Chapter 18 - The Scheming of a Boy

The door to the conference room opened, and people poured in noisily.

It was the supply retrieval team.

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed they had succeeded, and Rei let out a sigh of relief.

After instructing everyone to sort the supplies, Tooru used the broadcast system to inform the Cleaning Team that the supplies had been secured.

Once the Cleaning Team reached a good stopping point, they’d probably return too.

I leaned my whole weight against the backrest and let out a long breath.

It was only then that I realized just how tense I had been.

Of course, if someone had died because I’d frozen up and done nothing, I’d never be able to sleep peacefully again.

“First, let’s clear the desks and chairs to make some space,” Tooru instructed.

At his word, we began moving furniture out of the way.

I couldn’t help but admire him. Tooru was amazing.

Even in front of upperclassmen, even when his decisions could literally mean life or death, he gave clear, composed directions.

And he didn’t do it by brute force—he took everyone’s opinions into account.

Not long ago, I barely even knew his name. But now, I found myself genuinely proud of him.

And also, a little defeated.

Because I knew I could never be like that.

You often hear the saying: “There are two types of people in the world.”

The phrase that follows changes every time, but here’s what I think:

“People who are useful,” and “people who are not.”

A “useful” person, in this context, is someone like me.

Not because I’m talented. No, what I mean is—I’m useful as a cog in the machine.

I’d study, go to college, join a company, climb to a decent position, and grow old.

That’s probably the “right” path.

A person who doesn’t even realize they’re a cog, or realizes it but never tries to change—it’s that kind of person society considers “useful.”

But Tooru is different.

He’s probably the kind of person society would label “useless.”

He doesn’t follow convention. He takes what’s available, adds his own ideas, listens to everyone, and then, like a magician, pulls off something no one could have imagined.

Maybe this kind of talent won’t be appreciated in normal society. Maybe even if it is, it’ll only be met with resentment.

But now, in this extraordinary crisis, in a world where all the cogs have shattered—

Tooru is the one who can turn “useless” into “indispensable.”

Maybe he and I only seem similar.

Maybe we’re completely different kinds of people.

With the Cleaning Team back, everyone sat down together for dinner.

Since no one had eaten a proper lunch, and they had another hard day of work ahead tomorrow, they were each given a generous portion.

People seemed to be slowly warming up to one another, and Tooru felt somewhat relieved.

“Um, if I may,” Tooru began.

As he spoke, the chatter died down and the room fell silent.

For reference, the zombies were still being distracted by music playing on the opposite side of the building, so they weren’t coming this way.

“I’d like to set up a night watch schedule.”

“Night watch?”

“Yes, a watch. We’ll all be sleeping on the floor here… Oh, don’t worry—of course, the girls will sleep separately together, so you can rest easy.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

The atmosphere was good.

“In case the music cuts off in the middle of the night, or zombies show up, I think it’s necessary to have someone on guard. So…”

Tooru began writing times on the whiteboard.

“I’d like you to sign up for a time slot here. It’s set up for just the boys to take shifts, but if any of the girls want to volunteer, you’re more than welcome. Now then, please continue your meal.”

As Tooru started eating again, Daiki called out to him.

“Hey, Tooru?”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“Come here for a sec…”

Daiki tugged on his sleeve.

“What’s this about?”

“Just come.”

Daiki pulled Toru over to where Kazuma was sitting.

“Oh, Tooru! You’re in too? I’m thrilled to have another comrade!”

“Comrade?”

Tooru tilted his head.

But when he saw Taiki’s barely contained grin and Kazuma’s mischievous smirk, he had a bad feeling he was about to get dragged into something annoying.

“You know… the girls are gonna change clothes, right?”

Kazuma motioned with his arm, clearly trying to make a point.

“Ah. I get it now.”

More precisely, it was hard not to get it—especially since both their brains were clearly soaked in pink thoughts.

They were talking about peeping.

“I’m out,” Tooru said flatly.

Obviously.

Pull a stunt like that now, and not only would his trust with everyone nosedive, but he couldn’t bear the idea of Miwa looking at him with even colder eyes.

“Seriously?! You call yourself a man?”

“Why do I have to be treated like some weakling just because I won’t stoop to that? Anyway, I’m telling you for your own good, don’t do it.”

With that, Tooru left the two and signed his name on the whiteboard for his night watch shift.

Would those two actually try to peep?

No, they definitely would.