Chapter 2: Standstill

I have no time to consider the zombie that's slowly getting back on its feet. The loud shouts of other students and the tens of zombies chasing and eating them spares me no leisure for such a thing.

I can only accept this reality for what it is and escape this place.

Quickly, I make haste in the opposite direction of the swarming bodies. It is a mix of humans and zombies. I am better off staying as far away from that hunting ground as possible.

As I run, I notice a girl fending off a single zombie. She has shoulder-length bobbed flaxen hair with bangs on the left side, and her eyes are brown.

I should ignore her, is what my logical mind dictates. However, did that stop me from saving that one puppy from a speeding car some time ago? No, it did not.

Others would probably chalk it up to a good heart, but I beg to differ. It is plain madness and a surge of adrenaline that makes me act like this. I prefer logic, after all.

And so, without thinking about it twice, I charge at the zombie with all the force I can muster, pushing it to the ground with a loud thump.

"You! Follow me!"

I have no time to consider her wellbeing, there's a swarm of zombies following me, after all. And so, I grab her hand and make a run for it.

"Huh? A-ah, yes!"

And so we run, until another dozen or so zombies appear before us.

Zombies approaching from the back, and from the front. There are only locked classrooms to the left, and windows leading to a deadly fall on the right.

"What do we do, senpai!?"

Ah, so I'm her senpai, then? Now that I take a closer look at her, she indeed seems younger than me, and I don't recall ever seeing her in Sobu before.

In any case, I frantically struggle to look around.

"Hey, brats! Get in here!"

Suddenly, out of one of the classrooms comes out an older woman, in her mid-twenties, and holds the door open as she points at the classroom.

She has long raven-black hair and eyes and is one of the teachers. Unlike this girl I just saved, this person I know.

"Hiratsuka-sensei!"

I shout, more than happily accepting the warm welcome. The girl follows my lead, and we enter the classroom with all due haste.

Shutting the door behind herself just in time before the zombies get to us, Hiratsuka-sensei calls upon the other people in the room and we all hurriedly push any table and other object near us in front of it.

Finally, confirming that nothing is getting through that barricaded door, we all slump down on the ground and let out long breaths. I even more so due to my earlier hallucination.

However, seeing as a literal zombie apocalypse has begun, hallucinations ought to be the least of my worries.

Finally, after recovering from my shock, and the adrenaline finally leaves my system, I turn towards Hiratsuka-sensei.

"Thank you, sensei. You saved us."

I bow my head in gratitude.

"Yes, thank you, sensei."

The girl I had saved thanks her as well.

"Hm? Ah, no need. As a teacher, it is only natural that I would help you."

At this, I can't help but widen my eyes in shock.

What are you, an angel? I did not think that there was a teacher that lived up to their title like this. I can't help but see her in a new light after this.

"Still, thank you."

I can't help but be grateful. Even if I have no friends and no one really cares about me, except for my dear little sister, I still want to live a long life.

My little sister...

(—Komachi! I need to get to her!)

I quickly rise to my feet, startling the people in the room. I ignore them, frantically looking around for ways to escape the school. The door is a no go, thus only leaving the windows.

"Hikigaya?"

"Senpai!"

"H-hey, what gives!"

I rush past one of the students and look outside the windows.

Rather than an escape route, it's the fastest route to one's death. The only thing I can do now was is to push through the swarm of zombies outside, but I would be an idiot if I saw that as an actual chance at getting to Komachi.

I guess there's only one option left for me.

Wait it out, at least until the zombies outside find different prey to chase. In other words, stay in this room filled with people, and do nothing. Correction, a stay in a room full of normies as a loner, and do nothing.

"Fuck."

"Have you calmed down, Hikigaya?"

Hiratsuka-sensei asks as she places a hand on my shoulder. Feeling spent, I answer with a nod.

"Good. Now, can you tell me what the hell was that about?"

"Sigh. It was nothing, don't worry about it."

"Hikigaya..."

It would seem she wants to say something more, but stops herself. Instead, she hands me a bottle of water.

"?"

Seeing the confusion on my face, she offers a soft smile.

"You must be in shock. Drink that, it will help you calm down."

Not one to deny free food or drinks, I accept it with gratitude.

"...Thanks."

"It's fine."

Then, a handsome tall blonde approaches the teacher.

"Um... sensei. Seeing as everyone has calmed down, how about we all introduce ourselves?"

Oh, would you look at that. It's the most popular boy in school, and the type of person I hate the most. He is the sort of man to show off a fake smile and feed the lie that is youth.

