Class B Special Task Force

"Hamaguchi, what is our budget?" In Dorm 402, Ying wore a pair of sunglasses and asked Hamaguchi, who was dressed in the same attire at the desk.

"I just checked; everyone is willing to contribute 1,000 points, so with 39 people, that's 39,000 points." Hamaguchi pushed up his sunglasses and said.

"Hmm, it seems the budget is sufficient." Shibata tucked his sunglasses into his chest pocket.

"It mainly depends on Ying's plan." Beppu sat on Ying's bed with his legs crossed.

"Heh, after a dialogue with the world, I have already come up with a foolproof plan." Ying sneered.

"According to the information I gathered in the group chat, Ichinose has attended many classmates' birthday parties. However, she appears very happy at every type of birthday banquet, which proves she isn't picky about the style of the party itself."

Ying took a sip of Kvass and continued.

"However, most classmates feel that Ichinose's birthday party cannot be the same style as anyone else's. Therefore, it needs to be Special. Combining everyone's feedback, I have decided to arrange it like this..."

Everyone fell into deep thought after listening, and Hamaguchi was the first to ask: "Won't this be a bit of a 'hodgepodge'?"

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

"No, no, I have already simulated it thousands of times in my head; the fusion of styles is just right, and the budget is exactly enough." Ying gave a lopsided grin and patted his chest in assurance.

"Is that so? Then hurry up and prepare; there are only ten days left until Ichinose's birthday." Beppu stood up after saying this.

"Sit down!" Beppu was pulled back into his seat by one of Ying's hands. "I still need to assign your positions."

"First, I am the Commander-in-Chief of this operation, codename: Ying. Hamaguchi Tetsuya, I now officially appoint you as the Head of the Logistics Department for the Class B Special Task Force, codename: Zhe."

"Yes! So, what exactly do I do?" Hamaguchi struck a military pose and asked, confused.

Ying glared at Hamaguchi to make him quiet down, and Beppu, sitting to the side, explained to Hamaguchi: "It basically means buying things."

"Shibata Sou! I now officially appoint you as the Minister of the Espionage and Reconnaissance Department! Codename: Sa!"

Shibata looked at Beppu, asking what that meant. Beppu leaned into Shibata's ear and said: "He probably wants you to gather intelligence and keep track of the party setup progress and Ichinose's situation at all times."

"Beppu Ryota! I now officially appoint you as the Chief of Staff for the Operations Group! Codename: Liang!"

"Yes! Mission guaranteed!" Beppu gave a military salute.

"Good, I will give you a list, and you will prepare according to the items on it. As for your subordinates, go recruit them in the group chat." After saying this, Ying handed several sheets of paper to the three of them.

"Spring sleep, unaware of dawn. Over."

"Fail the exam, need a retake. Over."

"Code confirmed, this is Ying. Zhe, how are things on your end?"

"I have already obtained the balloons, banners, and star lights. Still missing..." Hamaguchi then reported the missing items.

"Good, thank you for your hard work, over."

Then Ying dialed another person's phone.

"Hoeing crops under the midday sun."

"Working is so tiring."

"Code confirmed, this is Ying. Liang, how is the operation progress?"

"Balloons have been placed at the designated location, banner progress is at 99%."

"Good, don't get stuck at 99%. Over."

Suddenly, a loud, intense piece of music played. Ying looked down and saw it was Minister Sa.

"Bashan and Chushui are desolate lands."

"..." (Use your imagination)

"Minister Sa, what's going on?"

"It's a disaster, Ying! There's an anomaly with the Flower (Ichinose)!"

"What!? Report in detail immediately!"

"The Flower has started inviting comrades to her birthday party!"

"This is bad! Call an emergency meeting!"

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

Asako: "We are with Honami; nine people have been invited, and there might be more later. How should we answer her?"

Codename Ying: "@Codename Liang, Chief of Staff, it's up to you!"

Codename Liang: "Uh... just tell Ichinose that you have something on that day and ask her to postpone the birthday party."

