**Episode 004: Top-tier Caste, the Sunlit Group**

The black shadows continued to multiply from the vortex, scattering and chasing humans. Moreover, their movements were no longer slow and sluggish but at a speed almost equal to humans running, if not faster.

“What the hell is that? What is that? What is that…”

The high-pitched scream of a woman broke my freeze, and in the midst of fear, I ran desperately towards my home like everyone else.

Seriously, what’s happening? My everyday life has been messed up since yesterday!!

“Aaaah!”

“Uwaaaah!”

Not only behind me, but screams echoed from everywhere. However, I had no room to pay attention to anyone else and was focused solely on running away.

“Haa… Haa… Haa… Haa…”

I kept running incessantly, and before I knew it, the surroundings became quiet.

“Did I manage to escape?”

It was a quiet residential area. I looked around nervously, but I couldn’t see those monstrous figures.

However, I couldn’t afford to take it slow.

I wiped the sweat pouring down and, after muttering to myself, caught my breath before starting to run again towards the shrine that served as my home.

“What the hell was that…”

Having distanced myself from the crisis, I became a bit calmer.

Just as those black shadows suddenly appeared and covered the police officer, leaving only his headless body, that sight was shockingly engraved in my mind.

“Ugh… Ughhhh…”

Recalling that grotesque scene, I couldn’t help but feel nauseous. I stopped, leaned against a wall, and vomited.

Those monsters devoured people.

That’s the kind of existence they are.

I absolutely can’t get caught.

Then, I suddenly remembered.

Sato and Takahashi mentioned they had plans for today. I hope they managed to escape safely.

“I hope they stay safe…”

After getting everything out, I whispered, then started moving forward again.

“Uwaah!?”

“Who’s there!?”

“Is it a monster!?”

However, as I emerged from the alley, I encountered someone I didn’t want to meet. It was the sunlit and top-tier caste classmates.

They initially tensed up upon seeing me coming out of the alley, thinking I might be a monster. However, once they confirmed I wasn’t, they relaxed.

“I feel like I’ve seen this guy somewhere…”

“Yeah, you might be right.”

“But where was it?”

Despite there being four of them, only one recognized my existence.

“I think… isn’t he Rokudo from our class?”

However, among the group, only one guy recognized me.

“Oh, right. That guy who hangs out with Sato.”

The others responded with a vague acknowledgement or lack of memory.

“Hey, hey, don’t say it like that. We’re classmates, you know?”

He scolded the others.

“Ah, sorry, sorry.”

They apologized sincerely.

I didn’t really care, though. It’s the usual thing.

“Did you also escape from the monsters?”

“Oh, yeah. We saw them eating people. It was dangerous, so we ran away. Lucky to be alive.”

It seemed that they, too, had encountered those black shadows. Considering we were close by, and there were multiple vortices, it’s likely that shadows appeared from each one.

We exchanged the information we wanted to know from each other.

It should have been farewell.

“What are you planning to do from now on?”

However, Sanada asked me.

“I’m planning to go home…”

“Alone?”

“Yeah. Well, probably…”

I didn’t want to get involved with them, but I couldn’t just stay silent. Reluctantly, I explained what I intended to do.

“…Then, why not come with us?”

In response to my answer, Sanada extended his hand, perhaps feeling sorry for the loner. Honestly, it’s easier to maneuver alone than to be with these guys, and being with them is mentally tough.

“I am–”
“Of course, I’ll come! Since Sanada-kun invited me so kindly!”
“Yeah, declining after Sanada-kun invited us is unthinkable.”
Even though I was about to refuse, the girls interrupted me.
Sigh… this is really not my scene.
It’s like they’re forcing gratitude on me.
They helped me, so I should be appreciative kind of thinking.
I really wish they’d cut me some slack.
But now is not the time to be saying such things…

“Do you have any specific destination in mind?”
However, it’s too risky to go with them without a clear destination. I can’t follow someone who isn’t thinking things through.

“Yeah. In emergency situations, schools and city  halls should become evacuation points. Since the nearest one from here is the city hall, I’m thinking of heading there.”
At least he seems to be considering it. Indeed, if it’s an evacuation center, people should be gathering there, and perhaps the police or self-defense forces might be protecting it. There’s a possibility of countering with the weapons of the self-defense forces.

The chances of survival might be higher than being alone…

“Got it. I’ll go with you until we reach there.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Once we get to the city hall, you should be fine even without us.”
Weighing the chances of survival alone against the possibility of surviving by moving in a group, I decided to join them with the condition that we stick together until we reach the evacuation center.