The static from the TV halted, the live setting returning to the newsroom in the station. The staff looked panicked, constantly bickering and going back and forth with one another before they faced the camera.

"We're currently having technical difficulties. We... We will continue our coverage from the studio."

Takashi was at a loss for words. "...That's it...? How can that be!?"

"They don't want to incite panic," Saya said, her voice cutting in smoothly.

"Isn't it a little late?" Rei wondered.

"This is the perfect time for it!" The pinkette exclaimed, pushing her glasses up. "Fear gives rise to chaos. Chaos gives rise to the collapse of social order. And when social order collapses... How do you propose we retaliate against the walking dead?"

The news continued on in the background, "The streets are a very dangerous place right now, so please refrain from leaving your home, if possible. Also, please barricade windows and doors, and reinforce glass doors wherever you can. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to be in your home, please head for the nearest shelter in your area..."

They flickered through the news, going through the global areas of the United States, France, and Great Britain. The Cabinet and the president had abandoned the White House and were moving to a carrier in the ocean in order to issue executive orders from there, Britain's Parliament was in shambles as they weren't able to figure out the cause of the apocalypse (a lie, something Tetsuya knew). The official answer they gave was that this was a move launched by someone in order to prepare the launch of nuclear weapons.

Obviously the governments had no idea what the fuck was going on. If they were to take the US's word for it, then the GRE were to be monitored and ensured that they weren't constructing any bioweapons. But who was to say that wasn't true? Perhaps they only said that to maintain some sort of good image on the outside whilst they were maliciously continuing the dark construct of such depraved weapons. No one could really tell, after the aftermath of the Harran outbreak, the world powers were unsure on who they could trust. Their allies... Or themselves.

Troubled expressions were present all over their faces, a majority of them trying to still make sense of the situation. Tetsuya, however, was only planning on how they could get out of here. Getting to the buses as an escape sounded easy, but with the fact that the Biters seemed to be evolving faster than usual, Virals already being spotted and night soon drawing, the possibility of Volatiles were on the rise. By far, out of all the Infected he's encountered, they were the most dangerous. They were stronger and faster, far more durable despite their appearance, and possessed other sorts of abilities that made them far more terrifying than anything he had ever seen.

Tetsuya was roused from his thoughts when he felt a hand grasp at his shirt sleeve, tugging at it a little. It was Rei.

"It can't be... In just a few hours, the whole world's gone to hell," she whispered fearfully. "Hey, Tetsu, there has to be somewhere safe, right? Things have to go back to how they were—"

"Fat chance," Saya sneers with a scoff.

Takashi frowns at the pink-haired girl. "You don't have to be like that..."

"This is a pandemic, right? There's nothing we can do!"

"Pandemic..." Nurse Marikawa murmurs.

"I mean an explosive infection! As in, the same illness is breaking out all over the world."

"Like the flu?" Takashi asked.

Saya nodded slightly, noting the similarities, "The Spanish Influenza in 1918 was the same. And more recently, the bird flu was feared to have the same potential. You know you can't take the flu lightly, right? The Spanish flu hit more than 600 million people. And claimed the lives of 500 million."

Nurse Marikawa stepped forward a little, "It could be closer to the Black Death from the 14th Century..."

"Back then, a third of Europe's population died."

"...How did the spread of the illness stop?" Takashi asked with a grim, nervous look. He wondered if this situation of theirs would ACTUALLY end.

"There are different theories," Shizuka began, "but when enough people die, it peters out."

Kohta peaked out of the window again. "But... The ones who die attack others."

"Meaning there's no reason why it should stop," Saeko surmised.

"Oh! The weather will be warming up soon, so if the flesh rots off and there's only bone left, they might stop moving!" Nurse Marikawa beamed.

"And how long will that take?"

"In the summer, it takes about twenty days... In winter, it takes several months—"

Tetsuya cuts in, "Nice of you to have optimism, but that's not how they work. The heat won't rot their flesh off, and they don't stop until there's nothing for them to feed on."

"And how do you know that?" Saya puffed up her chest, pushing up her glasses in the process. Prior to this, she was doing some slight experiments on the undead to see what they were capable of. From her own results, it seemed like they only reacted to sound and nothing else.

Well, she hadn't fully experienced everything yet.

"Long enough to know from experience," Tetsuya firmly replies with a stern glare. When it came to subjects such as this, he took them seriously.

