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

"Alright!" The crabs on the table have all been peeled.

"Next, hmph hmph hmph." Uesugi Genshin poured the crab meat into the crab shell, which was full of crab roe, and stirred it well. The greenish roe and the white and translucent meat blended perfectly together.

Next, just put it on the rack and bake it briefly. The remaining crab meat can be used to make a cheese-baked crab.

He shredded the cheese from the supermarket onto the crab meat and put it in the oven along with the crab shell.

"Ah, I'm exhausted." After washing her hands, Yumiko Miura sat down at the desk again.

Yui Yuigahama sat on a chair with her face pressed against the table, her white shirt billowing under the table.

A person with a small belly doesn't look that big when standing, but when they lie down, the flesh sags down, and just looking at it makes you want to lose weight.

The rice cooker made a "ding" sound, indicating that the rice was cooked.

Uesugi Genshin used a rice scoop to stir the rice, then closed the lid, intending to let it sit for a while longer.

The original lounge room had a sofa, two tables, and a microwave.

Now that a bunch of stuff has been moved in, the room feels more complete.

The final product was placed on the table, and he specially took out a small porcelain bottle containing liquor.

Crabs are considered to be "cold" in traditional Chinese medicine, so it's recommended to drink baijiu (Chinese white liquor) or huangjiu (yellow wine). Baijiu is a type of baijiu, also known as distilled liquor.

"I apologize for the poor hospitality. Please have some food," said Uesugi Genshin after placing the rice on the table.

"I'm gonna start now."

Each person gets a shell-shaped pastry and a cheese-baked crab in the middle, making for a truly sumptuous dinner.

"This, this is delicious!" Yui Yuigahama opened her pink lips, ate the rice mixed with crab roe, and exclaimed in sincere praise.

"It's all thanks to the ingredients themselves," Uesugi Genshin replied modestly.

"No way! If it were me, I definitely couldn't do that." As she spoke, she took another bite, covering her mouth happily. She seemed like just an ordinary, cute girl.

"Crabs only need to be washed and steamed; there's no special technique involved. Compared to that, other things..."

For other cuisines, he would need to look at the recipes and make them accordingly, but the most annoying thing was the word "appropriate amount".

"Ah, my mom always cooks at home, so I don't really know much about it." The girl, with a layer of green crab roe smeared on the corner of her mouth, grinned foolishly.

"..."

So why can't I get through to Hokkaido by phone...?

How are your family members?

"Uh, my mom seems fine at home, but I can't get in touch with my dad." Yui Yuigahama forced a smile and then said cautiously, "I actually really want to go home."

"I can't get in touch with my family." Miura Yumiko wasn't in a good mood, probably because what had just happened had made her feel a bit depressed again.

Although we couldn't get in touch, no one thought the worst.

Yui Yuigahama wanted to liven up the atmosphere at the dinner table because of this, something that usually happens to Tobe Sho at school.

"Where is your home?"

"Ah, um, it's nearby, not far."

"Yeah."

The conversation did not continue.

As Yumiko Miura ate the food from the spoon, a smile involuntarily appeared on her face; delicious food can heal the soul.

Uesugi Genshin took the small sake cup and drank the sake in one gulp, washing away the lingering milky flavor of crab roe in his mouth.

"Ahhh~, Xiao Xuan, minors are not allowed to drink alcohol."

"Leave me alone," he said casually, completely disregarding what Yui Yuigahama had said.

"Really." Her expression was like that of a daughter watching her father drink; if it happened a few more times, she'd probably get used to it and not take it seriously at all.

The old father, who comes home drunk every night, is impossible to reason with. This indulgence has even led to a habit of having a few drinks himself, but that's just how society is.

Drinking culture is indeed one of the most criticized social activities among modern young people, much like working overtime. Fortunately, he never intended to become a corporate slave in the first place, and even more fortunately, he will never have that opportunity again.

Uesugi Genshin divided the cheese-baked crab in the middle and placed it on top of the rice, where the aroma of caramelized cheese could be smelled.

When you put it in your mouth, the soft, chewy cheese and the sweet crab meat subtly stimulate your taste buds, making it delicious.

"Would you like some more rice?" He asked again, already planning to ask for a second bowl.

"Hmm, another bowl, please." Yui Yuigahama handed over the bowl she had half-eaten.

"Yes Yes."

Turn on the rice cooker here, and steam rises from the rice in the room, which is not very warm at night.

After filling his own bowl to the brim, he also gave a spoonful to the bowls of Miura Yumiko and Yuigahama Yui, who were silently handed over.

"Give."

"Thank you."

"Ah."

Towards the end, it can get a bit greasy because you're too full, but it wasn't noticeable on his end because of the soju that cleansed his palate. The two people opposite him had also finished eating.

"So full." Yui Yuigahama exclaimed, sprawled out on the sofa in a rather unladylike manner, leaving a crease in the fabric.

However, because the pressure made her stomach uncomfortable, she immediately sat up and leaned back on the sofa.

"Yeah, I haven't eaten this much in ages," Yumiko Miura agreed. "I'm going to gain weight again."

"Ah~~, Yumiko never gets fat no matter how much she eats, she has a great figure."

"Once or twice is nothing, but we probably won't have the chance to eat this well again." Uesugi Genshin cleaned up the spotless dishes.

"Ah! So, Xiao Xuan, do you think chubby girls are nice too?" In casual conversation after meals, students at this age, regardless of gender, are prone to bringing up this kind of topic.

