Chapter 7: The Way of the Sword
April 28, 20XX8:00 a.m.
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Saeko Busujima’s day began in her usual manner, enveloped in the calm and quiet of early morning. The soft light of dawn filtered through the shoji screens of her family’s traditional home, casting long, peaceful shadows on the tatami mats. This tranquil start to her day was something Saeko cherished, a time to focus her thoughts and center herself.
After a simple breakfast, Saeko dressed in her school uniform—a dark blue pleated skirt and blazer, paired with a crisp white blouse. She tied her long, dark hair into a neat ponytail, securing it with a ribbon. As she prepared to leave, her hand instinctively went to the bokken, a wooden practice sword, that she always carried in her bag. Even on days without kendo practice, she never left home without it.
‘I don’t have kendo practice today,’ she thought, glancing at the bokken, ‘but it’s better to be prepared.’
With that, she slipped on her shoes and left the house. The streets were calm, the air crisp, and cherry blossoms drifted lazily in the gentle spring breeze. Everything seemed ordinary—peaceful even. Yet, there was a tension in the air that Saeko couldn’t quite place, a sense of unease that tugged at the edges of her awareness.
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April 28, 20XX
3:45 p.m.
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The school day passed uneventfully, though Saeko couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had lingered since morning. Without kendo practice, she decided to spend some time wandering the school grounds. The warm afternoon sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden hue over the buildings. She strolled through the courtyards, lost in thought, her hand brushing against the bokken she carried in her bag.
But her peaceful walk was interrupted when she noticed something amiss. The usual chatter of students was replaced by frantic shouts, and groups of students were running, their faces pale with fear. Saeko’s instincts sharpened instantly. She quickened her pace, her hand now firmly gripping the bokken.
As she rounded a corner, the sight that met her eyes confirmed her worst fears. Several students were staggering, moving with a jerky, unnatural gait—zombies. The realization hit her hard, but she didn’t allow herself to panic. Instead, she drew the bokken from her bag and assumed a defensive stance.
‘Zombies? This can’t be happening,’ Saeko thought, though her body was already reacting, ready to defend herself and others.
The infected were slow, but their numbers were growing, and the students were panicking, making them easy prey. Saeko couldn’t stand by and watch her fellow students fall. She dashed forward, her bokken swinging with precision. The wooden blade connected with the nearest zombie’s skull with a sickening crack, sending it crumpling to the ground.
‘Stay calm. Focus. Protect them,’ Saeko reminded herself, her thoughts clear despite the chaos. Her movements were swift and practiced, each strike calculated to disable the zombies as quickly as possible. Her years of training were paying off in a way she had never imagined, but there was no time to dwell on the surreal nature of the situation.
As she fought, Saeko’s mind remained sharp, her senses attuned to every movement around her. She noticed a group of students trying to barricade themselves inside the gymnasium, their efforts frantic and uncoordinated.
‘The gym—it’s the safest place for now,’ she decided, her path clear.
But just as she started to move toward the gym, she heard a panicked voice calling out behind her. Turning, she saw Shizuka Marikawa, the school nurse, running toward her, eyes wide with terror.
“Help! Please, help me!” Shizuka cried out, her voice trembling.
Saeko quickly intercepted the zombies closing in on Shizuka, dispatching them with swift, efficient strikes. She then reached out, taking Shizuka’s arm to steady her.
“Follow me. We need to get to the gymnasium,” Saeko instructed, her voice calm but firm.
Shizuka nodded, though she was clearly rattled. “O-Okay… I’ll stay close…”
With the nurse in tow, Saeko moved swiftly toward the gym, her eyes scanning the area for any further threats. The gym was their best option for shelter, and she intended to get them both inside safely.
But just as they neared the entrance, a loud crash echoed from a nearby hallway, and Shizuka’s nerves shattered. With a yelp, she bolted in the opposite direction, fear driving her actions.
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“Wait! Don’t run!” Saeko called after her, but it was too late. Shizuka had already disappeared around a corner, her footsteps echoing in the corridor.
For a moment, Saeko hesitated, torn between chasing after Shizuka and continuing to the gym. The sound of the infected closing in made the decision for her. She had to secure the gym—other lives depended on it.
‘She’ll be okay,’ Saeko told herself, though she couldn’t help but feel a pang of worry. ‘I have to trust that she’ll find her way.’
With that, she hurried to the gymnasium doors, her bokken at the ready. The infected were closing in, but she moved with purpose, cutting down any that crossed her path. She reached the gym and quickly secured the entrance, her breathing steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
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April 28, 20XX
6:30 p.m.
