Chapter 2: Human Resources
In the brutal silence, he did not know where to begin.
How could he when the world had literally ended? It was doomsday, the apocalypse, dies irae. Millions had perished, wiped from the face of the earth, incinerated to ashes, cinders and dust. There was nothing left of the dead, nor for those who had survived - no phone lines, electricity, basic services, civilisation. The last batch of provisions had been manufactured ten minutes ago, before the systems of mass production that generations of humans had relied on since the industrial revolution had crashed back to the Dark Ages.
In the eerie quiet, nobody moved or talked. What else could they do in the radioactive fallout but stop breathing for the rest of their pathetic lives? There was nought to salvage, to hold onto or hope for. Only memories of the bygone past and dreams of what could have been to haunt a meaningless hell of a future.
Outside, the sun had set, no, it had been blotted out by smoke and soot from a thousand fires devouring the rotten, pockmarked, crater-riddled carcass of a planet. Through the void that was a broken window, he watched as his schoolmates - intelligent, educated youths of modern society - stumble over themselves and trample over each other like panicked lemmings before the exits, unsure if he should laugh or cry.
Where were they headed in a universe of no reason or purpose, a world with no path forward and no way back? What did they really expect to find but more hurt and pain, homes that were piles of steaming rubble, parents and siblings that were indistinguishable masses of melted flesh?
And yet, if he had been more 'normal', he could have easily been one of them.
"Yukino," he grunted absent-mindedly as she walked up to him. He felt the urge to comfort her, to console his little sister, to convince himself that everything was fine and would be better, but the lies were stuck in his throat, crumbling before the immutable truth and the indefectible reality that they were helplessly, haplessly, and hopelessly trapped in - a timeline where, even if they could redo things, would undoubtedly lead to the same destiny when bipedal apes were given the tools of self-destruction–
A tight slap exploded on his cheeks, jolting him from his wallowing spiral of despondency.
"Stop dallying and do something!" she cried as he stared back at her, the raw agony on his skin and in her voice reminding him that he was still very much alive, "Anything is better than nothing!"
"Sorry, I–"
"Didn't you pledge your life when you confessed on that bridge?" she continued with all her breath, "You aren't supposed to give up and die before me, or Yuigahama, or Komachi - so take responsibility, Hikigaya Hachiman!"
Deafening silence ensued as she panted in exertion, rubbing her reddened palms. All this while, she had teased him, scolded him, argued with him probably more often than she should, but she had never hit him, and it filled her with nagging guilt even if she did not regret shaking him from his stupor.
"The world as we know it may have ended, but we have so much to live for," she softened a little as energy returned to his dead-fish eyes. "It'll be an insult to those who had died if we didn't at least try."
Inhaling deeply, he gritted his teeth and thanked her before heading out the door, focusing his mind on devising a strategy to survive. While he dared not imagine holding out for weeks and months and years on the barren wastelands, he could not deny that she was right, that there remained a glimmer of a chance to fight, and until they were cold and stiff and motionless on the ground, they would just have to persevere and march on in the ice–
"Onii-chan, wait!" his little sister called out, stalling him in his tracks. He turned just in time for her to latch on, hugging him and preventing him from stepping past the corner and disappearing from her sight.
"I have to go," he muttered, steeling himself as he wriggled out of her embrace and pushed her aside.
"Baka!" she nearly shouted, much to his surprise, "You aren't doing this alone! We're coming with you."
For a moment, he froze before breaking out a smile - his first since the nukes descended.
"Thanks, Komachi," he ruffled her hair, tugging on the strand of ahoge that they shared as siblings, "but we'll really have to split up for now. Check the storerooms for anything useful - bottled water, snacks, medical kits, spare clothes - and bring them to the library. The windows there should be intact since it's in a relatively protected location within the school. Wouldn't want toxic particles blowing in with the wind."
"Yes, sir!" she saluted, and he could not help but chuckle. Reality may have shifted, and the carefree days would never return, but she was, and always would be, his one and only sister.
"I'll stock up at the cafeteria while Yukino searches the teachers' office. We'll leave a note for Yuigahama in case she wakes up before we return. The compound should be quite empty at this hour, especially since many have fled the place, but if you do come across anybody, don't engage unless it's someone you know and trust."
"B-But–" she protested, biting her lip, unsure if she could abide by the rule, even if she understood the need for caution. But as a member of the Student Council and the President of the Service Club, could she be so selfish and unsympathetic as to disregard and ignore her fellow schoolmates just because they were not her friends?
