The silence at breakfast was thick. The older sister barely touched her food, her gaze lost in the pattern of the table. The little one ate with her head down, as if the simple act of lifting it was too much weight. My attempt to speak to them was met with monosyllables. In the end, I scolded them simply because their misery wasn't fun, just annoying.
Hours later, when they stopped being annoying, I asked them to explain their experience in the apocalypse before they got here. The conclusion was obvious.
["We're screwed, aren't we?"]
["Well… That's one way of looking at it,"] —the older one muttered.
["I get it… Fine, who wants ice cream?"]
["Chocolate for me."]
["Wait, why are you going for ice cream like it's nothing? Big sister, don't play along with him."]
["Come on, little sister, even if we're serious, what are we supposed to achieve?"]
["But…"]
As I suspected, the younger sister feels uneasy. On the other hand, this relaxed older sister is more competent than I thought.
["Even if it doesn't look like it, I have food for months, and this house isn't easy to break into. We'll wait patiently until things calm down."]
I say this and pat the little sister's head.
["Y… yes…"]
She blushes for some reason but shows no signs of refusing my touch.
["In the meantime, your big sister can pay for her stay with her body. 'Gyajajaja'."]
["Ahhh, I knew it. You're not a decent person."]
["You can say that again. Your anger strengthens the rat kid. 'Gyajajajaj'."]
...
We spent the day annoying each other. There's no internet, so there's nothing else to do. I also turn on the television from time to time. Since the sisters watch anime, I was able to drop a few spoilers to recover a bit.
["You're a brute!"]
["NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"]
["'GYAJAJAJAJA', suffer, cry! 'GYAJAJAJAJAJ'!"]
It was that kind of reaction. It was a good idea to keep them around after all.
The situation outside? The army and the police are fighting monsters everywhere.
Anyway, they say a lot of things.
The good thing is I have a built-in rat kid translator in my subconscious. That allows me to translate the information from the news.
...…..
["The authorities are investigating the nature of the phenomenon,"] —he said in a solemn voice.
Translation: Nobody knows what the fuck is going on.
["We recommend that citizens remain in their homes for their safety,"] —he continued.
Translation: If you go outside, you die.
["Law enforcement forces are working to contain the situation."]
Translation: The army can't handle it, the cops even less so, and no one is coming to save you.
I turned off the television. Sometimes we could hear the screams and explosions without needing any reminders.
.......
Anyway, night fell before we knew it, and we were spending time in my room… Why are these brats in my room?
["Brother, I'm hungry…"]
["Zeus, show the crybaby where the snacks are and bring me some."]
["I'm not a crybaby. Anyone would cry in that situation."]
["I want some too, little sister. My favorites, if possible."]
["Sister, aren't you going to say anything even though he's teasing me?… Humph, well, I don't care anymore. Come on, Zeus, let's get snacks for the two of us."]
"Woof."
["Don't forget my snacks!"]
["And my favorites, if you can."]
["No way, I'm not bringing you a damn thing! 'Bleeeh'." Seriously, those two seem to be cut from the same cloth.]
As they were leaving, the older sister threw me a look over her shoulder.
["She seems to have taken a liking to you too quickly. It even makes me jealous."]
["More like she knows I won't lay a finger on you while she's here. Quite the 'exemplary little sister,' huh?"]
["Hahaha, so you noticed… The truth is, she does like you, you know? I was quite surprised when you comforted her… But don't worry, when the time comes, I'll do my part."]
The older sister stuck her tongue out playfully as she lowered her collar just enough to show a little cleavage.
Her cheap perfume became more intense, almost cloying. But underneath it, she smelled of something else. Of metal and cold sweat. Her smile didn't reach her eyes. And her right hand, the one hidden behind her back, was too stiff.
["Hahaha, that would be pretty convincing and seductive… if you'd stop hiding the knife you have up your sleeve."]
["Ufufufu… so you noticed. Maybe if you put that rifle down for thirty seconds, I'd also feel comfortable enough to play along."]
She tried to laugh it off, but seeing me smile as I looked at her hand hiding the blade, the atmosphere suddenly turned very heavy.
Mmm… surprised? Why? Look, there's all kinds of people in this world: fun people, kind people, grumpy people… the list is long. But there's no doubt what kind of people have the best odds of surviving when the shit hits the fan.
The ones with absurd luck… and the ones who, like her, are willing to smile at you while hiding a knife.
The fun ones.
Gyahahahahahaha!