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

At the time, she was smashing zombies to death in the street. Kiryuin Kaede remembers it vividly because the swinging motion was very clean, and the trajectory was a straight diagonal line.

In other words, the two of them were on the same page.

After thinking for a moment, Uesugi Genshin asked again, "Have you seen any other people?"

"No."

It seems that Kiryuin Fuka didn't notice Ayanokouji and the others, and Ayanokouji's encounter was just a coincidence.

"Is Chabashira-sensei the homeroom teacher of Class D in the first year? Did he not take care of the students in Class D after that?" Uesugi Genshin asked Chabashira Sae again.

During the daytime events in Class D, I didn't see Chabashira Sae anywhere. Logically speaking, a teacher should be as responsible as Hiratsuka-sensei.

"Heh, this guy just doesn't want to care at all," Kiryuin Fuka sneered.

The malicious tone, deliberately harsh words, were a form of provocation, but it worked.

“They are all safe, there’s no need to take care of them, is there?” Chabashira Sae said her first words since Uesugi Genshin entered the house.

“Indeed.” Uesugi Genshin nodded.

Given the state of Class D, being able to live a leisurely life is already a privilege granted by Horikita Manabu.

“Well, the teachers at Advanced Nurturing High School are all pretty much the same as Kozae,” Kiryuin Kaede explained from beside her.

"So, there are other homeroom teachers still alive?" Uesugi Genshin looked at the two of them from left to right.

Chabashira Sae didn't answer, but Kiryuin Fuka replied, "More or less."

"Who are they?" He mainly wanted to ask about the first-year students.

"I don't know." Since Chabashira-sensei wasn't going to answer that question, it was beyond Kiryuin Fuuka's ability to answer.

"But I know that the homeroom teacher of Class C in the first year is quite famous."

Uesugi Genshin looked at her, indicating that he was all ears.

Kiryuin Fuka cleared her throat and said, "Initially, Class C's homeroom teacher, Sakagami, intended to have his students help him gain a position in the upper-middle class, but the leader of his class refused."

"Ryūen?"

"Is that his name?" Shrugging, Kiryuin Kaede had only heard about it. "The result is that Sakagami-sensei stopped caring about his class. Everyone went their own way. It seems that a junior from Class 1-C even led some people to join the action team."

"Eh......"

"In the end, that class advisor is still thinking about himself. He probably wants to use the class as a stepping stone," she said, waving her hand.

It's understandable that the Dragon Garden would refuse, Uesugi Genshin thought with a smile.

Although both advocate using any means necessary, their magnanimity is completely different.

At the same time, Uesugi Genshin saw that the tea stalk Sae on his left had finished drinking the sake in his cup. Could it be that the alcohol content was very low?

However, the three main drinks served at Japanese izakayas are draft beer, highballs, and lemon-flavored carbonated shochu.

Aside from draft beer, which has a very short shelf life, the other alcoholic beverages are sake, shochu, whiskey, etc.

Her cup was transparent, meaning it contained either sake or shochu.

“I used to drink a lot too,” Uesugi Genshin remarked to the tea shoji Sae. “Let me tell you a secret recipe: whiskey and water of life, and you’ll make ‘oolong tea’ that’s really easy to get drunk on.”

Chabashira Sae glanced at him without saying a word, then put down the sake bottle in her hand, stood up and walked to the inside.

"Oh, are you going to pick flowers?" Kiryuin Kaede asked with a smile.

That's such an old-fashioned way of saying it; nobody uses it like that anymore. Kiryuin was probably just making fun of it.

After Chabashira Sae left, Kiryuin Fuka poked his waist with her elbow and smiled mischievously.

"She's a beauty. Even though she's an older woman, she's very charming. Her casual clothes actually make her seem more alluring."

Chapter 275: Heart-to-Heart Talk

What's the deal with this man that Kiryuin brought along, who keeps trying to talk to her?

To avoid awkward silences?