I see through you, bastard.

Is what I would like to say. Unfortunately, I can't. Now that I've taken a closer look at the people gathered in this room, I can say with confidence that they are all riajuus. If I say something they disagree with, I risk getting kicked out.

I'm not seeking an early death, and so I make the painful decision to tolerate these fools.

Obviously, not even Hiratsuka-sensei agrees with my thoughts.

"That is a great idea, Hayama. Alright then, I will begin with myself, then we move on with your class. Any objections?"

"None at all, sensei."

"Alright then."

Trying to make a cool pose while fluttering her lab coat, Hiratsuka-sensei introduces herself.

"Well then, my name is Hiratsuka Shizuka, nice to meet ya!"

(Laaame.)

I don't know what's sadder, the fact that she would make such a pose at her age, or that its an obvious ripoff from that one anime I recently watched.

Oi, what's this!? Did Hiratsuka-sensei just read my thoughts? Why is she looking at me like that? Scary, too scary!

It would seem I thought something she did not like. Perhaps it's her age?

(...yep, don't mention her age. I forgot she's still single.)

In any case, the introductions continue.

"My name is Hayama Hayato. I might appear calm, but on the inside I'm quite anxious as I believe most of you are as well. Let's survive together and beat this thing!"

With a charming smile, and words of unity, Hayama has once more managed to calm the common fools.

"Yo, the name's Kakeru Tobe! As Hayama said, let's beat this thing!" said the next member of Hayama's clique. A boy with good looks and long, dyed brown hair.

Heh, what a way to rip someone off.

"My name is Miura Yumiko. Nice to meet you guys." There was a sullen tone to the blonde's voice, and there's no joy in her green eyes to be seen. Obviously she's still worked up. Before the outbreak, she was the center of her clique, and the school's very own Queen Bee. Also, she's crushing on Hayama, from what I recall. I like to be aware of my surroundings, I wouldn't mistake this.

"Ebina Hina, nice to meet you!" said the glasses wearing brunet.

She's the clique's very own fujoshi. Every time she opens her mouth, it's almost always about boy love. She's even mentioned my name in one of her perverted fantasies. I must avoid her at all costs!

"I'm Ooka and he's Yamato." The tall brown haired guy introduced himself and the short black haired one. If it hasn't been made clear yet, these two are the clique's extras.

Finally, all the clique's members introduced themselves. Oh, wait. One of them is missing. If I remember correctly, she was a pink-haired chick, wasn't she? What was her name again, Yuni, Yu... Yui? Ah, that's right. It was Yuigahama Yui.

Well, it's not like I care about some stranger.

"Hi everyone, my name is Minami Sagami. I'm very scared right now too, but as Hayama-kun said, let's work together and beat this thing!" said the the brownish-haired girl. The leader of her of clique, and also a classmate of mine. From what little I know about her, her clique's the second most popular in school, and she's a bitch.

Great. My luck with people is just the worst, isn't it?

Next, she introduces her friends.

"And these are Haruka and Yukko, my best friends." The first one was a girl with long and brown hair with curly bangs and a blue clipping in her hair, and the other a girl with long black hair.

The two girls add their own "hi" and "nice to meet you", and the introductions continue.

Oh, looks like I'm next. As an introvert, it's obvious what kind of introduction I would give.

"Hikigaya Hachiman."

That's all you're getting from me, normies.

"I, I'm Totsuka Saika. Nice to meet you." another girl introduced herself – wait, that uniform... it's a guy!? A boy much prettier than a girl, with beautiful short silver hair and grey eyes, and the face of an angel, just introduced himself.

(Is it actually a girl wearing a boy's uniform? Seriously, what's with that cuteness?)

Before I get the chance to question my own sexuality, the last person introduces themselves. It is the girl I saved.

"Hello everyone... my name is Iroha Isshiki. It's nice to meet you all." her words were quiet, he form so small. I guess the zombie from earlier really got to her, huh?

(Hmmm?)

Is she stealing glances at me? No, no, Hachiman. Calm down. You saved her life, she's probably just grateful. One of my ironclad rules is to never expect anything. That's right, it's probably just her wanting to thank me.

Being rejected over and over again in middle school, I've learned one absolute truth: expectations lead to pain.

Our eyes lock, but I turn my gaze away from her harshly. What her reaction to this is, I don't care to find out.

"Now that that's out of the way. It's time we make a plan!" so said Hiratsuka-sensei, pumping her fist in high spirits.

Finally, the discussion I was eagerly waiting for has arrived.