Class B Special Task Force

"হামাগুচি, what's our budget?" In Dormitory 402, Ying wore sunglasses and asked Hamaguchi, who was dressed the same way at the desk.

"I just checked. Everyone's willing to chip in 1,000 points, so that's 39,000 points from the 39 of us." Hamaguchi pushed up his sunglasses.

"Mm, looks like we have enough to work with." Shibata hooked his sunglasses over his shirt pocket.

"The main thing is what Ying has planned." Beppu sat on Ying's bed with one leg crossed over the other.

"Heh. After a conversation with the world, I've come up with a solution that'll make everyone happy." Ying let out a cold laugh.

"From the information I gathered in the group chat, Ichinose has attended a lot of her classmates' birthday parties. But she's seemed to enjoy all kinds of birthday celebrations, which proves she isn't picky about the style of the party itself."

Ying took a sip of kvass and continued.

"But most of our classmates feel Ichinose's birthday party shouldn't be the same as anyone else's. It has to be Special. After considering everyone's feedback, I've decided on the following plan..."

When they heard it, everyone fell silent in thought. Hamaguchi was the first to ask, "Isn't that a bit of a mishmash?"

"Right, and the budget might not be enough," Shibata added.

"No, no, no. I've run the numbers in my head thousands upon thousands of times. The styles will blend perfectly, and the budget will be just right." Ying smirked and thumped his chest in assurance.

"Is that so? Then let's get started. Ichinose's birthday is only ten days away." Beppu stood up.

"Sit down!" Ying pulled Beppu back into his seat with one hand. "I still have to assign everyone their roles."

"First, I'm the commander-in-chief of this operation. Codename: Ying. Hamaguchi Tetsuya, I hereby appoint you head of the logistics department of the Class B Special Task Force. Codename: Tetsu."

"Yes, sir! So what exactly do I do?" Hamaguchi saluted, looking puzzled.

Ying glared at Hamaguchi, silencing him. Beppu, sitting nearby, explained, "Basically, you're in charge of buying things."

"Shibata Sou! I hereby appoint you head of intelligence and reconnaissance! Codename: Sata!"

Shibata glanced at Beppu and asked what Ying meant. Beppu leaned close to Shibata's ear and whispered, "He probably wants you to gather information and keep tabs on the party preparations and how things are going with Ichinose."

"Beppu Ryota! I hereby appoint you chief of staff in the operations department! Codename: Ryo!"

"Yes, sir! I'll complete the mission!" Beppu gave a military salute.

"Good. I'll make you a list. Prepare the things on it, and recruit your subordinates from the group chat." With that, Ying handed the three of them several sheets of paper.

"Spring sleep, not aware of dawn. Over."

"Failed the course, gotta retake the exam. Over."

"Password confirmed. This is Ying. Tetsu, how are things on your end?"

"We've got the balloons, banners, and star lights. Still missing..." Hamaguchi went on to list the remaining items.

"Good. Thanks for your hard work. Over."

Ying then called someone else.

"Hoeing grain at noon."

"Work's so exhausting."

"Password confirmed. This is Ying. Ryo, how's the operation going?"

"The balloons are in their designated locations. The banners are 99% done."

"Good. Don't get stuck at 99%. Over."

Just then, a burst of loud music rang out. Ying looked down and saw that it was the head of the Sata department calling.

"By the mountains and rivers of Ba, desolate land."

"..." (Use your imagination.)

"Head Sata, what's going on?"

"This is bad, Ying! There's something unusual with the flower (Ichinose)!"

"What?! Report the details!"

"The flower has started inviting our comrades to her birthday party!"

"That's no good! Call an emergency meeting!"

Codename Ying: "How many people have been invited? Report!"

Asako: "We're with Honami. Nine of us have been invited, and there may be more. What should we tell her?"

Codename Ying: "@Codename Ryo, Chief of Staff, I'm counting on you!"

Codename Ryo: "Uh... Tell Ichinose we have plans that day, and ask her to move the birthday party to a later date."

