---------- Carolain's Point of View ----------
This is… unexpected?
[Please, help yourselves.] — Amelia, with her trademark hospitality, places a tray of tea and snacks on the living room table for Milia, Carlos, Franco, Simón, and a beefy guy I hadn't seen before.
[[[[…]]]]
As if trying to support me in confirming I'm not crazy, the five of them look just as surprised as I am.
Despite that disdainful click of the tongue they let out when the doorbell rang earlier, all the hostility that had marked every single one of our interactions until now was nowhere to be found.
Instead, the girls had taken their seats with Louise in the center; their attitudes were those of people curious about the situation, rather than hostile. Even Louise was now just looking at the group with a certain degree of annoyance, rather than her usual sarcastic hostility.
Alice didn't even bother being here; she went to tend to the pets on the roof.
[Is it not to your liking? I can offer you something else…]
[Eh? Ah, no… cough, cough, sorry. It's just that… you know…]
Milia and her group recover slightly and try to explain themselves without knowing how to put it into words, but Amelia only nods with a light smile and steps away.
[What do you want now?] — Louise finally asked, her gaze drifting between her phone and the group.
[Cough, yes, we're sorry.]
In the end, the reason for their visit was so logical it actually hurt: "supplies."
Yes. Isn't that a logical topic to consider in an apocalypse? Not that it has anything to do with us, who eat baked desserts almost daily. It's all thanks to the brat being an apocalypse geek with an underground warehouse full of supplies, on top of everything they brought back earlier.
That said, I'm not sure how clear his priorities really are, considering the insane amount of snacks and baking materials. But it won't be me—one of the primary beneficiaries—who complains.
[Even though we still have provisions, they'll run thin soon, especially since our group has grown again,] — Franco explained, glancing at the burly companion sitting next to him.
They claim he's a classmate, but I was positive he was the P.E. teacher. What the hell are they feeding him? Did you eat your own mother?
[Actually, we planned to reach the army base, but the bridge to the city was destroyed, and we ran into some trouble along the way…] — he began to explain with a serious face.
But Louise stopped him.
[The backstory isn't necessary; Astrad already told us about your fetish for watching your girlfriends get raped,] — she said with total indifference, making all the girls in the room send disgusted glares toward the group.
Myself included, of course. So big and yet such a coward?
[THAT'S NOT WHAT…!] — The guy stands up in a rage.
GRRRRR
But he immediately sinks back into his seat at the low growl of our star mediator: Zeus, the giant wolf-bear-pig-monster-dog.
[The other group was armed… and there were way more of them…] — he said, sitting uncomfortably with his head down and his voice soft.
I'd like to say it's pathetic how quickly his fire went out, but in his defense, I almost got eaten by a rat that this dog would swallow as an appetizer. He's already having trouble fitting through the door, and I think he's still growing.
[I'm not interested in your life story, Voyeur Boy. Just tell me what this has to do with us and, if there's nothing, get out.]
We couldn't help but let out suppressed chuckles at Louise's sarcasm; it almost made me feel bad for the poor guy, who was now trembling in his seat.
[There's no need to play dumb; our request is more than obvious,] — Carlos interrupted with a calm but firm voice, adjusting his glasses.
[Ohh, we aren't quite sure what you mean. Please enlighten us, Four-Eyes~~~] — Carmelia responds with a flirty, playful look.
Seeing her attitude, Carlos lets his gaze wander until it stops on Kiti, but she had already lost interest in the conversation and was absorbed in reviewing her research notes on her tablet.
[Food. We need you to share your provisions.] — Franco finally put his cards on the table.
Louise just gives a half-sarcastic smile as she reclines on the sofa.
[Sure, come pick them up on February 30th,] — she replied bluntly.
But despite her attitude, Milia's group didn't flinch, obviously expecting this outcome.
[Listen, I know our relationship hasn't been the best… And I know we failed you before. But let's be objective: do you really not see the value in staying united in large numbers given the circumstances?]
[Of course I see value in the safety of numbers, but every blade is double-edged. Numbers can be a shield with the right people, but a guillotine with the wrong ones.]
For the first time, Louise gave them an answer that consisted of more than four sarcastic sentences, which surprised everyone a bit.
[It's normal that we haven't reacted in the best way so far; we're all just students, not trained soldiers. But we can improve slowly, overcome the obstacles.]
[Ahhh, you speak to me as if we were trained soldiers… Of course our reactions are clumsy, our general utility is low, and our decisions are questionable...]