"Enough arguing," Saeko soon cuts in. "First, we need a plan."

"I second that. The most important thing is to be out of here before nightfall."

Takashi furrowed his brow. "Is there something wrong with going around at night?"

Tetsuya rolled his eyes. "Aside from low visibility, well... Let's just say that things will have your blood pumping and heart racing."

"Uh-huh..." He remained a little skeptical, but he had to think about it for a moment. His friend quite literally lived through one of these before, so if anyone that was most knowledgeable and how they'll be able to get out of this, it's him.

"Fair assessment. Once we've left here and ascertained our families' wellbeing, the big question is where to go after that," Saeko wonders, a majority of their plan coming through. "If we run and panic, we'll never survive. We form a team, and gather other survivors as we go."

"Hold on, before we even go," Saya had her full attention on Tetsuya, narrowed eyes while doing so. "How is it that you feel so confident about this? When you first came in, you ran in like everything wasn't a problem. There's something you aren't telling us."

Takashi, Rei, and Tomoko shifted nervously. They didn't know the full extent—but they knew well enough as to why he was like this. Saya knew him from childhood as well, but wasn't as close to him as Takashi and Rei once were.

Saya herself held a high and mighty personality, claiming herself as a so-called genius as she basically had the best grades in the entire school, which made it fairly obvious that she saw herself as the most superior. But watching Tetsuya's movements, how firm and unfazed he looked when tackling the Biters, how he shut down Nurse Marikawa's suggestion of the flesh rotting in hotter days. But with that point made, Kohta and Shizuka were now curious themselves. He seemed rather knowledgeable, and Kohta was far more ecstatic as to where he had gotten the gun from because it was very much known that he was a gun nerd.

Tetsuya, briefly quiet with his arms crossed, stood up straight. He only stared at her before asking a simple question.

"...Is it really that important?"

"I would say so. You could be holding out on more vital information that can possibly help us. Besides, it seems far too suspicious that you're wearing something different than the school uniform, a set of clothes I've never seen before, and even bringing a gun into campus grounds."

She had a point. His clothes would seem strange to people; even more alarming at the dried blood, the belts, and the ragged and torn seams of the shirt being more of a giveaway. The gun, too. Bringing in firearms onto campus grounds is—was at this point—extremely prohibited, but as Tetsuya has noted before, the school faculty were quite lax and stupid when it came to checking for such violations.

He understood. His eyes glanced over at Takashi, Rei, and Tomoko, looking all the more nervous, but still curious. They still wanted to know more about his experience. Tetsuya then looked over to his elder sister, a gaze she was giving that said, "only do so if you're comfortable and ready to."

Then again, Saya made sound arguments. If he continues to withhold information that is crucial to their survival, he may as well lose everyone again. On his own, he would be fine, but he would have to teach—have them learn what he had experienced so they didn't have to suffer as much as he did. But first, he might as well show them something he hadn't shown anyone aside from Master Busujima. Yes, this was something he hadn't told Saeko about either.

Digging into his pant's pocket, he was able to take out his phone. He looked to be fiddling with the buttons, numerous beeping noises as he seemed to scroll through menus on the flip phone. Tetsuya soon placed the phone onto the tables and slid it across, directly in front of Saya. She looked at the screen. It was displaying an audio file—numerous ones, actually. All of considerable length.

The pink-haired girl looked at him confusedly. "What's this supposed to mean?"

"The truth," he simply replied. "Of everything."

"Of everything?"

"Yes, everything. How I've come to experience what I know. However, it's up to you all's discretion on whether or not you want to listen to it. The first one, at least."

Saya looked at everyone. To say that we were intrigued was a big understatement. Her index finger hovered over the phone; hesitant and shaking a little, she eventually pressed the button. There was a bit of static and feedback noise playing for a little while before it cleared, a man's voice soon being heard as he cleared his throat.

"Testing, testing..." He spoke calmly. "Now, then. We're about to begin the questioning. Would you please bring in the subject in question?"

Some slight shuffling was heard, a metal door being shifted as it squeaked and creaked open. The group didn't know what to make of it so far, Saya being unimpressed, her gaze flickering over to Tetsuya—whom only held a neutral stare. She resumed listening.

Some footsteps were being heard, along with a slight struggle. The door then shut to a close, a brief silence before the man spoke again.

"Mr. Takahashi. Please, sit down."

"...Go fuck yourself."

