I'm Female Lead In Their World: Living in the High School of the Dead

The house was quiet, save for the soft murmurs of Marikawa-sensei and Mr. Maresato downstairs, sharing a noisy drink and laughing a little too loudly. Inside one the room, Takagi and Alice slept side by side, their faces relaxed in peaceful slumber. On the second floor, a few of the boys had sprawled out across the floor, snoring soundly, some even drooling a little.

It was the kind of rare moment when everything felt calm despite the chaos outside.

On the veranda, Niikaz stood alone, gazing out into the darkness. Her glowing lenses created faint rings of light, casting an eerie yet mesmerizing glow over her face. In front of her, a holographic interface only she could see floated and shifted fluidly. It followed her inner commands, the data rearranging and updating itself as she reviewed their journey so far.

Footsteps echoed softly behind her. She noticed but didn't react, keeping her attention on the hologram.

Kazu stopped a few feet away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Hey... um, Niikaz?.

She glanced back briefly as she heard a familiar voice. Her gaze falling on Kazu as he stood near the doorway. His expression was a mix of curiosity and nervousness, but there was a warmth to it that made her pause.

"Hmm?" she replied casually, her focus shifting back to the hologram as it faded away. The glow of her lenses dimmed.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" he asked. "You've been awake for hours."

Niikaz finally let the hologram fade, the glow in her lenses dimming slightly. She turned to face him as she leaned her elbow on the railing. Her expression calm but faintly amused. "I'm not tired," she said simply. "Someone has to stay up and keep watch."

Kazu shifted awkwardly, unsure of what to say next. "Still… you've done so much already. You don't have to carry all the responsibility yourself, you know."

Niikaz chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "Nah, that's alright. I know my limit so I'm fine for now. Besides, I will count on you to take care of me when I want to rest".

"You trust me?" Kazu stepped a bit closer to Niikaz. As he stopped beside her, he had to look down slightly to meet her eyes, the height difference between them becoming more noticeable now that they were standing so close.

"Yeah, totally" Niikaz said unhesitatingly

Kazu looking deeply to her eyes, searching for a single doubt from her. However, the stare contest ended not too long because her eyes looked so mesmerising to him.

Still, Kazu didn't look convinced, but he decided not to push further. Instead, he shifted awkwardly, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. "C-can I ask you something?"

She glanced at him curiously, her tone soft but amused. "Sure, ask away."

"Why do you… like me?" His indexed finger scratched lightly on his cheek, clearly flustered. His voice quiet and unsure. "I mean, we barely know each other. And you're…" He paused, struggling to find the words. "You're different. Someone like you doesn't just… like someone like me."

Niikaz smiled faintly, turning her full attention to him. There was a playful glint in her eyes, and she leaned just a little closer, her tone low and almost teasing. "You think we barely know each other, but that's not entirely true."

Kazu blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

She tilted her head, her glowing lenses catching the faint light of the moon. "You might not remember, but I've seen you before."

Kazu furrowed his brow. "Seen me? When?"

"In the original story," she said softly, her voice carrying a mysterious tone. Little by little , she is closing the gap between them. "Well. Let's just say I've seen what kind of person you are, Kazu. You're kind, brave, and selfless—even when the odds are against you."

Kazu's face turned bright red. Not sure because of her answer or the situation both him and Niikaz right now "I… I don't think I'm all that special."

Niikaz chuckled, stepping back just enough to give him a little space, though her gaze remained locked on his. "You were more than that"

" When I look at the Original, I remember how you protected Marikawa-sensei in the nurse's office, even when you were terrified. And when Okada turned into one of the undead, you didn't hesitate to put him down before he could hurt anyone else, even though it hurt you to do it." Niikaz said firmly, her voice warm.

Kazu winced at the memory. "That… wasn't something I wanted to do."

"That's what makes you special," Niikaz replied. "You do what's necessary, even when it's hard. And--…" She hesitated, a small smirk forming on her lips. "I liked your face when you were about to die."

Kazu's expression froze. "Wait… what?!"

Her smile widened slightly as she leaned on the railing, her tone dropping just enough to make him lean in instinctively. "Your expression when you were about to die."

Kazu froze, staring at her in disbelief. "My what?" Even though she already repeated for the second time but his brain still stop working.

Niikaz laughed softly, her voice warm and teasing. "In the original story, you were bitten. You knew you couldn't survive, but instead of panicking, you smiled. You accepted it. And the look you gave Saeko-senpai right before she struck…" She trailed off for a moment, her gaze softening. "It was unforgettable and charming"

Kazu's jaw dropped. " wait wait wait!"

He continues after a while forcing his dumb brain work again "You're saying… you liked my dying face!?"

Niikaz shrugged with a sly smile like a cat "When you say it like that, it sounds strange, but yes. I liked how calm and brave you were. It stayed with me."

Kazu ran a hand through his hair, completely flustered. "That's insane…"

Niikaz's smile grew as she leaned slightly closer again, her voice soft but clear. "Maybe it is. But that's what made you stand out to me. You were strong even in the face of death. That's rare."

Kazu looked away, his cheeks still burning. "I… I don't know what to say to that."

"You don't have to say anything," she said gently while raise her index finger taping his lips, shushing him "But for what it's worth, I'm glad you're here now."

Kazu glanced at her, his expression softening. He push her hand away from his lips slightly "You're really something else, Niikaz."

She giggles, her tone playful. "And you're not as ordinary as you think, Kazu. That's why I like you."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence stretching between them as they looked out into the night. Finally, Kazu sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're impossible."

Niikaz winked at him. "I'll take that as a compliment."