Separate on the Road of the Dead
Cruz, Nene, Yukana and everyone else on the bus are sighing in relief that they managed to escape the school of zombies while Kyoko is driving the bus.
"We really got out of there." Nene said while hugging Cruz's arm.
"Yeah, by the skin of our teeth." Yukana phrased though didn't feel like it was all a victory to her for some reason.
"Yeah…" Kohta said while checking on his nail-gun shooter.
"Thank goodness we're all still alive and well. I take it you have been appointed leader?" Shido asked Saeko.
"There's no such thing. We just work together in order to live, that's all." Saeko stated.
"Yeah, it's not like we got around sitting on our asses to decide on that when there are zombies still around." Ranko shrugged.
"Well, that's not good. In order to survive, we definitely need a leader, a leader who bears everything with valor, with confidence." Shido pointed out.
Rei didn't like hearing this, from the man she despises for one bit.
"You'll regret this." Rei said to Cruz as he and Nene are sitting behind her.
"I guarantee that you'll regret that you helped me!" Rei promised with rage in her eyes.
Cruz can definitely tell that Rei hates Shido with every ounce of her being from just being near the guy and she could snap at any moment to strangle the guy, something must have happened in the past that got her held back a year and his train of thoughts were pointing at Shido having to do with that. There is also the idea that this may as well involve Rei's father who is in the police force, maybe something happened between him and Shido that got Rei held back and why she feels so angry to the teacher.
"Hey, the city!" A male student pointed.
Everyone look at through the window of the bus seeing the city with several smoke coming out from some places that may have caught fire and other places that have been destroyed, everywhere in the city has appeared to become a ghost town as every street is empty with no signs of people around and several zombies are seen walking aimlessly around. Even other places are empty like the dock where the fishermen are usually seen, busy streets, and other small shops in the area are empty too.
One zombie was walking to one small store where one man is there at the cash register with a blank expression, unaware of the dangerous of the zombies yet though that zombie got run over by the bus Cruz and others are on.
"Okay, I believe it's safe that we keep going from this point and see if we can find any place to stock up on supplies. Getting as many as we can carry consider the small space we have on the bus." Cruz considered.
"Hold the fucking minute. Who the hell put you in charge?" A blonde male teen asked angry.
"Hey, Cruz is trying to come up with a way for us to stay alive." Nene told off the guy.
"Not to mention we have to back to the city to find any of our families." Yukana added.
"Well, that's stupid. I just think it'll be dangerous to keep going. First of all, why do we have to go with Cruz and others?" The blonde guy, Tsunoda asked, making Cruz's group angry.
"You guys are the ones who decided to go back to the city. Maybe we shoulda just looked for a safe place inside the school." Tsunoda believed.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now? The place is a zombie dead zone now, and you're saying you want to go back to be killed?" Ranko pointed out angry.
"It still would be better to stay in one place than going outside." Tsunoda said.
"He's right, I kind of agree with Tsunoda. We should barricade ourselves." Maruyama said.
"Kyoko, please stop the bus for a moment." Shizuka asked, not wanting to hear this anymore.
The red-haired woman didn't need to be told that because she was planning on doing it herself and press her foot on the break hard causing the bus to stop.
"Okay, you all, that is enough! I can't take all this negative going on in here." Shizuka complained.
"Yes, it's causing a distraction for me to drive the bus without having to yell at you all to keep your voices down." Kyoko pushed her glasses back up.
"Yeah, whatever…" Tsunoda said.
"If you think that's a brilliant idea, then why don't you go back to the school yourself. I'm sure the zombies would be happy to welcome you back with open arms." Yui said sarcastically.
"Why you… bitch." Tsunoda angered.
"I take it there's something else you have on your mind." Saeko guessed.
"Yeah, besides hating this little "Honor Student Council President" and her smartass mouth, I just can't stand this little pipsqueak." Tsunoda pointed at Cruz.
"Hey, are you trying to start something?" Nene snapped, but Cruz stops her and stands up.
"I don't know what you're going on about. I don't even know you and you're saying I somehow caused you pain, sounds like a pretty reason to let out your anger." Cruz stated.
"Shut the fuck up! It's because you some kind of bug shot with a stupid big brain that managed to weasel you into high school and got yourself one of the hottest chicks in school, skipping a couple of grades like it's so easy really piss me off!" Tsunoda explained his anger toward Cruz.
"Good grief, can I shoot him?" Kohta asked, not wanting to hear this guy talk any longer.
"Don't bother, this guy is not worth the nails." Yui stopped Kohta.
