Prologue: Highschool of The Dead

  Kazuki Arata stood on the rooftop, his arm raised high, gripping a metal baseball bat slick with gore. Behind him stood a girl with wild yellow hair, wielding a long spear-like shaft with a razor-sharp tip. Beside her, a blonde boy held his own wooden bat, a small zombie bite fresh on his right shoulder.

  Kazuki took a deep breath.

  I DON’T KNOW WHEN IT STARTED… BUT I’LL HAVE TO GET THROUGH IT!

  He shouted, “Everyone now! Let’s go to the upper level of the rooftop!”

  The girl nodded. “Yeah! That’ll be safer! Let’s move, Riku!”

  The blonde boy—Riku—grinned despite the blood on his shirt. “Right behind you, Hikari! Let’s go!”

  Kazuki narrowed his eyes, a twinge of jealousy flickering in his chest, but he barked out, “Three… two… one… MOVE!”

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  The trio charged forward. Kazuki swung his bat with brutal precision, bashing in the skulls of the zombies lunging at him. Hikari danced beside him, her spear slicing through the air—and flesh—with effortless grace. Riku wasn’t far behind, crushing heads with practiced swings.

  Their destination: the stairs to the upper level.

  Kazuki led the charge, slamming a zombie boy aside. Another—this time a zombie girl—lunged at him, but he ducked. Hikari stabbed the creature through the chest and kicked it aside. Riku followed, smashing more heads without hesitation.

  They reached the stairwell.

  Kazuki sprinted ahead, reaching the top first. Riku followed close behind. But then—

  A zombie boy grabbed Hikari by the leg, yanking her down hard onto the stairs.

  Kazuki’s eyes went wide. “No! Hikari! Watch out!”

  Riku also shouted, “HIKARI!”

  But Kazuki moved first.

  He stopped Riku in his tracks, swung hard, and crushed the zombie’s skull with a sickening crunch. Blood splattered across the stairwell.

  He rushed to Hikari’s side and helped her up. “Are you okay?”

  But Hikari barely glanced at him. She ran straight into Riku’s arms.

  “I was so scared!” she cried.

  Riku gave her a quick hug. “You’re safe now.”

  They turned to continue upward. Kazuki stood frozen for a second, teeth clenched, watching them.

  Tch…