LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 15: CHAPTER 15
"Tch... I can't stand him!" Tsunoda spat, his finger jabbing in Takashi's direction. The animosity hung in the air, thick and palpable, like a storm cloud ready to burst.
"What the—" Takashi started, his brow furrowing as he prepared to stand up. But before he could make a move, Hisashi was there, blocking him, his body tense and ready to defend.
Hirano's finger hovered over the trigger of his nailgun, ready to fire if it meant protecting his friends. But Takagi placed a firm hand on his arm, shaking her head. "Don't. It'll only escalate things," she urged, her voice steady but laced with concern.
"Why? Do you have a problem with me? When did I ever say anything to you?" Takashi's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing as he faced Tsunoda, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.
"You!" Tsunoda growled through gritted teeth, advancing toward Takashi with aggression radiating from him like a wildfire.
Just as he swung a punch, Hisashi stepped in again, grabbing Tsunoda's arm and twisting it sharply to the side. Tsunoda let out a pained scream, but Hisashi was relentless, not giving him the chance to recover. Rei followed suit, delivering a powerful hit with her staff to Tsunoda's stomach, the impact echoing in the bus.
As Tsunoda collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, Rei looked down at him with disgust, her voice cold and steady. "You suck."
"Rei, stop. It's not worth it," Hisashi said, his voice firm but understanding, a glare directed at Tsunoda that spoke volumes. He could feel the tension in the air, thick and ready to snap.
"Rei, Hisashi," Takashi called them, his voice lightening the moment, a small smile creeping onto his face despite the chaos surrounding them. He appreciated their loyalty, but he knew better than to let it escalate into something more.
After a tense moment, Shido approached them, stepping over Tsunoda, who was still crumpled on the floor. He clapped slowly, his applause dripping with sarcasm. "Splendid work! Igou-kun, Miyamoto-san, that was some excellent teamwork. I'm really touched by your action to protect your friend. But…"
He paused, letting his words linger in the air, "the fact that this conflict arose simply proves what I stated earlier."
"Hey, what does he mean by that?" Okada leaned closer to Kazu and Nishinoya, his voice barely above a whisper, a mix of confusion and anxiety evident in his eyes.
"We really do need a leader—bla, bla, bla." Kazu mimicked Shido's tone, rolling his eyes.
"You hear that?" Niikaz interjected, a smirk playing on her lips as she glanced at Okada.
"Y-yeah…" Okada replied, an awkward smile forming as he finally understood the implications of Shido's statement.
"I don't want him to be a leader; I hate him!" Nishinoya exclaimed, frustration etched across his face. The memory of Shido's earlier cruelty lingered like a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Nishinoya-kun, let me see your leg; it looks hurt," Marikawa said, rising from her seat as she parked the bus on the side after checking surrounding looks clear.
Her voice was gentle, yet there was a firmness that signaled her authority. As she checked Nishinoya's condition, worry creased her brow.
"Lucky it's not serious. You'll be okay after resting for 5-6 days, or maybe even earlier than that."
"Thanks, sensei. But it'll be a problem from now on, right?" Nishinoya replied solemnly, the weight of his injury settling on his shoulders.
"Don't worry, I'll carry you. Leave it to me. Just focus on healing your leg," Kazu interrupted, his voice steady and reassuring. He was determined to support his friend in any way he could.
"Yeah, Kazu's right! If you get tired, I'll take a turn to carry you on my back. Before, during an outbreak, I got injured and still managed to survive! Don't lose hope, you idiot! You will make Marikawa-sensei sad!" Okada added, his tone half-joking but filled with earnest concern.
"O-oooh! I'm sorry! I'll work hard to heal it in 4—no, in 2 days!" Nishinoya exclaimed, his eyes lighting up momentarily with determination.
"No, that'll be impossible; are you an idiot?" Okada replied fast, his voice flat and monotonous.
"What did you say?!" Nishinoya shot back, turning his head quickly to glare at Okada, his competitive spirit flaring.
"Haha, now, now, calm down," Kazu chuckled lightly, relief flooding him as he witnessed his friends bickering. It felt oddly normal, a flicker of life amid the chaos that surrounded them.
"What good friends you have there," Marikawa giggled softly, the warmth in her laughter cutting through the tension. Okada and Nishinoya blushed, embarrassment creeping into their cheeks as they exchanged sheepish glances.
Niikaz, meanwhile, couldn't help but grin at the scene. Her lense glow forming a ring. In her view the hologram is formed infront of her shape in rectangle. She opened the map section.
Her expression turning serious as she checked the undead movement within a 1-kilometer radius. Looks like the undeads is not near that she has to worry for. As long as they aren't causing loud sound, this bus will remain safe.
"Next is-" The map gradually change into zoom out then zoom in to the certain location that caught her attention. Her brows furrowed as she observed countless undead moving slowly toward the bridge. (I see, maybe it's from the police and the crowd. No wonder it's vacant here.)
Niikaz closed the map, the hologram flickering out with a sigh. She glanced at her friends, a steely determination settling in her heart. They had to stay strong. They had to survive this.
As she turned her attention away, she suddenly remembered something but there was something important she had completely forgotten, a detail that could change everything.