"This isn't the time to be bickering among ourselves, we should be working together to survive this worldwide ordeal." Cruz reminded him, but it looks like the blonde doesn't care.
"Now, listen here you little shit!" Tsunoda walked up to give a punch to Cruz.
But before he could take another step, Rei hit him hard on the stomach with her pole making him gasp in pain and Yukana also steps in to kick the guy in the face knocking him down on the floor.
"Sheesh, what an asshole." Yukana mocked.
"I know, right?" Rei agreed.
"You okay?" Nene asked her boyfriend.
"Yeah." Cruz nodded.
"Bravo. Simply outstanding teamwork. I'm impress, I commend you both for handling the situation and Cruz to remain calm." Shido complimented which only made Rei glares at the male teacher more.
"At any rate, a conflict like that only proves my point. We need a leader, we do. I believe Cruz might fit the role, but he is still too young to carry on such a burden and nether of you want such a difficult responsibility on your shoulders." Shido stated as Cruz slowly starts to feel angry towards him as well.
"So, I'm assuming you're gonna run for the position then." Saya guessed.
"I'm a teacher, Miss Takagi. And while mature, all of you are barely in your teens. That alone makes it very clear who's more qualified to assume such a role. I have experience, why just moment ago, I saved all of these brave students!" Shido pointed out as he schemes to win the favors of the students.
And the students that came to the bus with Shido fell prey to his words as they all clap together agreeing to let Shido be the leader.
"Fuck off, bastard." Ranko said getting Shido's attention.
"As if I'll ever listen you, you give off this annoying creepy feeling that my parents always told me to stay away even if that person is my teacher." Ranko mentioned.
"Come on, Miss Honjo, surely you must see that you have no other choice but to agree with the group." Shido said.
Not wanting to take this anymore, Rei storms out of the bus despite Cruz and Nene's words to stop her.
"No, I won't do it. I'm not staying here with him!" Rei angered.
"Come on, just get back on the bus and maybe we can work things out." Nene gestured her to come back.
"Well, there's nothing I can do if you don't want to act in accordance with all of us." Shido sighed.
"Shut up…" Cruz said.
"Uh, I'm sorry, Mister Schild, what did you say?" Shido asked.
Suddenly Cruz jumps a little high and grab the tie pulling the man down for eye level as the green-haired boy reel back his right fist.
"I said… SHUT UP!" Cruz threw a punch that knocked Shido back shocking everyone of his suddenly outburst.
"My word! What… what compelled you to punch me like that?" Shido asked while holding his nose as it starts to bleed from the punch.
Then Shido's eyes widen of shock and scared when he sees Cruz's eyes are fill with such rage and fear staring down at the teacher.
"I made a promise to keep Rei safe, no matter what." Cruz said before walking out of the bus.
"Damn, who knew the little green bean had such a killer right hook." Yukana amazed as she follows him out of the bus.
"H-Hey, I was gonna follow Cruz first." Nene quickly stormed out of the bus.
"Wait, Yukana, I'm coming too!" Ranko ran after her childhood friend/crush and not wanting to be near Shido as well.
Cruz and the three girls caught up with Rei with her back turned against the bus not wanting to look at it because Shido is inside there.
"Rei…" Cruz said hoping that the older girl has calmed down a bit.
"Look, you don't like Shido. Well, neither do I but we have to stay with the others, at least until we get to the city." Ranko pointed out.
"Yeah, once there we can get off the bus, so you won't have to see Mr. Shido again, you just have bear with this a little longer." Yukana said.
"Come on, are you really gonna go off on your own just because you hate Mr. Shido that much?" Nene asked.
"And that's why I told you you'll regret this." Rei yelled at them a little. Then she suddenly got hugged by Cruz.
"Rei… Please, I don't want to lose someone close to me like with him." Cruz said sobbing a little.
Rei looks down at the emerald hair boy knowing that he is talking about Hisashi and how Cruz had to kill him upon his request to stay human, that experience was something Cruz shouldn't have done at a young age yet the world is becoming rotten forcing the boy to make such a hard decision. Sure, she didn't want her dead boyfriend to die and refused to believe that he was gonna turn into a zombie and the moment she wanted to yell at Cruz, but when she saw him crying so loud full of sadness, she knew that she couldn't be mad at him for that.
"I made a promise to keep you safe, and if I can't fulfill that promise then what's the point trying to save everyone. This while situation… I feel so fucking irritated." Cruz grinned his teeth as he clutched his fists onto Rei's uniform on the back.
