Intermission: Roster

A/N: If you’ve made it this far, I just want to say how grateful I am for the support. It honestly means the world to me to know I’m not writing into a void—no writer wants that, I think.

This is the first of only two Intermission “Roster” chapters I plan to post. I know I’ve introduced a lot of characters quickly, so I wanted to give everyone a chance to keep them straight. Think of these as little extras—never a replacement for the main story. Just something to add a bit more context and fun along the way.

And if you’re enjoying the ride so far, please let me know! A comment, a favorite, or even just a quick “still here” fuels my fire more than you know and keep the story alive and helps other people find it.

Oh. And Ren wants to say thank you too.

“...”

Say it, Ren.

“...Fine. Thanks.”

Ren Hanashiro (22)

Likes: Quiet mornings and milk with coffee.

Dislikes: People who talk too much. Loud things.

Goal: Says he has none…

Reina Aokawa (23)

Likes: Running. Swimming.

Dislikes: Feeling powerless.

Goal: To start a family.

Lilly Aokawa (20)

Likes: Sweet bread. Rainy days. Drawing.

Dislikes: Confrontation of any kind.

Goal: To become a teacher.

Midori Igawa (24)

Likes: Music. Biking. Animals.

Dislikes: Being rushed.

Goal: To live without regrets.

Kurobane Saito (23)

Likes: Watching movies. Playing games.

Dislikes: Waiting around.

Goal: To become someone his mom can be proud of.

Haruka Sumire (24)

Likes: Cats. Sketching. Debating.

Dislikes: Being the center of attention.

Goal: To become a better cop than her dad.

Shion Makabe (24)

Likes: Observing people.

Dislikes: Wasting her time.

Goal: To make her family proud.

Yuka Fujimori (31)

Likes: Cigarettes (though she quit) and late-night conversations.

Dislikes: Wasted effort.

Goal: A quiet life far away from the noise.

Hayate Sumire (77)

Likes: Old detective novels and mentoring younger officers.

Dislikes: People shirking responsibility.

Goal: To protect his family.

Aki Sumire (48)

Likes: Gardening.

Dislikes: Littering.

Goal: For her family to live a safe, happy life.

Tetsuya Sumire (52)

Likes: Discipline and keeping to routines.

Dislikes: Recklessness.

Goal: To uphold the family name and see Haruka “make something of herself.”

Hanamizu City
A coastal city split between two extremes. To the east, the sea crashes against long stretches of boardwalk and docks, a place once busy with shipping routes and weekend crowds. To the west, dense forest rises into mountains, green giving way to sheer stone ridges that catch the morning sun.

Hanamizu grew from both directions—trade from the ocean, and resources from the land—creating a city that thrived as a hub between two worlds. Its history carries traces of old fishing villages and frontier logging camps, but modern Hanamizu became known for its rich families, its commerce, and its unique position as a gateway. That same geography has now turned into a cage. With the forests overrun and the sea cutting off escape, survival narrows with each passing hour.

Seiryo University
Seiryo sits on a man-made island just off the coast of Hanamizu, connected by a monorail and a narrow bridge. Built as both a research campus and a statement of modern engineering, the island was designed to keep the bustle of city life at bay while fostering a self-contained academic environment. Its lecture halls, labs, dormitories, and gardens made it an almost separate world—one that should have been safe.

When the outbreak began, isolation became a trap. By the time word reached the students, most exits were already cut off. The infected swarmed the lower floors and open courtyards first, driving survivors upward. The choice to climb rather than hide saved the few who lasted long enough to cross paths.