"Sorry, I know it's cold and cruel, and a tough position to be in, but you saw the frenzy of a stampede," he explained, clenching his fists. "When people are desperate, pushed to the limits, with nothing to hang onto but their lives, they'll do anything and everything to clutch at straws. While we could use the extra help, we may need to hole up here and take shelter until the coast is clear. Meanwhile, we won't have the capacity to do charity or tussle with needy, hostile, or uncooperative members when we can barely feed ourselves. In fact, we'd be lucky if we didn't need to scramble for resources at some point, given that food will decay but sticks and stones would never expire."
Komachi, we've already lost so much, including our parents in downtown Tokyo. Even if I'd have to scrape the bottom of the barrel and become the lowest of the low, I won't be able to forgive myself if I'd ever lose you or Yukino.
Reluctantly, she nodded, not that she liked it at all. If she could, she would have wished for a universe where she did not have to make hard choices or suffer harsh consequences, but that was a fantasy, an impossibility, a heaven that did not exist in the aftermath of total war, where the order of nature was red in tooth and claw.
One thing was clear - this would be no summer camp, or school festival, or homecoming prom.
This would be forever - winter, without classes, with no place to go back to.
"Wear this over your nose and mouth," he reminded, handing her a wet towel, which she proceeded to put on to filter the air that was out to eradicate those who had unfortunately survived the initial blast. "And wherever you go, be careful of the shattered glass."
"We look like bandits in this, don't we?" she remarked through the fabric, "Rascals, marauders and renegades."
"We're looting the campus for resources, so I guess we are," he shrugged, turning to leave. "But hey, we get to live on for a while. See you in the library, Komachi."
"Take care, onii-chan," she waved, cheering him on with a grin, just as she would have done on a day with breakfast on the table and Kamakura by her side.
It was only when she ran down the hallway in the other direction that she allowed herself to cry.
Arriving at the canteen, Hachiman went straight for the kitchen and promptly found himself in unfamiliar territory, not that he had ever visited the area behind the counters. Nonetheless, fumbling through the partial darkness, he wasted no time in clearing the shelves and rummaging through cabinets to stuff a clean bin bag full of packaged food and canned drinks.
Of course, he could have left the supplies where they were and restock only when needed, but it would be naïve not to claim some before others could hoard them, or to pack emergency supplies in case they ever needed to evacuate in a hurry. That was why he had focused on grabbing sodas, beans, and spam instead of items that require cooking, such as rice and ramen, or perishables which would just have to sit in the residual cold of the refrigerated compartments for however long they could last in the coming days.
Smash.
The sound of bottles crashing on the ground nearly made him jump out of his skin. Startled, he spun around, his heart pounding, prepared to run or fight, only to realise that he had knocked over a year's worth of ketchup in the dim light.
In the cold silence, he froze. If this had happened half an hour ago, he would have immediately apologised and cleaned up the mess. Yet, here he was, in a prohibited section where students were not supposed to be, watching dumbly as the red puddles crept quietly across the tiles, flowing between shards that were as twisted and broken as their reality.
How were the others adapting? Yukino, Komachi, even Yuigahama - he could only hope that they were coping better than him. They had to be, if they were to subsist in a world where little was left and absolutely nothing was right.
Clang.
Another noise, this time not of his doing. Senses kicking into overdrive, he tensed at the quick shuffle of footsteps advancing in his direction, his nails digging instinctively into his palms, ready to defend himself against the rapidly approaching figures in the dark.
Thirty minutes in, and he was already facing the battle of his life.
Before he could react, the nearest silhouette lunged at him, tackling him to the floor, forcing him to wrestle with all his might. Not one to yield, it writhed and trashed like a wild animal, sending him tumbling as he struggled to gain a hold. Growling in a tone that he did not know he had, he sprung back to his feet, the raw adrenaline coursing through his veins giving him the edge to turn the tides and overpower the shadow, pinning it firmly to the ground.
One down, one more to go.
"Onee-chan!" a familiar voice screeched as a punch struck him from behind, "Get off my sister, you bastard!"
"Taishi," he snapped before another hit could land. "What on earth do you think you're doing?"
"Hikigaya-senpai," the junior spluttered, "I-I'm so sorry, I-I didn't know–"
"Hikigaya," sighed the girl in his grasp, "you were so loud that anyone would've mistaken you for an intruder. Hell, the cloth over your face just makes you look like a thug."
"K-Kawasaki," he stammered, retreating as she stretched her arms and massaged the spot near her chest where he had held her.
