I slowly open my eyes.

"Oi, Cay! Quickly bring the first aid kit!" (???)

My vision begins to correct itself as I push myself from the ground.

"Be careful, there are broken glass all over the floor!" (???)

As my classmates’ voices were ringing in my ears from my surroundings, I push my body from the floor. What I saw before me was a mess of a classroom; as if a tornado had blown through. School materials, broken glass, and small chunks of white concrete were strewn on the floor. I look up to see fist-sized holes in the ceiling. Our classroom was on the second floor, so I carefully scan near my feet for any holes.

"WHA!?---!" (Male Classmate)

Nearly everyone turns to see what the shock in his voice was about and turn to see him looking out the window. With a mix of fear and curiosity, more than half the class gathers near the windows. I also did the same, and gasp.

"Eh? W-Why is there a forest outside… I don't remember such…" (Female Classmate)

Some of my classmates open the windows for a clearer view.

"Oi, oi. A-Are you serious…?" (Male Classmate)

W-Why are we surrounded by a forest…!? Our school was located in a residential area, surrounded by houses. At the very least, there was no memory of such a vast forest as part of that scenery. My classmates that were still busy treating the light injuries of their friends, seem to have listened in on our shocking discovery with clearly confused expressions. Eh? Now that I’m near the opened windows, I hear a rumbling noise from the distance.

"Hey, do you hear that noise?..." (Female Classmate)

I hear clamoring in the other classrooms. Everyone in the school must hear it. The sounds were slowly but noticeably getting louder.

"AAA-AAHHHHH!!!" (???)

I turn to the source of the scream, and realize it was from the neighboring classroom. I face towards the direction of the forest. The trees are slightly shivering beyond the horizon. Did they catch sight of something...? It felt like the rumbling sound of an earthquake was heading towards our direction. I feel that it will be a matter of time before it begins ringing in my ears...

"A-Alright, calm down! You kids wait here, and don't cause any trouble! I will run over to the faculty room!" (???)

Few of my classmates manage to force a nod, but most of us remain stupefied from the series of developments. We all watch our teacher quickly exit the classroom. The neighboring classroom seem to be panicking, as I hear their screams from our classroom.

"..." (Shuka)

For a moment I unconsciously reached into my pocket for my cell phone, with thoughts of contacting Bro… He used to always empathize the importance of immediately getting in contact if I ever gotten in trouble; especially back when I was still in elementary school. Nonetheless, I never thought of it as something annoying, rather I was happy to be worried by him. Including the outset of ‘that' incident, I understood his worries; so I properly listened to his words. I wonder, from which point was it that he began to stop being too overprotective of me?... Ah, only now I realized my cell phone isn't on me anymore. I must have dropped it somewhere. Right as I was about to crouch down to search-

"Guys… R-Run...!!" (Male Classmate)

"Eh?" (Male Classmate)

"I saw it… M-Monsters…!! We have to run!!" (Male Classmate)

Everyone looks at each other, unable to comprehend what their classmate was uttering. He runs out the classroom, followed with his friends stricken by panic.

"AH-W-Wait! Awete!!!" (Classmate)

"Oi!!" (Classmate)

M-Monsters...!? S-Should I run too...? I also start getting swept up in the atmosphere and begin panicking as well.

"I’m not going to twiddle my thumbs until the teachers reach a decision. Are you coming with me or not!" (???)

I hear an angry shout nearby and turn to see two of my classmates seemingly arguing.

"...I’m sorry for yelling. Please, trust me." (Classmate)

I see a girl holding onto another girl’s wrist. She seemed hesitant, but eventually nods. The two were Janna and Suki, and everyone knew they were really intimate friends. They quickly exit the classroom right after the first group. Witnessing that scene, images of Saeki and Saki overlap the two girls in my mind. In the first place, I wanted to meet up with Saki and Saeki before anything else.

"..." (Shuka)

Without another thought, I ran out of the classroom as well. It felt like I gained a bit of courage to move. In the hallway, there were already students running amok.

"I-I have to hurry!!" (Shuka)

I voice my thoughts to no one in particular and run down the disorderly hall. Before I was able to make it past a few meters down the hallway, it becomes more and more crowded. Everyone is beginning to exit their classrooms following the flow of others. Someone bumps into me, and I end up falling over.

"KYAA-!?" (Shuka)

I fall backwards on my bottom. I-I have no time for this! Right when I was about to stand up, the floor shakes and I tumble down again.

"KYAA-!!" (???)

"AHHH!!" (???)

"AHH!?" (???)

"AHHHHHH!-" (???)

"KYAAA!!!" (???)

"AHHHHH!!" (???)