They were alarmed, hearing Tetsuya's voice cut into the recording. He sounded so hostile, his voice filled with so much emotion of anger and resentment. It didn't sound far too different from how he was now, but to say such profanity as the first thing to someone was something they were going to need to get used to. Even still, this sort of character for him was rather strange.

"Is such language really necessary?"

"Maybe I wouldn't have to use such language if you guys weren't just a bunch of stuck-up assholes."

"I see..." The man cleared his throat again. "First things first, Mr. Takahashi, how are you doing?"

"I would be doing better if you could send me home. I was promised safe passage—as Crane had told me."

"We will hold up our end of the bargain should you answer our questions accordingly. We just want to know what exactly happened in Harran."

Tetsuya could be heard scoffing in the recording. "Seriously? Give me a fucking break. You were constantly monitoring Crane, you should have a rough idea on what the fuck was going in the first place."

"Communication between Agent Crane and us is a one way street, Mr. Takahashi. Due to the confidentiality of the situation, it was very difficult for Agent Crane to make reports to us. It made it even more difficult after he had gone rogue. I don't suppose you had a hand in doing that, did you?"

"You tell me."

"...Mr. Takahashi, the faster you comply with our questions, the faster you will be able to go home. Your agreed contribution would be very much appreciated."

"I would be if you could actually make good on your promises. But, you're not exactly the type of organization to do that now, aren't you?"

"You make it sound like that we're terrible people, Mr. Takahashi," the man's bland voice spoke through the speaker. "All humans can inherently be said to be terrible people."

"I know. But despite Crane being one of your loonies, he's proven to be someone who's far more capable and trustworthy than you could ever be."

"Mr. Takahashi—"

"Oh, cut the bullshit already. What is it that you really want to know?"

"...Where did Crane take Dr. Zere's research? If he had handed it to us—"

"That you could make a cure?" Tetsuya scoffed in the recording. "Oh, fuck off, like you could actually do so. You're far more interested in selling it as a bioweapon. You don't actually care for what happened to the people of Harran."

"That would go against the very morals of our company; what we stand for. GRE does stand for 'Global Relief Effort'."

"'Global Relief Effort,' my ass. You guys didn't do anything. You let a psychotic overlord have its way with it, black mail you into doing whatever he needed, to even grant him safe passage, all so the world doesn't find out that YOU fucked up. That YOU'RE behind the cause of a goddamn biological warzone that cost thousands—no—millions of people their fucking lives!"

His voice proceeded to get angrier and erratic, the sounds of metal being scraped against the floor as Tetsuya had gotten out of his chair. The metal door burst open in the recording, a scuffle beginning to be sounded out as it seems two guards had gotten their hands on Tetsuya to restrain him.

"Mr. Takahashi, please calm—"

"Don't tell me to fucking calm down! My family, my fucking friends—people I fucking care about—are dead because of you stupid, spineless fucks!! Innocent blood is on your hands because you couldn't handle your own goddamn property!! I had to put a bullet through some of their heads! Me! I fucking had to! All because of your own goddamn mistake!! Your fuck-up!!"

"...Escort him back to his room. We'll try again tomorrow."

"You better watch your fucking backs. I'll fucking kill all of you."

"...Is that a threat, Mr. Takahashi?"

"It's not a threat. It's a promise."

The recording ended. They slowly turned their gazes toward him, Tetsuya's expression looking all nonchalant and expressionless about what he had said in the recording. Not a single hint of remorse on his face.

"Tetsu, did you...?" Rei began, a quiet tone in her voice.

"Yes," he bluntly states. "I killed them."

Tomoko was next, "But why—?"

"Why? It's simple, really. Because I had to."

"Huh? What do you mean, you 'had' to?" Saya asked, befuddled at such a response. "You could've—"

"I should've spared them? Let them run wild and continue their experiments in creating another potential bioweapon?" Tetsuya crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "Let me remind you, they are the ones responsible for what happened in Harran. They indirectly killed people, allowed a psychaotic monster of a warlord to hold it around while holding the few things of salvation hostage, giving them an ultimatum—join him or die."

"But there are other ways—" Takashi tried to reason with him, only for Tetsuya to laugh.

"You really think that there's anything you can reason with them? No, those idiots only care about control and being drunk on power; to hold a powerful weapon within their grasp so everyone can bend the knee to them. Their little 'slogan' is nothing but false advertisement to hide their true motives. We were led to believe that we could trust them—that I could trust them when they sent the anti-vaccines in. But after everything, instead of sending in actual support, creating an actual cure, what did they do? Nothing. Fucking. Nothing."

