Chapter Four: The Promised Upperclassman Makes Her Entrance

Now that Ishii, originally just a background character, has appeared, the scene with the corpses besieging the infirmary shouldn't be far off. All I need to do now is hold out until Senior Busujima makes her entrance. Having soothed Ishii, Hao Ren stroked his chin thoughtfully.

One must admit, Saeko Busujima truly is a character radiating that alluring, mature-woman charm. To exude such a flawless aura at just seventeen—my only response is: Senior Busujima, you are my destined bride. Ahem, no offense intended. Just think of Saeko Busujima's composure amid the chaos, her steely calm in crisis, her bloodthirsty ferocity in battle, that stunningly cool face, her proud figure, and her many memorable lines. Damn it! I can't take it anymore! As a proud member of the glorious Holy War FFF Brigade, a womanizer like Takashi Komuro deserves to be burned at the stake, ahhh! May you and Hisashi be spiritual soulmates forever!

Having just dealt with Hisashi, the king of being NTR'd, Komuro Takashi was being sarcastically berated by his ex-girlfriend. Whether from a heated head or by intention, he was about to climb over the obstacle and descend the stairs when, for no reason, he felt a chill run down his spine, causing his hands to still.

"Though I understand how you feel, what matters now is how those of us still alive can keep going, not tearing ourselves apart. Let's not keep fighting over someone who's already dead—or rather, over something that can no longer be called human," said a person who didn't belong in this scene, interrupting.

He wore a typical Japanese Gakuran jacket, sported a slicked-back pompadour, his sideburns thick, and stood half a head taller than Komuro. His build was sturdy, with downturned eyes and mouth giving him a perpetually mournful look. For details, refer to "Masazo Yamaoka" from the manga "Boy Seiko Arrives." Honestly, that middle-aged face really doesn't suit a school uniform—better be careful, or the police will mistake you for a pervert! Not that anyone would care in a city gone utterly mad…

This middle-aged-looking youth was Saburo Watanabe, seventeen, Japanese. Don't ask why his name is what it is—ask his father. Having inherited his father's premature aging (which he comforted himself as early maturity), by age fourteen Saburo already looked much like his old man. At every parent visit, he was inevitably mistaken for a cosplaying pervert. Thus, after much mental and emotional abuse, fifteen-year-old Saburo stumbled upon the world of gal-games, and, never having held a girl's hand, was instantly captivated. From then on, he set out on the path of a gal-game otaku. As for all those infamous titles like "Flames of Impregnation: Transfer Student," "Koihime Musou," "A Sister’s All You Need," "Saya’s Song," or "Night Shift Nurses," he swears he never played them!

Ahem, back to the point. My rambling is only to make clear that Saburo is a seasoned gal-game otaku, but not an anime geek, so he has never seen "Highschool of the Dead." As for why he appears near the protagonist—well, when he entered the game, he simply spawned on the rooftop and never moved since.

Socially awkward as he was, Saburo grasped the gravity of what was happening around him. After encountering the main trio, he kept insisting he was uninjured and completely safe. During the recent “Hisashi Jump Chop” incident, though startled, he didn’t dare voice an opinion. But when he saw the main quest heading straight for death, even the usually silent Saburo had to speak up.

"No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. I wasn’t serious, really!" Just as the script dictated, Rei Miyamoto threw herself at Takashi, clutching his arm and pressing it between her ample assets.

"Please don’t leave me alone, I beg you. Stay with me." Rei’s eyes brimmed with tears.

Takashi, naturally, drew her into an embrace.

All I need to do now is follow this Takashi Komuro. Looks like this woman is just a phony too—her boyfriend barely gone and she’s already cozying up to her ex. In that case, should I use that skill? Cursing himself for wasting his breath earlier, Saburo discreetly rubbed his right hand.

Let’s return to Hao Ren.

The infirmary’s main doors were now barricaded with beds and screens.

Hao Ren gripped the sharpened end of a mop handle, chanting to himself that he wasn’t unlucky.

Ryougi Shiki spun a short blade in her hand with practiced ease.

Ishii, trembling all over, clutched an IV stand.

Dr. Shizuka Marikawa had the medical kit secured on her back.

“It’s really hard without a tank. Who’s going to keep the mobs busy…” Hao Ren muttered to himself again.

“They’re coming!” Ryougi Shiki announced, instantly taking her stance.

Outside the inner window, as if a wave of monsters had just spawned, corpses began crawling out from every corner—at least ten by his estimate.

“Ishii, you protect Dr. Marikawa. Shiki, if any corpses break through, strike through their heads immediately—that’s their weak point. Dr. Marikawa, stay back and be careful.”

Hao Ren crouched forward, eyes fixed on the approaching dead.

“Y-yes!” Ishii stammered, moving to shield the school nurse.

Ryougi Shiki said nothing, concentrating wholly on the corpses outside.

“You be careful too~~” Dr. Marikawa blushed, edging further behind.

Crash! The glass shattered, and the corpses began forcing their way into the infirmary.

A flash of cold steel—one male corpse’s skull split open in an instant. Ryougi Shiki swung her short blade with chilling precision; each movement took down a corpse, with no wasted energy. For the moment, they couldn’t break through.

“Shiki, you’re awesome!” Hao Ren’s admiration was genuine.

“Incredible!” Dr. Marikawa gasped, hand over her mouth.

“God save me!” So Ishii’s a Christian? Interesting.

Imitating Shiki’s technique, Hao Ren jabbed into the head of a corpse halfway through the window, then yanked the mop out, splattering red and white fluids everywhere. Hao Ren mused that, in other circumstances at a love hotel, such fluids would be far more welcome.

One by one, the corpses dwindled…

Honestly, it wasn’t hard at all; Hao Ren reflected that bottleneck kills were always his favorite DOTA tactic.

…Wait a second.

Why don’t I feel scared at all killing these things? Damn, could I be cold-blooded by nature, destined to become a forensic doctor? They say only those with nerves of steel can marry a coroner, able to endure being touched by hands that have handled corpses. No, no, that’s too much.

Hao Ren’s thoughts drifted.

Spacing out in the middle of a fight—just asking to get killed.

Suddenly, the infirmary door and the makeshift barricade were smashed open at the same time, and a corpse lunged straight at the absent-minded Hao Ren.

Slow motion…

Hao Ren turned his head, seeing the bloody maw of the corpse about to clamp down on his nose…

Ryougi Shiki, having just dealt with the last corpse at the window, caught a glimpse of Hao Ren’s peril and dashed over…

Ishii froze, realizing he couldn’t make it in time…

Dr. Marikawa pointed at Hao Ren and was about to scream…

Smack! The sound of something hard striking flesh.

Hao Ren realized that the corpse just inches from him had vanished. In its place stood a tall woman with a mane of violet hair.

She turned, swung her blade, and swiftly dispatched the last corpse lingering at the door with a clean blow to the head.

Turning again, wooden sword in hand, she locked eyes with Hao Ren.

Sailor uniform, long skirt below the knees, full figure, violet hair cascading to her hips, and that signature wooden sword.

“Saeko Busujima!” Hao Ren exclaimed, snapping back to his senses.