In front of Nishikowa Elementary School's open ground, Wakasa Yuri, Kouru, Tendo Ri-se, and Kafū Chino were busy digging a pit.
After about half an hour, a pit large enough to accommodate one person was dug through everyone's efforts.
Wakasa Yuri arrived, carrying the Headmaster's remains, preparing to bury her in the school where she had spent half her life.
Although Wakasa Yuri wasn't very strong, the Headmaster's body was very thin, so even Wakasa Yuri could easily pick her up.
Wakasa Yuri gently placed the Headmaster inside. Looking at the Headmaster, whose eyes were closed as if sleeping, Wakasa Yuri fought back tears in her eyes and comforted the weeping Kouru.
Even Tendo Ri-se and Kafū Chino, who weren't familiar with the Headmaster, felt a pang of sadness watching the two crying.
Separation by death has always been difficult to accept, especially when the departed is someone very close to oneself.
Kouru and Wakasa Yuri had the best relationship with the Headmaster, and the Headmaster often visited their home to play with Kouru.
Subconsciously, Wakasa Yuri and Kouru had already come to regard this elderly woman as a family member. How could they not feel sad about a family member's departure?
As the older sister, even though Wakasa Yuri was deeply saddened, she had to hold back her tears and comfort her younger sister. She knew that Kouru was actually suffering more than she was.
"It seems I made it. You haven't started yet."
While Wakasa Yuri and the others were digging the pit, Inaba Tsukiyo had disappeared from the school. If it weren't for Inaba Tsukiyo's formidable combat power, they would have been very worried that something untoward had happened to her.
Inaba Tsukiyo and Kouru, who were crying, turned around and saw Inaba Tsukiyo approaching them with white chrysanthemums in her hands, which she then offered to them.
To bid farewell to the Headmaster, Inaba Tsukiyo left the school while Wakasa Yuri and the others were digging the pit. Following the scent wafting through the air, she found a flower shop near the school.
Inaba Tsukiyo wasn't sure what kind of flowers to send for a memorial, so she could only rely on her impressions to find white chrysanthemums.
Wakasa Yuri nodded, accepted the white chrysanthemums from Inaba Tsukiyo, and together with Kouru, after the others had filled in the earth, placed the white chrysanthemums in front of the makeshift wooden plaque.
"Grandma, thank you very much for taking care of Kouru during this time. I promise you, I will take good care of her. We... will definitely survive."
"Yes, Grandma. I will listen to my sister, so... so, you don't have to worry about me anymore. Rest in peace."
Although both their eyes were filled with tears, they still choked out their final words, then clasped their hands together and knelt before the tombstone, praying.
Tendo Ri-se and Kafū Chino also knelt beside them, hands clasped, to bid farewell to this kind old woman.
Their time with the Headmaster wasn't long, but they had seen her care for them during those few days, and they felt regret at the Headmaster's passing.
"Huh? What..."
Just as Wakasa Yuri and the others were praying, Inaba Tsukiyo suddenly sensed something, opened her eyes, and discovered a blue energy body appearing in her pitch-black world.
She could see this blue energy body very clearly. The energy body was human-shaped, an elderly person, looking kindly at the four kneeling before the tomb.
'Is she the Headmaster?'
Although she didn't know why she could see the spirit, based on its actions, she figured this must be the Headmaster that Wakasa Yuri and the others spoke of.
Good teachers generally treat their students like their own children, and students, in turn, treat such teachers like their parents.
The Headmaster was such a good teacher; she truly treated the school's students as her own children.
Kouru was almost killed by a teacher who had turned into a zombie, but the Headmaster didn't hesitate. She dragged her aging body to tackle Kouru, allowing her to evade the zombie's attack.
"Please protect my children well. I know you have that ability. I cannot give you anything, but please protect them."
As the spirit gradually faded, the Headmaster used her last strength to plead with Inaba Tsukiyo.
As soon as her words were spoken, the spirit completely vanished into the air. Her mission was complete; she could no longer protect her beloved children.
Watching the soul disappear into the air as points of light, Inaba Tsukiyo was silent for a moment. Then, she joined Wakasa Yuri and the others, kneeling before the tomb and praying.
After seeing off the Headmaster, they could leave, as they had already found the person they were looking for.
Now, what they needed to do was to look for usable supplies nearby and then return.
However, how should they handle the issue of Tendo Ri-se and Kafū Chino? It was definitely not acceptable to just leave them at this school.
