Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

I was in deep slumber and I started hearing voices once more. However, I started to see blurry images but I could make out who they were just from their voices. These two people were very dear in my heart and I am literally nothing without them.

A scene played from a part of my head that was buried deep yet I treasure so much.

"Sora… I'm so-"

"Could you please stop translating his name?! We already agreed that we'll call him Sky!"

"What?! It's the same thing if you think about it!"

"You pretty much know Sora is awfully sounding similar to a word that means something you're really growing tired of!"

"That's in your native language, not mine!"

"Oh sorry, Mr. Trilingual, I just don't want our kid explaining his name to people over and over when he grows up! He's studying in this country when he grows up and not in Japan! It would sound 'cool' there, but not here! Sky would do him better!"

"Ha~ sure, sure. Sky, son, I'm really sorry for today, okay? Our business has been pretty hard lately and I don't have enough money to buy you a cake on your birthday. I'll promise that one day when I saved enough, even if it's not your birthday, I'll buy you not one, but two cakes! Is that okay with you?"

"Sure! Shinpai nai~"

"Oh dear… Mom's really sorry too, okay? All I managed to prepare for you is this fried… fried… *sobs* I'm-"

"Dear… it's not your fault… it's all mine, okay? Please stop crying, I'll try harder so we wouldn't be living like this."

"What~? I really like fried eggs over rice though~ I hate having cakes because they need to sing to me first before I get to eat it..."

"..."

"..."

*chuckle*

*chuckle*

"Hmm? Why are you crying while laughing mom? Oh! You need to eat too! Try this yellow-thingy with the rice! It's delicious~!"

"It's nothing you little boy~ it's called a yolk, by the way. Of course, it's delicious! Your mom cooked it!"

"Hey! Don't take all of the credit! That rice came from our shop! I picked them myself!"

"Yeah, yeah. Of course, you did."

"Mom!"

"Hmm?"

"I'm gonna learn how to cook from you so I could also make something this good when it's your birthday!"

"Hmm! If it's you, I'm sure you could cook better things than me! I'm sure of it!"

"B-But… why are you crying Mom? Did I say something bad?"

"N-No son, sometimes, tears can also mean that someone's really happy! Like Mom and Dad! See?"

"Oh~ Okay!"

"Hey! How about your Dad?! Aren't you gonna say something really nice like you did with your Mom?! I thought I was your favorite! Ow!"

"And who told you that?! Hmm?!"

"We were buying ice cream and he said it!"

"Did you really say it Sky?"

"Well, dad said it's the password so I could get two scoops!"

"Teaching your kid bribery?!"

"Ow! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Hmmm~ Dad!"

"Yes! What is it? Anything to say to me?"

"I'm gonna read all of the books you bought me so you won't have to go home always sweaty and tired!"

"Aww, you know dad worked really~ hard to buy you those so you'll be really smart! I'll buy you a whole lot more!"

"Yes! Because you always stink when you get home dad! I'll make sure I'll read all of it!"

"Nani?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

I didn't notice that time was the hardest for my parents. I was oblivious to the fact that they were starving themselves just to feed me because of our bills piling up. I was able to have a viand in my meals but they were just eating rice with salt and a little bit of cooking oil back then. I only learned of it fully from my aunt but I always had a small inkling of the truth. I just pieced the puzzle one by one when I started to remember bits of what was happening before.

That was a very tough time but they pulled through. Our monetary problems before disappeared not because of dumb luck but because of hard work and dedication. Accomplishing that bore fruit to more things where one was having enough money to visit my dad's relatives in Japan and meeting Old Man Kaiseki in the process. We would laugh at that scene every time we would talk about it though we made it a tradition to always cook eggs and rice for my birthday.

I was seeing the rest of my dream clearly but I was woken up by someone shaking me awake.

I saw Kaley's worried face. Tears were about to fall from her eyes and she was on top of me.

"Hey, are you okay? You're crying in your sleep again..." Kaley was wiping the tears off of my eyes.

"Oh… I just dreamed of something bittersweet. Hmm, you know… tears could also mean that someone's really happy, right?" I faintly smiled but the look she was giving me warranted that there was more to what I was saying to her.

I decided to tell her what I've dreamt of but it all ended up me trying to make her stop crying.

"It's really weird starting my birthday like this..." I chuckled inwardly.

Kaley's eyes were still red when I heard someone knocking at our door. We quickly got dressed and we saw the kids carrying a basket of eggs.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY~!!!" they all exclaimed.

It took a short moment before the doors for the other rooms open. Tatiana, Rin, and Cynthia came out of their rooms while they still have bed hair.

"What are those… eggs?" Rin was confused.

"What~?" Tatiana was still rubbing her eyes and she greeted Cynthia.

