HOTD: A New Dawn

Tysone's hand twitched, ready to shut the damn door on their faces and tell Shizuka to slam on the accelerator, leaving that fucker out here for the zombies to have their way with him.

"We're ready to go!" Shizuka said anxiously.

"Hold on a bit!" Takashi interrupted, putting himself between Tysone and the door.

Tysone had to make a quick decision here and now. Allow Shido and his group of students into the bus or leave them to be devoured? Rationally, and with the knowledge he had, it was obvious that letting those brats on would come back to bite them in the ass. Big time. Especially Shido, that slimy motherfucker.

However, making such a decision wouldn't earn him any points as a leader. Only Rei knew Shido's true nature. Maybe Saeko, with her sharp instincts. But the rest? They'd merely see it as Tysone being callous and ruthless. Even worse, going forward they could question him and his orders, doubting his judgment.

Tysone glanced at Takashi, who was gritting his teeth, and ready to storm out of the bus to help them. Rei immediately stopped him. "Don't save him!"

Takashi pushed her off. "Rei, what's your problem?"

"You don't need to save him!" She protested desperately. "We leave them! We leave him!"

Tysone stepped in. "I agree with her. We should leave them behind."

"You..." Takashi trailed off in shock.

"Everyone! Hurry!" Shido, in true theatrical fashion, exclaimed with all of his usual poise. A true knight in shining armor. "I guarantee you'll make it out alive."

"Takashi." Tysone began. "We can save them, but whatever happens from here on, it'll be on you. Do you understand?"

"Tch—dammit! Get in!" Takashi yelled.

Tysone took a step back, as if to dissociate himself with Takashi's actions. He merely watched. Good. The decision was made for him. The fallout that'd happen afterward would give him the excuse he needed. Takashi would likely never be trusted with such a decision again.

His eyes gleamed coldly as he watched the rapidly approaching Shido. 'This time it won't go as you want.'

The students practically threw themselves inside, scrambling over each other in sheer panic. Shido climbed in last, panting dramatically as he leaned against the frame. "Thank you, truly." He purred.

Rei turned away, trembling with rage. Takashi just lost some favorability with her.

The moment everyone was inside, Tysone slammed the door shut. "Shizuka, floor it!"

The bus lurched forward. 

Zombies slammed into the side, their hands clawing at the windows as the vehicle sped through the lot. The sound was jarring, and the vehicle's bouncing made it clear that they were running over their infected school mates. 

Shizuka's hands on the helm trembled. Tysone patted her shoulder. "Remember, they're not humans. They're already dead, so don't feel guilty."

"O-okay!" Shizuka breathed out, stepping on the gas. The bus tore through the school gates and barreled down the road, leaving a whirlwind of sakura petals in its wake. 

At long last, they finally made it out of that accursed school. 

"Looks like we made it." Takashi said.

Everyone sat down, Tysone perching himself next to Shizuka, in case she needed moral support. He looked at Takashi. If anything happened from thereon, it'd all be on his head. The ball was in his court.

And Tysone's as well, but only indirectly.

Rei walked to the end of the bus, glaring darkly at her lap. Tysone wondered if Takashi knew of the rift slowly forming between them.

"Thank you for saving us." Shido said sleazily, walking forward, until he reached Saeko's seat. "Are you the leader, Busujima-san?"

Saeko cleaned her bokken, not even deigning the teacher her full attention. "We are without one, officially." She glimpsed at Tysone. "Our survival is simply the product of our team work."

"Well, that's no good." Shido's eyes narrowed, his voice buttery. "A leader is required in order for us to survive. One who manages everything."

Rei looked at Takashi, whispering angrily. "You're going to regret this. You're definitely going to regret saving him."

Silence seemed to encompass the bus. Tysone kept a keen eye on everyone.

Until...

"Tch! Look." A student, his hair dyed blonde and with an attitude that deserved a baseball bat to the face, raised his voice. "We'll never make it if we keep going! First off, why do we have to do whatever you guys planned to do? You all decided to go back to the city without asking us. Couldn't we have just looked for a safe place inside the school?"

