Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun dipped low over the city, casting a golden hue over the college campus. It was late afternoon, and the soccer field was alive with movement—shouts, laughter, the steady rhythm of cleats hitting the field. Yet, Rin Itoshi barely registered any of it.

He stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the others finish practice. Or at least, that’s what he told himself. In reality, his eyes kept drifting toward one person.

Meguru Bachira.

Bachira was a whirlwind on the field—unpredictable, untamed, grinning like he can predict what's gonna happen. It was frustrating. Annoying. Rin told himself that every time he saw Bachira messing around, pulling off absurd dribbles like it was child’s play. And yet, no matter how much Rin wanted to look away, he couldn’t.

Bachira noticed, of course. He always did.

“Rin-chan,” he called, jogging over after practice, barely out of breath. “You’re staring again.”

Rin scowled. “I’m not.”

“You so are.” Bachira grinned, stepping into Rin’s personal space like he always did. “If you like me that much, just say so.”

“Shut up.”

Bachira only laughed, nudging Rin’s shoulder with his own. “One of these days, you’re gonna admit it.”

It was an unspoken rule that Rin and Bachira always ended up together after practice. Even if Rin tried to avoid it, Bachira would somehow appear beside him—like a stray cat that refused to leave.

That evening, Rin found himself at Bachira’s dorm, sitting on the floor with a notebook in his lap while Bachira sprawled across his bed, flipping through his English textbook.

“Okay, okay! Teach me another word sir!” Bachira said, his feet kicking idly in the air.

Rin sighed. “You still haven’t gotten the last one right.”

Bachira rolled onto his side, propping his head up with his hand. “But this is boring! I wanna learn fun words.”

“Learning basic grammar isn’t boring. You just have the attention span of a toddler.”

“Then teach me a swear word,” Bachira grinned. “Something fancy, though.”

“No.”

“Ugh, you’re no fun.” Bachira tossed his book aside and stretched. Then, as if struck by an idea, he sat up and reached for the convenience store bag sitting on his desk. “Fine. If you won’t teach me cool words, at least eat this.”

Rin barely had time to react before a piece of bread was shoved against his mouth. He leaned back, glaring. “What the hell?”

“You didn’t eat after practice.” Bachira pouted. “And you’re always grumpy when you’re hungry. Sooo, open up~”

“I’m not a child.”

Bachira ignored him and pressed the bread against his lips again. “Come on, Rin-chan. If you don’t eat, I’ll have to chew it up for you and feed you like a baby bird.”

Rin recoiled. “What is wrong with you?”

Bachira cackled. “I’m just looking out for my broody little striker.”

Rin snatched the bread from his hand and took a bite, if only to shut him up. Bachira clapped in victory.

“See? That wasn’t so hard.”

Rin rolled his eyes, chewing begrudgingly. But even as he scowled, there was something oddly comforting about Bachira’s relentless presence.

It was a stupid routine. English lessons, post-practice meals, Bachira’s endless teasing. But Rin had gotten used to it. He hadn’t realized just how much until now.

And he had no idea how much he’d miss it soon.

Nagi Seishiro had never wanted much.

At least, not outwardly. He wasn’t the type to chase things, to fight for things. He took life as it came, never looking too far ahead, never getting too attached to anything.

Except, maybe, Mikage Reo.

They had been best friends for years now. Reo had inserted himself into Nagi’s life without asking, pulling him along into his world of luxury and ambition. He was doomed the moment he laid eyes on that sweet, inviting smile—the one that beckoned him closer, urging him to join in, to play along. Had he always been this weak of a man? Or was it just Reo who made him this way?

He liked it—being spoiled, being wanted. Even if he never said it out loud.

Reo’s car was waiting outside the dorms when Nagi finally rolled out of bed, phone vibrating with a string of texts.

Reo: “I’m outside.”

Reo: “Don’t make me come up there.”

Reo: “Actually, I will. 10 seconds.”

Reo: “9.”

Nagi groaned, rubbing his eyes. He didn’t need to check the time to know it was too early for this. But Reo was stubborn, and if Nagi didn’t move, he’d have to deal with his best friend storming into his dorm room, nagging him about sleeping too much again.

With a heavy sigh, he grabbed a hoodie and trudged outside.

Reo was leaning against his sleek, black car, arms crossed, sunglasses perched on his head. The second he spotted Nagi, his face lit up.

“There you are! Took you long enough.”

“Mm.” Nagi yawned, stretching. “Too early.”

Reo scoffed, opening the car door for him. “It’s noon, you lazy shit.”

Nagi slid into the passenger seat, slumping immediately. “Still too early.”

Reo just rolled his eyes and got in. “I got you breakfast.” He reached into a bag and shoved a perfectly wrapped sandwich into Nagi’s hands. “Eat.”

Nagi blinked at it. “...Do I have to?”

“Yes.” Reo started the car, shooting him a look. “You barely eat on your own. What would you do without me?”

Nagi unwrapped the croissant and took a slow bite. “Dunno. Probably starve.”

Reo huffed. “Not funny.”

To Nagi, it kind of was. Because he knew Reo actually worried about him—about everything. Even the small things. Reo was always looking out for him, always making sure he had what he needed before he even asked.

It was ridiculous. Overbearing. But Nagi didn’t hate it.

Reo took him to one of those high-end cafés, the kind with gold-plated cutlery and overpriced lattes. Nagi never cared much for places like this, but Reo liked bringing him along, so he never complained.

“Are you even awake?” Reo asked, watching Nagi poke at his food lazily.

“Half.”

Reo sighed, shaking his head. “Seriously, what am I gonna do with you?”

Nagi didn’t answer. He just watched as Reo leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the table, looking effortlessly confident. Everything about him screamed luxury—the expensive watch, the tailored clothes, the way he carried himself like the world already belonged to him.

But despite all that, he always looked at Nagi like he was the most valuable thing in the world.

It made Nagi’s chest feel weird. He never knew what to do with that feeling, so he ignored it.

That night, Nagi lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, turning his phone in his hands. His messages with Reo were open.

Reo: “Don’t forget, we’re practicing early tomorrow.”

Reo: “Also, don’t be late.”

Reo: “Also also, I had fun today.”

Reo: “Text me if you need anything.”

Nagi hovered over the keyboard, debating whether to respond. He wasn’t good at words. He didn’t know how to say things the way Reo did. He didn’t know how to show what he felt, not in a way that made sense.

*Nagi is typing*

"Reo thank u for today, or for everyday, being around you has made me realise that I don't want to be apart from you anymore, you're so amazing and dazzling and i want to keep staying by your side|

"Reo thank u for today, or for everyday, being around you has made me realise that I don't want to be apart from you anymore, you're so am|

"Reo thank|

Instead, he typed something simple.

Nagi: “Yeah. Night.”

Reo’s reply came almost instantly.

Reo: “Night, treasure.”

Nagi’s chest felt weird again.

He turned off his phone and rolled onto his side, pulling his blankets over his head. He didn’t know what to do with this feeling.

So, like always, he ignored it.

Kunigami Rensuke was used to waking up to chaos.

Rooming with Chigiri Hyouma meant that peace and quiet were myths, something he could only dream of but never experience firsthand. Every morning, without fail, Chigiri found new ways to make their shared dorm room feel like a whirlwind had passed through it. Today was no different.

“Kunigami, be honest,” Chigiri said, turning his head from side to side in front of their shared mirror. His long red hair, still damp from his shower, cascaded down his shoulders. “Do I look better with it down or should I tie it up?”

Kunigami groggily rubbed his eyes, still sitting on his bed. “It’s too early for this.”

Chigiri ignored him, tilting his head dramatically. “Down makes me look elegant, mysterious, like a prince from a tragic romance novel.” He pulled his hair into a loose ponytail, eyeing his reflection. “But up makes me look sharper. Sporty. Like I’m about to run faster than anyone in this entire university.”

Kunigami sighed. “You already run faster than anyone in this university.”

“I know,” Chigiri smirked. “But I want to look the part, too.”

Kunigami yawned and stretched. “Tie it up, Princess.”

Chigiri turned to him with an amused glint in his eye. “Oh? You like my hair up?”

Kunigami shrugged, getting up to grab his towel. “You complain less when it’s tied back. Less hair in your mouth while eating.”

Chigiri gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “You just called me high-maintenance, didn’t you?”

Kunigami smirked as he walked to the bathroom. “I didn’t say anything.”

Chigiri scoffed, but the corner of his lips twitched up. “You’re getting bolder, hero.”

Being the campus crush had its perks.

Chigiri had long since accepted his status as one of the most admired students at their university. He wasn’t oblivious—he saw the way people looked at him, heard the whispers whenever he walked past.

It was mostly amusing. Sometimes exhausting. But always entertaining.

“I swear, if one more person asks me what shampoo I use, I might start charging them,” Chigiri muttered as he and Kunigami walked across campus.

Kunigami chuckled. “You should. Could make good money off of it.”

Chigiri tapped his chin. “You’re right. Maybe I should start a shampoo brand.’”

Kunigami shook his head. “People would actually buy that.”

“Of course they would.” Chigiri said without hesitation. “I put effort into my hair, after all.”

Kunigami rolled his eyes, but Chigiri didn’t miss the way his ears turned a little pink. It made him grin. Teasing Kunigami was too easy sometimes.

“By the way,” Kunigami said after a beat, “are you free tonight?”

Chigiri raised a brow. “Depends. Why? Planning a date?”

Kunigami flushed red. “It’s not a—! We just haven’t eaten out in a while, and I figured…”

Chigiri smirked. “So, a date.”

Kunigami sighed in defeat. “Whatever you want to call it, Princess.”

Chigiri hummed, tapping his fingers against his lips in mock thought. “Alright, I accept your invitation, hero. But you’re paying.”

Kunigami chuckled. “You always say that and end up paying at the end.”

Dinner was a casual affair—just the two of them at their usual ramen shop, tucked away near campus.

Chigiri liked this place, mostly because it felt familiar. Kunigami liked it because the portions were huge.

“You need to eat more,” Kunigami said as he pushed half of his pork cutlet onto Chigiri’s plate. “You burn too much energy.”

Chigiri raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying I’m weak?”

Kunigami shook his head. “Just saying you should take care of yourself.”

Chigiri stared at him for a moment before sighing. “Fine, fine. But only because I like pork cutlet.”

Kunigami hid a small smile behind his bowl of ramen.

The night passed easily between them—teasing, laughter, comfortable silence.

By the time they got back to their dorm, the campus was quiet, as it always was at this hour. The distant sound of cars, the occasional footsteps of students heading back from late-night outings—it was the usual hum of life.

Nothing felt strange. Nothing felt wrong.

Just another normal night.

Chigiri flopped onto his bed as Kunigami turned off the lights.

“Wake me up if I oversleep tomorrow,” Chigiri murmured. “Coach’ll kill me if I’m late.”

Kunigami snorted. “You? Oversleep? That’d be a first.”

Chigiri let out a sleepy chuckle, already halfway to dreaming.

Tomorrow was just another day.

At least, that’s what they thought.

Isagi Yoichi was nothing if not efficient.

He prided himself on his ability to analyze plays, make decisions on the fly, and execute with precision. On the football field, every movement had a purpose, every pass was calculated, and every shot was an opportunity.

But when it came to his daily schedule, all that logic went straight out the window.

Because every morning, without fail, Isagi took the longest, most unnecessary detour across campus just to catch a glimpse of Ness.

It made no sense. He knew it made no sense. His first class was all the way in the literature building, while Ness had morning lectures in the psychology wing—two entirely opposite directions. But still, he’d grab his bag, head out of the dorms, and take the scenic route, walking past the central courtyard in the off chance that Ness might be there.

And, of course, Ness was there. He always was. Bright-eyed, cheery, chatting with whoever was lucky enough to stand next to him, moving his hands animatedly as he spoke.

It made Isagi’s stomach do an embarrassing little flip every time.

Until he saw Kaiser.

Because of course Kaiser was there too. Always. Like a damn leech. Standing way too close, smirking that infuriating smirk while Ness laughed at whatever smug comment he had just made.

Isagi felt his good mood shrivel up and die on the spot.

For a moment, he just stood there, glaring, debating whether he should just keep walking and pretend he didn’t see them.

Then Ness turned his head slightly, and their eyes met.

Isagi felt a jolt of electricity shoot through his veins. His heart stuttered, traitorous and hopeful.

Ness blinked, tilted his head slightly, and then—

“Oh, it’s you.”

Isagi’s eye twitched. “Excuse me?”

Ness gave him a slow, dramatic once-over, lips curling in mild disgust. “What are you doing here, Peasant? You’re so far from the remedial classes.”

Remedial classes? Isagi’s grip tightened on the strap of his bag. “It’s called taking a walk, you freak.”

Kaiser chuckled, clearly entertained. “Look at him, Ness. Just standing there like an idiot.”

“I am not—” Isagi started, but Ness just grinned, tilting his head at him.

“Ohhh, I get it,” Ness said, eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re lost, aren’t you? Poor little Yoichi. Must be hard when your tiny brain can’t process directions.”

Isagi took a deep breath. Don’t punch him. Don’t punch him. Don't kiss him—wait what?

Kaiser, the absolute bastard, threw an arm around Ness’s shoulder and pulled him closer. “Let’s not bully the weak, Ness. It’s not very sportsmanlike.”

Isagi’s vision turned red for a split second. Not only was Kaiser talking down to him, but he had his arm around Ness’s shoulder, holding him like they were something more than just teammates.

Disgusting.

Isagi clicked his tongue. “Enjoy your little ego trip, Kaiser. Maybe one day you’ll realize the world doesn’t revolve around you.”

Kaiser just smiled. “But it does.”

Ness giggled, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at Isagi. “Awww, is someone grumpy today?”

Isagi scoffed, masking the frustration clawing at his chest. “Yeah, because I have to see you two first thing in the morning.”

Ness hummed. “Tragic. Maybe next time, don’t wander into places you don’t belong.”

Isagi opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out.

Kaiser just smirked. “Come on, Ness. Let’s not waste our time with commoners.”

With that, they turned and walked off, leaving Isagi standing there, fists clenched, trying very hard not to explode on the spot.

He exhaled slowly through his nose, schooling his expression back into something neutral before finally continuing his very unnecessary walk toward his class.

His mood was officially ruined.

Again.

Football practice was his only salvation.

It was the one place where he could push all his frustration aside, where he didn’t have to think about Ness’s cute smug face or Kaiser’s unbearable arrogance.

Except they both were also there, just Ness today though.

And unlike in the courtyard, where Isagi could at least avoid him if he really wanted to, practice meant they had to interact. Had to pass to each other. Had to acknowledge each other’s presence.

It was being in heaven and hell simultaneously.

At the end of the scrimmage, Isagi wiped the sweat off his brow and sighed. He needed a drink. And maybe a cold shower to cool his temper.

As he was making his way to the water station, a voice called out behind him.

“Hey, Isagi.”

He turned to see Ness jogging up to him, an unreadable expression on his face.

Isagi frowned. “What?”

Ness stopped in front of him, hands on his hips. For a second, he just studied Isagi, head tilting slightly, as if trying to decipher something.

Then, he smirked.

“You played well today,” he said, voice almost too casual.

Isagi blinked. “Uh… thanks?”

Ness grinned. “Of course, not as well as Kaiser, ofcourse , but, you know, for a Peasant, you did okay.”

Isagi groaned. “You just had to ruin it, didn’t you?”

Ness giggled. “It’s my specialty.”

He turned to walk away, but before he did, he glanced over his shoulder and said, “See you tomorrow, Stinky.”

Isagi stared after him, baffled. Stinky? That was a new one.

He sighed and shook his head, already dreading tomorrow’s detour.

Because no matter how much Ness got on his nerves, no matter how much Kaiser’s presence made his blood boil, he knew he wasn’t going to stop.

He’d still take the long way to class.

Just for a glimpse of him.

Chapter Text

It started like any other boring Tuesday. Rin Itoshi sat under the usual tree near the west quad, earbuds in, textbook open, and scowl firmly in place. He preferred this corner of campus for the quiet—the way the breeze carried over the soccer field, and how no one ever bothered him here. Except for one person, of course.

"Rinrin!"

The cheerful yell pierced his headphones. Rin barely flinched. He sighed, pulling out one earbud as the unmistakable figure of Bachira Meguru plopped down beside him on the grass, a Bento box in hand and a grin too bright for the early hour.

"You're late," Rin said, not looking up from his book.

"You’re early," Bachira shot back, unbothered. He cracked open his lunch and poked Rin’s arm with a pair of chopsticks. "You didn't eat, did you? C'mon, you always forget. Here, say ah."

Rin turned his face slightly, jaw tense. "I’m not five."

"Ahhhhhh," Bachira teased, pushing a piece of karaage toward Rin’s mouth. Rin leaned away but didn’t stop him entirely, and after a moment of quiet resistance, he gave in, letting the food pass his lips.

"You’re annoying," Rin muttered, chewing.

"And you like it," Bachira said with a wink, popping a piece into his own mouth. He looked around casually, then back to Rin. "Hey, are your classes canceled too?"

"No. Why?"

Bachira shrugged. "Just… a lot of people are out today. More than usual. Thought it was weird."

Rin raised an eyebrow. Now that Bachira mentioned it, the campus was quieter than usual. The path near the science building had been unusually empty when he walked past it earlier.

"Something about a flu or food poisoning, I think? There’s rumors," Bachira continued, talking around a mouthful. "Jiwoo from chem fainted in class. Hit his head on the table too. Blood everywhere."

Rin’s eyes narrowed. "Is he okay?"

"Dunno. People said he just partied too hard, y’know? But he was acting weird yesterday too. Snapping at people, shaking. Guess he's just one of those dramatic sick people."

Rin hummed noncommittally. "It’s probably nothing."

Bachira leaned in, face too close, eyes glinting with mischief. "Ooooh, look at Rin-chan trying to reassure me. So sweet. Maybe I should try getting sick for once."

Rin shoved him gently back with one hand, eyes rolling. "Shut up."

They decided to walk to the nearby convenience store after lunch, mostly because Bachira wanted sweets and Rin was too tired to argue. The streets felt off somehow. Quieter. Even the constant buzz of scooters and chatter was dulled.

