They prowled the cafeteria. Crashing into each other, eating at whatever unlucky corpse hadn't turned yet. Splitting flesh and bone, devouring them piece by piece. They paid her and Naruto no mind while they silently searched. Watching Them eat this closely had a distinct appeal to it, if only as a learning experience. They were in a frenzy. Greedily stuffing Their mouths with chunks of dark wet mush.

Saeko wrinkled her nose in disgust. She preferred her meat cooked.

'What a strange disease. Or is it a curse? A godly plague, perhaps? Does it even matter at this point?'

A girl, her uniform in tatters, stumbled upon their path. Dried blood darkening her mutilated features. It was close. Beady, grey eyes swiveled and fell in their direction. Close enough to pick up on the smell of fresh meat even with the gore smearing their bodies. It opened It's mouth to shriek.

A blade lodged itself between It's eyes. Naruto caught the body before it hit the ground, silently laying It at his feet. He wedged the crude, homemade knife out of It's skull. A trail of blood attached to the shard of glass. Wiping it on his pants leg, Naruto let out a sigh.

"What a waste of time..." He whispered, more to himself than to her.

"I wouldn't say that," Saeko added with a quaint smile. "I'm impressed. You're good, Naruto-kun. In fact, you're better than good. I'd go as far as to say you're doing suspiciously well."

He snubbed her, opting to scour through more trash for anything that would serve to be edible food.

"Oh, how I wish you'd stop being so cold, Naruto-kun. I volunteered to come out here with you, did I not? Even though it's a risk. I care about you, don't you know?"

Naruto snorted.

"Is that so? I never was good with women."

"Yes. I suppose you are rather bad at it."

They walked by each other's side. She tried every so often to slide through the cracks and spark up a conversation. He denied her every time. Naruto didn't want to talk. He lacked the usual fire. His thoughts were on other things, other people.

'Misuzu...That girl, he's thinking about her.'

The smile on her face widened.

"I must say, you really are handling this rather splendidly." She tapped her fingers on the hilt of her wooden sword as they marched, "This isn't your first time, is it? All of this killing and death." She gestured to the horror encompassing them. "You've seen it before."

Cryptic blue eyes peered into hers.

"I play a lot of violent video games."

A lifetime spent alone and in the dark, hunting for something to fill the space. For a long time, Saeko had a theory that she'd been born into hell, until the day that she met him. She'd never let him getaway. She would never feel alone again.

The shadows bent and crawled under the dimming light of the sun. The blue skies outside were nearly black now, overwhelmed by the smoke and flames.

'It feels like every time I learn a little more about you, I know less.'

Saeko watched his retreating back. The dark drank in his form, and he greeted it. She felt spellbound. Stricken. There was no denying it, more so, she'd be a fool to deny it in the very first place.

"Saeko," He stopped, "Why are you doing this?"

She was in love with him.

"Whatever do you mean, Naruto-kun? Doing what?"

"This. Whatever this is. You and me. This is the end, you understand, right? There is no going back. Once I leave this school, you'll never see me again."

It's not over. It never will be, not as long as she still drew breath. If he wanted to blame anyone, he should blame the god that so graciously bestowed her such a complete and perfect gift. She will not let go. Saeko would never allow her life to go back to what it used to be. She'd never let that break crack open again and split her heart in two.

Saeko would pursue him to the ends of the Earth because he made her feel less alone.

With that same smile, she took her place at his side. "I doubt it will be that simple, Naruto-kun. Things never work out the way you want them too, after all."

"Why are you crying?"

Nikki flinched at the unfamiliar call. Puffy, bloodshot eyes blinked, and she suddenly realized that she wasn't the only one occupying the riverbank anymore. Another girl was staring down at her with wide brown eyes. A pretty bow neatly tied unto her long dark hair danced behind her in the passing breeze.

"I-It's nothing..." She was lying, her parents abandoned her again. They left for London on another business trip, and on the very first day of school.

Nikki couldn't take seeing everyone show up with their family or guardians, she couldn't bear hearing their words of encouragement and knowing she'd never heard the same from her own parents.

"I don't know. It sure seems like there is.'

The look in her eyes. It was...familiar? Who was this girl? Why did she even bother talking to her?

She sat next to her, crossing her legs over one another and placing her elbows on her knees.

"From my perspective, you look lonely. I'm lonely too. Do you want to be my friend?"

Nikki squinted through her tears.

"W-What...?"

