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

Nowadays, boys really admire heroes who have reached the end of their lives, like Sanada Yukimura.

The Shinsengumi? Those Mibu wolves?

"Not at all. I think people with 'cheng' in their names are very capable, like Cheng, Yicheng, oh, and Gucheng." The pronunciation of "sei" is the same.

"You...you seem like a good person, but I didn't expect you to be a pervert!" Eriri Sawamura, who was hiding her true nature, retorted. "I don't know who Makoto is, but Issei, isn't that the male protagonist of a recent anime?"

Issei? Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head.

"Those...those kinds of ecchi anime that sell sex appeal for you otaku?"

"Hmm. By the way, Sawamura-kun, you've seen it too?" Uesugi Genshin asked in return.

"Me? No, I haven't... I haven't seen it." Her slightly arrogant, bristling hair clearly indicated the problem.

“Ah, so we’re the same age. Speaking of which, I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Kato Megumi.” Kato Megumi stroked Sawamura Eriri’s frizzy hair.

"Hmph, Eriri Sawamura."

"Okay, Kato, Sawamura."

"Then why did Uesugi-kun return to Soubu High School?"

"There are still students there." This made the three people in the car even more puzzled.

"Here, navigation." Eriri Sawamura handed over her phone, which Kasumigaoka Utaha took and then held up for Genshin Uesugi to see.

"Yes, it's in Chiyoda Ward. We should be there soon, but we'll have to take a detour." The road ahead isn't in good condition; multiple rear-end collisions have blocked the entire road.

He shifted gears and reversed while avoiding hitting the zombies following behind with the trunk.

Eriri Sawamura retorted, "Huh? You just abandoned a bunch of students in Toyonosaki, and now you're going back to your school in Chiba because of this?"

"To be honest, Toyosaki is a bit difficult to handle. When Soubu Takaga left, the situation had already been stabilized. It is located by the sea and far from the crowds, making it safer."

"Isn't home safer?" Kato Megumi asked, somewhat puzzled.

"A crowd may convey despair, but a person has no hope."

The three of them sensed a different meaning in those words, and the atmosphere in the car instantly returned to the apocalyptic state.

“Home is safer, but it also means you’ll be trapped there and can’t do anything but survive. One person can only do one thing. If you need two people, you’ll be overwhelmed. If you need three people, you’ll be stretched thin. So people are always the most important thing.”

"A brave and fearless senior once said: If you save the land but lose the people, you will lose both the land and the people; if you save the people but lose the land, you will gain both the land and the people."

"Who said that?" Eriri Sawamura muttered to herself.

"Well, so if we can organize those surviving students and establish a safe zone on the basis of Soubu High School, there is great potential for the future."

"Eh? Then why not take Kasumigaoka-senpai back with you?"

"It's still somewhat dangerous, whether on the road or at the school now." Uesugi Genshin turned the steering wheel and used the headlights to knock down the zombie. The zombie's hand slashed across the side window with a sharp sound, and the car still slammed against the glass.

This allowed Uesugi Genshin to sweep his bangs back so they could be seen more clearly.

"I'm fine," said Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was pressed close to his chest, her slender fingers clutching the shirt of Uesugi Genshin's chest.

"No, it's not safe, there's no need to take the risk."

In the apocalypse, staying at home is the safest option, provided you are either at home or close to home.

"After saying all that, it all sounds like empty boasting." Eriri Sawamura pouted, her eyes fixed on Genshin Uesugi's unobstructed face.

"Hmph, in these chaotic times, the government is too busy to take care of itself. The only way forward is to save ourselves."

"This is indeed a critical moment of life and death, but the generals are wise and resourceful, with Hachiman Hikigaya strategizing and planning; in politics, there is Yukikatsu Kasuga, who can bring peace to the world; in martial arts, there is Uesugi Genshin, who can stabilize the world; and even in magic, there is Hayato Hayama, who is good at soothing people's hearts."

"At Soubu High School, we have upheld the great cause of the student council president and are ready to save Soubu from its dire straits and save Chiba City from collapse."