[Then… what are you trying to say?]
[… I don't want this situation to repeat itself, so let's get to the point,] — Louise says, looking at Mika calmly. — [Mika, we always involve you in decisions, but you rarely voice an opinion for or against. Why?]
[Eh? Ah? … Sorry?]
[No, no, I'm not trying to criticize you, just tell me honestly.]
[Well… truthfully, I'm not very good with the complicated details, so… I prefer to leave it to you guys, who seem to have a better head for it…]
[I see. Kiti, what about you? You have a good head, but you aren't intervening here.]
[Um? I'm not that good at small talk. I'll weigh in if an analysis is required, right?]
[Carmelia?]
[I'm fine with whatever you think~~]
[Amelia?]
[Well… you always handle these things, don't you?]
[Carolain? You're the oldest, aren't you? Why aren't you speaking?]
It goes against my hopes as a kept housewife… but I can't say that.
[I think you're doing fine. Why should I bother?]
After I told that half-truth, Louise nods with a half-smile before looking back at Milia and her group. Her smile tells me she read right through me, but I'm not ashamed of anything.
[Tell me, why did you five come here? Why not others? … Why not just him? Although he's obviously the one who gets the best results when talking to us.]
[… We voted and…]
[And I assume that vote lasted a couple of hours if we include the deliberation.]
[[[[…]]]]
[You're obsessed with your democracy or whatever. "Let's all be equal," "let's all contribute equally." Let me guess, you still have shifts for cooking? "Everyone must do their part." Was that the proposal?]
[What's wrong with making decisions as a group?]
[That depends; that's the whole point. The problem with democracy is that everyone is obsessed with feeling important, necessary, being visible, feeling that their opinion is worth something. But most of the time, that just slows everything down. Astrad and I advocate for Epistocracy: we can't afford to be surrounded by a group of people with low self-esteem.]
[So what? The only way to join you is to obey Astrad blindly? Who has low self-esteem? The ones who dialogue and reach agreements, or the ones who need to feel the power to command everyone?]
[Hah, see? He isn't even here, I didn't even mention him, but there he is again. Even in his absence, you want to compare yourself to him, you want to clash with him, yet you still want to beg for his help and call for "unity." What exactly do you want to unite for? Do you want to play at arguing until you win? What are you going to win? What makes you think he'd even bother to argue with you? Who told you he would be the leader?]
[I, no, I…] — Carlos jumps as he's struck by Louise's attack, but in the end, he can only bite his tongue.
[… Then… who? … Who are we supposed to obey?] — Simón asked.
[Tsk. Why are you even with them? You're welcome here, you know?]
[[[…]]]
[Ahhh, look. In all the time we've been here, the only order—if you can even call it that—we received from Astrad was to get used to dealing with his pets. In fact, if we're talking about authority, Amelia gives ninety percent of the orders in this house.]
[E-eh? Me?]
[Eh? You haven't noticed?]
[I—no? It wasn't my intention?]
[You don't have to feel guilty. You handle all the cleaning and the food; why wouldn't we listen to you when you call us or ask for something?]
[Oh, is that what you mean? … Well, it's technically true…]
[Wait. Why is she handling everything? Aren't you using her?]
[And here we go.]
[What do you mean? I'm just saying that…] — Milia tries to retort, but she falls silent as soon as Louise rolls her eyes with disdain. Then, she looks at Amelia instead. — [You, doesn't it bother you?]
[Eh? Not at all. I'm not good at fighting and I'm not very smart; I feel like this is what I can do to help everyone. Besides, I like taking care of the house.]
Shit, marry me...
[And what do the others do?]
[Mika trains quite hard; it's obvious she's ready to step to the front line when conflict arises. Kiti is always researching and trying to develop useful things for our new reality. Amelia and I spend most of our time following the available global information. Alice explores alongside Zeus and the others. Carolain pretends to be nearsighted, but she spends her time looking after our mental state with intelligent questions and interactions.]
This brat is scarier than I thought.
[In the beginning, of course, we tried to balance the chores, but by not obsessing over it, we were able to find a place suited to our skills. We all play a role, we all try to help, and if we can't do it right now, we try to prepare for the future. Always within the capacities we are most competent in. That is what we need in a group: not people running around like headless chickens, but people who at least understand where they can help and where they can't. That's why, even in Astrad's absence… the answer to your desire for unity is, and always will be… No.]