[Content Warning: The chapter includes graphic violence, dismemberment and gore. Reader discretion is advised.]
The earth itself seemed to shake violently, alarms from all over rung out and what drowned out everything was the screaming of thousands.
"What's happening?!"
Haro ran out of his apartment and immediately asked his father a question.
On the balcony was his mother, sister, Sayaka and Sayaka's family.
The sky was pitch black but in it you could see flying creatures of varying sizes. Looking at the streets you could also see creatures rampaging on them, ripping into people.
Is this.. An apocalypse..?
Haro started breathing heavily, his heart beating out of his chest. His vision went blurry and his feet got wobbly as the reality of what was going down started to kick in.
"Get it together!"
He felt someone grab firmly onto his wrist and when he looked to see who it was, it was his father.
When he looked over the balcony he saw his sister and mother running, trying to find a new place to hide or possibly an evacuation route.
Because Haro was spaced out he didn't realize they were leaving.
"We need to leave, now!"
His father pulled him forcefully down to the lower floor as he ran.
"No, we can't.. We can't go out here..! We are going to die!"
Haro planted his feet into the ground to stop his father but through pure dad strength he pulled Haro along.
"Kiddo, listen to me! We don't got time for this! It's obviously not safe here! There should be military around to help us so we just need to-"
Splat.
Red covered the whole front of Haro, going into his eyes and mouth.
"Dad...?"
Haro rubbed his eyes with his sleeve, and when he opened them..
"Ahhh! Ahhhhh!"
His father's dismembered hand had been gripping onto Haro's wrist, with a still firm grasp.
What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck!
Haro looked upward to find his father, to see if he was still alive. But all he saw was a flying girl with bat wings and ears chewing on his fathers leg.
What the fuck is happening?!?!?
The monster shot a sinister smirk toward him.
Wasting no time Haro stood up and started darting in the direction of where he last saw his mother and sister heading.
Multiple thoughts were filling his mind as the world seemingly began to end.
Why is this happening?! Why!? What cruel god would allow this??!?!!?
Haro bit his lip to keep the tears from flowing out.
I can't cry, I don't deserve to cry.. Dad would've wanted me to be strong, man up and take charge!
His sister and mother were the two only anchors he had left, the only things that were keeping him sane in such a horrifying event.
He ran through the streets, seeing multiple bodies. He wanted to throw up but right now he was determined to find his family and save them.
I need to find them.. I need to find them..!
A loud cracking sound could be heard and when Haro looked at where it was coming from he saw the sky itself start to crack.
I need to find them.. And I promise you dad, I will..!
Haro turned the corner he last saw them go into, he was smiling, ready to be comforted by their presence.
"I promise you dad, I will make sure your death wasn't in vai-!"
He stopped.
Haro saw something terrifying, some horrible, something beyond comprehension, something he did not want to accept and something he believed was not possible.
It was a pool of red, and in the middle was his mother's bow and his sister's skirt.
Haro immediately fell to his knees, the blood splashed.
"You guys are here... You both are okay.. Right..?"
He scooped up handfuls of blood one at a time, trying to hug them as if his mother and sister were actually there in one piece.
"I'm so happy to see you guys.. I was so scared.. Dad isn't far away either, he just went to go grab something..."
Haro vomited, his barf fusing with the blood.
"It'll be... Okay..."
In the dark road a blue light shined upon him. When he looked up he saw a floating blue digital interface, on it read..
Digital Interface:
The world has gone to hell thanks to higher powers. You were all doomed to die from the start, this is an opportunity to gain power and escape your destined doom. Take it?
Y/N ?
Haro just stared at the interface, reading it. He furrowed his brow and stood up.
"Their deaths.. Won't be in vain..!"
Haro pressed yes, and accepted the system into his soul.
***
Haro and Sayaka were in Haro's living room, sitting on opposite ends of the couch. It had been the next day of the apocalypse and Haro had not said a single word since he arrived back at home.
"So, why did you leave?"
She looked away and played with her fingers.
"Haro, what happened out there."
Suddenly Sayaka felt arms wrap around her waist and a warm sensation on her stomach. It was Haro, who had started hugging her and burying his face into her side.
"I-I didn't know what to do..! I was scared..! I feel like I killed my own father!"
Sayaka started rubbing the top of Haro's head.
"Go on, tell me more."
"It was because of me... Me! When I saw everything unfold I just froze, I couldn't move. My dad stayed back to help me while my sister and mom ran off.. And even when he tried to take me to them I planted my feet in the ground and it caused him to die.. When I tried to find my sister and mom, they were just.. Just..."
Haro stopped crying violently and just whimpered into her.
"It's going to be okay Haro."
She spoke in such a deep elegant voice, but Haro spoke while stuttering and slurring words.
"But it's not going to be okay, it never will be. I feel like those people, my family, were the only people keeping me from losing my mind. And now they are gone. I have nothing. Even before this apocalypse I still failed them."
Memories of Haro's family before the apocalypse played in his mind. Things like him ignoring his mother's pleas, yelling with his dad and ignoring his parents drawings.
"If anyone deserved to die today, it was me. In the end it was my stubbornness, it was my worry that killed them. I have nothing, absolutely nothing to keep going.."
"That isn't true, you have me, Haro."
He looked up to see her crying. She sniffled as she spoke.
"You haven't lost anything, you still have your place, my family, friends and you have me."
"But what if those things go.. What if they leave.. What if I lose them forever.."
Sayaka leaned over and gave him a kiss on the forehead, making his eyes sparkle just a little.
"Haro, let me be the constant in your life that never changes. Let me be the one to help you stay sane in this apocalypse."
That night they fell asleep on the couch while hugging one another, enjoying each other's comfort. It was temporary, but to Haro, it gave him his first reason to find the good in the bad.
***
It was the first step in becoming the Haro we all know and love, a person who puts their life on the line to bask in the stage's spotlight shine, putting his life into the hands of entertainment and letting go of the worries of being weak.