Inside the store, the shelves looked half-stocked. Some of the aisles were empty—ramen, water bottles, first-aid kits. Rin raised an eyebrow. That was… unusual. People didn’t usually panic-buy unless—

"Hey! Pocky!" Bachira yelled joyfully, breaking Rin's train of thought. He grabbed three boxes and tossed them into Rin’s arms.

"I’m not paying for all that."

"Too late, you’re already holding it," Bachira said, skipping toward the counter. Rin noticed the cashier looked pale, sweaty. Her hands trembled as she scanned their items.

On the tiny TV behind her, a newscaster’s voice filtered through the static.

"—multiple hospitals reporting sudden influxes of patients—symptoms include fever, disorientation, and heightened aggression. Authorities recommend staying indoors and—"

The cashier muted the volume with a huff. "They always make a big deal out of nothing," she muttered under her breath. "Every year it's some xyz flu."

Bachira tapped Rin’s shoulder. "Want a mask? We can match."

Rin turned to see Bachira holding up two colorful face masks—one with little frogs, the other with smiling ghosts. He snorted. "No."

"Fine, I'll sacrifice and be the spooky half of our duo."

As they walked back across campus, the signs became harder to ignore. An ambulance tore down the street, sirens screaming. A group of students gathered near the quad, watching something on a phone screen with serious faces.

Bachira tugged on Rin’s sleeve. "Wanna see? Might be zombies."

"It’s not zombies."

"Yet," Bachira said while grinning.

They didn’t stop to watch. Rin wasn’t one for gossip, and Bachira would rather poke at Rin than look at grainy videos.

Still, as they passed the alley behind the dorms, a strange sound caught their attention. It was a low, guttural moan. Rin turned instinctively. Someone stumbled out of the shadows—a guy in a blood-stained uniform, swaying like he couldn’t stand properly.

Bachira stopped in his tracks. "Hey—are you okay?"

The guy didn’t respond. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, movements jerky. Then he lurched forward, growling.

"Whoa!" Bachira stepped back.

Two students ran up and pulled the man back. "Sorry! He’s just drunk. Got into a fight. It’s fine. We’ve got him."

They forced the guy to sit down, laughing nervously. Someone else recorded it on their phone. "Look at this dumbass," the filmer said. "Dude’s acting like a whole zombie."

Rin frowned. His instincts told him something was wrong—seriously wrong. Bachira stared for a moment longer before gently nudging Rin forward.

"Let’s go, Rinrin. I don’t like that guy’s vibe."

They walked the rest of the way in silence.

Back in Rin’s dorm room, Bachira sprawled across his bed without asking. Rin dropped the Pocky boxes on the table and sat down, staring out the window. His phone buzzed—another emergency alert. He didn’t open it.

"You ever think about what you’d do in the apocalypse?" Bachira asked, biting the end of a Pocky stick.

"No."

"Liar. Everyone has thought about it once.So you’ve definitely thought about it. Probably got a whole plan."

Rin didn’t answer. Because maybe he had thought about it once or twice. Not seriously. Just in passing.

Bachira leaned over, balancing a stick of Pocky between Rin’s lips. Rin took it wordlessly, gaze still fixed on the street below.

"You’re quiet."

"You talk enough for both of us."

Bachira smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I’m serious, though. Today feels weird."

Rin finally looked at him. "Yeah. It does."

Outside, the sky darkened earlier than usual. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked nonstop. Then, silence.

Hopefully this flu would stop spreading soon.

The morning light spilled through the curtains of Nagi's dorm. Birds chirped, and somewhere far off, a construction crew hammered away at some new student center expansion. Everything about the morning screamed normal.

Except for the uneasy silence in Reo Mikage’s econ group chat.

Reo sat on the leather couch in his dorm suite, legs crossed, scrolling through unread messages with a furrowed brow. He glanced at the time: 7:43 a.m. Kenji, one of his teammates for the big presentation, hadn’t shown up for two days now—and even more suspiciously, no one could get in touch with him. No replies, no messages, no social media updates. The guy was practically a meme for oversharing on his Instagram stories, and suddenly—nothing.

He called out, “Hey, Nagi? You remember Kenji? That loud guy who always wears neon-green socks?”

A mound of blanket shifted on the other couch. A messy head of white-blond hair peeked out. “Mmh.”

“He hasn’t been to class, hasn’t messaged. His roommate says he just left the dorm one morning and never came back.”

Silence. Then, Nagi’s voice, muffled, “So?”

Reo sighed. “So, it’s weird.”

Nagi finally rolled over and sat up, yawning. His hoodie slipped off one shoulder. “I thought you liked weird mysteries. Now you get to be a rich detective.”

Reo snorted. “We can be a detective duo y'know.”

“Mission failed. I’m going back to sleep.”

“You’re not,” Reo said, grabbing a pillow and launching it at Nagi’s head. It hit with a soft thump.

Nagi groaned, caught the pillow, and flopped dramatically onto it. “I’ll get up if you feed me.”

“You’re a grown man.”

“Your point?”

Reo rolled his eyes, but a grin tugged at his lips. “Fine. Let’s go to that café near the library. I’ll get your usual.”

Half an hour later, they were seated in a cozy corner booth at the edge of the bustling café. It smelled of syrup and fresh espresso. Reo leaned back against the window while Nagi sat across from him, practically melting into the cushions, one hand lazily scrolling through a mobile game.

“Still thinking about Kenji?” Nagi asked.

Reo blinked. “You were listening.”

“I listen to you. Just don’t talk much back.”

“Thanks for that honesty.”

Nagi shrugged, then added, “He’s probably sick. Everyone gets sick when the semester’s starting.”

“Yeah, but even when people are sick, they text. This feels… off.”

A subtle tension lingered in the air. Reo turned his eyes to the TV above the café counter. The news was on mute, but captions ran below the anchorwoman’s face: ‘Regional Flu Outbreak Disrupts Several Cities.’ Next to her, B-roll of hazmat-suited medics escorting someone from a dorm building played silently.

He frowned.

“See something?” Nagi asked between bites of his pancake.

“Just weird news. I think it’s the same flu that canceled Professor Lincoln’s lecture yesterday.”

“Oh, is that why I got an extra nap,” Nagi mumbled.

Reo chuckled. “Only you would celebrate that.”

The rest of their breakfast was quieter. Around them, students whispered. Some checked phones with worried faces, some laughed it off. Reo noticed a few glancing at the news too.

Outside, the campus looked like any other normal day. Still, as they walked back toward the dorms, Reo couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

“Hey, your class is canceled too,” Nagi murmured, reading from his own phone. “Stats 204. Professor’s ‘under sick leave.’”

Reo stared at the notification. “That’s three professors now. In two days.”

“Maybe they all caught whatever Kenji has.”

“Maybe.”

Reo didn’t mention the video he'd seen online—grainy, shaky phone footage of someone convulsing on a subway platform, eyes clouded over. The video had been deleted an hour later. Probably fake, he told himself. Probably a prank.

They entered their suite, warm and familiar. Reo tossed his phone aside and collapsed on the couch. Nagi followed, curling up beside him with practiced ease, laying his head in Reo’s lap. The sun poured in through the large windows, bathing everything in gold.

Reo ran fingers through Nagi’s hair, twirling a strand absently.

“You know,” Nagi said lazily, “if weird stuff is happening, you’ll keep me safe, right?”

Reo blinked. His heart stuttered.

“Always,” he said, almost without thinking. “Obviously.”

“Cool.”

Reo looked down at him. Nagi’s eyes were closed again, his breathing slow. A light smile touched his lips. Sometimes, Reo wondered if Nagi knew—if he understood just how much space he occupied in Reo’s world.

He didn't say it out loud. He never did.

A chime broke the moment. Another alert on Reo’s phone:

“Please be advised: increased campus security presence due to recent student disappearances. Remain indoors after 8 p.m. and report any suspicious behavior to the university hotline.”

Reo’s breath caught.

“Reo?” Nagi said, eyes still shut.

“Yeah?”

“Stop thinking.”

Reo laughed, startled. “That obvious?”

Nagi reached up, blindly poked his cheek. “You scrunch your face when you’re worried. Like a baby.”

Reo caught his hand and just held it for a second, thumb brushing over Nagi’s knuckles. “You’re impossible.”

Nagi cracked one eye open. “You like it though.”

Reo didn’t respond—just exhaled, slowly. Maybe he did. Maybe he always had.

Outside, another siren blared somewhere off-campus.

Inside, Reo leaned back against the couch, willing himself to believe that everything would be okay. Just a flu. Just paranoia.

But deep down, something told him this wasn’t going away.

And if the world was going to fall apart, he’d make damn sure Nagi didn’t fall with it.

Chapter Text

The gym smelled of sweat and overpriced protein powder, the familiar scent greeting Chigiri and Kunigami as they stepped inside. It was their usual morning routine—get up early, hit the gym near campus, and then grab breakfast before class. It was so ingrained in their schedule that neither of them thought twice about it, even with the weird flu news floating around.

Kunigami stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. "You warming up first, or diving straight into it?"

Chigiri smirked, already setting up on the treadmill. "I don’t need warm-ups. I’m naturally built different."

Kunigami scoffed. "Sure, princess. We’ll see how ‘built different’ you are after five minutes."

Chigiri rolled his eyes, cranking up the treadmill speed as he started his run. Kunigami shook his head and went to grab dumbbells, leaving him to it.

The gym was quieter than usual. Normally, the place had a good mix of early-morning regulars—other students, fitness freaks, even a few older guys who had nothing better to do at 6 a.m. But today, there were only a handful of people, and most of them were either whispering to each other or glued to their phones.

Kunigami caught snippets of a conversation as he adjusted his weights.

"Did you hear? Someone actually bit a guy near the train station. Like, full-on attacked him."

"Fuck, are you serious? I thought it was just another fight."

"No, man. It’s all over Twitter. Some people are saying it’s another type of rabies or something."

Kunigami frowned, glancing toward Chigiri, who was still running, earphones in, oblivious. He figured the whole thing was exaggerated. People online loved to make up wild stories whenever there was an outbreak.

But still. A bite?

"Oi, Kunigami!" Chigiri called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Stop staring into space and come spot me!"

Kunigami huffed. "Fine, fine. Try not to embarrass yourself."

Kunigami watched closely, ensuring he had a good grip. In the bright gym lights, Chigiri's features stood out more than usual—his long lashes, the way his reddish-pink hair glowed slightly, damp with sweat, framing his soft yet determined expression. Kunigami found himself staring just a little longer than necessary.

"What?" Chigiri huffed between reps.

Kunigami blinked, snapping out of it. "Nothing. Focus on your form."

Chigiri gave him a side-eye but kept lifting.

They fell into their usual rhythm as Kunigami helped Chigiri with his sets. It was comfortable, familiar. Kunigami always made sure to push Chigiri just enough without actually overwhelming him, and Chigiri, despite his complaints, always kept up.

"You should lift heavier," Kunigami commented, adjusting the weights for Chigiri. "You can handle more than this."

"Why, so I can start looking like you? No thanks. I actually like fitting into my clothes."

Kunigami rolled his eyes. "Fine. Stay weak."

"I’m literally stronger than half the guys here, shut up."

Chigiri finished his set and sat up, exhaling sharply. He grabbed his phone and frowned at the notifications flooding his screen.

Kunigami noticed. "Something up?"

"News updates. More weird shit. A university a few cities over just shut down because of the flu. They’re calling it a public health emergency."

Kunigami wiped his face with a towel. "Sounds serious."

Chigiri nodded. "Yeah…"

Before either of them could say more, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Hey! Why are you two always at the gym this early? Trying to show off?"

They turned to see Isagi strolling toward them, duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He looked mildly exhausted, but there was a grin on his face.

"Isagi," Chigiri greeted, smirking. "What are you doing here? Didn’t think you cared about lifting."

"I don’t, but my first class got canceled, so I figured I’d kill time. Looks like I found my favorite couple instead."

Kunigami groaned. "We’re not a couple."

"Right, right," Isagi teased, smiling. "Totally not a couple. You guys just spend all your time together and bicker like an old married couple."

Chigiri leaned on Kunigami dramatically. "It’s true, isn’t it, sweetcheeks? We’ve been exposed."

Kunigami shoved him off. "Both of you, shut up."

Isagi laughed, dropping his bag on a nearby bench. "Anyway, did you guys hear about the bite incident?"

Kunigami and Chigiri exchanged glances. "Yeah," Kunigami said. "Some guy at the station, right?"

Isagi nodded. "Yeah. People are freaking out about it. Some are saying it’s rabies, others are calling it some kind of super flu. Either way, it’s weird."

Chigiri scrolled through his phone again. "There’s a video now."

Kunigami and Isagi leaned over his shoulder to watch. The footage was shaky, taken from someone’s phone. A man was writhing on the ground, screaming, while a group of security guards tried to restrain another guy—his mouth covered in blood, eyes wide and glassy.

"Holy shit," Isagi muttered.

Kunigami frowned. "That… doesn’t look like a normal flu."

Chigiri locked his phone. "People are saying the guy who got bitten had to be carried away in an ambulance. No updates on his condition."

Isagi crossed his arms. "Okay, but what if it is rabies? Like, worst-case scenario? That shit makes people go feral, right? It could explain the attacks."

Kunigami hummed. "Maybe. But rabies takes a while to show symptoms. This feels… fast."

Chigiri nodded, tucking his phone away. "Either way, people are getting freaked out. Maybe we should avoid crowded places for a bit."

"Oh no," Isagi deadpanned. "Skipping class? Tragic."

Kunigami rolled his eyes. "It’s not like we’re saying skip college entirely. Just be careful."

"True," Isagi admitted. "Though skipping college doesn't sound like a bad idea, atleast I won't have to see Kaiser's face anymore." 

Kunigami glanced at Chigiri. "Maybe we should switch to evening gym instead. Less people."

Chigiri smirked. "Aw, you worried about me?"

Kunigami huffed, crossing his arms. "Just thinking smart, princess."

Kunigami sighed, shoving him lightly. "Come on, let’s finish our set. We’ve got class later."

Isagi waved, disappearing toward the showers. Kunigami turned back to Chigiri, who was stretching lazily.

"You really think it’s getting bad?" Kunigami asked after a moment.

Chigiri shrugged. "I don’t know. But it’s weird. And I don’t like weird things."

Kunigami glanced at the gym entrance, where a few more people had trickled in, whispering amongst themselves. He exhaled slowly.

"Let’s just..keep an eye around."

Chigiri nodded. "Yeah. And in the meantime, let’s get breakfast."

Kunigami chuckled. "Fine, but you’re paying."

Chigiri smacked him, "The audacity."

Kunigami smirked, nudging him toward the exit. "Come on, princess."

As they left the gym, another ambulance siren wailed in the distance. Neither of them said anything, but the uneasy feeling in Kunigami’s gut didn’t go away.

The gym’s showers were always filled with steam, fogging up the mirrors and making the tiled floor just slippery enough to be annoying. Isagi ran a towel through his damp hair as he stepped out, stretching his sore muscles. The morning workout and talking to Kunigami and Chigiri had improved his mood—distracted even—but now he was back to his usual schedule. And part of that schedule included taking a slight detour before heading to class; the detour he took every morning just to catch a glimpse of a certain someone.

Ness.

It was embarrassing, really. He wasn’t sure when it started, or maybe he was just in denial, but for months now, his morning wasn’t complete until he saw the other student’s face. The sight alone recharged him, as if Ness was some kind of living battery pack for his mood. He didn’t even have to talk to him—just watching from afar, hearing him laugh was enough. Even Ness' silly insults were endearing to him.

The other side of campus wasn’t exactly out of his way, but it wasn’t the most direct route either. Yet, Isagi found himself walking there anyway, adjusting his bag strap as he weaved through students still groggy from sleep.

And there he was, standing under one of the large oak trees near the campus entrance, chatting with Kaiser like always. Ness’s hands moved animatedly as he spoke, his expression bright and full of energy. Isagi slowed his pace just slightly, savoring the moment.

He really was unfairly cute.

Isagi would never say it out loud, but there was something about the way Ness looked—soft yet expressive, elegant yet effortlessly casual—that made it hard to look away. His deep magenta eyes caught the light in a way that almost made them glow. And then there was his voice—light and teasing, always carrying that playful lilt that somehow made even casual conversation sound like something important.

Pathetic, Isagi thought to himself, resisting the urge to scoff. He was literally just standing here, staring. Like some loser with a crush. Which… well, wasn’t exactly wrong.

Kaiser, on the other hand, leaned against the wall, arms crossed, wearing that ever-present smirk of his. He said something that made Ness chuckle, and Isagi had to fight the immediate urge to roll his eyes.

Just as Isagi was about to move closer—maybe pretend he just happened to be passing by—a ragged cough broke through the steady hum of campus chatter.

A student, a few meters away, hunched over near the entrance, one hand bracing against the wall. His breathing was heavy, erratic. The coughs turned into wheezes, his body shaking with the effort.

“Hey, dude, you good?” someone asked, stepping toward him.

The student didn’t respond. Instead, his knees buckled, and he collapsed hard onto the pavement.

A small crowd gathered almost instantly, murmurs of concern rising.

“Shit, he just dropped—”

“Is he sick? Should we get the infirmary staff?”

A couple of students crouched beside him, one placing a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, can you hear me?”

The guy twitched. Then, snapped awake.

For a split second, everything seemed normal. Until it wasn’t.

His body jerked violently, arms thrashing as if he were being electrocuted. The students holding him recoiled in alarm, dropping him back onto the ground. Then, as if a switch had flipped, he lunged—wild, uncontrolled, his hands clawing at the first person in his field of vision.

Ness.

Isagi barely had a second to think. Instinct kicked in, a burst of adrenaline surging through his veins. His feet moved before his brain fully processed what was happening.

Move.

He lunged, grabbing Ness by the waist and tackling him to the ground just as the crazed student’s outstretched hands swiped through the air where Ness’s neck had been.

A startled gasp left Ness as he hit the pavement with Isagi half on top of him. There was a moment of stillness, as if the entire campus had sucked in a breath at once.

Then—chaos.

The student who had attacked Ness was still thrashing, his body convulsing unnaturally. The people who had originally tried to help him were now backing away in horror. 

“W-What the fuck?!” Ness gasped, his back hitting the ground as Isagi shielded him. His eyes were wide with shock, flickering between Isagi and the flailing attacker.