"We can argue about this later," she dismissed before he could make a fuss, "For now, what's the plan?"
"We'll be hunkering down in the library until it's safe enough to seek greener pastures," he relented, deciding to trust the siblings, having worked with them in the not-so-distant past. "Assuming we don't die of radiation poisoning or cancer, we'll head for the villages and be farmers, though I can't guarantee that the contaminated air and soil can support long-term agriculture–"
"I wasn't looking for a thesis or your nihilistic predictions of the future," she interjected, "we'll have to survive today to get to next week. Why the library? What's wrong with staying here in the kitchen or the cafeteria with all the weapons and the supplies?"
"It's a little crammed with the fixtures and the furniture, plus it's hot and not particularly well lit," he countered. "It'll also be difficult to coordinate if everyone is so spread out."
"Well, the space may be limited, but it's enough for the two of us," she insisted, "I don't fancy spending the last of my days staring at bookshelves, playing meaningless games, or bickering away in the awkward silence. I'm sure everyone would congregate here for meals, so we can always talk over lunch. Whatever it is, consider us allies. We'll cook, take stock of rations and guard the place so nobody fights or steals more than their fair share."
And who gave you the authority to do so, a dark voice in him commented, though he made sure that the toxic words did not leave his mouth. After all, from a utilitarian perspective, it was favourable for him and his little sister to have friends like Kawasaki and Taishi in charge. And while the siblings could and undoubtedly would help themselves behind the scenes without anyone's knowledge - not that he would ever blame them given that anyone else would probably do the same - like nobles of the old, they would be in a most unenviable position when the hungry masses turn on them to redistribute the crumbs, or when other empires come invading for resources.
"Are you sure?" he had to ask, even if it was to relieve his own conscience, "God knows how long we'll be stuck here. Not everyone will play nice, especially with starvation and cabin fever. You'll be at the forefront of any tussle, and the prime target for raiders and looters."
"That's what cleavers are for," she breathed as her brother looked away. "I really don't want to have to hurt anybody, but we have more of these than we can use or carry. Perhaps you should really arm yourself if you're concerned about safety."
With that, she directed him to the knife rack, letting him choose from the row of shiny blades. She had just sharpened them earlier that afternoon, being a part-timer in the school cafeteria - not that many would know about her job washing dishes in the kitchen, where she had worked at since her third year. It paid reasonably well without the need to travel, and came with free food, but most importantly, it was the reason she was still alive and by her brother's side, for if she had been waiting tables at the bar in Tokyo, she would most likely have been burnt to a crisp, with nothing for him to mourn or bury.
"Hikigaya, I trust you," she told him as he prepared to leave with a trash-bag full of provisions. "Take care of yourself, and all of us."
"Hikigaya-senpai," her brother bowed, "please send my regards to K-Komachi."
"Does she get more dinner tonight?" came the reply as he disappeared around the bend.
"No, but I-I can share some of mine."
"What a crowd," the dead-fish eyed loner declared dryly as he swung open the door. The blonde pair and their clique apparently had the same idea, not that there were many options to choose from, the library being the shielded core, the bookshelves providing an additional sense of security from the dangers outside.
In the opposite corner, yet another group had set up camp, led by the maroon-haired ex-chairwoman of the Cultural Festival committee, the last person on the planet whom he would ever want to rely on - a sentiment that she likely shared. Meanwhile, outnumbered by the other factions, Yukino and Komachi were huddled at the furthest table, with Yuigahama resting on the floor, still knocked out from her shock at having witnessed the end of reality.
Is it too late to go back to the kitchen or the Service Clubroom? We could tape curtains over the windows to filter the air. That'll be better than starting World War IV from within these walls.
"Welcome, Master Hikigaya," the white-haired otaku sat beside the angel in the middle of the room, his hands held before his chin in a pose reminiscent of the antagonist from a certain mecha anime. "The prophecy is true. The Third Impact has begun."
Ikari Yoshiteru, what is this? NERV HQ?
"We have fifteen people here," smiled the captain of the soccer club, taking on the tone and demeanour of a natural leader, "let's pool our resources together and compare what we have."
Nodding, the guys began laying out their inventory, even as the Fire Queen folded her arms, unwilling to cooperate. Sagami and her lackeys did not budge, while Zaimokuza adamantly held on to his priceless stash of chips, though he did distribute some of lesser flavour while contributing valuable facemasks to the team.
