A calm before the storm—that was how Nach anxiously perceived the awkward atmosphere surrounding the four of them as they gathered and sat on the sofa to eat a breakfast of simple sandwiches and tea or coffee that the hotel staff had brought early in the morning.
The awkwardness wasn't only because they were all wearing bathrobes, since their clothes had been sent to the hotel's laundry service. There was also the scene of Yui waking up before dawn and finding Nach, Saeko, and Miku sleeping on the sofa as if they had just enjoyed a satisfying threesome.
Saeko felt completely embarrassed by the accusation of a threesome, while Yui, though embarrassed as well, was slightly annoyed that Nach hadn't included her and turned it into a foursome.
Miku, on the other hand, was only focused on serving Nach—cutting the steak they hadn't eaten the night before and prompting him to open his mouth so she could feed him before eating her own portion.
Nach, meanwhile, was worried about a completely different matter.
Recalling the sequence of the ongoing new plot, he knew that what usually followed an event of intimacy was a confrontation with a dangerous undead.
The fact that Nach had shared intimacy with Miku, Yui, and Saeko the night before meant the consequences would probably be threefold as well—or so he assumed. Regardless, there was no way he wouldn't have done what he did, nor would he regret it.
"Let them cum," Nach said confidently with a serious expression, before grinning at his own pun.
It only made Saeko and Yui even more embarrassed, covering their blushing faces with both hands, while Miku cheerfully nodded in agreement, clearly misunderstanding what he actually meant.
—Ring~Ring!—
Breaking the awkward atmosphere was the sound of a phone ringing inside Nach's backpack.
Nach stood up from the sofa, telling everyone to continue their breakfast as he picked up the phone.
A mixture of delight and trouble flashed across his face. After all, the call was listed as Takagi Estate, and Nach had completely forgotten his promise to Saya that he would call to inform them of their status.
Looking through the holographic screen of the Reader's Viewpoint flashing at the corner of his vision, Nach confirmed that Saya was indeed on the other side, holding the phone at the mansion along with Kyoko, Shizuka, Rei, and everyone else.
They all had the same worried expressions, except for Saya, who looked slightly annoyed—telling Nach he would definitely receive a harsh scolding once he answered the call, which he did.
[You idiot Pervert-sensei! At least tell me Busujima-senpai is still alive!]
Saya shouted over the phone, even though Nach hadn't spoken yet to confirm he was the one on the other side.
"Sorry for not calling and making everyone worry, Saya," Nach said immediately, apologizing to ease both their concerns and Saya's anger.
[Who said I was worried about you? … I'm only worried about Busujima-sensei!]
Despite her denial, the flustered face Nach could see through the Reader's Viewpoint—and her stammering voice—were enough to tell him she had been worried about him.
"We're doing okay, of course. And Saeko's here, eating breakfast."
[Say that first… Huh? … Ask him about the other students? … Just ask him yourself, Hayashi-sensei.]
Nach watched Kyoko speak to Saya before taking the phone from her. After a few seconds of silence, Kyoko finally spoke.
[I'm sorry for asking so much of you, Nach.]
Kyoko's downhearted tone—uncharacteristic of her strict and imposing demeanor—told Nach how guilty she felt for asking him to take on the unreasonable task of searching for the missing students.
Regardless of the danger, Nach had already planned to save Miku in the first place, along with Toshimi, Misuzu, and Morita at the very least, so Kyoko didn't need to feel guilty.
"I'm your lover, Kyoko. I'd do anything I'm capable of just to satisfy you," Nach said to ease her guilt—though he didn't miss the chance to take advantage of the moment.
"But I'm still expecting a reward that'll satisfy me as well once we make it back—"
[Are you saying you already found them?!]
Kyoko's excited and relieved expression told Nach he would receive another harsh scolding for his misleading words. But to his surprise, Kyoko didn't get mad when he explained that he had only found and rescued one student so far.
[Do you at least have an idea where the rest of the students are?]
Hearing her downhearted tone again and knowing Kyoko felt guilty for asking him to continue the search, Nach tried to cheer her up.