Screams of panic sound around me. Even I was about to scream, but I managed to hold back as I held onto the floor for dear life. As the shaking which lasted no shorter than 10 seconds slowly subsided, I open my eyes. My breathing was rough from panic, and I felt sick to my stomach. My head is swirling with dizziness. I never experienced such a scary quake before. All the students I see in the hallway were gripping on the walls and floors of the hallway, in similar situations.

"W-What was that...?" (???)

A nearby student voiced his thoughts out loud. I try and stand, but realize my legs aren’t moving. I realize that they were shaking… but I can't seem to calm down enough to move immediately. Many of the students were able to quickly recover and continue on with their escape, leaving me and a bare few behind.

"M-Move! Dammit!" (Shuka)

I yell in self-deprecation. As I struggle to stand up once more, I was suddenly pushed aside by someone as they rush past me.

"KYA-!?" (Shuka)

"Move!!!" (???)

On top of my shaky legs, I fell to the side at the wrong angle, landing badly.

"Urgh!?" (Shuka)

I felt a familiar pain all too well, and I was afraid to check. N-No way… I notice the students in the hallway has dwindled considerably. I truly started getting anxious of my situation.

"D-Don’t think about it." (Shuka)

I slowly stood back up as I try to convince myself there is no pain.

“Urgh-!?" (Shuka)

Halfway up, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and quickly stuck to the wall to support myself. I’m an idiot…

"W-What do I do?........." (Shuka)

"A-Are you okay, Shuka-senpai?" (???)

I hear a voice behind me. ‘Senpai’? An underclassman? I can count those who call me ‘senpai' on one hand, but only one sticks my name to this honorific. I turn to look-

"Chiiai? is that you?" (Shuka)

"W-Wha-What happened to your leg!? Wait..." (Chiiai)

Considering that I’m slightly bending my right leg up, her eyes move to my ankle out of reflex. She seems to have realized.

"D-Don’t tell me-" (Chiiai)

"Ahaha…" (Shuka)

I interrupted her with a strained laugh. We’re in the same club after all, and our club tends to get these sorts of injuries. Actually, I think any normal person would be able to guess even without being involved in extracurricular activities.

"Someone bumped into me, and I ended up falling in a bad position..." (Shuka)

"Someone…?" (Chiiai)

She makes a sour expression. She grabs my hand over her shoulder and supports me from my right.

"Eh? Chiiai, you need to ru-" (Shuka)

"I can't believe they bumped into you but didn't even bother helping you out of here! Please don't tell me you let them go!? You are too lenient with others, Shuka-senpai!" (Chiiai)

I leave my mouth half-open, lost for words.

"...A-Ahaha…" (Shuka)

It's true I didn't bother checking who pushed me, but more like I was panicking too much to care about my surroundings. I wanted to reach Saeki and Saki as soon as I can. Chiiai sighs.

"Hahh… Anyway, I can guess what you want to say, but I’m not leaving you behind, Shuka-senpai." (Chiiai)

I was read like a book… Probably nothing I say is going to change her stance, since she was always stubborn to a fault when she decides on something; but burdening her because of my carelessness is… Ahhh!! I will just think about it after I meet up with Saki and Saeki! I should be grateful to Chiiai, after all I’m relieved at the same time.

"I… I'll leave it to you, Chiiai. Thank you." (Shuka)

"Leave it to me!" (Chiiai)

I leave the rest of my weight to Chiiai and moved from the wall to rely on Chiiai to support myself.

"Chiiai, can you help me reach Saeki’s classroom before we leave the building?" (Shuka)

"Saeki? ...Ah! Uhn, Was it the hallway further down?" (Chiiai)

"Yeah. I’ll show the way." (Shuka)

As we quickly moved along, I finally notice the surroundings have become eerie quiet. Our footsteps were echoing down the hallway. What happen to the screams...? Our last conversation seems to have been the last audible voice in our surroundings. The rumbling noise is also gone… meaning that last quake was the end of it. Noticing me falling quiet, Chiiai stops moving for a moment. Even if no one is screaming… with the number of students in our school, at least a few conversations among the students should be heard nearby. Did everyone actually run away somewhere? To the forest? Why didn't they wait for everyone to regroup?... The so-called ‘monster' that my classmates claimed to have spotted resurfaces from my memory. I start getting worried as various possibilities begin to form.

"Shuka-senpai?" (Chiiai)

She also surveys our surroundings. Suddenly, I hear a few large footsteps resound within the school. Suddenly a scream from a male student echoed from the first floor. Another scream, and another, and more followed in succession from different directions. I turn to face Chiiai, and she does the same. We felt dread.

"N-No, please help me! HELP! SOMEBODY, HELP M-" (???)

Another scream, except it sounded like it was somewhere on the second floor this time. It was soundlessly cut off before silence took over once more. It was a scream for help in vain. I completely ignored the screaming pain from my leg and quickly dragged my ‘support’ along into the nearest classroom.