Or do you have some strange interest?

Just get along well with a normal young girl like Kiryuin and ignore her.

As she walked towards the restroom on the second floor, Chabashira Saeko quickened her pace, feeling annoyed.

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

"Tea Pillar Teacher shouldn't be under 30, right?" Uesugi Genshin clicked his tongue, looking at Kiryuin with amusement. "You're calling her an old lady, be careful she doesn't hear you."

"Hmph." Kiryuin Fuka laughed fearlessly, "But it's a fact that you and she are almost twice the age difference."

She rested her face on the back of her hand, her index finger tapping out a gentle rhythm.

"She's only about twelve or thirteen years younger than me, she's the older sister."

When boys are still boys, they generally yearn for older women, especially glamorous and mature ones.

Of course, there are still limitations. If the other person is over forty years old, you can drop the "sister" in "big sister" and just call her "big sister".

“She really is an older sister, big, not old.” She smiled, pursing her lips.

Uesugi Genshin understood what she meant and they both laughed, "It is indeed quite big."

"Hey~, so you don't dislike her, right?" Kiryuin Fuka turned her head slightly to look at him.

The two people at the table looked at each other.

"what does it mean?"

"You saw what she looked like, didn't you?" Kiryuin Kaede spread her hands and sighed helplessly.

Dejected and listless, he was like a drunkard who could collapse at any moment and die somewhere unknown.

“Yes.” Uesugi Genshin nodded.

"When I first met her, she looked just like this. It was as if she had lost her purpose in life, wanting to die but not daring to, so she ended up at this izakaya. In order to drink, she teamed up with me to take down all the zombies on the street."

She always charged ahead recklessly, never backing down, as if she was venting something, making people wonder if she wanted to die, but in the end, she never died.

Without a doubt, that wasn't fearlessness, but recklessness.

Given that even a minor scratch would likely result in death, they still resorted to such an aggressive attack.

“Alcohol is a panacea,” Uesugi Genshin said smugly.

"So I have a favor to ask of you," Kiryuin Kaede whispered in his ear, "Please help her cheer up."

“Me?” Uesugi Genshin pointed to himself, incredulous. “Do you think I can convince you? I’m a pragmatist.”

"Then let's get down to business. Whether it's using your charm or any other method, it's up to you."

Kiryuin nudged his waist with her arm, and Uesugi Genshin, with a somewhat bored expression, moved away from her lips. "A honey trap? You really dare to say that."

"I would be very happy if you could do that."

"Does this have anything to do with you going to Chiba with me?" Uesugi Genshin asked directly.

"Perhaps it's related," Kiryuin Fuka replied calmly.

Hearing faint footsteps in the distance, it must be Chabashira Sae returning. Uesugi Genshin stood up and said, "Let's talk somewhere else."

"Okay."

The two then went outside, and Uesugi Genshin leaned against his car door, saying, "I'm very surprised."

Uesugi Genshin remained silent about what had just happened and changed the subject, saying, "You care so much about Chabashira-sensei, aren't you all supposed to be egoists? Disobeying the group and standing apart from everyone else."

Despite their exceptional abilities, neither of them followed Horikita Manabu's instructions and instead chose to go out in private.

Just like Ayanokouji and the others, as long as they are living well, that's enough.

"Don't misunderstand. I personally admire Horikita very much, and I have never looked down on Nagumo Masaru, who dominated the entire grade in the same year as me. I don't have Horikita Manabu and Nagumo Masaru's excellent leadership skills, nor do I have any talent for forming a group of friends. In fact, I have never had anyone I can truly call a friend from the bottom of my heart."

She rested her hand on her chest and said smugly, "But I am very clear about my own worth. That's why I don't want to waste my time on meaningless things."

"Is there no point in saving others?"

"Ha, can that be called salvation? If it were really for everyone's sake, then all the strong men should go and fight the zombies, while the women who do nothing but cower in the back should eat less each day and make room for more useful labor."