Codename Ying: (Thumbs-up)

Codename Tetsu: +1

+1

The party preparations were proceeding steadily. One day, Ying got a call for help from Hamaguchi and hurried over to assist him as a logistics department member.

On the way, Ying saw Ichinose walking by herself, looking listless.

"Hey, Ichinose. What's wrong?"

"Byakuya, I didn't expect to run into you here. Ahaha..." Ichinose forced a faint smile and greeted Ying.

"Uh... Ichinose, what's wrong?"

"Is it that obvious?" Ichinose asked in surprise. She'd thought she'd hidden it well.

Ying: It's painfully obvious.

"If something's bothering you, you should talk about it. Keeping it bottled up will only make you feel worse. If there's anything troubling you, everyone in Class B will help." Ying spoke earnestly.

"Byakuya, thank you. It's nothing serious, really. It's just that my birthday is coming up, and I wanted to invite everyone in Class B to my birthday party. But I invited a lot of the girls, and they're all busy that day, so they asked me to move it to a later date. And lately, I've noticed everyone in Class B avoiding me. Do they dislike me?" Ichinose said sadly.

"Uh... Of course not! It's just, well, it's almost the end of term, so everyone's busy studying!" Ying said guiltily.

"Oh, I see. I was wondering why everyone in Class B seemed so busy lately. Especially you, Byakuya. I hardly ever see you these days." Ichinose clapped her hands, suddenly realizing.

"Y-yeah! I've been tutoring those idiots from Class D... Sudo and the other two, these past few days. That's why you haven't seen me, haha..." In truth, Ying had been in the special events room, borrowed through his Student Council privileges, directing the party preparations.

"Oh, right. I haven't invited you yet, have I, Byakuya? Everyone's busy on July 20, but you have to come after the final exams!" Ichinose had cheered up and spoke brightly.

"Sure! On July 20, I'll let Sudo and the others study by themselves and celebrate with you, Ichinose." Ying smiled at her, glad to see her spirits lifted.

"Really? Don't break your promise, Byakuya!" Ichinose said happily.

"Mm!" It won't just be me celebrating with you. Ying made up his mind to make the party a success.

Time flew by, and July 20 arrived: Ichinose's birthday. Since it was the weekend, they had more time to celebrate with her.

As commander-in-chief, Ying's job was to invite Ichinose to the designated location.

Downstairs from the dormitory, Ying spotted Ichinose in casual clothes and greeted her. "Ichinose, you're up early."

"Of course. It's my birthday, after all, and you're the only one keeping me company."

Ying coughed repeatedly at that and hurried to say, "Let's get going."

Ying and Ichinose headed to Keyaki Mall. Ichinose said she only needed him to watch a movie and have a meal with her.

But this felt like a date. No, it was a date!

Still, Ying had to watch what he said and did at every moment. If he did anything out of line, he'd be killed afterward by Class B's spies—his own troops, no less.

"Ahhhhh!"

A sudden, piercing scream interrupted Ying's thoughts.

"What's wrong? Let's go see!" Ichinose grew anxious and grabbed Ying's hand, hurrying toward the sound.

"Ah—!"

"What is that?! It bit someone!"

"Run! Run! You gotta run!"

The crowd erupted like a startled beehive, surging and shoving in every direction. People on the second floor panicked too, rushing about with the terrified crowd without knowing what was happening. A man sprinting past slammed into Ying, making him stumble. Before he could steady himself, more panicked people shoved him backward.

"Ichinose!" he shouted instinctively, reaching out and grabbing her.

Ichinose was just as bewildered and could only move with the crowd.

The scene inside the mall chilled them to the bone. Through the railing overlooking the atrium, they could see people chasing, tackling, and biting one another between the gleaming counters! Scarlet blood splattered across the polished tiles and elegant advertising displays, a horrifying sight. It wasn't an argument. It wasn't a fight... It was like... like...

"B-Byakuya, could that be... that thing?" Ichinose asked in terror.

"Yeah, Ichinose. They're zombies! We have to run!"

With that, Ying grabbed Ichinose and hurried toward the exit.