The Countdown:
What's running out are their lives.

"Looks like we're going to be in the United States for a while longer," Ui Hirasawa heard her father say on the phone. She smiled, things like this happened often at the Hirasawa household.

"And why will you be late this time, Dad?"

"Ever heard of the Midnight Riders?"

Ui had to think about that one. The name didn't sound like one of the bands Yui had started listening to since joining Sakuragaoka High's Light Music Club.

"I'm a half-ton son of a gun, with a suitcase full of pistols and moneeeey," Mister Hirasawa sang helpfully. Ui snapped her fingers.

"Oh yes! I hear you and Mom put that on sometimes when you're home and Yui isn't ... but what's this got to do with you two being home late?"

"Well, your mother's a huge fan of the Midnight Riders, and they're going to play a show in a town called Florence ... and ... well, we thought we'd catch the show. Go to a real American fairground."

"Ooooh, Onee-chan is gonna be sooo jealous, Dad," Ui replied.

"I've got Obon blocked off next summer," Mister Hirasawa said. "Tell you what ... we'll all go to a Bon Festival ... it'll be a good time!"

"Promise, Dad?"

"I promise."

Ui smiled. "That's that, then. You two have fun!"

"Will do, Ui-chan. Give Yui-chan our love for us, okay?"

"Will do, Dad!"

"We'll see you kids soon. Keep Yui-chan out of trouble for us. Love you! Bye now!"

"Love you too, Dad. Bye-bye!"

Ui set the phone back on its cradle. She looked up at the clock ... it was time to wake up Yui.

"It's just about that time of year again," the newsman said. Yui watched the news through half-lidded eyes as she nibbled a piece of toast with fruit jam. "That's right. Flu season ... which has gotten off to a surprisingly early, and noteworthy, start."

"The flu, huh?" Yui said, taking another bite.

"In the United States, a particularly virulent strain has been turning up in doctors' offices and hospitals in the East Coast region. While Japanese officials do not yet have a comment on the issue, it is widely speculated that our own early surge in flu cases can be attributed to travelers coming from the United States."

Yui frowned. "Ui, aren't Mom and Dad in the United States right now?"

Ui looked up from her frying pan. "Yes they are, Onee-chan."

"I just heard that there's a new flu in the United States."

"I heard that too," Ui replied. "The flu outbreak is up in the northeastern part of the country, so I'm sure Mom and Dad are fine. They're down in orange country, and I'm sure they're eating lots of oranges."

Yui grinned, eying the pile of oranges on the counter. "I sure know I am! Cultural Festival is coming up, and we're going to play there ... and our class is going to have a play. I can't wait to find out what we'll be doing and what I'll be playing."

"And the results are in," Nodoka Manabe said, poised in front of the chalkboard of Class 3-2. "The role of Romeo, for Class 3-2's Cultural Festival production of Romeo and Juliet goes to … Mio Akiyama-san. Everybody give Mio a round of applause!"

Mio sat in her chair, a tiny, terrified, smile frozen on her face. Ritsu smirked at her and stood up. She waved a hand in front of her friend's face and suppressed the resulting giggle.

"Totally out cold," she pronounced. Mio opened her eyes and glared at Ritsu, before turning her attention to Nodoka.

"Wh-why me? How come I have to play the lead role?"

Nodoka flashed Mio a small, sympathetic, smile.

"Well, that's just how the vote went down."

"Oooh, I get it!" Yui said, smacking her fist into her palm. "Mio-chan is the perfect Romeo ... because Romeo is Ro-Mio!"

Ritsu exhaled sharply. It was a terrible, terrible pun.

"You think you're pretty clever, don't you!" Mio snapped, just as Ritsu draped her arm around Mio's shoulder.

"C'mon, Mio! It sounds like it'd be totally fun!"

"For you, maybe! You're not the one who has to do it," Mio replied, her eyes wide with terror. Ritsu smirked mischievously, not seeing Nodoka take a step to her left ... removing herself from the spot she'd strategically placed herself in.