"Morning… it's still a few before 6:00 AM, right?" Cynthia was in the process of yawning.

"Yeah! Mom woke up early to check on the chickens and we helped her! We found several! Different colors too!" Aya exclaimed.

"Oh! Auntie said the brown ones were more delicious!" Kenny added.

[I helped picked the little one of the corner...] Peter signed.

"Me too! I w-wrote my name on the other one!"

"Mine's the white one with the smiley face!"

"That's mine right here!"

"I got the biggest one!"

"Mine's the brown one too!"

"Auntie said you'll cook for us! You will, right?!"

"C'mon, there's enough for everyone. I'll cook breakfast for us." I briefly stretched as Aya handed Kaley the basket.

The kids didn't notice but the three saw Kaley's eyes. They never said anything about it and they followed us to the kitchen. Zeus immediately greeted me and I carried him shortly right until the kitchen. He was running around the kitchen trying to make the kids stay away from the stove where I was putting pans onto.

"Okay, what do you want your eggs to be cooked in? I know a lot~ of different recipes!" I declared then the kid's eyes shone bright.

"I'll get the sunny-sunny!"

"I'll have the one with cheese inside!"

"SCRAMBLED!!!"

"The one where the yellow-thingy is runny!"

"It's called a yolk! The yellow-thingy!" I chuckled.

"I want mine with milk and cheese!"

[Anything you like...]

"I want mine with little hotdogs!"

I remembered all of their orders and I remembered as to who owned which egg accordingly. Kaley and the rest wanted to help me so I made them cook the rice and prepare the hot chocolate for the kids. My hands moved like crazy and I made sure to include theatrics like flipping the omelet in the air and juggling the eggs before cracking them in the bowl. That made sure the kids were entertained while I was making sure the cooking time for everything was perfect.

Zeus even balanced an egg on his nose and it made the kids give him a round of applause and lots of belly rubs.

Eggs were fairly easy to cook and it didn't take too long to place everything in front of them. Their eyes were glowing and their mouths were drooling from the sight and smell of the meal I cooked for them. Their cute faces were quickly replaced by a bit of rice and stains of ketchup. They were eating voraciously the same way Tatiana was eating her Eggs Benedict.

Kaley, Rin, and Cynthia went into 'Mother Mode' and they were wiping the kids' faces and making sure that the hot chocolate was just the right temperature so the kids could safely drink them. They helped with the simple garnishes earlier by making the carrots look like flowers and the hotdogs like little octopi. They still haven't eaten their meals and they only took a few bites when Tatiana started stealing bites with her spoon.

"Tatiana! That's mine!" Cynthia roared.

"Hey! Don't pop the yolk!" Rin stomped her foot.

"Drop that sausage or else!" Kaley was emanating a dark aura.

"Jeez~ It's just an egg! He can make more, correct?" Tatiana started licking her fingers.

"I could, don't worry. Just eat as much as you like." I said after sitting with them on the kitchen counter.

"Wait a sec… that's all you cooked for yourself?!" Rin exclaimed in disbelief.

"Just one Sunny-side Up on top of rice?" Cynthia was also confused.

Kaley was silent but Tatiana noticed her. However, Tatiana just kept silent as well.

"Yeah, it's really~ good though. Took me a lot of years trying to copy the taste but I never managed to." I replied, smiling faintly.

"What are you talking about?" Cynthia asked.

"Heh, Mom's cooking. Aunt Sharon's cooking is great but not like Mom." I faintly smiled, slicing through the yolk with my spoon, pouring it all over the rice.

Rin and Cynthia finally noticed Kaley's expression so I decided to tell them a short story about myself. It wasn't really a secret and I could even argue that piece of my memory was something I really treasured. It was funny seeing their expressions change between sadness and happiness as they were trying to eat their meals. Kaley was faintly smiling from their expressions as well but Tatiana proposed another operation.

"Okay, we're fucking his brains out. Let's all take a day off and drain his balls as Kaley did yesterday. All vote for yes, raise your hands!" Tatiana silently declared.

Cynthia and Rin immediately raised their hands but Kaley was already pulling me out of our home. However, Tatiana's plan didn't happen at that moment because Oscar, Johnny, and Matthew just reached the front of my door. They were carrying a few things but I couldn't figure out what was inside those cases.

"Holy shit kid, you're up early. I thought you would follow tradition and just stay inside your room!" Oscar chuckled.

"I can't just take a day off, especially at this time, right?" I shrugged both of my shoulders.

"Wait a sec- YOU FUCKING COOKED WITHOUT TELLING ME?! GET BACK INSIDE AND MAKE US SOMETHING!!!" Oscar bellowed when he took a peek inside.