A youth story of a passerby at the end of the world

"I'm leaving now," Hachiman nodded goodbye. "It will be dark soon."

"Hmm." Putting his hands in his pockets, Uesugi Genshin said, "Don't let anything go wrong."

"An accident? Who can say for sure?" If it could be controlled, it wouldn't be an accident. With a bleak smile, Hachiman and Hiratsuka-sensei got into the car.

"There shouldn't be any accidents, right?" Uesugi Genshin murmured, watching the car drive away.

No, I'd call this a flag.

Not good, not good.

Shaking off the jumbled thoughts in his mind, he got into his car and planned to park it in the underground parking lot next to the apartment.

The parking lot is not large; it's only for residents in this area.

Once inside, you can see that the space looks very spacious because there aren't many cars.

After all, everyone was at work or school when the "incident" happened.

There were no traces of a horrific scene left. Unlike the underground parking lot in Ikebukuro where I met Toyohama and the others, which was an urban commercial district, it wasn't deserted just because it was during working hours.

I parked in a corner of the parking lot, and the sound of getting out and closing the car door seemed a bit out of place in the parking lot.

There wasn't much stuff in the trunk, and it had been packed a long time ago.

Because it's not troublesome to carry around; you can put them all in a plastic bag.

He already had a habit of having backup plans for emergencies, including spare weapons, spare gloves, and emergency food.

After loading the food bags, which were mainly canned goods, into the trunk, Uesugi Genshin returned to Yui's house the same way he came.

Once you reach the ground floor and arrive at the apartment building entrance, wait for the elevator to come down from the 2nd floor, then take the elevator all the way to the 10th floor.

After returning to the corridor on the 10th floor, I saw a small head peeking out from under the door.

"Are you waiting for me here?"

“I saw you go into the parking lot from the balcony, you should be coming up soon.” She chuckled. The waiting time wasn’t unacceptable to Yui Yuigahama, especially seeing the other person’s slightly shy expression, such as those shifty eyes.

"...They went inside."

There are no slippers in Yuihama's house because she has a diligent mother. Even if the floor isn't mopped every day, it's almost there.

He used to wear slippers in his apartment.

There's no need for that here; just take off your shoes and walk in barefoot, just like before.

"What did you bring?" Yuihama's mother came up from the kitchen on the side.

"It's just some canned goods." He opened the bag to show them off; he didn't take any of the ready-to-eat items like cookies.

"If that's the case, then Mom's cooking skills won't be able to shine." Yui Yuigahama tilted her head in distress, suddenly realizing something.

Indeed, canned food offers far less room for creative expression.

"Well, it depends on the specific type of canned food." Yuihama's mother didn't seem to care much, and carefully said, "For lightly seasoned ones, you can add some seasonings yourself. For those with a stronger flavor, you can add some ingredients to balance it out. Also, for salt-grilled yakitori, it's best to bake it in the oven again. It tastes better than just heating it up."

“I know all of that.” Yui Yuigahama said after hearing her mother’s words. That’s what their job in the cooking department is. Otherwise, anyone can just heat things up. The cafeteria also has microwave ovens, which are originally for heating up bento boxes.

"Is that so? Yui is really amazing."

"Oh, Mom, please don't do this. It's so embarrassing." Being treated like a child in front of her lover.

"..." Uesugi Genshin watched with great interest. Such encouraging families are rare. Most families take it for granted that you do well, and everything else is a different story.

As for his family in this life, it is truly a laissez-faire type. Because he is careful not to be controlled and tries to be meticulous in every aspect, it is basically the same whether there are parents or not.

At most, when I didn't want to bring a handkerchief, my mom would stuff it into my pocket. In my parents' eyes, that sullen expression was probably just a child throwing a tantrum.

If cooking didn't require him, even his mother wouldn't have a chance to appear in the show.

“It’s still early.” Yuihama’s mother looked at the clock and patted it. “I’ll go talk to Mrs. Kawashima next door about leaving tomorrow.”

