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

Uesugi Genshin felt he should still put on a verbal protest, so he feigned exhaustion and said, "I just got back."

Isn't this perfect?

Okay, okay, I know how important you are.

Hachiman's matter-of-fact tone, combined with his lazy image, gave him the air of a spoiled brat.

"is it?"

What's perfect!

We set off in the morning and didn't arrive until almost afternoon. We were on edge the whole way, and I was exhausted.

Uesugi Genshin looked behind them, muttering to himself, "It really is."

"Is it just the two of you?"

Hayato Hayama recognized Genshin Uesugi; he had been in their class before and was friends with Hikigaya from their class.

He didn't know why he came back from outside, but he didn't agree with what the other party had done... Once he admitted defeat, what would become of his long-held beliefs?

I hope no one gets hurt, and I hope everyone can be saved.

Hayato Hayama once again displayed his approachable nature, flashing a smile that no one could dislike.

"Yes."

"Then there's no need to go to Hayama. I'll just go with Hachiman," Uesugi Genshin said casually, scratching the back of his head.

Going to the seafood market is no different for two or three people; it's a different strategy depending on whether there are many or few people.

Hayato Hayama was taken aback by the seemingly dismissive tone. "I'm fine."

"This is more efficient."

Right now, Hayama should just stay here and calm everyone down. Why do you always want to carry the team? Use your strengths to make up for our weaknesses!

"Then you don't need to go to Yeshan."

"Even you say that, Hachiman."

"I also think this is more efficient."

Hayato Hayama had no choice but to hand the weapon to Genshin Uesugi, a baseball bat that was standard equipment in school settings.

The impact was undeniable; compared to the mop handles or broom handles that the two students next to him had somehow managed to detach from somewhere, this was undoubtedly a deadly weapon.

At this point, Hayato Hayama could only wish them good luck, then watch them disappear down the stairs before going inside.

After all, the two people opposite him were acquaintances, and Hayama Hayato had no reason to forcefully intervene.

"Nice car." After walking out of the building, Hachiman Hikigaya glanced at the car and praised it, which was clearly driven by Genshin Uesugi.

The perfect combination of a red base and black accents creates a sense of imposing presence that far surpasses that of a soft, cumbersome family car.

Even his dead fish eyes have changed slightly, becoming clear, bright, and sparkling. After all, this is a common interest among men.

“I think so too.” Uesugi Genshin nodded in deep agreement.

Hachiman Hikigaya turned his head and said, "I think Hiratsuka-sensei is about to cry."

"...Stop talking, or I'll feel so guilty." This point is undeniable.

"You really didn't drive it back?"

That fiery red Aston Martin is Mr. Hiratsuka's favorite car; he even mentioned it on the way.

"It's completely wrecked, how are we going to get it back?"

As they approached, Uesugi Genshin touched the surface of the vehicle.

“And this is much more practical than Hiratsuka-sensei’s sports car.” He spoke with a deep expression, as if caressing a lover’s skin.

“That’s true.” Hachiman Hikigaya agreed wholeheartedly, his hand gliding over the rugged exterior.

Once you've actually been to the city, you'll know that you can't drive fast at all; the road conditions are simply appalling.

This is just the impact of the homecoming rush; who knows how bad the road conditions will be during the refugee rush.

He and Genshin reached a consensus on this point, and he also felt a deep sense of guilt towards their teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka.

The seafood market is not far away, and the adjacent dining street, just like some supermarkets, sells food alongside ingredients.

They are all very close to the school, less than a kilometer away. Just walk along the coastal highway in the opposite direction from the direction of Tokyo.

So they decided to walk there, but as they were leaving the school, Uesugi Genshin grabbed Hachiman's school uniform.

“So someone’s watching you,” he said.

Hachiman Hikigaya turned to look at the glass of the corridor and saw a figure on the second floor.

"Don't talk nonsense." He doesn't know anyone at school.

"No, there's someone else watching you too."

"Where?" Hachiman muttered to himself, then looked up and saw Kawasaki.

"No way~" They probably weren't looking at him...

Hachiman Hikigaya turned his head to the left and right, which prompted Genshin Uesugi to tease him.

"You're really young now."

"...What nonsense are you talking about?" Youth? What does that have to do with someone like him?

Didn't you say something like that here before?

The two walked on the road, with the roadside trees on both sides blocking most of their view.

In the summer, there will be heat waves on the highways, right?

"How is Yukinoshita?"

"Yes, it's well managed. The student council president has been completely sidelined."

"As expected." In reality, aside from her charismatic personality and seemingly gentle appearance, Student Council President Makoto's talent, decisiveness, and unwavering execution are on a completely different level from Yukino Yukinoshita.

A person who is proud and aloof is always strong, and Xuexiaxiaxue is precisely such a proud and aloof person, a solitary iceberg.

“There were a few people in the building across the street who we hadn’t found before, and they did turn into zombies, as did a few injured people, but Yukinoshita took care of them herself.” This was something he admired.