“Stay down!” Isagi barked, tightening his grip around Ness as he turned to look at the struggling figure nearby.

The guy was writhing, almost convulsing, but his movements were aggressive, unnatural. His hands clawed at the ground, his mouth twisted into something between a grimace and a snarl. Someone tried to hold him back, only to yelp as he twisted violently, trying to snap at their arm with bared teeth.

Bite. He’s trying to bite them.

The realization sent a chill down Isagi’s spine.

Kaiser, who had been a few steps away, stepped forward now, eyes narrowed. “The hell is wrong with this guy?”

“I— I don’t know!” One of the students who had been helping stammered. “He just—he just woke up like that and started attacking!”

The sick guy thrashed again, his strength seemingly unnatural as he shoved himself off the ground, lunging at another nearby student. A scream rang out. More people ran.

“He bit me!” the student yelped, stumbling backward.

A scream rang out from someone in the crowd, and in an instant, panic spread. People shoved past each other, desperate to get away.

Isagi turned his head slightly, catching Kaiser’s sharp gaze. For once, the smugness was gone from his face. He looked tense—focused.

“Move!” someone shouted. “Get inside!”

Isagi pushed himself up just enough to check on Ness. His face was pale, his eyes wide with shock, but he was not hurt.

“You okay?” Isagi asked, his breath slightly ragged from the sudden burst of action.

Ness swallowed hard, nodding. “Y-Yeah. You—You tackled me?”

“You’re welcome.”

Before Ness could reply, security guards arrived, yelling for students to clear the area. The attacker was still on the ground, writhing and snapping his teeth like a rabid animal. The injured student who had been bitten was hurried away, clutching his arm tightly.

“Isagi—” Ness’s voice was uncharacteristically shaky. He was still half-pinned under Isagi, blinking up at him, dazed. “What… what was that?”

Isagi stared at him for half a second too long, caught in the fact that he was so close, so warm. His brain short-circuited for just a moment before snapping back into focus.

'Not now', he thought, quickly pulling them both up. He kept a firm grip on Ness’s wrist, scanning the chaos. “We need to move. Now.”

Before things got worse.

And judging by the way another person suddenly screamed as they got knocked to the ground, things were already spiraling fast.

Isagi grit his teeth. The flu. The news. The warnings.

This wasn’t just a flu.

It was the start of something much worse.

Chapter Text

The hallway felt eerily quiet despite the commotion outside. Isagi’s breath was uneven, his grip still firm around Ness’ wrist as if the moment he let go, something worse would happen. Ness wasn’t protesting either, which was a testament to how shaken he was. Kaiser, usually so smug and unaffected, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his jaw tight. He wasn’t saying anything. None of them were.

It had happened so fast. One second, people were helping the collapsed guy; the next, he was lunging at Ness like an animal. Isagi had barely registered what he was doing when he tackled Ness down, getting them both out of the way. And now they were here, far inside the college halls, while everyone else outside was panicking.

"What the fuck was that?" Ness finally spoke, voice quieter than usual. His free hand clutched at his chest, nails digging into his clothes. He was pale—paler than usual.

"It looked like..." Isagi hesitated. He had an answer in his head, but it felt ridiculous to say it out loud. The whole thing was ridiculous. But the image of that guy snapping awake, eyes unfocused yet filled with some crazed instinct, wouldn't leave his mind.

"Rabies," Kaiser muttered. Isagi and Ness turned to look at him. He still had that unreadable expression on his face, but his fingers were gripping his biceps too tightly for it to be casual. "It had to be. Did you see the way he moved? That wasn’t normal."

Isagi frowned. "Rabies takes weeks, even months, to develop. This was instant."

Kaiser scoffed. "Do you have a better explanation, genius? Because I’d love to hear it."

Before Isagi could snap back, a commotion further down the hall caught their attention. Students were talking over each other, their voices blending into a mix of panic and speculation. Some were pulling out their phones, probably checking for news updates. It was spreading like wildfire.

"Dude someone actually got bit at the entrance, it was crazy!"

Rin wasn’t sure why his feet were moving so fast. It wasn’t like him to act on impulse, but the moment he heard the murmurs in the crowd about someone getting bitten at the entrance, something in his gut twisted violently. His first thought wasn’t himself, —wasn’t even Sae, the older brother who had been the reason for so many of his frustrations.

It was Bachira.

The moment he realized where his mind had gone, Rin scowled at himself. He had no reason to worry about that idiot. He was annoying, unpredictable, a complete headache. Always acting like he didn’t have a care in the world. Always smiling at everyone the same way he smiled at him.

Rin gritted his teeth, pushing past students as he neared the dorms. His chest was tight. He told himself it was because of how fast he was running, not because he was anxious. Not because he was afraid of the slightest possibility that the 'someone' that got bit was him. Bachira could handle himself. He always had.

But that didn’t stop the image from forcing itself into Rin’s mind—Bachira grinning at him one last time before turning pale, before his eyes lost focus, before his body jerked forward—

"Tch," Rin clicked his tongue, shaking his head sharply as if he could physically force the thoughts out.

He arrived at Bachira’s dorm and banged on the door without hesitation. "Bachira! Open up!" His voice was rougher than he intended, but he didn’t care. He just needed to see him, needed to confirm—

The door swung open, and there he was.

Messy hair, wide golden eyes blinking at him, completely unharmed. "Rin-chan?" Bachira tilted his head. "That’s a first. Didn’t know you missed me that much."

Rin exhaled hard, his chest relaxing before he even realized it had been tight. His hand was still clenched in a fist from knocking. He forced himself to let it go. "Shut up. I just—" He hesitated, searching for an excuse. "There was an incident at the entrance. People are saying someone got attacked."

Bachira’s playful expression faltered slightly. "Attacked? Like, jumped?"

"Bitten."

For a moment, Bachira just stared at him. Then, his lips pursed. "That’s kinda messed up."

"Yeah. So stay inside. Don’t do anything stupid."

Bachira grinned again, but this time, it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Got it, Rinrin."

"Shidou, if you’re lying to me, I swear to god—"

Reo was stress-walking down the hallway, his phone pressed against his ear as he listened to Shidou’s voice on the other end.

"Why would I lie? It’s all anyone’s talking about. Some dude went rabid at the entrance and bit someone. Crazy shit, huh?"

Reo wasn’t the type to believe in rumors, but when Shidou was the one saying it, he had no choice but to listen. If there was one person who always said the truth, it was Shidou, and for once, his tone wasn’t just casual amusement—it was genuine intrigue.

Reo had scoffed, but the unease settled in his stomach immediately. He wasted no time pulling out his phone, typing fast.

Reo: "You hear about the entrance?"

Chigiri: "No?"

Reo: "Shidou says some guy snapped and bit someone. College is going nuts."

There was a pause before Chigiri’s response came through.

Chigiri: "You serious?"

Reo: "Wish I wasn’t."

Another pause.

Chigiri: "I’ll get Kunigami."

Reo: "Yeah, okay."

Reo locked his phone and inhaled deeply. Whatever was happening, they needed to stick together. He wasn’t taking any chances.

Kunigami had gone ahead to their physical education class as usual, already changed into his sports attire and stretching in a corner when Chigiri walked in. From the moment Chigiri entered, Kunigami could tell something was off. His usual confident stride was missing, replaced by a tension in his shoulders, and his grip on his phone was unusually tight.

Kunigami stood up straight. "Oi, what’s up? You look like you saw a ghost."

Chigiri exhaled, running a hand through his hair before making his way toward Kunigami. "Reo just texted me. He said someone got bit at the entrance of the college. He’s losing his mind over it."

Kunigami frowned, his brows knitting together. "Bit? What do you mean—like a fight broke out?"

Chigiri shook his head. "No. Like—bit, bit. Someone just collapsed, and when people tried to help him, he snapped awake and attacked the first person in his sight. Reo said he heard it from Shidou, so take that as you will, but... this sounds serious."

Kunigami let out a slow breath, processing that information. The whole 'flu' thing had already been making people nervous, but this? This was new. And worse. He looked down at Chigiri, noticing how tense his jaw was. His fingers curled slightly around his phone as if holding onto it too tightly would somehow steady his nerves.

Without really thinking, Kunigami reached out and placed his large, warm hand over Chigiri's. The smaller hand was cold despite how much Chigiri had probably rushed over here. "Hey, it's gonna be fine. You know how these things go—rumors always get exaggerated. We'll figure out what’s actually happening."

Chigiri looked up at him, and for a moment, something flickered in his deep pink eyes. He let out a quiet breath before nodding. "Yeah. Maybe."

Kunigami gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before pulling away, trying to ignore how soft Chigiri’s skin felt under his rough palm. "Come on, let's get through class. We can check our phones afterward."

In his economics class, Reo was far from fine. He was gripping his phone under the desk, rapidly typing and deleting messages to Nagi, each more frantic than the last because he wasn't picking up his calls.

Reo: "Nagi pick up."

Reo: "Are you still in the dorms??"

Reo: "Wtf is your phone on DND for at a time like this???"

He drummed his fingers on the desk impatiently, his professor’s voice fading into background noise. He couldn't focus on supply and demand when there was literal chaos happening outside.

Reo swore under his breath and glanced at his phone again. Still no reply. He bit his lip, running a hand through his hair. He knew Nagi wasn’t the type to check messages often, but this was different. There was a sense of unease clawing at Reo's chest, and it wouldn't settle until he knew Nagi was safe.

A loud murmur suddenly broke out in the class, students turning to each other, whispering frantically. Reo's head snapped up just as a faculty member entered, looking slightly pale.

"Attention, everyone. Due to unforeseen circumstances, all classes are canceled for the rest of the day. Please return to your dorms immediately and avoid any unnecessary gatherings."

Reo's stomach dropped. He didn't even wait for the professor to dismiss them—he was already grabbing his bag and sprinting toward the door, heart pounding. He needed to find Nagi. Now.

Across campus, similar announcements were being made. Students hurried through hallways, some confused, others clearly panicked as the news spread like wildfire. The air was thick with tension, and for the first time, the usual hum of college life had been replaced with something no one could quite explain.

The same announcement rang across the campus speakers just before the third period could end. It echoed through lecture halls, cafeterias, and locker rooms

The words were sterile, clinical, like someone was trying very hard to make it sound like nothing more than a fire drill. But no one was fooled.

Campus doors were locked shut within the hour. Metal gates dropped with a groaning hiss at every exit. Dorm staff patrolled the halls with nervous glances, their phones glued to their hands. Students paced, whispered, peeked out windows and texted each other non-stop.

Kunigami and Chigiri had already started packing up their bags when the announcement came in. They didn't speak. They didn’t need to.

Chigiri was already pulling out his phone. His fingers moved fast, and within seconds he was sending a message to Reo:

Chigiri: We’re coming to Nagi's dorm, you're there right?

Kunigami slung his backpack over his shoulder, eyes scanning the hallway like he was expecting someone to jump out at any second.

"Are we sure that’s smart?" he asked as they started walking. "Moving around the building like this?"

Chigiri looked over at him, hair still damp from the earlier PE class. "Reo's going to lose it if we don’t. And it's better if we stay together...I think."

Kunigami didn’t argue.

In Nagi's dorm room, the energy was wildly different.

Reo stood in the middle of the room, pacing with his phone clutched in one hand. His other hand was on his hip, jaw tight with frustration.

Nagi was sprawled out on his bed, head against the wall, staring at Reo like he was a particularly chatty cat.

"You need to stop putting your phone on DND. Seriously, Sei. I was calling you for twenty minutes. Anything could've happened. What if they’d made you go somewhere else? What if we got separated?"

Nagi tilted his head lazily. "But nothing did happen."

Reo stopped pacing. “It could've! Something is wrong. Really wrong. Shidou said someone got attacked. There was blood.”

“Shidou also thought that punching Rin in the middle of Ego's class was a good idea,” Nagi mumbled, but his tone lacked its usual laziness. Something in Reo’s voice—tight and trembling—was getting through to him.

Reo stopped pacing and narrowed his eyes. "That’s not the point. You don’t know that. You have no idea what’s going on out there. People are talking about bites. About someone getting attacked. This isn’t just a rumor anymore."

"And freaking out about it is going to help?"

Reo threw his hands up. "I’m not freaking out!"

Nagi raised a brow.

Reo opened his mouth, closed it again, and sat down hard on the edge of the bed. "Okay, maybe I am a little. But can you blame me?"

There was a knock at the door. Reo jumped to his feet like he was expecting something to break it down.

"It’s us," came Chigiri's voice through the door.

Reo practically ripped it open.

Chigiri walked in first, followed by Kunigami, who gave a low nod. The tension dropped slightly in Reo’s shoulders.

"Thank god," Reo muttered. "I didn’t want us split up."

Nagi lifted a hand in greeting from his bed. "Hey."

"You look comfortable," Kunigami said dryly, setting his bag down by the wall.

"I am."

Chigiri moved to sit on the floor beside the bed, stretching his legs out. "We had to cross half the campus. Guards were already closing off the courtyard."

"Did you see anything?" Reo asked.

"Not really. People were rushing around, but... it was more like panic. Like everyone felt something was off even if they didn’t know what."

Reo leaned against the desk, arms folded. His voice lowered. "There are rumors someone got bit. Right outside the campus gates. That guy who went crazy? Apparently, he wasn’t even a student. Just wandered in during visiting hours."

Kunigami frowned. "Why would the school lock everyone in if it wasn’t serious?"

No one had an answer.

Outside, the hallways were quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you notice every creak and shift of the building.

Chigiri's phone vibrated constantly with chat messages;

Karasu: "Dude I swear I saw someone bleeding near the admin wing."

Yukimiya: "You're in north dorm right? They locking your side too?"

Otoya: "Zombies fr or is this just COVID 4.0?"

No one was laughing, even if the messages pretended to.

The group had settled into a nervous silence.

Kunigami sat cross-legged on the floor, flipping through his notebook but clearly not reading. Chigiri leaned against the bed, fiddling with his hair tie. Reo was staring at his phone screen like he could will answers to appear. Nagi watched the ceiling.

"What if it spreads?" Reo asked suddenly.

"We’re locked in," Kunigami replied. "That’s what the gates are for."

"Unless someone inside already got bit."

That thought hung in the air.

No one knew what to say to it.

Nagi rolled over, facing the wall. "Can we just... not talk about that for a while?"

Reo glanced at him. Then at the others. "Yeah. Yeah, okay."

A beat.

The Reo turned towards Nagi again,

"And you keep your phone on DND one more time, and I’m installing a siren app that screams my name every time I text you.”

Nagi looked up lazily from his screen. “That sounds like a hassle.”

“Good,” Reo laughed. “Maybe then you’ll actually answer me before I have a heart attack.”

The jab earned a soft laugh from Chigiri and even a small giggle from Kunigami.

For a moment, it felt normal.

The night had swallowed the campus whole.

The halls, once echoing with hurried footsteps and nervous chatter, had fallen into a tense hush. No more doors slamming. No more panicked whispers. Just the low hum of the fam running through the overhead lights — and even that felt too loud in the silence.

Chigiri sat by the window, eyes flickering toward the distant gates that were now bolted shut. Reo was curled in a chair, phone clutched tightly, scrolling through social media and message boards, trying to find any update that didn’t sound like hearsay. Nagi lay flat on the bed, finally putting his game aside and mildly distressed, his gaze on the ceiling.

Then Kunigami’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen. “It's Isagi,” he announced, standing up before answering.

“Yo,” he said.

“Someone was bitten,” Isagi said immediately — no small talk, no hesitation. His voice was low, rushed. “I saw it happen. I was there.”

Kunigami straightened. “Shit. Are you serious?”

“I tackled Ness out of the way right before that guy could get to him. The dude was gone — like, not just sick. His eyes were… white. Like, dead. Then he tried to bite him.” There was a pause, the sound of Isagi pacing on the other end. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”

The room shifted. Reo looked up from his phone, tense. Chigiri had turned around in his seat.

“Where are you now?” Kunigami asked.

“In my dorm. Before i was with Ness and Kaiser.”

Kunigami blinked. “You let yourself be in Kaiser's presence willingly?”

Isagi let out a breath that sounded like a scoff. “Yeah, no. I sacrificed, alright? Only because Ness was with him. Kaiser threw the usual ‘I can’t stay in a peasant’s dorm’ crap.”

Reo rolled his eyes.

Kunigami agreed. “Figures.”

“I just wanted Ness somewhere safe,” Isagi muttered. “But… he still followed Kaiser when they left. Didn’t say anything, didn’t even look at me weirdly — just left.”

Chigiri raised a brow. “Maybe he was still rattled.”

Isagi’s voice lowered. “Yeah. Or maybe he didn’t want to deal with the fallout of choosing me over him.”

The silence lingered between them. Then Isagi spoke again.

“I’m heading to Bachira’s dorm. Gotta check if he and Rin are alright.”

Reo immediately shot up from the chair. “Dude, no. Did you not hear what you just told us? Someone got bit. Bitten. And you’re just going to walk out into the hall like that?”

“I’ll be careful.”

Reo walked over, voice rising slightly. “This isn’t about being careful! The college literally told us to stay inside.”

Isagi didn’t respond right away. After a second, “I know Rin and I aren’t exactly best friends. But Bachira… he was the first person I got close to when I came here. I just need to make sure they’re okay.”

Kunigami sighed but didn’t argue. He got it. He would've done the same for Chigiri, without question.

Reo gave one last scowl. “At least text us the second you get there.”

“I will. Promise.”

With that, the call ended.

Isagi slipped on his jacket and cracked open the door to his dorm. The hallway was dim — most lights turned off to encourage students to stay put. The silence outside was even worse than the one inside.

He stepped out and shut the door behind him with a soft click.

As he walked, Isagi kept checking over his shoulder. Every little sound — the creak of the floorboards, the soft buzz of a dying bulb — made him flinch slightly. It wasn’t fear exactly. It was something more primitive. Alertness. The kind of thing that claws up your spine when something’s wrong but you don’t know what.

His mind wandered back to earlier.

To the way Ness looked up at him — wide-eyed and trembling, completely out of character, fingers still digging into his own sleeves. “Why me?” he’d whispered. “Why did he come for me?”

And Isagi had no answer. None. But he still wanted to stay by his side.

The truth was — he didn’t want to see Ness get hurt. Not like that. Not ever.

Even if Ness still stuck by Kaiser.