They all fell silent. Tetsuya continued.

"Thousands—millions of people could've been saved after the initial virus. But they were too slow on the uptake, and that led to more people being lost. More of those things to surface and terrorize innocents; causing women and children to live in fear of their own lives, as well as their loved ones. They sent Crane in to do their dirty work—one fucking man—and that barely did shit for them. He realized the bullshit they were feeding everyone, and he fucking worked FOR them. The only thing they were interested in was holding things close to them in order for them to exploit it later. They held false promises. They were never going to let me go after I answered everything they wanted, I was far too valuable to let go. They knew that. So I HAD to make a choice. It was either them, or me. So I made my choice. I chose myself." 

Once more, the opposing people held their tongues. When he put it that way, they couldn't necessarily argue with him. They didn't know the full extent of what went on; they were simply unknowing bystanders of the event. Unlike him, whom had witnessed everything that went on.

And after being saved, reassured by a friend that he would be given safe passage, he was trapped again. In cold walls, behind the covers with the real monsters that had unintentionally orchestrated the events. So he had to make a choice—between his own escape and survival, or to continue being the held sheep within a fence.

Tetsuya sighed and turned on his heel, grabbing his monkey wrench.

"I'll be outside. Hurry up and join once you're ready to leave." But he soon stopped short, giving them a turn of his head to have them see his blue eyes, "However, I will say this. If you want to live in this godforsaken hell—to fucking survive—I suggest you follow the advice I give."

And with taking down the barriers and reinforcements for the door like it was nothing, he exited the faculty office. Not even a second later, they could hear his grunts of exertion, along with the noises of loud cracks and "splats" being heard here and there. They still found it amazing, in such face of adversity and conflict, he showed no sign of fear or hesitation. It was admirable, in a way, but horrifying. They could only wonder what the apocalypse would do to them and their mental state.

Saeko was the first to speak up, "We should leave. It's not safe here anymore."

No objections were said. They then left the faculty office.

---

The faculty office was on the third floor. As soon as they exited, they found some more bodies littering the floor, along with some more pools of blood. Smashed heads with a few shards of skull fragments lining the floor.

No words were spoken between them all, considering the urgency that was required of them in order to leave. But the area they would need to get to was the parking lot, where all the mini-buses were in order for them to escape. That in itself, the quickest and possibly most dangerous way, was by going through the front entrance. But knowing where all the Infected were, they would most likely all be gathered and bunched up at the entrance—both outside the building and inside.

"Pick the fights that are only needed. Run if necessary," Tetsuya voiced as they gently cruised down the hall. "Obviously, don't let them catch you—they have abnormal strength, as you've seen before."

"He's right, they're strong enough to bust down a normal door," Saya agreed, albeit begrudgingly. "So watch yourselves!"

A loud shriek echoed throughout the halls. They dashed toward the sound, appearing at the top of the stairwell to find a small group of student survivors, slowly being backed into a corner. One of them, a black-haired girl, gripped a young man's shoulders—presumably the girl's romantic partner—as she looked on with fear.

"T-Takuzou...!"

"Shit!" He curses. "Stay back...!"

Armed with a baseball bat, he gripped it ready to attack. However, Tetsuya eyed his stance. The boy in particular wasn't a fighter, but he was certainly fit. But just because you were fit didn't mean that would be enough to survive—this Takuzou boy hadn't built up the skills necessary to survive in a hellscape such as this. Aside from that, however, there was another hazard that would get this boy killed (eventually) and that was the towel that was draped around his neck, as if to add some sort of cool factor or something.

Would it offer style points? Yes, to some people, but in a situation like this, that would only cause a detriment. As much as it would be better to leave this fool, Tetsuya knew that his moral compass and his teachings told him better. He was the first to enter into the fray—leaping off from the top of the stairwell with as much leg strength as he could. The others watched, surprised by how high he leaped, that silhouette of his becoming higher by the second before he eventually plummeted down.

