"However, under normal circumstances, Tsukiyo-chan is really reliable. And Tsukiyo-chan's body is so soft; hugging her is really comfortable."
As she spoke, Takenouchi Yuki made a gesture of hugging something, her silly smile infecting everyone.
Takenouchi Yuki often liked to hug people, and it was at one of those times that she discovered Inaba Tsukiyo's body was very soft.
However, regarding Inaba Tsukiyo's soft body, Kurumi and Wakasa Yuri, who slept beside her every night, felt it very strongly.
"Honestly, if Tsukiyo-chan wasn't so strict normally, it would be great. If she could talk to us properly, I wouldn't…"
"Wouldn't what?"
Like a ghost, Inaba Tsukiyo's voice suddenly interrupted Takenouchi Yuki, almost making Takenouchi Yuki scream loudly.
But just as she was about to scream, Inaba Tsukiyo covered her mouth, and with her other hand, she gently traced her index finger across Takenouchi Yuki's neck.
"Just like this… Hehe~ You're dead. Although I told you all to rest well here, you have no sense of urgency at all."
Releasing Takenouchi Yuki, who was already scared out of her wits, Inaba Tsukiyo's figure gradually emerged from the darkness.
Even though she was wearing that very conspicuous miko outfit, they hadn't seen Inaba Tsukiyo approach at all. She was silent, with an extremely low presence.
"Tsukiyo-chan, how is that student? Is she okay?"
After Sakura Megumi reacted, she immediately asked about Shitodo Kei.
"Hmm, I've already injected her with the vaccine. Since I don't know if the vaccine is effective, I've handcuffed her as a precaution."
As she spoke, Inaba Tsukiyo looked at Kurumi. The handcuffs from earlier were given to her by Kurumi.
Although treating a girl this way wasn't ideal, in such extraordinary times, it was unavoidable.
After confirming Shitodo Kei was temporarily safe, Inaba Tsukiyo and the others prepared to go to the top floor to rescue Naoki Miki.
The group arrived at the First floor fire door and first listened carefully for any movement inside.
They had all gone up via the supermarket's escalator earlier, so they hadn't used the fire door.
Judging by the sound, they could hear faint panting from inside.
"There are quite a few. According to the original plan, I'll clear the way at the front. You all stay behind to prevent emergencies. Did you bring your weapons?"
The so-called weapons were some tools with sharp parts. Although these tools were small, they could easily pierce skin.
Although she didn't know if Sakura Megumi and the others could use these tools effectively, with Kurumi protecting them from behind, there shouldn't be any emergencies.
"Listen up, our main mission this time is to rescue someone. However, before rescuing, you must also be careful of your own safety. I don't want to sacrifice ourselves while rescuing others. This time… I want everyone to return together! No objections."
"Understood!"
Everyone nodded vigorously, gripping their weapons tightly, concentrating, and preparing for the situation ahead.
Inaba Tsukiyo nodded, and just as she was about to open the door, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Inutaro in Takenouchi Yuki's backpack.
She didn't want this guy to affect all her plans later. It was better to warn it a little before setting off.
Gently opening the fire door, everyone stepped into the fire door.
The zombies' roars entered everyone's ears as the fire door opened, and several zombies close to the door had already launched an attack on them.
"Kurumi, protect the others."
Placing mikazuki munechika on her waist belt, Inaba Tsukiyo's body vanished from her spot as the zombies entered her kill zone, attacking relentlessly.
Even if an accident occurred, they could retreat to the First floor hall, but if they wanted to advance, they would have to eliminate all the zombies on the stairs, otherwise, the situation would become very troublesome.
What Inaba Tsukiyo had to do now was to keep moving forward, not retreat. Once she retreated, the situation would become very bad.
In such a narrow staircase, Shukuchi wasn't very effective, but Inaba Tsukiyo had a new method to deal with these zombies.
Magic Power Release
This was another power she had gained from researching the ring during this time, though she didn't know exactly what 'magic' referred to.
However, every time Inaba Tsukiyo used this power, she could feel her body and weapon improve to a certain extent.
Using this power, Inaba Tsukiyo advanced, reaping the lives of these ugly zombies, moving forward little by little until she reached the top floor of the supermarket.
Upon reaching the top floor, everyone noticed that although there were still many zombies, most of them were short and elderly.
This was also why Shitodo Kei was able to leave the top floor; otherwise, with the number of zombies behind the fire door, Shitodo Kei would have been long dead the moment she left the warehouse.
