School Bus, 7:00 PM-10:00 PM Local Time, Republic Of Greater East Asia
By a few hours into the bus ride, the students of Shiroiwa High School's Third Year Class B had settled into the routine. Some stared out the windows. Some talked in small groups with their friends. Some buried their noses in books.
There was nothing out of the ordinary about the trip, except for its duration. Over the past two years together, they had established a routine and a pecking order, and all of that was playing out as usual for this multi-day trip to Kyushu.
The itinerary called for an overnight drive, which nobody was too thrilled about. The bus wasn't equipped for comfortable sleeping, certainly with nothing that passed for a bed. Most of the students planned to stay awake until they reached their destination, though a few had already closed their eyes.
And yet, as the night went on, everyone started to drift away. A little before ten o'clock, even those who had been full of energy a short time prior found themselves passing out.
In the last few seconds of consciousness, some students might have been surprised to note that the bus driver was wearing a gas mask.
Schoolhouse (G8), 1:00 AM Local Time, Okishima Island, Republic Of Greater East Asia
"Ahem."
The voice cut through the stillness, snapping some members of the class back to wakefulness.
For a moment, it seemed like everything could be normal. They were seated in their assigned desks, just like always, in a classroom that was the spitting image of the one they all knew so well. But closer inspection revealed little details that didn't line up.
The desks were missing the familiar graffiti, with new carvings taking its place. Some of the equipment was a little older, a little dirtier. The windows were covered, both those facing outside (blocked by dully reflective metal sheets) and those pointing towards the hall (blacked over with some sort of paper or cloth).
Moreover, instead of the familiar Mr. Hayashida with his wide round glasses, behind the lectern at the front of the room stood a stranger. He was stocky, but in a muscular way, and he was fairly short, something concentrated in his legs, which looked off compared to his normal-sized upper body. He had rosy cheeks and a cheerful smile, and long, well-styled hair, and he wore a badge indicating government affiliation pinned to his old, well-worn clothes.
"Good morning, everyone," the man said. "Are you all awake? Do you need a moment?"
He paused, briefly, allowing time for the stragglers to stir.
"Very good," he continued. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Kinpatsu Sakamochi, and I'll be your new teacher."
