Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

If someone could see us from an outside perspective, it was like one of those cheesy films where two lost souls were reunited—better yet, a soldier coming home after the war. Because as soon as Aoi uttered those words, she dropped the broom she was holding before letting out the brightest of smiles and then running in to embrace me with a full-body hug.

And I already know what some of the pervs or men of culture were thinking: the boobs.

While it was true that my older sister had give or take, almost the same size as ma wife's, they weren't able to get into contact with me at that particular moment because we had the wooden box between us—though she couldn't care less about it at the moment.

'And then this happens…'

"Hmm? I— Did I hug you too tight, Sora-kun? Are you— Is there something wrong?"

"..."

"Are you that tired hiking up? We used to just run up and down the mountain when we were kids, right?"

"..."

"Umm… H-How about a bath? We already have some firewood ready? Do you…"

"Aoi-neesan… I…" I trailed as started to grip the box where my swords were tighter and tighter.

"Are you hungry? Y-You do know that you have to tell me what's wrong or else I'll keep guessing wrong—"

"W-Where's Kaiseki-ojiisan? The old man… W-Where is he?"

She looked at me as if I was an idiot, "Really? You're gonna ask me that? Everyone in the mountain wouldn't know where he is but if—"

I dryly chuckled, "If he's here, we'll definitely know…"

"Exactly!"

"Right… I mean… Do you know where everybody else is? The place looks… empty… not that it matters…"

Aoi-san looked around, "Hmmrgh… Now that you mentioned it… I do remember Mashiro-san taking Eikiji-kun and Arashi-kun diving— fishing— or boating— I-I don't really remember but Mai-san, Kuromi-chan, and— ugh… t-they're just around here somewhere… It's still a few hours before sunset but you know how it is… right?"

At this point, even if I was stuck in this cutscene and viewing it in first person, I was trying my best to take in every bit of info that entered my vision cone—no matter how simple—because that was the only way I could think of just to somehow remember the things about to happen which I fucking forgot.

Be it the blades of grass, the dirt path, the little chicks following a trail of capybaras, heck, even the dust that was blowing in the wind and the weirdly-shaped clouds from the distance—I was trying to overanalyze everything from the get-go.

Still, I wasn't even sure if it'd play right after since I can't access it in my head, but the scene continued on as is while I—the current me—was a fucking wreck.

But with that said, the past me couldn't say the exact words as of yet, so Aoi just wore a helpless smile before guiding me to my well-kept room. Before you ask, it was only a few tatami mats of space but despite my current room being the perfect mancave, two out of seven nights, I'd spend a day in this very minimalistic and rustic room of mine.

Seeing it now, it only had a roll of futon, a small table, and three cushions on top of one another—though from the years I've spent customizing this room, it had a hidden compartment where I stored some of my stuff through careful digging and some other sneaky shit which I was also sure Old Man Kaiseki was also aware of but just decided to not say anything.

But then Aoi-san's voice echoed in my head:

"I'll prepare your bath for you— it'll help clear your head or at least that works for me, ahaha… Just a sec, alright? Don't go anywhere! It's not like I'm afraid of being alone or a-anything…"

"Weren't you alone when I popped in earlier?"

"W-Well, I wasn't aware of it until you told me!"

"Please, even a crowd of delinquents wouldn't dare go near you with that broom, much less your naginata…"

"Hmph! I would've wanted that tachi of yours! I just have to pass the test—"

'Here it goes… I think…'

I dryly chuckled as I said, "You can have it, if you want…"

Aoi-san rolled her eyes as she was about to close the sliding door in front of her, "Riiight~ As if you'd let go of your tachi—didn't you sleep with those four swords when you first got them?"

"I did… I did… That was one of the best days of my life…"

"Then stop joking and—"

"I'm serious though, Aoi…"

"Where's the '-san' in that, hmm?! Aren't you younger than me? I appreciate the vote of confidence but— What are you serious about?"