The Biters lumbered over, groaning and snarling as they mindlessly walked over to devour their prey. Takuzou, albeit nervous and quaking, readied himself. Just as he was about to swing his bat, that particular figure in a yellow shirt and cargo pants came jutting down like a heavy stone, landing on top of the Biter with such sheer force. A distinct crack on the Biter's back, Tetsuya brought the wrench above his head and smashed it down on the Infected's head. Takuzou took a minute to register the appearance of the sudden young man—let alone it being the delinquent that everyone has heard the rumors about. To be perfectly honest, since this whole thing started, in the back of his head, he didn't think that this person of all people would still be alive.

The other three Biters snarled and continued forward, one of them turning it's attention toward Tetsuya. But he didn't need to bother, the others soon joined him with Saeko and Takashi the first to come in, slamming his bat into the back of the head of one with Saeko taking care of the other. From above, Kohta provided support with his nail gun, an almost silenced-like echo, akin to a gunshot, planting itself in the last Biter's head. Standing up on both feet, unintentionally flourishing his monkey wrench in hand, he looked at the group with his usual neutral stare, although the students thought that he was looking at them scorningly.

Thankfully, however, the faces of Takashi and the others seemed to have subsided from their initial freakout of the boy. One of the girls presented themselves forward with a grateful look.

"Thank yo—"

Saeko interrupts her, "Not so loud. Was anybody bitten?"

The girl shook her head frantically. "Uh, n-no! Nobody!"

"They look okay. Honest," Rei said earnestly as she and the rest of everyone walked down the steps.

"Just your words alone won't confirm our suspicions," Tetsuya smoothly cuts through with his voice. "Check their arms and legs. Now."

His tone was firm, making the girls cower a little as the boys of the other group ready themselves, getting all defensive. Rei, a little angry and disapproving of how he sad it, got in Tetsuya's face.

"Is it really that necessary?"

"This is exactly how groups get taken out within—by survivors who lie through their teeth about not being bitten to the foolish samaritans. This is practical and more efficient."

"You didn't have to word it like that," she hissed. "You could've worded it better."

"...Fine," Tetsuya relented, turning to look to the side. "Then, you check on them. I'll head down a little lower to scout the area."

He could tell that his presence was making the group tense and wary when it came to his suggestion. Tetsuya figured that he might as well leave them alone for a bit while scouting the route ahead; knock two birds with one stone, per say. While Saeko wished to protest about his sudden decision of the endeavor, her adopted younger brother waved her off and began to carefully creep down the stairs.

With a sigh, Saeko faced the other group once more. "Forgive him. He's just...on edge because of the situation. But I will not deny that his suggestion is valid. Would you please lift up your sleeves so that we may see? I promise that it will be quick."

"Okay..." The girl from the other group spoke.

Though they were hesitant, they followed what they were asked. First their sleeves, then the boys lifted up the legs of the pants while the girls lifted up their skirts slightly. Once confirmed, they allowed them to relax.

"We're getting out of here," Takashi soon tells them. "Do you want to come with us?"

"Y-Yes...!"

One of the boys from the other group spoke up, "Um, but do we have to... Be with him?"

The rumors and his recent previous stunt certainly didn't help the stigma they held of him—a not so highly opinion that they didn't trust the Takahashi boy with their life.

"I get it, you don't like him, but we'll have to work with him if we want to get out of here alive," Takashi assures. "Whether we like it or not, he's the most experienced in this type of situation. It sounds hard to believe, but you'll have to trust us."

Saeko nodded in agreement. "Correct. You do not have to like Tetsuya—nor do you have to trust him. But at the very least, trust us. Please."

Despite Saeko's words of reassurance, they honestly couldn't believe her words—let alone hear the words from his mouth himself. They felt uneasy around him; and Saeko couldn't blame him, regarding how he currently is at the moment. Tetsuya seemed like a bloodthirsty individual and didn't seem to care about human morality. Oh, how wrong they were about that. Either way, they had to move, so they followed the direction down the steps in where Tetsuya went, where they eventually found him posted at the med-section of the second floor steps.

Just a few feet away down the steps that would lead to the first/ground floor, he was crouched down, hugging the wall as he examined the situation before him. Takashi, getting close to him as quietly as possible, was crouched next to his old friend and spoke in a whispered tone.

"What's the situation look like?"

"It's not the best, but it could be worse," Tetsuya said, an almost amused tone in his voice. "A lot of the Biters are gathered around the main entrance, but it looks like these are just normal ones."

"'Normal' ones?"

"Ones that aren't Virals or Volatiles."

"'Volatiles'?" Takashi looked confused.

Tetsuya couldn't help but smirk. "Oh, wouldn't you like to know."

