Chapter 17: Going to School with a Zombie, Is This Some Kind of Punishment Game?

When I opened the door to leave for school, there was a zombie.

It seemed she was on her way to school too, with her bag slung over her shoulder, looking my way.

「Geh.」

Yuna grimaced strongly, wrinkles forming. As if to say she had met someone unpleasant. Well, her skin is decaying, so it’s full of wrinkles to begin with.

Anyway, it’s a bit sad. I feel like going back inside.

「Good morning.」

「Is this where Adashino lives?」

「If it wasn’t, I’d be breaking in early in the morning.」

「There’s also the possibility you’re here to wake up your childhood friend.」

Is there?

To begin with, I don’t have a childhood friend.

As I was about to retreat without taking a step outside, a voice called from behind, “Wait”.

「It would hurt my feelings if you went back inside right after we met.」

「Iyaa, I thought you might not want to walk to school with me.」

「Why?」

Because she made an unpleasant face at the start.

I thought I’d try showing a considerate male move here, but it seems Yuna is dissatisfied.

It’s mysterious, considering the closeness we’ve developed over the past few days.

I take my hand off the doorknob and step out of the gate,

「Good morning again.」

「…Good morning.」

She opened her mouth slightly, looking down a bit.

Walking to school side by side.

It’s a situation I envied before becoming a high school student, but now that I’m experiencing it myself, my heart doesn’t dance.

My heart is dancing in a different way though. Lemming syndrome.

There wasn’t much conversation on the way.

「…Nice weather, isn’t it?」

「It’s cloudy though.」

「For me, it’s nice weather.」

Only this level of exchange, which can’t be confidently called a conversation.

I guess cloudy weather is indeed welcome for zombies.

And,

「About those earrings.」

「Yeah.」

「I’m wearing them properly at home.」

「…Thank you?」

I don’t understand why the topic of earrings came up.

I only bought them for her because she seemed to like them, and I had no intention of forcing her to wear them all the time. It was within the bounds of gratitude.

But Yuna seemed satisfied, smiling as if something that had been stuck until now was released.

Judging by the dimples that formed, it seems decay doesn’t affect the perfection of a smile.

As we continued, the school gate came into view.

The number of boys and girls in uniforms increased around us.

At the same time, I felt stares filled with jealousy, or rather, curiosity.

「Then, I’m going this way.」

「See you.」

Since Yuna and I have different classrooms, we parted ways with a wave at the entrance.

Without watching her back grow smaller, I turned and headed to my classroom.

Entering quietly, Nanaka wasn’t there yet. It seems the sisters leave for school at different times.

As I hung my bag on the side of my desk, the boy sitting in front turned around,

「Yo.」

「Morning.」

「You’re already the talk of the town, you know.」

「…About what?」

「The guy who conquered the Kusakabe sisters.」

That’s defamation.

When I say that, the boy in front of me──Itou Hiromasa narrows his eyes.

「Come on. You walked to school with the younger Kusakabe sister today, didn’t you?」

「Isn’t that too fast? The transmission of information.」

「They say bad news travels a thousand miles. Love affairs travel much faster and farther.」

I want it to stop. Even Melos took more breaks, I think.

Only about three minutes have passed since I passed through the school gate.

And yet, Hiromasa already knows.

It’s like the final evolution of a gossip session in terms of transmission speed.

With a sigh, I lay my head on the desk.

At this rate, I might lose the chance to meet a heroine I haven’t encountered yet.

「And also.」

「…I don’t want to hear it, but I’ll listen just in case.」

「Sakasegawa-san from the next class.」

「Yeah.」

「She’s a beautiful girl too, right?」

Ahh.

Again.

Another beautiful girl.

Is there some rule that beautiful girls are monsters?

「Adashino, did your heart skip a beat?」

「Hmm.」

I guess it did beat faster.

Because I felt my life was in danger.

「Of course it would. That flowing black hair, curves where they should be and flat where they shouldn’t, and if I describe it in detail, chest armor that makes boys go wild. On top of that, she’s got the quiet literature girl attribute. She’s secretly popular, you know.」

So Sakasegawa-san is that type.

I couldn’t tell because she only looks like a mud dauber to me.

I could understand if it was about an overwhelmingly thin waist.

One that looks like it could be crushed in a hand.

「If I had known, I would have joined the library committee too.」

Hiromasa covers his eyes and looks up at the sky. It’s as if a lament is coming from his entire body. The sad lament unique to unpopular boys.

I can understand because I don’t have much interaction with normal humans either.

If he wants it that badly, I’d gladly switch places with him. I’m full of monsters.

But unfortunately, once a committee is decided, it can’t be changed.

I thought about rebelling against this wrong world, but from a bird’s-eye view, I’m the one who’s wrong, so I’ll stop.

Acting without thinking deeply usually doesn’t lead to good outcomes.

「Right?」

「Eh, what do you mean?」

When I suddenly spoke to Nanaka who had just arrived, she tilted the tip of her meat mass, unable to grasp the situation.

A prime example of acting without thinking deeply.

A friend I probably wouldn’t have met if I had properly equipped myself with charms, sacred arrows, and crosses on the day of the entrance ceremony.

Now, even the fact that she’s a lump of meat doesn’t bother me that much.

You never know what will happen in life.

So always carry holy items with you.

If you’re expecting a romantic comedy.