their unique characteristics.
For now, Tsubasa's primary concern was escaping this school as quickly as possible and finding a safe haven. Everything else could wait.
"Tsubasa, Tsubasa, what are you lost in thought about?" Saeko waved her hand in front of his face.
"Huh?" Tsubasa snapped out of his reverie.
Looking at Saeko's delicate and beautiful face, he noticed that after discovering Shizuka's extensive food supply, she no longer insisted on giving him her portion. She was currently holding a half-eaten dorayaki, crumbs dusting the corner of her red lips, and her violet eyes regarded him with curiosity, giving her an endearingly cute appearance.
Tsubasa reached out and gently wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth.
"I was just thinking that now that the world's ending, it looks like we'll have to become a pair of fugitives." he smiled wryly.
Feeling the warmth of Tsubasa's fingers, Saeko's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't look away. On the contrary, she met his gaze with unwavering seriousness and nodded decisively.
"Alright!"
...
Tsubasa had intended it as a lighthearted joke, but Saeko's earnestness caught him completely off guard!
"This girl is truly something else!" he couldn't help but admire inwardly.
"Busujima-san, Tsubasa-kun, are you going to leave the teacher behind?" Shizuka shuffled closer, her large eyes looking at them pleadingly, a half-chewed piece of sandwich still visible in her mouth, giving her a rather pathetic look.
"But, sensei, couldn't you be a little more careful? You're a grown woman, and you still manage to spill yogurt! And even got it all over your clothes!"
"Uh..."
A barrage of images from various films flashed through Tsubasa's mind: a tutor, after-school tutoring, teacher's secrets, a neighbor teacher...
He sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth. He never would have imagined that his vast movie-watching experience would prove useful in a moment like this.
"Tsubasa-kun, why is your breathing suddenly so rapid? Are you feeling unwell?" Shizuka leaned closer to Tsubasa, her graceful, mature features reflecting naive concern.
"Grown women have a certain... scent all over!" Tsubasa had previously dismissed this as idle chatter, but now he realized there was at least a kernel of truth to it.
From this close proximity, even nearer than when Saeko had approached him, he could clearly discern Shizuka's breath, a delicate fragrance somewhere between citrus and lily.
"I'm fine, Marikawa-sensei, you just don't need to stand so close. I'm starting to feel a bit warm," Tsubasa replied, noticing not only his breathing but also his heartbeat quickening. He quickly backed away, increasing the distance, and only then did he feel slightly more composed.
If they were alone, he wouldn't have minded Marikawa-sensei carefully examining the cause of his rapid breathing. But with Saeko there, watching him with a suspicious glint in her eyes, he felt distinctly uneasy.
"Will a jealous, infatuated, and subtly cunning girl get angry?" This was the question he desperately wanted an answer to!
"Oh! Are you hot? Then I'll open the window to let some fresh air in!" Seeing Tsubasa move away, Shizuka stood up, a look of innocent bewilderment in her large eyes, and headed towards the window.
She was feeling a little warm herself! It was unclear whether it was from the exertion of moving the tables or from standing too close to Tsubasa.
"Phew..." Tsubasa breathed a sigh of relief as Shizuka walked away, but the next moment his heart sank again.
"Marikawa-sensei is beautiful, isn't she? And she has quite the figure, doesn't she? Were you just thinking something... inappropriate?" Saeko suddenly leaned close to Tsubasa's ear, her clear voice a quiet murmur nearby.
"Girls also have a certain... scent all over!"
Unlike the naively mature Shizuka, Saeko, despite being a girl, was already developing a figure and mannerisms that hinted at adulthood. Her breath tickled Tsubasa's ear, and the unique scent of a young woman brushed against his neck, sending a strange shiver down his spine.
It's not the body that's in trouble, but the soul!
"Real temptresses!
Both the older and the younger are temptresses!"
"Saeko, what are you talking about? I don't understand," Tsubasa said, his face a mask of complete confusion.
...
"This guy's faking it again!"
Saeko bit her lip, glanced at Shizuka opening the window, and, ensuring she wasn't paying attention, turned back to Tsubasa.
The next moment, she leaned in close to his ear again and whispered:
"My figure isn't as developed as Marikawa-sensei's, but it's still quite good. If we find a place to rest tonight, I'll show you!"
Having said this, she immediately straightened up, increasing the distance so quickly that a slight breeze stirred her smooth hair.
"What did you say? What exactly did you just say? What are you going to show me? Say it again?"
Looking at Saeko, whose cheeks were now flushed crimson as she pretended nothing had happened, returning to her seat and continuing to nibble on her dorayaki and sip her yogurt, Tsubasa remained in a daze for a few seconds before snapping back to reality.
"Saeko, are you serious?" Tsubasa stared at her, his voice tinged with excitement.
"It's a good thing I have excellent hearing!"
Saeko's cheeks grew even redder. She raised her head, shot Tsubasa a displeased look, and then lowered it again, continuing to eat her dorayaki in small, deliberate bites. She was naturally reserved, but that didn't mean she was immune to embarrassment.
It had taken a great deal of courage for her to say those words. How could she possibly answer his direct question?
"Don't worry, I guarantee we'll find a safe place to rest tonight!" Tsubasa chuckled, a hint of triumph in his voice.
It didn't matter that she didn't reply, the important thing was that she hadn't retracted her offer.
"Oh my god, Tsubasa-kun, Busujima-san, come here quickly!" Just then, Shizuka, who had opened the window, seemed to have spotted something, screamed, and frantically waved them over.
Tsubasa's gaze sharpened, and Saeko's face also took on a serious expression. They quickly stood up and walked to the window.
The teachers' room where they were located offered a wide vantage point. Through the window, they could see not only the entire schoolyard but also several neighboring school buildings.
A massive number of zombies had gathered on the sports ground, packed so densely that a quick count revealed at least four or five hundred. Their mindless growling resembled the roar of wild animals—piercing and sending chills down their spines.
Tsubasa and Saeko's gazes swept over the throng of zombies, quickly focusing on the several dozen students and teachers trapped at the center of the mass.
"Help, somebody, save me..."
"Tomoko, Tomoko, you said we were best friends! Don't leave me!"
"It's not true, it's all a lie! You're all fake! I won't die, ha-ha-ha..."
"Ooooh, I don't want to die-e-e-e-e..."
"Get away, get away, monsters, get away!!!"
Each of these students wielded some kind of makeshift weapon—steel pipes, spears, iron hammers—but against such overwhelming numbers, they were powerless. They only had time to scream before the wave of zombies completely engulfed them.