"What you're saying is too idealistic," Uesugi Genshin said, shaking his head. Everyone has some selfish desires, and it's impossible for anyone to be completely selfless.

Moreover, each person is not a machine that can perfectly execute commands.

Just then, a zombie suddenly appeared around the corner, seemingly drawn by their conversation, and rushed towards them.

Kiryuin Kaede smiled, picked up the iron rod she was using as a support, and while running, she missed Uesugi Genshin's body and smashed it head-on into the zombie. Her movements were very cool and coordinated.

The zombie's head was smashed hard, splattering blood and foam.

“But that’s fair.” Turning around, Kiryuin Fuka opened her arms. “The result is that if I obey Horikita Manabu’s orders, I will get more self-satisfaction. That’s why I’m hesitating.”

"Now that hesitation has disappeared?" Uesugi Genshin asked doubtfully.

"After all, I've been thinking about what to do next, and it's about time."

She has been staying at this izakaya for about half a month.

This isn't just happening here; it's happening everywhere else too. Most of the food that couldn't be stored has already rotted.

The search will become much more difficult from now on. Unlike when the zombies first appeared, now you have to fight off zombies all over the street for an uncertain meal in a restaurant.

Although there are clear food sources, various convenience stores, supermarkets, and shopping malls have all kinds of food available, and if you want to eat vegetables and fruits, there are also various types of canned goods.

However, these places are either too far away and have too many zombies, or they are nearby and have already been looted.

So while one can indeed live a good life, it is certainly not an easy one.

She also found the saury's innards bitter and hard to swallow, but they are an important source of vitamins.

She thought it was about time to make a decision.

“I see.” Uesugi Genshin nodded. He himself was just a catalyst. In the end, the other party might follow Horikita Manabu’s arrangements or go out on his own.

"As for Kozae, I saw value in her. But as a person of high value, she seems to have lost the beliefs she has always held onto, like a walking corpse. I just feel very sorry for her. If I leave her alone, she probably won't know where she will die in the end."

At present, it seems unlikely that he can recover on his own.

"That's why you asked me to comfort her..."

“Yes, whether it’s physically striking her heart or spiritually, it’s all acceptable.” Kiryuin Fuka walked over and pointed her finger at his chest.

The height difference was not significant, so Uesugi Genshin did not need to lower his head; he could simply look at her eyes at eye level, which were as beautiful as amethyst.

"I'm not very good at dating, let alone using my good looks."

"Don't worry, I've never dated a man before, but I still know a little bit about the ins and outs of relationships."

She assured her not to worry, "Besides, Kozae also has little dating experience; she's a virgin, which isn't shameful. On the contrary, doesn't this increase her value?"

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Genshin felt a pang of guilt. "Well, if it's about physics, then I have a better candidate."

It is a being on par with the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

"Hmph~, fine, I just want the result. If that person isn't up to the task, you'll have to take responsibility for resolving it." Kiryuin Fuka took out her phone and handed it to him. "The previous coastline also had internet access to the artificial island. Whoever you need to contact, please get it done within an hour."

"Kozae should be able to drink for another hour. After that, I'll leave her to you. The second floor is a place where people can live. I'll make sure she drinks so much that she can't go back today, and then she can sleep there."

So even Kiryuin knew that someone who'd drunk that much wouldn't be able to swim back.

"...Fine." But it still has to be his way.

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

Holding the phone number on the paper, Uesugi Genshin squatted on the edge of the embankment and dialed the number.

"Hello, who is this?" came a calm voice from the other end.

“Ayanokoji, it’s me,” Uesugi Genshin replied.

"Hmm, what's up?" His tone remained calm.

"I have a good favor to ask of you." The words imply that the organization has entrusted you with something.

"If it's a good thing, can I choose not to accept it?"

That's Ayanokouji's personality, no doubt. So Uesugi Genshin revealed that he needed the other person to sacrifice, no, to offer their body.