Chapter Text
2020
Tokyo, Japan
17:38
"Ren!"
Hearing my name being called from distance, I shifted my attention from a psychology book I was reading to pink-haired boy who was running towards me with a big smile.
That boy—Takumi—hugged my body so tightly after running around. I kissed his forehead for quite a long time. His cheeks gradually turned pink like his hair.
Takumi nuzzled his face into my neck. My left hand hugged his waist, while I used my right hand to slowly stroke his head.
Two months ago, Takumi and I got engaged after both of our families approved of our relationship.
Takumi is an only child, the only son of the well-known Kawanishi family. His father is a famous baseball coach throughout Japan, while his mother taught vocals at a top music school.
By the way, we're in university's dance studio right now. Things have been quiet around this room for a long time, dance class ended about half an hour ago. I still feel comfortable staying here because I need peace so I can read books without distractions.
I haven't had time to tell him that I'm here. Maybe... We do have a strong telepathy so we can know each other's whereabouts.
As a final semester student who is busy preparing my last assignment, I haven't seen Takumi much lately. That's why he became spoiled. Not gonna lie, I also like it when he's spoiled.
"Your class ends early?" I ask.
Takumi nodded slowly as the first answer. "Uhm, class was stopped in the middle. I want to go home."
"Do you want to have dinner at restaurant or..?"
"Nah. We still have lots of ingredients in our refrigerator."
Takumi moved to sit on the black sofa while playing with his phone, waiting for me to finish putting my belongings into the bag.
After packing, I took Takumi's hand out of the studio, we walked hand in hand down the hallway of the university building towards the parking lot, he's still focused on his phone screen.
I glanced at his phone from the corner of my eye. "Takumi? What are you reading?"
"News. My home page only has one news topic. I'm reading it."
"Okay..."
We were outside the university which was already crowded with night class students. Suddenly I saw one of Takumi's friends walking towards us. I immediately put my arm around Takumi's shoulder and stopped the two of us.
The tall dude in front of me raised his hand briefly as a greeting.
Takumi turned his gaze to him.
"Oh, Keigo, you taking additional courses?" Takumi asked.
"Yeah." he said. "So... Have you seen the news?"
"I have, but I still don't understand."
"I'll explain to you then. The police from Aichi are dealing with strange people there."
I frowned in confusion. "Strange?"
Keigo continued his explanation again. "I don't know. My father just sent a photo of this strange person, he's on patrol around Aichi today. Look!"
I narrowed my eyes, watching the figure of the person Keigo called 'strange' on his phone screen. I'm confused. They do look strange. Like...
"Zombies?"
I agree with Takumi's guess. "That's right. The physical characteristics are similar to zombies. Is this real?"
Keigo nodded quickly as he put his phone in his hoodie pocket. He folded his arms across his chest.
"Please be careful. One chemical laboratory exploded in Aichi around noon, there are scientists who say that the liquid chemicals changed into gas, which means—it can pollute the air."
"No wonder the police are wearing masks in some news photos." Takumi patted Keigo's arm. "Thanks for your info, Keigo."
"And please be careful too." I added.
Keigo smiled. "Of course. See you next time Ren, Takumi."
Takumi and I continued our steps towards the parking lot which had been delayed.
"I love you, Ren." he said that all of a sudden.
Without hesitation, I answered him immediately. "I love you more."
That was just a fragment of memory before the end of the world caused by the emergence of strange zombie-like creatures called 'Sprouter'. The explosion of a chemical laboratory in Japan had a huge impact on the entire earth. The air becomes poisonous, humans turn into creatures with broken bodies that eat other humans.
.
.
.
End of Prologue