"And, for the role of Juliet," Nodoka said. "It looks like, ah, Ritsu Tainaka-san! A round of applause for Ritsu!"

"What!" Ritsu exclaimed. "Wait a minute ... Wait a minute! " Her own heart raced as she strode to the front of the classroom. "How the hell ... I mean ... why are we even doing Romeo and Juliet in the first place!"

Nodoka tilted her head and lifted an eyebrow. "We decided the play weeks ago," she replied. "And well, as you can see," she added, gesturing toward the chalkboard, "this is the wish of the class."

"I've been working on the adaptation," Mugi said, helpfully. "Don't you remember me talking about it during tea? Though ... " she got one of those little smiles which she coquettishly covered with one hand, "now that I know that you two are going to be the leads ... I may have to do some revisions."

"What!" Ritsu and Mio said, simultaneously.

"Tainaka-san, Akiyama-san," Sawako said from the back corner of the classroom. "Please return to your seats." Ritsu wheeled back, staring at Sawako-sensei. She'd expected the teacher to jump in and compound their suffering, but ... if anything, she looked a bit under the weather.

"Yes ma'am," Ritsu replied. There'd be plenty of time to argue with Nodoka later. As she returned to her seat, she could feel the heat of Mio's glare burning into her.

Nodoka cleared her throat, turning back to the chalkboard. "All right. Those of you who also might've wanted to play Romeo or Juliet you have my apologies. Now, let's quickly run down the rest of the main cast ... "

Ritsu barely heard the rest. Her eyes were cast around the classroom, as she wondered who voted for us? The other students, whose gaze Ritsu caught, looked away and giggled. She could feel her cheeks burning; she could imagine what new rumors would now be whispered in the school's hallways.

"... and that's it for all the main roles, but there will be something to do for everyone," Nodoka finished. Ritsu looked up, seeing that the chalkboard was now covered in names. "First up, the costumes."

"I'll take that," Sawako said.

"Yamanaka-sensei?"

"It'll be no problem, really," Sawako replied. Ritsu looked at her again. That their teacher volunteered to do the costumes was not surprising. What surprised Ritsu was how tired Sawako sounded saying it.

"Yamanaka-sensei, it is a class project, and, uh, I'm not sure we should have a teacher doing the costumes." Nodoka tilted her head and smiled gently. "Besides, you don't look so well."

Sawako adjusted her glasses and gave Nodoka a tired smile. "I'll be fine," she said, turning to look right at Mio and Ritsu. "Trust me."

"N-Nodoka! I can't do it ... I can't play the lead role," Mio said. Ritsu stood next to her, having found herself dragged up front by Mio.

"Well," Nodoka started to reply. "The class did vote you into the role, Mio."

"B-but, Matsumoto-san would make a much better Romeo!"

"Matsumoto-san also seems to be out with the flu that's been going around," Nodoka replied. She smiled gently. "Mio ... regardless of that, the class voted for you to play the lead. Now if you're sure you really can't do it, I'll, see if someone else would be willing to step in; but I think you owe it to your classmates to at least try."

"Uhh," Mio said, shuffling her feet and looking down at the floor.

"Please, Mio?"

"Alright," Mio replied, in a tiny voice. "I'll try."

Ritsu couldn't help but smile. Nodoka was kind and persuasive, yet had the lowest tolerance for B.S. of anyone she'd ever met.

Something Nodoka said struck Ritsu. What did she say … that Matsumoto-san was out with the flu? Now that Ritsu thought about it, she could think of a couple others who were also out. Of those who'd made it to class, there was a handful wearing surgical masks. That, plus Sawako-sensei's unusual malaise, struck her as odd.

"Ritsu," Mio said. "Let's go."

Ritsu looked at her friend, and pushed thoughts of flu to the back of her mind. After all, there were more important things to worry about ... like how to get the most mileage out of Mio's latest misfortune.

