Roar!
A low growl erupted from the bed next to the one Sora was resting on, a faint growl but one capable of freezing the blood in their veins. Kazu froze in place instantly, all his muscles unconsciously tensing. A terrified look appeared on his face, the look of someone who fully understood what this sound meant… and what awaited behind the curtain.
And before he could even take a step back, Haru had already moved. He snatched the IV stand from the floor with a lightness that belied its weight, and with a swift, decisive movement, he yanked the curtains surrounding the bed.
The man appeared before them—his skin a dead gray, his eyes devoid of any trace of consciousness, and his body moving in unsteady steps, as if every joint resisted but continued nonetheless.
It was… Okada.
"Okada?!"
Kazu shrieked, his voice choked, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. His friend, whom he had only met today, the person Marikawa-sensei had been so careful to treat… was now a Zombie trying to devour them without the slightest hesitation.
But while Kazu was still trying to process what was happening, Haru had already made his decision. The IV stand rose in his hand and shot towards Okada's head with a speed Kazu couldn't even follow.
Boom!
Okada fell heavily to the floor as Haru caught his head with his other hand, holding it firmly to prevent it from shattering completely. He controlled his strength carefully, ensuring the head didn't fly across the room. Then he began delivering blows, one after another, each more decisive than the last.
Pang!
Pang!
Pang!
He repeated the strikes until the last faint twitch in Okada's body disappeared, until his limbs went completely limp, and stillness crept back into the place.
Haru finally stopped, lifting his head slowly. His loose school uniform was stained with blood, dark splotches spreading on his clothes and arms, but his expression remained fixed… eerily calm.
"What's happening?!" The door to the side room—used as a storage area for medical supplies like disinfectants, medicines, bandages, etc.—swung open.
Emerging from it was a very tall, buxom young woman with ridiculous curves, and her physique was most pronounced by her humongous breasts. She had waist-length blonde hair with several bangs framing her face, two longer side bangs running all the way down, and hazel eyes. She usually appeared sleepy.
She was Marikawa Shizuka, the school nurse, a woman whose beauty possessed an extraordinary charm that drew the attention of both students and teachers alike. Although her appearance and speech sometimes suggested foolishness or indifference, Haru never for a moment thought that someone holding the title of certified doctor could actually be mindless or inexperienced.
In the past, Haru had been slightly shorter than Shizuka, but after his transformation experience at the observatory, his height had increased to 185 cm, a full 15 cm taller than before. It wasn't just his height; his body had become toned and muscular, more powerful and solid than ever.
Fortunately, Haru preferred wearing loose clothing to hide his originally slender and thin frame, which was now useful for concealing his relatively lean physique. Thanks to that, he didn't have to wear tight clothes that might cause him discomfort during movement or battles.
Upon seeing the blonde woman, Haru's eyes suddenly lit up, as he felt a kind of hope he hadn't felt in a long time. Finally, it seemed he had a means to contact his mother.
School rules were extremely strict, forbidding students from bringing their phones, so Haru had no way to check on her or confirm her safety during the school day.
With this realization, Haru quickly headed towards where a teacher was supposed to be, aware that the phone would be in their possession. This was his only chance, however slim, to bypass the restrictions imposed on him and to contact his mother.
"Marikawa-sensei, do you have a phone?"
Haru asked with evident worry, suddenly appearing beside her as if out of thin air, gently gripping her shoulders, the tension in his body clear to everyone around. His face was charged with anxiety, and his eyes searched for any sign of her assistance.
"Haru-kun!"
Upon seeing his familiar face, Shizuka smiled warmly, without any hesitation, and smoothly took her phone from her pocket, handing it to him:
"Yes, here it is."
"Thank you so much!"
Haru said, quickly flipping open the phone and starting to dial his mother's number. Luckily, he found it pre-saved in Shizuka's phone memory, as they had been friends before.
After entering the number, Haru didn't hesitate to press the call button, swiftly putting the phone to his ear.
The monotonous ringtone echoed through the room, seemingly intensifying the tension around them. Kazu's breathing was ragged, his eyes darting between Haru and the phone, expecting the worst at any moment.
Suddenly, a voice came from the speaker, soft and beautiful:
"Hello, Shizuka."
Haru's heart trembled with both joy and anxiety, and the sound of worry was audible in his voice:
"Ka-san! Are you okay?!"
On the other end, a clear, audible smile formed on his mother's face, her cheerful voice filling the speaker with warmth:
"Haru-chan! You're safe! Thank goodness… What about Sora? Is she with you too? Is she okay too?"
A great relief washed over Haru, even though danger still surrounded them, and his next words paused for a moment as he listened to his mother's voice, reassuring.
"We're fine… Sora is with me too."
Haru said quickly, his voice a mix of reassurance and worry, trying to calm his mother without downplaying the severity of the situation.
Then he added in a more decisive tone, filled with care and concern:
"But the most important thing now, Ka-san… Lock the doors tightly and stay inside the house. And make sure you don't let anyone in while we're gone. Don't take any risks."
His words were frank and full of responsibility, as if every second of delay could affect her safety. Despite the danger surrounding him here, he couldn't help but feel his strong bond with her and her happiness and safety, even over the phone.
"I know… No need to worry."
The woman's voice had clearly become calmer and more relaxed upon hearing her children were safe, as if hearing they were okay lifted a weight of fear from her chest. She added in a loving, firm voice:
"Make sure to take care of your sister and Shizuka, and come home safely with them."
Haru took a deep breath, focusing on her words and feeling a greater responsibility than ever before.
"It's fine… I promise, I'll protect them, and we'll all return home safely. So… wait for us."
He was about to warn his mother about some other matters, but suddenly he felt complete silence. Her voice had completely disappeared from the phone.
Haru quickly pulled the phone away from his ear to find its screen completely black; clearly, the battery had died.
"Damn it!"
He yelled in anger, uncaring that the others around him heard him. He felt a strong urge to crush the phone in his hand out of frustration and rage, but after a moment, he stopped, composing himself. He knew it wouldn't help, and they now needed to focus on survival above all else.
...
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