Chapter 30: Mika

A glint of curiosity danced in John's eyes as he moved his thumb and index finger towards Mika's cheek. Mika flinched as John pinched her cheek.

"Hey! What are you doing, you asshole?" Mika hissed, her whole body on guard.

John ignored Mika's existence and glanced at Edward. "Tell it to stay still," he deadpanned, pointing fingers at Mika.

"I'm not an it, fucker!" She retorted, swinging her thin arm in a punch towards John's shoulder.

Caught by surprise, John's eyebrows shoot up. Her punches felt soft. It was barely a tickle. As Mika tried to punch him again, he caught her wrist and lifted it to his eye level, inspecting her delicate hand.

"Let me go!" She yelled, squirming under his grip as she tried to escape.

"Um, sir, please... she's not what you think," Edward pleaded.

"Then, explain already. Also, why would you make a robot this annoying?" John asked as he continued to inspect Mika's wrist. Mika's eyes flared in anger. Suffices to say, she did not appreciate being treated like an object.

"She is an android, but her intelligence is real. She is sentient," Edward said.

"Yeah yeah, I'm a sentient fuck doll," Mika bombed, eliciting confused sounds and expressions from everyone in the store.

With a raised eyebrow, John stared down Mika, "a fuck doll?"

"Yeah. This loser made me so he could lose his virginity. Also, let go of me already you lunatic!"

John chuckled, his laughter echoing through the abandoned mall, "So that's how it is..."

Edward fidgeted with unease, shifting his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other. A nervous cough escaped his lips, breaking the tense silence that hung in the air like a heavy curtain.

"Anyway, yes. That's how it is," he finally admitted, his voice wavering slightly. The cramped space within the sporting goods store seemed to close in on them as they grappled with the revelation.

John recalled the favourability notification. In a way, the system had confirmed Mika's ability to feel love. He looked at her and used his Love Meter skill.

[Mika]

[Age: ??]

[Experience: Virgin]

[Preferences: ???]

[Kinks: ???]

[Favourability: -5/100]

He chuckled at the negative favourability, but his eyes narrowed into slits. No age? He wondered, but he didn't dwell on it.

John, once firmly gripping Mika's wrist, released her with a dismissive sigh, his initial intrigue evaporating. Mika's figure was undoubtedly a work of art, but she held no value beyond her aesthetic appeal. In his mind, her charm and allure paled in comparison to the pressing concerns of the apocalypse. Maybe things would be different if she had a boyfriend.

Turning away from Mika and Edward, John addressed the rest of the group. The fluorescent lights above cast a sterile glow, illuminating the rows of shelves packed with outdoor equipment and gear, the pristine store presented a grim contrast to the world outside.

"Anyway, let's settle down for the day," John declared, his voice heavy with the weariness of their recent trials. The conversation had brought forth uncomfortable truths and unresolved questions. "It's been a long day, and Dalia needs to recover."

Nods of agreement rippled through the group. John offered reassurance that Edward and Mika could stay with them. While their immediate focus was on rest and recovery, John's unspoken determination to extract every possible tidbit of information from Edward about the invaders lingered in the background. In a world teetering on the brink of apocalypse, every scrap of knowledge was a potential lifeline, and John was determined to grasp it.

As the group decided to settle for the night, John brought the camping gear out of his inventory and coordinated with Martin to set up a couple of tents for the group. Julia and Dalia collected sleeping bags and distributed them, while August and Octavia carried a stack of collapsible chairs.

As they worked, John cast a vigilant gaze on Edward and Mika, the strange android and creator duo. John released a deep sigh. It was truly a shame to let go of such a work of art, he thought as he observed Mika. She leaned with her upper body, putting her perky buttocks on display. A perfect heart shape and nice, small thigh gap.

'If only it was just an obedient robot,' John thought. He had no desire to deal with Mika's haughty attitude.

Martin left John's side and joined Julia on assembling some portable stoves. The hiss of gas filled the air as they fired them up to prepare a simple, hot meal. The aroma of canned beans and soup wafted through the sterile store, a rich contrast of aromas and a rare sense of normalcy amidst the turbulent apocalyptic world.

Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting pure black shadows that stretched though the windows. As the night closed in and the group finished their meals, John rose up from his chair.

"Someone needs to keep watch. I'll go first," John said.

"I'll take the next shift," Octavia said, flashing a sly smile.

John nodded and everyone went to their respective tents. Octavia and August shared a tent, Martin and Julia took the second and to everyone's surprise, Mika said she would keep watch on Dalia, making sure she recovers and staying close in case of emergencies. Leaving Edward to his own tent.

"I can go for months without sleeping," Mika declared, trying to supress the undertone of pride in her voice.

As the others settled down for the night, John remained vigilant. The dim glow of a flashlight in one hand and the threatening glint of his Venomlash, he sat near the entrance of the store, his eyes scanning the darkness.

The night was eerily quiet, broken only by the distant howling of some far-off monster. How the world had changed...

Should he feel guilty? He thought he must be the only person in the world who felt ecstatic about the apocalypse. However, a grim thought crossed his mind, Theodore. He also wanted the apocalypse and revelled in the feeling of everyone's despair. He shuddered, refusing to accept any parallel with that vile man.

As the flashlight's beam danced across the mall, the system's notification chimed:

[Nightly Activities]

[Quest: Have sexual intercourse with Julia Bess while she sleeps next to her husband.]

[Reward: Health Potion x3, Energy Ring]