Being able to do it personally must mean that one has made many preparations.

"We organized people to be directly responsible to the student union, to stand guard at the gate, cook, and even had people stick the literature department's old magazines on the glass to prevent them from being seen if there was any movement on the other side."

"They even listened to the troubles of students who came for various reasons."

Uesugi Genshin couldn't imagine it.

Moreover, given her style, she is the type to insist on the correct approach throughout the process.

They teach methods and urge people forward like sheep, expecting them to complete tasks through their own efforts, but they ignore the complexities of human nature.

Even he wouldn't waste time and energy on tasks he wasn't interested in but needed to complete.

"She's really capable." Yukino Yukinoshita has also begun to change. It seems that there will be no problem entrusting this "reclusive" girl, who is just as "aloof" as them, to manage.

"What about her family?"

Earlier, her mother had mentioned on the phone that she was coming to pick up Yukino Yukinoshita.

"They said to ask them to wait a bit."

Ah... once you accept a responsibility, you can't bear to give it up halfway. He wanted to exclaim, what a noble spirit of dedication this is!

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

Wouldn't that make him, who was already tempted to slack off, feel even more guilty?!

We definitely need to keep working hard.

"Hey... how's your situation?"

"It was fine. I was about to come back, but I ran into an idol group on the way, so I took them to the house of one of their sisters, which took a little longer."

"You're really kind-hearted."

Hachiman Hikigaya knew perfectly well that the person next to him was not a fan of celebrities at all. In his eyes, idols were no different from ordinary people, just like himself.

Most people say they like someone, but they never actually get close to them. No matter how much you do for her, she'll only glance at you once.

On the surface, it's under the guise of appreciation, but in reality, it's lust.

You spend money on handshake coupons, only to have them forget about you the moment they turn their backs, leaving you with nothing but self-pity.

“Yes, we can’t just leave it unattended.” Uesugi Genshin was a well-educated young man, and this was his own belief, which is why he insisted on it.

The main reason for this idea is that I don't live long in any of my lives, it's like a dream. The longest I've ever lived is only 24 years old, and I was "ostracized by my colleagues" and "bullied in the workplace" in Chang'an.

The boss is from Liangzhou, and the upper circle is full of people from Liangzhou. The Bingzhou people are newcomers; to put it bluntly, they were acquired. Not being paid wages is the least of their worries; they are always assigned the dirty and hard work.

So, his superiors could no longer tolerate it and found an opportunity to "oust" the other party's leader. However, after the company was restructured, the new leadership was not substantially different from the previous group.

Oh, there is a difference; at least they have read the Analects.

"You really are quite resourceful; the way of thinking of a strong person is to not run away from anything."

"Is that so? I'm just doing my best. It's the world that's problematic if it's forcing things like this."

Even Uesugi Genshin wouldn't risk his life to save a dog about to be hit by a car, even if asked.

"Should we force it...?"

As Hikigaya Hachiman pondered those two words, Uesugi Genshin sensed what must have happened.

"what happened?"

"Kawasaki had a younger brother who couldn't be saved." This isn't something that can't be said.

"He turned into a zombie?"

"Yes, he had a wound on his arm, and then he kept crying in front of us before turning into a zombie." The scene from yesterday was still vivid in my mind. "I was the one who did it."

"Do you feel guilty?" The topic turned heavy, but Uesugi Genshin could still see the sadness in his heart through those dead fish eyes.

"Yes."

"You really are a pushover."

"Can you please stop yelling at me?"

In their understanding, "good person" is a neutral term with a negative connotation.

First of all, it means someone who is good no matter what, but even the best person is just someone who is convenient and easy to use.

In other words, no matter what, they will always be someone people expect from.

"I'm glad you're alright."

"Hmph, you're the same."

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Fish and the Sea

Chiba is located by the sea, and its geographical location is roughly opposite Kanagawa, with Tokyo sandwiched between it and above.

Soubu High School is located in Mihama Ward, which is part of Chiba's coastal area.

Every day, seafood caught from Tokyo Bay enters Chiba through Mihama Ward, a place known as the Chiba Wholesale Market.

Here, in addition to fresh tuna, sea urchins, or salmon roe, you can even find large chunks of bright red tuna meat with textures as beautiful as red agate.

It is only one street away from Sobu High School, but to actually get there, you have to walk along the sea until you are almost at the next intersection.

To the right is the sea, or more accurately, a park built along the sea, which contains various facilities: a baseball field, a soccer field, an indoor sports arena, and a memorial hall.

Normally, it's a weekday, so there shouldn't be many people with free time to stroll around the park.

However, on the left, all the shops in the seafood wholesale market will be open for business, and it will probably be packed with owners, staff, and people who come to buy ingredients during the day.

"At most, we're just doing reconnaissance, reconnaissance," Hachiman repeated tirelessly.

"Don't worry, even I'm not a one-man army."