Last Lifeline

Chapter 2 - Planning Ahead

Yuichiro turned his attention away from the small portable stove, to shoot a glance at Mikaela. The blonde boy was resting his back against an empty shelf, seemingly scribbling down some writings in an old notebook. He seemed very focused.

Was Mikaela always this... cautious? Every since he saved him, the blonde was sure to keep his distance from the ravenette. As if he didn't want to get close, as if he didn't want anything to do with Yuichiro.

Or perhaps Yuu was just repulsive.

"Do I smell that bad?", he joked, but he did not even receive a small chuckle from the blonde.

"It's the apocalypse, not much you can do." His eyes did not move away from the notebook.

"O-Oh..." Yuichiro's cheeks flushed an embarrassed pink. "I do smell bad..."

"I was joking. You're fine."

"Oh." He frowned, stirring in the pot again. "What are you writing anyways?"

"I'm keeping track of information." Mikaela scooted a little closer to Yuichiro, laying the notebook down inbetween them. "It's basically impossible to remember every piece of info you learn throughout the years. So, important stuff, I write down at the end of the notebook. It will also help out whoever finds after I... kick the bucket."

The ravenette looked in awe at the well-written list, complete with small drawings and bullet points. "You're so well prepared-!"

"... You're not?"

"I'm just kind if winging it!" He let out an awkward laugh, scratching the side of his chin.

"... How are you alive?"

"I have good aim."

"That's true."

A silence loomed over them once more. Mikaela wasn't one for small talk, that was quite obvious. It didn't seem like the smartest idea to ask about his past, either. Hell, Yuu might get a hammer to the face.

A small chuckle. "Dead.", Mikaela said.

Yuichiro raised a confused eyebrow. "Huh?"

"You didn't check me for any bite marks. If I had been bitten, I'd have turned into a zombie right now and killed you."

"... Well you didn't check me either?"

"Your clothing's untorn and you're wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Sure, you're a little dirty, but that's bound to happen seeing the circumstances."

"... Man, I feel stupid now." Yuichiro pouted, gaze pointed at the floor.

In a way, it was... cute?

"Well," Mikaela started. "Seeing that I am no way in hell going out at this hour, might as well scope out what I'm working with." The ravenette looked up at him. "What happened with you? What's your story?"

"Oh! Well, all in all I had a pretty normal life. My family is dead, but that all happened before the apocalypse!"

Mika squinted. "You speak so lightly of it."

"Oh, yeah. I'm an orphan, eh, whatever. My parents died when I was like four, so I don't really have any recollection of them. So I spent the apocalypse with my friends, up until a few weeks ago."

"Are they...?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

He shrugged. "It was bound to happen, wasn't it? A group of young adults thinking they own the world... Yeah."

"... How old are you, Yuichiro?"

"Oh, I'm 25! What about you?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"