Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

The wind was warm, not cold, not hot, but a nice mix of both. It was satisfying to walk under the setting sun on a fine summer evening. Hitori glanced over the mountain he could see from the height of the castle tower.

Birds were going home and the stars were appearing in the sky. The shade was slightly blue and more orange, but the moon and stars were visible.

Hitori climbed down the tower. He was done for the day a long ago but decided to wait in the academy for the afternoon. He logged into the game, then logged out. He had nothing to do in the game anymore.

He saw the portal that led to the front gate directly. He lifted his eyes and saw the map that showed the front gate was somewhere around a kilometer away. He looked down and continued walking on the path to the front gate.

He brushed his hair as he walked down the stone pavement with grass on both sides. It was not dark enough to light the street lamps, but they had lightened the lamps of the buildings around.

The campus was unusually empty. No teachers, no visitors, no parents, and no students, well, very less of them. He felt like he owned the campus. It was his, only his and no one had the permission to—

A man stepped out of the shop on the side and crossed his path. Hitori stopped right where he was. You could have waited for a second, could not you?

But he took a deep breath, it relaxed him when he exhaled the air. Hitori held his head high and continued his walk to the front gate.

He found himself alone… no usual chattering of people, it was silent, it was calm… disturbingly calm. Was the loneliness finally getting to him?

By the time he reached his house, the sun had set and the stars were glowing brightly. Standing in the barren field in front of his house, staring at the sky, Hitori thought Kamiya might be looking down at him and he might be one of those stars in the night sky.

It was around seven and he had at least found serenity for the day. His plan was to go home, get something to eat, shut the door, and spend the day reading novels or watching anime.

But it changed. His plan took a U-turn when he inserted the key into the keyhole, but could not twist it open. After trying one more time, he grabbed the handle and twisted it open.

I am sure it had locked it…  Hitori thought. It looks like he has a guest. Quietly as he opened the door, grabbed his wand, and stepped inside the house, he heard a sizzling sound.

An aroma filled the air in his house and he found it was coming from the kitchen. The sizzle magnified before dropping to its normal rate. It was as if someone was frying something.

He was drawing his wand but decided to let it be. Onogi or Tadano would be cooking in his house, waiting for him to come back. They would hide and ambush him.

He saw the dining table. Two glasses will be placed on it, the dining mats were cleaned, and the chairs were arranged perfectly. Then he saw plates arranged on the table.

Yes, someone was definitely cooking. Someone who did not bother to lock the door knew the danger. Either it is the danger itself, or someone who does not fear the danger.

On getting closer, without making a noise, he saw a figure standing near the kitchen counter. Her purple hair was tied in a bun on top of her head, and she was doing something with her hands.

Hitori could relax for a moment, but he did not like the idea of her touching food in his house. But could he control it?

She noticed him behind her and turned to give him a glance. She kept the pot on the stove and saute the food in the sizzling pan.

Then she rubbed her hands on the brand new apron she was wearing. She took a deep breath, secretly, and walked to Hitori who was stunned by her smile– not romantically.

"I waited for you. I was going to ask for your permission, but you never came. It was getting late, so I decided to prepare the dinner."

As expected, no reply from Hitori. So she turned and went to the counter. She took two bowls and placed them on the dining table. She looked at him and dared to talk.

"I got to admit, although I have not cooked much before, it is hard t cook with your utensils. No oven, the stove has a problem starting, and—"

Hitori turned and Reon stopped talking. He was stunned to say anything, but he was good enough to walk out of the house.

Reon's mouth dropped open, but she was expecting more than just turning around and leaving. She went to the stove and extinguished it. She took out her apron and raced to the hall.

Hitori doubted he could even teleport somewhere. The moment he steps out, he will teleport to the place his heart takes him. Perhaps to Kamiya's grave. The cemetery is close to his house anyway.

He lifted his foot to step out of the house, but the moment he was about to land it, Reon jumped and grabbed him from behind. They stumbled, but Hitori controlled her weight– she was light– regained his balance, and stood straight.

"Get the hell off—"

She hugged him from behind and pressed her breasts against his back– he gave up. "Forgive me, really. Forgive me. I will die if you torment me anymore, Hitori…" she muttered. "I tried, I tried but they tortured me…"

Hitori was about to break from her arms, but she stopped him with her words.

"But I could not hide information anymore when they kidnapped and tortured my brother to the second degree."

He forced himself. He told himself he can not get soft on her. Hitori looked at her hands and was about to pull them apart when he found Reon's pinky was missing. That was the moment he froze. "Why are you here?" he asked.

"I came for his funeral and stayed. It was the summer holidays anyway" Then she took a pause and said, "Come back, Hitori, I have made soba for you, try it."

Hitori wanted to choke himself, crush his heart, and kill himself because… she had managed to create a soft corner for herself in his heart.

He asked, "How can I be sure it not poisoned?"

She sobbed, or did she? "Only one way," she said and released him. She dropped on the ground and Hitori felt her breasts gliding down his back. She added, "by tasting it."

She smiled, and no tears were smudged on her cheeks.

It was not the danger itself, or it was not someone who does not fear the danger, but it was someone who had been through that 'danger' before and it had left them numb about the danger.