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

"..." Looking at her younger sister who had regained her spirits, Yang Nai turned her head and stared at Uesugi Genshin with a calm expression. Finally, she silently turned around and left with the tray.

The second round of conversation took place during dinner, and this time the seating arrangement was different from the last time.

Uesugi Genshin and Yukino sat on one side, while the Yukinoshita couple and Haruno sat opposite them.

Among them, Yukino's mother sat in front of Yukino, while Yukino's father sat in front of her, and Haruno sat next to her mother.

Yukino was somewhat surprised when Haruno suddenly sat down opposite her, while Uesugi Genshin continued eating his meal without making a sound.

It's just a regular stew, a traditional Japanese dish, and it tastes quite good to Japanese people.

"Uesugi-kun has excellent manners. Is it thanks to your parents' upbringing?" Yukinoshita's mother suddenly asked, watching Uesugi Genshin eat silently.

"Is this kid named Uesugi?" Before Uesugi Genshin could speak, Yuki's father asked first.

“Yes.” Yukinoshita’s mother nodded, then smiled and looked at Uesugi Genshin.

"My name is Uesugi Genshin." He looked at Yuki's mother and father with a serious expression and leaned forward.

"Pfft..." Yang Nai laughed out loud, "This old-fashioned self-introduction, have you been watching too many Taiga dramas?"

"Without realizing it," Uesugi Genshin said with a smile, "it is a room with a Japanese style after all."

He looked at Yukinoshita's mother and said, "I learned etiquette at the temple. The master of the dojo required me to learn it."

“A dojo…” Yukinoshita’s mother smiled, “Uesugi-kun is very skilled in kendo, which style do you study?”

“The Shinto Mushiniryu,” Uesugi Genshin replied.

"Really?" Xue's father questioned. This is an ancient sword technique. Even if it's lost to time, not many people would learn it nowadays.

"Did you learn it at the Arishinkan Academy?" Yukinoshita's mother asked.

Yushinkan is a modern-day re-established dojo of the Shinto Munen-ryu school, located in Meguro Ward, Tokyo.

But he trained at the training hall in Edo. If you mention the training hall now, you'd probably be mistaken for a joke.

"Please forgive me for keeping this a secret." So Uesugi Genshin chose to remain silent.

Observing her husband's micro-expressions, Yukinoshita's mother knew he didn't believe her at all, so she covered her mouth and said to the side, "Uesugi-kun, he was on TV, a month ago, Kanto TV."

At first, he didn't make the connection, but as soon as he heard "Kanto TV Station," Xue's father immediately realized what was going on and took the man who claimed to be his daughter's boyfriend seriously.

The actions of that unscrupulous television station were still fresh in his memory, especially since the girl who suffered was from the same school as his daughter.

"Does the dojo also teach horseback riding and archery?" His words, though he himself didn't realize, carried a subtle barb.

"I have studied it on my own," Uesugi Genshin said modestly.

For some reason, the conversation at the dinner table has revolved around him since just now, but anyway, it's fine as long as he answers normally.

"Study?" Xue's father asked doubtfully, "Uesugi-kun, what is your family background?"

Leaving aside archery, horseback riding also involves teaching archery on horseback, which is very expensive. He knew this very well because his eldest daughter loved riding horses, and sometimes the whole family would go together.

“No, we’re just an ordinary family, but I debuted as a novelist two years ago.” Knowing that the other person was asking about his family’s financial situation, Uesugi Genshin directly explained the source of his money, “I already had more than 20 million yen in savings in my account.”

"Hmph, not bad for a young man." Xue's father nodded arrogantly, arms crossed.

“Darling, Uesugi-kun is Yukino’s classmate in the same grade,” Yukino’s mother subtly reminded her from the side.

"Wait!" Yukino's father exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise. "You're Yukino's classmate?"

"Oh, Uesugi-kun wasn't wearing Soubu High's uniform before?" Haruno teased.

"..." Because she took it off afterwards, Xue's father's memory was a bit blurry. Did she wear a school uniform or not? His eldest daughter would occasionally make jokes that were half-serious and half-joking, but you can't believe them.

He crossed his arms and nodded in a composed manner, saying, "So you're a student at Zongwu High School."

That income of tens of millions is indeed remarkable. My daughter's classmate, who is currently a second-year high school student, has tens of millions in savings at that age. That would be more than enough to buy a newly built luxury apartment in Chiba in the future.

She married her daughter to him...

No!!!! Xue's father suddenly realized, why did he suddenly think in that direction?

