Chapter 41: Not bad
Kakashi's POV
The day had come.
I watched the zombies below. Definitely man-made, I could tell.
I had sent a few clones to track the start, but I missed it. The news was already showing other nations under attack.
"Typical," I muttered, piecing it all together. The chaos had only just begun.
I quickly moved toward the school.
Saeko could handle herself for a while, but Saya... I wasn't sure. She had backup in the anime, but I couldn't depend on that here.
The zombies had already breached the school.
"Time to go," I said to myself.
Saya's POV
What the hell was happening?
How did zombies become real?
"Are you okay, Takagi ?" Hirano ask with concern.
I looked at him and nodded slowly, taking a deep breath.
Being alone was risky, but so was being in a large group. I couldn't rely on others, but I also couldn't trust them blindly.
He was one of the few choices I had, but I had to stay alert for any signs of betrayal.
The zombies were already at the door.
"Please! You should fight too, Takagi!"
"Why do I have to do it?"
"The magazine is almost empty!"
"Then reload it!"
"But they're behind you!"
Hearing that, I immediately turned around to see the zombies closing in.
"Ahhh, Hirano, do something!" I shouted, my voice cracking as I backed up.
He turned toward the zombies, raising his gun, but when he pulled the trigger, nothing happened. The magazine was empty.
I fell, panic surging through me as I scrambled to get away. I could hear them coming shuffling footsteps, low growls, and the sickening sound of their mouths opening and closing. I had nowhere to go. Desperation clawed at my chest.
I crawled, my hands scraping against the cold, hard floor, dragging myself toward the glass case of trophies. The shards of broken glass cut into my palms, but I didn't care. I had to survive.
I grabbed the nearest trophy and threw it at the closest zombie, but it just bounced off its rotting face. It didn't stop. It didn't even flinch.
What the hell was I supposed to do? I couldn't die here. I had to stay alive save Mom, make a name for myself, do something, anything.
My hand brushed against something cold and metal. I froze for a second, recognizing the drill.
Should I use it? No. No, I couldn't. I've never... I've never killed anyone before.
I... I didn't want to do this. But if I didn't...
I gritted my teeth.
I will do whatever it takes to survive.
With shaking hands, I grabbed the drill and shoved it into the zombie's skull. The sound of metal tearing through flesh was deafening. Blood so much blood splattered everywhere. It soaked my dress, splashed across my face, and coated my hands. The stench of it hit me like a tidal wave, sickening and thick.
The zombie collapsed, lifeless. But I didn't move. I couldn't. My body refused to. I just sat there, staring at the mess I'd created.
I killed... I killed someone.
I am a killer.
"I am a killer."
"Not bad," I heard, the voice barely more than a murmur.
Kakashi's POV
"Not bad," I complimented her.
Her eyes turned toward me, confusion clouding her face.
"I didn't know you were so eager to come with me that you'd start practicing how to be a killer," I said with a slight smirk.
Her expression immediately shifted to anger. "Fuck off. Do you think this is a joke? I killed someone! Do you think life is some kind of joke?"
I ignored her curses, turning my attention to the corpse nearby.
She noticed my shift in focus and followed my gaze.
"Hiroko, no!" she shouted, seeing her classmate fall lifeless.
"Yes, he's dead," I said coldly.
While she was distracted, Hiroko was attacked.
The zombies didn't prioritize her.
I silently took care of the others, eliminating those who were moving toward her, while her focus remained solely on the one target.
Of course, I didn't save him.
I'm not some hero who's out to save the world.
"He died," she murmured, but didn't shed a tear.
Yes, she felt sad, but not enough to become angry. Her own life was more important, and this behavior wasn't wrong.
"Let's go," I interrupted her thoughts.
She saw me moving, and followed since I was her only means to cross the river.
"Do you know what's happening?" she asked, and I understood what was on her mind.
"I am not responsible for this," I replied. "But throughout your world, it's happening."
"Hmm," she nodded before asking, "Where are we going?"
"To the person I made the offer to," I said, since the shadow clone destroyed itself to tell me her location.
"Who?"
"You'll meet them soon."
Crossing the building, we finally reached the place.
The entire floor was filled with them.
"How are we going to cross them?" she whispered, since any sound would attract them.
"With tags."
"Tags?"
Instead of answering, I threw a kunais toward them with an explosive tag attached.
BOOM ! BOOM ! BOOM !
Yes, I could kill them with slashes, but it's more fun.
"Let's move."
"How could you use something like that?"
"Hmm, with my hands. I have it. Don't you?"
"You..."
"Stop it, she's here."
We both looked ahead. Coming out from the door was Saeko, blood staining her clothes.