How did he know what level of fat you meant by "fat"?

Uesugi Genshin glanced at her and said, "In religion, temperance is defined as a virtue, which is beauty; while gluttony is called a sin, which is an ugly virtue."

"After all, we are modern people, and we eat very well. It's impossible for us to go without any meat. However, excessive obesity, apart from unavoidable genetic issues, is mostly due to overeating."

"Looks like I need to lose weight." For some reason, Yui Yuigahama came to this conclusion.

Uesugi Genshin glanced at her curvaceous figure. "That being said, dieting is not something to be encouraged, because it's based on sacrificing your health. There's nothing wrong with losing weight, but for healthy weight loss, exercise is the healthiest option."

"Ah~~, exercise..." she mumbled, her tone fluctuating.

Completely unconcerned by her hesitation, Uesugi Genshin said, "Don't worry, you'll feel the pain tomorrow."

"Huh? What pain?"

"The cost of the several kilometers you've driven along will become apparent tomorrow."

He didn't realize that the physique of a modern high school girl could remain completely unaffected while running.

"Eh~~"

"You two can massage each other's muscles tonight," he could only say before leaving the room.

The lounge fell silent instantly, with only the sound of their breathing remaining.

"Yumiko." Yui Yuigahama tried to strike up a conversation.

A loud "bang" and a continuous blaring of horns came from outside.

"What?" Miura Yumiko turned her body around, pressed her face against the window with the curtains drawn, and opened a crack to look outside.

"What's wrong?" Yui Yuigahama squeezed over, and the two of them leaned against the window together.

"do not know."

Looking out the window at the twinkling stars, the buildings were all dark and deserted, with only a few windows lit up, though it was unclear whether they were open or occupied.

The sound of the horn did not stop over time; instead, it grew louder and louder, creating the illusion that it was getting closer and closer.

I kept my eyes glued to the outside, but apart from the restless figures of zombies on the street, there was nothing else moving.

"Stop looking." Uesugi Genshin returned at that moment.

He placed the new quilt he was carrying on the ground. "I've already turned off the lights on the first floor. Make sure to lock the door when you go to sleep at night, and it's best to barricade the door with something. Do the same to the windows. If there's any noise, don't pay attention to it. I'll come and call you during the day, and then you can open the door then."

"What happened?" Miura Yumiko and Yuigahama Yui exchanged a glance and asked.

"They must have received some government evacuation notice." The sound of an impact rang in my ears again, perfectly fitting the situation.

"Then we..." Miura Yumiko asked, scrolling through her phone.

"We'll do nothing and wait for Hiratsuka-sensei to come and pick us up."

When everyone goes to take refuge together, it is the most likely time to become crowded. When walking, stampedes will occur. People on the outside who do not know what is going on will try to push forward, while those in front suffer helplessly.

Driving is a completely different story. People are converging from all directions, blocking the road, not to mention that there might be zombies clinging to the car windows. In this situation, if you don't think things through, you might step on the gas and that's how accidents happen.

"No news?" Yumiko Miura said, scrolling through her phone screen.

There was no official information released online; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a news blackout.

"That must be a rumor from well-informed people."

It doesn't matter what happens, safety is the most important thing.

"As long as they don't see the lights on here and rush in, desperately trying to hide here and attracting those guys along with them, that's fine."

"!!!"

“That’s the reason,” Miura Yumiko replied understandingly.

"Anyway, turn off the lights and go to sleep. Remember, no matter what, don't pay attention to anything else. Just take care of yourselves," Uesugi Genshin reminded him, just in case.

What he said might not happen, but what if it does? He checked every window when he went downstairs.

Even so, the part of the first floor with windows is right next to the main entrance, but the other walls don't have windows, so the lighting relies entirely on the overhead lights.

"So where do you sleep?"

"The office next door." He said, opening the door. "Good night."

"OK, good night."

"Good night."

The room fell silent again. "Hmm..."

"Then let's go to sleep too."

"Um, Yumiko, I need to go to the bathroom before bed..."

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

“Then I’ll go too,” Hayato Hayama suggested from his office. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing, whether it’s Yumiko and the others or everyone else.”

“No, Hayama, if there are too many people, one car won’t be enough,” Hiratsuka Shizuka calmly refused.

"This is getting complicated again." Yukino Yukinoshita muttered to herself, not listening to their conversation, but looking at her phone.

"What's wrong?" Just in case, Hachiman Hikigaya still wanted to hear what Genshin was going to do, so he stood here.

"Because of the comments made by people from our school under the school's posts, people from other schools also came to seek help."

"...No, it's not that safe either," Hachiman Hikigaya remarked, clicking his tongue in disbelief.

Is this some kind of humanitarian organization? Or a gathering place for survivors?

There shouldn't be too few people, nor should the capacity be exceeded.

Because of those words, Hiratsuka-sensei and Hayama Hayato also looked over.

“Hmm~” Hina Ebina, who was standing alone to the side, also started to think, rubbing her chin. The reason she was standing there was exactly the same as Hachiman Hikigaya’s.

"What's wrong? What's wrong, Ebina?" Tobe Sho, who had been paying attention, asked with concern when he saw Ebina Hina's appearance.

"It's nothing, I'm just worried about Yumiko and Yui."

"Ah, I'm worried too. In fact, I really want to go and save them right away." Tobe Sho nodded understandingly.