"So what is your class doing, Azu-nyan?" Yui asked, gazing at Azusa Nakano.

"Well ... " Azusa replied, "we were thinking of doing a yakisoba cafe, but a quarter of the class is out sick with flu; so, I don't know."

"Aww," Yui replied, pursing her lips. She looked quite unhappy at Azusa's reply. Ritsu tilted her head to one side. Undoubtedly, Yui was thinking with her stomach, as was her custom.

"But, wow, you as Romeo, Mio-senpai," Azusa went on, turning her attention to Mio. That's really cool! I ... I can't wait to see it!"

Mio twitched, and then dropped her head down onto her forearm. "You shouldn't. I don't really wanna do it."

"Why not?" Azusa pressed. "It's the lead role, after all!" She added, falling abruptly, thoughtfully, silent. "Oh, but wait ... aren't you also doing vocals at our concert?"

Mio buried her face deeper into her forearm. "Just ... just kill me now ... please ... "

"What!" Azusa said, a puzzled look crossing her face.

Ritsu shook her head, a half-smile on her face. "You just had to land that killing blow, didn't you?"

Azusa looked at Ritsu. "Well ... " She trailed off, her gaze fixed firmly on Ritsu. Then, suddenly, she turned away in a fit of giggling.

Ritsu rolled her eyes. "Let's not go there again, m'kay, Nakano?"

"Public safety officials gave a news conference this afternoon on the developing flu situation," the newsman said. "Officials urged people to remain calm, asserting that rumors of some patients in the United States and Europe becoming violent were just that. They also assured the public that scientists are hard at work on a vaccine, but until then, gave the following tips on how people could protect themselves from infection ... "

"I still can't believe you are playing Juliet," Satoshi said, grinning at Ritsu. Ritsu tried her best to ignore him, but the stream of bad news from the TV wasn't helping.

"Oh yeah," she shot back. "And did you know Mio is playing Romeo?"

"You told me ... and that's what makes it so funny!" Satoshi replied, erupting into laughter.

"Sa! To! Shiii!" Ritsu exclaimed, punching her younger brother's shoulder.

"Now children," their mother said, regarding them with bleary, tired, eyes. "No fighting, please? I don't feel well." Those eyes focused on Ritsu's. "Ritsu, it's very nice to hear you're playing Juliet. Maybe the studying you'll have to put into the role will focus your studies on your schoolwork," she said, trying to clear her throat. "Your father and I don't want to support you forever, after all," she said, finally breaking out into a fit of coughing. Ritsu glared at her, but said nothing.

"Did you hear me, Ritsu?"

"Yes Mom," Ritsu replied.

"Good, now go help your father," Ritsu's mother sniffled, "I think he's trying to set dinner on fire."

"Where is everybody," were the first words out of Yui's mouth, as they walked into Class 3-2. Ritsu frowned as she peeked into the classroom. It seemed that nearly a third of the class was absent today. Worse, two-thirds of their remaining classmates now wore surgical masks.

"Yui-san, they're home sick," Ritsu replied.

"Wow, Ricchan, this flu sure is spreading fast," Yui replied. "I clearly need more orange power!"

Ritsu chuckled and shook her head. "You know what? I agree. We don't need a repeat of the first year's disaster."

"Ricchan, that was cold," Yui replied, affronted.

"She also has a point," Mio added. "I think we all have to take extra-good care of ourselves this year. Although if I got sick ... "

"Don't go there, Akiyama-san," Ritsu replied, squeezing Mio's shoulder.

Mio turned away from Ritsu. "Don't tell me you weren't thinking the same thing."

"Okay," Ritsu replied. "I won't, 'cuz I wasn't. I wanna be nice and healthy so I can see you play Romeo."

Mio bit her lip, and then scowled. "Oh? Well, I guess I'm going to have to stay healthy so I can watch you play Juliet!"