"Cruz." Nene surprised to hear her boyfriend say such a curse word and can understand the state of his emotions right now as she leans her head on his back for comfort.
Yukana and Ranko continue watching the scene not entirely sure of what to do even though they wanted to help cheer up Cruz and Rei, so they walk up to them as Yukana pet Cruz on the head while Ranko places a hand on Rei's shoulder for a little comfort.
"Rei, do you remember what Hisashi called me before his death?" Cruz asked.
"Yeah, he said that you're the Emerald Savior. Believing you will find a way to save the world from the head." Rei answered, remembering Hisashi's last words to Cruz.
"Then I better start living up to that name because my goal, my ambition is to perfect this world from the raising dead." Cruz determined as he raise his hand toward the sky.
"And you'll have us along the way." Nene stated before she gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"Well, if you all are feeling a bit better now then let's back to the bus and." Yukana said, then she heard a loud honk sound.
Saeko look to the right behind the bus and her eyes widen of shock.
"Okay, you need to punch it now!" Saeko said to Kyoko confusing the woman.
What Saeko saw was something horrible and fast coming this way, it is a large station bus driving fast because of the several zombies that are inside eating the people within including the bus driver as he could barely concentrate on the road. The matter became worse when the bus crash into a van causing it to flip over and crash on the side, sliding toward Cruz and the girls as he quickly grabs Nene and Rei while Ranko got Yukana as they jump forward into the small tunnel under the bridge. The bus crash cause it to go up in fire and making a flaming blockade as Cruz and the girls stayed down for a moment before getting up to look at the crashed bus.
"Bus driving zombies, now that's shit." Ranko commented.
"Looks like we won't be able to rejoin the others." Cruz feared.
"Cruz, are you alright!" Saeko called out as she is standing in front of the burning bus.
Then some zombies started breaking out of the bus with few on the top and others breaking through the windows as well, they slowly start walking toward Saeko as she prepared herself to fight them though wonder if she can get past the flames.
"At the police station!" Cruz shouted getting Saeko's attention.
"Let's meet up at the East Police Station!" Cruz planned.
"What time?" Saeko asked.
"We'll go for 7 o'clock. We'll try to go there tonight and if not then tomorrow at the time." Cruz answered before the view of the boy got block by the flaming parts of the bus.
Saeko was about to attack the first flaming zombie in front of her, but that zombie fell over upon the fire destroying its body and she saw the rest of the zombies from the bus are also falling down because of the flames consuming them. That means she didn't have to worry about fighting them as it would be a waste of time, she hurries back to the bus and close the door.
"Looks like we're not taking this freeway anymore." Saeko said.
"I saw, we'll have to find another way." Kyoko said as she started turning the bus around.
"I hope Cruz and the girls are okay." Shizuka worried.
Meanwhile, Cruz notices a little spark from the bus and knew what is going to happen in the next few seconds.
"RUN!" Cruz screamed.
He and the girls ran as fast as they can go about over several feet away from the bus before it exploded with a shockwave of smoke behind them, they were able to exit the tunnel and to a case of stairs.
"Okay, I think my butt got burned a little." Yukana panted.
"We're okay, now we just need to" Cruz's sentence was cut off when a guy in a motorcycle outfit pushed him down revealing to be a zombie as well.
Luckily for Cruz, whoever this guy was still has the helmet on so it couldn't bite on Cruz though he is still in trouble as he tries to push off the zombie until Rei stabs in slamming a concrete stone on the head knocking the zombie down.
"Thanks." Cruz thanked as he pushes the zombie off and Rei helps him up. He also saw Nene pointing her bow at another zombie also wearing a motorcycle outfit with three arrows on the head.
"Looks like it had a friend." Ranko said.
"Wait, they were wearing helmets. That must mean their bikes are around here somewhere." Cruz realized.
"I hope so, I don't want to walk to the city on foot." Yukana whined a bit.
Cruz's theory proven to be true as they found two motorcycles and one of them has a side car, Ranko took one with Yukana riding behind her while Rei takes the other one with Cruz and Nene as the kendo spear girl has taken a few lessons from her parents.
"None of us would have been all this time, today would mean… the world is over. But that doesn't mean we give up hope, as the Emerald Savior, I will do what I can to help the world."
Crus stare forward with strong determination in his eyes.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Well, bet you all weren't expecting to see Cruz to lash out on Shido with a punch that made him bleed should be a little satisfying for Rei though now they along with Nene, Yukana, and Ranko are separated from the bus and will have to find a way to rejoin them.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!