"Uh..." At times, he really, REALLY wondered the extent of what happened to his friend there. He then cleared his throat, "But still, there's a ton of them..."

"They can't see us, so we don't need to hide," Saya inputs, informing them of her previous experiments.

"Then prove it, Takagi," Takashi sarcastically says. Saya looked rather mortified at the idea.

"They can see, albeit not their strong suit," Tetsuya clarifies. "Their sense of hearing is what really makes them the most dangerous as a normal Biter. But considering that's all we're dealing with, we should be grateful." Still, he was worried. Despite it being early in the apocalypse, there was no wonder how early and how quick the evolutions could happen.

Saeko, being the voice of reason, spoke next. "Even if what you say may be correct, Tetsuya, we won't be able to go quietly with all of these people."

Tomoko followed, "But it'll be too dangerous if we remain in the school, right? It'll be too crowded if we get attacked."

"Indeed. All we can do is make a break for the front door." Saeko's brow furrowed. "Somebody has to clear the path."

They fell silent for a bit. No one, absolutely NO ONE wanted to volunteer for such an assignment. Well, except for maybe one person in the group. To the point that Tetsuya let out an exasperated, irritated sigh as he stood up and stretched.

"Jesus," he scoffed silently, "why are you all making it sound like it's a hassle? I'll fucking do it."

"Huh? W-Wait, Tetsu, I'll—" Takashi goes to speak, only for Saeko to beat him to the chase.

"Tetsuya. No. I shall do so," she firmly stated. "Your experience is what will be crucial for survival later, so—"

Tetsuya gives his adopted elder sister a pointed look. "And it's that exact experience that makes me the best fit to do this." He sighs, "I get it, you've been worried ever since. But I'm fine. I know that it may seem like I haven't been showing much, but I'm fine. And besides... This is my choice. Mine alone."

He then began to walk down the steps, slowing his pace in order to make as little noise as possible as to not alert the undead. Rei, about to rush down the steps to maybe stop him, or perhaps take his place, an arm was placed in front of her, Saeko holding a firm expression, but worry being within her own eyes.

"I understand how you feel, Miyamoto. But..." She took a deep breath. "He's right. It was his choice. And his alone."

Rei, still unrelenting in wanting to go down to help him, held her tongue and biting her lip, her bangs covering her face. For some reason, she felt powerless—just as when everything started. Just as when... He died.

But she wasn't the only one watching him. Tomoko was as well, a bit of a frown that bordered on worryness and slight admiration, if that was a way to put it. Since the moment she met him, she didn't think he would be at all like this. Again, noting how she had heard the rumors and expected for him to be a much different person. Some of them were true, yes, he could be quite the crude person with those sarcastic and rude remarks, but he was kind...in his own way. But to get to know the young man here, despite the surface of what she could scrounge up from what he had told, it was simple.

He was just a ruined person—a ruined man that had lost everything. His family, his life, innocence... His humanity. He had become a different person, his "original" self having died as soon as the apocalypse had started. Now replaced with something... Sinister, so to speak. Tomoko couldn't help but wonder if the person she met now didn't exist. And instead... Instead have met that person that "died" that day.

Back on Tetsuya's end of things, he had finally made it to the bottom of the steps, quiet as he carefully rummaged his way around. Dodging through the slight, narrow sight lines of the Biters, he slowly moved toward a somewhat clear area. He stopped up against a locker, his eyes carefully scanning the Infected lumbering around with their slow movements, head bobbing up and down, arms sagged at the sides as the moaned and groaned, low gutteral sounds. Tetsuya looked down, spotting a single bloody shoe, clutching the item with a tight grip, taking in a deep breath. It was at times like these that he wished he had those custom-made firecrackers that Spike made. He was a real crafty man with impressive inventions that proved useful during the Harran outbreak.

He stood up a little, still being in a slightly crouched position, reeling his arm back before he threw the shoe at a small distance. Ricocheting off a locker with a loud metal thump before it was slammed up against the side of the wall, creating a considerable loud noise. It wasn't as loud as the continuous, loud noises from the fireworks, but it would have to do.

Slowly but surely, the dead became attracted to it, turning their gaze as to where the shoe's sound had come from and began to saunter over. From where he stood, it never really got old; the undead continued to look like a band of idiots that go wherever they hear anything, not bothering if they can even see it properly. Then again, the only thing they could truly distinctly tell apart from objects in their line of sight was whether something was breathing and living. Like they could feel the heat being exuded from living beings. So as stupid as they looked, still dangerous nonetheless.