"Are we still going?" Yui Yuigahama asked, pointing to herself and Genshin.

"Um... actually..."

Just as Yui's mother was drawing out her words, Yui interrupted her directly, saying, "Okay, Mom, goodbye."

And so, Yuihama's mother was pushed toward the entrance. She said regretfully, "Oh dear, I was just thinking of showing off my daughter's handsome boyfriend."

So true.

"No way!" Yui Yuigahama was inwardly resistant to being judged by her elders. "Anyway, I'll definitely see them tomorrow."

"Then, how about I take a picture?" Yuihama's mother said, as a compromise.

Even a woman like Yuihama's mother can't avoid social interactions among housewives.

"Well, that works too." Yui Yuigahama hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Praising someone to their face and praising them behind their back are two different things.

What about his opinion?

"Come on, come on." Yuihama's mother quickly took out her phone.

Seeing this, Uesugi Genshin stood with Yui and struck a pose.

"Hey, Uesugi-kun, you're really good at this." Yuihama's mother praised, looking at Uesugi Genshin's handsome smile in front of the camera.

"No." If he were to take a picture, he would still be putting on a calm, poker face. How could anyone tell that he was Yui's lover?

He wasn't forced to do it; it's a basic requirement for lovers, so he just did it with the intention of doing his best.

“I actually think he looks cooler when he’s on the go,” Yui Yuigahama said.

"My inner thoughts will show through my expressions. I just don't want people to see through me." Uesugi Genshin offered this explanation to avoid his partner thinking he was a cold-faced, expressionless person who didn't like to smile.

Or it could be misunderstood as Sasuke-style tsundere.

Of course, there are also those who seem easy to talk to but are difficult to manage, but that's another story.

"Well then, I'm going to take a picture now." Yuihama's mother smiled and pointed her phone camera at the two of them.

"Should we say cheese?" Yui Yuigahama asked, her lips moving slightly as she pressed her head almost against Genshin Uesugi's.

"Okay."

"Three, two, one..." The next moment, it was Mrs. Hihama who started counting down.

"Eggplant." "Eggplant."

"Click." The sound of a phone taking a picture rang out.

In Japan, taking photos with a mobile phone must produce sound; otherwise, it's illegal, though not a criminal offense.

This is to prevent upskirt filming, so it's necessary to film openly and honestly. Even if upskirt filming does happen, it might not be investigated further, as long as it's not some kind of lewd upskirt filming.

"Alright." After saying that, Yuihama's mother stared in disbelief at the result of the photo.

"Ha..." Upon hearing that the filming was done, Yui Yuigahama and Genshin Uesugi instantly relaxed their stiff expressions and movements.

Then Yui Yuigahama stepped forward and asked, "What's wrong? What's wrong?"

"Great shot." Yuihama's mother looked up and smiled brightly.

"Then what about just now?" Yui Yuigahama asked, looking at the photo on her phone.

"Because they look like a perfect match," she said with a smile.

They looked like a perfect couple; the photo showed the two of them bathed in the setting sun streaming through the window, their smiles radiating sunshine.

"No, it's my daughter who's not good enough for Uesugi-kun."

"What?!" Yui Yuigahama shouted, "How can you belittle your daughter like that?!"

“No.” Uesugi Genshin didn’t think so. “It’s a pity that Yui is with me. She deserves a better choice.”

"Ugh..." Yuihama's mother wiped her eyes, moved, as if she was about to cry.

"No, no, no, no..." Yui Yuigahama quickly waved her hands, not really agreeing with what Genshin Uesugi said. "Genshin, you are the best choice."

There's no guarantee you'll meet someone better in the future; you are the best right now.

"You two are so loving." It seemed like she was hallucinating as she wiped her eyes earlier, and Yuihama's mother put her hands together in prayer.

Is this where affection is used? Uesugi Genshin felt a sudden sense of confusion.

