Chapter 9 - The Advice From the Speakers

“—Hello, hello. Survivors inside the school, can you hear me—?”

The voice echoed through the school via the speakers.

“I wonder if it’s working? I think you can probably hear me.”

Everyone still inside the school looked toward the speakers.

The voice belonged to Tooru.

After hesitating briefly at the school gate, Tooru decided to look for survivors inside the school.

Fortunately, as a member of the broadcasting club, Tooru knew how to use the PA system.

He moved to the broadcast room and started the announcement.

“I’m Tooru Saejima from Class 1-4. From now on, I’ll share all the information I know... well, it’s not much though. Um, most of you probably already know this, but zombies… ah, I call the people who’ve gone crazy zombies. These zombies are attracted to sound.”

Everyone listening to the broadcast had their own reactions.

Of course, none of them blamed Tooru; instead, they were impressed.

“I’m going to play some music now. Zombies will move toward the source of sound, so they should gather around the speakers where the music is playing.”

When Miu and Daiki peeked out from the window on the library door, they saw zombies gathering near the hallway speaker.

“I’ll play music from the speakers to gather the zombies. Please move while the zombies are distracted by the sound. However, on my way here, I saw some zombies that didn’t react to noise. Keep in mind that not all zombies are attracted to sound. I’ll wait ten minutes to give you time to prepare.”

Miu and Daiki, Takumi and Hazuki, Sakura and Kazuma, Ryuu and Rei, and the other survivors exchanged looks.

Everyone’s expressions seemed to brighten a little.

There was a growing sense that things might turn around.

Ten minutes passed.

“...Ten minutes are up. Now, I’ll start playing the music. The broadcast won’t continue until everyone has moved to the conference room next to the broadcast room. So, I’ll say what I want to say now... Everyone, please don’t give up. Even if you’re frozen with fear right now, try to move somehow. And gather at the conference room next to the broadcast room. I hope to see all of you alive there. Good luck.”

The broadcast cut off with a click.

Soon, the faint sound of an electric guitar came from the speakers, quickly swelling as drums joined in.

The song was a current hit from a CD kept in the broadcasting club’s room.

The vocals began to sing.

An up-tempo song with a melody that felt somehow heroic.

It was music that seemed to spur them on, as if encouraging them to keep fighting.

“Let’s go!”

“Got it!”

Daiki removed the barricade blocking the library.

A few zombies were stumbling around, confused by the music echoing throughout the school.

“Basic basketball move! Dash through the enemy like the wind and break right through!”

Daiki ran weaving between the zombies.

Right behind him, Miu followed closely.

When they reached the stairs, with the sound of their sneakers scraping the floor,

“Quick pivot turnaround—Ha!”

Daiki shouted as he headed for the stairs.

It was annoyingly loud.

Since they were shouting louder than the speakers attracting the zombies, the zombies started to notice them.

“Could you be a bit quieter?”

“Got it, bro. I’ll try, bro.”

The two started walking again.

“Still, it’s a terrible sight, isn’t it,” Miu murmured.

It was inevitable.

The hallway was stained red with the blood of the dead who hadn’t turned into zombies yet, and there was severe damage everywhere.

Broken and cracked glass, bloody handprints smeared on it.

Some zombies still clutched their weapons, as if they had been fighting until just before turning.

Miu lowered her head slightly in silent prayer.

With compassion deep in her heart.

But that only lasted a few moments.

No one can fully know another’s sorrow or carry the weight of the dead’s feelings.

Miu understood well that this was ultimately someone else’s pain.

So now, they had to act to survive.

There was no time for mourning.

Miu took a deep breath.

Though the stench of blood made her gag, she pushed it down deep inside herself with her breath and started walking.

Seeing this, Daiki silently bowed his head briefly, then quickly moved ahead of Miu and started walking.

Did he have a sense of justice overflowing from not wanting any more deaths, or was it simply because he was a man?

He had been walking in front of Miu since earlier.

In this uncertain situation where any moment could be their last, Miu was somewhat moved by Ota’s presence protecting her.

The conference room they were heading for was just ahead.

Matching this, Daiki lengthened his stride and quickened his pace.

“Don’t rush. A moment’s carelessness can be fatal.”

Miu cautioned him as they arrived in front of the conference room.

Then she opened the door.