Tetsuya turned his gaze back up to the group, giving a gesture with his head to let them know that the coast was clear. Seeing the go-ahead, Takashi and Saeko led the group downstairs to the front doors and pushed them open gently, ushering for the other survivors to get through quietly. Everything seemed to be going well, until a loud clang echoed throughout the hallways, all the way to the outside of the school building. Tetsuya turned his head over to the boy (one of the boys that had been saved from the other group recently) and opened his mouth to say something. Though that was short winded when a Viral from the second floor balcony of the stairway had clumsily vaulted over the railing and landed on top of the boy, sending them to the bottom of the stairs. It wouldn't be long, in a matter of seconds, for a pile of Biters to soon be on top of him and begin feasting onto his flesh.

Everyone else saw this, looking on with horror as Takashi yelled to the top of his lungs.

"Ruuuuunnn!!"

They bolted, as fast as they could. Through the double doors, they exited out into the school's parking lot, right where the horde of the undead lay.

"Why'd you yell!?" Saya screeched. "If we'd been quiet, we might've just been dealing with the closest ones!!"

*SPLAT* *CRUNCH* *CRACK*

The sound of skulls being smashed open, heads exploding as brain bits and blood being splashed all over the ground. An unknowing grin appeared on his face. He was... Smiling a little?

Odd. He hadn't felt this rush of blood in his veins in such a long time, especially with a horde this large. Tetsuya became so absorbed in the action that he completely ignored the commotion that was going on, the slight bickering occurring between the group. His focus had vanished as soon as he heard that loud, crackling pop that echoed throughout the sky; the sound of a gunshot ringing throughout the area.

That's right. He had given his gun to Tomoko again because she wouldn't have anything to defend herself. Especially because she didn't feel very confident in melee combat. He turned in her direction, pelting toward her as he bombarded a Biter with two powerful hits of his wrench, cracking the bones and smashing the head in. He then turned his gaze to Tomoko.

"Don't fire the gun out when absolutely necessary, okay? Just run and stick close to me." His words were oddly calm for the tense and erratic situation. At this point, this is 'normal' for him.

Tomoko nodded. "R-Right...!"

The pair continued, the dark blue-haired girl sticking close to the young man as instructed as he fought off the ward of undead that would slowly close in on him. But they weren't a match for the boy's sheer tenacity and brute force, how he was able to push through with such adrenaline pumping him. His roars of strength crying out as he would swing his wrench in one direction. And then another, and another. Blood and guts flying everywhere, his face steeled in this situation of adversity and conflict, he and Tomoko were one of the firsts to arrive near the mini-bus. It wouldn't be long until the others arrived.

"Marikawa-sensei, the key!!" Takashi orders.

"R-Right...!"

"Tetsu. Busujima-senpai—"

"Yeah, yeah, we hear you. Provide support," Tetsuya finishes, smacking a Biter away as he looked to Tomoko. "Get on the bus, but use the bullets sparingly. Got it?"

"On it." Tomoko ran into the bus and got into a seat next to Kohta's. Opening the window and positioning herself at the window for stability when she aimed the gun.

The four members with melee weapons, Takashi, Tetsuya, Saeko, and Rei, held the ground and kept the Biters away in order for the other people to get onto the bus. They lost two others on the way over, Takuzou and his girlfriend, Naomi, as due to Takuzou's stylistic choice of having the towel hanging over his neck. He honestly should've spoken up about that foolish choice, but that boy was less inclined to Tetsuya's words. And Naomi decided to join her lover in being devoured. Another foolish decision, but one he didn't necessarily blame. It was a common one to occur when shit hit the fan in Harran.

The last boy of the group made it onto the bus. Then again, there was only one left because the first boy was devoured for his own stupid mistake back inside the school; not even five minutes after being saved.

"Komuro-kun! Tetsuya! Go!" Saeko orders for them to get onto the bus.

Tetsuya, however, only simply replied with a loud splat open of a Biter's skull. "I should be saying that to you, Sister."

"He's right! You first, Busujima-senpai!" Takashi agreed.

A slight moment of hesitation, smacking a Biter away with her bokken before she sighed and got onto the bus. By now, Rei had already gotten onto the bus before Saeko, so it was just Tetsuya and Takashi left to defend the bus for the moment, eventually clearing out a few more and getting onto the bus themselves.