Even if Isagi knew he probably always would.

He shook the thought out of his head as he turned the corner.

Chapter Text

The campus had gone still.

That eerie silence that didn’t mean peace — only pressure. A pressure that pressed down on everything, from the walls to the windows to the Isagi's ribs.

He slipped out of his dorm, one hand curled tightly around his phone, the other shoved into his hoodie pocket. His phone's flashlight was off. He didn’t want to draw attention, not from anyone — or anything.

Each step echoed too loud in the dark hallways. He was starting to feel like he's about to be the first victim in a slasher movie.

This is stupid, a part of him whispered. Reo said not to. The announcement said not to.

But he couldn’t just sit in that room knowing Bachira might not be safe. Rin, sure, he could probably handle himself. But Meguru? Meguru acted so unpredictably that he had no idea what could happen to him.

Isagi’s fingers twitched around his phone.

He kept his pace brisk, avoiding the main stairwell. His shoes barely touched the steps as he descended one floor, then crossed the narrow connecting hallway toward the next building.

Something creaked ahead. Isagi froze.

Nothing came. No sound, no movement.

He swallowed hard and kept walking, faster now. His breath was shallow. His eyes flicked toward the nearest window — he could barely make out the faint silhouette of the courtyard outside. Empty. Or… it looked empty.

Finally, he stood outside Bachira and Rin’s door. He didn’t wait. He knocked twice, sharply.

“Bachira,” he called out, voice low, just loud enough. “Open up, it’s me.”

The door opened quicker than he expected — but it wasn’t Bachira.

It was Rin.

Isagi blinked. "Oh it's you."

"Obviously," Rin muttered, pulling the door open.

“You sure it’s smart wandering around at night?” Rin said flatly, stepping aside.

Isagi walked in without replying. His gaze immediately found Bachira — sitting criss-cross on the bed, camera in his lap, hands fidgeting with the lens. He looked up — and immediately lit up.

“Isagiiiiii!”

The camera clattered to the floor. Bachira practically launched himself off the bed and into Isagi’s arms, knocking them both a step back.

“You’re okay,” Bachira mumbled against his shoulder, breath warm, arms wrapping tight. “I was worried.”

Isagi froze for a second, then held him back — tight.

“I’m fine,” he said. “I’m here.”

Bachira didn’t let go right away. He lingered in Isagi’s space like it was his natural habitat, arms still loosely draped around his shoulders, head tilted in that way that made it hard to tell if he was joking or genuine.

Isagi didn’t seem to mind. If anything, he looked… comforted.

Rin’s eye twitched.

“How long are you going to keep hanging off him?” he asked coolly, voice echoing faintly in the small dorm room.

Bachira turned his head, still holding on to Isagi, and grinned. “Mmm… until I feel better. Maybe a little longer.”

“Disgusting.” Rin muttered under his breath.“Clinging to someone lukewarm like that.”

Isagi looked up sharply. “What’s your problem?”

Rin shrugged, pushing off the wall. “No problem. Just wondering why you bothered coming here when your dorm is on a different floor.”

Bachira blinked, glancing between the two. “Rin… are you being mean ‘cause you’re worried?”

Rin scoffed. “Worried? Please. If anything happened, it wouldn’t be surprising. You’re the type to die first in a horror movie."

Isagi narrowed his eyes. “What’s your deal?”

“I don’t have a deal. I just think it’s stupid to go out when we’ve been told not to, just to play hero,” Rin said, stepping closer. “Especially when you’re not even strong enough to protect yourself, let alone someone else.”

Isagi clenched his jaw.

Bachira gently pulled away, sensing the tension.

“I just wanted to make sure you guys were okay,” Isagi said tightly. “I saw someone get bit tonight. I saw their skin split open. Their eyes went—empty. I wasn’t going to sit in my dorm and hope you were fine.”

Rin’s scowl faltered for the briefest second. Something flickered in his expression—guilt, maybe. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by another dry jab.

“Then next time, don’t show up like some half-baked knight in shining armor. No one asked you to.”

Isagi opened his mouth to snap back, but Bachira stepped between them, holding up a hand.

“Okay, okay! Fighting is a no-no! Guys!,” he said cheerfully, though his eyes darted warily between them. “Isagi just came to check in. Rin-chan you're just being… prickly. Like always.”

“I’m not prickly,” Rin muttered.

“You’re like a cactus with knives instead of spikes.”

Isagi huffed a laugh despite himself, rubbing the back of his neck. “I should’ve guessed you’d be here talking some sense into Bachira to not do anything reckless.”

Rin glared at him, but Bachira laughed. That sound — soft, warm — made Rin’s scowl deepen.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Isagi said, looking at Bachira again, softer this time. “Both of you.”

That lingering look between them? Rin felt it like a thorn in his chest.

He turned away, jaw clenched, muttering under his breath, “Pathetic.”

A soft click of a can being opened broke the quiet in Room 319. Two first-years, Naoya and Kenta, lounged inside, half-watching a show and half-refreshing group chats for drama updates.

“I heard someone got bit at the entrance earlier,” Kenta said, scrolling. “Y'know that Reo guy? He was panicking so hard in my econ class. Guess even rich kids can't maintain themselves all the time.”

Naoya laughed, rubbing his temples. “That reminds me, I think I have a heatstroke. I went to the nurse earlier—wasn’t feeling right.”

Kenta looked over. “Still feel off?”

“Dunno. Just tired. Achy. Probably stress.”

Naoya stood to get a drink, wobbling slightly. His breath caught in his throat for a second. “I’m just gonna splash my face.”

Kenta nodded, barely paying attention as the bathroom door shut. Ten seconds. Twenty. A minute.

Then a strange gurgling sound. Something wet. Rhythmic.

“Kenta…” Naoya’s voice from the bathroom was hoarse.

Kenta stood, confused. “You good?”

No response.

He walked over and knocked lightly. “Dude?”

No answer—just a faint dragging noise. When he opened the door, the sight made him freeze;

Naoya hunched over the sink, hands braced hard, blood dripping from his nose and mouth. His eyes looked glassy. A weird, bubbling sound came from his throat. And on his arm—a bite. Fresh. Raw.

“Did you—what the—?”

Naoya turned slowly. Then lunged.

Kenta screamed—

Otoya Eita lay on his bed in room 320, both earbuds in. He had music playing—something bass-heavy, blocking out the world.

He heard something—faint? A thud? A muffled yell?

He paused the track.

Nothing.

He frowned, pulling out the other bud. The dorm walls were thin, but now there was just silence. Eerie.

He considered getting up.

“…Tch. Probably another couple fighting,” he muttered, rolling back over and hitting play.

“This is bullshit,” he muttered, pacing near the back entrance where a sleepy guard ignored him.

“No one’s allowed to leave,” the guard had told him. “Just wait it out."

Pablo, a part-time delivery guy, was stuck on campus. He’d dropped off snacks at the canteen right before the lockdown order was announced, and now the gates were sealed tight.

Pablo sighed, pulling his cap lower. He heard something clatter nearby—the sound of metal rolling against concrete.

From the corridor behind the storage wing.

Curious—and annoyed—he moved toward the source. “Hey, anyone back here?”

Then he saw it.

A janitor, or what was left of him, twitching on the ground. And crouched over him—something human-shaped but wrong. Jaw clicking. Shoulders spasming. Feasting.

He gasped. The thing snapped its head up. Blood-covered. Wild eyes.

He turned to run—

It was faster.

His scream echoed once. Then, silence.

The room is dimly lit, filled with blinking monitors showing various angles of the dorm halls, entry gates, and stairwells. A fan hums loudly in the corner. Two guards are on the night shift—Hasan, the younger one, and Lukas, who's been here for a while.

Hasan leans in, staring at the monitor replaying the footage of the a student slamming into a door. “What the hell is that guy doing?” he mutters. “That’s—something’s wrong. We should go check.”

Lukas, chewing gum lazily, snorts. “He probably took something. Students get high here all the time thinking no one is watching them.”

Then the radio crackles again.

 “We're at Dorm B. Here’s someone banging on the south stairwell door—uh, looks like they’re bleeding—shit, they’re—they just bit—”

The radio cuts out.

Hasan’s hands freeze on the keyboard. “Did he say—bit?”

Lukas sits up straighter for the first time all night.

Several of the hallway cams begin to flicker. One by one, the screens go grainy or freeze. Hasan tries switching feeds—some show shadows moving unnaturally fast.

He manages to catch a glimpse of a student limping rapidly down a hall—eyes glazed, jaw twitching. They slam shoulder-first into a door repeatedly, leaving a faint smear of blood behind.

Another monitor shows a second infected figure stumbling out of a dorm room—barely dressed, twitching violently. 

 “Oh my god. That’s dorm block B-12—”

 “That’s too damn close to the central wings.”

They exchange a look. The silence is thick.

Hasan moves to grab the phone to report to campus admin, but the line is dead.

Lukas stands, reaching for the emergency manual. “Lock it down. All dorms. Every hallway that hasn’t already been breached.”

 “Shouldn’t we call the city? Police? Ambulance?”

“And tell them what? That a bunch of students are turning into rabid psychos and biting each other? They’ll think we’re high.”

Still, he radios out: “All units, initiate protocol Red-3. Immediate lockdown on Dorm Blocks A through D. No exceptions.”

Just as Haruto starts issuing digital locks on the affected zones—THUD. A hard, echoing bang against the security room door.

They both freeze.

THUD. THUD.

Hasan glances at the hallway cam pointing toward their own hallway—glitched out completely.

Lukas grabs his flashlight, mouthing to Hasan, “Stay quiet.”

Lights flickering. Door shaking harder. One final bang. Then—silence.

Hasan and Lukas both stand frozen, barely breathing. The silence stretches just long enough for hope to creep in. Maybe it was a fluke. Maybe someone panicked and ran.

Then—

CRACK.

The glass of the small security office window breaks instantly.

Before they can react further, the window shatters, shards flying inward. A hand, twitching violently, reaches in, followed by a snarling face, skin stretched tight over gray-veined muscle.

Hasan stumbles back, knocking over the rolling chair. Lukas rushes forward, trying to shove the door closed, but—

Another figure slams into it.

The full weight forces the door open. One infected student is barely recognizable—the delivery guy from earlier, face blood-smeared and wild.

 “They’re already—!”

The infected tackles him. Screams. Blood hits the monitors.

Hasan, trembling, stares at the console.

 “Emergency protocol… I can still—”

He slams the mic on.

In a shaky and trembling voice, an announcement is made all over the campus;

 “This is not a drill. Everyone, please—lock your doors. Do not open for anyone. They're biting and attacking—”

A shadow moves behind him.

He turns.

Too late.

His announcement gets cut off my a loud scream and a crack of bones.

Chapter Text

No one moves.

It’s like they’re waiting for someone to say it was a joke. Waiting for anything that might mean they didn’t just hear someone die on the school intercom.

The silence drags on.

Reo is the first to snap out of it. He shoots up from where he’d been pacing restlessly just moments before, knocking the edge of the table with his knee.

“Was that—was that real?” His voice cracks around the edges. “That wasn’t a prank. That wasn’t a recording, that was real, right?”

Chigiri doesn’t answer. He’s still by the window, his back turned, watching the dim lights of campus flicker across the grass.

Kunigami stiffens beside him.

Nagi, still sitting on the bed, tilts his head slightly, blinking slowly like he just woke up from a nap he didn’t know he took. His phone slips from his hands, hitting the blanket with a dull thud.

“That guy…” he mumbles. “He sounded weird. Like he couldn’t breathe.”

“Sei,” Reo says, turning toward him fast, eyes wide and terrified. “Are you seriously focusing on how he sounded?”

Nagi frowns, like the pieces are only now slotting together in his head.

“Oh. Wait. He—he got bit, right? On the intercom?”

Reo runs a hand through his hair, fingers trembling.

“Yes. Bit. As in attacked. As in whatever this is—it’s real, Sei. It's not some stupid flu everyone was making a fuss about.”

“I mean… I kinda thought it might be,” Nagi mutters. “But now it’s like. Official. Y’know.”

Reo exhales sharply and finally slumps into the chair near the desk, rubbing both hands over his face.

“This isn’t like—this isn’t something we can ignore anymore. That was a security guard. He died while trying to warn everyone.”

Nagi looks at him for a moment, then stands up awkwardly. It’s not like him to get up unless he really means to do something, and Reo notices that.

“You okay?” Nagi asks him quietly.

Reo gives him a half-laugh, one that’s more panic than amusement. “Do I look okay?”

“No. You look… really freaked out.”

“Yeah, thanks for the observation.”

Nagi awkwardly reaches out and puts a hand on Reo’s shoulder. It’s a weird gesture, because Nagi’s comfort doesn’t usually come in the form of words. But he’s trying, and Reo knows it.

“It’ll be fine,” Nagi says, voice slow. “We just stay here. Lock the door. Don’t go anywhere. It’s like Kahoot, right? You just… don’t press the wrong options.”

Reo stares at him.

“That’s your idea of comfort?”

“I’m bad at this,” Nagi admits. 

And Reo can’t even be mad. Because Nagi is trying. It’s written all over his face, in that slight pinch of his brows, in the way he hasn’t looked at his phone once since the announcement. That alone says enough. He just pats his head.

Across the room, Chigiri finally moves. He turns around slowly, and the expression on his face is unreadable—tight around the eyes, but not panicked.

“It’s spreading,” he says softly. “Faster than they can contain it.”

Kunigami glances at him, concern flickering in his eyes.

Reo visibly swallows.

Kunigami shifts a bit, then gently reaches out and rubs a warm, steadying hand along Chigiri’s back. It’s subtle, comforting. Chigiri doesn’t flinch. He just closes his eyes for a second.

“We’re not gonna let it fall apart,” Kunigami says. His voice is low, solid. “We’re smarter than that. We’re not panicking, and we’re not splitting up.”

Reo finally exhales and leans back, nodding slowly. “Yeah. Yeah, okay. We’re fine here. It's not like anyone can break into the dorms, they were all the way in the security room.”

“Unless they already did,” Chigiri says under his breath.

Everyone turns to look at him.

He raises a brow. “What? You think they announced it the second it started?”

Another beat of silence. Nagi scratches at his head. “…Damn.”

Reo grabs a nearby chair and jams it under the doorknob anyway, even though it's already locked. “Just in case.”

“I was gonna do that next,” Nagi mutters.

“No you weren’t.”

“I was thinking it really hard.”

Kunigami offers the faintest smile.

Outside the window, something faint thuds in the distance. A muffled sound, like metal slamming on concrete. The kind of sound you don’t want to investigate.

Chigiri pulls the curtain shut.

Nagi clicks his phone screen on again, checking his messages.

No new alerts. Nothing from the school.

The intercom cuts off with a wet, garbled scream. Then silence. No static. No follow-up. No confirmation. 

And then—

Bachira laughs.

It starts as a breathless chuckle, disbelieving and sharp, until he doubles over, hands on his knees, cackling like someone losing it.

“No way,” he manages between gasps. “That—that was real? Did they seriously let that play out on the intercom? That sounded like a prank! Or a bad improv skit—!”

Rin doesn’t even twitch. He leans against the wall near the window, one earbud in, eyes narrowed in a flat line of focus. His jaw is tense.

Isagi, in contrast, is frozen.

His whole body is stiff, like he’s been shocked in place. The laughter isn’t even registering. All he hears is the crackle of the speaker, the scream looping behind his eyes, the image of blood soaking the carpet in a room he’s never seen.

That could be happening right now, just one building away.

“It was real,” Isagi says, his voice hoarse.

“Huh?” Bachira looks up.

“The announcement..”

Bachira straightens, blinking. “Isagi, there's just no way this is actually happening—”

“But it is!" It came out harsher than he intended, but something else was on his mind right now. 

Bachira nods, slowly. His smile fades, replaced by something cautious. Concerned.

Rin finally speaks.

“That sound,” he says, calm and clinical. “The scream. You hear the snapping?”

Isagi looks at him sharply. “What?”

“The jaw,” Rin continues, like he’s explaining weather patterns. “Dislocated. Forced open. The kind of sound a humancan't really make normally..so it must've been made by whatever attacked him. I believe that thing was dying to bite him.”

Bachira makes a face. “Dude.”

“What? It’s accurate.”

Isagi glares. “Jesus, Rin, how the hell do you know that?”

Rin shrugs. “Watch enough horror films and you start noticing the patterns.”

“This is not a movie.”

“Never said it was,” Rin replies, voice flat. “Just means I’ve been ready longer than you.”

He's so childish sometimes. Turning this into a competition as well?

Isagi’s hands tremble at his sides. He fumbles for his phone, thumb scrolling rapidly.

“Who’re you texting?” Bachira asks, approaching carefully.

Isagi doesn’t answer.

His screen glows with the contact list, but his eyes move too quickly, too erratically, like he’s not even reading.

He tries searching again. ‘Ness.’ Nothing. ‘Alexis.’ Still nothing.

His breath catches in his throat.

Then he types ‘Kaiser.’ Nothing.

“I never added them,” he whispers. “I never fucking added him.”

“Who?”

"Ness.” His voice cracks. “His dorm’s right near the security room, Bachira. It’s literally down the hall from where that guy just—just died.”

The room sharpens with tension.

Bachira’s mouth parts. “Wait—wait, you’re serious?”

Isagi starts pacing. “I saw them go that way earlier. I told Ness he could come here, but he followed Kaiser instead like a stupid fucking puppy—of course he did—and I didn’t push, I didn’t say anything. I could’ve stopped him, I could’ve asked for his number, I should’ve—”

“You couldn’t have known,” Bachira says.

“Exactly,” Isagi snaps. “That’s the problem. I didn’t know. None of us knew—but now I do, and I can’t reach them, and if he's—if something already—”

He runs a hand through his hair, dragging hard. “God. I knew Ness looked nervous earlier. I knew something felt off.”

“Isagi.” Bachira steps closer. “You’re overthinking.”

“I’m thinking,” Isagi hisses. “That’s not the same thing.”

Bachira flinches, just a bit.

Rin sighs, finally pushing off the wall. He walks over, gaze heavy. “If they’re dead, there’s nothing you can do.”

Isagi rounds on him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I’m being realistic.”

“You’re being cold.”

“I’m being smart.” Rin’s tone doesn’t change, but it hits hard. “You want to run into that building right now? Knock on every door? Get bit before you even make it to the right floor?”