So he looked at Yukino and asked, "Yukino, your mother should have told you when you're coming back?"

Yukino calmly put down her chopsticks and bowl. "If I come back, what does Mother plan for me to do?"

"I heard you work as an accountant and manage materials at Zongwu High School?"

"Yes."

“Then you can continue doing this kind of work after you come here, and so can Uesugi-kun.” Yukinoshita’s mother smiled kindly at Uesugi Genshin. “I believe that with Uesugi-kun’s abilities, he will soon be able to replace Haruno’s previous position.”

These words made Uesugi Genshin look at Haruno next to him, and he saw Haruno shrug her shoulders indifferently.

"Please forgive me for refusing," Yukino said firmly.

"Is that so?" Yukinoshita's mother looked at her without saying a word. Facing Yukino's unwavering gaze, she smiled and then turned to look at Uesugi Genshin. "Speaking of which, I heard Mrs. Yuigahama mention that her daughter also has..."

When Uesugi Genshin heard Yukinoshita's mother mention the surname Yuihama, his heart skipped a beat. It was somewhat unexpected, but also understandable.

Yuihama's mother staying here was arranged by Haruno, so Haruno's mother couldn't possibly not know. With a little interaction, it would be easy to ask about such everyday matters, especially since it concerns both of her daughters. It wouldn't hurt to show concern.

This is a classic case of revealing one's true colors. It's as if all the previous amiability was fake, and this hand was hidden away just to be used now, with him as the breakthrough point.

"Mother!!!" Yukino interrupted abruptly, knowing that continuing would be very bad.

"Yukino! Shouting is very rude. Haven't I taught you manners?" Yukinoshita's mother asked sternly. Although her tone was calm, the weight of her words was no less.

“Yes.” Yukino paused.

Yukinoshita's mother looked at Uesugi Genshin and smiled, "Uesugi-kun, what are you thinking?"

Yang Nai laughed, which made her younger sister glare at her angrily, as if she had betrayed them.

How naive! She said she wasn't on Yukino's side, and this part was indeed information that Mother herself had collected; she didn't reveal much.

"If it weren't for the appearance of zombies, I probably wouldn't have had any interaction with Yukino," Uesugi Genshin stated with a smile.

This made Yukino involuntarily look to the side, because she felt the same way.

"Love is about fate, meeting the right person at the right time. I don't know if I'm the right person, but I'm confident that even in Yukino's past life, I would have been more suitable than 99% of the men she met, and now, that's even more true."

"Are you saying my daughter has no other choice but you?" Yukinoshita's mother tilted her head with some difficulty, pressed her hand to her temple, and then looked at the two of them slightly before asking in return.

“Yes,” Uesugi Genshin replied confidently.

"You really have a lot of guts." Yukinoshita's mother's kind smile vanished, and her eyes narrowed instantly.

“Uesugi-kun, that’s incredibly rude,” Haruno chimed in from the side.

“No, it’s easier for me this way too,” Yukino’s mother said with a light laugh, interrupting Haruno’s words.

“Mother,” Yukino said solemnly, “I am also very happy to have met Genshin in this apocalyptic world. I feel very lucky to have met him.”

"Yukino...you've changed." Yukinoshita's mother sighed, as if expressing her feelings.

Has she changed? Yukino pondered deeply. Indeed, she had changed a lot compared to herself a little over a month ago.

Become able to handle interpersonal relationships well, and learn to trust others.

“But I didn’t say it was a good thing.” Yukino’s mother lowered her eyes, then looked at Uesugi Genshin again. “Do you think Yukino’s change is a good thing?”

“It’s better than before, at least. And whether growing up is a good thing or not depends on how the person sees it,” Uesugi Genshin said, spreading his palms. “You should also trust your daughter’s judgment.”

“...Yes.” Yukinoshita’s mother gently tapped her cheek, “but as a mother, I don’t agree.”

This made Yukino's face tighten, and she was thinking about how to persuade her mother.

"Although as a mother, I am against it." Yukinoshita's mother looked at her youngest daughter, "Yukino."

"Yes!"

She silently scrutinized her stubborn daughter, and after a long while, a smile suddenly appeared on her lips. "So it's up to you to decide, after all, you're the one who will walk the path from now on."

"I don't even need to think about it, the answer was already decided," Yukino said firmly.

"I see... Well then, that's settled." Yukinoshita's mother suddenly revealed a look completely different from her gentle gaze just now, a cold look as if she harbored deep hatred. "I've done what a mother should say. I hope you won't regret it, whether it's about the man or what you want to do."