The girl giggled at her apparent confusion, covering her mouth with her hand in an attempt to stiffen her laughter. "My name is Misuzu." A small, frail hand hovered in front of her. "Let's be friends!"

Nikki eyed it for moment, then reached out and took it, quietly enjoying the warmth Misuzu seemed to spread.

"O-Okay."

This was the worst she'd ever felt in her entire life. Nikki's head hurt, her entire body ached. The only thing she could do was stare into the empty cup of water she'd chugged seconds before. It didn't do much to relieve the dry feeling in her throat but it helped.

A piece of her was still clinging to the notion that it was all just an awful dream.

"How are you feeling? You were out for some time. You shouldn't overdo things." Shizuka, Nikki recalled, had helped keep an eye on her while she slept.

"I'm feeling better, I guess."

Nikki's throat felt like a desert. What happened to her? No matter how hard she tried, Nikki could not remember anything. When she tried to force the memory she'd see nothing but a mix of blurs and shapes. A multitude of faces and their collective screams blending together into one horrifying picture.

She felt sick again.

Nikki's eyes darted around the room again. They landed on the only other person she knew, Hayashi-sensei. The woman taught her third block Physics class and did a good job of it. Kyoko waved and gave a smile that betrayed her, as did the blood varnishing her shirt. Then there was the girl next to her, a redhead a shade darker with cropped, unruly locks.

"My name's Yukki." She cooed with a wink. "Didn't anyone tell you? It's rude to stare."

Nikki gulped.

"O-Only once..."

"Oh? Then why do it? I'm staring at you. You're obviously uncomfortable. Why would you do it to me?"

"I-I...well...I d-didn't..."

Thankfully, Saya decided to step in, Nikki's discomfort evident.

"Leave her alone, Yukki. You're making yourself look bad. Don't you think it's kind of stupid to play these games here and now?"

Yukki waved her off.

"Why don't you fuck off, Takagi. I can do whatever I want. It's not like I'm hurting anyone."

Saya glowered, a fire in her chest. She bit her lip and grit her teeth. Doing her best to keep her temper in check. "You think you're being quirky? You think it's cute or some shit? People are fucking dying out there! Don't you get that? Get your shit together! We need to work as a team, but all you've been doing as biting at everyone's neck."

Yukki laughed at her.

"Honestly, I don't give a shit what you think, bubblegum."

"That's enough! Both of you!" Kyoko spat, leveling them both with a rigid scowl. "If you don't want to get eaten by those Things, I suggest you keep your voices down! You're behaving like children!"

Yukki shrugged in response to the woman's scorn. Not deeming the argument worth her time anymore. She brought her attention back to Nikki and smiled, swinging her legs back and forth on the deks.

Gritting her teeth in response, Saya turned her back to both Yukki and herself.

To her left, Shizuka smiled.

"They're going to be the best of friends. I can already tell. As for you..." If that's what Shizuka deemed a healthy relationship Nikki couldn't help but question her medical skills, among other things. The blond moved her hand from underneath her shirt and nodded once. "You checked out fine, thank god. I have to admit, when Uzumaki-san brought you in I really did fear the worst. I'm not sure how this infection works exactly. We could all be sick, for all I know."

Nikki's eyes widened. She froze up at the mention. The chaotic blob that was her memory turned thin and narrow. She remembered running for her life, chasing after Misuzu. The army of dead chasing after them both. Hallway after hallway. Growing larger every time Nikki looked back. She remembered feeling so tired, helpless and weak.

She gave in and fell to her frailty, dragging Misuzu down with her. The rest is black.

But they were here now! They survived!

They survived...!?

"Misuzu? Where's Misuzu?!"

Nikki's heart plunged. Panic gripped her.

Shizuka placed a finger over her lip and smiled. "It's okay." She motioned behind, "She fell asleep looking after you."

Nikki followed the finger to find her sleeping. Misuzu's lips were cracked and she had a dark, purple bruise on her forehead from the fall. Her clothes were a mess and she was covered and who know what's blood. But, she was alive. Nikki's eyes landed on her and she felt clarity. She ran to her side, forgetting about everyone else, and wept.

Her family is right here, safe and sound. She didn't need anything or anyone else to be happy.

Near the windows, Naomi listened on, feigning sleep while awaiting the others to return with Bakugo. Her heart cried out for the man she loved, but the feeling lingered. Something sat in her thoughts, making it even harder to face him. It laughed at her, taunted her, filled her head with those horrifying feelings and memories. Her fingers clenched around the jacket Naruto gave her, and as Nikki's sobs sounded in her ears, she couldn't help but wonder...

