Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

Reon could not stop looking at Hitori as he ate his noodles. He was enjoying the noodles, she could tell, but he did not want to show it on his face.

Hitori lifted his eyes and gave her a peek. "Eat your soba, Reon, it is getting cold," he said.

She shook with fear– a chill ran down her body– and her heart skipped a beat. Was I staring too hard at him? Is he mad again? She wondered.

Hitori finished before Reon, as expected, and got up from the table. He took the bowl to the sink and took the dish, which had side dishes in it, to the sink. Reon thought she should take care of the whole thing, so she protested:

"Leave them, Hitori!" she got up, "I will clean—"

"You do not have to wash them. You are my guest, I will take care of the dishes."

"Ah, but I made you dinner tonight. Let me wash them just for tonight, we can later divide the work—" she stopped. She realized where she was getting the things to.

Hitori dropped his head. He was afraid to say it, but he had to. "You know…" He turned, he wanted to face her while he said it, "you can st—"

Reon jumped, the chopsticks bounced, and pushed the bowl– threatening to fall off the table– but she grabbed it. Hitori\'s heart skipped, too, when he heard someone knocking on the door.

"I, I am sorry," she chuckled, "I will get—"

Hitori shushed her and stretched his hand to make her sit where she was. Hitori bent and stopped near Reon, he grabbed her forearm and tried to pull her off the chair.

He asked, "Do you have your gun?" She was confused but nodded. "Loaded? Good. Cock it."

Then he got to his feet and walked out of the dining hall. He took cover near the store room and drew his wand, held it by his side. His eyes met with Reon\'s, she was holding her gun in front of her, and her face clearly told she was afraid to use a gun in real life.

Hitori nodded, she got it, she was supposed to stay where she was. From behind the chairs, she had a clear aim at the person who would step in from the front door.

The person knocked again. Hitori clenched his wand and swung it at the door, he cast the spell to unlock the lock. The door creaked open after a click of the lock.

"Hitori-san?" the voice said.

Hitori recognized the voice, but he had to make sure. "Eya-nee…" he said and stopped. "Shit. What am I supposed to ask this time?"

But his worry faded when Eya asked him instead, "What is the name of your mother?"

"Is that even a question to ask?" Hitori lowered his wand and showed himself from the storeroom. He saw Eya standing in the doorway with her hand in the air.

"You better answer it," she said, "or I will petrify you for sure," she said and stepped into the porch.

Reon saw a silhouette first, she got to her knees and removed the chair, and saw Eya standing in front of Hitori with her hand raised. She blew her cover and came forward, shouting, "Eya-nee! He is Hitori!"

Hitori\'s expression fell, he turned around and pointed his wand at her. "Get down!" he shouted.

She glanced at him, then Eya fired an explosion spell at her. Hitori swung his wand and cast an explosion spell to repel Eya\'s spell.

Their spells clashed, Eya\'s spell swallowed Hitori\'s, but that changed its direction and tarnished the sink.

Hitori turned to  Eya and pointed his wand at her, she did the same. "Kaori. Her name is Kaori!"

Eya kept staring at him, then she lowered her wand. "You should have said that before."

Hitori sighed. He kept his wand back and turned to Reon. "What are you thinking? I told you to stay put! What if she was not Eya-nee but an imposter? You would have been dead by now."

Reon was frozen in fear. She turned her eyes hesitantly at Hitori. "I. I do not know…"

"Ah. Just keep it in mind, okay? Does not matter what happens, unless you are sure this is the real person, always stay on your guard."

Hitori then went to his room. Eya glanced at her, she will be alright, so she chased Hitori. God knows when he will lose his temper and shout at Reon again. They have made up somehow.

She pushed the door before Hitori could close the door. He went to the bed, and she followed and closed the door behind her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. Just pissed and confused."

"Confused? About what?" She took a seat by Hitori\'s side.

"I saw a man at the feast. He knew me, but I did not know him. He looked at me and said he was looking for something, then he suddenly started crying. And left. At first, I thought he was some weirdo, but when you asked mum\'s name, I think he had something to do with my parents. Do you know anything about him?"

He looked at her. She gulped and asked, "How did he look?"

"He had green hair… I do not remember his eyes. He was wearing a hood that covered him, and a cloak that hid his body under it."

​ "Oh… oh…" she chuckled. "Yes… uh… you do not need to worry about him. He would not harm you, but he would not help you either. He was just an old acquaintance—"

"Was he stealing from the academy?"

"What? No! He is friends with Atama-sensei, so no…"

"Who is he? What is his name?"

"Come on," she got up, "you do not need to know about him. He was just a face you would see in the corridor." She walked to the door. "I will take a look at her, rest well!"

Hitori stared at her. He thought something was unusual about her, but then let it go. He nodded.

She opened the door, walked out, then stopped before closing the door. "I am happy you two made up."

She did not wait for Hitori to reply, she closed the door. Hitori thought about it, Should I be happy, too?