[POV Change]

Location – Tokonosu city, Fujimi Academy, Class 2-B

Time – 0900 Hrs

In the classroom, a group of teenagers performed various ridiculous poses, and some students happily snapped their pictures. While others seemed to be lost in their world as they chatted about diverse topics.

Even in the band of rebellious teenagers, one girl named Saya Takagi certainly stood out with her flashy delicate pink hair and fiery orange eyes. Her chin rested on her hand as her bored gaze drifted across the classroom.

‘Group of idiots. Speaking of idiots, where is Komuro? Is he skipping class again? He is still not over his childhood crush.’

The sound of the door opening brought Saya back to reality.

The gray-haired teenage boy entered alongside a girl who had brownish-orange hair.

The couple of Rei Miyamoto and Hisashi Igou.

Saya quietly scoffed at the girl named Rei, which was unnoticed by everyone. Not that she hated the girl who was also her childhood friend.

“Good morning, Takagi-san.”

“Morning.”

She snorted at the couple’s greeting. Ignoring the frown on Rei’s face, she opened a novel and immersed herself.

A few minutes later, the lanky teacher, Shido-sensei, arrived. Saya despised Shido in her heart. The kind and caring teacher hid his real persona, a sick, manipulative person.

Still, Saya had no proof except her intuition.

The noisy classroom quieted down until another round of whispering broke the silence.

“Marikawa-san is absent?”

“How could it be?”

Saya unconsciously glanced at the further back, and her eyes slightly widened in disbelief. The seat in front of Rei was vacant.

‘Marikawa-sensei’s brother is not here. He, who had a perfect score in attendance from kindergarten to high school, is absent…’

She couldn’t believe her eyes. Although they were just acquaintances, the girls in the class were all about how handsome he looked.

‘Like being handsome is anything great.’

*Thwack!*

The door slammed open, and Komuro appeared. His eyes as though he had seen a ghost.  The teacher didn’t stop him as he rushed toward his childhood friend.

Anger surged to Saya’s head as she loudly slammed her fist on the table. “Komuro!? What do you think you’re doing!?”

Despite her yell, Komuro paid no attention to her and proceeded to slap Rei and dragged her out of the room with Hisashi.

She sat down and contemplated. No matter how crazy Komuro was, he wouldn’t be this scared unless something truly happened outside. She had a bad premonition about this situation.

She pushed the chair. Ignoring the teacher’s shout, she hurried after Komuro. After some struggle, she managed to catch their figures.

“Rei! Komuro! Stop for me!”

Strangely, Rei was carrying a mop handle without its top and a metal bat in Komuro’s hands.

“Takagi. We need to get out of school.” Komuro urged in a stern voice.

Saya’s brows knitted together as she planted her hands on her hips. “Can anybody tell me what happen—”

“Attention all students and teachers! There is a violent struggle occurring all around the school. I repeat foll- Arghhhhh!!! HELP! STOP!”

The announcement was abruptly cut off with painful screams, and a pin-drop silence ensued in the surroundings until the loud cries of hundreds of people shook Saya to her core. The deaths that will occur in this chaos, she could imagine them all.

“We are escaping from the admin building,” Hisashi spoke up and dashed toward the stairs.

“Listen to Hisashi. He is always right,” Rei remarked to confused Komuro and went after Hisashi.

“Stupid idiot, let’s go.”

Saya ran after the couple, leaving Komuro, who clenched the metal bat with a determined expression. No one, except him, knew what went through his head.

Saya found the couple on the walkway to the administrative building. Ahead of them was someone she knew.

“Isn’t that Wakisaka-sensei?”

Hisashi frowned at Rei’s question.

Saya also stared at the man staggering like a drunkard, jaw stretched to the limits and eyes and sclera, both eerily black and the rough groans he released seemed to resemble a mindless beast.

“No, just look at him. He is no longer even a human. Komuro was right about this. Wakisaka became one of them.” Hisashi stated his opinion.

‘An abomination,’ Saya thought and inhaled a sharp breath.