DaisukiDayoSenpai

Bronze WINNER of WPC#322: Male Lead: Zombie Invasion

Takemi Kazuichi might very well be the luckiest and unluckiest person in the world. He was an orphan, and he was severely bullied in school. Because of that, he became a hikikomori, a shut-in. When he turned sixteen, he was adopted by a rich couple who loved him as if he was their own son. Unfortunately, they died in a plane crash, and Kazuichi never overcame his bad habits of being a shut-in, largely because of his preying relatives.

Fast forward to four years later, Takemi Kazuichi still stayed in the house left by his late parents. He never bothered going to work or going out to socialize with people. For the lack of a better term, he was a rich hikikomori. He never even bothered to check the news or log in on any social media. All he did was live his life in solitude, devoid of any human interaction.

One day, as he came out of the shower, he heard a strange thumping sound by the doorway. "That's weird, I didn't order any delivery today." He told himself before absent-mindedly opening the door.

And what stared back didn't resemble a human at all. It was a zombie— or so that's what the first thing that came into Kazuichi's mind. Unbeknownst to him, the world had drastically changed, and he was the last one to know.

Shut-In Of The 'Dead'

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow over the Hybrid Mountain Stronghold as the surviving participants gathered for dinner. The first day of training had been grueling, and everyone was either exhausted or exhilarated, depending on how well they had fared in the challenges. Kazuichi, Arisu, and the rest of their group had made it through, but the day's events weighed heavily on their minds, especially for Kazuichi.

Kazuichi sat with Arisu, Jurou, and Lea, their dinner plates filled with simple but hearty food. Though the meal was well-earned, Kazuichi barely tasted it. His mind kept drifting back to the all-for-one battle earlier in the day. The competition had been fierce, and Kaito, with his formidable Encompass Blood Art, had stood out as one of the strongest contenders. But it wasn't Kaito who occupied Kazuichi's thoughts.

"There was a girl," Kazuichi said quietly, his voice barely audible over the murmur of conversation around them.

A Mysterious Girl