'Is this the end of the world?'

Flames danced along with the city she'd known her whole life.

They danced in her heart too, wasting what was left.

Takashi ran for his life. He sprinted with every inch of his being through the halls of Fujimi Academy. It seemed he'd been doing that a lot in the past couple of hours. Behind him, Them.

"Keep moving! Don't look back!"

Rei led the crowd, killing one after the Other, carving them a path to run on. Splattering red chunks of meat and blood over herself with every blow. Takashi couldn't help but admire her even now. It must be hard, he thought. She must be exhausted at this point. Each swing of that stick felt another ten pounds heavier, of that he had no doubts.

It was his fault...

'Damn it! Fucking damn it! We fucked it up, we fucked it all up!'

They were so close. The plan went off without a hitch. Bakugo and his group were caught crossing just in time, they'd killed the monsters chasing after them and tended to the wounded like Shizuka-san asked. It was all perfect. Not one of them suspected the other of being bitten. The thought never even crossed their minds. When Giyu dropped to the ground, screeching and crying and shaking, turning right before his very eyes, it was already too late.

"Kouta?! How are you holding up!?"

"I'm low on nails, Takashi!" Kouta shouted in between tired gasps, terror laced into every word. He could hear Their shrieks no doubt, breathe in Their horrible stench. They all could.

They trampled over each Other at their rear. Shrieking and groaning, slamming into the walls and floors and each other. Grey eyes dripping with wicked hunger, not a hint of humanity left in them.

"Takashi!"

Rei cried, driving her spear into Its skull. A hard, watery crunch echoed in her ears. Louder than all the screaming and stomping combined. She dragged the wet wood out. Her hands were tired, sore and covered in splinters. The broomstick she'd made into a weapon couldn't take much more and neither could she.

'Don't look back! Don't look! Don't look! Don't look!'

More of Them were drawn out of their slumber by the thunderous roar of the horde chasing after them. For every one she killed, two more took Its place.

"I know!"

Clutching the bat in his hands, Takashi sped ahead at the protest of his lungs and swung with every bit of strength he could muster. Its head shattered before his very eyes, Its eyeball popping out, still attached to a veiny, meat-made cord. He wanted to throw up. Give up. The only thing keeping him together when he wanted to fall apart, was her, the girl who's spear had just sailed beyond his line of sight, splitting into the soft flesh of another monster, saving Kouta's life.

'We're going to die.'

His heart was ready to jump out of his chest as they turned the corner and moved up the stairs. Takashi knew it was wrong of him, that it would put everyone else in danger, but there's only one place they could go to now.

Fear stabbed at him, a million tiny cold needles that pierced every nerve. Takashi could only question his decision to risk his life for a stranger, regardless of who it was or why he put her in danger. Like a hard slap to the face, he realized. This was not time to play the hero anymore.

"So you just do the same thing every day?"

Naruto didn't bother to respond to her question. Instead he continued to sustain the notion that if he ignored her, she'd leave.

"You're like watching paint dry. Boring! Don't you think being alone every day is kind of dull? Do you like to sulk that much? If you're trying to pick you girls, it doesn't work like you think it does, I can tell you that much." She put a finger on her chin and pretend to think hard. "Wouldn't it be better to hang out with a friend?"

"No."

"Well, you need to..." There was a bright, pleasant smile on her features while she spoke. It shone like the sun. Bright and yellow. The sun is yellow, and regrettably, his hair is yellow. He disliked both. Why couldn't he have had cool red hair like Nagato? "...and I also think that, wait, hey! Are you even listening!?"

Naruto blinked. The girl, Misuzu, was snapping her fingers at him impatiently.

"Man, they really weren't kidding when they called you a next level, one-in-a-billion plus-ultra prick."

Naruto scowled at the nickname. Without another word, he stood and made his exit. Hands within his pants pockets as he began his trek toward anywhere but here.

Misuzu didn't take the hint. She probably didn't care. She was walking next to him without a hitch, hands behind the small of her back, another cheerful smile on her face.

"What? You didn't think I'd let you escape so easily, did you? Did you really think you could just up and leave? Ask anyone, they'll tell you. I'm rather tenacious when I want to be!" He didn't doubt that she was. "And I don't care what you say or how much you ignore me! I'm going to be your best friend, Naruto Uzumaki! That's a promise!"

Naruto snorted, adjusting his pace so that he was walking ahead of the delusional girl. Friends? His friends were either dead or too far away to think about. At this point, he wasn't interested in making any more friends. He wasn't interested in life in a new world.