"Hah… Hah..." (Shuka)

"S-Shuka-senpai, what do you think wa-" (Chiiai)

"S-Shhh." (Shuka)

Although she was speaking under her breath, I hastily cover her mouth. I wonder what I’m even doing. Chiiai is one of my dear relationships I formed at school, so I moved to try and hide her without thinking. I look around the classroom and see a small locker in the corner. It doesn't seem like a hiding spot fit for two… Maybe I could've ran to search for a place fit for both of us to hide, but with this injury… At least I am calm enough to understand that we don't have enough time. Bro would get mad at me if he was here but… at this point my utmost priority is now hiding Chiiai from the incoming danger. I ask her to help me over to the locker, and gently hustle her inside it. Yes, it seems from Chiiai’s small body frame, she was able to fit inside. She was showing a reluctant expression, as she stopped herself halfway from my hustling.

"When you asked me to move over here, I thought we would both be hiding together… Y-You should be the one hiding, Shuka-senpai. Switch with me." (Chiiai)

As she grabs my wrist and was about to move back out the locker, she catches my gaze and falters.

"Chiiai." (Shuka)

"B-But what about you, Shuka-senpai…?" (Chiiai)

She gazes into my eyes now with uneasiness and worry. I am actually really scared for my life. I don’t even have any plans, and I’m acting based on irrational emotions. I don't even know if I’d be able to escape whatever is coming. What I do know is that I don't want the both of us to be caught, especially because of me; but with Chiiai’s personality, it would be difficult to convince her.

"Don’t worry about me. I’m glad you always worry for me, but please let me worry for you for once. You understand right? Both of us escaping isn't realistic with my sprain." (Shuka)

Although I want to believe it's not an illogical choice. My injury. Even if I find a chance to escape later, this sprained ankle isn't something that would heal in a single day. No, forget a day… it might take weeks without proper care. Despite that, this would sound like an excuse to her; so instead of making an obvious excuse, I should make up a reasonable excuse giving her little time to think, and forcibly move the one-sided conversation along.

"When you find a chance, escape to the forest. It is easier to find cover there. Although, you might already have that idea in mind. You’re much smarter than me after all, ahaha..." (Shuka)

Although trying to convince her with excuses might be in vain, because Chiiai is one of the smartest amongst the first years. She might’ve already seen through me, and my decision to leave her behind. She is probably trying to figure out a solution for both of us to escape. The scene I witnessed of the vast forest resurfaces in my mind. I don't know how dangerous it is, but it can't be worse than remaining in this school… An idea comes to mind. I remove a cute-looking hair clip and held it carefully as if it was a treasure. I took Chiiai’s hand and placed it on her palm.

"Eh...? Isn’t this something you received from your brothe-" (Chiiai)

I hear the sounds of large footsteps approaching. There is no more time left.

…

…

I hear sounds of large footsteps approaching from down the hallway. I was worriedly gazing at Shuka-senpai’s complexion full of dread, as she suddenly turn towards the direction of the classroom entrance. I knew Shuka-senpai was more weak-hearted amongst the people I knew, despite her bright personality. I really wanted to convince her to switch with me, but her eyes reflected a determination which left me with my words stuck in my throat. I actually had confidence in searching for another place with Shuka-senpai in tow for both of us to hide, so hearing her say things like ‘both of us escaping isn't realistic’ is something I couldn't accept. Yet, I was left speechless by her next action. She suddenly handed me her precious hair clip she always spoke to me about.

"I just want you to hold onto it for me. You're worried about me, right? If you have this, I will have to go and find you to have you return it back to me. You know it's important to me, so I want it back later." (Shuka)

I understood how important it was, and how much it meant to Shuka-senpai. I finally give in, and close my hand showing that I've accepted it.

"Dont worry about me, Shuka-senpai. I will escape. P-Please hurry and find a place to hide too. You have to meet up with me again later, so I can return it to you." (Chiiai)

Shuka doesn't reply and smiles at my reply. She seems less tense now. She silently shuts the locker, and I hear her moving a nearby desk to keep the locker closed. I look above me to find light making its way through three horizontal slits. I move towards the slits to get a view of what she is doing in the classroom and find Shuka-senpai straggling towards the door.

「Please, hurry!」

My thoughts of wanting to help urged me to run out, but I can't break my word. The door opens before Shuka-senpai reaches the door. I gasp and cover my mouth with both hands. A large silhouette, more than 2 meters tall, stood at the entrance. It grabs Shuka-senpai’s head, and she struggles by hitting and grabbing the large hand. No more than 3 seconds, she suddenly stopped struggling and went limp. The monster drops her on the side like a toy and scans the room. It was the shape of a humanoid, and its body was pitch black. It had a tail with a large arrowhead at its tip the size of my palm. Its own palms were larger than my head, and it had two arms on each side. It had four red horns attached on its head, and four long human-like legs.

