Chapter 6: The First Bite

Kasumigaoka Utaha stumbled into the classroom from the force of Sosuke's pull, barely catching her balance. Outside, the school echoed with screams and cries. "Kitahara, what on earth is happening? Why is everything going crazy like this?" Utaha clutched her chest, still shaken. If Sosuke hadn't pulled her in when he did, she would've been swept away by the panicked crowd. If she'd fallen... The consequences didn't bear thinking about. "I don't have a better plan right now," Sosuke said as he made his way to the window and sat down at one of the desks. Outside, he could already see the staggering silhouettes of the undead. Escaping the school now would be a brutal fight. He had to conserve energy and keep his body in peak condition. The real battle was just beginning. Not long after, a few more students stumbled into the room. It seemed they had the same idea to take shelter and wait things out. The noise in the corridor quieted somewhat, though the occasional scream or wail still echoed from elsewhere in the school. Everyone in the classroom looked pale. It was difficult to process the horror unfolding right before their eyes. After a long silence, a rather handsome boy broke the tension. "Hey everyone. I'm Tobe Kakeru from Class 2-D. This is my girlfriend, Matsuda Yuko." As he introduced himself, the others also began saying their names, one after another. When it was Kitahara Sosuke's turn, he was just about to speak when his gaze shifted to Yuko. His brow furrowed slightly. "What's wrong with her? She looks exhausted." Tobe gently brushed Yuko's hair as she leaned against his shoulder and said affectionately, "She's probably just coming down with a cold. We ran all the way from the second to the fourth floor earlier. It drained her a bit." He flashed Sosuke a smile. "Thanks for your concern. She just needs a little rest." Sosuke said nothing more, though he didn't drop his guard. He simply tightened his grip around the bat in his hand. "Kitahara?" Utaha noticed his expression change. "It's nothing. We'll wait a few more minutes, then we're leaving," Sosuke replied softly. "Alright," Utaha nodded without pressing further. In truth, Sosuke had formed a strong impression of her over the past six months. She was pale-skinned, beautiful, well-endowed, long-legged, academically excellent, composed, mature, and even financially independent. The only thing she lacked was a powerful family background. But even so, she was without a doubt a goddess. The fact that someone like her had only been a secondary heroine in another world was almost laughable. It would be a shame if she died here. As long as she didn't get in his way, Sosuke didn't mind pulling her along. Across the room, Tobe felt faint irritation rising. That guy had the nerve to question his girlfriend like that, then turned around and talked to Utaha as if he didn't even exist. Who did he think he was? He knew who Kasumigaoka Utaha was. Everyone did. Every new term, she stood on stage as a model student. She was famous. But so what? She was just a pretty face with good grades. His parents were executives at a major corporation. His future was already secured. After high school, he was going abroad to study. He was the class rep of 2-D, a teacher's favorite. And his girlfriend wasn't any less attractive than Utaha. The pressure of the situation only made his temper flare more. "What's your name?" Tobe asked in a polite tone, though it carried a forced edge. "Since we're all hiding out together, might as well get to know each other." "Kitahara Sosuke." Tobe repeated the name silently, committing it to memory. He wasn't going to forget it. Before long, Sosuke asked, "What's the situation in the main hall?" What, you too scared to check it out yourself? Tobe grumbled mentally but, seeing others looking curious as well, reluctantly replied, "It's bad. There's blood everywhere and people screaming. Some folks have gone completely mad, chasing others and trying to bite them. We didn't even make it to the lobby before turning back." Just then, Yuko coughed violently into a tissue. The pristine paper turned crimson in an instant. Sosuke's expression hardened. "You sure she just has a cold? Since when do colds cause people to cough up blood?" "You're really something," Tobe snapped, annoyed. "I said it's just a cold. Why are you so persistent?" Tension settled over the classroom like a heavy fog. Before anyone could respond, a figure burst through the door, drawing everyone's eyes. "Tobe! Yuko! You guys are here too? Damn, it's chaos down there. People are losing it and biting each other. I almost got bit myself!" The boy seemed familiar with them. But as he approached, his expression suddenly changed. He stopped dead in his tracks and staggered back toward the door. "She's been bitten... Yuko's been bitten!" His face turned pale. "Tobe, get away from her! Didn't you see? People who get bitten come back even if they die! It's the virus! Just like in those zombie games!" His voice was full of panic. This world hadn't experienced a phenomenon like Highschool of the Dead, so most people had no real concept of zombies. But the moment the infected began returning from the dead, losing their minds, and attacking anything that moved, the word would soon spread like wildfire. "You're out of your damn mind! It's just a wound. She'll be fine once she gets treatment!" Tobe shouted back. Just then, Yuko began to cough violently again. A thick stream of black-red liquid burst from her mouth, spraying across the room like a grotesque fountain. The horrifying sight sent everyone scrambling to their feet. Some boys and girls instinctively moved to help. "I wouldn't get too close," Sosuke warned in a low voice. He stepped forward, bat in hand, stopping Utaha beside him from getting involved. The boy at the door stood frozen, mouth agape, hands shaking. Hearing Sosuke's warning, he managed to stammer, "Y-yeah, she's... she's gonna turn. That's exactly what happened to Yamato earlier. Tobe, get away from her!" "Koga, what the hell are you saying? Get over here and help me!" Tobe shouted back, reaching into his pocket for tissues to wipe the blood from Yuko's lips. "We just have to wait. The police and doctors will be here soon. Yuko will be fine!" Koga kept shaking his head, eyes wide with terror. Tobe turned to yell at him, but froze when he saw Koga pointing at him, mouth moving, trying to speak but no sound came out. "What the hell are you" Tobe turned his head. His whole body went cold. Yuko was sitting upright, staring at him with empty, gray-white eyes. Her expression was lifeless, her mouth slightly open, and though there were no pupils visible, a chilling aura radiated from her. "Get away!!" Sosuke's shout rang through the room. He surged forward, bat raised high. Too late. Growl... Yuko's jaw unhinged unnaturally wide, tearing at the corners of her mouth. With impossible speed, she lunged and sank her teeth into Tobe's hand. "Aaaagh!" Blood gushed from his hand. He screamed in agony. Yuko bit down with monstrous force, tendons bulging in her neck. It was as if she were trying to tear him apart. Tobe, using every ounce of strength, finally shoved her away. But the damage was done. A chunk of flesh had been ripped from his palm. He fell hard, clutching his mutilated hand, writhing in pain. "You're dead!!" Now free to act, Sosuke moved. CRACK! The bat smashed into Yuko's skull with brutal force, sending her head snapping backward as she collapsed to the floor.