Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

Hitori let out a sigh when he saw the blonde guy leaving the Vr-cade.

Hitori could still feel his heart throbbing in his chest, 'Barely safe.' He lifted his head and turned around.

The timid guy who was being previously bullied by the bullies was still on the floor. He squinted at Hitori.

Hitori saw his whole body was covered in clothes from top to bottom except his face. And how the boy's long coat was spread on the floor.

"Here," Hitori bent down and stretched out his hand, "What is your name?" The boy looked at Hitori without adjusting his slipping glasses.

"Uh…" He nervously raised his hand before Hitori forcefully grabbed it, "I- I am Kamiya Jigoku…" Hitori pulled him off the ground with a jerk.

"Come on, Kamiya." Kamiya stood on the floor, Hitori looked around.

"Thanks, friend…" He did not make eye contact with Hitori.

Hitori turned his blue eyes away and pulled the chairs for both of them, "Take a seat,"

Hitori used the water magic to fill a glass and offered it to the scared guy.

Kamiya grabbed the glass of water and sat on the chair calmly. His eyes still fidgeted all over the console station.

"You should…" Hitori started, "fight back, you know, this will never end unless you fight back."

Kamiya looked down, "Hm." He let out a small hum.

"I know it can be hard but… you should ask for help instead of suffering alone."

"I know." He replied, "Even I want to fight back but… I can not… their group is way too dangerous for a normal person like me,"

"Dangerous?" Hitori frowned, he thought they were just some street punks, "Who are they?"

"Science users." He replied, "You saw it too, right? When you used your magic how mad he got, he was on the verge of blowing-"

"Yeah, yes," Hitori stopped him in between, "...Why are they behind you?"

Kamiya went silent. He threw his head down with the glass of water in his hands, "..." he stayed silent before he broke the silence, "The law of the jungle,"

"Hm?"

"The strong rule the weak,"

Hitori found the reason strange. But he did not say anything, instead, he kept staring at Kamiya with dead blue eyes.

"And that was the same reason why I told you not to get yourself involved…" Hitori did not reply, so Kamiya continued, "Why… Why did you save me though? You have put your life in danger,"

"...I care only less," Hitori moved his eyes to his hands, "I went through the same treatment till I entered the mage academy," Hitori started moving his hands closer, "There was someone who stood for me… I know how it feels."

Kamiya nodded, "Thank you," He thanked Hitori once again.

"It is okay," Hitori clenched his fists. He raised his head and glanced at Kamiya.

Kamiya wore a long coat over jeans and a T-shirt, "You do not want to go on the expeditions either?" Hitori scoffed.

"Huh?" Kamiya looked at Hitori with a blank expression.

"The matches are on, right? I can see that you have ditched them though,"

"You… are a student too?" He saw Hitori nod his head, "You are not wearing the uniform so I thought you were a graduate…"

"Do I look that old? Good grief." Hitori kept his hands on his knees, "I do not like magic. I do not like the fact that mana exists in this world,"

"Do you fancy science?"

"I do not fancy anything… except games." Kamiya's eyes shone in the dark light.

"I see," he pulled his glasses back, "Me too," He replied in a cold and cool voice.

Hitori did not speak, he looked down at the floor. His eyes fell on a card that was lying on the floor.

"You like games too… so… will you be playing The Emperor of the Apocalypse-"

"Just call it a game. It is the only game that is being played all over the world right now,"

'What is up with his voice? Is he deliberately making it sound deep?' Hitori frowned for a second. He bent down and picked up the card from the ground.

"So will you play the 'game' anytime soon?" Hitori asked again. He handed Kamiya his card.

"Hm… not now," he moved his middle finger away from his eyeglasses' bridge, "I must go home, for now, my big sister must be waiting for me," Kamiya got up from the chair, "Thanks again, friend, you saved me a few thousand yen. I will not forget your help,"

Light reflected on Kamiya's glasses. As the spark disappeared, Hitori saw Kamiya Jigoku's deadly red eyes.

"See ya later, let us play the game together next time," Kamiya raised his right hand, took a step forward, and continued walking.

"Y- yeah, see ya," Hitori was confused and… suspicious at the same time. He continued looking at Kamiya till he was out of the alley.

"He might help me with understanding and getting used to the game," Hitori shrugged his shoulders.

He pushed his hands against his knees and got up from the chair, "Kiku-san must be waiting too," Hitori glanced at the time, it was almost evening, way past the Academic hours.

Hitori walked to the counter, "Thanks for playing!" A beautiful young female greeted him, "Let me take care of your card," she asked for Hitori's card.

"This lady-san is way better than the man," Hitori sighed as he walked to the other side of the counter to collect his card.

"Thank you, Hitori-san, please come back,"

"Yes, sure," Hitori bowed as he accepted the gaming card.

The QR code sticker was removed and the card looked more polished than before.

Hitori then left for his home.

Inside the house, Kiku sat on a sofa in the drawing hall, 'He has not arrived yet,' She thought while staring at the two things she held in her hands.

In her right hand was her wand whilst in her left hand was an empty wand case. She was blindly staring at those two things.

The wand case she held in her left hand was a leather cover to keep her wand in, a few had metal covers, and a few had a scabbard for their wands!

She curved her lips up, tried her best not to cry over things like these. She clenched her wand in her hand.

She held a strangely sad expression with a glint of disappointment shining in her eyes.

Click.

She heard the door behind her click open and a voice entered the drawing hall, "Kiku-san, I am back,"

'You are rather happy today,' She thought.

"Kiku-san?" Hitori walked inside, took off his shoes, and hung his jacket on the clothes stand, "What is tonight's dinner?" Hitori asked but still received no reply, "Where are you, Kiku-san?"

He moved his eyes all around the drawing hall but did not spot Kiku, "In the kitchen? Oh, must be in the washroom," Hitori planned to sit on the sofa and wait for her when suddenly he heard a door click.

From the washroom at the end of the kitchen, Kiku entered the drawing hall, "Young master… you are back,"

"Yep, and I am hungry, I will be in my room so call me when the dinner is ready,"

"Oh, of course, young master," She smiled. Hitori smiled back and went to his room, "I waited for you," her expression dropped.