"There's that look again."

He cursed himself. Tilting his head back, he was ready to retort and end this little charade, when he found himself silently amazed at his own inability to speak. People passed, faceless intrusions, and a dozen lights glimmered behind her.

"You know, your face could get stuck like that? It would be a pity too. You are kind of cute."

Naruto frowned.

"Flat."

"I'm going to kill you!"

Poor girl, she didn't know what she'd gotten herself into.

The moment Naruto made his presence known, Nikki rushed him, her frail arms wrapping around his form. Face buried into his shirt, wailing as she mumbled something inaudible. His whole body numbed at the sudden contact. He didn't expect a welcoming party. He didn't think there would be a welcome.

After a bit of focusing, he made out what she was saying.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Nikki repeated the phrase, over and over again. Squeezing him as if she'd known him all her life. Something deep inside of him stirred at that. It tugged at him, stretching him thin.

She didn't know...

'Stop it.'

That crusty, fractured mirror frame. Bits of flesh trapped inside the cracks. Hanging over her heart.

'You don't know what I would have done.'

Nikki lifted her head and looked into chilling melancholy eyes without grimacing as if searching for something. Her lower lip trembled, the drops renewed. She couldn't help but weep. He hated himself. She was wasting her breath, he didn't do a single thing for her.

"I-I'm sorry for yelling at you. I...I'm sorry for...for everything! Thank you. Thank you for saving her..." She could just barely get the words out.

Naruto poured the sensation in his chest out and stilled the current in his heart. He'd been in her shoes before, simply glad someone made it in time, and he'd taken enough lives to be doomed a hundred times over. Yet again, the thought persisted.

What was he doing here?

'I wonder if you'd laugh at me now, Danzo-sama? Caught off guard by a hug.'

As if by divine intervention, their eyes met a second later.

Misuzu squatted underneath the shadow of her beloved cherry blossom tree, overlooking the yard. An uncharacteristic frown plastered on her frail features.

'That fucking asshole. Me? Selfish?! Yeah. That makes no sense.'

The sun sat high in the sky. A fresh breeze crawled through, flinging her hair out of its ordinarily flawless bun. Nikki had to retake a test so Misuzu found herself with rare time to herself. Time she didn't want to spend overanalyzing something Naruto Uzumaki, of all people, said.

'Selfish? That's funny! Hilarious! Is he stupid? He must be. Did I make a mistake? I must have. I'm doing what's best for him, after all! He just has to accept it. What the hell is his problem?'

She'd spent the better part of half a year wasting her days working to ease him into life at a new school. She'd bitten her tongue at the dry remarks and witless humor he throws. She'd kept her head down when he berates her choices and makes fun of her morals. She's done everything a good friend does for him, and he has the fucking nerve to call her selfish.

Unbelievable. Why the fuck is he so fucking stubborn?!

Misuzu was furious and she didn't understand why.

'He's the selfish one. Locked up in his own head. Too scared to come out. People like that make me sick. I wasted my time. There's no helping him.' She gripped the edged of her bento, the food shaking inside the tray, filing her teeth at the mere notion of it. Misuzu wanted to know why she was so upset. There was a cold, unnatural rage bubbling inside. 'He has no fucking right! Someone like him! He's the most selfish kind of person. The kind that traps themselves away. A coward!'

Something so pitiful shouldn't get to her like this. Rile her up to this extent.

It shouldn't eat away at her, nibbling at her soul.

Misuzu's lip quivered and her gaze fell.

'...He's wrong. I'm not...selfish. I'm not...'

When her eyes finally adjusted to the light, Misuzu awakened to an unusual sight.

Nikki, who always objected to her attempts in associating with Naruto. Who voiced her dislike of the blond whenever she could and did her best to avoid even looking his way whenever she was in his company. With her arms wrapped around his much larger frame, a paltry smile on her puffy face.

'...You idiot.'

That look in his eyes troubled her. He was a fly caught in a spider's web. Unsure of what to do. Like a block of ice, frozen and stiff.

"N-Nikki." Her voice cracked. It didn't matter.

She was at her side in an instant, shaky red eyes fastened onto her own. Swollen and cut fingers came up to rub the knot on her head. The smile on her face faltered.

"Misuzu."

Everything is okay now.

Everything is okay.

Faint steps shattered the spell cast upon them. Then, they exploded like a distant thunderstorm, growing closer by the second. The tables and chairs rattling with each tremor.

"What the hell is this?" Saya asked while reaching for the nearest wall.