Isagi opens his mouth—then closes it.

“You don’t even have a plan,” Rin says.

“I can make one!” Isagi says, his voice sharp, desperate. “We can go together—we can check—”

“Count me and Bachira out of this. We’re not suicidal.”

That one lands like a slap.

Isagi’s whole body stills. His face crumples slightly, jaw tightening as he forces himself to breathe.

Bachira shifts closer and reaches out, hand on Isagi’s shoulder, grounding him. “Hey. Maybe… one of the others has his number?”

Isagi snaps his head up. “The others?”

“You know. Kunigami, Chigiri, Nagi, Reo. Maybe someone else’s got him saved?”

It’s a long shot. But it’s all they’ve got.

Isagi’s already pulling up his recents, thumb jamming Kunigami’s name.

The call picks up after only two rings. “Isagi?”

His voice is tight. Raw.

“Kunigami—” Isagi starts. “That… announcement. You heard it?”

“Yeah.” In the background, someone swears. Maybe Reo. “Yeah, we all did. Fuck, Isagi. What the hell is going on?”

“They were already infected,” Reo mutters, voice barely audible through the speaker. “It was already here.”

“Okay, listen—do any of you have Ness’ number?” Isagi cuts in, unable to waste time. “Anything. I can’t reach him. I don’t even know if he’s okay—he was near the security room before—”

“Shit,” Kunigami murmurs. “No, I—sorry, I don’t have it.”

“Neither do I,” Reo says.

Nagi's voice follows, faint and slow, “Didn’t even know his full name until like..today.”

Isagi shuts his eyes. Fuck. “Okay—okay, what about Kaiser?”

“Kaiser?” Reo echoes.

“Yeah, I know it’s a stretch, but maybe—just maybe—look for it once—”

“I have it,” Chigiri says suddenly, cutting in clean.

Isagi blinks. “What?”

“I have Kaiser’s number.” Chigiri’s voice is steady, but there’s a bite of urgency now. “He gave it to me during training once. Don’t ask why.”

Isagi’s already scrambling. “Tell me. Send it now.”

The number pings into his messages seconds later. He doesn’t even thank him—he just copies it, hits dial, and presses the phone to his ear, pacing as it rings once—twice—

Come on. Pick up.

Three rings. Four.

His pulse thunders.

Please.

Five—

Then it clicks. The line connects.

Isagi stops moving, breath caught in his throat.

“Kaiser?” he says, voice trembling. “Are you there?”

The overhead light is off. Only the soft, ambient glow from Nagi’s laptop and Reo’s phone screen illuminate the room, casting long shadows on the walls. 

Reo paces back and forth in front of Nagi’s desk, fingers raking through his hair. Kunigami stands rigid by the door, arms folded tightly across his chest, posture tense. Nagi lounges lazily in his gaming chair, socked feet propped up on the edge of his bed, watching the others with a sort of detached curiosity. Chigiri sits on the mattress, phone in hand, the screen still lit from the just-ended call.

“Did he seriously just hang up on you?” Reo asks, voice edged with disbelief. “No ‘thanks,’ no ‘got it,’ nothing?”

Chigiri lets out a short breath, more amused than offended. “He’s panicking. You heard it in his voice. Can't blame him.”

“Still.." Reo mutters under his breath.

Kunigami’s eyes are locked on Chigiri. “You had Kaiser’s number this whole time?” His tone isn’t accusing—but it’s definitely not casual either.

Chigiri lifts a brow, unbothered. “Yeah. We played together a while back—at one of those practice games, remember? He called me ‘talented and beautiful.’ Told me we should exchange numbers.”

Reo stops pacing.

Nagi swivels his chair slowly to look at him. “Sounds like something he’d say.”

Reo snorts. “Yeah, that tracks. Of course Kaiser would go full dramatic.”

Chigiri smiles faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. “I didn’t really take him seriously. But I saved the number anyway.”

There’s a beat of silence, filled only by the faint clicking of Nagi’s mouse and the soft hum of his laptop fan.

No one seems particularly surprised.

“Well, I mean,” Reo starts, gesturing vaguely toward Chigiri, “you are beautiful.”

“Obviously,” Nagi says without missing a beat.

Chigiri just shrugs modestly.

Then there’s Kunigami.

He hasn’t moved. Hasn’t said a word since Chigiri gave the explanation. But his jaw is clenched, and his fists are balled tight at his sides. His posture is stiff, like he’s trying not to explode or say something he’ll regret.

Beautiful.

Talented and beautiful.

He hates that it came from Kaiser’s mouth. But worse—he agrees.

Just not like that.

He thinks about how Chigiri fights through pain to keep running. About how his hair glows crimson under stadium lights. About how he never backs down from anyone. Beautiful? Talented? Sure. But those words are shallow puddles compared to what Kunigami sees when he looks at him.

They don’t even come close.

Chigiri finally glances up at him, catching the subtle tension in his stance. “What?” he asks, voice light, almost teasing.

Kunigami shakes his head, forces a shrug. “Nothing.”

But his gaze lingers a second too long.

Reo raises a brow, watching the exchange with mild curiosity.

“Jealous?” Nagi asks lazily, turning toward Kunigami now.

Kunigami scoffs, but there’s a flicker of red at the tips of his ears. “Of Kaiser? Please.”

Chigiri laughs under his breath, leaning back on the bed, one leg swinging slightly off the side. “Relax, Kunigami. I’m not texting him.”

“Yet,” Reo mutters.

Kunigami’s scowl deepens.

Chigiri just stares at him.

“Hey?” Kaiser’s unmistakably annoying voice cuts through.

Isagi doesn’t waste time. “Where’s Ness?”

Kaiser hums, the kind of nonchalant drawl that immediately pisses him off. “Hmm? Sorry, who?”

Isagi’s eye twitches. “Don’t screw with me. Where is he?”

A dramatic pause. “Man, I think I saw him earlier? Might’ve gone out. Who knows.”

“Kaiser, I swear—” Isagi’s voice spikes, heat rising to his face, “—if something happened to him—”

“Yoichi?”

The tone is softer, tighter. Ness. His voice isn’t exactly warm—it never is when he's speaking to Isagi—but it cuts through the chaos like a thread of relief.

Isagi's chest loosens slightly. “You’re okay.”

“Yeah. Wasn’t planning to die,” Ness replies, dryly. “He was just screwing with you. Thought it’d be hilarious.”

“It was hilarious,” Kaiser throws in.

“God, you’re such a child,” Isagi snaps. “You think this is a joke?!”

Kaiser just laughs in the background.

Ness sighs. “What do you want, Isagi?”

He doesn’t answer immediately. He has a million things he wants to say, but none that make sense right now. “Did you hear the announcement?”

Kaiser answers on his behalf. "Yeah. Whole dorm did. Was hard to miss.”

There’s a pause, and then Isagi finally drops it, a sharp edge to his voice

“So… was it rabies, genius?”

Kaiser groans. “Hah! Really? How petty can you be?"

“Since you didn't do shit when Ness almost got bit?” Isagi mutters. “Yeah. A little.”

“Wow, sarcasm,” Ness deadpans. “You save my life once and now I’m stuck with this.”

“You’re welcome,” Isagi retorts, tone dry.

Ness doesn’t respond, but the line doesn’t cut either. He’s still there. Still listening. For Isagi, that’s enough.

Then, slowly, he shifts gears. “You guys shouldn’t stay wherever you are. It’s not safe.”

“We’re fine,” Kaiser says flatly.

Isagi frowns. “Don’t be stupid.”

“Oh, now he’s worried,” Kaiser drawls. “What, got a little soft spot for our boy Ness?”

Isagi’s grip tightens. He ignores the jab. “You’re near the security room, right? That whole wing’s a risk. You need to move.”

“And come where? To you?” Kaiser scoffs.

“I’m not asking. I’m saying it’s safer here,” Isagi says, sharper now, more firm. “Anywhere's safer than your block.”

There’s a quiet shuffle from the other end, maybe Ness moving.

“You don’t need to trust me,” Isagi adds, voice lower. “Just think for once. You stay there, you’re in danger.”

Another pause. Then Bachira speaks up, louder this time. “You are close to the security hall. If they break through that hallway, you’re screwed.”

Silence. Then another voice murmurs something indistinct—probably Ness. Then Kaiser clicks his tongue.

“Fine. We’ll move. You better not make this annoying.”

“I’ll send the location,” Isagi replies, already typing.

Kaiser hums like he’s amused. “Tch. Whatever. We’ll be there.”

Then, before the line drops, Ness says again—quiet, a little tired, but steady.

“Don’t expect me to be friendly just ‘cause you saved me.”

Isagi’s lips twitch, a smile forming slowly seeing Ness act like his usual self. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Click.

Call ended.

Bachira whistles, falling back onto the bed. “Whew. That was... intense.”

Rin glances up from the window, his tone cool and unreadable. “You really think they’ll come?”

Isagi’s eyes stay on the screen. The last call timestamp still glowing.

“…Yeah.”

He doesn’t say why. Doesn’t say how just hearing Ness’ voice had cut through the noise in his head, how every muscle had eased just a little the second he knew he was still alive. 

Chapter Text

The scratching and banging started again—closer this time. Sharp. Restless. Hungry.

Ness flinched as something slammed against the hallway door, rattling it in its frame. It was only a matter of time before it gave in.

Kaiser didn’t waste a second. “We’re leaving.”

Ness turned. “How?”

Kaiser was already tearing bedsheets off his mattress. “The window.”

Ness hesitated. “Are you serious—?”

But Kaiser didn’t answer. He just started knotting the fabric into a rope with calm, measured movements, as if they’d done this a hundred times before. Ness swallowed and moved to help.

He could hear groans now. That door wouldn’t hold much longer.

Together, they worked fast, looping the makeshift rope around the bedpost and testing its strength. Kaiser gave it a hard tug. It held.

Then without a word, he climbed onto the windowsill and gripped the rope, his body moving with clean, practiced efficiency as he began to descend. 

Ness wasn’t scared of heights. He was scared of falling—of slipping, of something snapping. But more than that, he was scared of slowing Kaiser down.

Because Kaiser was never scared. Not in the way normal people were.

Ness followed seconds later, heart pounding, his palms slick with sweat as he clung to the rope and prayed it wouldn’t snap.

They hit the ground running.

The space between dorm buildings was half chaos, half silence, the kind of silence Ness had learned to fear more than noise. It meant the infected were near—lurking, waiting.

But even then, Ness found himself watching Kaiser more than the shadows.

The way he ran—fluid, unstoppable. Like nothing could touch him. Like the world could burn around him and he’d still find the straightest path through it. 

Kaiser had always been alone. Ness had seen it, in the way people admired him but never truly reached him. But somehow, he made that loneliness into something sharp. Something blinding. And even though he never reached for others, Ness had always felt like he was chasing after him anyway.

They didn’t talk much. They didn’t need to.

By the time they neared the second dorm building, the one where the others had been staying in, a trail of infected had started trailing behind them—slow, stumbling, but too many to ignore.

"Scheiße."

Ness cursed under his breath, just as Kaiser’s eyes locked on something ahead.

“There.” Kaiser took off without waiting.

Ness turned to see what he was looking at—a ladder, half-buried in scattered debris because of some construction work, near a pile of bricks.

Kaiser sprinted toward it. As he reached down and grabbed it, Ness couldn’t help staring even in the situation they were facing.

Kaiser’s biceps tensed beneath his rolled sleeves, veins lining the length of his forearms as he hoisted the ladder up with one hand like it weighed nothing. The metal groaned in his grip, but he didn’t even flinch.

Ness bit his lip.

That kind of strength was unreal. Kaiser wasn’t built like some tank, but he moved with a quiet, lethal confidence. Like someone who could take over the world if he wanted to—well he was taking over Ness' world already.

He didn’t look back as he ran toward the wall beneath Bachira’s window—third floor—and set the ladder in place with a single smooth motion.

“You first,” Kaiser said, already steadying the base.

Ness hesitated. “No. You’re faster. You should go.”

Kaiser nodded once and began climbing, arms flexing with each pull upward. By the time he reached halfway, Ness started after him, focusing on his breathing, on each rung beneath his fingers.

They were almost there.

Then it happened.

A cold grip snapped around his ankle—rotten fingers curling tight. Ness gasped and looked down. A stray zombie had followed them in the chaos and somehow reached the ladder.

“Ness!” Kaiser shouted, already moving.

The wrench came off his belt in a single motion. He threw it like a knife.

It hit dead-on—crushing the infected’s skull with a crack—but the edge clipped Ness’s calf on the way.

He cried out, almost losing his grip, a sharp sting slicing up his leg.

“Fuck—” he muttered, pausing mid-climb.

Blood dripped down, but it wasn’t a bite.

“You okay?” Kaiser called, already holding out a hand from above.

Ness grit his teeth. “Yeah. Just bleeding. It’s not a bite.”

Kaiser didn’t show it on his face—but Ness could tell. He felt it in the tension in his voice. The way his eyes didn’t leave the cut.

He was worried.

But there was no time for it.

Kaiser reached the window and pounded on the glass.

A second passed, then another—until the curtains rustled, and Isagi’s face appeared on the other side, wide-eyed and stunned.

Kaiser jerked his chin up. “Open the window.”

The window clicked open with a reluctant creak. Cold air swept in before Isagi pulled the glass up all the way, eyes widening at the sight before him.

Kaiser was the first to emerge, one foot stepping over the frame with practiced ease. With one swift motion, he reached down and grabbed Ness by the waist—lifting him effortlessly through the window and into the dorm room like he weighed nothing.

Isagi clenched his jaw.

There was no real reason to feel this way, no logical justification, but watching Kaiser touch Ness like that—so casually, like he always had the right—set something bitter twisting in his stomach.

He hated how it looked. Hated how natural it seemed.

He hated that he wished it was him.

Ness stumbled slightly as he landed on the carpeted floor, grimacing from the pain in his leg, but Kaiser’s arm stayed wrapped around his waist for just a second longer than necessary. Isagi noticed.

Everyone did.

“What the hell?” Rin’s voice cut the moment clean. “Why’d you come in through the window?”

Kaiser didn’t even glance his way. “Because the front door wasn’t cooperating,” he said flatly, brushing off invisible dust from his pants. “Thought we’d try the scenic route.”

“Asshole,” Rin muttered.

Kaiser just smiled.

But the tension in the room was thick. Not just from the awkward reunion or Kaiser's irritating charm, but something else. Something quieter.

And then Bachira’s voice rose up—confused, soft, but sharp. “Uh… is that blood?”

Everyone turned.

Ness blinked, then followed Bachira’s gaze down to his calf. The deep red stain on his pants was blooming wider, now trickling down toward his sock. It hadn’t seemed that bad until now.

Bachira stepped back, just a little, instinctive unease kicking in.

Rin didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Bachira’s wrist and tugged him behind, immediately putting space between them and Ness, eyes sharp with alarm. “Don’t get closer.”

Isagi’s heart dropped.

“What the fuck—” He moved forward, already feeling his brain race through worst-case scenarios. “Ness—what the hell happened? Did you—”

Before Ness could speak, Kaiser’s voice cut through.

“It’s not a bite.”

The words were low but firm. Solid.

All eyes turned to him.

Rin stared at him, still suspicious. “You expect us to believe that?”

“I don’t care what you believe,” Kaiser snapped, eyes flashing now. “You asked. I answered.”

Kaiser stood tall, still slightly in front of Ness, his arms crossed but his shoulders taut with tension. His eyes didn’t waver.

“It’s a cut. My fault. He got nicked by the wrench when I threw it.”

And just like that, Isagi saw red.

In one motion, he was across the room, grabbing a fistful of Kaiser’s shirt and slamming him into the wall.

“You what?” he snarled.

Kaiser didn’t flinch, but the impact knocked a framed poster askew.

“You fucking threw something and didn’t even think—didn’t even check if it hit him? What if it was deeper? What if it was a bite, huh?” Isagi’s voice was hoarse, rising. “All this time you act like you give a damn and then pull that—”

“I do give a damn,” Kaiser snapped back, his usual smugness faltering for a split second. “I made a mistake. But I got him up here, didn’t I?”

“A mistake?” Isagi shoved him again. “You hurt him—you—and you didn’t even bother to—”

“Stop.” Ness’s voice cut in, soft but firm.

Isagi froze.

Ness stepped forward, limping slightly. “It really was an accident. He didn’t mean to. He… he got me out of there.”

Isagi didn’t let go right away. His hands were still gripping Kaiser’s collar, knuckles white. His chest heaved.

But eventually—slowly—he released him.

And then turned to Ness.

His gaze settled on him like something unreadable. Not anger, not exactly guilt. Something more complicated, something quiet and buried under everything else.

He didn’t say a word.

Not yet.

Ness let out a breath, his expression folding into something weary. “Let's drop this. No point in arguing.” he said, quieter now. 

His words weren’t sharp, but they cut through the tension better than anything else could have. The silence that followed was heavy, but it allowed the pulse of the room to settle.

Isagi turned to him fully, gaze dropping to Ness’ leg. “You need to sit down,” he muttered. “We need to clean and bandage that, now.”

Ness opened his mouth to say something—probably a dismissal, something like “It’s not that bad”—but stopped when Isagi stepped closer, expression tight and unwavering.

“I mean it, Ness,” Isagi added. “Sit.”

That seemed to do it. Ness backed away slightly and lowered himself carefully onto the edge of the bed, his face twitching with discomfort.

“Bachira,” Isagi said, not looking away from Ness, “First aid?”

“On it!” Bachira called out, already crouched in front of the almirah. He flung the doors open, rummaging past bags, folded clothes, and a small football. “I know I saw it here somewhere...”

While the sound of his digging echoed faintly through the room, Rin stepped forward, crossing his arms and glancing at the broken silence that followed. “You two came from your dorm, right?” he asked, looking at Kaiser now. “What’s it like out there?”

Kaiser leaned against the wall near the window again, expression finally serious. “Bad. The halls were swarmed. That’s why we couldn’t get out the front.”

“We had to climb out using bedsheets,” Ness added with a small, tired laugh. “Felt like we were robbing a bank.”

Rin frowned. “That explains the noise outside. I thought I heard something—screaming, dragging footsteps.”

“Yeah,” Kaiser nodded. “And they followed us here. We didn’t exactly have time to be subtle.”