I pushed the box in front of her, "I'm done. Tell Old Man Kaiseki that I gave them to ya—"

"S-Stop joking, Sora… It's not funny… Your acting is… It's a little too r-real…"

"I'm not acting, Aoi… Aoi-neesan… It's… I… I don't think I deserve them— or need them— they're just glorified blades that—"

"Wha— Y-You're not joking, are you? You're actually serious…"

"I apologize. Please tell that to Ojii-san too… They're the best— they're like a part of my body... It just slices through a sack of flesh like it's nothing… I did fail the first time but that's on me… It's just… I don't think I'd have more use of them now… Everything… Everything is falling apart I— I just wanted to bring them here before I— Fuck… Tell Ojii-san— tell everyone I'm sorry—"

Then Aoi got up in my face, "Sora! What is going on?! Tell me! W-What happened to you?! Y-You're crying— Please! I— I don't know what's happening to you— I—"

I let out this mocking smile, "You wouldn't even understand—"

"W-What?"

"You wouldn't even understand! YOU WON'T! IT'S ALL MY FUCKING FAULT, AOI! ME! THEY'RE GONE! GONE!

I KILLED THOSE FUCKING BASTARDS BUT— FUCK!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY FUCKING IDEA HOW HARD IT WAS TO CLIMB UP HERE JUST TO RETURN THESE FUCKING USELESS PIECES OF SHIT?! FUCK! THEY'RE NOT— FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

HOW CAN YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND?! HOW CAN YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND ME?! HUH?! DID YOU— WHY AM I EVEN EXPLAINING SHIT TO YOU?! WHY DON'T YOU JUST BE YOUR USUAL SELF AND TELL THE FUCKING OLD MAN THAT HE CAN HAVE THESE BACK—"

Then she sent a solid slap across my face:

"Stop it! I AM asking you what's wrong! Stop it! I don't really understand— that's why I'm trying to ask you! Can you sit down—"

"HAH! SIT DOWN?! FUCKING SIT DOWN?! THEY'RE GONE, AOI! MOM AND DAD— YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE ARE— THEY'RE DEAD! THEY'RE FUCKING DEAD!"

"N-No…"

"AND I KILLED THEM!"

"N-No! Tell me the truth—"

"I MIGHT AS WELL! FOURTEEN FUCKING DOGS, A FIFTEEN-FOOT WALL, AND A FUCKING SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM—AND ME OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LET A FUCKING DRUGGIE COME IN AND TAKE THEM! REMEMBER THE KNIFE I ASKED THE OLD MAN TO MAKE FOR MOM?! T-THE— IT SLIT MOM'S THROAT STRAIGHT THROUGH! I MAY HAVE SOME WORDS FOR EDGE ALIGNMENT BUT FUCK IT! MOM CHOKED ON HER BLOOD IN FUCKING SECONDS!

DAD TOO! IT WAS ALSO EXCELLENT FOR STABBING SOMEBODY OVER AND OVER! ISN'T THAT GREAT?!"

"S-Stop shouting, I—"

"WHY WOULD I?! YOU ASKED ME TO TALK, RIGHT?! I'M TALKING NOW! I'M TELLING YOU FUCKING EVERYTHING! I'M TELLING YOU SO THAT YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND! BUT GUESS WHAT?!

YOU WOULDN'T! NEVER! THE FUCKING SHIT THAT HAPPENED TO ME WILL NEVER FUCKING HAPPEN TO YOU BECAUSE—"

"I SAID STOP TALKING!!!"

'I— I don't fucking remember this bit…'

From the past few seconds, I was shouting down at my elder sister/childhood friend/martial sister from the top of my lungs before I barely caught wind of a blade's glint—which actually belonged to my bloody tachi—and this budding killing intent—forming from Aoi-neesan's whole body.

Despite my agitation, I was able to dodge an attempt to lop my head off but when I looked down to see the expression of my older sibling, I actually thought I was looking at a mirror from one of those times I'd lose control.

My first instinct was to grab hold of my katana and wakizashi—fuck it, even my tanto at least—but nah, the only option I could survive this demoness was to jump back and break through the thin walls and hit the ground running—no, hit the ground sprinting at max fucking speed.

"YAMETEEE— YAMETEEE KUDASAI, AOI-SAAAN!!!(STOP— PLEASE STOP, AOI-SAN!!!)"

Despite me shouting for dear life, Aoi-san just clammed up like one of those times I scared the living shit out of her, but this was one of those times she fought back. It's just that she was definitely locked in to use my blade's intended purpose—and with everyone else out the fucking picture, I had to run for my fucking life.

I was feeling my heart pump faster than a fucking motherfucker and each time I'd feel this prickly feeling was when my own blade was about to reduce my weight by several kilograms.

'Huh. I— Hmm.'