"No, it won't happen," Yukino assured her solemnly.

"Let's continue eating." Yukinoshita's mother picked up her chopsticks again, ending the rather long conversation.

"..." Seeing his beloved wife accept this boy so easily, Xue's father showed an expression of disbelief.

Yukinoshita's mother glanced at her husband with amusement. "What's wrong, darling? From what I can see, Uesugi-kun is undoubtedly a very outstanding young man. Even Ms. Sakurajima has high praise for him."

"This...this..." Xue's father was speechless for a moment.

"..." Uesugi Genshin also fell silent, as having several mothers-in-law together still carried some risks.

Chapter 311: Serves Her Right for Being So Sharp-Tongued

"Hahaha......"

In the silence that seemed to hold the sound of dripping water, Yang Nai's soft laughter spread out.

"Yono," Yukinoshita's mother gently scolded.

"Sorry, sorry." After apologizing, Yang Nai put down her chopsticks and said, "I'm finished eating," before calmly walking out.

Just as the door was about to close, she waved to Uesugi Genshin and then left the reception room.

“Ha…” Yukino’s departure caused Yukino’s mother to sigh deeply. She looked up at Uesugi Genshin, “Yino said she wanted to go over there to keep an eye on Yukino, and I agreed.”

She spoke casually, as if the previous difficulties were all an illusion.

Or perhaps it was a test. If Yukino's will wasn't strong enough, then she might as well go along with her family's arrangements. That's probably what Yukino's mother was thinking.

Uesugi Genshin leaned forward and replied, "I will take good care of Haruno."

"unnecessary."

Unexpectedly, the mother refused.

“As a daughter of the Yukinoshita family, Haruno must take responsibility for her choices. Even if she sacrifices herself, she should be prepared for it.”

In other words, if Yang Nai herself decided to fight the zombies, then getting caught by accident was her choice, and she can't blame anyone else.

Despite saying that, Uesugi Genshin simply lowered his head and pretended to hear it. Don't listen to how nonchalant the other person is. But he didn't think that if Haruno really died because of some accident, Haruno and Yukino's mother wouldn't feel resentment.

Faced with his attitude, Xue's mother raised her head and smiled with her lips pursed, but Xue's father did not, and looked lost.

What could he do after his wife said that?

I can't undermine her, I can only talk to my eldest daughter about it later.

Originally, taking on the heavy responsibility of commanding troops outside the region was a temporary measure, and he was the most suitable person at the time. Later, his wife resigned, and he handed over the remaining troops to his old subordinates, thinking that Yang Nai could finally freely choose what he wanted to do.

Once you get there, you can't keep compromising. If you really want to rest, then don't take on any positions that require you to travel.

"Uesugi-kun, would you like another bowl of rice?" Yukinoshita's mother asked, knowing that one bowl would be enough for him.

"Thank you for your trouble," Uesugi Genshin replied without ceremony.

So Yukino's mother got up and went over to take his bowl to the kitchen to add more rice.

Only Yukino's father, Uesugi Genshin, and Yukino remained in the reception room.

Xue's father held the bowl, staring intently ahead, as if trying to discover some clue, scrutinizing the scene with deep concentration.

“I heard it from Mimori,” he suddenly said.

“Mimori… ah~” Uesugi Genshin remembered that this was the person he and Haruno had met when they went to Narashino before. He should be an employee of the Yukinoshita family’s company.

"I never imagined you not only know kendo, but you also know how to use firearms." Xue's father shook his head with a wry smile. "What kind of family could raise someone like you?"

"It has nothing to do with my family; I learned all of this on my own," Uesugi Genshin explained modestly.

"Yes." Yukino's father nodded as if he had listened, and then said solemnly, "You will definitely be able to protect Yukino. I entrust my daughters to you."

"Yes," Uesugi Genshin bowed.

“He really looks like a samurai from a Taiga drama,” Yuki’s father muttered to himself, then burst into laughter. “Actually, my husband prefers to meet people at Western restaurants.”

"If it's about Western dining etiquette, I don't know, I'll have to learn it on the spot," Uesugi Genshin joked.

"Haha, then Uesugi-kun, you don't need to worry about this anymore."

Because there are no Western restaurants in the apocalypse, and etiquette is not really necessary.

The atmosphere eased, and they chatted casually about everyday topics, such as what Uesugi Genshin's future plans were back then, and how he met his two daughters.