HOTD: A New Dawn

Shido paused, his posture and stance perfectly neutral. That annoying smile still on his lips.

His tone remained buttery-smooth. Tysone was sure Shido would make himself seem like the better man right now and cause even further tension between the group members. That would either lead to a rift and eventual dissent, or backfiring right into Tysone's calculating schemes.

Either way, that manipulative shit would soon realize his influence was reduced to absolutely zero.

Tysone acted before Shido even got a chance to speak. His hand darted forward like a viper, clenching around his scrawny neck like a vice. Shido immediately gagged, his eyes bulging as his smile quickly shifted into an 'o' of disbelief.

Before anyone could utter a peep of protest or surprise, Tysone tightened his grip, his jaw clenching as his merciless eyes pierced the pathetic fuck right into place. 

Shido grasped his wrist, trying desperately to free himself. "Let me make something clear." Tysone said, his voice dangerously calm. "You're here because Takashi made the stupid decision of pulling you in. As far as I know, that alone makes your entire group a bunch of dead weight. He made the mistake, not me. So sear this into that slimy head of yours; the moment any of you step out of line, the moment you put the lives of my people at risk, I will turn you all into zombie food. Do I make myself clear, Shido-sensei?"

And as if to emphasize his threat, Tysone continued to choke the arrogant piece of shit as if his life was completely insignificant. When Shido's face was starting to turn a bright shade of blue, his cheeks puffing as tears dripped from the corners of his eyes, Tysone finally let go.

Shido gasped, scrambling to his knees and massaging his throats while taking labored breaths.

Tysone turned his back on him, feeling contempt for the spineless man.

Shido exhaled dramatically. "Oh, dear. Such hostility. Unneeded, really." He said, in a dry, mocking tone.

"Maybe..." Tysone replied nonchalantly. "Maybe, if your attitude was one worth giving the benefit of the doubt, this wouldn't have escalated to such a degree."

"So, the possibility exists that, should we adhere to your commands, that aggression won't reoccur?" The man rose, fixing the disarray in his clothes. A pitiful attempt at regaining some composure.

"It's a possibility, though not likely."

Shido's face became stone.

"However, we are not animals." Tysone sighed. "Should you not cooperate or have your students acting unreasonably, yes, I will handle the situation as necessary. Should one of you die, I will not consider it a loss, but your usefulness to the group does factor into my decision. Of course, you being useful wouldn't exactly be high on the list, with or without students at your side. Don't forget that it's us who are doing you and your students a favor."

Everyone was staring now, including those who were hiding at the back, not daring to breathe.

Saya couldn't help but grin at Tysone's sudden command of the situation. Rei as well; she wasn't one who advocated needless use of violence, but seeing that bastard Shido groveling on the ground like the trash he was, choking back his cries, she found herself smirking.

Saeko subtly nodded to herself. It looked like Tysone's position as the leader was firmly established.

"As a teacher, and one responsible for the safety of these students, I can't, in good consciousness, simply bow to the superior firepower at your command, Tysone-san." Shido's voice turned sharp. "These are not soldiers and mercenaries like you and Busujima-san. They are high-school students. Students! How could you so callously speak about their lives?!"

"Oh, you should know very well how the world works, especially you. Everyone has a role, Shido-sensei. This world is full of filth, and there is a hierarchy, where those of true value, meaning people who are physically and mentally fit to take the challenges ahead of us, become those in a position of authority." He made his way back to Shizuka-sensei. "That hierarchy isn't set in stone, but at the very least, when push comes to shove, I'm sure the smart ones will understand the dynamic and adapt, won't they?"

Shido's eyes narrowed. His hand was still nursing his throat. "You..."

Tysone raised a hand. "Shut up. I don't want to hear a single fucking peep of you until your little school group does something worthy of being heard. Got it?"

"..."

