Pause System: Harem In The Apocalypse

"Your Majesty, we have finished providing food and supplies we gathered from the stores below to the horned ones through all of the ships." Said Charlotte as she approached Ruby standing beside Lita on the edge of the ship.

Ruby smiled brightly upon hearing this.

"That's great! Lara's suggestion turned out to work out great, especially since we were low on supplies."

'But I suggested the same thing before her..' Charlotte thought to herself while putting up a smiling front.

"That is right your majesty, it's a good thing she suggested it."

Ruby nodded before glancing over at Lita.

Lita wasn't saying anything, her eyes were shut and her presence was fickle. Completely unlike her playful and usual side.

She was in her [Prophecy] mode.

"Charlotte, how do you think the Labyrinth expedition is going so far?" Ruby asked.

Charlotte closed her eyes and tried to envision the situation, a feeble breeze passed by her swaying her hair to the sides.

She opened her eyes with an unamused look.

"I can't say... What I can say for certain is that they've already entered." She said.

"...Is that so.." Ruby responded with a saddened look.

To Charlotte and Ruby's surprise, the one who had been quiet throughout most of the conversation spoke up.

"They are going through countless challenges which many may not be able to overcome." Said Lita with the same expressionless expression

Despite being a child, her voice came out in a mature femine and mechanical way, it was truly the ability [Prophecy] at work.

'So that's the case... If Lita says that's what will happen then it most likely will.'

There hasn't been a single time where Lita's prediction was off.

"I take it this is a sign to expect the worst?" Charlotte asked.

Upon asking the question, Lita's eyes suddenly opened. She blinked repeatedly before looking around with a confused and drowsy look.

Aroudn her were both Ruby and Charlotte, both of them with their eyes on her.

"I said something weird again, didn't I?" She asked with a yawn.

The two looked at each other before looking back over at Lita.

Just as they were about to open their mouths to reply, a voice called out to her.

"Lita!! Mum said food is ready!! Come and bring Master and Ruby with you!"

Upon hearing this, Lita's eyes lit up. Her belly was empty, she had been starving.

She grabbed onto Ruby and Charlotte's hands and pulled them along as she went into the deck to eat.

"Let's go eat, you two. My mum is the best cook in the whole-"

Without finishing her sentence, Lita suddenly stopped in her tracks. Ruby and Charlotte who were looking forward to eating Lara's meal were surprised by this.

"um... Lita, Is everything okay?"

"He's coming..." She said with an excited smile.

"Who's coming?" Charlotte asked.

"Big bro, Gray!"

Ruby's ears twitched. 'Did she just say... Gra-'

*Fwoosh* *Creak*

Sound of a creak caused by weight being applied to the ship's wooden floor manifested from right behind them.

The two quickly turned only to come face to face with Gray, Violet and Aurora.

"Gray!" Ruby called out to him with a bright smile.

She wanted to jump at him to give him a hug but she didn't. Instead, the smile slowly faded from her face as she stared at the two beside him.

Aurora and Violet were both holding each of his arms while they remained stuck close to him.

"..."

"..."

The three looked at each other, no words were exchanged between them. There was a long dreadful silence for the first few seconds.

Gray who was in between this could feel cold sweat flowing down his face. He had thought about what he'd tell Ruby in regards to their new relationship but never did he expect the first interaction with the three of them to start in this way.

Ruby who had her gaze on Aurora and Violet slowly directed it to Gray who nervously looked back. He felt as if he were being poked from her gaze alone. It was cold and dark.

Gray tugged at his arm to get Violet and Aurora to let go but they didn't. He then looked towards Charlotte for help, but she ended up turning her head whilst letting out a disappointed sigh.

"Ruby-"

Gray who was about to break through the silence was one step behind Lita who suddenly leapt at him from the front while calling out their names.

"Big bro, Gray!!! Aurora!!! Violet!!!! I'm so glad you all made it back safe!!"

*Thud*

Lita latched herself onto Gray's chest once she grabbed a hold of him. She rubbed her teary face all over his chest before looking up and smiling at him.

The mood lightened a little as a result of Lita's sudden action.

"Aurora, Violet, I'm glad you two were able to return safely." Ruby spoke with a forced smile before turning around to the deck. "Food is ready and I'm sure you're all tired so why don't we talk inside while we eat?"

After saying such, Ruby walked ahead of the group towards and into the deck.

Charlotte gave a shallow bow towards Gray after having witnessed it all before following after Ruby.

"...?"

The two girls looked at one another with a confused look before realising what her reaction met.

"Ah... Don't tell me... She's jealous?" Violet asked.

"Is she unaware that Gray likes her...?" Aurora asked.

The two girls had yet to know just how far Gray had gone with her. All they knew was that Gray liked her.

Gray had yet to tell them that he had also taken her first.

Unaware of this, the two Girls made secret plans to tease her in order to reveal her feelings towards him.

"Then... Let's tease her a little until she reveals it."

Aurora nodded.

-

The seven of them sat on the table, eating the delicious meal Lara had managed to cook thanks to the ingredients given to her by the horned ones which had gone looting for supplies.

What she had cooked this time was Spaghetti Bolognese mince beef with minced meat.

The seasoning, the flavour, the tomato sauce mixed with the vegetables and other special ingredients, made it all perfect.

None of them could stop chewing, that was how good it was.

But surprisingly, even with the food lifting up the mood, the tension at the table was still high.

'...I'm glad that Gray returned but... What's with this pressure?' Kylo asked while finishing the food on his plate.

He who was seated at the end of the table and had a great view of the whole situation, hence why he kept his head down.

'Why are they all staring at each other like that...?'

'Gray screwed up... I better not get involved... They look scary.' He thought to himself.

The only ones who were unaware of what was happening were Lara and Lita who was all smiles from seeing them eat her food.

"So... Why exactly are you holding onto him like that?" Ruby asked with a twitching brow to the two girls opposite to her on the table.

"Why not? We're together now, so I don't see anything wrong with it." Responded Violet.

Ruby felt her heart sink as she heard those words.

"You're... Together now...?" She repeated.

"Yeah, we both like Gray and he likes us back so we're sharing him."

Ruby's ears twitched once again.

"I-Is that so...?"

"Yes, it is. Why do you ask? Don't tell me you also..."

*Thud*

Ruby slammed her utensils onto the plate before getting up and storming out.

"Thank you for the food. It was really good."

"Oh dear, wouldn't you like seconds?" Lara asked.

But by the time she did, Ruby was already gone.

Charlotte who had been focused on eating her meal, glared at Gray for an instant before going back to eating her food quietly.

Gray got the message.

"...Did we go too far teasing her?" Violet whispered to Aurora.

Aurora slowly nodded.

"I feel kind of bad now... Maybe trying to help was a bad idea...?" She whispered back with a saddened look.

The only reason she wanted to help in the first place was because they had grown quite fond and close to Ruby. They didn't want to see her hurt.

"Everyone.. I'll be back." Gray muttered before getting up.

The two girls beside him nodded, already knowing where he was going, smiled before nodding.

"We'll wait."

*Pat*

"Thank you." Said Gray with a smile as he patted them.

[Pause Step.]

And just like that, he vanished from the room, leaving not even a trace of himself behind.

Aurora and Violet went back to eating their meals with a carefree look.

"Mn~ This really is good. Nothing beat's Lara's cooking~."

"That's true." Aurora reassured it.

"Um... Is everything going on ok with those two?" Kylo asked with a worried look.

"Of course, even if it doesn't, we'll make it work out one way or another." Violet answered.

'it's clear that she likes him, after all.' She thought to herself.