After confirming there were no other zombies, Inaba Tsukiyo and Kurumi cleared out the zombies there together.
Under Inaba Tsukiyo's training, Kurumi had greatly improved her zombie-fighting skills, and even the others could, to varying degrees, offer some help.
Although such experiences were not good for the subsequent growth of these girls, in this mode, such growth was necessary.
"These zombies... many of them are children. And there are boxes blocking the outside to prevent zombies from coming in."
Wakasa Yuri noticed this detail; when they had just entered, many boxes were blocking the outside, likely left by Shitodo Kei when she departed.
However, if these boxes were left by Shitodo Kei, then it meant these zombies were originally staying here.
"...I know what you're thinking, Yuri. These people should have been the survivors who were here from the beginning. But, for some reason, this place fell."
Sakura Megumi pointed to the burnt areas. Wakasa Yuri had just told her that Inaba Tsukiyo smelled something burnt on the third floor, which must have come from here.
They weren't very clear about what happened here, but it definitely wasn't anything pleasant.
"We... are really lucky, Yuri, Sister Megumi."
Kurumi, hearing the conversation between Wakasa Yuri and Sakura Megumi, thought about their own experiences and how truly fortunate they were.
Although they had also gone through periods of unease, they could safely stay in the Academy, and there were other survivors, which was better than any other situation.
"Yes, we are really lucky."
Sakura Megumi gently stroked Wakasa Yuri and Kurumi's heads. Looking at Inaba Tsukiyo, who was still clearing out zombies, she felt they were truly very lucky.
After Inaba Tsukiyo had dealt with all the zombies, they arrived at the only warehouse here.
To pass through this warehouse, one had to go through a relatively narrow passage.
Sakura Megumi came to the warehouse door. There were many bloody handprints on this door, left by zombies who had heard sounds inside and pounded on it.
Sakura Megumi exchanged glances with the others behind her. After receiving their affirmation, she gently knocked on the door.
"Hello, is anyone still in there? We're not those guys, we're living people. We... are here to save you."
After saying this, Sakura Megumi knocked a few more times, then stepped back a few paces to stand beside everyone.
After waiting for about ten seconds, a frantic sound came from inside the warehouse, followed by the sound of a heavy object falling.
It was probably because the person inside had casually pushed aside the heavy object blocking the door, but pushing important obstacles to the ground showed that the person inside was very anxious.
[Click]
The warehouse door was opened, and a small head peeked out from the crack.
When she saw that the people at the door were not those terrifying walking dead, but real living people, she knew to push the door open and excitedly threw herself into Sakura Megumi's arms.
This girl was Naoki Miki, whom Shitodo Kei had mentioned.
When Shitodo Kei left the warehouse that morning, Naoki Miki had been very upset about her departure.
Shitodo Kei had left with the words, 'Is just being alive enough?' This made Naoki Miki very confused; wasn't hope only possible if one was alive?
Because she had just been sleeping, Naoki Miki was still in her pajamas.
Although it was pajamas, her current outfit was quite daring.
She was wearing only a tight small tank top on her upper body, making her chest particularly prominent, along with a small black bra and full black garter stockings. In a way, it was unexpectedly bold.
However, Naoki Miki didn't pay too much attention to her exposure. She held Sakura Megumi tightly, burying her head deeply into Sakura Megumi's embrace.
This was the unique body temperature of a human, a real human. Feeling the heartbeat coming from Sakura Megumi, Naoki Miki's inner fear and dread lessened considerably.
Although she kept telling herself that she would never lose, she was just a girl, very fragile inside, truly very fragile.
The apocalypse was already hard enough to accept, and the departure of her best friend had elevated her long-standing fear to its peak.
Every day was like a normal class, following a set schedule. Being alone for too long doing this would drive one mad.
"There, there~ Don't be scared, don't be scared. It's alright, you won't have to be cooped up alone in a place like this anymore."
Although she was momentarily stunned by the sudden embrace, upon hearing Naoki Miki's unconscious words, Sakura Megumi stroked Naoki Miki's back while also stroking her head.
Not everyone was as lucky as them. Naoki Miki, who had been suppressing herself, finally saw hope. All she needed to do now was release her inner anxiety (unease).
Sakura Megumi, with her gentle personality and deep understanding of students at school, always had students confiding their thoughts to her in the past.
Just like a psychological counselor, Sakura Megumi would always listen carefully to every student's new thoughts and comfort them.
Seeing such a scene, the others couldn't help but smile at each other.
What was most needed in an apocalyptic environment was this kind of hope.