"Girls," Sawako said. "Take your seats." Ritsu looked up at their homeroom teacher. Like so many others in their class, she was wearing a surgical mask. Bloodshot eyes peered at them from behind her glasses, and the effect made Ritsu shiver. She took her seat, looking around the strangely sparse classroom. She saw Yui pout as she took her seat ... her friend Himeko was absent. Mio took her seat, looking as stoic as possible, given the circumstances. Mugi scribbled something furiously in a notebook.

The morning's lectures came and went in a haze punctuated by sniffling, clearing of throats, and fits of coughing. Curiously, Ritsu felt perfectly fine, though she didn't know how long that would last. So, as it turned out, was Nodoka. That meant it was time to work on the play for the festival.

"Okay then," Nodoka said, looking a bit sheepish. "Looks like we're a little," she paused, looking around, "short-staffed today. But that shouldn't be a problem. Our absent classmates will be up and about again in no time at all, I'm sure." She smiled gamely and adjusted her glasses.

"Now, in a minute, Tsumugi-san will be handing out copies of the play's script. I think she's done a fantastic job, and I'm sure you will too. Before I turn it over to her, I have one thing to ask of all of you. I know many of you are not feeling well, so I'm encouraging you all to take your vitamins tonight and get plenty of rest. If we pull together, I'm sure we can pull this play off without a hitch."

Ritsu collapsed into her chair in the clubroom. There was one benefit to the flu going around, and that was that there were fewer people around to witness what was shaping up to be an absolute disaster of a play.

The door opened and closed again, and Ritsu looked up.

"Oh, hi ... Azusa?"

Azusa smiled wanly at Ritsu ... or, at least, Ritsu assumed she was smiling wanly. It was hard to tell with her wearing a surgical mask.

"Hi Ritsu-senpai," Azusa replied. "Sorry about the mask ... my parents made me wear it."

"But you're feeling okay, aren't you?"

"Y-yeah. Where are Yui-senpai and the others?"

"Back at the classroom," Ritsu replied. "A third of the class is out sick, so they're subbing on cleaning duty. But, I will say, you look like hell."

"Half my class is out sick," Azusa said, frowning. "And I'm not sure half of what's left is going to be in tomorrow. I think the only person I know who's still healthy is Ui ... how's Yui-senpai doing?"

"Surprisingly, she hasn't gotten sick," Ritsu replied. "Then again, neither have myself, Mio, or Mugi."

"Oh," Azusa said. She unzipped her guitar bag. "I'm going to practice now. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, knock yourself out," Ritsu replied. "I might join you."

"Ritsu-senpai? Are you sure? You've got that lead role in your class play to worry about!"

Ritsu chuckled. "I don't know. Nodoka seemed awful upbeat about it, but to tell you the truth, I think we're going to be real thin in our own class in a couple of days." She smiled. "Besides, isn't it always you exhorting us to practice more? Figured you'd be happy."

"But ... but I don't want to take away from your senior class experience, Ritsu-senpai," Azusa replied.

Ritsu sighed, reaching for her copy of the script. "Well, you never know ... the whole class might be back up in a few days after all."

Author's Notes:
- Welcome to the zombie apocalypse, as presented by Houkago Tea Time. K-On! is an original story by Kakifly, serialized by Hobunsha. K-On! was originally adapted for television by Kyoto Animation and Tokyo Broadcasting System. Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 are developed and distributed by Valve Corporation. The author of this story is not affiliated with the above entities, has no financial stake in the above properties, and does not stand to profit from this story in any way.
- The timeframe for the Cultural Festival depicted in Volume 4 of K-On! happily (or unhappily, as the case may be,) coincides with the timeframe for the spread of the Green Flu in Left 4 Dead/Left 4 Dead 2.
- Sorry, no zombies yet. This is a setup so it can all go horribly wrong later.
- This chapter has been revised to clean up some clunky bits and improve its pacing. Leave reviews!