Does he thinks the world works that way?

He dashed down the hallway of the university while running towards his waving biology teacher, briefly looking back as all the zombies chasing him crashed into the hallway walls and corners, before then hitting the ground behind him... When he got to the door, she yanked him in fast.

 “Shhh.. Be silent. Otherwise, they’ll notice us,” Mrs. Rin explained in a very low tone, before shutting the classroom door behind her. 

Yuto leaned ahead, his palms were resting on his thighs, still trying to catch some breath from all his running around... His clothes were completely mixed and soaked with sweat and blood, but he still gave a quick nod.  

The classroom was a bit dark, yet somehow seemed secure... A few students were already there, sitting still along the sides. A couple of others showed cuts or some kind of bruises all around their body; while some just sat frozen and terrified, hands pressed over their ears because of the loud zombies' growls beyond the door. 

In a few minutes, Yuto heard a very familiar voice from across the room. 

“Yuto?”

He lifted his head up fast as the voice got a lot louder. Someone then stopped just inches away from him. His eyes opened wide... It turned out to be Aoi Suzuki. 

"Aoi…" Yuto whispered under his lips, like he couldn't quite believe it. 

She moved quickly toward him, wrapping both her arms around his neck... "Thank goodness... you're alive," she whispered, her voice was trembling from fear and relief. 

Yuto's heart raced a little bit in the moment. "Aoi..." He held her closer, and a sense of relief and comfort washed over him.

But as he looked at her face, he noticed her eyes were watery, and her expression was filled with sadness.

She pulled back a little, her eyes still watery. “Yuto… I saw them. They… they killed so many people outside. My friends, my classmates… it was horrible, I don’t know what is going on.” Her voice was trembling. 

She tightened her grip on his collar. “I was so scared. I thought I'd never see you again.” 

Yuto stared at her, his chest tightening the moment those words left her mouth. “I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere.”

The animalistic sounds of the zombies echoed in the distance. The classroom stayed quiet except for one... Mother fucker.

“Hey, freak. Let her go.” Yuto's head turned towards the voice. As soon as he spotted the person, his eyebrows tightened up. 

“Minato Akira.” 

Of course. Aoi Suzuki’s childhood friend. That dude who stuck around no matter what. The guy everyone thought was dating her. A parasite that feeds off her attention...

Yet here he was, calling me a freak.

Yuto’s jaw tightened. “What the hell did you just say?” Minato walked closer, his tone filled with belittlement. “I said, let her go. You don’t belong near her.” 

Aoi rushes forward, cutting in the space between them, her tone low but still audible. "Quit now!" she raised her hands up. "Please, don't fight each other. Now is not the right time ." 

 But Minato’s glares didn’t leave Yuto face. “Aoi, you don’t know this guy. He’s nothing. Just some loser who got lucky talking to you.” Yuto’s hands curled into fists, his heartbeat was loud in his ears.

“Minato, I said stop it, that’s enough,” she exclaimed sharply, holding onto her clothes.

Minato’s face twisted as he looked at her. “Aoi, you don’t get it. He’s using you. He’s nothing but…” 

 “Stop.” Aoi cut him off, her voice firm. She turned her head slightly toward Yuto, then back to Minato. “I chose him as my boyfriend. Not you. So don’t ever talk to him like that again.”

 The classroom went silent. Even the students sitting against the wall stared at the scene.

Aoi didn’t move. She stayed right beside Yuto, her hand still holding onto his sleeve...“I said what I meant,” she repeated, staring directly at Minato. “I’m with Yuto now.”  

Yuto felt her grip tighten on his clothes more, and his chest pounded harder.

Minato tightened his jaw, gritting his teeth hard. Clenching his hands into tight knots, ready to hit something... yet staying still. His eyes moved to Aoi, then shifted back to Yuto, then snapped back to Aoi once more... 

“Aoi, you’re making a huge mistake,” Minato spat. His voice was filled with anger. “He won’t be able to protect you.” 

Aoi didn’t flinch. “Then I’ll protect myself.” 

Minato’s face turned red. He turned away with a sharp click of his tongue, storming to the other side of the classroom.

Yuto froze, her words echoing in his head. It felt so good. The look on Minato’s face after she said those words was deeply satisfying to see.

Then he noticed a soft touch on his shoulder... Seconds later, he spun around right after. 

It was Mrs. Rin Hinata. She looked worn out, her skin was nearly red from stress, pressure and tension, yet somehow she was also calm. 

“Yuto,” she said quietly, “where are Kenji and Kuro?” 

The question slammed into him. His throat closed up. Scenes from the dorm popped into his head... blood, the screams, and teeth tearing flesh.

 Yuto glanced downward, his hands shaking beside him. …None survived. “…They didn’t make it,” he responded.

His teacher's mouth tightened slightly. Her eyes dropped briefly before she gave a slow nod - like the reply wasn't even surprising. 

Aoi gripped Yuto’s sleeve harder, noticing he felt off. Yuto smacked each cheek briefly, shaking off the stress that weighed him down. 

Grief wouldn't do any good at this point. He lifted his head and locked eyes with the biology teacher. 

His expression turned serious. “Mrs. Rin, what are we going to do now?”

 The classroom fell quiet. Mrs. Rin pressed her lips together, thinking. Finally, she spoke up“…We wait. The police will come. Rescue teams will arrive.” 

Yuto’s eyes narrowed as he shook his head side to side... He had seen how this all played out in anime, manhwa, and films, through different stories. When things go south, the higher authorities never come to your rescue.

“No. That’s not going to happen.” His tone carried enough weight and confidence that everyone in the room turned to look at him… Aoi included.

Mrs. Rin scowled, crossing her arms tightly. "Explain yourself, Yuto," she said with a low voice. 

 Yuto stared back at her without a single fear or tension in his eyes. “I’m saying no one is coming. I’ve seen how this plays out. The government, the military, the police… they never make it in time. And when they do, it’s already too late. They’ll treat everyone outside as infected, due to how fast the zombies are spreading. They won’t bother saving us.”

Some students leaning on the wall started murmuring. 

Mrs. Rin’s eyes narrowed, her arms tightening across her chest. “Yuto, do you realize what you’re saying? You’re asking everyone here to abandon hope in the authorities. Do you want them to panic?” 

Yuto shook his head firmly, looking at her. “I’m asking you to be realistic. If we sit here waiting, we’re dead.” 

Her voice rose up. “And if we rush out there, we’re dead faster.”