The look Shido leveled him made Tysone want to wrap his fingers around the man's neck again and wring every last bit of life from him. "Of course." Shido's expression suddenly made a 180 turn, smiling jovially. "Your group saved my life. And that of my students, too. I'm in no position to demand anything."

That seemed to end the matter, as everyone sighed in relief.

For the remainder of the drive, a suffocating tension loomed over the bus, Tysone's iced-cold glare fixed on the new recruits. It was impossible for them to remain at ease in his presence.

Perhaps that's what he wanted. He just couldn't bring himself to trust them. The association with Shido tainted their character in his eyes.

"Ne, ne. Tysone-san, where should we go?" Shizuka's cheery voice filled the tension-filled atmosphere.

Tysone took a moment to scan the buildings and stores passing by. "Our main priority is to stop by nearest firing range. We'll need to be well armed from hereon, which means we should acquire pistols, rifles, and an assault or combat shotgun. However, for now you can stop there." He pointed at a bike store across from the road. "We can't go around in our school attire, so let's dress accordingly."

"Okie dokie~!" She hummed, slowing down until the bus stopped right outside. "Phew... that's exhausting."

Miku sighed softly as she massaged her shoulder, while Kohta caressed his nail gun lovingly.

"Everyone, stick together." Tysone opened the bus doors, jumping off. "You." He pointed at Shido and the rest of his students. "You'll be taking the lead. Show us that your bravery isn't an isolated event."

Shido's smile twitched at the edges, but he didn't protest. He knew he couldn't. Instead, he turned toward his students, clapping his hands together like some benevolent leader.

"Well, you heard the man." He said smoothly, though his voice carried a trace of irritation. "Let's not keep our benefactors waiting."

Tysone resisted the urge to roll his eyes. That condescending bastard.

Shido's students hesitated, glancing between each other. They were afraid. Good. Fear was an effective motivator. It would keep them from getting reckless. Tysone didn't give a damn about their comfort—he just needed them to be useful, at least long enough to determine if they were worth keeping around or leaving behind as zombie bait.

"Move." He snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Slowly, the group shuffled forward, stepping out onto the pavement. 

The street was eerily quiet. No groans. No dragging footsteps. Just the occasional rustling of the wind through shattered glass and overturned trash cans. That meant nothing. The dead could be waiting anywhere.

Shido, ever the performer, straightened his tie as he led the way toward the bike shop's shattered storefront. The glass was broken inward, jagged shards still clinging to the frame. That wasn't a good sign. Something—or someone—had already been through here.

Kohta adjusted his glasses, gripping his nail gun like it was a prized rifle. "I don't like this. We should do a perimeter check first."

Tysone nodded. "Agreed. Kohta, take Takashi and Rei. Sweep around the back. Be quick, I don't want any of you far from the group for too long."

Kohta beamed, a rare moment of pride flashing across his face at being given a proper task. "Roger that."

Takashi and Rei joined Kohta, both bracing their weapons and peering around the side of the bike shop before heading around the back.

That left Tysone to follow Shido.

When they stepped inside, it was instantly clear that the store had been raided. Discarded clothing littered the floor, empty packs of beef jerky, cans, bottles and discarded cigarette boxes. Near the front counter, an employee still lay unmoving, her lifeless corpse little more than an unidentifiable heap on the carpet, surrounded by her own blood. The scent hung heavy in the air.

"Someone looted the place, but not thoroughly." Saeko said, warily.

Dead zombies littered the place, their cause of death being blunt-force trauma. Someone wiped out the undead here. He doubted this was the work of a single individual.

Tysone looked around, on high alert. "Keep an eye out and grab anything you want. Gloves. Jackets. Helmets. Packs. Backpacks."

Everyone scattered. Tysone glanced at Shizuka, patting her shoulder. "You too, Shizuka-sensei. You should switch your clothes, I doubt you'll be able to run with a tight skirt and that shirt."

"Ah, but these are all designer clothes~!" She whined.

"I don't care."

The busty woman sighed in defeat, and Tysone gave her a gentle shove forward.

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.