After Haizaki left, Utaha let out a sigh of relief and slipped back into the bathtub, once again enjoying the comfort of soaking in warm water.
Half an hour later, she finally decided to end the bath and stood up. Warm water streamed down with a splash, and she stepped out of the tub, dried her body with a towel, then slightly bent forward as she carefully opened the bathroom door.
Beside the door lay a somewhat messy pile of clothes. The tags on them told Utaha that they were all brand new.
Drops of water continued to fall from her wet, long black hair. Under the hotel room lighting, each droplet reflected a captivating shimmer.
"Hair dryer, hair dryer…"
Before long, Utaha found it. Once the power was on and the switch flipped, the dryer hummed loudly, and her long black hair fluttered in the warm air.
She lifted her hair and tossed it back over her shoulders, smooth and flowing. Looking at herself in the mirror, restored to her beauty once more, Utaha felt satisfied. The shadow of death from the earthquake had finally eased.
*Click—*
The moment the door opened, Utaha jumped in fright, nearly dropping the hair dryer in her hand.
"Yusuke-san, could you knock or ring the bell before coming in next time?"
Haizaki hadn't expected Utaha to start paying attention to her privacy so quickly. Still, this really was his fault.
"Alright."
Carrying a tray, Haizaki closed the door and walked further into the room.
"Dinner's instant noodles, with sausage and biscuits. We'll have to make do."
Smelling the noodles, Utaha felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach. She was hungry, but she'd eaten instant noodles for four or five straight days and really didn't want any more. Compared to noodles, she preferred the biscuits and sausage.
"Yusuke-san, why don't you eat my portion of noodles too? I'll just have biscuits and sausage. Oh, and give me that milk as well."
"I don't mind, but… you haven't been eating instant noodles every day recently, have you?"
"Aren't you?"
As she opened the biscuits and inserted the straw into the milk, Utaha asked absentmindedly.
"No…"
She stopped what she was doing and looked at Haizaki with curiosity.
"I've been cooking—noodles, fried rice, things like that. This is actually the first time I've had instant noodles in nearly a week."
Eating noodles again after so long, Haizaki even nodded as if the taste was quite good.
Utaha's lips twitched, unsure what to say.
"I'll make something hot for breakfast tomorrow, around seven-thirty. If everything goes smoothly, we should be able to head to the Eastern Union before two in the afternoon."
Having just ridden a helicopter, Utaha didn't ask whether Haizaki could fly a passenger plane.
"I understand. Have you thought about the future?"
This was the biggest issue facing them both—whether to simply muddle through, or to live properly with a plan. More than anything, Utaha cared about how the two of them would get along.
"Survive. Live well. Live meaningfully."
The girl gazed into Haizaki's dark eyes, carefully considering the meaning of his words.
"First of all, Yusuke-san, I want to thank you properly for saving my life." Utaha stood up and bowed deeply to him. At this moment, it was the sincerest expression she could offer.
"I accept your thanks." Haizaki noticed the hesitation on her face.
"You probably still have something you want to say. Just say it. It's fine. It's normal for girls to have thoughts and concerns about certain things."
His words put Utaha at ease. What she feared most was that Haizaki might become angry because of her doubts. His attitude now felt like trust.
"Um…" She hesitated again as soon as she spoke, because what she wanted to say wasn't very pleasant and might hurt.
"Just say it. If we talk openly now, it'll help us get along better in the future. Holding back now will only plant more seeds of conflict later." Haizaki smiled faintly, encouraging her.
"Okay." Utaha felt that Haizaki was the type to be calm and rational.
"What do you think of me?"
She phrased it tactfully, but believed Haizaki would understand.
The atmosphere grew heavy. Their soft breathing was clearly audible.
"You're worried that I might have improper thoughts about you? That I might do something to you?"
Utaha stiffened, her eyes trembling. Still, she clenched her teeth and held herself together, refusing to show weakness.
"Yes." She met his gaze. Though her expression was awkward, these were her true thoughts. Only by clarifying this could their future life together work.
"First of all, you're very beautiful—truly beautiful. Your looks and figure are both outstanding among women. Your attraction and temptation to men… I think you understand that better than I do." Haizaki spoke plainly, without avoiding the subject.
"So I understand your concerns. Right now, it's one man and one woman, and you know almost nothing about me. Even if I simply say I won't hurt you, you can't fully believe that."
"Sorry…"
Utaha hadn't expected him to be so direct.
"There's nothing to apologize for. I said I understand. If I were you and encountered a man, I'd have the same doubts and vigilance—maybe even choose to live alone and keep my distance."
Danger comes from the surroundings. Danger comes from one's own kind. Only those who remain cautious can survive better.
"Thank you. I think saying all this clearly now is better for our future." Utaha felt much more at ease. Speaking openly actually made her calmer.
"After all… if you forced yourself on me, you'd only get my body, not my heart." She said it half-seriously, half-jokingly.
"I don't want your heart."
Utaha's eyes widened. She froze, feeling something crack inside her. The turn was too sudden. She hadn't expected Haizaki to be so blunt.
"Men… are all like this?"
She subconsciously felt that Haizaki's earlier words were just teasing, meant to toy with her. It felt a little bleak. A little painful.
"Hah…"
Haizaki realized she had misunderstood.
"You're mistaken. I don't want your heart, and I don't want your body either. I only hope you can become someone who survives together with me…" He paused, and Utaha's heart hung in suspense.
"A companion. I hope we can be companions who live together."
Companions who would live until the end, one year from now.
"Mm…" Utaha nodded, then organized her thoughts again. Some things were best said clearly now.
"Within my ability, I'll do my best to repay your kindness in saving my life."
"That's enough. And besides, judging from what we're talking about, I know you girls have a saying…"
"What is it?" Utaha asked curiously.
"'Even if you were the last man on Earth, I still wouldn't fall in love with you.'," Haizaki said with a smile. He hadn't expected to actually experience a situation where this line could be used.
…