Isagi stiffened at that, glancing toward the window again.

“Found it!” Bachira’s voice broke through the haze as he pulled out a small, beaten-up white box with a red cross on top. “Knew I wasn’t crazy.”

He moved over quickly and placed the kit beside Ness. Isagi didn’t waste a second. He knelt down in front of him, pulling out a roll of gauze and antiseptic wipes. Ness hesitated, but didn’t stop him.

The rest of the room fell quiet—just the occasional soft rustle of bandages, the muted hiss of antiseptic on skin, and the distant thud of something outside the building.

None of them wanted to say it out loud yet.

But they all felt it: this dorm room wouldn’t stay safe forever.

The dorm room was quiet—but not the kind of peaceful quiet. It was the heavy, tense kind. Like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something to crack.

Chigiri sat near the window, chewing at his lip as his eyes scanned the outside. Nagi laid across the bed with his arm over his face, not sleeping—just still. Reo had gone to the bathroom a few minutes ago, muttering something about needing to splash his face.

The silence was broken by Kunigami’s phone buzzing. Everyone flinched. He checked the screen—Isagi.

He answered immediately. “Hey.”

Isagi’s voice came through, rough and rushed. “We got them inside ; Kaiser and Ness, but… the second dorm’s not safe anymore. The zombies followed them. They’re starting to swarm here.”

Kunigami stood up straighter. “What?”

“They’re with me and Bachira now, third floor. But your floor’s higher up, right?”

“Yeah, sixth,” Kunigami said, frowning.

“Still… you should think about moving.It won’t be long before the whole building’s crawling with them. We'd come to you but...we can't risk it because Ness is already injured." 

Then he hung up.

Kunigami looked at the others. “That was Isagi. Kaiser and Ness made it to Bachira’s dorm—barely. But the building’s getting surrounded. Zombies are everywhere.”

Nagi sat up. “So we’ll have to leave soon.”

“We just got here today,” Kunigami muttered.

“That was then,” Chigiri said sharply, standing. “The situation changed. We’re not safe anymore.”

“We’re on the sixth floor. If they come, we have height on our side.”

Chigiri stared at him. “That won’t matter when we’re trapped and Reo loses it.”

Kunigami’s jaw tightened. “What are you talking about?”

Chigiri glanced toward the bathroom, then lowered his voice. “Reo’s trying, but you saw how he was earlier. Pacing. Talking to himself. We’ve been here less than a day and he’s already spiraling.”

Nagi nodded quietly. “He flinched when I touched his shoulder this morning.”

Chigiri’s breath hitched. “I don’t want to wait until he breaks. I want to get him somewhere safer. Somewhere where he doesn't feel like he's stuck.”

Then, softly, Nagi spoke up. “Chigiri’s right.”

They both turned to him.

Nagi’s voice was quiet, but clear. “If we stay, Reo’s gonna get worse. He won’t show it, but I know him...He’ll keep spiraling.”

Reo looked up at Nagi, startled, but didn’t say anything.

“I want the Reo who smiles too much,” Nagi added, eyes heavy-lidded. “The one who nags me for sleeping too much. The one who coddles me regardless of what I do. Not this version that looks like he’s lost in his own head.”

Kunigami crossed his arms. “We don’t even know if the rest of the building is clear.”

“I’d rather risk moving now than wait until it’s too late,” Chigiri snapped. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

He hesitated, his voice softening. “I don’t want to see him like this. I just can't—”

His voice broke, just a little. “I just want us to be okay.”

He reached out, quietly taking Chigiri’s hand.

Warm. Steady. No hesitation.

Chigiri froze, his breath catching.

Kunigami didn’t say anything at first. Just held on, thumb brushing over the back of Chigiri’s knuckles—calm and grounding.

“You don’t have to say more,” he said softly. “I get it.”

Chigiri looked up, and Kunigami met his gaze. No wall. No stoicism. Just quiet understanding.

“I hate seeing you cry,” Kunigami said, voice barely above a whisper. “So we’ll go. Alright?”

Chigiri gave a small, trembling nod. He blinked hard, swallowing whatever emotion was trying to to come up.

Just then, the bathroom door creaked. Reo stepped out, towel in hand. His expression was blank, tired.

Nagi got up, walking over to him. “We’re leaving,” he said, plain and calm. “We’re going to meet the others.”

Reo blinked like he hadn’t fully registered the words—then nodded.

Chigiri finally exhaled.

Chapter Text

Nagi’s dorm looked like the inside of a freshly rented apartment—walls bare, floor clean, a chair and a couch just for formality, and a sad bed in the corner of the room.

“…How are we supposed to find any weapons..?” Chigiri blinked, standing in the middle of the room, stunned. “This doesn’t look like someone lives here."

Kunigami opened his closet and squinted like he was examining a crime scene. “Where’s your stuff? Like—literally anything?”

Reo, already walked up to him without a hint of surprise, shrugged. “He says doesn’t need anything.”

“I need a bed,” Nagi murmured from the mattress, already halfway lying down. “And Reo. That’s it.”

'This guy is pathetic.' Kunigami gave a slow, dramatic blink. 

Reo, who was now casually rummaging through a drawer, paused. His fingers stilled for a moment, and when he looked up, his cheeks were unmistakably pink.

'Nevermind, they're both pathetic.'

Nagi flopped onto the mattress, spreading out like a tired cat. “Too much stuff is annoying. Can’t be bothered.”

Chigiri, still by the door, gawked. “You don’t even have a pan, man!”

“I don't cook,” Nagi said simply, already half-lidded. “Reo usually makes stuff. Or brings me food. Or orders it.”

Chigiri blinked, then snorted. “Reo, what are you? His goodwilling wife?"

Kunigami opened one of the cabinets and let out a dry laugh. “Empty. Of course. He’s been here all year, right? And he’s got nothing?”

“Nothing except a few clothes and, like, spiritual peace,” Chigiri muttered as he peeked into another drawer.

“Do you at least have anything sharp in here?” Kunigami asked, opening what looked like a closet. “Or a bat? Hell, I’d take a screwdriver.”

Reo gestured toward a corner. “There’s an old chair inside the bed. You can probably break the leg off. That’s what I’d go for.”

“You knew that?” Chigiri asked.

Reo looked back at him, deadpan. “I know everything about Nagi. I’ve seen this room so many times...I even cleaned it once.”

“That explains it,” Kunigami muttered, prying the chair leg off with a small crack.

The Kunigami hands Chigiri a half-bent curtain rod. “Here. Better than nothing.”

Reo opened a drawer and pulled out a rusty umbrella. “This has decent weight,” he muttered. “Hit someone with it last week when they wouldn’t shut up.”

Chigiri snorted. “Was it Shidou?”

“Maybe.”

Nagi sat up slowly, stretching with the elegance of someone who had never known stress. “We going?”

Kunigami nodded, standing at the door with his makeshift weapon slung over his shoulder. “I’ll take point. Chigiri stays at the back—if we have to run, you’re the fastest.”

“Got it.” Chigiri twirled the curtain rod like a baton. “Let’s hope we don’t have to sprint.”

They stepped out into the hallway, weapons in hand. The fluorescent lights flickered faintly above them. From the other side of the building, far away, came the echo of shouting. Screams. A distant crash.

But here, their hallway was eerily still.

“…That’s weird,” Chigiri said.

“Don’t say that,” Reo hissed.

“But it is weird.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t say it. You'll jinx it!”

Kunigami took the first cautious step forward. “Let’s move.”

As they reached the stairwell, Nagi yawned again. “Feels like we’re in a horror game tutorial. You know, before the real stuff hits.”

They moved carefully down the fifth-floor hallway, boots soft on the cracked linoleum. Every door they passed felt like a threat. The silence wasn’t calming—it was stifling.

“It's too quiet,” Chigiri muttered from the back, his eyes scanning every inch behind them.

“It’s better than the opposite,” Nagi said lazily, though even he gripped his broken mop handle with more intent than usual.

“No, this kind of quiet feels bad.." Reo said. He stayed close to Nagi, eyes darting between each door. “like they're..waiting.”

Then they heard it—a low drag against the floor. Not loud. Just enough to make the hair on their arms rise. From the left, something banged once on a door. Then twice from the right. Then—

BANG.

A door at the far end slammed open and a boy burst out, running like hell. “Help! Please! He changed—my roommate—he turned!”

Before anyone could react, the boy’s pursuer lunged out of the doorway—a pale, snarling zombie wearing a blood-soaked t-shirt, jaws snapping.

Chigiri cursed.

All down the hallway, doors began shaking violently. Groans rose behind them. The locks were breaking.

“We’ve got to go now,” Kunigami snapped. He ran forward and smacked the first zombie aside with a brutal swing of his makeshift club, buying the fleeing student time.

But the distraction cost him.

He didn’t see the second one—coming from a side door until it was right there, arms wide, mouth open.

“KUNIGAMI!” Chigiri shouted, already running.

Time blurred for a second. Kunigami turned, too slow, the zombie lunging for his exposed neck—but before it could sink its teeth in, Chigiri flew in from the side. He slammed into Kunigami, knocking him out of the way just in time. They both hit the ground hard. The zombie stumbled forward, crashing to its knees—and Chigiri didn’t waste the opportunity. In one smooth motion, he kicked himself up and drove his rod straight through the zombie’s eye socket.

Blood sprayed. The body went still.

Breathing hard, Chigiri turned toward Kunigami, who had just pushed himself up onto his elbows.

“You okay?” Chigiri asked, his voice shaky but trying to sound calm.

Kunigami nodded slowly, eyes wide. “Yeah. You—thanks.”

Chigiri clenched his jaw, his hand trembling slightly around the weapon. “Don’t scare me like that again.”

Kunigami’s expression shifted. He reached forward, gently brushing Chigiri’s bangs out of his face. “You’re crying.”

Chigiri hadn’t even realized. “I’m not—” He stopped when his voice cracked. “I just—I don’t want to lose you..Okay?!”

Kunigami’s tone dropped low. “You’re not gonna lose me, Chigiri. I promise.”

Chigiri nodded once, eyes glassy, then stood up quickly. “We have to keep moving.”

The guy Kunigami had saved, pushed Reo aside, face wet with tears, and took off to the next floor without even a thank-you. The loud noise from crashing into the door made him the center of attention of the zombies. One staggered toward him, jaw twitching. Reo raised the umbrella he’d been holding—only to freeze.

He couldn’t do it.

Just before the zombie could reach him, Nagi’s foot slammed into its chest, sending it crashing into a wall. He stood in front of Reo without looking back.

“You good?” he asked.

Reo’s hands trembled slightly. “Yeah. I—yeah.”

“You said you’d keep me alive,” Nagi reminded him flatly, eyes still trained on the zombies. "So don't die before I do." 

“I didn’t think you’d be the one saving me,” Reo muttered.

"I'll always save you." Nagi replied, he was clearly shaken too. The idea of losing Reo. He couldn't even imagine it. A life without Reo? That's not possible. His life started the day he met Reo and he wasn't letting him leave, ever.

Reo flushed, seeing the intensity in his eyes, but didn’t respond. Instead, he turned back and forced his hands to stop shaking.

Behind them, Chigiri kicked a lunging zombie in the face and then slammed his rod into its head as it hit the ground. “We’re getting surrounded!”

“We move,” Kunigami said, stepping over another twitching corpse and grabbing Chigiri's hand, he won't take any chances of them getting separated. “Now!”

They began backing toward the stairwell

 Zombies flooded out from both sides, groaning, arms reaching. It wasn’t a horde yet, but it would be.

Chigiri glanced down the hall. “Stairs are close and safe till now probably..considering that dude went down and didn't scream once.”

“Think we’ll make it?” Reo asked.

“I think we have no choice,” Kunigami said, swinging again and clearing a path.

“Fuck the formation,” Kunigami muttered under his breath, fingers locked tightly around Chigiri’s hand as they tore through the dim hallway. His knuckles were white, but his grip never faltered. He wasn’t even going to risk losing him—not even for a second.

Chigiri didn’t argue. Their old formation had gone to hell the moment the fifth floor turned into a nightmare. And now, with Kunigami's hand firmly around his, it almost felt like the panic buzzing in his chest was bearable.

Right behind them, Reo and Nagi stayed shoulder to shoulder. Reo's hand hovered just near the hem of Nagi’s shirt, sometimes grazing his wrist—just to make sure he was still there. Nagi didn’t complain. If anything, he stuck closer, even in his half-exhausted state.

"One floor left,” Reo breathed, eyes flicking down the stairwell. “We’re almost there.”

“Let’s just hope the fourth is clearer,” Kunigami said grimly.

They bolted down toward the fourth floor, shoes slamming against the concrete steps. Kunigami reached for the stairwell door—

—and it didn’t budge.

“What—?” He pulled harder. “It’s locked.”

Reo came forward, heart already racing faster. “Locked from the other side?”

“Yeah. Jammed shut. Something’s wedged against it."

Kunigami stepped back, ready to slam his shoulder into it but Chigiri stopped him. “No. It’s a metal gate—probably has a security latch inside. You’ll just dislocate something.”

Reo cursed under his breath. “We can’t go back up.”

“Another door,” Nagi said simply.

Everyone turned to him.

“There should be a dorm floor entrance further down the hall,” Nagi explained. “Each floor has two stairwell doors. One main, one fire escape.”

“You sure?” Kunigami asked.

"Yes, I've used it a couple times before to bunk lectures."

Kunigami grabbed Chigiri’s hand again. “Alright, let’s move.”

They retraced a few steps up and found the narrow corridor that wrapped around the building’s side. The fire escape entrance was at the far end—rusty, dusty, and not used in a while.

Chigiri turned the handle—unlocked.

“Thank god,” he exhaled.

As they stepped through into the silent hallway of the fourth floor, Kunigami gave one final glance over his shoulder.

“If I see that guy again—”

“We kill him together,” Reo finished, surprisingly firm.

Nagi glanced at him. “Group bonding activity..?”

“You shouldn’t have called them here,” Rin said coldly, eyes fixed on Isagi like he was the biggest threat in the room. “Every person you drag in just makes this place less secure.”

Isagi didn’t back down. “They’re not just random strays. You act like I am dragging in strangers.”

“That’s exactly what they are to me.” Rin’s voice sharpened. “And if something goes wrong, who do you think pays for it? We all do.”

Isagi scoffed. “You’re being paranoid.”

“I’m being logical,” Rin snapped. “This isn’t a game. And your lukewarm ‘let’s save everyone’ plan is how people get killed.”

He didn’t say it out loud, didn’t have to. But the weight of his glare flickered, for just a moment, toward the side of the room—toward Bachira, standing with his arms crossed and watching quietly. Rin didn’t name him, but the thought was written all over his face: 'If Bachira gets hurt because of this, I won’t forgive you.'

Isagi’s fists clenched, but before he could bite back, Bachira finally stepped in. “Oi,” he said, tone light but with an edge. “Rin-chan maybe try being grateful we’re not all scattered and dead instead of yelling like we’re in some teenage drama.”

Rin’s gaze snapped back to him.

“Look,” Bachira added, shrugging one shoulder, “I am worried too. They’re not just Isagi’s friends but mine too. It’s better we all stay together. If it were any of you out there, wouldn’t you want someone to fucking help?”

The silence that followed wasn’t comfortable. Rin’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue again.

Over on the bed, Ness tried to make himself smaller, feeling awkward as hell. The argument wasn’t really about him—or it wasn’t supposed to be—but he could feel the tension thick in the air. Like his presence made the whole room tilt. He shifted his leg slightly, hissing softly under his breath as the dull ache flared. The bandage had bled through a little again.

“Careful,” came a low voice beside him.

Kaiser.

Ness glanced over—only to freeze as Kaiser reached out and brushed his fingers along the edge of the bandage. The touch wasn’t rough. It was… gentle. Almost too gentle.

“You’re still bleeding,” Kaiser murmured, mostly to himself.

He didn’t look at Ness, but his hand lingered. Two fingers grazed the curve of Ness’ calf, then traced lightly just beneath the injury—like he was checking for swelling, or maybe like he wasn’t sure how else to apologize without saying it.

Ness swallowed hard. His face burned. “I… I’m fine,” he said quickly, voice higher than usual.

Kaiser hummed softly but didn’t pull back right away and when he finally did, his fingers left a faint warmth behind, and Ness swore his pulse had migrated to his ears.

The fourth floor was unsettlingly calm. Too calm.

Their shoes padded quietly over the scuffed tiles, the silence pressing in on all sides. Compared to the chaos they’d escaped upstairs, this felt almost surreal.

“I hate this,” Chigiri whispered, eyes scanning the hall. “Something is definitely gonna happen."

“You've got to stop fucking jinxing it,” Reo muttered.

Kunigami’s grip tightened on the chair leg in his hand. He didn’t like this either, but at least for now, no one was screaming or bleeding. The stillness of the floor gave them a sliver of breathing room—until a click echoed ahead of them.

A door opened

They all froze in place.

Kunigami immediately stepped forward, pushing Chigiri gently behind him and raising the busted table leg he now wielded like a bat. “Back. Get ready.”

Even Nagi perked up, brows slightly raised. Reo’s grip tightened on his makeshift weapon, heart pounding. The door opened wider with a slow, dragging creak—then a figure stepped out.

Tall. Shirtless. Smirking like he’d walked out of a warzone for fun.

“…Shidou?” Kunigami blinked.

Chigiri stared. “Oh hell no.”

The blond ran a hand through his messy hair, casually scratching his stomach like he hadn’t just scared the living shit out of them. “Yo. Took your damn time.”

“You– what the fuck—” Reo was the first to speak, voice rising an octave. “You almost got clocked in the head!”

“Would’ve been hot if you were the one doing it.” Shidou replied with a lopsided grin.

“So....” Shidou grinned, stretching with a yawn. “Miss me?”

“I should've actually smashed in your skull,” Kunigami snapped.

Shidou looked at him like a mild annoyance. “I’d like to see you try, hero boy.”

Kunigami’s jaw tensed. “This isn’t the time.”

“Then make it,” Shidou said with a wink before turning to Reo. “Damn, you still lookin' good even after all this mess. Must be some good genes, huh?”

Reo took a small step back, visibly irritated. “You’re not flirting with me in the middle of an apocalypse.”

“Why not?” Shidou smirked. “If I die today, I wanna die looking at something nice.”

