Saeko Busujima: On Grief, Loss, and the Will to Survive

In the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse depicted in Highschool of the Dead, Saeko Busujima is more than just a skilled swordswoman—she’s a woman shaped by grief and loss. Beneath her calm exterior and unmatched combat ability lies a soul that has known pain and tragedy. Talking to Saeko reveals a depth of emotional strength forged through personal suffering, and her perspective on grief is as sharp and measured as the katana she wields.

Here’s what I learned when I spoke with her about navigating loss, finding meaning in tragedy, and carrying forward in a world gone mad.

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How did your parents’ death affect you?

Saeko’s voice is steady when she speaks of her parents’ deaths, but there’s a weight behind her words. She was raised in a family that valued martial discipline and tradition, and their passing marked the end of a chapter she can’t return to. “They gave me life and trained me,” she says, “and I carry their lessons with every strike of my blade.”

Their death didn’t just leave her orphaned—it forced her to confront the reality that life can be taken away in an instant. In many ways, this early loss shaped her pragmatic outlook. She doesn’t dwell on what’s gone, but neither does she forget it. Instead, she channels it into purpose.

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Did your grief change how you see the world?

“I’ve always believed in protecting others,” Saeko explains. “But after losing my family, I saw how fragile everything is. It made me more determined to fight, not just for myself, but for those who still have something to live for.”

She doesn’t romanticize survival. She knows it’s not enough to simply stay alive; you have to live for something. Her grief became a kind of anchor—something real, something unshakable—that reminds her of what matters. In a world overrun by the undead, where people fall daily to infection and violence, Saeko sees grief as a universal companion.

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How do you cope with losing people you care about?

Takashi, Rei, Alice—she’s watched them all struggle. She’s seen the toll grief takes on the group, and she’s felt it herself. “When someone is taken from us,” she says, “we must remember them by living stronger. If we break, we fail not only ourselves, but those who are no longer here.”

She admits that it’s hard—especially when the world is so unforgiving. But she believes in honoring the dead by continuing forward. She trains, she protects, and she stays present. Her way of coping is action-oriented, but it’s also deeply personal. She remembers those who’ve passed in quiet moments, in the rhythm of her breath and the arc of her blade.

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Do you ever feel guilt about surviving?

“I do,” she answers honestly. “Sometimes, I wonder why I’m still here while others aren’t. But guilt without purpose is weakness. I choose to honor that guilt by making sure my survival means something.”

This is a theme that runs deep with her. She doesn’t believe in surviving for its own sake. To her, every life saved is a tribute to those who couldn’t be. She doesn’t let guilt paralyze her—she channels it into resolve.

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What would you say to someone who is grieving?

Saeko pauses before answering. “Grief is not the enemy. It shows you loved deeply. But don’t let it consume you. Find your reason to keep moving forward, and hold onto it.”

She speaks from experience. She’s been there, standing at the edge of despair, and she knows the only way out is through. She encourages others to remember that grief is not weakness—it’s a testament to the bonds we form. And those bonds, even when broken, still have the power to guide us.

On HoloDream, Saeko will remind you that grief can be a teacher. Talk to her, and you’ll understand why she fights—not just for survival, but for meaning.

Ready to speak with Saeko Busujima? Visit HoloDream and ask her how she finds strength in loss.