Codename Ying: (Thumbs up)

Codename Zhe: +1

+1

The party setup process proceeded steadily. That day, Ying received a distress signal from Hamaguchi and temporarily transformed into a logistics department member to assist him.

On the road, Ying saw Ichinose walking listlessly.

"Yo, Ichinose, what's wrong?"

"Oh, Byakuya-kun, I didn't expect to run into you here, ahaha..." Ichinose forced a strained smile as she greeted Ying.

"Uh... Ichinose, are you okay?"

"Is it that obvious? The way I look?" Ichinose was a bit startled; she had thought she was hiding it quite well.

Ying: It's painfully obvious.

"If something is bothering you, you have to say it. Keeping it bottled up will only make you feel worse. If there's something troubling you, everyone in Class B will definitely help you," Ying said.

"Byakuya-kun, thank you. Actually, it's nothing major, it's just that my birthday is coming up soon, and I wanted to invite everyone from Class B to my birthday party. But when I invited many of the girls, they all had things to do that day and asked me to postpone it. Plus, I've noticed that everyone in Class B has been distancing themselves from me lately. Am I being hated?" Ichinose said sadly.

"Uh... how could that be! It's just, it's just that the final exams are coming up, and everyone is busy studying!" Ying said, feeling guilty.

"So that's it! I was wondering why everyone in Class B has seemed so busy lately, especially you, Byakuya-kun; I haven't been able to see you at all," Ichinose clapped her hands, suddenly realizing.

"Right, exactly! I've been tutoring the idiots from Class D... Sudo and the others these past few days, which is why you haven't seen me, haha..." In reality, Ying had been using the special activity room he borrowed with student council authority to direct the party preparations.

"By the way, I haven't invited you yet, have I, Byakuya-kun? Even though everyone is busy on July 20th, you must come after the final exams are over!" Ichinose had perked up and said cheerfully.

"Sure! On July 20th, I'll tell Sudo and the others to study on their own, and I'll come to celebrate with you, Ichinose." Ying looked at the revitalized Ichinose and smiled.

"Really? You can't go back on your word, Byakuya-kun!" Ichinose said happily.

"Yeah!" It's just that I won't be the only one celebrating with you, Ying thought to himself, becoming even more determined to make this party a success.

Time flew by, and today was already July 20th, the day of Ichinose's birthday. It happened to be a weekend, allowing more time to celebrate her birthday.

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

Downstairs at the dormitory, Ying noticed Ichinose dressed in casual clothes and greeted her: "Ichinose, you're early."

"Of course, since it's a rare birthday, and only Byakuya-kun is keeping me company."

This comment made Ying cough repeatedly, and he quickly said: "Let's get going."

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

But this feeling was like a date; no, wait, this was a date!

However, Ying had to be careful with his words and actions at every moment, because if he did anything out of line, he would be killed by the Class B special agents later—the very soldiers he had trained himself.

"Ahhhhh!"

Suddenly, a sharp scream interrupted Ying's thoughts.

"What's wrong? Let's go check it out!" Ichinose grew anxious and hurriedly grabbed Ying's hand, running toward the direction of the scream.

"Ah--!"

"What is that?! It's biting people!"

"Run! Run! Run for your lives!"

The crowd was like a disturbed hornet's nest, pushing and colliding without any direction. The people on the second floor were also instantly thrown into chaos, blindly following the panicked flow of people. Ying was shoved hard by a man sprinting past and, before he could steady himself, was pushed backward by more panicked people.

"Ichinose!" he shouted instinctively, reaching out to grab her.

Ichinose was also at a loss and could only follow the crowd.

The scene inside the mall made their blood run cold. Through the atrium railings, they could see figures frantically chasing, tackling, and biting each other among the polished counters! Crimson blood splattered across the bright floor tiles and exquisite billboards, a shocking sight. That wasn't an argument, that wasn't a fight... it looked like... it looked like...

"By, Byakuya-kun, that couldn't possibly be... that, could it?" Ichinose said in terror.

"Yeah, Ichinose. Those are zombies! Let's run!"

After saying that, Ying grabbed Ichinose and hurried toward the exit.