"Once we have restored the decline of Sobu High, we can lead our three armies to pacify Takahama New Port in the south, block the city's districts in the east, connect with the capital in the north, and open up the sea in the west. Taking advantage of the bay, we can reap the benefits of fishing and commerce, forge alliances abroad, and improve governance at home. If the world changes, we can send our fierce army and elite soldiers to Kyoto. What people would dare not welcome us with food and drink? If this is done, then hegemony can be achieved, and the nation can prosper."

(Actually, it's not a straight line; it's somewhat tilted. Southeast and northwest would be more appropriate, but it's simpler to understand it as south being down and north being up.)

“…Hmm…” Eriri Sawamura felt her brain wasn’t quite up to par. This chuunibyou-esque statement was clearly just making empty promises, and the promises looked pretty appealing, just like the politicians her father always criticized. Regardless of whether they actually delivered or not, they would first offer a pie in the sky, and if they couldn’t deliver, no one would blame them.

"Hmph~ Hegemony? You're already in the late stages of chuunibyou." She pouted and turned her head away from Uesugi Genshin, but accidentally brushed against Kato Megumi's chest, which made her even more annoyed.

"Clap clap clap." Kasumigaoka Utaha, sitting on Uesugi Genshin, clapped along in unison.

"Oh, I see. I didn't expect Uesugi-kun to be so amazing, thinking of so many things. His humanities grades must be excellent."

"...That's great, second in the humanities. Well, this was indeed the initial idea, but whether it can be realized depends on me going back first."

There are now over a hundred people; there are fierce generals like Hachiman Hayama who can be used; and there is also Soubu Taka. If we don't hurry back to ensure Soubu Taka's safety, then we will only be able to survive slowly in the apocalypse alone.

"A great wind rises, clouds fly high. My might extends across the land, I return to my homeland. Where can I find brave warriors to guard the four corners of the earth?"

What is this? Is it a dialect? The people in the car were a little confused.

"Oh, speaking of which, why does Uesugi-kun have such long hair? Isn't it to block his vision?" Kato Megumi asked again.

She repeatedly lifted her hair because of the view, and to be honest, it didn't look good at all.

"I originally wanted to tie my hair up in a bun, but when I tried to tie it up to go out that day, when it was almost time to go back, Kasumigaoka said it looked awkward, so he let my hair down. After that, I didn't pay much attention to my hair."

Originally, I planned to let it grow long and tie it up, as was my usual practice.

This is the guy. He thought he looked pretty good when he looked in the mirror, but other people didn't think much of him. To be honest, it was a huge blow to him.

"Eh, is that so? I think Uesugi-kun..."

Then she saw Kasumigaoka Utaha's expressionless gaze, so calm it was almost frightening.

Due to the angle, Uesugi Genshin couldn't see it, but Kato Megumi could see it clearly.

"Uesugi-kun, you probably really aren't suitable."

"Well......"

There are pictures here, which can be viewed after the updated version

Chapter Twenty: The Villa on the Hillside

Chiyoda Ward is located in the very center of Tokyo. To be honest, the roads are not easy to navigate. Even though it's not entirely a commercial area, there are frequent problems on the streets.

The car that crashed into the lamppost is on fire. Pedestrians gather around a person who has fallen to the ground, and when others pass by from a distance, they rush over and tackle the person to the ground.

The rear-end collision blocked part of the road. Some people got out of their cars to argue, banging on the car windows and calling for the people in the other car to respond, but there was no response. Who knows what will happen next?

In some other sections, the riots were even more blatant, with scenes of people chasing each other on both sides of the road and even in the middle of the road, and blood staining the streets, which was shocking.

The inside and outside of the car seemed like different worlds, even before the car came to a complete stop.

Uesugi Genshin never let go of the accelerator. Living people would instinctively avoid the car, so even if a zombie hit it, there was no need to worry.

Eriri Sawamura felt a great sense of security watching Genshin Uesugi's resolute reaction after the impact, where he didn't even blink.

Finally, we were away from the crowded streets. There were one or two zombies swaying by the roadside, while some streets were completely deserted.

"Almost there." Kasumigaoka Utaha held up her phone's navigation, showing that the destination was only two streets away.