"Everyone here?" Tetsuya asked.

"Looks like," Takashi breathes hastily. "Alright, I'm closing—"

"Please, wait!" A voice interrupts. They all looked over.

A small group, consisting of an older man with slick black hair and glasses and some students were rushing their way over. They were panicked and terrified, desperately running to make it onto the bus before they left.

"Who is that?" Takashi murmurs.

"That's Shidou-sensei from Class 3-A," Saeko answers.

Upon hearing the name, Rei flinches, which didn't go unnoticed by Tetsuya. He raised his eyebrow at her.

Nurse Marikawa then starts the engine, "We're leaving now!!" She announced.

"Please wait a little bit!" Takashi pleads, coming to her side.

"They're coming from the front too! If we take too long getting everyone, we won't be able to go at all!"

"Just run them over!" Takashi suggests.

"All those people would flip us over!" Saya screeches.

The brown-eyed boy clicked his tongue, grabbing his bat and prepared to go outside to assist them—to thin out the herd a little in order to allow easier access for Shidou and his class to get to them. But before he could even step outside, two arms wrap around him and halt him from leaving. It was Rei.

A look of absolute fury and wanton anger was presented. "You can't save him!"

"What are you talking about, Rei!?" Of course, Takashi was confused. As was everyone that listened to the conversation.

"You don't have to save him!" She repeats. "He's better off dead!"

"Miyamoto," Tetsuya's voice cuts in, his face looking rather blank. But it gave off a hint of deadliness, a steel edge in his tone. "Whatever you have against him, do you really want to leave him for dead like that? Leave them for dead?"

"That's—"

"Because if you do, that'll make you no better than those savages in Harran. No better than someone like Rais."

Rais. A name she hadn't heard before, but seemed to have gotten the notion of. This Rais character must be that psychotic warlord Tetsuya must have mentioned about in the recording. She wanted to retort, but fell silent as the black-haired boy's glare hardened even more. To be compared to someone of absolute craziness honestly made Rei feel insulted, as she had hated every fiber in her being about Shidou. What he stood for, what he did.

Tetsuya only sighed. "I may not know the details, but at least put up with him for now. Dislike him all you want, but don't become like them. Don't become like me."

He lumped himself in league with Rais. Perhaps in his own way, Tetsuya was a psychotic person, an absolute monster. And to a degree, it was true. There were times in Harran that he left people to die, mostly to use them as a distraction or something like that, but that left a stain on his conscience. He at least wanted to avoid the others making the same mistakes he did.

And so, Rei relented, but she continued to grind her teeth in absolute frustration. The mere thought of sharing this bus with a despicable person like Shidou made her blood boil. Outside, Shidou began ushering his students toward the bus.

"Everyone, hurry up! I promise I'll save you!" He commands, assuring them. But he furrowed his brow, 'But at this rate, I'm not so sure we'll make it...'

He then felt someone grab onto his leg pant, looking down to see a student of his having fallen onto the ground. Books and other school materials lie about the floor, his ankle was sprained, a desperate look on his face.

"S-Sensei...! My ankle!"

"Oh, my. In that case..." His face morphed into a twisted smile. "This is the end of the line."

With one swift kick into the student's face, he cried out in pain, holding onto his head as he tried to comfort himself. Unfortunately for him, his cries of despair attracted the Biters and his cries of pain grew louder as he succumbed to the feeding frenzy. All while Shidou pushed up his glasses and began walking toward the bus with a nonchalant smile.

Saeko looked down at her younger brother. "Do you still think it was wise to save him, Tetsuya?"

"Who really knows?" Tetsuya replied, sounding almost cryptic about it. However, his stare was simple, one that looked like it could kill. "His actions will come to bite him in the ass."

"I see." Saeko couldn't help but grin.

Once Shidou and his class had made it onto the bus, Saya looking to the blonde nurse.

"Marikawa-sensei!"

"Here we go!"

She stomps her foot onto the pedal, flooring the gas as the tires screech forward. There was a considerable amount in front of them, but Shizuka didn't let it deter her. They weren't alive anymore. That's right, she had nothing to worry about. They weren't alive anymore.

Busting through the small horde and crashing through the metal gates of the school, the mini-bus veers to the left as they begin to drive off toward the city. Unfortunately for them, however, things weren't about to get any easier.

[Act IV] | Escape