Reclaiming What is Lost

"Hey Zan. Shouldn't you…? I don't know, chase after her?" Alex asks me after a moment of thought.

I frown slightly. "It's fine. She will be back. She has no choice, really, and honestly, I think she is better with someone else. At least, she will not be abandoned… again."

My frown deepens as I continue to craft my primitive bomb. I wish I could buy proper explosives from the Shop System, but I do not have the money to do so. A simple enhanced bomb still cost a significant amount of GP, and I only have 92GP at the moment. I am actually trying to save up for another item.

"I find that hard to believe man. If I know you, you wouldn't abandon anyone," Alex responses firmly.

I sigh. "It does not matter what I want, Alex. Sometimes, I have to do what I have to do. Sometimes, I have no choice in the matter. You will understand when the time comes. It is either one or the other, not both, and sometimes, you have to choose the one that is correct, not the one that you wanted the most."

"Damn. That's deep, but I would still chase after her because it is the right thing to do," Alex tells me, and I stare at him for a moment before letting out a chuckle.

"You're right. I should not give up even before the battle," I comment before dropping everything that I was doing and heading out of the kitchen in search for Alice. Alex stays behind, working on his melee weapon.

Despite not being in the cafeteria, I find Alice fairly easily because there is really nowhere else to go.

Outside the building is filled with ominous green mist, obscuring everything from view, and Alice isn't suicidal enough to head out there. No one in their right mind is.

"Hey," I greet as I dropdown on the floor next to her and lean against the wall. "I was lying before. We did get together in the future, and I think we would have last longer if I wasn't selfish. When I realized what is important, you were already… gone."

I sigh as I try not to remember painful memories. I have gotten past all of that, and I really do not want to revisit them again.

"Is everyone going to die?" Alice questions after a prolong silence.

I shrug. "I don't know, but everyone will die eventually. That is why we should live in the moment and worry about the future tomorrow. I'm sorry. Come join me and Alex, and whatever happens between us in the future, the future us will decide. Okay?"

Alice takes a while to understand, and she accompanies me back to the cafeteria and the kitchen. On the way back there, I note that there are still some people outside in the yard despite the fog has now blanketed the entire school.

"Shit. We have to help them! They are dying out there."

"How? Without a gasmask, we would suffocate! Better to just stay put and wait for help!"

"Those idiots! I told them to get the fuck inside. They wouldn't listen. Goddamn teenagers!"

"Hey! Someone is moving out there!" another person calls out and points at the moving silhouette. It grows larger and comes crashing through the door, allowing endless streams of green mist to enter.