"Ah~ Ah~, Mom, hurry up and go." Instead, Yui Yuigahama couldn't stand her mother's nagging and forcibly pushed her to the entrance.

"I'll be back in a bit." After saying this, Yuihama's mother closed the door.

Seeing that her mother had finally left, Yui Yuigahama turned to Genshin Uesugi and suggested, "Let me show you around my room."

She spoke somewhat hesitantly, and Uesugi Genshin immediately understood why.

"After all, we'll be sleeping there tonight."

"Actually, it's fine if I sleep on the sofa." Uesugi Genshin thought to himself, pointing to the sofa in the living room.

"Since you're already at my house, how can you sleep on the sofa? You have to be careful even to turn over." Yui Yuigahama disagreed because her sofa was really the kind that was very narrow and only allowed three people to sit on. If she turned over at night, she might fall off. How could she get a good rest like that?

"..." No, it's nothing. He guessed that Yui's bed was also a single bed, so it would be just as difficult for two people to sleep together.

So, he was really going to have to sleep on the floor again? That's what he was thinking.

"Let's go." Taking Uesugi Genshin's hand, Yui Yuigahama walked to her room, opened the door, and went inside.

Just as Uesugi Genshin had imagined, Yui's room was filled with the cute pink theme of a girl's room, and unsurprisingly, it also had many dolls.

Moreover, there was a distinct fragrance when I entered the room, which was strange, since no one had lived in the room for almost a month.

"How is it?" Yui Yuigahama asked expectantly.

“Very good.” Uesugi Genshin said with a smile, “This is what a girl’s room should feel like.”

"Hehehe..." Yui Yuigahama closed the door, pressed her body against him, and wrapped her arms around him. "Besides, it's just the two of us, so we can kiss and hug as much as we want."

"...Is that so?" Uesugi Genshin shifted his gaze as he pondered, wrapping his arms around her waist and feeling the soft, protruding mass between her chest and abdomen. "Even if we're not alone, I'd be happy to do those silly things that only couples do."

“It’s different.” She grabbed Uesugi Genshin’s shirt, scratching him like a kitten—no, more like a clingy puppy. “I would never do something like this in front of everyone, it’s too embarrassing. Besides…”

"This time it really is just the two of us." She said it in a coquettish tone, without any dissatisfaction in her words, just pure coquettishness.

"so what?"

"Chirp... Mmm, chirp, haa~"

-----------------

"I'm gonna start now."

At the table where the meal was prepared, the three of them put their hands together and began to eat.

Compared to the voices of Yuihama and her daughter, Uesugi Genshin's voice sounded like he was simply giving a perfunctory response.

Even after living here for so long, he always felt that even if you are grateful for food, you don't need to shout it out; you can just know it in your heart.

That said, having to put your hands together in a prayer position for this kind of Chinese-style dinner feels a bit strange.

Since it was cooked together, it wasn't served on separate plates.

The food tastes different from what I had at Soubu High School, made by the culinary department. It's much more refined, both in appearance and taste.

It's not because they do more there, but because of a real difference in their level of understanding.

Indeed, there is a gap between full-time housewives and part-time students.

Picking up a mouthful of rice and putting it in his mouth, Uesugi Genshin sighed.

“You’ve finished eating, there’s still some left in the pot,” Yuihama’s mother said, watching Uesugi Genshin eat at lightning speed.

Eating a lot is a happy thing, at least in the eyes of the elders.

"Oh." Uesugi Genshin replied softly after swallowing his food.

Having long been accustomed to wolfing down his food, it has become somewhat difficult for him to return to eating slowly and deliberately—this is something he has experienced firsthand.

After the meal, Yuihama's mother was washing pots and pans in the kitchen. Even though she was leaving tomorrow, she was still so meticulous and attentive.

"Uesugi-kun, you can go take a bath first. The water is ready."

"Understood," Uesugi Genshin said, turning around in the living room.

“The bathroom is over there.” Taking his hand, Yui Yuigahama led the way.