Chigiri blinked. “Is this your idea of romance?”

Reo sighed, muttering, “We’re not that close. He just... shows up.”

“Like a cockroach,” Kunigami added flatly.

Nagi, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly shifted, voice low. “You don’t need to talk to him.”

Reo glanced at him, a little surprised. “It’s not like I—”

“You don’t,” Nagi repeated, tone lazier but somehow more direct, eyes flicking toward Shidou.

Shidou grinned wider. “Aw, what’s this? Jealous?”

Nagi shrugged, turning to start walking again. “No. Just bored of your face already.”

Chigiri stifled a laugh and elbowed Reo. “Your little pet is getting feisty.”

Reo’s ears flushed. “He’s not—! I’m not—! Shut up, both of you.”

“So… where we headed?” Shidou asked, now having the decency to put a t-shirt on.

“We’re not taking you with us,” Nagi and Kunigami both snapped at the same time.

Shidou shoved his hands in his pockets. “Sure you are. Strength in numbers, right? And I’m strong. Plus, I get bored alone.”

Reo raised a brow, muttering to Kunigami, “He’s weird, but he’s not wrong.”

“Thank you, purple bun,” Shidou drawled.

Reo groaned. “If you try anything, we leave you behind.”

“Oh, c’mon,” Shidou chirped. “Would I ever betray such a cute little team?”

Kunigami muttered, “I can't believe this day somehow got even worse.."

Chapter Text

The trek to the third floor was quieter than expected. The heavy air clung to them like a second skin, thick with sweat, fear, and exhaustion. 

Kunigami still hadn’t let go of Chigiri’s hand.

Even now, as they walked down the stairs, step by step, muscles tensed with the memory of the earlier ambush, he kept their fingers locked. Reo and Nagi walked close behind—Nagi’s gaze occasionally darting sideways to Reo.

Shidou trailed them like a stray dog that refused to leave, hands tucked lazily in his pockets, humming something off-key. He’d been surprisingly quiet ever since Reo told him, not-so-subtly, to “tone it down a bit.”

And finally—finally—they reached the third floor. Chigiri moved slightly ahead, eyes scanning to check wether the floor is safe. Just before they reached the landing, his hand slipped from Kunigami’s.

Kunigami felt the sudden absence like a cold gust to the chest.

He knew Chigiri was only being cautious—he always was, especially when it came to everyone’s safety. But Kunigami’s fingers twitched involuntarily, as if still reaching for the warmth they’d just lost. His jaw clenched. He hated how something so small could rattle him so easily.

Chigiri crouched, peeking around the edge of the hallway. “Looks clear,” he whispered, rising slowly.

They moved down the corridor with cautious footsteps until they stopped in front of Bachira’s dorm. Reo tapped the door.

Three soft knocks. 

"Hey, it's us."

The door opened sharply—Isagi’s face appeared in the crack, tense, then softening immediately into utter relief.

“You—!” he started, but his words were cut off as he pulled Chigiri into a tight, sudden hug. Kunigami barely had time to process before he was dragged into the embrace too.

Bachira wasn’t far behind—he practically launched himself at all three of them, arms looping around their shoulders and laughing breathlessly. “You guys made it! I was seriously gonna cry if you didn’t.”

Chigiri gave a soft chuckle, muffled into Isagi’s hoodie. Kunigami’s hands hovered awkwardly for a second before wrapping around both of them, exhaling shakily.

For a few seconds, everything felt alright.

Then—

A footstep behind them. A low chuckle.

“Yo. Room for one more?”

Rin’s voice cut through the dorm like a knife. “No. Fucking. Way.”

He stepped into view, Rin saw the familiar blond-pink mop of hair, and instantly his entire body tensed. His eyes narrowed into sharp slits and one of the veins on his temple looked dangerously close to bursting.

Shidou waved casually. “Sup, Long-lashes.”

“Fuck no,” Rin hissed, taking a single step forward like he was about to launch himself across the room.

“Down, boy,” Bachira muttered, half-laughing as he gently but firmly shoved Rin back.

“Why is he here?!” Rin snapped, looking at the others like someone had personally betrayed him.

“He’s...with us,” Reo said carefully, rubbing the back of his neck.

“He can be useful,” Chigiri added.

“Barely,” Kunigami muttered darkly, arms crossed, glaring holes into Shidou’s smug expression.

Shidou looked entirely too pleased, leaning against the wall like he owned the place. “Aww, come on, Muscleboy. Don’t be like that. We can make a good team."

“We can't make shit,” Kunigami shot back.

Bachira blinked, glancing between them. “Wait. You two know each other?”

“They hate each other,” Reo clarified helpfully.

“Out,” Rin said, unable to hear any more of their bullshit, pointing at the door. “Out. Before I kill someone.”

“Relax,” Isagi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “We’ll figure it out. We’re all stuck here now.”

“You can be stuck with him—" Rin muttered. “—in the hallway.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

The room froze.

Kaiser hadn’t raised his voice, not really—but the tone was sharp. Icy. Commanding. It cut through the noise like a blade.

Everyone turned to him.

He was still seated, leg stretched out in front of him, fingers lazily resting on his knee. His expression unreadable. He didn’t elaborate. Just stared at them like he dared someone to challenge it.

“Who the hell do you think you—” Rin snapped instantly, his voice rising, eyes flashing. His body already shifted forward like he was ready to lunge.

Before he could get another word out, Bachira practically launched at him, wrapping his arms around Rin’s middle in a tight hug that knocked the wind out of him.

“Rin-rin~!” Bachira sang, voice light, a complete contrast to the tension. “Chill out, yeah? You’re gonna wake Ness-kun~”

Rin's face turned bright red—not from embarrassment alone, but from the sheer absurdity of being hugged mid-argument. “Wh—Get off me!”

“Nope,” Bachira grinned, tightening his hold, his chin resting against Rin’s shoulder now. “You’re being too loud."

Rin spluttered, caught somewhere between indignation and flustered silence.

"You should be the last person to talk about being loud.." He muttered quietly.

In the far corner of the room, Ness stirred slightly but didn’t wake. His face was still relaxed, curled against the wall with a pillow hugged to his chest. Peaceful.

Kaiser exhaled softly, barely glancing toward the scene. He leaned back on the bed with a bored look, though his eyes flicked—just briefly—toward Ness.

The room had quieted down, just a little. Isagi’s gaze drifted over the group until it landed near the far end of the bed.

Ness was there, curled into himself with his back against the wall, arms wrapped tightly around a pillow that looked way too big for him. His fingers were tucked under the edge, holding it like it was something precious, while his cheek was pressed into the fabric. His breathing was slow, almost rhythmic. Eyelashes casting faint shadows under his eyes.

Something in Isagi’s chest squeezed.

He hadn’t even realized how heavy everything felt until he saw Ness like that—so still, so soft. He looked... sweet. Completely out of place in the middle of all this chaos. Too good for it.

Isagi swallowed down the sudden warmth in his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Alright,” he said, voice quieter now. “Everyone—just sit down for a second.”

A few heads turned, surprised by the shift in tone, but no one protested. And for the first time in a while, the room started to feel a little less like a war zone.

They all found spots to settle—scattered across the floor, by the walls, on the edges of the bed. The room suddenly felt too small.

Kaiser, leaning back against the bedframe near Ness, crossed his arms over his chest and glanced up at the others. “What’s the situation outside?”

Kunigami was the first to speak, his jaw tight. “Bad. Way worse than we thought.”

Chigiri nodded beside him, brushing his hair out of his face. “The fifth floor was crawling. Most of them were inside the rooms at first, but after one guy ran screaming, it was like... every door burst open at once.”

Reo ran a hand through his hair, eyes tired. “There’s barely any room to breathe out there. We almost didn’t make it past the fourth. Some idiot locked the exit and left us to deal with it.”

Kaiser snarled. “Fucking amazing.”

As the tension in Reo’s shoulders started to return, he felt something shift beside him. Nagi, wordlessly, scooted a little closer, his arm brushing against Reo’s. He didn’t say anything, just leaned in with the same sleepy calm he always had—but Reo’s body unconsciously eased.

“You guys fought your way through all that?” Isagi asked, glancing between them.

“We didn’t have a choice,” Kunigami said. “It was either move or get overrun.”

“So,” Rin said, arms crossed, “mind telling me why the hell you had to bring this fucking idiot along with you?”

He didn’t even need to gesture. Everyone knew exactly who he meant.

Shidou, lounging like he owned the place, raised his brows in mock offense and smirked. “Aw, you really gotta mention me every two seconds?”

Kunigami scoffed before Isagi could get a word in. “Honestly? I’m with Rin on this one.”

That wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was when Nagi, who had barely spoken more than three words at a time since they'd arrived, muttered from Reo’s side, “Yeah. He’s like an annoying fly.”

A beat of silence passed. All eyes darted to Nagi.

Even Rin blinked. “Wait, you agree with me?”

“...He talks too much,” Nagi said flatly, resting his head on Reo’s shoulder.

Reo let out a short laugh, but Shidou just grinned wider, unaffected. “Damn, you guys are gonna hurt my feelings at this rate.”

“You don’t have feelings,” Kunigami snapped.

Shidou just threw his arms behind his head, reclining dramatically. “True. But if I did, I’d be crying right now.”

Rin opened his mouth again, irritation simmering just under his skin, ready to absolutely tear Shidou apart. He didn’t even know what insult was about to come out—just that he needed to say it.

But then his phone rang.

Rin cursed under his breath and turned his head. The phone was on the desk—right next to where Shidou was sitting with his legs kicked up like he owned the place.

“Oh?” Shidou tilted his head, glancing lazily at the screen like he couldn’t care less—until his eyes landed on the profile picture.

And then he sat up a little straighter.

Because staring back at him from the screen was the most ethereal man he had ever seen. Magenta hair that fell in wispy layers, framing a sharp face with slim, piercing teal eyes, fringed with long underlashes that made them pop even more. His expression on the screen was blank, neutral—cold, even—but fuck.

Shidou whistled low under his breath.

“Who is that? Your boyfriend?” he said, without even thinking, already leaning closer to get a better look.

Rin strode over quickly and snatched the phone up before Shidou’s dirty hands could reach it.

“That’s my brother, you freak.”

Shidou blinked once. Then twice. “No way. That pretty thing?”

He looked at Rin, then back at the vague memory of the caller photo. “Man, what the hell happened to you?”

“Do you want to die?” Rin snapped, his grip tightening on the phone as he answered the call and stalked away toward the window.

The room’s chatter dimmed slightly as they noticed his retreat—well, most of them, except Shidou, who immediately got up and follow behind.

Rin pressed the phone to his ear. “Yeah?”

The voice on the other end made his spine straighten. “Rin?” Sae’s voice was low, slightly crackly from airport noise. “I just landed. What the hell is going on over there?”

And Shidou’s brain completely short-circuited.

He stumbled back a step, actually clutching his chest in slow-motion dramatic agony. “Oh my God. That’s him?”

His knees buckled slightly. “Why does he sound like that? That shouldn’t be legal. Why does he sound like a villain and an angel at the same time?”

Rin turned his head with a glare. “Shut the fuck up.”

There was a pause on the line.

“…Did you just tell me to shut the fuck up?” Sae asked, sounding genuinely confused and slightly offended.

Rin’s jaw tensed. “Not you. Someone else.”

Shidou, who was currently bent double and fanning his face like a teenage girl at a concert, piped up again. “Tell him I said hi!"

Rin turned. “I swear to God, I will throw you out this damn window.”

Shidou grinned, eyes wild. “Rin-kun. Please. You can’t just keep men like that hidden from the world.”

“Who’re you talking to?” Sae asked on the line, his tone still flat but with a subtle hint of curiosity.

Rin didn’t answer immediately. His eyes flicked to Shidou—who was definitely trying to inch closer to the phone—and stepped further toward the window, shielding the call with his hand.

“Doesn’t matter,” he muttered. “What matters is this place is a fucking mess. Everything’s gone to hell—people are biting each other and turning into freaks, no one's explaining shit, and it’s not safe.” His voice dropped lower, serious. “You should get back on the next flight and get the hell out of here. Don’t come over here.”

There was silence on the other end. Just the low hum of airport noise in the background.

“…Are you serious?” Sae finally said, quiet. “What happened?”

“You wouldn’t believe it even if I told you.” Rin pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just trust me. Stay somewhere safe.”

Sae sighed. It was subtle—barely a breath—but Rin heard it.

“…I’ll pick you up.”

Rin blinked. “What?”

“I’m not leaving without you. If it’s that bad, I’ll figure out a way. Send me your location or something.”

There it was again—that emotionless voice carrying just the faintest, almost imperceptible undercurrent of worry. Rin looked away from the window for a second.

“…You’re an idiot, brother.”

“Takes one to know one.” A soft click. The call ended.

Rin lowered the phone, expression unreadable.

From behind him, Shidou whispered, "I forgot to tell him he sounded sexy.."

“Get away from me,” Rin said, deadpan.

Ness stirred under the blanket, fingers tightening around the pillow still clutched to his chest. His eyelashes fluttered, blinking himself awake in the dim room. A quiet groan slipped past his lips as he shifted, legs stretching out—only to wince slightly when his injured one throbbed.

Isagi, who had been sitting against the wall with one eye on him the entire time, felt his heart give a weird little thump. The sight of Ness, eyes still dazed and hair mussed, somehow managed to punch the air out of him. He looked… weirdly adorable like that.

His gaze flicked briefly to the other side of the bed, where Kaiser sat with a bored expression—still gently rubbing at his own leg. Their eyes met.

Tension.

But Isagi ignored it.

He stood, brushing off his hands on his pants, and made his way to Ness, each step deliberate. Kaiser didn't say a word, but the air thickened with something sharp.

Isagi crouched beside Ness, voice soft. “Hey. You awake?”

Ness blinked at him. “...Mm?” His voice was raspy, sleep-heavy.

“Your leg. Still hurting?” Isagi asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

Ness looked down, wiggled his foot a little, and winced. “Not… as bad as before.”

Kaiser’s voice, smooth and ice-edged, cut in before Isagi could respond.

“What, playing nurse now, Isagi?” He didn’t even look at them, just kept rubbing his thumb lazily over his knee.

Isagi's jaw clenched. He looked up, tone clipped.

“You’d know about injuries, wouldn’t you? You’re the one who got him hurt in the first place.”

Kaiser finally met his eyes—cold and cocky all at once. “And I’m also the one who got him up. What did you do, again?”

Ness looked between them with wide eyes, still holding the pillow to his chest like a barrier. “…Guys?”

Isagi didn’t back down. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”

Kaiser smiled, sharp. "What a fucking joke."

Before either of them could throw another jab, a balled-up sock hit Isagi square in the back of the head.

“Cut it out,” Rin muttered from across the room, already lying back down on his mattress, one arm flung over his eyes. “Some of us don't want our ears to bleed."

Isagi sighed, but before he could say anything back, Bachira chimed in from the corner, voice chipper, “Aw, come on, you two sound like brothers fighting over the same toy!"

Ness flushed immediately, gripping the pillow tighter and sinking lower into the blanket.

“I'd rather kill myself." Isagi snapped.

"Want me to lend you a hand?" Kaiser replied

"Fucking die."

Through the rising volume of bickering voices Kunigami stayed still. Unbothered. Focused.

He didn’t even glance at them. His eyes were fixed on something far more important—Chigiri.

Chigiri, who sat beside him, arms wrapped loosely around his knees, eyes flickering across the room like he didn’t quite belong there.

Kunigami leaned closer, voice low, meant only for him. “You okay now?”

Chigiri turned to him slowly. His gaze met Kunigami’s for just a second too long. “I’m alright,” he said, but it sounded like a reflex. Not a truth.

Kunigami tilted his head, not buying it. “You sure?”

Chigiri hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Just… processing.”

There was a pause—gentle, quiet, like the world had dimmed for a second just for them.

“You hungry?” Kunigami asked, reaching into his pocket. “I’ve got some energy bars—they're completely crushed now though.."

Chigiri gave a small, tired laugh and took the bar. “Thanks. Why do you always carry these?”

Kunigami’s shoulders lifted in a light shrug. “Just because..”

Chigiri stared at the energy bar for a moment, then looked back at him. “How are you always like this?” he asked, voice soft. “Like you just know when someone’s about to fall apart.”

There was no reply. Kunigami just looked at him—his eyes held something Chigiri couldn't quite describe—and then slowly reached up.

His fingers brushed gently through Chigiri’s hair, tucking a few strands behind his ear. The gesture was simple. Careful. Intimate in a way that made Chigiri’s heart run like it forgot its rhythm.

He blinked fast, staring down at his hands. His chest felt tight—full and so fucking heavy.

What was this? What were they?

Not a couple. Not just friends. Something hovering in the in-between, heavy with unspoken things and quiet glances and hands that lingered.

“Thanks, hero,” he murmured, and he meant it. For the food, the quiet, the touch, the care and whatever that unexplainable feeling is. All of it.

Kunigami didn’t say anything back, just smiled faintly like that was enough.

And maybe… it was.

Chapter Text

They had been holed up for a few hours now. Maybe more. Time was a blur. Suddenly, like some universal timer had gone off, everyone's phones buzzed at once.

Kunigami reached for his. Chigiri, mid-sentence, stopped. Reo sat up straighter. Even Shidou stopped talking.

"Emergency Broadcast Notification — National Alert"

Isagi's heart dropped. He unlocked his screen with trembling fingers, everyone following in silence as the news played.

A suited anchor sat against a backdrop of chaos—his tie was crooked, his hair slightly ruffled. His voice was calm. Too calm.

“We have received confirmation from health authorities regarding the viral outbreak that has rapidly consumed the country.”

 

“The virus transmits primarily through blood contact—most commonly, from a bite. Symptoms manifest fast. Victims experience severe chills despite high internal temperatures, hyperventilation, tremors… and eventually, collapse.”

A sharp inhale echoed from Ness.

"Efforts to create a cure were underway… but the last remaining research team has reportedly been compromised. Communications have been lost. We urge the public to remain indoors, avoid physical contact with the infected at all costs, and look for signs of early symptoms.”

The camera glitched once. Twice.

Then the anchor continued—but his voice was harder now, edged in something grim.

 “As of now, martial law will be implemented nationwide. All civilians must comply with lockdown procedures. Armed forces have full authority. This is not a drill.”