None fared any better.

Misuzu fell against Nikki, wincing when her wounded chest smashed against her friend's bony shoulder. She hissed and Nikki whispered a hurried apology. They held onto each other, watching as Kyoko rushed to the door.

"Oh, fuck me!"

The rest of their group sprinted down the long hall, a few unfamiliar faces with them. At their backs, an army of the dead. So many of Them she couldn't keep count. They packed the narrow hall, their bodies scrapping the high ceiling. Lunging and clawing at the rescue team who had led the horde directly to them.

Kyoko knew she'd have to make another choice now. This one would decide their very lives.

"Brace the door! Brace the fucking doors!"

"What is it!?" Saya yelled. She moved to Kyoko's side and saw what she'd seen. "Oh my..." She felt like dying right then and there. Her eyes widened when she realized what they'd be forced to do. "W-We can't! They're still out there!"

Yukki disagreed.

"Get away from the doors! If you don't, we all lose."

Naomi shut her eyes, the pounding matching the pace of her heart. Maybe if she pretends to be asleep again? They'd leave her alone? Or maybe, she would wake up from this horrible dream. If that was the case, maybe dying wasn't such a bad idea?

"I'm giving you one chance, bubblegum. Move or I'll fucking make you move!"

Yukki took a single step, glaring at the shorter girl. Saya pushed her back against it.

"No! We can't! If we leave them out there, we're just as bad as Them. We'll be killers too! B-Besides, they can help us! The greater our numbers the greater our chances of survival, it's easy! We can't let them die! We can't! Please! They're my friends!"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing? You're blowing it, big-brain!"

Saya met her glare.

"We can't just leave them to die!"

"Weren't you the one who said it's not worth risking your skin for the others?" Yukki spat back. "You're a fucking hypocrite and an idiot! Now move!" She grabbed onto Saya and shoved the girl away.

Saya winced when she hit the ground. It kind of hurt, hearing that from someone else. Yeah, she did say something like that, but that wasdifferent. She didn't know Bakugo or anyone else from that group. These are her childhood friends. That made it different, right? They mattered. The others didn't. It's different, right?!

"W-We can't leave them out there!" Nikki found her voice, leaving Misuzu's side to help Saya stand.

"Oh, what the fuck? Now you've got a backbone! Give me a break! We're out of time here, people!"

The tension in the room was palpable. Misuzu wasn't quite sure who would blow next.

"Come with me."

'Naruto...?'

It was quiet. Hushed. Amidst the chaos, he slipped through. His lips at her ear, his breath stroking the nape of her neck. She fought down a shiver.

"Come with me." He said, "I can take you someplace safe. I promise, but you have to trust me."

She believed him.

It didn't matter how or why, but she did. She believed every word.

For a long time, she'd wondered. What was it that makes him so strange? That otherworldly feeling? The sense that he wasn't looking at you, but directly through you.

"...And what about Nikki? And everyone else? Can you save them too?"

Misuzu wasn't sure why, but she knew that he could.

. . .

"Only you."

She smiled.

"Then, I refuse."

Misuzu lay there, her back to the cool couch. She could sense his disappointment. Taste the apprehension on his lips. He wasn't pleased, Misuzu didn't need to lay eyes on him know. The rest argued among themselves. They screamed and cursed, fighting as the thunderous roar got near, torn between what is right and what would save their lives.

"...I thought you would."

She felt the air shift. He moved too quick.

Misuzu snapped up, a voice in her head yelling something wasn't right. She searched for that wild head of blond hair, but when she found it, it was too late.

He was outside. The door was surrounded, a bunch of new faces scrambling to make sure they made it in one piece. She didn't see them, only him.

"...Naruto?" Misuzu whispered his name once, "Naruto!" She screamed it again! Misuzu bolted, making for the door. They grabbed onto her, holding her down. Stopping her in her tracks. Hollering nonsense, saying it was already too late.

'No. No. No. NO!'

She saw the tide of horror charging directly at him.

'He's going to die!'

She blinked.

He was upon Them, a hurricane of violence. Cutting, shredding, kicking. She could not rip her eyes away from the sight. Naruto gutted Them like pigs, he slaughtered and slew. A butcher. At the end of a blood paved path, he stood, unrecognizable.

A creature, like Them.

Misuzu could not find her breath. No one could. It was only when he began a measured walk away, drenched head to toe in red. Bodies slumped and cut about like confetti, did she realize, that she knew nothing about Naruto Uzumaki.

v tired, work in 5 hours, thank you all for support