Hours Before the Apocalypse
Akira Yoragami was about to head out for his extra biology class. He turned his unwavering gaze toward his younger sister, Shoko Ishigami.
"Shoko, don't just eat noodles for the 34th time," he said.
Shoko scoffed, barely looking up. She really didn't care what happened to her. "I'll be fine," she muttered, continuing to strum her guitar.
Akira smiled lightheartedly, acknowledging her tsundere-like behavior. Before leaving, he reminded her, "Don't forget to clean up the house. I'll be gone for a while."
He grabbed his bookbag and stepped outside. As he descended the hallway, something caught his eye—a figure standing eerily still in the distance. His breath hitched. The thing looked human… but not quite. Its body twisted unnaturally, as if it didn't belong to this world. The way it stood, lifeless yet aware, sent a chill down his spine.
What is that thing?
For a moment, he hesitated, but then, with an exhale, he shook his head and dismissed it. Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him. He simply ignored the creature, acting as though he had seen nothing.
Descending the stairs, he made his way toward the main entrance of the apartment complex—only to stop in his tracks. The doors were locked.
"That's weird… they're never locked at this hour," he thought.
A sudden shift in the atmosphere made him turn around. At the far end of the hall, a group of tenants had gathered, murmuring anxiously. Some whispered to each other with pale faces, while others were outright panicked. The word "creatures" slipped through their frantic discussions.
Before Akira could process what was happening, a wave of terrified screams filled the air.
"Watch out!"
The group of people said. voices were shrill, frantic. His body tensed. Instinctively, he turned—just in time to see something lunging at him.
A long, grotesque appendage whipped toward him from the hallway. It was a tentacle—elongated, pulsing, and unmistakably made of human flesh. The sinewy texture, the way it twisted unnaturally, made his stomach churn.
Is this thing even human!?
His world slowed to a crawl. Adrenaline surged through his veins. In that brief moment, his body reacted before his mind could catch up—he threw himself to the side, barely dodging the unsettling force by a hair's breadth. He looks directly into its soul and decides to grab a long rod that conveniently was right under his right arm. He fended off the creature while shouting at the Building manager who was a old man most likely in his 60's. Akira said "Sir! Close the gate! Hurry!" The unknown creature was biting off parts of the rod and making lots of noise that was very disturbing.
He still kept his composure.
Meanwhile the Building manager was contemplating his entire life.
Is it worth it to save these people?
We all will die anyways, Right?
There's no way we can fend off creatures beyond our human nature!?
We're all fucked!
Akira on the other hand was struggling as the creature was getting even closer and closer. In a desperate attempt Akira yelled at the man to make him well aware that lots of lives are in his hands. "Hurry! Pull the gates down!"
Even so, He still was hesitating. Out a stroke of luck someone came in and intervened. The gate was finally shut after what felt like an eternity putting an end to the nightmarish terror that was happening. Akira looks around back at the people and gets up after being a little bit disoriented.
Shoko? Where is she?
He decides to head for the stairs but the people behind him stop him. "Don't go there! It's dangerous" They all said trying to stop the Akira that is worried about Shoko.
He takes some steps back and start calculating. How does he make others safe?
It seemed like a infamous moral dilemma, The trolley problem.
Save these people and establish some form of order, or abandon them to reach his sister.
He thought this very deeply and thoughtful. If he saves these people, he can ensure safety of her sister if we establish a society and in the meantime embark on a mission to save her. Akira thinks to himself.
How do i earn their trust?
He mustered up the courage to start speaking. "Everybody! From now on we all have to work together and gather up resources. I will be leading everyone here. My name is Akira Yoragami." It caused a spark among the people.
"How can we trust him?"
"He saved our lives! So we must follow him!"
"He's still looks so young though. He only looks like in his 20's!"
Akira thinks that this might have been backfired. But suddenly his friend that was in the same university as him walked up to him. He never knew was in this apartment also. It was his friend, Tamaki Sachimoto. Sachimoto said in a clear and loud voice "Everyone! I will partake in leading you guys with Akira! I'm his best friend since elementary." Akira also just realized that Sachimoto helped save his life by pulling down the lever to close the gates from that creature. The building manager wasn't having it. He believed young people can't be leaders and also can't make a stable society. "Who said both of you are in charge!?" He said in a furious expression, Demanding answer from Akira and Sachimoto. People start debunking the man's thought of how "young" people can't lead a society. Akira made his voice clear and firm "I will be researching the biology of these monsters. If you encounter them immediately report it yo Sachimoto or Me!" People now start trusting his statements as it seemed more trustworthy.
"He's a biology student? We must help him so maybe we can make a cure."
"A random kid wont make a cure! Only the government can!"
"You're too skeptical!"
Akira finds a way to stop this commotion. "Everybody stop! We will assign roles and hope to live in a balanced environment."
People looked back at Akira. He wasn't just all words no action. People finally noticed his very serious and demanding expression. Suddenly in the midst of it all.
An unknown visitor came.
Ryo was walking down the hallway and stumbled across the group of people including Akira. Ryo looks at the Building manager and proceeds to try and open the blockage in front of her. That blockage was there to keep the group safe but she went through it like it was nothing. The man tried stopping her saying, "Hey! Where do you think you're going?"
Ryo didn't care and the man was ready to swing at her if she causes distress. The man had enough and grabbed a chair trying to hit her but then Ryo breaks it in half with one punch and sending the man onto the ground. The people are very concerned and some tried to stop Ryo but Akira says, "Don't try and stop her. It wont work"
"But surely she will die from the monsters outside?"
Akira looks at the people and says, "It's too risky. We can't do that"
After a bit she came back. And Akira musters up some questions to ask her. "Hey! Before you go. What is your name?"
In a cold almost emotionless voice Ryo said, "Ryo Takanashi." She proceeded to walk further down the hallway.
Then a boy with a hint of brown in his hair suddenly was in front of him.
He seemed unconscious.