Silence.

Pure silence.

No one moved. No one breathed. Even Shidou, who never took anything seriously, just sat there staring at the screen like he had been gut-punched.

Kaiser rubbed his face once, scoffing. “Of course. The government discards us, what else did we need?.”

Chigiri whispered, “They’re giving up on us.”

Rin stood, fists clenched at his sides, face a storm of fury and disbelief. “No. They’re trying to control us. That’s what this is.”

Isagi’s fingers gripped the back of a chair as he looked toward Ness, who sat frozen with his arms hugging a pillow again—just like earlier, when he was asleep. Except now he looked pale.

Kunigami muttered something barely audible. “They really are going to treat us like liabilities.”

Reo spoke again, his voice now quieter. “So what now? We just sit here and wait for shit to hit the fan?”

Kunigami didn’t even lift his head from where he was leaning against the wall. “It’s only been a few hours since we got here. Rushing out now would be fucking stupid.”

“Still,” Isagi muttered, sitting forward with his elbows on his knees, “we can’t stay locked in forever. What about food? Water? What if someone does get sick?”

Chigiri let out a slow exhale and looked toward the curtained window. “Then we deal with it when we have to. We can’t afford to panic just because the news told us to.”

“This is such a hassle,” Nagi yawned from the floor, eyes half open. “Can't we just stay here till someone comes to rescue us or something..”

“I don't think they'd bother saving us if they somehow even came to our college,” Reo said with a roll of his eyes. “Besides you’d probably sleep through the apocalypse.”

“So can I?” Nagi asked, deadpan. Now laying down on the floor, his head extremely close to Reo's leg.

Kaiser, sitting on the bed, scoffed. “They’re really out here telling people to avoid bites like we didn’t already fucking know that. They just spoke a whole lotta nothing.”

“Could be worse,” Bachira said, trying to lighten the mood but it felt like he's just convincing himself. “They could’ve said it spreads through air or something.”

'Terrible joke timing..' Isagi thought as the room fell into immediate silence after his joke.

Across the room, Rin was staring at his phone. No words, just holding it, staring like he was waiting for it to come alive, aggressively clicking his phone.

Sae.

He tapped the contact and hit call. The ringing tone started.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Voicemail.

He tried again.

Again.

Nothing.

He stared at the screen, heart thudding in his throat. It wasn’t like Sae to ignore his calls. Especially not now. Especially not after that. Especially not after he said he'd come to pick him up.

"Pick up... pick up, dammit."

But it was just that dull tone again.

Rin lowered the phone slowly, brows knit together in something unreadable—something barely held together.

His mind spiraled. Their parents? They were out of the picture. They had always been shadows in the backdrop of their lives. But Sae... Sae had cooked for him when he was sick, stayed up to help him with homework, he was the one who took the blame whenever Rin did something wrong. He taught him everything and pretended not to cry when things got hard.

If Sae didn’t answer, what the hell did that mean?

“Rin?” Bachira’s voice was soft.

He didn’t respond.

'You should've gone back, brother.'

No one knew what to say. The tension hung in the air—and even Shidou, who usually treated annoying Rin like his full-time job, didn’t open his mouth.

Outside, the world had sunk into absolute darkness. Not just the sunless kind, but the eerie, all-consuming type that felt like it could crawl through the windows and wrap its fingers around your throat. Streetlights flickered, and somewhere in the distance, a car alarm wailed into nothing.

Inside the dorm, despite the exhaustion weighing down on everyone’s shoulders, not a single person made the move to sleep. No one said it out loud, but the fear was clear—what if something happened while their eyes were closed? What if someone started turning?

And so, they drifted. Scattered across the room like fallen leaves, everyone breaking into quiet, unspoken groups.

The wind outside was sharp, curling past their skin like a whisper. Rin leaned his forearms against the cold railing of the balcony, eyes trained on the barely visible skyline in the distance. It looked like the whole world was holding its breath. Bachira stood beside him, a small distance away at first, then just close enough that their arms nearly brushed. He didn’t say anything for a while. He just stood there with him, watching the same darkness, listening to the same silence.

“When I was a kid I used to think the dark was fun,” Bachira said after a long moment, voice gentle, like he didn’t want to spook Rin’s thoughts away. “It was scary, definitely, but it made me forget all my other fears atleast..”

Rin didn’t respond. His eyes didn’t move.

“But now,” Bachira continued, “it just feels like something’s waiting to crawl out of it.”

Still nothing from Rin.

Bachira turned to him a little, watching his profile—the way his jaw was tight, the way his fingers curled over the edge of the railing like he was trying to hold the building in place.

“Rin-chan,” he said, softer now. “You ever gonna talk about it?”

Rin’s mouth twitched. “Talk about what?”

Bachira smiled faintly. “I dunno. Pick anything. Why you’re always angry. Why you push people. Why you always look like you’re about to bite someone’s head off when you care more than anyone else in the room.”

Rin’s jaw tightened more. “That’s just how I am.”

“No, it’s not,” Bachira said. “That’s how you act.”

That didn't get Rin to look at him but he could see the change in his eyes, now sharp and guarded, but not cold. Never cold. Not to Bachira.

“I’ve seen you with Sae,” Bachira said. “Even just talking about him… You get quiet. Like you’re afraid if you say the wrong thing, something else will leave.”

Rin’s throat bobbed, and he looked down, out into the dark. “He’s the only one that didn’t.”

“…You think I'm gonna leave?”

“I don’t think that,” Rin said, voice clipped. “I just know what happens when you let your guard down.”

Bachira took a half step closer. “So that’s why you act like a landmine? Push everyone before they can pull the pin?”

Rin was silent.

“I get it,” Bachira said. “Really, I do. Fear’s a weird thing. It makes you hide in loudness. Or silence. Or anger. I used to think being strange made me untouchable. Turns out, it just made me lonely.”

Rin blinked, and for a second—just one—his shoulders dropped the tiniest bit.

“I don’t want to be like this..,” he muttered, barely audible.

Bachira’s voice dropped too. “Then don’t be.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“I know,” Bachira said. “But if we’re gonna die, I’d rather die knowing you let me see you for who you are. Not just the fire, Rin-chan. But the reason you lit it.”

The wind swept past again, making Rin’s hair shift over his forehead. He didn’t reply right away. But he didn’t walk away either. He stayed, and finally looked at Bachira this time.

And for a second—just a second—he forgot about the end of the world.

Bachira stood in front of him, bathed in the quiet silver of moonlight, the wind threading through his messy hair like it belonged there. His hoodie hung loose on his frame, sleeves slightly too long, the kind of soft that only came with years of being loved. His eyes, though—those wild, golden eyes—were gentler than usual tonight. Still full of life, still curious, but... softer somehow. Like he knew Rin was breaking, and he wasn’t trying to fix him—just sit beside the cracks.

Rin didn’t breathe for a moment.

He’d seen Bachira a hundred times before. A hundred versions of him—loud, reckless, brilliant. But this? This version was quiet. Vulnerable. Beautiful in a way that made Rin's chest feel like it was caving in.

What the hell.

Why did it feel like this?

Why did his throat go dry, his stomach twist? Why was he suddenly aware of how close they were standing?

And why, out of everything collapsing around them, was this the one thing he couldn’t look away from?

Rin blinked, tried to clear it away, shake off the heat crawling up his neck. He’d faced everything alone, kept himself steady through every problem in his life—but this?

Bachira looking at him like he mattered?

 This just might kill him.

Rin looked down, jaw clenched. His voice came out lower than he meant it to.

“…Stop looking at me like that.”

Bachira tilted his head, smiling just slightly. “Like what?”

Rin didn’t answer.

Because he didn’t know how to say: Like you see me. Like you’re not scared of anything. Like I’m someone worth staying for.

Like he was starting to feel something he didn’t have a name for.

Not yet.

But he’d figure it out.

Maybe.

Ness shifted a little on the bed, hugging the pillow a bit tighter to his chest. His hair still tousled from sleep, and his eyes still held the haze of someone not fully awake yet—but the panic that had lingered earlier was gone now, replaced with something gentler. He glanced at Isagi, who had sat down next to him without making a big deal about it. Close, but not too close.

“…Thanks,” Ness said quietly. “For earlier. Y’know. Asking about my leg and… stuff.”

Isagi turned to look at him, trying to act normal even though his heart skipped a beat. Ness’s voice was always soft, but right now it felt… personal. Like he wasn’t just saying it because he had to. Like it meant something.

He scratched the back of his neck, swallowing the dumb smile threatening to form. “Yeah. Of course. I just—I mean, you looked like you were in pain.”

“I was,” Ness admitted, gaze dropping to his lap. “Still kinda am. But it’s… better. I just—no one usually checks in on me, so…”

Isagi blinked. Something about the way he said that tugged at him. Ness wasn’t looking for pity, wasn’t fishing for attention. He just said it like it was a fact. Simple. Quiet.

And that made it worse.

Made Isagi want to lean in. To say something that would make up for all the times Ness probably went unnoticed.

“Well,” he said, voice a little rougher than intended, “I’ll keep checking in.”

Ness finally looked up, eyes wide. Caught off guard. But there was something in the way he smiled—barely there, soft at the corners—that made Isagi’s stomach do a stupid little flip.

“Okay,” Ness said. “I’d like that.”

Isagi wanted to scream.

Instead, he just nodded, pretending to be chill while all his brain could think was somewhere between 'he’s too cute I’m going to die' and 'don’t stare at his mouth don’t stare at his mouth.'

There was a brief silence, but it wasn’t awkward. It was warm. Like the world outside could keep burning, and they could just sit here a little longer. Two people trying to find something real in all the chaos.

Isagi looked at him again, watched the way Ness’s lashes cast shadows over his cheeks, the way his fingers fidgeted with the corner of the pillow. Delicate. Soft. So, so out of place.

He didn’t say anything else.

He didn’t need to.

For now, sitting beside Ness like this—close enough to feel that he was real—was more than enough.

But the peace didn't last long.

“Interrupting something?” came Kaiser’s smooth voice cutting through the soft stillness.

Isagi’s jaw clenched. Of course.

Ness looked up immediately, and it was like flipping a switch—his eyes lit up the moment he Kaiser welcomed himself into their conversation. It wasn’t the same softness he gave Isagi a moment ago. It was brighter. Like something in him woke up.

“Kaiser,” he said, and Isagi hated the way his voice changed. Airier. Lighter. Fucking happier. 

Kaiser crossed his arms and leaned lazily against the back of the headboard behind Ness, looking far too comfortable. “Didn’t think I’d find the two of you whispering like this.”

Ness chuckled, shaking his head, the tension from earlier fully gone now. “Isagi was just checking in on me.”

“Mm Yeah? How..kind of him.” Kaiser’s eyes slid to Isagi briefly, all teeth behind that smile. He wasn’t even being particularly hostile—he didn’t have to be. The sheer presence of him was enough to make Isagi feel like he was being shoved out of a room he’d barely gotten to step into.

Isagi didn’t say anything. Just leaned back slightly, arms crossed. His throat felt tight. Ness was laughing quietly now at something Kaiser said in German. His whole face was brighter, like he'd just been plugged into a different current.

And Isagi couldn’t stand how bitter it tasted in his mouth.

That softness, that sliver of warmth they’d just shared—it was already fading from Ness’s eyes. Like Kaiser had stolen it the second he walked in.

And the worst part?

Ness didn’t even realize it.

So Isagi just stayed quiet.

And tried not to look like he’d lost something he never even had.

Reo sat on the floor, his back against the cold wall, his legs crossed loosely in front of him. He absently fiddled with the edge of his sleeve, eyes flicking down at Nagi, who was sprawled out beneath him. Nagi’s head rested just an inch away from Reo’s legs, his posture lazy but somehow still perfect, like he belonged there, beside Reo.

Reo felt a pull in his chest every time he looked at him. He couldn’t help it. Nagi was everything to him. But sometimes—sometimes Reo wondered if he was enough to keep Nagi close, if he was as irreplaceable as he wanted to believe.

Nagi’s voice, as quiet as it was, snapped Reo from his spiraling thoughts. “Hey, Reo.”

Reo’s gaze shifted down, and for a moment, he found himself caught in the soft stare of Nagi’s lazy, half-lidded eyes. Those eyes were a constant distraction—everything about Nagi was. His head so close to Reo’s legs, the scent of him faint in the air. He wanted nothing more than to reach down, run his fingers through Nagi’s hair, keep him close forever.

"Yeah?" Reo asked, trying to keep his voice steady, even though his heart was already pounding faster. He wasn’t sure if Nagi knew how much he affected him, how much he craved him, but he was sure Nagi never saw it. Reo could pretend all he wanted, but Nagi never seemed to care as much. And that stung pretty fucking bad.

“If things really... go bad, you know?” Nagi continued, his voice quieter now, almost as if testing the waters, like this was some kind of question he’d been holding onto for a while. “Would you leave with me?”

The question hit Reo harder than he expected. He swallowed thickly, trying to suppress the strange fluttering in his chest. Nagi wasn’t one to ask for anything, let alone talk about leaving, or going anywhere. Reo thought for a moment, then forced out a light laugh.

“Of course, I’d go with you, Nagi,” Reo said, though his mind raced. Was Nagi asking because he needed reassurance? Was he really thinking about the possibility of leaving everything behind, or was it just something passing through his head? "But... you know that’s the only option, right? I’m not gonna leave you behind.”

He half-smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He knew what it meant—he was always the one to stay, always the one who'd be there for Nagi. But deep down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe he wasn’t the one who mattered most. That maybe if things got really bad, Nagi would just find someone else.

Nagi didn’t immediately respond, but there was a shift in the air. The way he moved—just a slight turn of his head, a subtle deepening of his gaze—There was something behind that cool exterior, something Reo couldn't quite figure out, but something that kept him hoping.

“Would you?” Reo pressed again, almost desperate to hear the words, to confirm that Nagi wouldn’t leave him behind, that he didn’t think of Reo as replaceable.

Nagi blinked slowly, his gaze flicking from Reo’s eyes to his lap, then back again. His voice was soft, quieter than usual. "I... guess I would. If things got worse, I wouldn't leave you either."

Reo's heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t much, but it was more than he ever expected from Nagi. The words were almost too simple, but they carried a weight—Nagi cared. He didn’t say it in the loudest way, but Reo could feel it. 

Reo’s hand hovered by Nagi’s head. It was stupid, but he couldn’t help it. His fingers itched to touch him, to run them through Nagi’s hair and feel the softness there. He did that almost everyday, why couldn't he bring himself to do it right now?

Instead, he spoke softly, his voice thick with something he tried to keep buried. “You know... you're not gonna get rid of me.”

Nagi didn’t respond immediately. He just let the silence stretch between them, and Reo wondered if that was enough. If the quiet understanding between them was enough for now. Because Reo didn’t need a grand confession, not really. He just needed to know Nagi felt the same way, even if he didn’t say it.

Nagi’s eyes finally fluttered shut, now a faint smile on his lips, which would be hard to notice for anyone except Reo. “You’re not gonna get rid of me either.”

It wasn’t a promise, but it was enough. Reo let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, finally letting himself relax into the moment. Maybe things were uncertain, and the world was falling apart, but as long as Nagi was here, as long as they were together, it felt like maybe—just maybe—everything would be okay.

For now.

The night air was getting colder. It slipped in through the open balcony door and the corners of the walls like it was welcome. The kind of cold that made silence feel heavier than usual.

Chigiri sat on the floor with his back pressed lightly against the wall, knees drawn up, arms folded loosely around them. His hoodie wasn’t doing much anymore. He hadn’t said a word in a while—just watching the others through the haze. He hated how quiet everything was. He hated the reminder that everything had changed.

Kunigami was next to him, cross-legged, his arms resting on his knees, gaze trained ahead like he was guarding something invisible. He didn’t seem cold. He never did. But then again, Chigiri figured Kunigami would probably try to wrestle the weather into submission if he could, if Chigiri asked.

Then Kunigami turned slightly, and in the dim light, he noticed the way Chigiri’s shoulders were pulled in tighter, like he was subconsciously bracing himself against the cold. Or maybe against something else entirely. He didn’t say anything. He just shifted closer. Barely a scrape of movement. Not enough to draw attention, just enough that their arms almost touched. Enough that if Chigiri wanted to lean over, he could. He did notice.

“You’re warm,” Chigiri murmured, voice soft and slightly hoarse.

Kunigami gave a low, breathy chuckle. “You can sleep, y'know,” he said, quiet, gentle. “I’ll keep watch.”

Chigiri didn’t answer right away. He just stayed still for a second longer… then exhaled slowly and let his body lean to the side. Carefully. Naturally. Until his head rested against Kunigami’s broad shoulder. The contact was soft, unhurried—like he had done it a thousand times before. Like it was the only place his body knew how to rest.

Kunigami froze for half a second—just half—then relaxed. He didn’t move away, didn’t say a word. He just shifted again slightly so Chigiri wouldn’t slide off, adjusting like this was something he’d protect without needing to be asked.

And Chigiri… didn’t remember when he last felt this safe. His eyes fluttered shut, and with the sound of Kunigami’s slow breathing beside him, he let himself sleep.

Chigiri had leaned back first, sighing softly as his body relaxed against the cold wall. His legs stretched out, one foot brushing against Kunigami’s, but he didn’t move away. Kunigami froze for a second.

Then he blinked. Breathed in.

Chigiri was asleep. Completely, peacefully, asleep.

His breath was soft against Kunigami’s shoulder, warm despite the chill of the room. The weight of him wasn’t heavy—it was grounding. Steadying. Real.

Kunigami didn’t move. Didn’t dare.

He just stared ahead, muscles slowly loosening one by one. His chest rose with a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding for hours.

'It's funny how I think I'm protecting you..'

But right now, with Chigiri asleep on his shoulder, it hit him like a quiet, aching truth—

'You're the one holding me together.'

Not with words. Not with big, dramatic gestures. Just by being here. Just by still breathing beside him. By not crumbling under all of this. By trusting him enough to fall asleep like this, even when the world outside their walls was chaos.

'You make me feel like I’m still human.'

A part of Kunigami wanted to look down at him, to memorize the softness of his expression in sleep. But he didn’t. He stayed still. 

His gaze lifted to the shadowed ceiling.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Kunigami felt okay sitting still.

Because Chigiri was here.

And that was enough.