In the distance, there is an uphill slope.

“Ah…” Eriri Sawamura turned her head to look out the window.

That was Aki Tomoya's house. Before she could react, the scenery outside the window flashed by.

When they drove into a significantly more expensive residential area, the calm streets brought them a huge sense of relief.

"Ah, we're here, my house!" Eriri Sawamura exclaimed with great surprise.

The smile on her face, as happy as a child, and the girlish charm like a lily, are the kind of feeling that can make your heart flutter.

Following Eriri Sawamura's voice, the group looked up and saw a tall wall, which did indeed make them feel very safe.

The brown bricks and stones obscured the view, making it impossible to see what was inside, let alone buildings like houses.

It came to a steady stop in front of the main entrance. There was a doorbell next to the metal door so that the people living inside could open the door.

Uesugi Genshin looked around and found it safe. "Sawamura-kun, could you please ask someone to open the door?"

"Hmm!" She opened the car door and stepped off Kato Megumi. For some reason, her somewhat subtle appearance made Uesugi Genshin unable to help but smile.

She jogged to the doorbell and pressed it a few times.

"Which one?"

"Mom! It's me!"

"Eriri! You're back!" Sawamura's mother exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yes, Mom, I'm home. Oh, please open the door, I'll have my friend bring the car in."

"Ok."

Then the door opened.

"See you later, Mom."

"Ok."

Then Eriri Sawamura easily squeezed into the car again, looking petite and adorable.

"You, what are you laughing at?"

"No, it's nothing." Uesugi Genshin opened his eyes, which had been narrowed into slits with a smile, and composed himself.

"Humph~"

Uesugi Genshin stepped on the gas and drove the car in. After the car went in, the gate slowly closed, and the street returned to calm once again.

"Sawamura, your house is quite big."

"Hmph, of course."

Even after entering, you can't see the residences at a glance. Instead, there are countless trees on both sides of the road. It's rare to see so much greenery in Chiyoda Ward, the heart of Tokyo, where land is incredibly valuable.

Driving along the road, I saw a gray villa that was about two stories high.

It should be three stories, but the third story is identified by the window in the triangular roof, so it's hard to say whether it's an attic or the third floor.

The light gray and dark gray grid-like walls are very nice. In front of the villa is a small garden, or should I call it a small garden? It's full of green plants and shrubs, but there are no flowers.

As we drove closer, we saw Eriri Sawamura's mother standing in front of the villa's white gate; she was a woman wearing a kimono.

Upon seeing her mother, Eriri Sawamura's face lit up as if she were saying "Waaaaa!"

Uesugi Genshin walked around the small garden and parked the car steadily in front of the villa.

"Mom!" Eriri Sawamura got down even more urgently, her rough movements brushing against Megumi Kato's body, causing her to let out a soft "Ah."

She ran over and hugged her mother tightly.

Eriri Sawamura's mother looks very young and resembles Eriri Sawamura a lot. She has dark purple hair styled in twin tails and wears a red and white striped kimono. She is a very beautiful person.

Although it's rude to say it like that, we now know the genetic origin of Eriri Sawamura's figure and small breasts: her blonde hair and blue eyes are inherited from her father.

Eriri, are you alright?

"Hmm! Is Mom alright too?"

"Yes."

Kato Megumi also got off the car, but Uesugi Genshin and Kasumigaoka Utaha were a little slower.

"Kasumigaoka, you should get off too," Uesugi Genshin said to Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was sitting on his lap.

"Mmm." But she didn't do anything after replying.

"Don't call me Kasumigaoka, call me Utaha, Makoto."

"Hmm? Ah... I understand, Shiha." After only a moment's hesitation, Uesugi Genshin agreed.

It can feel a bit awkward to call friends who aren't close by their first names, while closer friends sometimes use more abbreviated forms of their names, affectionate nicknames.

He had always referred to Kasumigaoka Utaha by her surname, so this change today must mean that his relationship with Kasumigaoka Utaha has gotten even better.

"Ah."

"Help me put on my shoes."

As she spoke, she lifted her leg, and the shift in her center of gravity caused her hips to slam down heavily.