"Tsukiyo-chan, I want them to come back with us. Is that okay?"
Wakasa Yuri brought Tendo Ri-se and Kafū Chino before Inaba Tsukiyo.
It was far too dangerous for Tendo Ri-se and Kafū Chino to live in that environment.
Moreover, Kafū Chino looked to be about the same age as Kouru, which gave Wakasa Yuri an urge to take care of her.
"...Don't treat me like a demon, Yuri. It's just two more people, it's no big deal. The others will definitely agree to them joining."
Even knowing that an increase in population would cause a certain burden, Inaba Tsukiyo didn't believe that the others at the school would disagree with Tendo Ri-se and Kafū Chino joining.
If the people who wanted to enter their safe zone were bad people, then Inaba Tsukiyo would refuse them without hesitation.
But Kafū Chino and Tendo Ri-se were different; she had a vague premonition that having the two of them join would make things safer.
She didn't quite understand why she had such a thought, but it was good nonetheless; at least it could make the quiet school a bit livelier.
"Are you willing to come back to our safe zone with us?"
Although she had decided to take them back, she still needed to confirm their opinions.
"We have other survivors there, and a teacher. It's very safe there, and you can even shower and have snacks."
"Shower... snacks."
Kafū Chino and Tendo Ri-se, who had been somewhat hesitant, had their eyes light up when they heard the last two phrases.
Although Tendo Ri-se could protect Kafū Chino, that was only for a short time; without adult protection, they would eventually become zombie fodder and join them.
Moreover, they hadn't showered in several days, as water had become a very important resource that absolutely could not be wasted.
They couldn't even shower casually, let alone have snacks given to them.
"Then we'll trouble you, Miss Inaba."
"Thank you, Miss Inaba."
Tendo Ri-se and Inaba Tsukiyo nodded, and Wakasa Yuri smiled and nodded, happily taking both of their hands.
There was no luggage to pack at the school. After preparing to leave, Inaba Tsukiyo led the others back to the car they had arrived in.
Kouru was surprised that her sister, who was still a high school student, could drive. She remembered that her sister shouldn't have a driver's license, yet she was so skilled.
"Sister, when did you learn to drive? How come I didn't know?"
"Oh, Kouru, of course you wouldn't know, because I only learned how to drive these past few days."
"..."
Although Wakasa Yuri was smiling, Kouru couldn't smile no matter what.
Although she was still an Elementary School Student, Kouru was very smart; she understood that her sister might currently be engaging in an act of unlicensed driving.
Without a word, Kouru, sitting in the passenger seat, tightened her seatbelt and kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead, guarding against any sudden situations.
On the way back, Wakasa Yuri would stop whenever she passed a convenience store or hardware store to look for usable resources inside.
Tendo Ri-se, Kafū Chino, and Kouru all did what they could. They didn't want to passively accept others' protection; they also wanted to do something.
Tendo Ri-se and Kafū Chino, sitting in the back, looked at the closed-eyed Inaba Tsukiyo and very considerately lowered their voices as they chatted.
Inaba Tsukiyo had done too much during this operation, especially the battle with that special zombie in the laboratory, which must have made Inaba Tsukiyo feel tired. They thought Inaba Tsukiyo must have fallen asleep.
In fact, Inaba Tsukiyo wasn't sleeping. She sat quietly in the car, feeling the unusual sensation within her body.
When she had just defeated that special zombie, she hadn't paid much attention to the ball of energy that floated out of its body. Now that she had time, she discovered a strange energy swirling inside her.
If she wasn't mistaken, this should be the culprit that caused her to become like this.
Perhaps because she could use magic, her perception of her own body had become much stronger than before.
That energy perfectly fused with the energy in her body without any sudden incidents; Inaba Tsukiyo just felt like she had become a little stronger.
Not only that, Inaba Tsukiyo felt her magic continuously increase with the infusion of energy. The reason she had fallen silent was to observe the changes happening in her body.
At the same time, after the energy fusion, Inaba Tsukiyo sensed another energy reacting with her, an energy even more powerful than that of the special zombie she had just encountered.
'Indeed... it's not over yet? However, even if I solve the energy problem, I can't leave. At least, I can only leave this world after ensuring everyone is safe.'
'But, is it really that easy to leave?'
Parting is the most sorrowful thing, especially after experiencing so many things and forming such deep bonds, can they truly part with a smile?