If there was no vaccine, the probability of turning into a zombie after being bitten by one would be almost 100%. But with a vaccine, it's different.
Shitodo Kei was very lucky. If she hadn't met Inaba Tsukiyo and her friends, the best outcome would have been to turn into a zombie and be trapped in that place. Otherwise, she might have become one of those wandering zombies.
"Although she was bitten by a zombie, we need to quickly take her to the car for a vaccine. We don't have much time, but it should still be enough."
Even if the vaccine was still effective, none of them knew the optimal time to administer it. It was better to inject Shitodo Kei with the vaccine as soon as possible.
"Kurumi, you and this Little fellow hide here for now. Regain your strength here; we still have things to do later."
Shitodo Kei had mentioned that her friend, who survived with her, was in a warehouse on the fifth floor.
Although she didn't know the specific situation of that warehouse, judging from the sounds they heard, the situation on that floor was definitely worse than imagined.
However, being in a warehouse also meant that there was no need to worry about her friend's safety for the time being.
It wouldn't work to have Kurumi and the others return with her, as that would delay things. She could only let them wait here. Anyway, with Kurumi there, Inaba Tsukiyo didn't think any major problems would arise.
"Understood. Be careful, Tsukiyo-chan."
Everyone knew time was tight. No one insisted on returning with Inaba Tsukiyo; instead, they began pushing out boxes from the store to block the entrance.
The sounds made earlier were quite loud. To prevent zombies from other areas from appearing here, it was better to prepare.
While everyone was moving boxes, Inaba Tsukiyo pulled Shitodo Kei and walked outside.
Shitodo Kei, whose hand was being held, dazedly looked at Inaba Tsukiyo, who was even smaller than her. She had already accepted her impending death, so why was she still alive?
And, she seemed to have heard something about a vaccine. What was going on? Could she really be saved?
Shitodo Kei felt it was unreal, like she was dreaming. She couldn't help but reach out with her other hand and fiercely pinch her cheek.
A piercing pain came, but accompanying this pain was a joy that filled her heart.
They say girls are made of water. Shitodo Kei had just cried, and now, for no reason, she wanted to cry again, but this time they were tears of joy.
"That..."
"I'm sorry, at a time like this, to prevent the unknown virus that entered your body from spreading to other areas, I should carry you or piggyback you, to minimize your movement. However, I am really too small; I can't carry you at all."
"Also, I still have to deal with any zombies that might appear on the way. Although I don't know your exact condition, please hold on for a bit longer. I'll quickly take you to the car we came in."
Inaba Tsukiyo, walking ahead, suddenly interrupted Shitodo Kei as she began to ask a question, speaking in segments, giving Shitodo Kei no chance to interject.
"Can I... really live? Without turning into something like those guys?"
Shitodo Kei was still somewhat incredulous. In her limited understanding, being bitten by a zombie was essentially incurable.
But now she still had a chance to be saved. This undoubtedly gave her a new hope, and how could she not be excited?
"Yes, at least it was specifically developed to handle emergencies. I know you'll have many questions for me, but whatever you want to ask, wait until we're in a safe place."
Being students from the same school, yet having a vaccine, made it all seem very suspicious.
Of course, now was not the time to think about such things.
The most important thing now was to inject Shitodo Kei with the vaccine to prevent exceeding the optimal treatment time.
Shitodo Kei quieted down. She watched Inaba Tsukiyo walking ahead and bit her lower lip.
Although she didn't know if she could truly be saved, Shitodo Kei had already decided to treat it as a last resort. Being able to live would be good.
Even if she died, at least she had tried to live; she would have no regrets.
Soon, led by Inaba Tsukiyo, they returned to the warehouse entrance and found the vaccine syringe in Sakura Megumi's backpack.
The vaccine syringe had a somewhat sci-fi feel to it. Shitodo Kei had been very hopeful when she saw that there was actually something similar to a vaccine.
But upon learning that Inaba Tsukiyo couldn't see, for some reason, she felt a bit panicked.
This feeling was like going to the hospital for a shot and suddenly discovering that the doctor giving the injection was a newly arrived intern nurse with very severe myopia.
"...Don't worry, you won't die. Although my eyes can't see things, I 'see' some unclear things more carefully than you all."
As if sensing Shitodo Kei's worry, Inaba Tsukiyo replied faintly, grabbing Shitodo Kei's bitten hand to find the pulse for injection.
Gently tapping Shitodo Kei's arm, making the injured pulse more prominent, Inaba Tsukiyo's injection work became much easier.
"Although I've already given you the vaccine, I must take some preventive measures to guard against unexpected situations."
Saying this, Inaba Tsukiyo took out a handcuff, cuffed one of Shitodo Kei's hands, and then fastened the other end to the back seat of the car.
