our last night alive

Act 7

24th of February

Megumi

Yuji, Nobara and I have been sleeping in the same room for two weeks and a half now. Our friendship is developing drastically. I would have never expected myself to say this, but I've been doing a lot better thanks to them. It's not only about surviving now. These days seem to make sense.
I'm not going to deny nor hide it; around three months ago, I expressed my own refusal concerning life in the apocalypse to Yuji, stating that I would have preferred dying instead of fighting for my own life for the next seventy years. However, my vision has totally changed. If it is with them, I'd even appreciate fighting for my own life for the next seventy, eighty, ninety years. Although I barely trust them, I care about them.
Precisely for this reason, however, the fear and terror of losing them is always stabbing me behind my back. They're strong, far more than anyone here, but they are not machines, they're just humans. Plus, Nobara decided to take part in that fucking expedition to the military base, so it's far worse. I don't risk losing one but both.
One topic however still puzzles me; Isabella. Yuji and Nobara have been wondering about her a lot too. Nobara even tried to approach her, but as a result of Isabella's attitude, she just started disliking her. She's got a point, nevertheless I know more than both Yuji and Nobara why a person would act rude towards anyone without what seems to be a logical reason. I've been there. She needs to be comprehended.

I don't get how they convinced her to join in the first place. She must have had little talks with Anastasya but she seems to be struggling too. She spends most of her time alone, hidden from the eyes of the world, no one knows where. Anastasya feared that she planned some escapes from the shelter, in order to be able to spend time by herself where no one could see her, so she checked up on her but discovered nothing. She didn't exit the shelter even once, not even for the daily explorations.

I observe my surroundings a lot. She must participate in the expedition to the military base, she attends training and she's pretty strong too. The look in her eyes never changes and ever since she has joined us, I never saw her exchanging a word, not even a sigh, nothing. Not even after a run. She's able with weapons, is precise and deadly cold, doesn't hesitate but meditates a lot at the same time. She has some metal chain necklaces and crosses. She must have some earrings too. All she wears is black.

She's the rain, the darkness, the cold, the winter, the terror, the loneliness.
Everything Yuji and Nobara aren't.

Nobara

"I'm hungry." I stated whiningly, sitting up on my bed.
"Take these!"Yuji threw me a packet of biscuits that I hadn't noticed he had been eating. I began having a snack with my legs crossed, extremely bored and looking at what was left inside the pack.
"I like your ring."I met his eyes.
"Mh? You mean this one?"The muffled sound escaped my lips as I pointed at the steel butterfly ring on my middle finger. It's quite flashy, the butterfly is not that huge but due to the silver crystals on the top, it's quite stricking and eye-catching. He nodded. Megumi meanwhile raised his gaze from a random book he had been reading for two hours now. He has grabbed some from the multiple libraries in the city during an exploration, and since then he tries to take more every chance he gets. Boredom, he says.
"Thank you, a friend bought it for my birthday two years ago."The thought of her made me smile. My chest felt a warmth it hadn't felt in a while. I miss her tremendously.
"Is she dead?"Yuji demanded me worryingly.
"I don't know..."I shaked my head, pushing away my fears. "No, she can't be. She's strong. I'm sure she is alive somewhere, she must be."I stated resolutely.
"What's her name?"Megumi asked me after.
"Maki."A smile painted my lips once again as cosiness overwhelmed me another time. "We were in the same refuge, due to an attack our ways parted and I haven't managed to find her since then. I'm sure she's out there though."I have no doubts about that. She's alive.
"We'll find her, right, Megumi?""Yuji turned towards him, showing one of his brightest smiles. He just nodded, as I let out a big breath of contentment. My eyes widened and almost became glossy. I'm lucky.
"When is your birthday by the way?"Yuji asked me then.
"August 7th."