Only I Can See The End

Chapter 12: Friends [Pt 2]

[8:09 AM; Sunday, 30th of April, 2023]

"Haa… safe at last!"

The first to collapse on the ground like a bag of fallen groceries was also the only male in the group—Jake Wester.

His blond hair sprawled chaotically across the clean, soft rug as he released a heavy sigh. Not long after, the remaining three girls joined him on the floor, their faces etched with both physical and mental exhaustion.

They cast tired glances at Lisa, who diligently locked the door they had entered through.

The first to collapse on the ground like a bag of fallen groceries was also the only male in the group—Jake Wester.

Once she confirmed it was safely locked, she made her way towards her exhausted friends.

"Glad to see you all made it safe and sound. You must be tired." Lisa smiled brightly. It wasn't a false front, or a facade like what she put on with others.

When she was with these people, her true emotions surfaced, and even tears threatened to well up in her eyes. True relief surged from the depths of her heart.

"Damn straight. Haaa… fucking exhausted. Communicating with you for too long really strains the brain, you know?" Jake murmured, his breathing gradually steadying as he inhaled the sweet, fresh air.

"Haha! Is that so? Well, sorry for the inconvenience." Lisa laughed, and the others joined her as well.

Jake's rudeness might have annoyed some, given his entitled tone, but not these girls. The four of them were inseparable friends with an unshakeable bond.

.

Jake was usually like this, after all. And the four of them tolerated it.

How could such an ill-mannered person get away with so much of his insensitivity and lack of tact? Well…

"I'm fucking starving! You said there was stuff to eat, right, Lisa?"

"Oh, yeah! Let me go get it for you real quick. You all must be hungry too, right? What do you want?" Lisa's spirits lifted at his words.

Though she felt even more drained than the rest, as her powers had taxed her mental strength beyond their imagination. Yet, Lisa displayed no hint of weakness.

She couldn't afford to!

"At this rate, I'll take anything."

"M-me too…"

"I'll have anything you give me…"

As expected, the three girls showed no pickiness. But what about Jake?

"I want Ramen! Cola too! And there's got to be cheese, right? How about some meat? I hope that guy wasn't a cheapskate…"

"We're supposed to conserve our food, you know," Lisa sighed, her gaze fixed on Jake, feigning annoyance.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I was just messing around. Bring me whatever's available." He chuckled, brushing off his earlier request as a joke.

Once more, all the girls laughed.

Despite the banter, they all knew Lucy would do her best to meet Jake's demands as accurately as possible. Even if she couldn't indulge him too extravagantly, she would try her best.

No, it wasn't just Lucy. It was all of them.

Why?

Why would they go to such lengths for Jake? Perhaps it had something to do with his 'Role' and 'Authority,' or maybe it was simply their natural inclination towards him.

One thing was certain, though: all four girls had deep feelings for Jake.

*****

[9:51 AM; Sunday, 30th of April, 2023]

It didn't take very long for the friends to settle into casual conversation. They gathered around a low coffee table, its wooden surface worn with age and etched with marks from previous occupants.

As they began to share their recent experiences, the dim room's soft lighting created an intimate ambiance, casting warm, comforting shadows on their faces.

Each of the four recounted in detail how terrified they had been in the previous room where they had been trapped. The chilling darkness, the eerie sounds that echoed through the suffocating silence, it had all felt like a descent into madness. They shivered at the memories.

Had it not been for Lisa, they would undoubtedly have met their end—either succumbing to starvation or falling prey to the horrifying monsters that prowled the creepy hallways.

The relief they had felt when Lisa first contacted them was beyond description. Her voice had brought clarity to their crazy situation, guiding them to act with purpose. It had taken some time, but the group was finally reunited.

"You girls are the best!" Jake exclaimed with joy, savoring his third bowl of Ramen. The delicious aroma wafted through the room, mingling with the scent of freshly opened cola. The liter-sized cola sat nearby, and he chatted merrily with the girls, who were indulging in the supplies they had managed to secure. Laughter filled the room, echoing with relief and camaraderie.

Yet, amidst this jovial atmosphere, they all seemed to overlook the presence of one other person in the suite with them.

"Don't worry, girls. I'll protect you all!" Jake declared with enthusiasm. He twirled his blond hair and flashed a charming smile, exuding an aura of irresistible charm that had the girls giggling.

"Sureeeee!"

"We believe you, Jake."

"We're counting on you."

"Let's hope that never happens."

Though tinged with playful sarcasm, it was evident that the girls were placing their trust in his words. Despite their unique abilities, they still saw Jake as the strongest among them. He was special, and their expectations of him were unwavering.

As for Jake himself, what was his perspective in this scenario?

"Heck yeah! So this is how it feels to be the main character!" he thought, grinning inwardly and taking another slurp of Ramen from his bowl.

Yes, Jake saw himself as the Protagonist.

With a passion for gaming and anime, he had always fantasized about this kind of scenario—a perilous time when the world's systems was at a standstill, rendering those in positions of power obsolete.

In such a world, terms like 'government' or 'businessmen' lost their significance, and the 'chosen one,' armed with incredible abilities, would be hailed as the Hero.

That role belonged to him!

But this was only one facet of his ambition. What about the other side?

"Hihihihihi! This is awesome! I already have four members. I can't wait to expand my harem even further!" Jake's thoughts resonated deep within his heart.

That's right! He was about to have a Harem in this Apocalypse.

That was his grand plan as the protagonist in this new world!

[STATUS WINDOW]

- Name: Jake Wester

- Race: Human

- Level: 1

- Life Force: 2/2

- Energy Level: 2/2

- Combat Ability: 2/2

- Stat Points: 0

- Currency: 100

- Role: <The Hero>

- Authority: <Salvation>

- Titles: <Anime Fanatic>, <Ladies Man>, <Chosen One>

- Skills (Exclusive): < Charisma>

- Skills (Non-Exclusive): <Nil>

- Items Equipped: <Nil>

- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

[Additional Information]

You have been privileged with the greatest kind of power The ability to influence others and utilize their aid. Much can be said about its application. With great power comes great responsibility.

[End Of Information]

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[A/N]

Thanks for reading, everyone. Much appreciation!