This was something Kurumi had found in the supermarket. To prevent accidents, she had given the handcuff to Inaba Tsukiyo when she left.
There was no other way. No one knew if this vaccine was truly effective. To prevent unexpected situations, this was a necessary measure.
"Hmm, it's fine. I understand, and you've also left me the key. Even if something happens, I can unlock it."
As long as Shitodo Kei maintained her sanity, the handcuff wouldn't restrain her. Conversely, a zombie would be tied up.
Inaba Tsukiyo didn't leave immediately. She looked at Shitodo Kei in the car, silent.
Although she didn't know what the girl had gone through before, Inaba Tsukiyo knew she hadn't had it easy.
Unlike them, who had so many people at school, with only two of them, they could easily be crushed by the pressure.
On the other side, while Inaba Tsukiyo was taking Shitodo Kei away, Kurumi and the others had already used boxes to block the entrance and exit, waiting for Inaba Tsukiyo to return.
"Nice to meet you, Taromaru."
Holding Taromaru high in her arms, Takenouchi Yuki greeted Taromaru with full energy.
It must be said that a pet dog like Taromaru easily wins the hearts of girls, especially girls with simple minds like Takenouchi Yuki.
"Woof! Woof!"
Taromaru barked twice and licked Takenouchi Yuki's face with his tongue.
Compared to Takenouchi Yuki, Kurumi and the others were a bit worried about Inaba Tsukiyo's safety.
Although only Inaba Tsukiyo had left their team, they found that they became very uncomfortable when she wasn't around.
They hadn't felt this way when they were always together, but when they separated, Kurumi and the others became anxious.
They somewhat understood why they were so anxious yesterday morning when Inaba Tsukiyo said she was leaving.
Just as Kurumi had thought last night, Inaba Tsukiyo had, without her realizing it, become the pillar of the team, everyone's reliance.
"I think Tsukiyo-chan will definitely be fine. After all, Tsukiyo-chan is the strongest person here. She has always been the one protecting us."
"Yeah, who would've thought that Kyonohoka Academy's biggest problem child would become everyone's savior? If I had heard this from someone else before, I definitely wouldn't have believed it."
Wakasa Yuri was a very gentle person. Although her attitude towards everyone was usually strict, she would lecture them whenever someone else made a mistake.
Thinking about it now, it still felt a bit unreal. After all, Inaba Tsukiyo's reputation at school had always been poor, receiving no good evaluations from either teachers or students.
"That's right. Who would have known that the silent, cold beauty was actually such an easy person to get along with?"
Sakura Megumi couldn't help but laugh. Recalling her previous evaluation of Inaba Tsukiyo, she truly felt how naive she used to be, to commit the bad habit of judging a book by its cover.
Sakura Megumi's words made everyone laugh, easing much of the tension.
"But Tsukiyo-chan is really scary during training. Every time Tsukiyo-chan opens her eyes, it's really terrifying."
Takenouchi Yuki clearly remembered wanting to slack off a bit during one training session, only to be caught by Inaba Tsukiyo.
The scene she witnessed afterward caused immense psychological trauma to her fragile heart.
"Honestly, it's only because you always try to slack off during every sparring and training session. Everyone else is training themselves, so why do you always want to be lazy?"
At this point, Kurumi was both annoyed and amused.
When they first started training, Takenouchi Yuki would always find various excuses to avoid it. At first, she would choose to hide and play hide-and-seek with Inaba Tsukiyo.
However, playing hide-and-seek with Inaba Tsukiyo was like a level one novice directly challenging a max-level final BOSS—it was practically seeking death.
When Kurumi and the other two, who had gone with Inaba Tsukiyo to find Takenouchi Yuki, discovered Takenouchi Yuki, they were about to lecture her, but Inaba Tsukiyo stopped them.
Under everyone's puzzled gazes, Inaba Tsukiyo slowly approached, her footsteps clearly echoing through the room where Takenouchi Yuki was hiding.
Takenouchi Yuki, huddled in a corner and trembling, tried her best to curl her body into a ball, comforting herself that Inaba Tsukiyo couldn't see her.
However, such self-comfort was useless. The sound stopped only when it was closest to her. At that moment, Takenouchi Yuki's heartbeat was so violent that even they, not far away, could hear it.
Everyone, who had initially been frustrated with her, inexplicably began to feel sorry for Takenouchi Yuki.
The reason the footsteps disappeared was because Inaba Tsukiyo had jumped to the side of the box where Takenouchi Yuki was hiding. She just lay on the box, her eyes wide, quietly watching Takenouchi Yuki.
It wasn't until Takenouchi Yuki noticed something unusual, cautiously lifted her head, and realized Inaba Tsukiyo had found her, with her red eyes fixed on her, that she let out a terrified scream.
"Indeed… it's better not to anger Tsukiyo-chan. Otherwise, it's a huge injury to both body and mind."