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The gymnasium was quiet, the distant moans of the infected outside echoing through the large space. Saeko stood near the entrance, her bokken still in hand, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room. She had secured the area for now, but she knew the defenses wouldn’t hold for long.
‘This place isn’t safe,’ Saeko thought, her mind racing with possibilities. ‘I need to find somewhere more secure… or at least regroup with others who can help.’
As she considered her next move, Saeko realized that staying in the gym alone was not an option. The infected would soon overwhelm the makeshift barricades. She needed to think ahead, to plan her next step carefully.
‘It’s time to go home,’ she decided, her thoughts turning to the katana her father had kept. ‘I need a better weapon. The bokken won’t be enough.’
With a resolve to protect herself and anyone else she might encounter, Saeko exited the gymnasium as stealthily as she could, avoiding the infected as she made her way out of the school. The streets outside were chaotic, but her training kept her calm and focused. She moved through the shadows, avoiding large groups of zombies as she headed home.
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April 28, 20XX
10:00 p.m.
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Saeko arrived home under the cover of darkness, the quiet stillness of her family’s residence a stark contrast to the chaos she had just escaped. She slipped inside, her senses sharp, listening for any signs of danger. The house was undisturbed, a small solace in the madness that had taken over the city.
‘At least this place is still safe,’ she thought with relief. But Saeko knew she couldn’t stay long. She couldn’t abandon the others who might still be trapped at the school.
Saeko made her way to the living room, where her father’s katana was displayed. The blade was a family heirloom, passed down through generations, and she had trained with it under her father’s strict guidance. Now, it would serve her in this fight for survival.
With deliberate care, she removed the katana from its case, feeling the familiar weight of the blade in her hands. The polished steel gleamed faintly in the dim light, a symbol of her family’s legacy and her own commitment to the way of the sword.
‘This is what I’ve trained for,’ she thought, a sense of calm washing over her. ‘To protect, to fight… I can do this.’
That night, Saeko stayed in her home, her senses on high alert. She rested briefly but kept her guard up, knowing the danger was still out there. The sounds of the infected outside were a constant reminder of the battle that awaited her.
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April 29, 20XX
4:30 p.m.
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The next day began with the same eerie quiet. Saeko had prepared herself mentally and physically for what lay ahead. Her father’s katana was now secured at her side, its presence a comfort and a reminder of the responsibility she bore.
‘I need to go back,’ she thought, her resolve firm. ‘There are still people trapped at the school. I can’t leave them.’
She left her home with the intention of returning to Fujimi Academy. The streets were still overrun with the infected, but Saeko moved carefully, avoiding unnecessary confrontations. She knew that every fight could drain her energy, and she needed to conserve her strength for when it was truly needed.
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April 29, 20XX
10:20 p.m.
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By nightfall, Saeko had reached the outskirts of Fujimi Academy. The sight that greeted her was grim—the once orderly campus was now in shambles, overrun by the infected. She stayed hidden in the shadows, observing the situation from a distance.
‘I need to get inside,’ she thought, her mind working quickly to form a plan. ‘But I can’t just charge in… I need to draw them away first.’
As she watched, she noticed a large group of zombies beginning to gather near the gymnasium entrance. They were relentless, pressing against the barricades that Saeko knew wouldn’t hold for much longer.
‘If I wait too long, it’ll be too late,’ she realized, her heart pounding in her chest. ‘I have to act now.’
But before she could put her plan into action, the worst happened. The zombies broke through the gym entrance, their sheer numbers overwhelming the defenses. Saeko’s grip tightened on her katana. She had no choice now—she had to enter the fray.
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April 29, 20XX
10:30 p.m.
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With swift, decisive movements, Saeko charged into the horde, her katana cutting through the infected like a blade through water. Each strike was precise, deadly, and purposeful. She fought her way into the gym, where she encountered the group of survivors—Blake, Takashi, Rei, Saya, Kohta, and Shizuka.
They were overwhelmed, but Saeko’s sudden intervention turned the tide. She moved with the grace and efficiency of a warrior, her katana a blur as it sliced through the zombies. It didn’t take long for her to reach them, her presence a shock to the group who had been on the verge of defeat.
The group quickly fell in with her, following her lead as they made their escape. The gym was lost, but they still had a chance to survive if they worked together.
As they fled the school and boarded the bus, Saeko took a seat near the back, her mind still focused on the battles ahead. She didn’t know these people well, but they were her allies now, and she was determined to protect them.
The road ahead was uncertain, but Saeko was ready. She had trained her entire life for this, and she wouldn’t let fear or doubt stand in her way. Whatever challenges awaited them, she would face them head-on.
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End of Chapter 7