There is a saying: In your journey, you will lose people and things. Do not lose yourself with them.
Everyone will have, more or less, experienced this phase. It happens that the values certain individuals hold do not always align with what they think, gradually creating a barrier between them.
The same was happening in Saeko's group. When she returned, Shido was looking at her sideways, although she could see the fear he felt towards her, there was some resignation too.
He was not the only one. Some students, like the blond boy, were looking at her in the same way. This, by itself, made her start to ponder on many unspoken things.
'Hateful, this bitch returned alive...' thought the blonde, consumed by rage. He wished to dominate her and make her scream like the bitch he believed she was, but convinced himself that it was not yet the right time to act, staying in his corner for now.
Shido's sly eyes were also fixed on Saeko. Although there was cruelty in his heart, the fear he felt for her was even greater, especially when observing the zombies around the bus, many with crushed heads. Most of these actions had been carried out by Saeko, highlighting her supernatural strength and instilling even more fear in his ill-intentioned heart.
However, not everyone who previously felt hatred or fear was unhappy with her arrival. Someone like Kawamoto, the girl with short red hair and golden brown eyes, and Taniuchi, with dark blue hair and blue eyes behind a pair of glasses, sighed in relief at her arrival. After all, Saeko's presence brought a sense of security to them.
"Busujima-senpai, you're back!" Miyamoto was the first to warmly welcome her, hugging her. "I'm glad you came back safe and sound."
"Of course," Saeko returned the hug as she let the bag she brought fall to the floor of the bus. "I said I wanted to be alone while I collected some things because I was confident in surviving."
"Mm," Miyamoto nodded.
"Welcome back," Hisashi said.
Followed by him, Marikawa and the rest said almost the same.
"Oh, our savior and leader, welcome back. I was very worried about you, you know?" Shido said, sarcastically. It was visible that he was not happy with her arrival, perhaps even wishing she had not returned alive.
Saeko ignored him. This made his face twist a little in frustration and resignation, but he was quick to control his emotions.
Meanwhile, the blond boy who had been hit on the head before by Saeko, looked at her sideways. He was the typical one who had the courage to go against the weak, but feared the strong, especially when he saw that at her waist there was something like a real katana.
He was not the only one who spotted the katana. Others also noticed, and the first to ask about it was Saya Takagi.
"Busujima-senpai, that katana... Did you find it? Is it real?" Saya asked.
"Oh, this?" Saeko took it from her waist and soon drew the sword from the sheath. "Of course, it's real."
When they saw the dark gleam of the blade, somehow, most of them felt a fear in their hearts, causing some of them to even start trembling as if they were lightly clothed on a cold day.
It was no wonder. Although for Morax it was a simple sword that was collecting dust in the storage, for a world without magical power or the like, something with demonic power, even if just a little, is capable of invoking chills in ordinary people like them.
"It looks dangerous," someone murmured very quietly, as they didn't want to be heard.
However, Saeko was able to hear; she realized that the one who murmured was the blond boy... If she was not mistaken, his name was Tsunoda. As he seemed to be someone unimportant, she simply ignored him.
She had already understood that, if he were someone of any importance, the 'System-san' would have mentioned something about him, but since nothing was said, she assumed he was not relevant.
Saeko returned the katana to its sheath and asked Miyamoto: "How were things while I was away?"
"Shido tried to get out of line and start his cult again, but I put him in his place," Miyamoto said with a somewhat sinister smile.
"Ohh, so that's why..." She saw Shido limping discreetly, and was astute to note: "Good job."
"Hehe, it was nothing," Miyamoto stuck out her tongue cutely while saying something dangerous. "It was a pleasure to hit him, if possible I wished to throw him into a horde of zombies right now."
Hearing Miyamoto's words, Hisashi, who was very calm and controlled, kept his serene expression and said: "Rei, you don't need to do something like that."
What he meant was that, if necessary, he himself would act.
"Oh? As expected of the boyfriend. Yes, if you're a man, you need to act when necessary," Saeko commented, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Protect your girlfriend well, she's worth gold."
"I know," Hisashi nodded with a smile.
Miyamoto, seeing this, blushed.
She did not completely love Hisashi, but since the world changed, he provided her with a security and comfort that gradually altered her feelings for him.
This led the two to exchange looks and share a brief laugh.
Hisashi also noticed this change. He knew that deep down, Miyamoto still harbored feelings for Takashi, but seeing her blush because of him brought him sincere happiness, evidenced by his cheerful laughter.
On the other hand, Takashi was far from happy. He lowered his head, with an expression twisted by sadness, especially upon seeing Miyamoto blush because of Hisashi. He still believed that she liked him, but this scene hurt his heart.
"Busujima-chan, should we start moving?" Marikawa asked, looking a bit anxious.
"Yes, let's leave. We've gathered enough supplies to last a few days," agreed Saeko. Although they had cleared the nearby zombies, there was no guarantee that the safety would last for long.
Something unthinkable some time ago happened: the students began to throw trash out of the windows, including packets of snacks and soda cans. Before, they would never dare to do such a thing. But, with the world as it was, what sense would it make to worry about the environment?
Soon the bus started, leaving the location, now clear of zombies which had been cleared earlier by Saeko and the rest.
Shido failed to notice a subtle change in the dynamics of the students. Before, many feared Saeko, but now, signs of admiration were beginning to appear. With her in leadership, the fear they had of her was gradually being replaced by a cautious respect. Her ability to eliminate zombies with ease brought a new sense of security to the group, solidifying the idea that her being the group leader was the right decision.
On the other hand, the admiration that some had for Shido began to fade after he lost his credibility, when he was confronted and put in his place by Saeko and Miyamoto. In a world where strength determined survival, Shido, now seen as the 'weak', lost his power of influence over the hearts of the students.
