The sun rises ominously over Eastside High, casting long shadows that stretch like skeletal fingers across the cracked pavement. The once-vibrant building now stands in eerie silence, as if holding its breath in anticipation of the day's sinister events. Inside, the fluorescent lights flicker, casting an uneasy glow over the labyrinthine hallways. The students shuffle through, oblivious to the gathering storm on the horizon.
Souta, a thoughtful and quiet senior, roams the halls with an air of suspicion. He's always had a natural knack for leadership, though he wears it with the subtlety of a lone wolf. He's the kind of person who observes, analyzes, and acts only when necessary. Today, that ability feels more like a curse than a gift. Despite his calm exterior, he feels a gnawing unease, as if an invisible hand is pressing on his chest. But he tries to shake it off—after all, it's just another Monday, right?
His friend Kenji bounds up beside him, always bursting with energy and sporting a grin as wide as his enthusiasm. Normally, Kenji can break Souta's serious demeanor with just a well-placed joke, but today his efforts fall flat. There's an unusual tension in the air, thick and stifling.
"Yo, Souta! What's up, man? You look like you've seen a ghost," Kenji says, elbowing him playfully.
"Something feels off," Souta replies, scanning the crowd as they make their way down the hall.
Kenji just laughs, giving his friend a playful shove. "You and your conspiracy theories, man. Relax! It's just another boring day at Eastside."
But Souta can't shake the feeling. He decides to skip lunch and retreats to his sanctuary—the library. It's a place where he finds solace among the dusty shelves, surrounded by stories of survival and tales of heroes facing the end of the world. There's a sense of comfort in knowing that, no matter how grim the circumstances, someone always finds a way to survive. Today, however, the library feels different. The usually familiar rows of books seem to loom over him, as if the words themselves are whispering dark secrets.
An announcement crackles over the loudspeakers, startling him. The voice is distorted, robotic, almost inhuman.
"Attention, students and faculty. There will be a chemical delivery later today. Please avoid the science wing until further notice."
The message cuts off abruptly, leaving a hollow silence in its wake. A chill runs down Souta's spine. The warning sounded innocuous enough, but something about the tone of the voice unnerves him. He glances around the library, noting the other students who seem unbothered, blissfully unaware of the strange atmosphere.
Back in the halls, Kenji's laughter echoes faintly as he and a group of friends head to the cafeteria. Souta's on edge; he feels an urge to warn his friend, but he knows Kenji won't take him seriously. Resigned, he settles back into his chair, but he can't bring himself to open the survival manual he brought with him. For the first time, the thought of reading feels trivial.