I hurriedly drop my head with heightened fear. I slowly sit down while trying to not make a single sound and wrap my arms around my knees. I notice I am tearing up, so I use the sleeve of my school uniform to cover my mouth trying to stifle my voice as much as possible. A teardrop falls on my knee, proof that my body has begun shivering in tears. My breathing became rough, and I became unable to understand what I am feeling anymore. Anger? Fear? Grief? Helplessness? Is Shuka-senpai alive? Tell me she is alive. What do I do if I'm found out? Should I go save her? Should I wait, and find a chance save her later? No, should I escape on my own? I can try and find help in the forest. Will there be anyone able to help though? Various thoughts swirl in my mind. The biggest question is to find out if Shuka-senpai is still alive or not. There was no evident proof that she was killed by that… that monster. There was no blood. Yes, there was no blood. I feel like if I don't confirm it with my own eyes, I would be traumatized for life.

A few seconds which felt like an eternity pass, and finally I hear footsteps sound further and further away from the room. I slowly move my head up. I look towards the spot Shuka-senpai was thrown to and find to see an empty space. I return to crouch down.

"Hic… Hic… HicgHic-Hic*sniffs*Hic..." (Chiiai)

I begin sobbing for the rest of the day in the locker, feeling agitated by fear and overwhelmed by distress.

...

…

I open my eyes. The last thing I remember is smelling something sweet, then I felt my body suddenly blacking out. I met up with Saeki, and we were about to wait for Shuka to come along; but suddenly a dangerous quake happened, and as a result the floor gave in. We couldn't wait in the classroom anymore, so we followed the others and escaped outside as the situation escalated. I wasn't too worried about Shuka, since she is an athletic girl. She should also understand when she sees the collapsed floor of Saeki’s classroom. I look around and notice nearly everyone is down for the count. Except for the fact that we are still in the plains just outside the school, all of us were crowded together. Wait...

"D-Did all of us really crowded together like this…? This far away from the school...? No… Why is everyone on the ground in the first place…?" (Saki)

I voice my thoughts under my breath. As everyone seems to be waking up, something enters my view. They were pitch black, and they were standing around our surroundings, a number more than I can count from sight alone. My palms were sweating, because those pitch-black beings were a monstrous sight; like monsters. I notice someone trying to slowly sneak away, back to the direction of the school; but as he was about to move any further, he was sudden electrocuted. A vaguely blueish-white wall partially appears around the student at the same moment. A nearby student panics and quick pulls him back away, releasing him from the electrocution. An invisible wall…? Suddenly, ‘magical barrier’ comes into mind, but I shake off that thought. No way...

"Ah, S-Saeki! Are you alright?" (Saki)

Saeki seems to be conscious now and lifts her body up. She held her head.

"Ow… Saki, what happened?" (Saeki)

It seems she bumped her head somewhere, otherwise she looks fine.

"W-Well…" (Saki)

I direct my gaze at my surroundings. Following my line of sight, Saeki does the same and gasps.

"W-Wha-..." (Saeki)

Saeki grabs my arm out of reflex. I look towards her hand. I am surprised at myself for being calmer than expected. I am scared, but not to the point like Saeki. Maybe having someone close showing that much fear and is relying on me has lightened my own fear. I take a deep breath, placing a hand on my chest. As I look around, it felt like about 85% of the whole student body are here. About 160 students. Did the rest manage to escape? I look around for Shuka in haste from the realization she might be here but I couldn't catch any sight of her.

"I-I… don't see Shuka anywhere… I hope she got away…” (Saeki)

Saeki must have also been trying to catch sight of Shuka as well. She returns her gaze to the monsters.

"Yeah…” (Saki)

As we were trying to calm our uneasiness enough to assess the situation, something movement is happening amongst the monsters. A completely dark red monster, with the same exact body build, excluding the fact it was nearly 3 meters tall, makes its appearance. Its build was larger than the rest, and it stuck out like a sore thumb. It was talking and pointing towards the school; then a few went off to the direction of the school. It turns its attention to us, approaching us with a few monsters in tow. I slowly stood up along with Saeki, unable to remain sitting down in this situation. Others also had the same thoughts and followed our example. No one said a word as the monster approaches from 15 meters away, closer and closer. It places it's palms in the air 3 meters away from us, and suddenly a barely visible wall surrounding us enters our sight. A gap opens up, just big enough for the red monster to enter. It enters the space with the monsters in tow and surveys us. A few of the students at the front reflexively take a step back from fear. It raises its right hand and as if gripping the air, at the same time a block of earth raises from the ground. It sits down. Now I can hear it from a closer distance, it's speaking in some strange language with the nearby monsters.

"Saki…” (Saeki)

She looks over to me with dread. I am also full of dread. The red monster’s eyes are silently focused on us students throughout the whole discussion amongst themselves.

…