"I-I didn't bring anything with me," the angel blushed apologetically, "I was actually running around filling basins. I'd managed to do so for the gents at the north end of the corridor, but I'd just started on the ladies in the south when the pumps stopped working."
Ah, Totsuka-tan maji tenshi! Gotta trust her– I mean, him to do the right thing even in a situation of distress!
"You just did us an important favour," Hayama commended, patting him in the back. "It hadn't crossed my mind, but if we're bunking in instead of bugging out, we'll need to cleanse ourselves. And since we were just done with practice, we're all, you know–"
"Stinking up the room," the Ice Queen completed his sentence for him, not mincing her words, even as his green-eyed partner glared back in annoyance and indignation.
"Well, at least we took whatever we could from the shed, Low-Stamina Yukinoshita," she spat, firing back. "Fresh jerseys, mineral water and isotonic drinks, what do you have? Don't test my patience or I won't be kind, even if you starve and die of thirst."
"I got some iodine pills from one of our teacher's desks, but it seems that you don't need any for your thyroid, Miura-san."
"Yumiko," Hayama stopped her before tensions could escalate. "Hikitani-kun, care to show us what you've got?"
"Not much," the dead-fish eyed loner mumbled, tightening his grip around the sack which contained more than a few blades. "Barely enough for ourselves."
Just as he was about to probe further, the pink-haired airhead stirred with a gasp, confused by the stares from across the library which was darker than she remembered.
"How long was I out for, Yukinon?" she croaked, rubbing her eyes groggily. "Ugh, that was a really bad nightmare."
"Why is everyone here?" she tried again as her best friend left her hanging, "It's time to go, isn't it, Komachi-chan? It's the last day before summer."
"W-We can't do that, Yui-senpai," the younger Hikigaya whimpered, unsure of how to break the truth to her innocent eyes. "W-We'll need to stay here for a while."
"You're talking funny, Komachi," she giggled, wobbling to her feet, "The floor here is hard, I-I'll just head back to my room to sleep, okay?"
In the deathly quiet, she staggered for the doors, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere and the characters who were but figments of her imagination. All would be well if she could just make it back home, to throw herself in her mother's embrace, just like when she had her heart broken those months ago, her high-school romance that was not to be. Perhaps, if she could just hug her pillow and hide under the sheets, she would wake up in the real world, where the windows were not broken, where the alien cityscape was neither bizarre nor full of flames in the falling rain.
Determined, she ran with all her breath, pulling away from the fakes who stubbornly refused to give up, until she slid and tumbled on the pavement, rolling from the pain surging through her knee. While she suffered, they caught up, holding her down as she screamed at them, venting her anguish and frustration as the agony reminded her that she was somehow awake and alive in a wretched world where she did not belong.
"Mama," she cried, her fingers slipping on the wet surface of the ground. Before she knew it, she was lifted by the collar as a dizzying slap descended on her cheek, only to be comforted in the next moment, surrounded by a warmth that contrasted against the downpour of bitter tears.
"Sorry, Yuigahama-san," the raven-haired girl finally spoke, "I-I had to, it was the only way. Please don't leave us. We need you. I need you."
"Yukinon," she sobbed, tightening her grasp, never wanting to let go.
"We'll be eating like kings tonight," the dead-fish eyed loner quipped from the side. "Hope that'll make you feel better."
"Eh, why's that?" she exclaimed, perking at the announcement.
"You'll see," he snickered, directing them to the cafeteria. "Either way, good to have you back, Yuigahama."
Even with seventeen hungry mouths to feed, the surviving members could barely finish the last scrumptious dinner of their lives, not that unsold cooked food could last long in the summer heat, even if served cold. In fact, in order not to waste precious nutrition, they would have to force themselves to consume faster than the meals could spoil, absorbing whatever calories they could gorge themselves on, instead of letting the leftover sushi, beef bowls and curry katsu rot away in the bin, which would only attract pests in the absence of proper waste disposal.
As for the topic of what would come out on the other end, Hayama had called for a show of hands - thankfully not before they were done chewing - and while it was far from unanimous, with Miura, Sagami, and her clique voting against, it was nonetheless decided that in the interest of reducing flushes, only solids would be allowed in the toilets, while liquids would be released in the great outdoors. Moreover, to minimise losses due to evaporation, exposure to radioactive dust and inadvertently encouraging the spread of mosquitoes, the basins were covered with boards, and save for the quick shower that Hayama and his buddies had to take, everyone else would have to make do with wiping themselves with wet cloths.