"He's right." Another student from the same group agreed. "We should find a place to hide, like that convenience store we just passed by."

Shizuka slammed violently onto the brakes, the sudden jolt nearly throwing that student onto the floor. She peeked out of her driver's seat, her humongous assets wobbling. "I've had it! I can't drive with all of you yelling!"

"W-What the hell?" The blonde haired guy snapped.

It was Saeko that pierced the tension this time. She crossed her arms over her bokken. "Then what do you wish to do?"

"I can't..." He pointed at Takashi, which Tysone found mighty amusing. "I can't stand this guy!"

"Why?" Takashi stood up. "What did I ever do to you?"

"You..."

And then he lunged, ready to throw hands. It was so sudden that it caught everyone off-guard.

Rei was about to step in, but Tysone was faster. His patience had been teetering on the edge all along. All he needed was that idiot to make the first move.

Tysone palmed the guy's face and slammed his yapping mouth right into the edge of the bench.

The violent thud, followed by copious amounts of blood splattering through broken teeth, seemed to silence everything. Tysone didn't stop there---he didn't even give the asshole enough time to process the pain and scream it out like a bitch. He yanked the groaning, whining brat to face him. "I've had enough of your whining. We just saved your sorry asses, putting everyone here at risk, and yet you think that makes you special and entitled." His voice, deceptively calm, only unnerved him. "Kohta, open the door for me."

"Open the door?!" Kotha gawked, then hurried to oblige. "Y-yes, sir!"

The blonde-haired guy let out a groan of fear. "Wait! Hold o-"

Before he could protest, he was thrown out.

"I ain't getting paid to babysit." Tysone said, grimly. The arrogant blondie scurried back to his feet and tried to run back inside, only for a 15 sized boot to land squarely on his face, sending him sprawling back on the ground in a breathless heap. In one swift movement, he slammed the door shut. "Shizuka, go."

Shizuka gaped him for a moment, then, slowly, the vehicle stuttered to life and marched on, leaving one student behind. Tysone dusted his hands, sighing softly. "You should all be grateful. Takashi saved you. I didn't." He said, evenly. "That means my patience with you? It doesn't exist."

Everyone's eyes were on him, even from his own group. 

Tysone scanned the faces of Shido's group, letting the moment stretch. Some of them looked away, shrinking under his gaze. A few sat rigid, their hands gripping the seats like they were bracing for the next person to be thrown out.

"You don't get to whine. You don't get to demand. You don't get to dictate where we go or how we do things. You follow the plan, or you find your own way. Simple as that." His eyes darkened. "And if anyone—anyone—thinks they can push back, try me."

His head tilted slightly toward the door. The implication was clear.

"Anyone else?" Tysone's voice was calm, almost bored, as he let his gaze sweep across the newcomers. "Anyone else feeling brave enough to throw a tantrum? No? Good."

The blonde-haired thug tried to chase after the speeding bus, but ended up falling on his face instead.

His cries for mercy fell on deaf ears.

Takashi wasn't sure if the silence was better or not. What would happen to that guy? It seemed so inevitable when considering their circumstances. Tysone didn't kill anyone, but he might play an indirect part if that thug ends up swarmed by zombies.

Tysone, meanwhile, walked slowly until he stopped in front of another student from Shido's group, the black-haired kid that spoke up in support of his whiney friend.

"You said something earlier, but I failed to catch it. Want to speak a little louder?"

The kid shrank away, unable to bring himself to meet Tysone's piercing glare.

"I-I didn't say anything."

"Oh, you didn't?" Tysone blinked, faking a surprised gasp. "Thought so."

"Well..." Shido purred, adjusting his glasses. "That was quite the statement." His voice was measured, his words deliberate. "Discipline is important in a survival situation, of course. But…" He took a casual step forward, hands in his pockets, eyes gleaming. "I do wonder, Tysone-san… what happens when the rest of the group realizes that anyone can be thrown out for questioning orders?"

Author's Note:

If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support