"I have an idea where they might have taken shelter," Nach said, reassuring her that the remaining students were still alive.
He couldn't say any more details to support his claim—though through the Reader's Viewpoint, he could see Shido's group with Takashi, as well as Takayama's group with Morita, Toshimi, and Misuzu, conveniently meeting at the Shopping Mall where police officers Matsushima and Asami Nakaoka had taken shelter.
I guess that's where we're going next, Nach thought as he explained his plan to travel from Tominaga Hotel to the shopping mall located in the center of Tokonosu City's east side.
"By the way, Kyoko, have you and Shizuka already talked things out?" Nach added teasingly, knowing Shizuka still hadn't told her that she had become his lover as well.
While Kyoko questioned Shizuka—or rather, chased after her as Shizuka escaped the room—Saya took the phone again.
[Let me talk to Busujima-senpai.]
Unsure what Saya wanted to say, Nach handed the phone to Saeko.
"How are you doing, Takagi-san?" Saeko asked calmly, doing her best to hide her lingering embarrassment.
But Saya wouldn't miss such an obvious stammer in her voice.
[I'm doing fine. We're all fine. Now please return the phone to the pervert.]
Confused, Saeko handed the phone back to Nach.
The instant Nach pressed it to his ear, he heard the most terrifying roar since waking up inside the world of Highschool of the Dead.
[YOU FREAKING PERVERT!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO BUSUJIMA—]
"She's going to be really mad at us, Nach-sensei," Saeko said, watching Nach frantically end the call, laughing despite her flustered face.
"I'm probably going to be burned at the stake once we get there—but let's not worry about that for now."
---
Once they finished breakfast, their clothes—now clean and dry—were delivered to their room.
Miku was the happiest of all, seeing her uniform restored to pristine condition, just as Nach had cleaned her inside and out. She was even more overjoyed when Nach handed her the sledgehammer as her weapon.
"Are you sure you can wield something this heavy, Miku? We could find a much smaller hammer."
"I don't want something small like that. I want something big like this—like yours, Nach-sama."
Seeing Miku clinging to Nach while acting completely different from her terrified demeanor the day before, even Yui couldn't hide her surprise—especially considering Miku had fully recovered from her sprained ankle.
"So this is how you actually behave, Yuuki-san," Yui said, catching Miku's attention.
"Don't be so formal, Yui—just call me Miku," she replied, clinging to her before continuing.
"After all, the three of us are Nach-sama's lovers, right, Saeko?"
Saeko couldn't respond with words, but her deeply blushing face was more than enough to confirm her answer.
---
In the hotel lobby, they met the owner Tominaga, who was already waiting for them along with several other residents and survivors.
Nach explained their plan to head to the shopping mall, under the pretense of checking whether any Fujimi Academy students had taken shelter there.
"Once we're done there, we'll head to the Takagi Estate," Nach said, concluding his explanation.
"For a part-time instructor, you're remarkably dutiful and admirable, Nach-sensei," Tominaga said, handing him a car key.
"Take my car. I'm not sure how far you'll get with the traffic, but you can exit through the hotel's back entrance."
"Isn't this a Royce car key?! Are you sure, Mr. Tominaga?"
Nach trembled with excitement at the thought of driving a luxury sports car, while Yui and Tominaga laughed at his reaction. Just then, the elderly security guard Hogosha escorted another survivor inside after the other guards checked the high school girl in a Fujimi Academy uniform for bite marks.
"Huh?" Nach paused, noticing a familiar-looking girl with glasses, black hair, and twin braids, as an ominous chill crept up his gut.
Before he could remember where he had seen her, the girl noticed Miku and Saeko standing beside him.
"Miku, Busujima-san… I knew it. You're both still alive," the girl said excitedly—not in a cheerful tone, but in an intoxicated one, as if her excitement overwhelmed her reason.
"Yoshi-san," Saeko replied—not with her usual gentle smile, but in a suspicious tone, sensing something was wrong;
And Miku's words confirmed it all.
"How are you still alive, Saki?"