Some disagreements aside, the evening was mostly uneventful - not that there were any deadlines to meet, and by the time they re-donned their facemasks and cleaned their utensils, the sun had already set. Without artificial light, the school was pitch-black as the rain continued to pour, and they had to squint in the weak illumination of candles on their way back, where each faction had set up tents and sleeping bags. Changing into fresh indoor clothes and hanging their contaminated uniforms along the corridor, they each took a dose of iodine and prepared for the night, with groups of three designated to keep guard every two hours. Hachiman, Komachi and Ebina were lined up for first shift, and having armed themselves with knives, the Hikigaya siblings volunteered to patrol the compound, leaving the fujoshi to watch over the rest at base.
A short walk brought them to the main entrance, where the dead-fish eyed loner had subconsciously wandered towards, ostensibly to check if the gates were locked. They were - a fact that he and Hayama had confirmed earlier when securing the compound, yet he could not help but pause before the metal grills, scanning the desolate streets and the empty roads outside their prison.
"What's the matter? Missing Kamakura?"
"Yeah, mom and dad too, and happier times," he glanced at the moonless sky. "But this is home now, Komachi, you're the only family I have, and I'll protect you with my life."
"And what would I live for if you're dead?"
Somehow, he could not find the words.
"You're younger than me, Komachi," he finally said, patting her head through the hood of her poncho. "You have a long way ahead of you. You haven't even gone through high school or experienced your first love, even in this tragic comedy that is our youth."
"And I'll give it all up for you," she declared without the slightest trace of hesitation. "Heh, that must've scored me a tonne of points."
"We're still playing that game?"
"From the day I was born till the day I die."
"Let's get back inside before you catch a cold," he exhaled, despite the lingering urge to stay. He had tried not to think about it, especially since nobody had brought up her absence, preferring to be contented with what they had, which was already too much to hope for - and yet, the void gnawed at him, inundating him with guilt and regret, a gaping hole that could not be filled, a missing piece that could not be replaced.
"Onii-chan," she sniffed, unmoving. Perhaps she knew and felt it too - his unwillingness to leave, his reluctance to stop shining the flashlight at the darkness in search of the faintest slivers of hope.
"Come on," his voice strained in the wind. "There's nothing left for us here."
"After you, whenever you're done."
"Komachi–"
He froze at the sound of footsteps, followed by a distant cry.
Throwing open the gate, he sprinted without a care for the world, the radioactive rain splashing on his eyes, drenching his nose and cheeks. Gritting his teeth, he dashed through the flurried blur, refusing to halt until he reached the similarly soaked figure, her flaxen hair a dampened mess, blood and tears streaming down her face.
"Sen…pai," she managed to utter before collapsing in his embrace.
"Iroha," he whispered as he tightened his arms around her trembling frame. "Welcome back, baka."
A/N: And thus, most of our beloved characters have been introduced, grouped into 4 main factions (cue Lord of the Flies theme):
A) Service Club (5)
1. Hikigaya Hachiman
2. Yukinoshita Yukino
3. Yuigahama Yui
4. Hikigaya Komachi
5. Isshiki Iroha
B) Independents (aligned to the Service Club) (4)
1. Kawasaki Saki
2. Kawasaki Taishi
3. Zaimokuza Yoshiteru
4. Totsuka Saika
C) Hayama's clique (6)
1. Hayama Hayato
2. Miura Yumiko
3. Tobe Kakeru
4. Ebina Hina
5. Yamato
6. Ooka
D) Sagami Minami's clique (3)
In terms of raw numbers, the Service Club (5) + Independents (4) = Hayama's clique (6) + Sagami's clique (3), though the Service Club can't always depend on the Independents, and Miura isn't friends with Sagami. Yuigahama is technically in the Service Club and Hayama's clique so she may be a deciding factor. And of course, any deaths or injuries would change the balance of power.
Also, don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Hiratsuka Shizuka, Yukinoshita Haruno, Shiromeguri Meguri or Orimoto Kaori.
P/S: Some references to Neon Genesis Evangelion and Re:Zero with Zaimokuza's and Totsuka's introductions.
Feel free to check out my earlier completed work Reality Offline (SAO x Oregairu post-apocalyptic AU) which is thematically similar but more action/adventure-oriented compared to this piece which will be more grounded. I'll also be updating the ongoing Five is a Couple (Quintessential Quintuplets, rated M for lemons) and Blessings on This Floating Castle (Konosuba x SAO).
As always, favs/follows/reviews highly appreciated!